Journal, June 1769: Volume 76

Journal, June 1769

fo. 112.

Thursday, June 1. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Roberts, Mr Robinson, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Lisburne.

Quebec.

Their lordships took into further consideration the order of the Lords of the Committee of Council on the 28th of September, 1768, directing this Board to consider the state of Quebec, and whether it is advisable to constitute an assembly there, as petitioned for by the Committee of Merchants trading to that colony, and made some progress therein.

fo. 113.

Friday, June 2. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Robinson, Lord Lisburne.

Quebec.

Their lordships made a further progress in the consideration of the several points respecting the state of Quebec, referred by the order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, mentioned in the minutes of yesterday.

Trade, Africa.

Read the copy of a letter to the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa from the chief officer upon the coast of Africa, dated December 30th, 1768, relating to the obstructions given by the Dutch to Portuguese vessels selling tobacco to the British subjects there.

fo. 114.

Ordered, that this letter be taken into further consideration on Tuesday next, and that some of the Committee of the African Company be desired to attend.

Tuesday, June 6. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Robinson, Lord Lisburne.

Trade, Africa.

Several of the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa attended upon the subject of Mr. Petrie's letter to the said Committee, mentioned in the minutes of Friday last, and their lordships had some discourse with them thereupon.

fo. 115.

Quebec.

Their lordships made a further progress in the several matters now under their consideration relative to Quebec.

Thursday, June 8. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Robinson, Lord Lisburne.

Quebec.

fo. 116.

Their lordships made a further progress in the several papers relative to Quebec, and it was ordered, that the Secretary should write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to desire the favour of his attendance at the Board tomorrow morning, upon the subject or such parts of those papers as relate to the revenue there.

After which their lordships had some discourse with Major Mills, Receiver General of the Revenue of Quebec, touching the state thereof, and the best means of establishing the said revenue upon a proper foot.

Friday, June 9. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Robinson, Lord Lisburne.

Quebec.

fo. 117.

Their lordships took into further consideration such parts of the papers relative to the present state of Quebec as relate to the revenue, and made some progress therein.

New Hampshire.

The draught of an explanatory report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon the method of proceeding, proper to be adopted in New Hampshire in respect of idiots and distracted persons, having been prepared pursuant to order, was approved, transcribed and signed.

Tuesday, June 13. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Lisburne.

Virginia.

fo. 118.

The Secretary having acquainted the Board, that he was desired by the parties interested in an Act, passed in the colony of Virginia in April, 1767, intituled an Act to dock the intail of six hundred and twenty three acres of land in the parish of St. Martin and county of Hanover, whereof John Aylett is seized in fee tail, and for vesting the same in trustees in fee simple for the uses therein mentioned, to move their lordships to lay the said Act before his Majesty, for his Majesty's royal confirmation, the said Act was read, and it appearing to have passed through all the forms prescribed in the case of private Acts by his Majesty's instruction, it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty thereupon should be prepared.

Quebec.

fo. 119.

The Earl of Hillsborough, by his Majesty's command, communicated to the Board a letter to his Lordship from the Governor of Quebec, dated the 15th of March, 1769, desiring leave to come to England, and representing the use he could be of here, in respect to such measures as it might be proper to pursue for the settlement of the affairs of that colony.

Their lordships, having read the said letter, made some further progress in the consideration of the state of affairs in that colony.

Thursday, June 15. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Robinson, Lord Lisburne.

Quebec.

Their lordships made a further progress in the consideration of the state of Quebec.

fo. 120.

Friday, June 16. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Bishop of London, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Robinson, Lord Lisburne.

Quebec.

Their lordships had under further consideration the state of Quebec, and more especially in regard to ecclesiastical affairs within the said colony.

Thursday, June 22. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Lisburne.

Quebec.

fo. 121.

Their lordships made a further progress in the consideration of the state of Quebec, and it was ordered, that the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon the several points contained in their order of reference of the 28th of September, 1768, should be prepared.

Virginia.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon a private Act of Virginia relative to the estate of Mr. Aylett, having been prepared pursuant to order, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Jamaica.

