Journal, February 1769: Volume 76

Journal, February 1769

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Tuesday, February 7. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Rice, Mr. Robinson, Lord Lisburne.

New York.

The Secretary laid before the Board a letter from Captain Pryce to the Earl of Hillsborough relative to his services in America, as stated in his memorial, mentioned in the preceding minutes, together with a letter from Sir Jeffery Amherst to Captain Pryce, certifying his sense of these services; whereupon it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty should be prepared, proposing that the Governor of New York may be authorized by an Order in Council to pass a patent to Captain Pryce for five thousand acres of land in that colony.

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West Florida.

Mr. Comyn, a petitioner for ten thousand acres of land in West Florida, attended, with Mr. Hannay, who acquainted the Board, that all the circumstances, alleged by Mr. Comyn in support of his request were, to his knowledge, matters of fact; whereupon it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty should be prepared, proposing that the Governor of West Florida may be authorized by an Order in Council to pass a patent to Mr. Comyn for the lands he petitions for.

Trade, Spain.

The Secretary communicated to the Board a translation of the papers in the Spanish language, referred to in Lord Weymouth's letter to the Board of the 9th of January, mentioned in the minutes of the 21st of that month.

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Ordered, that Mr. Hodgson, whose memorial of complaint against the British vice-consul in the port of Gijon is mentioned in the minutes of the 21st ultimo, be desired to attend the Board this day se'nnight, on the subject matter of the said complaint, and of Lord Weymouth's letter thereupon.

Georgia.

Read an order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated December 22nd, 1768, referring to this Board, for their consideration and report, an extract of a letter from the Governor of Georgia to the Earl of Hillsborough, desiring to be instructed, whether he is, at all events, to reject any negroe law that may be framed, provided it does not declare slaves to be real estate and descendible to the heir with the lands.

Their lordships took the subject matter of the said Order of reference into consideration, and, after some time spent therein, ordered the draft of a report thereupon to be prepared.

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Thursday, February 9. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Rice, Mr. Robinson, Lord Lisburne.

Nova Scotia, Georgia, East Florida, West Florida, Plantations General.

Estimates of the sums necessary for supporting the civil establishments of the colonies of Nova Scotia, Georgia, East Florida and West Florida. and for general surveys, having been prepared pursuant to order, were approved, and Mr. Rice was desired to present them to the House of Commons, pursuant to his Majesty's commands.

Ordered. that the Secretary do transmit copies of the said estimates to the Treasury, with a paper noticing wherein they differ from the estimates of last year.

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Saturday, February 11. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough. Mr. Rice, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Lisburne.

Georgia.

Their lordships took into further consideration the state of the culture of raw silk in the British colonies in America, and Mr. Delamar, concerned in the silk manufacture, attending, the Board had some conversation with him on this subject; after which their lordships came to a resolution, that the best and most effectual means of encouraging the culture of this valuable raw material of manufacture would be by a bounty, payable ad valorem upon every pound of raw silk, the growth of the British colonies imported from thence. according to the following rate and for the following periods. vizt.
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25 per cent for 7 years.
20 per cent for 7 years.
15 per cent for 7 years.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, desiring him to acquaint that Board with their lordships' opinion upon this matter, in order that this Board may have their Lordships' sentiments upon it, before any further steps are taken.

The Secretary laid before the Board duplicates of several letters and papers from the Governor of Georgia to one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, received from the said Governor, vizt.
Duplicate of a letter from Governor Wright to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated August 5th. 1768, containing remarks on regulating the Indian trade.
Copy of a minute, November 18th, 1765, at the Congress held with Governor Grant at Picolata.
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Copy of the sketch of the boundary line sent to the Indians.
Copy of Governor Wright's and Mr. Stuart's talk to the Lower Creek respecting the boundary line.
Copy of Governor Wright's second agreement with the Creeks relative to the lower line, January 10th, 1766.
Duplicate of a letter from Governor Wright to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated August 6th, 1768, relative to the temper and sentiments of the colonies in North America with respect to the authority of the Parliament of Great Britain.
Duplicate of a letter from Governor Wright to the Board. dated November 1st. 1768, relative to the expence of the silk culture.

Newfoundland.

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The Earl of Hillsborough communicated to the Board, by his Majesty's command, a memorial of the Society of the Unitas fratrum established at Lindsey House, praying that they may be allowed to establish a mission upon the northern coasts of Labrador. and that they may be allowed to occupy, under the protection of Government, a tract of land thereupon not exceeding one hundred thousand acres on Esquimaux Bay.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty in Council upon the said memorial be prepared.

West Florida.

Read a memorial of Mr. Bruce, appointed one of his Majesty's Council in West Florida by Governor Johnston, setting forth his intention of immediately returning to the said colony, and therefore praying, that he may be confirmed in his seat in the said Council by a mandamus from his Majesty.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty in Council upon the said memorial be prepared.

