Journal, November 1770: Volume 77

Journal, November 1770

Wednesday, November 7. Present:—Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Robert Spencer, Lord Greville.

Dominica.

fo. 176.

The Earl of Hillsborough present, draughts of General Instructions and of those which relate to the observance of the Laws for regulating the Plantation trade, having been prepared for the Governor of Dominica pursuant to order, were approved, and a representation to His Majesty thereupon was signed.

Plantations General.

The Earl of Hillsborough communicated to the Board duplicates of letters received by his Lordship from the Governors of His Majesty's Colonies in America, relative to publick proceedings in the said Colonies for some time past, and the said letters were read and ordered to be bound up under the several heads to which they belong.

Trade, Africa.

fo. 177.

The Secretary laid before the Board several papers received from the Committee of the Company of merchants trading to Africa since their Lordships' adjournment, the titles of which are as follows, vizt.:
Copy of a letter from Archibald Dalziel, Esquire, Chief of Williams' Fort, Whydah, to the Governor and Council of Cape Coast Castle, dated February 18th, 1770.
Copy of a letter from John Grossle, Esquire, Governor of Cape Coast Castle, to the African Committee, dated April 16th, 1770.
Copy of a letter from Thomas Drew, Esquire, to the Committee of the Company of merchants trading to Africa, dated Cape Coast Castle, the 24th of May, 1770.
A list of the African Committee for the year 1770.

Plantations General.

