Journal, March 1764: Volume 71

Journal, March 1764

fo. 104.

Thursday, March 1st. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Rice, Lord Orwell, Mr. Gascoyne.

Trade, Africa.

The Board was moved in behalf of Mr. Touchet (petitioner for a grant of an exclusive trade to the River Senegal) for a copy of a letter to the Board from Mr. Secretary Pitt, dated April 1759, relative to the trade of that river, and it was ordered, that Mr. Touchet should be acquainted that their lordships do not think fit to give copies of letters to them from his Majesty's Secretaries of States, wrote by his Majesty's order.

fo. 105.

Newfoundland.

Plantations General.

The Earl of Hillsborough having acquainted the Board, that the Earl of Halifax had signified to him that it was of the greatest national importance that the propositions of the French Court respecting the concurrent fishery upon the coast of Newfoundland should be decided upon with all possible dispatch, the Secretary was ordered to acquaint the King's Advocate, Attorney and Sollicitor General therewith, and earnestly press their immediate report; the Secretary was also directed to remind the Attorney General of the reference to him on the 21st of December last, of a question concerning aliens in the plantations.

Barbados.

fo. 106.

Their lordships took into consideration the letter from the Lord Bishop of London, mentioned in the minutes of yesterday, and it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty should be prepared, humbly to lay before him a copy of the said letter, and also copies of Mr. Pinfold's letter and the report of the Attorney General of Barbados upon the case to which it relates.

Grenada.

Their lordships took into further consideration the draughts of a plan for the disposal of his Majesty's lands in Grenada, the Grenadines, Tobago, St. Vincent's and Dominica, and of a proclamation for promulging part of the said plan; and having agreed thereto, it was ordered, that a representation to his Majesty thereupon should be prepared.

fo. 107.

Barbados.

The draughts of representations to his Majesty upon the Bishop of London's letter, and upon the plan and proclamation abovementioned, having been prepared, were agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Plantations General.

Ordered, that the Secretary do acquaint the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury with the propositions contained in the representation of this Board to his Majesty touching hemp, beaver skins and whale fins.

Nova Scotia.

The Secretary laid before the Board a draught of general instructions and of those relating to the observance of the laws of trade, prepared for the Governor of Nova Scotia, and the said draughts were read and considered.

fo. 108.

Saturday, March 3rd. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Rice, Lord Orwell.

Jamaica.

fo. 109.

Their lordships took into consideration the Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, of the 29th of June, 1761, referring the petition of the planters of Jamaica resident in England, complaining of the practice in that island of double taxing absentees, contrary to his Majesty's instruction; and several of the principal planters attending; as also the agent for the island, with his counsel, the Sollicitor General, and Mr. Wedderburn, Mr. Fuller was heard in support of the petition, and the counsel for the island offering to go into the merits of the law, and the petitioners objecting, that counsel ought not to be permitted to enter into the merits of a law, passed contrary to a particular instruction from the Crown to the Governor, and the counsel for the island alleging, that they meant to shew, that the general intention of the Crown, contained in the said instructions, was not contravened by passing this Act, they were ordered to withdraw, and the lords, upon consideration of what was offered on each side, resolved, that the counsel for the island should proceed to shew, that the general intention of the Crown, contained in the said instructions, was not contravened by passing this Act.

fo. 110.

The gentlemen being called in and acquainted with their lordships' resolution, the counsel for the island were heard in what they had to offer, and also Mr. Fuller in reply, and then they were ordered to withdraw, and their lordships resolved to take this matter into further consideration on Monday morning.

Newfoundland.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to the Advocate and Sollicitor General, praying the favor of them to signify to the Board this evening, when they shall be able to make their report upon the questions stated to them, relative to the propositions of the Court of France, concerning the concurrent fishery on the Coast of Newfoundland.

