Journal, August 1768: Volume 75

Journal, August 1768

fo. 163.

Wednesday August 3. Present:— Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Virginia.

The draught of a Commission, of general instructions and of those relating to the observance of the laws of trade, for Lord Botetourt, having been prepared pursuant to order, were approved and transcribed, and a representation to his Majesty thereupon was signed.

The following representations and reports were also signed, vizt.
New York.
Representation to his Majesty on the memorial of Major General Gage, praying for a grant of some lands purchased of the Indians.
fo. 164.
New Hampshire.
Representation to his Majesty on that part of a letter from Governor Wentworth, which relates to a division of New Hampshire into Counties.
Representation to his Majesty on several laws of New Hampshire passed during the late Governor's administration.
New York, Quebec.
Report on the proceedings between the Governors of New York and Quebec, for settling the boundary line.
Plantations General.
Report on the memorial of Daniel Coxe relative to his claim to Carolana.

New Hampshire.

The Earl of Hillsborough was desired to lay before his Majesty the Board's representation on the proposition for dividing the province of New Hampshire into five Counties.

fo. 165.

Georgia.

The Secretary laid before the Board a paper from Mr. Levy, specifying what copies he has of the papers relative to the transactions between the Governor of Georgia in 1757 and Mr. Bosomworth, touching certain lands and islands in that colony, and those of which he requests to have copies.

Ordered, that Mr. Levy may, if he thinks proper, have the copies he is possessed of duly examined and certified by the proper officer, but that his request to have copies of any letters from the Governor to this Board be rejected, their lordships being of opinion, that the giving such copies is unusual and would be improper.

Trade.

Read a letter from Mr. Stanley, Secretary to the Commissioners of the Customs, to the Secretary to this Board, dated July 19th, 1768, transmitting,
fo. 166.
Copy of the Custom House ledger for the year 1763.
Plantations General.
Their lordships then read and considered the following laws of the plantations, together with Sir Matthew Lamb's reports thereupon; vizt.
South Carolina.
An Act passed in South Carolina in 1767 for abolishing the office of Provost Marshall and appointing sheriffs, etc.
Jamaica.
An Act passed in Jamaica in 1767, relative to the estate of Ballard Beckford.
Montserrat.
An Act passed in the island of Montserrat in 1767, for laying a poll tax on slaves, etc.
Nova Scotia.
Thirteen Acts passed in Nova Scotia in 1767.
fo. 167.
Bahamas.
Ten Acts passed in the Bahama Islands in 1766 and 1767.

South Carolina.

Ordered, that the further consideration of the Provost Marshall Act of South Carolina be postponed, in order that the agent may, if he thinks fit, be heard upon it.

Jamaica.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared, proposing that the Act of Jamaica, relative to Mr. Beckford's estate, be disallowed.

Bahamas.

Ordered, that the Acts of the Bahama Islands be taken into further consideration tomorrow morning, and that the Governor of those islands be desired to attend.

fo. 168.

Thursday August 4. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Bahamas.

Their lordships took into further consideration the laws of the Bahama Islands, mentioned in the preceding day's minutes, and Governor Shirley attending, it was recommended to him,

First. To take care that in all laws for giving any salary or allowance to the Governor, or any other person, it be expressed. that the Governor, be desired to grant his warrant upon the Treasury, with the advice of Council, for the payment of such salary and allowance.

fo. 169.

Secondly. To recommend to the Assembly to avoid as much as possible laying any duty or tax whatever, that may effect the trade and shipping of Great Britain, and more particularly upon goods, the produce and manufacture of Great Britain.

Thirdly. To transmit, as soon as possible, the law for establishing a special Court of Judicature, referred to in one of the laws now under their lordships' consideration.

Trade, Africa.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following papers, received from the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, vizt.
Letter from Samuel Poirier, Esquire, Secretary to the African Committee, to the Secretary to this Board, dated July 22nd, 1768, transmitting
fo. 170.
Copy of a letter from Gilbert Petrie, Esquire, Governor of Cape Coast Castle, to the African Committee, dated March 1st, 1768.
Mr. Orsbridge's plan of a new bastion to be erected at Cape Coast Castle.
Mr. John Grosle's plan of a new bastion to be erected at Cape Coast Castle.
List of the African Committee, elected July 4th, 1768.

The said papers having been read, it was agreed to take them into further consideration on Saturday morning, and that the Committee should have notice to attend.

New Hampshire.

fo. 171.

Nevis.

Montserrat.

New Hampshire.

Representations to his Majesty recommending Daniel Rogers to be appointed of the Council of New Hampshire; James Smith to be appointed of the Council of Nevis; and Henry Dyer to be appointed of the Council of Montserrat, were signed; as was also a representation to his Majesty on the subject of the proposals made by the Governor of New Hampshire, in respect to a temporary application of the produce of the quit rents.

Jamaica.

The Earl of Hillsborough communicated to the Board, by his Majesty's command, extract of a letter from the Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica, respecting a doubt that has occurred, in relation to the trials of murders committed on board his Majesty's ships of war in the harbour of Kingston.

Ordered, that the Secretary do lay a state of the case before Sir Matthew Lamb, for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

fo. 172.

North Carolina.

The Earl of Hillsborough also communicated to the Board, by his Majesty's command [vide North Carolina bundle F.48], two letters from the Governor of North Carolina, and a petition to his Majesty of the Council of that colony, therein referred to, praying for an allowance out of the quit rents, similar to what is allowed to the Council of Virginia.