The Secretary also laid before the Board publick Acts and Proceedings of the Legislatures of several of the Colonies, received since their Lordships' adjournment, the titles of which are as follows, vizt.:
fo. 178.
Quebec.
Minutes of Council from July 1st, 1769, to June 30th, 1770.
Copy of an Ordinance for the more effectual administration of justice, and for regulating the Courts of Law in this Province.
Nova Scotia.
Minutes of Council from July 22nd, 1769, to June, 1770.
Do: in Assembly from October 10th, 1769, to July 2nd, 1770.
Printed Journal of Assembly from October 10th, 1769, to November 9th following.
Massachusetts.
Minutes of Council from January 18th to 23rd, 1770.
Journal of the proceedings of the Great and General Court from March 15th to April 26th, 1770.
Journal of the proceedings of the Governor and Council from June 1st, 1769, to May 23rd, 1770.
fo. 179.
Printed Journal of the House of Representatives from May 30th to June 25th, 1770.
New York.
Minutes of Council in the State Department from February 22nd, 1769, to June 6th, 1770.
Do: in the Department of Lands, etc., from January 31st, 1769, to June 6th, 1770.
List of persons naturalized pursuant to the 13th of George 2nd, from the 18th of April, 1769, to the end of April Term, 1770.
New Jersey.
Minutes of Council from February 21st to December 6th, 1769.
Do: in Assembly from October 11th to December 6th, 1769.
Printed Votes and Proceedings of the General Assembly from October 10th to December 6th, 1769.
fo. 180.
Twenty six Acts passed in November, 1769, and eight Acts passed in March, 1770.
Printed copies of twenty six Acts.
Virginia.
Journal of Council from June 14th, 1769, to June 21st, 1770.
Do:in Assembly from November 7th, 1769, to June 28th, 1770.
Do: of the House of Burgesses from November, 1769, to June 28th, 1770.
Forty one Acts passed in December, 1769, and forty eight passed in June, 1770.
North Carolina.
Minutes of Council from November 4th, 1769, to April 9th, 1770.
Do: in Assembly from October 23rd to November 6th, 1769.
fo. 181.
Journal of Assembly from October 23rd to November 6th, 1769.
Four Acts passed in November, 1769.
South Carolina.
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Bull to the Board, dated June 6th, 1770, transmitting,
Minutes of Council from January 7th to May 2nd, 1770.
Minutes of Council in Assembly from November 28th, 1769, to April 11th, 1770.
Fourteen Acts passed in April, 1770.
List of said Acts.
List of grants from October 31st, 1769, to April 7th, 1770.
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Bull to the Board, dated June 20th, 1770, inclosing,
Journal of Assembly from          to April, 1770.
fo. 182.
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Bull to the Board, dated September 8th, 1770, transmitting,
List of grants of land signed since November 8th, 1769, to May 2nd, 1770.
Georgia.
Letter from James Wright, Esquire, Governor of Georgia, to the Board, dated July 23rd, 1770, transmitting,
Copy of an Address of both Houses of Assembly to the Governor relative to a Bill to ascertain the form of elections of Members to serve in the Commons House; and of the Governor's answer.
Copy of said Bill.
Minutes of Council from July 4th to December 5th, 1769.
Minutes of Council in Assembly from October 30th, 1769, to May 10th, 1770.
Nineteen Acts and Ordinances passed in June, 1761, and February and May, 1770.
fo. 183.
East Florida.
Minutes of Council from July 24th, 1769, to July 3rd, 1770.
West Florida.
Minutes of Council from February 14th to June 5th, 1770.
Do: of Council in Assembly from March 1st to May 19th, 1770.
Journal of the Commons House of Assembly from February 23rd to May 19th, 1770.
Eight Acts passed in May, 1770.
Bermuda.
Minutes of Council from August 1st, 1769, to April 28th, 1770.
Do: of Council in Assembly from October 2nd, 1769, to April 28th, 1770.
Votes and proceedings of the General Assembly from October 2nd, 1769, to April 28th, 1770.
Four Acts passed in March and April, 1770.
Bahamas.
fo. 184.
Letter from Governor Shirley (not dated) to the Board, transmitting,
Journal of Assembly from to March 17th, 1770.
Ten Acts passed.
Jamaica.
Printed Journal of the Council from October 24th to December 23rd, 1769.
Journal of Do: from February 13th to April 19th, 1770.
Journal of the Council in Assembly from the 10th to the 19th of April, 1770.
Minutes of Assembly from October 24th, 1769, to April 19th, 1770.
Twenty Acts passed in November and December, 1769, and February and April, 1770.
Leeward Islands, Antigua.
Minutes of Council from March 16th to November 23rd, 1769.
fo. 185.
Minutes of Assembly from January 12th, 1769, to August 29th following.
Two Acts passed in August, 1769, and January, 1770.
St. Christopher's.
Minutes of Assembly from May 12th to September 7th, 1769.
Two Acts passed in September and November, 1769.
Nevis.
Minutes of Council from October 13th, 1768, to July 15th, 1769.
Nevis.
Journal of Assembly from October 27th, 1768, to February 16th, 1769.
One Act passed in June, 1769.
Montserrat.
Minutes of Council from May 4th, 1769, to February 1st, 1770.
Minutes of Assembly from January 6th, 1768, to December 3rd, 1769.
fo. 186.
Two Acts passed in February, 1770.
Dominica.
Six Acts passed in and September, 1769, and March, 1770.
Grenada.
Minutes of Council from October 23rd, 1769, to February 16th, 1770.
Votes of the Assembly from June 24th to December 8th, 1769.
Five Acts passed in September, 1769, and February, 1770.
Tobago.
Minutes of Council from September 7th, 1768, to July 18th, 1770.
Six Acts passed in December, 1769, and April and May, 1770.
Barbados.
Minutes of Council from February 14th to August 8th, 1769.
Do: in Assembly from October 23rd, 1769, to November 6th following.
Minutes of Assembly from May 16th, 1769, to August 8th following.
Six Acts passed in March and June, 1769.

fo. 187.

Plantations General.

The Secretary acquainted the Board that, in order to save time, he had presumed, as by their Lordships' Order, to refer to Mr. Jackson the several Acts abovementioned passed in the Colonies, as they were respectively received, and their Lordships were pleased to approve his conduct therein.

Proprieties, Pennsylvania.

Read a report of Richard Jackson, Esquire, dated August 10th, 1770, on an Act passed in Pennsylvania in February, 1769, to dissolve the marriage of Curtis Grubb of the County of Lancaster, iron master, with Ann, his wife, etc.

Ordered, that copies of the said Act and of Mr. Jackson's report thereupon, be referred to His Majesty's Attorney and Solicitor General, and that they be desired to report their opinion, whether the Legislature of Pennsylvania had sufficient authority, by the form and constitution of that Government, to pass such a Law.

fo. 188.

Virginia.

Read a report of Richard Jackson, Esquire, dated October 20th, 1770, on thirty four Acts passed in Virginia in December, 1769.

Their Lordships, upon consideration of the said report and Laws, observing, that in the Act for dividing the Parish of Hamilton in the Counties of Fauquier and Prince William, no direction is given for laying out the money to arise by the sale of the glebe lands therein described in the purchase of other glebe lands for the said Parish, it was agreed to write to Lord Botetourt thereupon, and the draught of a letter to his Lordship was ordered to be prepared.

fo. 189.