The following papers were laid before the Board and read, vizt.,
Nova Scotia.
fo. 111.
Letter from Mr. Belcher, Commander in Chief of Nova Scotia, to the Board, dated the 3rd of August, 1763, inclosing Naval Office lists from the 1st of January to the 30th of June, 1763.
Letter from Mr. Belcher, Commander in Chief of Nova Scotia, dated September 13th, 1763, inclosing,
Sundry expences paid at the Treasury by order of the Lieutenant Governor incurred last year, also payments made on account of this year and are to be charged in the contingent account to the 30th September, 1763.
Letter from Jonathan Belcher, esquire, to the Board, dated the 13th of September, 1763, acquainting their lordships with the receipt of their letters of the 27th and 29th of April; and papers relative to the confirmation of two Acts; the appointment of a day of thanksgiving; and the Governor's correspondence with the King's Ministers.
fo. 112.
Letter from Montague Wilmot, esquire, Governor of Nova Scotia, to the Board, dated October 12th, 1763, inclosing a duplicate of a former letter, and promising to transmit a duplicate of the minutes of Council.
Connecticut.
Letter from Thomas Fitch, esquire, Governor of Connecticut, to the Board, dated the 10th of November, 1763, containing an account that the settlement at Wyoming has been destroyed by the Indians.
Letter from Governor Fitch, dated December 9th, 1763, informing the Board of his having received the King's Proclamation, respecting the new governments, and their lordships' directions upon the memorial of the Lords of the Treasury, relative to the defects of the laws for regulating the plantation trade.
fo. 113.
Pennsylvania.
Letter from Joseph Shippen, esquire, Secretary of Pennsylvania, to the Secretary, dated the 16th of November, 1763, inclosing,
Certificate of foreigners naturalized at the Supreme Court in Philadelphia, April, 1762.
Ditto: in September term 1762.
Ditto: in April term 1763.
Maryland.
List of ships and vessels entered and cleared at Annapolis in Maryland in Midsummer quarter 1763.
Virginia.
Letter from Francis Fauquier, esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, dated the 22nd of September, 1763, transmitting,
Minutes of Council from the 24th of May, 1760, to the 15th of September, 1763.
Plantations General.
Letter from Anthony Todd, esquire, Secretary of the General Post Office, to Mr. Pownall, dated March the 3rd, 1764, inclosing,
fo. 114.
Extract of a letter from Benjamin Francklin, esquire, Deputy Postmaster General for North America, to Mr. Todd, dated Philadelphia, January 16th, 1764.
Trade.
Letter from George Campbell, esquire, Mayor of Liverpool, to the Board, without date, in answer to one from the Secretary of the 2nd of January last, desiring a proper person may be deputed to attend the Board on the subject of rock salt.
An account of rock salt shiped from Liverpool to Ostend and Bruges and by whom.

fo. 115.

Monday, March 5th. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Rice, Lord Orwell.

Trade.

Flanders.

Sir William Meredith attended, and presented a memorial from the merchants and exporters of rock salt at Liverpool, containing their final resolution and sentiments respecting the exportation of rock salt to Flanders.

Sir William Meredith being withdrawn, it was agreed to take the said memorial into consideration the first opportunity.

Jamaica.

fo. 116.

Sir Henry Moore, late Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica, attended, and moved their lordships, that he might be informed of their sentiments and resolution upon his memorial concerning Governor Lyttelton's refusal to sign an order for the last quarterly payment of the salary of the Governor in Chief, which he alleged to be due to him; whereupon the minutes of their lordships' proceedings upon this affair on the 28th of November last, were read to him.

West Florida.

Mr. Phillips of Ipswich in Suffolk attended, and presented a memorial, praying for a grant of lands in West Florida for a settlement for himself and his family, and the said memorial having been read, he was acquainted that the Board would take it into consideration as soon as possible.

Jamaica.

The further consideration of the petition of the planters of Jamaica, resident in England, was postponed.

fo. 117.

Tuesday, March 6th. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Rice, Lord Orwell.

New York.

A representation to his Majesty, proposing that Joseph Read, esquire, may be appointed of the Council of New York in the room of Josiah Martin, esquire, who is settled at Antigua, was agreed to and signed.

Nova Scotia.

Their lordships took into further consideration the draughts of general instructions and of those relating to the observance of the laws of trade for the Governor of Nova Scotia, and the said draughts were agreed to, and it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty thereupon should be prepared.