Read a memorial of Stephen Fuller, Esquire, agent for the island of Jamaica, to the Board, praying their lordships' report for confirming an Act passed in December, 1768, to authorize William Patrick Brown, Esquire, to settle and dispose of his estate &c., dated June 3rd, 1769.

Ordered, that the Act to which the said memorial relates, be taken into further consideration on Tuesday next.

fo. 122.

Miscellanies.

fo. 123.

The Earl of Hillsborough having acquainted the Board, that he had received intelligence that Mr. Lewis (a clerk in this office) carried on a correspondence with persons in America of a very unwarrantable tendency, highly reflecting upon the measures of his Majesty's Government, and encouraging them to continue resolute in opposition to the constitutional authority of the Legislature, the several clerks in attendance were called in, and enquiry being made of them, whether they had at any time been privy to a correspondence of Mr. Lewis with persons in America, Mr. Wilks, one of the said clerks, stated to their lordships, that, some time in March last, Mr. Lewis read to him a letter he had then wrote to a person at New York, in which, amongst a variety of matter relative to the East India Company, civil list, &c., &c., was contained reflections on the Ministry, and advice to the people at New York to abide by their former resolutions, which, if they should continue to do for a year longer, this country's distresses would compel a submission to any terms America might require.

That the hopes conceived by his correspondent, that matters would prove more favourable for America than by some late intelligence from England had been represented, were ill founded; that it was impossible to represent the miseries intended to be brought upon America, and that this was all done under the sunshine of the royal countenance.

fo. 124.

Mr. Berkley, another clerk, said he remembered well Mr. Lewis's shewing him a letter, in which he condemned the measures of government in respect to America, but that he could not recollect the terms.

Mr. Lewis, who was absent from his duty, was thereupon sent for to attend the Board, but having sent for answer that he did not care to attend them, it was ordered, that this matter should be taken into further consideration on Tuesday next, and Mr. Lewis ordered to attend on that day.

Tuesday, June 27. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Lisburne.

Quebec.

fo. 125.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon the state of Quebec in the several points mentioned in their order of the 28th of September, 1768, having been prepared pursuant to order, was read and considered.

Miscellanies.

Mr. Lewis, the clerk, not attending pursuant to order, their lordships postponed the consideration of the charge against him to Thursday, and the Secretary was ordered to send him a peremptory order to attend on that day.

Bahamas.

Read a letter from Thomas Shirley, Esquire, Governor of the Bahama Islands, to the Board, dated April 30th, 1769, transmitting a copy of an Act passed in September, 1762, for erecting a special Court, and better establishing and regulating the other Courts of Judicature within these islands, and promising to transmit copies of the Acts passed since his arrival there.

fo. 126.

South Carolina.

Read a memorial of Thomas Crowley, on behalf of John Daniel Hammerer, to the Earl of Hillsborough, stating his services in civilizing and instructing the Indian youth, and praying that some provision may be made for him.

Ordered, that Mr. Crowley have notice to attend on the subject of his memorial on Friday next.

Jamaica.

Their lordships took into consideration the private Act of Jamaica, mentioned in Mr. Fuller's memorial read on Thursday last, and it was ordered, that Mr. Fuller should have notice to attend on the subject of the said memorial on Friday next.

fo. 127.

Grenada.

Read a memorial of Patrick Wilkie, Captain in his Majesty's 32nd Regiment of Foot, to the Board, dated July 1st, 1768, praying their lordships' approbation of the assignment of two leases to him.

Ordered, that the said memorial do lye by for further consideration at another opportunity.

Read an humble petition of Louis Taupaud of the island of Dominica, cooper and planter, to this Board, praying their lordships' approbation of a license given him by Governor Melvill to assign his lease of a tract of land in the said island.

Ordered, that the Secretary do certify the Board's approbation of the petitioner's assigning his lease for the term of years yet to come.

fo. 128.

Trade, Spain.