The Act for supporting contingent charges of Government appearing to impose a great additional duty on Negroes imported, and to be in other respects of an important nature, it was agreed to take the same into further consideration on Wednesday, the 14th instant.

Leeward Islands.

The Earl of Hillsborough communicated to the Board, for their consideration, an extract of a letter from the Lieutenant Governor of the Leeward Islands, acquainting him with the death of Mr. Markham, one of the Council of Antigua, and recommending Mr. Esdaile to succeed to that vacancy.

fo. 190.

Ordered, that the Secretary do send to Governor Woodley, now in England, a state of the Councils respectively for each of the Islands under his Government, as the said Councils stood in his instructions, and desire him to point out what alterations have since that time been made therein, by death or resignation of any of the Members, with the names of such as have been appointed in their places.

New Hampshire.

Read a letter to the Secretary from Paul Wentworth, Esquire, dated London, October 2nd, 1770, signifying his desire of being appointed a Member of the Council of New Hampshire, pursuant to the Governor's recommendation, mentioned in the minutes of the 13th of July last.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to His Majesty be prepared, recommending him accordingly.

Trade.

Read a letter from Edward Stanley, Esquire, Secretary to the Commissioners of the Customs, to the Secretary to this Board, dated September 6th, 1770, transmitting,
Copy of the Custom House Leidger for the year 1765.

fo. 191.

Trade, Hamburgh.

Read a letter from Starrier Porten, Esquire, to the Secretary, dated October 18th, 1770, transmitting, by the Earl of Rochford's directions,
British Imports at Hamburgh in the year 1769.
French Imports at Hamburgh in the year 1769.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following papers communicated to him by the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury,
Massachusetts.
Copy of the King's Commission appointing Thomas Scammell to be Inspector of lands unclaimed in the Eastern part of the Massachusets Bay, etc.
Draught of instructions to          , Inspector of lands not claimed in the Province.

fo. 192.

Miscellanies.

Read a memorial of Joseph Cortissos of London, Notary Publick and agent to the lawful representatives of Jeronimy Clifford, late of Surinam, merchant, deceased, to the Board, dated November 7th, 1770, praying that he may have copies of certain papers therein mentioned.

Miscellanies.

Ordered, that copies of such of the papers therein mentioned, as are in the books of this office, be delivered to the memorialist.

Wednesday, November 14. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Lord Robert Spencer, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Northey.

New Hampshire.

fo. 193.

Virginia.

Lord Hillsborough present, the draught of a representation to His Majesty, recommending Paul Wentworth, Esquire, to be appointed of the Council of New Hampshire, having been prepared pursuant to order, was agreed to, transcribed and signed; as was also a letter to Lord Botetourt, on the subject of an Act of Virginia for dividing the Parish of Hamilton.

Virginia.

Their Lordships took into further consideration the Laws passed in Virginia in December, 1769, mentioned in the preceding minutes, as also several Laws passed at the same time and in June, 1770, with two reports of Mr. Jackson thereupon, and it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to His Majesty should be prepared, proposing that the following Acts should be disallowed, vizt.:
An Act for the ease and relief of the people by paying the Burgesses in money for the last Convention and present session of Assembly.
fo. 194.
An Act for laying an additional duty upon slaves imported into this Colony.
An Act for the better support of the contingent charges of Government.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to His Majesty be prepared, proposing that the following private Acts, passed with clauses suspending their execution until the King's pleasure is known, may be confirmed, vizt.:
An Act to dock the intail of fifteen hundred acres of land, whereof Thomas Mann Randolph, Gentleman, is seized, and for settling other lands in lieu thereof to the same uses.
fo. 195.
An Act to vest certain lands in David Meade in fee simple whereof the said David and Sarah, his wife, are seized in right of the said Sarah in fee tail, and for settling other lands in lieu thereof.
An Act to dock the intail of two thousand eight hundred acres of land in the County of Brunswick, whereof Armistead Lightfoot is seized in fee tail, and vesting the same in Trustees to be sold for certain purposes therein mentioned.
An Act to vest certain lands where of John Robinson, Esquire, died seized, in trust for Philip Johnson, Gentleman, and his children, in Trustees, for the purposes therein mentioned.
An Act to vest certain intailed lands and slaves therein mentioned in Nathaniel Lyttleton Savage, Gentleman, in fee simple, and to settle other lands in lieu thereof.
An Act to vest certain lands whereof Bernard Moore, Esquire, is seized in fee tail in Trustees to be sold, and the money laid out in the purchase of other lands and slaves, to be settled to the same uses.
fo. 196.
An Act to vest certain intailed lands whereof Charles Lewis, Gentleman, is seized in fee simple, and settle other lands to the same uses.
An Act to dock the intail of four thousand acres of land in the County of Isle of Wight, whereof James Burwell is seized in fee tail, and for vesting the same in Trustees in fee simple for certain purposes therein mentioned.
An Act to vest certain intailed lands whereof William and John Armistead, Gentlemen, are seized, in Trustees, to be sold for payment of the debts due from the estate of their father.