Jamaica.

fo. 118.

Their lordships then took into further consideration the petition to his Majesty of the planters of the Island of Jamaica, resident in England, complaining of the practice in that island of double taxing absentees, and it was ordered, that the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council thereupon should be prepared.

Post Meridiem.

Nova Scotia, Jamaica.

The draughts of a representation to his Majesty, upon the instructions for the Governor of Nova Scotia, and of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon the petition of the planters of Jamaica, were agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Newfoundland.

Read a report of his Majesty's Advocate, Attorney and Sollicitor General, dated the 6th of March, 1764, upon the proposition of the Court of France respecting the Newfoundland fishery.

fo. 119.

The said report having been fully considered, a representation to his Majesty thereupon, and a letter to the Earl of Halifax inclosing it, were agreed to and signed.

Monday, March 12th. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Rice, Lord Orwell, Mr. Gascoyne.

Nova Scotia.

fo. 120.

Read and considered an Order of his Majesty in Council, dated the 8th instant, referring to the Board, for their consideration and report, a memorial of the Earl of Egmont praying for a grant of the Island of St. John's in Nova Scotia to himself and his nine children, and a certain number of other persons his associates, the names of some of which persons are annexed to the said memorial.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty, upon the Earl of Egmont's memorial be prepared.

Newfoundland.

Read a letter from the Earl of Halifax, dated March 8th, 1764, signifying the King's pleasure, that the Board should prepare and lay before his Majesty, a draught of additional instructions, which he may legally and properly give to the Governor of Newfoundland, for preventing his Majesty's subjects from giving any interruption to the subjects of France in carrying on that fishery, which they are allowed by treaty within the limits therein described.

fo. 121.

Ordered, that the draught of additional instructions to the Governor of Newfoundland, upon the several points marked out in the Earl of Halifax's letter, be prepared.

St. Vincents.

The Secretary having communicated to the Board a list of papers relating to the Earl of Cardigan's claim to the Island of St. Vincent's, of which the Sollicitor to the Treasury desired copies, to be made use of in support of his Majesty's title to the said island, it was ordered, that copies thereof should be made and delivered to the said Sollicitor.

Tuesday, March 13th. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Rice, Lord Orwell.

Newfoundland.

fo. 122.

The Secretary laid before the Board a draught of additional instructions for the Governor of Newfoundland, prepared pursuant to order, and the said draught was read and considered.

Post Meridiem.

The aforementioned draught of additional instructions to the Governor of Newfoundland was approved, and the Secretary was ordered to send a copy to his Majesty's Advocate, Attorney and Sollicitor General, for their opinion, whether his Majesty might legally give such instructions to the said Governor.

A letter to the Earl of Halifax, acquainting his Lordship with what the Board had done in consequence of his letter upon this subject, and suggesting the expediency of the early departure of the convoy for the Newfoundland fishery, was agreed to and signed.

fo. 123.

East Florida, West Florida.

Ordered, that the Secretary do acquaint the Society for the propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts, with the provisions made by Parliament for the support of ministers and schoolmasters in the Governments of East Florida and West Florida, and desire their assistance in recommending proper persons for those trusts.

Plantations General.

Read a paper delivered to the Secretary by Mr. Knox, agent for Georgia, entitled reasons for permitting the exportation of rice from Carolina and Georgia to any part of America, and to the African Islands.

fo. 124.

Wednesday, March 14th. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Rice, Lord Orwell.

Jamaica.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated the 7th of March, 1764, directing the Board to transmit a copy of their report to the Governor of Jamaica, on the petition of the planters of that island, residing in Great Britain, complaining of an Act passed in the said island, by which an unequal tax is laid upon them.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit a copy of the said order and of the report of this Board therein referred to, to his Majesty's Governor of Jamaica.

South Carolina.

fo. 125.

Read a memorial of Richard Cumberland, esquire, Provost Marshall of South Carolina, stating the expediency of erecting a publick goal in that province at the expence of the said government, and submitting it to the Board's consideration.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit a copy of the said memorial to his Majesty's Governor of South Carolina, to the end that he may recommend to the Assembly to make provision for building a proper prison, agreeable to what is requested by the Provost Marshall.

fo. 126.