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East Florida.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following letters and papers received from James Grant, Esquire, Governor of East Florida, vizt.
Duplicate of a letter. No. 8, from Governor Grant to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated August 13th, 1768, in answer to the complaint of Denys Rolle, Esquire, against him.
Copy of Governor Grant's letter to Lachlin Macleane, Esquire, in answer to an official letter written by order of the Earl of Shelburne concerning Denys Rolle, Esquire.
Duplicate of a letter. No. 9, from Governor Grant to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated August 29th, 1768, relating to disturbances among the settlers introduced by Dr. Turnbull; and proposing the building of a fort at the Mosquetto inlett, and establishing a port of entry there.
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Duplicate of a letter, No. 10, from Governor Grant to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated September 9th, 1768, stating his difficulties with respect to asserting the King's rights against the claim of Messieurs Gordon, Fish and others, pretended purchasers of land in that province, and inclosing eight papers relative thereto.
Duplicate of a letter. No. 11, from Governor Grant to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated September 27th, 1768, acknowledging the receipt of his Lordship's letter, No. 5, with a copy of a report of the Attorney and Solicitor General on an Act passed in New Jersey respecting ships forced on shore or stranded.
Duplicate of a letter. No. 12, from Governor Grant to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated September 27th, 1768.
acknowledging the receipt of his Lordship's letter, No. 8. with copies of papers relative to the murder of William Odgers.
Duplicate of a letter, No. 13, from Governor Grant to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated September 28th, 1768. acknowledging the receipt of his Lordship's letter. No. 7, and advising that the fort of St. Mark's, Appalachè, may not be dismantled.
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Duplicate of a letter. No. 14, from Governor Grant to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated October 20th, 1768, informing his Lordship of the death of Mr. Greening, Register and Naval Officer of that province, and of his appointment of two other gentlemen to those offices; also of the proceedings against the Italian and Greek mutineers.

Wednesday, February 15. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson, Lord Lisburne.

Nova Scotia.

Read a memorial of sundry persons associated for the purpose of making a settlement in Nova Scotia, stating the progress they have made in the settlement of a tract of land in the district of Minas, and praying an enlargement of their grant.

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Mr. Hutford, agent for the memorialists, attending without was called in, but not being able to give their lordships any satisfactory information touching the allegations of the memorialists, their lordships did not think fit to proceed any further in this business.

Read a second memorial of Sir William Mayne and others, explanatory of their formal memorial mentioned in the minutes of the 26th ultimo, praying for a grant of a township in the province of Nova Scotia.

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

Plantations General.

The following representations to his Majesty, and report to the Lords of the Committee of Council, were signed.

Grenada.

Representation to his Majesty, proposing that Edmund Lincoln, Esquire, may be appointed of the Council of Tobago.

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West Florida.

Representation to his Majesty upon the memorial of Mr. Bruce, praying to be confirmed in his rank and seat in the Council of West Florida.

Representation to his Majesty upon the memorial of Mr. Cornyn for a grant of land in West Florida.

New York.

Representation to his Majesty upon the memorial of Captain Pryce for a grant of land in New York.

Newfoundland.

Representation to his Majesty upon the memorial of the Society of Unitas fratrum, praying for an establishment upon the Labrador coast.

Georgia.

Report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon Governor Wright's letter, relative to a negroe law in that colony.

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Trade.

Their lordships had under consideration the state of the bounty granted by Parliament upon indigo and naval stores, and made some progress therein.

Thursday, February 23. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Fitzherbert. Mr. Rice, Mr. Robinson, Lord Lisburne.

Trade, Spain.

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Their lordships took into consideration the papers relative to the complaints against the British vice consul in the port of Gijon in Spain, and Mr. Hodgson attending as desired, the report of the consul general upon Captain Codner's complaint, mentioned in Lord Weymouth's letter of the 9th of January, was read to him; and he having thereupon requested a copy of the said report. stating himself to be agent for Captain Codner, his request was granted, and it was ordered, that he should have a copy of the said report, and also copies of the papers therein referred to.

Quebec.

Read a memorial of Frederick Dutens, Esquire, of London, merchant, in behalf of himself, and of Duncan Anderson and William Smith of Quebec and Chaleur Bay, merchants, praying that their lordships will recommend them to his Majesty for a grant of ten thousand acres of land in the province of Quebec.

Mr. Dutens attending and having given full satisfaction to the Board touching the allegations of his memorial, it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty thereupon should be prepared.

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New York.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated August 24th, 1767, referring to this Board, for their consideration and report. a petition of Captain Samuel Bayard and others, praying the royal confirmation of an Indian deed for a grant of lands in the province of New York.

Sir James Jay attending, with another gentleman interested in the petition, they were called in and heard in what they had to offer in support of the petition, whereupon it was ordered, that a copy of the petition should be made, to be transmitted to the Governor of New York, and that the draught of a letter to him should be prepared, directing him to transmit to the Board the fullest information he can procure touching the allegations of the said petition, and all publick transactions relative to the grant from the Indians, of which the petitioners pray for a confirmation.

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New Hampshire.

Their lordships took into consideration an Act passed in the province of New Hampshire in 1768, entitled an Act in further addition to an Act intituled an Act for the relief of idiots and distracted persons: and it appearing that the original Act, to which the Act in question refers, and of which it is explanatory, had been disallowed by an Order in Council in 1718, it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty should be prepared, stating specially the circumstances of the case, and recommending that the Law passed in 1768 should be disallowed.

East Florida.

Read a duplicate of a letter, No. 15, from James Grant, Esquire, Governor of East Florida, to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated December 1st, 1768, relative to the settlement of Dr. Turnbull, and the two ministers appointed for the province.