fo. 197.

South Carolina.

Their Lordships took into consideration several Laws passed in the Province of South Carolina in 1769, together with Mr. Jackson's report thereupon, and it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to His Majesty should be prepared, proposing that the following Acts may be disallowed, vizt.:
An Act for establishing a Parish in Granville County by the name of Saint Luke, and also for establishing a Parish in Craven County by the name of All Saints, and for erecting a Chapel of Ease in the Parish of Prince Frederick.
An Act for stamping and issuing the sum of one hundred and six thousand and five hundred pounds, being the amount of the present lawful paper Bills of Credit in this Province, and for calling in and changing the paper Bills of Credit now outstanding, which are a tender by law in all payments.

fo. 198.

St. Vincent's.

Several petitions, praying the Board's approbation of certain leases of lands granted to French inhabitants in the Islands of St. Vincent and Dominica, being assigned to British subjects, were read, and the Secretary was ordered to certify their Lordships' approbation accordingly, vizt.:
Petition of John Baptist Imbert to assign a lease of five acres of land in the Island of St. Vincent to Chouignon Fournier.
Petition of Marin Le Fort to assign a lease of nineteen acres of land in the Island of St. Vincent to Thomas Ottley.
Petition of Angelica Vaille to assign a lease of sixty nine acres of land in the Island of St. Vincent to Ashton Warner Byam.
fo. 199.
Petition of Fournier Debzine to assign a lease of twenty six acres of land in the Island of St. Vincent to Harry Alexander.
Petition of Louis Antoyer to assigne a lease of ten acres of land in the Island of St. Vincent to Josias Jackson.
Petition of Gabriel Cherpy to assign a lease of thirty eight acres of land in the Island of St. Vincent to Josias Jackson.
Dominica.
Petition of Louis Longvilliers Rolle of the Island of Dominica to assign twenty four acres of land in the said Island to any person, being a British subject.

Virginia.

fo. 200.

Read a letter from Lord Botetourt, Governor of Virginia, to the Board, dated June 24th, 1770, relative to the Patents for land in that Colony, and desiring to be informed what lands may immediately be granted in consequence of the Treaty at Fort Stanwix.

The Earl of Hillsborough acquainted the Board, that His Majesty's commands had already been signified to Lord Botetourt on the subject to which the above letter refers, in consequence of their Lordships' resolution on the 18th of July last.

Read a letter from Lord Botetourt to the Board, dated July 31st, 1770, transmitting,
A true and full account of all the Orders of Council for granting lands, and also of all petitions which have been presented, the consideration of which is postponed; and likewise of all petitions for lands lying between the Allegany Mountains, and a line that may be run from the western boundary of the Carolina line to the confluence of the River Ohio with the Missisisppi.

fo. 201.

Friday, November 16. Present:—Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Robert Spencer, Mr. Jenyns, Lord Greville.

Barbados.

fo. 202.

Lord Hillsborough present, their Lordships took into consideration a Bill passed by the Council and Assembly of the Island of Barbados, intituled "an Act to empower the House of Assembly to grant leave to the Honourable Sir John Gay Alleyne, Baronet, Speaker of the said House, to depart the Island for the recovery of his health, and also to empower them, whenever it shall be found necessary, to grant the same indulgence to any of their Members (not permitting more than four to be absent at one and the same time), notwithstanding the proviso in an Act of this Island, now in full force, bearing date the eighteenth day of July in the year one thousand, seven hundred and twenty one, intituled an Act to keep inviolate and preserve the freedom of elections, and appointing who shall be deemed Freeholders, and be capable of electing or being elected Assembly men or Vestry men, or to serve as Jurors to try real Actions within this Island," together with a letter from the Governor of that Island to the Earl of Hillsborough, containing observations on the said Bill, with his reasons for refusing his assent thereto, until His Majesty's pleasure was known, and it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to His Majesty upon the said Bill should be prepared.