Friday, March 16th. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Rice, Lord Orwell.

Nova Scotia.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the Earl of Egmont's memorial, praying for a grant of the Island of St. John to himself, his family and associates, having been prepared pursuant to order, was read and considered.

fo. 127.

Their lordships took into consideration the state of his Majesty's Province of Nova Scotia, and several minutes were taken, from which it was ordered, that the draught of a letter to the Governor should be prepared, containing the Board's sentiments and directions with respect to the application of the grant of Parliament, the laying out and passing patents for lands, and the management of Indian affairs.

Trade, Flanders.

Their lordships took into further consideration the memorial of the merchants of Liverpool, exporters of rock salt and pro prietors of salt pitts at Northwich, mentioned in the minutes of the 5th instant, as also the several papers which had been received from the Earl of Sandwich, and the Board's proceedings therein; and a letter to his Lordship, containing the Board's sentiments and opinion upon this affair, was ordered to be prepared.

Newfoundland.

fo. 128.

Read a letter from the Earl of Halifax, dated this day, notifying the appointment of Captain Pallisser to be Governor of Newfoundland and its dependencies, and signifying his Majesty's commands, that the draughts of a Commission and instructions should be prepared.

Ordered, that the draught of a Commission in the usual form be prepared with all possible dispatch.

Monday, March 19th. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Rice, Lord Orwell.

Plantations General.

fo. 129.

Their lordships took into consideration the letter from the Earl of Sandwich, inclosing one from his Majesty's Minister at Hamburg, mentioned in the minutes of 2nd of January last, and ordered the draught of a letter to his Lordship in answer thereto to be prepared.

Trade, Africa.

Read a letter from Philip Stephens, esquire, Secretary to the Lords of the Admiralty, to the Secretary, dated March 17th, 1764, transmitting papers received from Captain Bateman, relative to the forts and settlements on the coast of Africa.
Copy of the state and condition of James Fort in the River Gambia, taken May 6th, 1763.
State and condition of the Fort of Bance Island, 26th May, 1763.
State and condition of Dixcove Fort, the 20th July, 1763.
Ditto: of Secondee Fort, 23rd July, 1763.
fo. 130.
State and condition of Commenda Fort, 1st August, 1763.
State and condition of Cape Coast Castle, 22nd August, 1763.

Quebec.

The draught of a Bill, to be brought into Parliament, for leave to import salt directly from foreign parts into the Colony of Quebec for a limited time, was laid before the Board and approved.

Bermuda.

Read a letter from the Earl of Halifax, dated this day, notifying the appointment of George James Bruere, esquire, to be Governor of the Bermuda Islands, and signifying his Majesty's commands, that the draughts of a Commission and instructions should be prepared.

fo. 131.

Ordered, that the draught of a Commission in the usual form, as also draughts of general instructions and of those for the observance of the laws of trade, be prepared with all possible dispatch.

Nova Scotia.

Their lordships made a further progress in the consideration of the draught of a representation upon the Earl of Egmont's memorial.

Tuesday, March 20th. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Rice, Lord Orwell, Mr. Gascoyne.

fo. 132.

Nova Scotia.

Their lordships made a further progress in the consideration of the draught of a representation upon the Earl of Egmont's memorial.

Trade, Plantations General.

The draught of a letter to the Governor of Nova Scotia, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of the 16th instant, was agreed to, transcribed and signed; as were also two letters to the Earl of Sandwich concerning the state of the rock salt trade to Flanders, and a letter to his Lordship from his Majesty's Minister at Hamburgh.

Newfoundland.

The draught of a Commission for the Governor of Newfoundland was approved, and a representation to his Majesty thereupon was signed.

fo. 133.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write a pressing letter to his Majesty's Advocate, Attorney and Sollicitor General, desiring their speedy report upon the additional instructions for the Governor of Newfoundland, referred to them on the 13th instant.

West Florida.

