Journal, December 1758: Volume 65

Journal, December 1758

Friday, December 1. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Sloper.

Nova Scotia.

Read a memorial of Mary Magdalen How, widow of Captain How, employed in his Majesty's service in Nova Scotia in 1749 and 1750, setting forth a demand for services performed and expences incurred by her said late husband, inclosing a state of her account with other papers and praying to be reimbursed.

Their lordships being informed by the Secretary that Mr. Grant, one of the Council of Nova Scotia, who appears to have examined and audited the accounts inclosed in the said memorial, was now in England, the Secretary was ordered to desire his attendance at the Board on Tuesday next, the 5th instant.

Massachusets.

Read a letter from Thomas Pownall, Esquire, Governor of the Massachusets Bay, dated October 14th, 1758, inclosing his speech of the 4th of that month to the Council and Assembly.

New Jersey.

Read the following letters and papers received from the Governor of New Jersey, viz.:—
Letter from Francis Bernard, Esquire, Governor of New Jersey, to the Board, dated June 20th, 1758, giving an account of his arrival in his government and of the murders committed by the Indians upon inhabitants on the borders.
Letter from Francis Bernard, Esquire, Governor of New Jersey, to the Board, dated July 3rd, 1758, giving an account of his having visited the different parts of his government, and the meeting he had with Governor Denny and General Forbes at Philadelphia about the Indian invasion.
Letter from Francis Bernard, Esquire, giving an account of the death of Mr. Aynsley, Chief Justice of New Jersey, dated July 7th, 1758.
Letter from Francis Bernard, Esquire, Governor of New Jersey, dated 24th of August, 1758.
Letter from Francis Bernard, Esquire, Governor of New Jersey, dated 31st August, 1758, inclosing copy of a message from the Assembly.
Letter from Francis Bernard, Esquire, to the Board, dated August 31st, 1758, respecting the manner of the Assembly's passing bills of credit, etc., and inclosing:—
Votes and proceedings of the General Assembly of New Jersey from 25th July to the 12th of August following.
Minutes of Council from the 25th July to the 21st August, 1758.
A printed message of Governor Bernard's to the Minisink Indians and a conference in consequence thereof, held at Burlington, August 7th and 8th, 1758.
An account of the bills of credit outstanding on the 21st November, 1758.
An account of the charge upon each year for sinking the provincial debt from November, 1758.
An estimate for raising, paying and cloathing a regiment of 1000 men for eight months in 1759 taken from the accounts in 1758.
A list of ships and vessels entered inwards from the 10th of October, 1757, to the 5th of January, 1758; and from the 5th day of January to the 5th April, 1758; and from the 5th of April to the 5th of July, 1758; and from the 5th of July to the 10th day of October, 1758.
Six Acts passed in New Jersey, the 12th of August, 1758.

Ordered, that the said Acts be sent to Sir Mathew Lamb for his opinion thereon in point of law.

Read a letter from Francis Bernard, Esquire, Governor of New Jersey, to the Board, dated September 15th, 1758, relating to the expence the colony is at in raising and maintaining their troops, etc.

Tuesday, December 5. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Sloper.

Georgia.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, upon the memorial of Mrs. Bosomworth, styling herself rightful and natural born Princess of the Upper and Lower Nations of Creek Indians, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of Wednesday last, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Plantations General.

Trade.

The Secretary laid before the Board the draught of a letter to the Secretary to the Commissioners of the Customs, concerning the laws passed for regulating the Plantation Trade, and the representations which have been made of the defects and abuses of the said laws, prepared pursuant to their lordships' Order of the 9th ultimo; and their lordships agreed further to consider thereof at another opportunity.

Nova Scotia.

Their lordships took into consideration the memorial of Mary Magdalene How, widow of Captain How, employed in his Majesty's service in Nova Scotia in the years 1749 and 1750, mentioned in the minutes of Friday last; and Mr. Grant, one of the Council of that province, who appears to have examined and audited the accounts referred to in her memorial, attending as desired, was called in, and their lordships had some discourse with him thereon.

It appearing to their lordships, that the services, to which the demands of the memorialist are relative, were performed under the direction of General Cornwallis, whilst Governor of Nova Scotia, it was ordered that the Secretary do make enquiry of him concerning the said services and demands.

Wednesday, December 6. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rigby, Mr. Sloper.

Georgia.

