Journal, April 1777

fo. 90.

Tuesday, April 8th. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Gascoyne, Lord Robert Spencer, Mr. Keene, Mr. Eden.

Lord George Germain, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, attends.

Africa.

fo. 91.

The Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa attending, were called in, and Lord George Germain having stated to them the purport of the report, which the Board, by his Majesty's command, had prepared to be laid before Parliament relative to the affairs of Africa under their management, and some conversation ensuing thereupon, they were desired to reduce their observations to writing, and transmit them for the consideration of the Board at their next meeting.

Dominica.

fo. 92.

Brouno Largarite, whose petition, praying to be heard against an Act of Dominica, is mentioned in the minutes of the 18th of last month, attending with Mr. Alleyne, his counsel, and Mr. Irwin, agent for the said island, attending also, they were called in, when Mr. Irwin acquainted the Board, that, from the shortness of the notice, his counsel was not prepared to answer the complaints of the petitioner, but would be ready to attend their lordships on any future day they pleased to appoint; whereupon it was agreed to hear the parties on Tuesday next, the 15th instant.

Nova Scotia.

Read a memorial of John Cort of Mirimishi in Nova Scotia, merchant, touching a discovery he has made of a large quantity of pines fit for masts, yards, bowsprits, etc. and praying that he may be admitted to a contract for the same.

Their lordships, upon consideration of the above memorial, were of opinion, that the application did not properly come within their department, to determine upon, and the Secretary was ordered to acquaint Mr. Cort therewith.

fo. 93.

Trade.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated the 4th of April, 1777, referring to this Board the petition of William Robertson of Mahon in the Island of Minorca, praying leave to export to that island, on board the ship Westmoreland, sundry iron cannon therein mentioned, for the defence of ships trading in the Mediterranean seas.

The petitioner attending was called in, and their lordships having entered into an examination of such points as they thought necessary, were of opinion, that the exportation prayed for should be allowed; and the draught of a report to the Lords of the Privy Council having been prepared accordingly, was approved, transcribed and signed.

fo. 94.

Quebec.

The draught of a letter to the Governor of Quebec, inclosing a copy of the petition of Henry Caldwell, esquire, mentioned in the minutes of the 25th of last month, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Tuesday, April 15th. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Keene, Mr. Greville, Mr. Eden.

Lord George Germain, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of Sate, attends.

Dominica.

fo. 95.

Their lordships, pursuant to their minute of the last Board, proceeded to the consideration of the petition of Brouno Largarite complaining of an Act of Dominica for regulating the manumission of slaves, etc. and the petitioner attending, with Mr. Alleyne, his counsel; as also Mr. Irwin, agent for the said island, with Mr. Buller, his counsel, and Mr. Jackson, counsel to the Board, attending likewise, the parties were severally heard in what they had to offer respecting the said Act.

Ordered, that the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon the abovementioned petition be prepared.

Africa.

fo. 96.

Mr. Camplin, Secretary to the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, attended, and presented to the Board a memorial of the said Committee, stating their observations with respect to the number of slaves exported from the Gold Coast of Africa, commencing with the year 1758, the debt of the Company, etc.; and praying, that they may be furnished with so much of the intended report to the House of Commons upon the general state of the trade to Africa, as shall be requisite to evince the truth or fallacy of the complaints therein contained.

Resolved, that the Lords, who have undertaken to prepare the African report, will sit for the further dispatch of that business tomorrow.

fo. 97.

The following Orders of Council were read, vizt.,
Trade.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated the 4th of April, 1777, referring to this Board the petition of John Spiers, praying leave to export to Jamaica sundry military stores therein mentioned, on board the ship Elizabeth, for the use of some independent companys raising in that island for its defence.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated the 12th of April, 1777, referring to this Board the petition of Samuel Vaughan and Son, praying leave to export to Jamaica sundry military stores for a company of light infantry, and for the use of several plantations, etc., on board the ship Elizabeth.

fo. 98.