Georgia.

fo. 203.

Their Lordships took into consideration a Bill passed by the Council and Assembly of Georgia, entituled "an Act to amend an Act to ascertain the manner and form of electing Members to represent the inhabitants of this Province in the Commons House of Assembly," together with a letter to the Board, from the Governor of the said Colony, containing observations on the said Bill, with his reasons for refusing his assent thereto, untill His Majesty's pleasure was known, and it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to His Majesty upon the said Bill should be prepared.

Bermuda.

fo. 204.

Their Lordships took into consideration a Bill passed by the Assembly of the Bermuda Islands, entituled "an Act for granting to His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, certain monies to be raised on the inhabitants of these Islands by an Excise on rum, Tonage on vessels, and Tax on slaves for and towards the payment of certain arrears due from His Majesty's Government," together with a letter from the Governor of the said Islands to the Earl of Hillsborough, containing observations on the said Bill, with the reasons which induced him and the Council to refuse their assent to the said Bill, until His Majesty's pleasure was known; and it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to His Majesty thereupon should be prepared.

Nova Scotia.

fo. 205.

Their Lordships took into consideration a Bill passed by the Council and Assembly of Nova Scotia, intituled "an Act for raising the sum of one thousand pounds by a lottery or lotteries for the building bridges and making roads of communication through the Province" together with a letter from the Governor of that Colony to the Earl of Hillsborough, containing observations on the said Bill, and it was ordered, that it should be referred to Mr. Jackson, one of His Majesty's Counsel at Law, for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

Proprieties, Maryland.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following publick Proceedings in the Colony of Maryland, transmitted to the Earl of Hillsborough by the Deputy Governor of that Colony, vizt.:
Votes and Proceedings of the lower House of Assembly of the Province of Maryland, November session, 1769.
Printed Laws of Maryland passed at the session begun the 17th of November and ended the 20th of December, 1769.

fo. 206.

Ordered, that the Acts be referred to Mr. Jackson, one of His Majesty's Counsel at Law, for his report thereupon in point of law.

Wednesday, November 21. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Lord Robert Spencer, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Greville, Mr. Northey.

The Earl of Hillsborough present, the following draughts of representations to His Majesty, having been prepared pursuant to order, were read and approved, and, having been transcribed, were signed, vizt.:
Virginia.
fo. 207.
Representation to His Majesty on several private Acts of Virginia, proposing that they may be confirmed.
South Carolina.
Representation to His Majesty on an Act of South Carolina for dividing a Parish, proposing that it may be disallowed.
Representation to His Majesty on an Act of South Carolina, for striking and issuing one hundred, six thousand and five hundred pounds in paper Bills of Credit, proposing that it may be disallowed.
Bermuda.
Representation to His Majesty on a Bill passed by the Assembly of Bermuda for granting to His Majesty certain monies to be raised on the inhabitants of those Islands.

Virginia.

fo. 208.

The Secretary moved the Board on behalf of the persons interested in an Act of Virginia in 1764,for docking the intail of certain lands whereof Richard Todd is seized, that their Lordships would lay the said Act before His Majesty, for His Majesty's Royal confirmation, and, the said Act having been read and considered, a representation to His Majesty, proposing that it may be confirmed, was agreed to and signed.

Virginia.

Read a memorial of Edward Bell, praying for a grant of eighty thousand acres of land in the back parts of Virginia, to be laid out in tracts of ten thousand acres each, free from payment to His Majesty's rights of five shillings for every fifty acres.

The memorialist attending was called in, and their Lordships stated to him several reasons, why the prayer of his memorial could not be complied with.

fo. 209.

North Carolina.

Their Lordships took into consideration several Laws passed in the Province of North Carolina in 1768 and 1769, together with Mr. Jackson's report thereupon, and made some progress therein.

Friday, November 23. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Lord Robert Spencer, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Greville, Mr. Northey.