Read an Order of his Majesty in Council of the 4th instant, permitting and allowing the Governor of Georgia in all times of sickness to repair to New York or any other of the northern colonies for the recovery of his health.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit the said Order to Governor Ellis.

New York.

Read an Order of his Majesty in Council of the 4th instant, approving the Board's recommendation of Josiah Martin and Oliver Delancy, Esquires, to be of the Council of New York, and directing the proper warrants to be prepared.

Warrants in the usual form having been prepared, a representation to his Majesty therewith was signed.

New Jersey.

Their lordships took into consideration the letters and papers received from the Governor of New Jersey, mentioned in the minutes of Friday last; and after some time spent therein, ordered extracts to be made of such parts of the said letters and copies of such of the said papers as relate to the difficulty which he apprehends he shall be subjected to in raising any number of forces for the ensuing year without an alteration of his instructions concerning paper bills of credit, to be laid before his Majesty; and that the draught of a representation to his Majesty thereupon be prepared.

Georgia.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, upon the memorial of Mrs. Bosomworth, having been transcribed, pursuant to the preceding minutes, was signed.

Thursday, December 7. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Sloper.

New Jersey.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the subject matter of the letters and papers lately received from the Governor of New Jersey, respecting the issuing paper bills of credit, having been prepared pursuant to the preceding minutes, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared, proposing that Charles Read and John Smith, Esquires, may be appointed of the Council of New Jersey in the room of John Reading and Thomas Leonard, Esquires, who have resigned their seats on account of their great age and infirmities.

New York.

Their lordships took into consideration an Act passed in the Colony of New York in July, 1755, intituled, an Act for the more easy collecting his Majesty's quit rents in the colony of New York, and for partition of lands in order thereto, and made some progress therein.

Resolved, that the said Act be taken into further consideration on Wednesday next, the 12th instant.

Tuesday, December 12. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Sloper.

Virginia.

Read the following letters and papers received from the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, viz.:—
Letter from Francis Fauquier, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, to the Board, dated June 11th, 1758, giving an account of his arrival there.
Letter from Mr. Fauquier to the Board, dated June 28th, 1758, relating to the places of Speaker and Treasurer being in one person.
Letter from Mr. Fauquier to the Board, dated July 24th, 1758, acquainting them with the state of the garrison at Fort Duquesne.
Letter from Mr. Fauquier to the Board, dated September 23rd, 1758, relative to quit rents, and illegal trade carried on from Rhode Island to the French Islands by cartel ships.
Minutes of Council from the 30th March to the 12th of April, 1758.
Minutes of Assembly from the 30th of March to the 12th April, 1758.
Copys of Mr. Fauquier's speech to the Council and House of Burgesses, and of their addresses.
Naval Office lists from January to July, 1758.
Two Acts passed in the colony of Virginia in April, 1758.

Ordered, that the Acts be sent to Sir Mathew Lamb for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

Ordered, that copies of the Board's letters to Mr. Dinwiddie of the 3rd of July, 1754, and 18th of April, 1755, concerning the taking a fee upon grants of lands, be transmitted by the first opportunity to Mr. Fauquier.

Read a letter from Mr. Blair, President of the Council and Commander in Chief of Virginia, to the Board, dated June 20th, 1758, giving an account of the transactions of government during his administration; and inclosing:—
Account of the revenue of 2s. per hogshead from October 25th, 1757, to April 25th, 1758.

New Jersey.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, proposing that Charles Read and John Smith, Esquires, may be appointed of the Council of New Jersey in the room of John Reading and Thomas Leonard, Esquires, having been prepared, pursuant to the preceding minutes, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Wednesday, December 13. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rigby, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Sloper.

Miscellanies.

The Secretary having acquainted the Board, that the person employed to deliver letters from the Post Office, had demanded five pounds, fourteen shillings for a packet addressed to their lordships from the Governor of the Bermuda Islands, and that upon the said person's refusal to deliver such packet without being paid such charge, alleging it was made at the Post Office, the office keeper had paid the same; their lordships, upon consideration of his Majesty's warrant, dated the 15th of August, 1746, whereby this Board is exempted from payment of any postage upon letters at the Post Office, ordered the Secretary to write to the Secretary to the Postmaster General, to know upon what pretence such charge was made.

New York.