Their lordships, upon consideration of the two foregoing petitions, were of opinion, that the exportation prayed for should be allowed: and draughts of reports thereupon to the Lords of the Privy Council having been prepared accordingly, were agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Tuesday, April 22nd. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Gascoyne, Lord Robert Spencer, Mr. Keene, Mr. Greville, Mr. Eden.

Lord George Germain, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, attends.

Trade.

fo. 99.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated the 16th of April, 1777, referring to this Board the petition of the Carron Company, praying leave to export from their works in Scotland to Ferrol in Spain, for the use of his Catholick Majesty, sundry iron guns therein mentioned, on board the ship King of Spain, letter of marque.

Their lordships, upon consideration of the above petition, were of opinion, that the exportation prayed for should be allowed: and the draught of a report to the Lords of the Privy Council thereupon having been prepared accordingly, was approved, transcribed and signed.

fo. 100.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated the 16th of April, 1777, referring to this Board the petition of Loubier Teisier and Company, praying leave to export, on board the ship Mary, to Ostend and Havre de Grace, sundry military stores, to be reshipped from thence in the Astianax, for trade on the coast of Angola.

Their lordships, upon consideration of the above petition, were of opinion, that the exportation prayed for should be allowed: and it was ordered, that the draught of a report to the Lords of the Privy Council thereupon should be prepared.

Africa.

fo. 101.

The proceedings of the Lords in the African business on the 17th and 18th instant, were read: as was also the draught of a report to the House of Commons upon the general state of the trade, etc. which was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Ordered, that a copy of the said report be communicated to the Right Honourable Lord North.

Newfoundland.

Read a memorial of Mr. Gridley, praying to be recommended for a grant of the Madelaine Islands in the Gulph of St. Lawrence, upon certain duties and conditions, for the purpose of carrying on the sea cow fishery.

fo. 102.

Their lordships, agreable to a minute of the Board of the 6th of February, 1771, were of opinion, that such a grant ought not to be made without a valuable consideration being given to the Crown for the same.

Tuesday, April 29th. Present:—Mr. Jenyns. Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Keene, Mr. Eden.

Lord George Germain, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, attends.

Africa.

fo. 103.

The draught of a report to the House of Commons upon the general state of the trade to Africa, the condition of the forts, etc., having been transcribed pursuant to order, was signed, and Mr. Gascoyne was requested to present it to the House of Commons.

Trade.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Privy Council upon the petition of Loubier Teisier and Company, mentioned in the minutes of the 22nd instant, having been prepared pursuant to order, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Dominica.

fo. 104.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs upon the Act of Dominica for regulating the manumission of slaves, etc., having been prepared pursuant to the minute of the 15th instant, was approved and ordered to be transcribed.

Plantations General.

Read a letter from Mr. Knox to Mr. Cumberland, dated the 8th of April, 1777, transmitting, by direction of Lord George Germain, to be laid before this Board,
fo. 105.
Extract of a letter from Mr. Stuart, Superintendant for the Southern District of Indian Affairs, to Lord George Germain, dated Pensacola, the 26th of October, 1776, touching the confused state of the Indian trade from the Province of West Florida, and submitting the expediency of such temporary powers and instructions being given to the officers intrusted with the management of the Indians, as may enable them to keep their traders under better regulations.

Resolved, that the foregoing reference be taken into further consideration on Tuesday next, the 6th of May.

Miscellanies.

fo. 106.

The Secretary notified to their lordships the decease of Mrs. Ann Wright, late necessary woman, and the succession of Mrs. Mary Searle to that office in pursuance of the appointment contained in the minute of the 16th of January, 1776; whereupon some difficulty arising with their lordships respecting the mode pursued in the said appointment referred to, as likewise with respect to other particulars, the Secretary made his request to the Board that she might be appointed notwithstanding, in consequence of which recommendation Mrs. Mary Searle was accordingly appointed necessary woman, in the room of Mrs. Ann Wright, deceased.