Read a letter from Mr. Peter Hodgson, merchant, to the Secretary to this Board, dated May 13th, 1769, inclosing,
Petition and affidavit of John Codner, master of the brig Peggy of Plymouth, in answer to certain papers transmitted by Mr. James Brusby on behalf of Mr. Luares, vice consul for this nation at Gijon in Spain.

Their lordships, upon mature consideration of the whole of the case, to which these papers refer, ordered the draught of a letter to Lord Weymouth thereupon to be prepared.

Plantations General.

fo. 129.

Read an order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated June 21st, 1769, referring to this Board an extract of a letter from Major General Gage, and a copy of a letter from Sir William Johnson, both to the Earl of Hillsborough, in consequence of an order in Council of the 12th of August last upon an application of Mr. Bostwick and others for a grant of all mines, minerals and metals in, about and under Lake Superior in North America; and directing their lordships to consider thereof, and having examined the parties concerned, to report what they think adviseable to be done thereupon.

Ordered, that the several persons interested in the application for a grant of mines on Lake Superior have notice to attend the Board on the subject matter of this order on Tuesday next, the 4th of July.

fo. 130.

Read an order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated June 21st, 1769, referring to this Board the petition of Jonathan Carver, late Commander of a company of provincial troops of Massachusets Bay, stating his services in the interior parts of North America, and his expences in making discoveries, keeping journals and taking charts, none of which he hath published or discovered, and praying his Majesty to afford him some recompence for the same, and directing this Board to enquire into the facts stated, and report what utility may arise to the publick from the said charts, plans and discoveries, with their opinion what may be adviseable to be done thereupon.

Ordered, that Captain Carver have notice to attend the Board on the subject matter of this order on Tuesday next, the 4th of July.

fo. 131.

New York.

Read an order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated June 21st, 1769, directing this Board to prepare and lay before them a draught of an additional instruction to the Governor or Commander in Chief of New York in no case to make any grants of lands to the northward of Crown Point, until the petitions and proposals for grants of any part or parts of such lands shall have been transmitted and laid before his Majesty, and his Majesty's approbation thereof signified to the said Governor.

Ordered, that the draught of an additional instruction to the Governor of New York, in conformity to the said order, be prepared.

fo. 132.

Thursday, June 29. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Lisburne.

Miscellanies.

fo. 133.

Mr. Lewis attending pursuant to an order from the Secretary, he was called in, and the minutes of the 22nd instant having been read to him, he denyed that he had, in the letter referred to by Mr. Wilks, used any such expressions as Mr. Wilks had stated; Mr. Wilks was then called in, and, being questioned touching the said expressions, declared, that he was very sure the expressions stated by him were the very expressions used by Mr. Lewis, who then desired to appeal to a copy of his letter, which he produced, and the parts referred to being read, appeared to correspond, both in substance and sense, with what Mr. Wilkes had stated.

Mr. Lewis then said in his justification, that those expressions were actually paragraphs taken from the publick news papers and intended to be stated as such, and that the letter was only a private letter to his relation, never meant or intended to be made publick.

Mr. Lewis was then ordered to withdraw, and the Board, after full consideration, having resolved that he should be dismissed from his place in this office, he was again called in and acquainted therewith.

fo. 134.

Friday, June 30. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Lisburne.

South Carolina.

fo. 135.

Mr. Crowley's memorial, mentioned in the minutes of the 27th instant, was again read and considered, and Mr. Crowley attending as desired, it appeared upon examination, that the transaction to which he refers, relative to Mr. Daniel Hammerer's being sent to America to instruct the Indian youth, was not a publick proceeding at this Board, but only a private conversation with Lord Hillsborough, who had expressed his private opinion of the utility of such a plan, whereupon Mr. Crowley was advised to make an application to the Society for the propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts, and Lord Hillsborough was requested by the Board to recommend Mr. Hammerer's case to the Governor of South Carolina.

Jamaica.

The agent for Jamaica not attending pursuant to the notice given him, the further consideration of his memorial, on the subject of the Act mentioned therein, was postponed.

Quebec.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon the state of Quebec in respect to the several points, mentioned in their order of the 28th of September, 1768, was further considered.