Their lordships took into further consideration the Act passed in the province of New York in July, 1755, intituled, an Act for the more easy collecting his Majesty's quit rents in the colony of New York, and for partition of lands in order thereto; and after some time spent therein, ordered the Secretary to send a copy of it to the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, desiring him to lay it before that Board, and to move their lordships, that it may be referred to the Auditor General of his Majesty's Revenue in America, for his opinion upon it.

Ordered, that the draught of a letter to Mr. Delancy, Lieutenant Governor of New York, upon the subject matter of the said Act, be prepared.

Thursday, December 14. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Sloper.

Virginia.

Their lordships took into consideration the letters and papers received from the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, mentioned in the minutes of the 12th instant; and Mr. Dinwiddie, late Lieutenant Governor of that colony, attending, their lordships had some discourse with him upon the subject matter of the offices of Speaker of the Assembly and Treasurer being united in the same person, and also upon the subject matter of an Act passed in that colony in 1752, for erecting a lighthouse at Cape Henry; after which Mr. Dinwiddie withdrew, and their lordships agreed to take the said Act into further consideration on Tuesday next, and the Secretary was ordered to write to the agents for the colonies of Virginia and Maryland to desire their attendance.

New Jersey.

Read an Order of his Majesty in Council, dated the 12th of December, 1758, approving a representation of this Board, proposing Charles Read and John Smith, Esquires, to be appointed Councillors in the province of New Jersey in the room of John Reading and Thomas Leonard, Esquires, who have resigned, and directing warrants to be prepared for constituting them members of the said Council.

Warrants having been prepared in the usual form were approved, and a representation to his Majesty therewith was signed.

Tuesday, December 19. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Sloper.

Virginia.

Their lordships took into consideration the Act passed in Virginia in 1752, for erecting a lighthouse at Cape Henry, mentioned in the preceding minutes; and Mr. Calvert and Mr. Abercromby, the agents for the provinces of Maryland and Virginia, attending as desired, with Mr. Hamersley in behalf of Lord Baltimore, Proprietor of Maryland, their lordships heard what they had to offer upon the said Act; and the parties appearing to agree, that a lighthouse at the entrance of the Bay of Chesapeak might be of great utility to the trade and shipping of both provinces, the agents were directed to consult with the principal merchants of Great Britain trading to those colonies, to the end that their lordships might be informed of their sentiments upon such a measure.

The gentlemen being withdrawn, their lordships upon further consideration of the Act ordered the draught of a representation to his Majesty to be prepared proposing its repeal.

New York.

The draught of a letter to the Lieutenant Governor of New York, upon the subject matter of the Act passed in that colony in 1755, for the more easy collecting his Majesty's quit rents, and for partition of lands in order thereto, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of the 13th instant, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Georgia.

Read a memorial of Mr. Martyn, agent for Georgia, setting forth that he had, pursuant to the Board's orders, purchased and shipped the several utensils necessary for the filature in Savannah, and had also paid the freight and insurance of the presents for the Indians, and praying that he may have a warrant to defray the charges thereof out of the balance remaining in his hands of the sums granted by Parliament for the silk culture in the years 1753 and 1754.

A warrant for that purpose in the usual form having been prepared, was signed.

Trade.

Africa.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following papers received from the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, viz.:—
Copy of a letter from John Hippisley to the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, dated 24th February, 1758, and postscript of 23rd March; also of a certificate of Thomas Herring, gunner at Winebah, 12th March, 1758.
Copies of letters and papers received by the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa from Cape Coast Castle, November 20th, 1758.

Plantations General.

Miscellanies.

Read a letter from Mr. Shelvocke, Secretary to the Postmaster General, to Mr. Pownall, acquainting him that the charge made upon a packet addressed to this Board from the Governor of Bermuda, was a mistake in their officer; that the most particular and general orders had been given, that no such charge should be made for the future, and that the money paid at this office for the said packet was ordered to be returned.

Miscellanies.

The Secretary having acquainted the Board, that great inconveniences had arisen in the office from the non-attendance of Robert Willis, chamberkeeper and assistant messenger, their lordships, in compassion to his age and infirmities, agreed that he should be permitted to retire with an allowance of thirty-five pounds per annum out of his salary for his life; and Mr. Jenyns having recommended Thomas Terrie to act as a supernumerary chamberkeeper and assistant messenger, upon the remainder of the salary and upon condition of his succeeding to the first vacancy which should happen in the establishment of the under officers, their lordships agreed thereto, and he was accordingly admitted upon those conditions, and his appointment to take place at Christmas next.