Read a memorial of George Johnstone, esquire, Governor of West Florida, desiring that a transport ship may be provided for the conveyance to that province of Indian presents and ordnance stores.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty, be prepared, proposing that orders should be given for providing a proper transport ship for the service set forth in the Governor's memorial.

fo. 134.

Wednesday, March 21st. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Rice, Mr. Gascoyne.

St. Vincent's.

Mr. Robinson, agent for the Earl of Cardigan in a cause depending before the Council touching his Lordship's claim to the Island of St. Vincent's, moved the Board for leave that a book of this office, containing a paper necessary to support his Lordship's title, might be produced in Council upon a hearing of the said cause appointed for tomorrow.

Ordered, that the Deputy Secretary do attend with the said book, and that notice of this application be given to the Sollicitor for the Crown.

fo. 135.

The Board intending to adjourn to Friday, it was ordered, that if any other book or paper of this office should be required to be produced at the Council tomorrow, in the cause between the Crown and the Earl of Cardigan, touching the Earl's claim to the Island of St. Vincent's, the Deputy Secretary should, upon proper application to the Secretary by the sollicitors either on one part or the other, attend with such book and paper.

Friday, March 23rd. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Rice, Lord Orwell, Mr. Gascoyne.

Nova Scotia.

The representation to his Majesty upon the Earl of Egmont's memorial, was approved and signed.

fo. 136.

Newfoundland.

Read a report of his Majesty's Advocate, Attorney and Sollicitor General, dated 21st of March, 1764, on a draught of additional instructions to the Governor of Newfoundland.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty, humbly to lay before him the said report and the additional instructions for the Governor of Newfoundland therein referred to, be prepared.

West Florida.

fo. 137.

The draught of two representations to his Majesty, the one proposing a transport ship should be provided for the carrying to Pensacola the ordnance stores and presents for Indians, and for the reception and accomodation of the several officers appointed for the service of that colony; the other recommending the extension of the northern boundary line of the said colony, were laid before the Board, read and considered, and having been approved, were transcribed and signed.

Tuesday, March 27th. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Rice, Lord Orwell, Mr. Gascoyne.

Trade, Africa.

Read a letter from the Earl of Halifax to the Board, dated the 26th of March, 1764, inclosing,
fo. 138.
An address of the House of Commons to his Majesty, desiring that copies of two papers in this Office therein mentioned relating to the trade to the River Senegal, may be laid before that House, and signifying his Majesty's commands that this Board should present the said copies to the House.

Copies having been accordingly made of the said papers, Mr. Rice was desired to present them to the House of Commons, pursuant to his Majesty's command.

Jamaica.

The Board was moved in behalf of Mr. Pickering, sollicitor for the agent of the Island of Jamaica, in the cause relating to the complaint of the planters of that island resident in Great Britain, of being double taxed as absentees, to grant a copy of their report upon the said matter of complaint; and it was ordered, that a copy of the said report should be made and delivered to Mr. Pickering.

fo. 139.

Friday, March 30th. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Rice, Lord Orwell, Mr. Gascoyne.

Newfoundland.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, humbly to lay before him the additional instructions for the Governor of Newfoundland respecting the French fishery on the Island of Newfoundland; as also a copy of the report of his Majesty's Advocate, Attorney and Sollicitor General upon the said instructions, having been prepared pursuant to order, was approved, transcribed and signed; as was also a letter to the Earl of Halifax inclosing the said representation.

Quebec.

Ordered, that a letter be written to the King's Engraver of Seals, to require him to send forthwith to the proper office the publick seal of the Province of Quebec.

Trade.

fo. 140.

Ordered, that a letter be written by the Secretary to William Wood, esquire, Secretary to the Commissioners of the Customs, for the following accounts, instead of those, which were desired by his letter of the 15th instant, vizt.,
An account of the quantity of fir and oak timber, oak plank balks, battens, deals, masts, spars and staves, imported into England from Christmas 1752 to Christmas 1762, distinguishing each year, and how much from foreign parts and how much from America.
The like account of the quantity of rough flax and flax seed, for the same years.
The like account of the quantity of iron imported from Christmas 1742 to Christmas 1762.