North Carolina.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty thereupon be prepared.

Jamaica.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty for repealing a private Act of Jamaica relating to the estate of Ballard Beckford, having been prepared, was approved and signed.

West Florida.

fo. 173.

The Secretary laid before the Board a certificate from Sir John Lindsay of the character and reputation of Mr. Mease, a petitioner for lands in West Florida, and it was ordered, that the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon his petition should be prepared.

Friday August 5. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Fitzherbert. Mr. Robinson.

Nova Scotia, St. John's.

fo. 174.

Their lordships took into consideration an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, referring a memorial of several of the proprietors of lots of lands in St. John, respecting the forming that island into a separate government, independent of Nova Scotia; and several of the petitioners attending, their lordships had some discourse with them touching the means of defraying the expence of such an establishment, without any burthen to this kingdom.

Their proposal was, that one half of the quit rent, reserved upon the lots, should be made to commence on the 1st of May, 1769, which they calculated would amount to upwards of one thousand, four hundred pounds per annum, and that the terms for the payment of the other half should be prolonged so as not to be payable until the expiration of twenty years from the date of the grant.

fo. 175.

Some difficulties having arisen as to the legal certainty of enforcing the payment of the quit rent in the manner proposed, the gentlemen were desired to consult some lawyer of the best ability upon that question, and then to lay before this Board, such further proposals as they should think proper thereupon.

North Carolina.

West Florida.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty on the petition of the Council of North Carolina, and also of a report upon Mr. Mease's petition, having been prepared pursuant to order, were approved and ordered to be transcribed.

fo. 176.

Saturday August 6. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Trade, Africa.

Their lordships took into further consideration the papers received from the Secretary to the committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, mentioned in the minutes of the 4th instant, and several of the said committee attending pursuant to order, they were heard in what they had to offer upon the general state of that trade, and signified to their lordships, the necessity there would be of their applying to Parliament for an augmentation to the grant for the repairs of the forts on that coast, which were represented by them to be in a decayed and ruinous state.

fo. 177.

Various observations were made by the Board upon the several points contained in Mr. Petrie's letter, in particular with respect to the quality of the goods exported from Great Britain to the coast of Africa.

West Florida.

Mr. Ellis, agent for West Florida, prayed the Board's directions, with respect to the payment of a part of Mr. Clifton, the Chief Justice's salary, appropriated to the use of his wife here in England, and was instructed by their lordships not to issue any moneys to Mrs. Clifton, till he was properly certified of the Chief Justice's arrival in that province.

Report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon Mr. Mease's petition for a grant of land in West Florida, having been transcribed pursuant to order, was signed.

fo. 178.

Monday August 8. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Proprieties, Maryland.

Read an Order of the King in Council, dated August 5th, 1768, signifying his Majesty's approbation of Robert Eden, Esquire, to be Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, in the room of Horatio Sharpe, Esquire; and directing this Board to take care that security be given for the observance of the Acts of Trade, and a draught of instructions to the lord proprietary of that province prepared.

fo. 179.

Ordered, that the above mentioned Order in Council do lye by for further consideration, when the Proprietor of Maryland shall think fit to propose a proper person or persons to be sureties for the Deputy Governor, in the manner directed by the said Order in Council.

Wednesday August 10. Present:—Lord Hillsborough, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

South Carolina.

fo. 180.

The agent for South Carolina attending upon the subject of the Act passed in the province of South Carolina, for abolishing the office of Provost Marshall, appointing sheriffs and for other purposes, he was heard in what he had to offer in support of the said Act, and being withdrawn, their lordships, upon full consideration of the said Act, ordered that the draught of a representation his his Majesty thereupon should be prepared.

Proprieties, Maryland.

Mr. Hamersly, solicitor and agent for Lord Baltimore, Proprietary of Maryland, attended with Mr. Eden, approved by his Majesty to be Lieutenant Governor of that province, and proposed on his Lordship's behalf, the following persons to be sureties for the said Lieutenant Governor in the case and in the form directed by his Majesty's Order in Council of the 5th instant, vizt.
Sir John Eden, Baronet, of Windlestone, in the bishoprick of Durham, and William Eden, Esquire, of the Middle Temple.

fo. 181.

Proprieties, Maryland.

Their lordships approved of the said securities, and the Secretary was ordered to prepare and transmit to the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, the draught of a bond, in the usual form, to be entered into by the said persons, to the end that the proper securities may be taken in his Majesty's Exchequer.

The following papers received from the colonies were laid before the Board, vizt.
Georgia.
Letter from James Wright, Esquire, Governor of Georgia, to the Board, dated June 8th, 1768, containing remarks on several Acts lately passed in that province, and the flourishing state thereof.
Minutes of Council from the 6th of October to the 1st of December, 1767.
fo. 182.
Journal of the Upper House of Assembly from October 26th. 1767, to 11th of April, 1768.
Ditto: of the Commons House of Assembly for the same time.
Minutes of Council on the 18th of February, 1768.
Abstracts of grants registered from the 25th of March, 1767. to 25th of March, 1768.
Fourteen Acts and Ordinances passed April 11th, 1768.
Virginia.
Seven Acts passed in the colony of Virginia in April, 1768.
Quebec.
Two Ordinances passed in the province of Quebec, April 5th, 1768.

Ordered, that the above mentioned laws and ordinances be referred to Sir Matthew Lamb, for his opinion thereupon in point of law.