The Earl of Hillsborough present, several draughts of representations to His Majesty, having been prepared, were approved, transcribed and signed, vizt.:
fo. 210.
Virginia.
Two representations to His Majesty on Laws passed in the Colony of Virginia, in 1769, proposing that two of the said Laws may be disallowed.
Georgia.
Representation to His Majesty upon a Bill passed by the Council and Assembly of Georgia to amend an Act for regulating elections.
Barbados.
Representation to His Majesty on a Bill passed by the Council and Assembly of Barbados to extend the Assembly's privilege of granting leave of absence to their Members.

Grenada, Dominica.

fo. 211.

The Earl of Hillsborough, by His Majesty's command, laid before the Board, for their consideration, copy of a letter from Governor Melvill and of a paper therein referred to, relative to the inconveniencies to which the Islands of Grenada and Dominica are subjected, for want of Commissions for trial of pirates, pursuant to the Act of the tenth and eleventh of William the third.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to His Majesty be prepared, proposing that separate Commissions for trial of pirates may be granted for the Governments of Grenada and Dominica.

Dominica.

fo. 212.

The Board was moved in behalf of sundry persons holding lands in the Island of Dominica under leases from the Crown, for their Lordships' approbation of the assignment of such leases to British subjects, the Governor of the Ceded Islands having given his consent, and the Secretary was ordered to signify their Lordships approbation accordingly, vizt.:
Petition of Francis Laurent to assign his lease of ten acres of land in St. George's Parish, Dominica, to some British subject.
Petition of Pierre Pantier to assign a lease of seven acres of land in Dominica to Elizabeth Paillet Labasse.
Petition of Elizabeth Roquemont and Marie Claude Tregante to assign their lease of thirty acres of land in Dominica to Joseph Bouillon.

West Florida.

fo. 213.

Read a petition of Helen Maria Timberlake, setting forth an application of Lieutenant Henry Timberlake, her late husband, deceased, for a tract of land in West Florida, that she is now about to go into the said Colony, and praying the Board's compassionate consideration of her application that the grant of the said land may be made to her.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to His Majesty be prepared, humbly recommending that her petition may be complied with.

Barbados, Georgia, Bermuda.

The Earl of Hillsborough was requested by the Board to lay before His Majesty their humble representations, mentioned in this and the preceding minutes, upon the several Bills transmitted by the Governors of Barbados, Georgia and Bermuda.

fo. 214.

Wednesday, November 28. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Lord Greville, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Northey.

East Florida.

The Earl of Hillsborough present, read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation affairs, dated November 27th, 1770, referring to this Board, for their consideration and report, a memorial of the Earl of Dartmouth and his four sons to the King, praying for a grant to them of one hundred thousand acres of land in the Province of East Florida.

fo. 215.

Ordered, that the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation affairs be prepared, recommending that the request, contained in Lord Dartmouth's memorial may be complied with, and the land laid out in five separate lots of twenty thousand acres each.

Trade.

Read a letter from John Robinson, Esquire, to the Secretary to this Board, dated November 16th, 1770, desiring him, by the directions of the Lords of the Treasury, to lay before the Lords of Trade, for their opinion, a memorial of the merchants and others concerned in the whale fishery to the Lords of the Treasury, praying their Lordships to give their countenance and support to an Act for continuing the bounty of forty shillings per ton upon all ships employed in catching of whales in the Greenland Seas.

The memorial inclosed in the said letter not being subscribed with any names, it was ordered to lye upon the table, untill the parties interested should appear.

fo.216.

Read a letter from Messrs. Makens and Company to the Board, dated November 16th, 1770, beseeching their Lordships, that a vessel loaded by them with rags from the neighbourhood of Lille, etc., may be permitted to enter into the Port of London without being obliged to perform quarantine.

Their Lordships having no information or materials whatever to form an opinion, as to the propriety or impropriety of the request contained in the said letter, Lord Hillsborough was requested to lay the same before His Majesty in Council.

West Florida.

The draught of a representation to His Majesty on the petition of Helen Maria Timberlake, having been prepared pursuant to order, was approved, transcribed and signed.

fo. 217.

Leeward Islands.

Read a letter from William Woodley, Esquire, Governor of the Leeward Islands, to the Secretary to this Board, dated November 15th, 1770, transmitting,
State of the Councils for the Leeward Islands, as the said Councils stood in His Majesty's General Instructions to Governor Woodley, with such alterations as have been made since that period.