Journal, January 1775: Volume 82

Journal, January 1775

At a meeting of His Majesty's Commissioners for Trade and Plantations.

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Monday, January 23rd. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Keene, Mr. Jolliffe, Mr. Greville.

Nova Scotia.

The Earl of Dartmouth, one of His Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, attends, and lays before the Board, by his Majesty's command, several dispatches received a few days ago from the Governor of Nova Scotia, desiring instructions respecting several matters which have occurred in the administration of the government of that province.

The points for consideration. together with their lordships' sentiments thereupon, are as follows, viz.:—

First. A contest between the Council and Assembly respecting the mode of taxing lands; the former contending that unsettled and unimproved lands ought not to be taxed, the other insisting that, both in justice and expediency, they ought to be taxed equally with the others.

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Upon this point their lordships were of opinion, that the Governor ought to be instructed not to assent to any law by which unimproved and unsettled lands should be taxed equally with those settled and improved.

Secondly. Whether it would not be advisable that the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, now confined to the town of Halifax, should be extended to other counties and towns within the province, and whether a law passed for that purpose, with a suspending clause, and transmitted by the Governor, should not be confirmed.

Their lordships agreed in opinion upon the expediency of the Governor's proposition, and ordered the law to be referred to Mr. Jackson, for his opinion thereupon.

Thirdly. A proposition submitted by the Governor for altering the constitution of the House of Representatives by lessening the quorum from twelve to nine, and adding two members to the town and two to the county of Halifax.

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Their lordships were of opinion, that it would be advisable, for the reasons assigned by the Governor, to make the alteration proposed.

Fourthly. A proposition of the Surveyor General of Lands that, in consequence of the great expence attending the survey of lands laid out for sale, pursuant to his Majesty's late instruction, he should be allowed a compensation out of the money arising from the sale.

Their lordships were of opinion, that it would be reasonable some compensation should be made to him, and that it ought to be a certain sum per hundred acres, not exceeding four shillings, according to what the Governor should in his discretion think reasonable, in proportion to the situation of the district, and the greater or lesser difficulties in the survey.

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Their lordships having gone through the consideration of the several matters laid before them, Lord Dartmouth was requested humbly to submit their opinions thereupon to the King, in order that such instructions may be sent to Governor Legge, as his Majesty shall thereupon think necessary and expedient.

Thursday, January 26th. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Keene, Mr. Jolliffe, Mr. Greville.

The Earl of Dartmouth, one of His Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, attends.

Nova Scotia, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania.

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Antigua, St. Christopher's.

Their lordships read and considered several laws passed in the years 1773 and 1774 in the colonies and provinces of Nova Scotia, Massachusetts Bay and Pennsylvania, and islands of Antigua and St. Christopher's, together with Mr. Jackson's reports thereupon.

East Florida.

Their lordships also read and considered an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, referring to this Board, for their consideration and report, a petition of John Gordon, praying, that an enquiry may be made into the merits of his case with regard to lands in East Florida, claimed by him in virtue of purchases made from the late Spanish inhabitants; and into the nature of such means, as he has to propose for compensation to be made to him for his expences; and that such relief may be granted to him, as his Majesty shall think meet; together with a memorial of Mr. Gordon, explanatory of his petition to the King, and containing several propositions respecting the management and collection of the revenue of Quitrents in North America.

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Their lordships agreed to take the abovementioned order of reference and memorial into consideration on Thursday, the 9th of February, and it was ordered, that Mr. Gordon should have notice to attend.

Africa.

Read a letter from Philip Stephens, Esquire, Secretary to the Lords of the Admiralty, to the Secretary to this Board, dated December 22nd, 1774, transmitting copies of accounts of the state and condition of his Majesty's forts and settlements on the coast of Africa.