Journal, July 1778: Volume 85

Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations: Volume 14, January 1776 - May 1782. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1938.

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'Journal, July 1778: Volume 85', in Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations: Volume 14, January 1776 - May 1782, (London, 1938) pp. 192-199. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/jrnl-trade-plantations/vol14/pp192-199 [accessed 18 March 2024]

Journal, July 1778

fo. 150.

Thursday, July 9th. Present:—Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Greville, Mr. de Grey.

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

Leeward Islands.

Montserrat.

Read a letter from William Mathew Burt, esquire, Governor of the Leeward Islands, to the Board, dated St. Christopher's April 27th, 1778, acquainting their Lordships, that he proposes to appoint Anthony Hodges, esquire, one of the Council, for the Island of Montserrat, during the absence of Mr. Gordon, and transmitting the following publick papers, vizt.
St. Christopher's.
Minutes of Assembly of the Island of St. Christopher's from the 10th of October, 1776, to 26th of March, 1777, and from April 16th, to September 26th, 1777
Montserrat.
Minutes of the House of Assembly of the Island of Montserrat from October 1st, 1777, to April 1st, 1778.
Minutes of Council from October 2nd, 1777, to 1st April, 1778.

Dominica.

fo. 151.

Read a letter from Thomas Shirley, esquire, Governor of the Island of Dominica, to the Board, dated April 22nd, 1778, transmitting,
A return of the Members of his Majesty's Council for the Island of Dominica, 22nd April, 1778.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following publick papers, vizt.:
Nova Scotia.
List of the Members of his Majesty's Council for the Province of Nova Scotia, dated Halifax, June 1st, 1778.

Trade.

Read the following orders of the Lords of the Privy Council, vizt.:
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated July 3rd, 1778, referring to this Board, the petition of Jukes Coulson, praying leave to export to Lisbon, on board the Brig St. Caetano, sundry military stores therein specified, for the use of a Brazil ship.
fo. 152.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated July 3rd, 1778, referring to this Board, the petition of Messieurs de Gruchy and Fiott, praying leave to export to the Island of Jersey, on board the ship London Packet, certain military stores therein specified, for arming certain trading vessels belonging to that Island.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated July 3rd, 1778, referring to this Board, the petition of George Lampriere, praying leave to put on board the schooner Duchess of Kingston, now lying in the Port of Dover, sundry military stores therein mentioned, for the purpose of arming the said vessel; and that she may be permitted to proceed on her voyage to Guernsey and Cape Breton.

fo. 153.

Their Lordships, upon consideration of the three foregoing petitions, were of opinion, that the exportation therein prayed for should be allowed; and the draughts of three reports to the Lords of the Privy Council thereupon, having been prepared, were approved, transcribed and signed.

Senegambia.

Their Lordships, pursuant to their resolution of the 18th of last month, took into consideration the several papers relating to the complaints exhibited by Francis McNamara, and Thomas Sharpless, against Edward Morse, esquire, Chief Justice of the Province of Senegambia; and being informed, that Mr. Mansfield, Mr. Macdonald and Mr. Dunning attended as Counsel, together with the two complainants, Mr. Morse and several other gentlemen, they were called in; when Mr. Macdonald was heard in support of the petition of Francis McNamara, and having examined such witnesses on oath, as he thought proper, Mr. Mansfield was heard on behalf of Mr. Morse; and the witnesses having been cross examined by him, Mr. Macdonald was heard in reply.

fo. 154.

After which Mr. Dunning was heard in support of the petition of Thomas Sharpless, and several witnesses were examined on oath by Mr. Dunning, and cross examined by Mr. Mansfield, who was heard on behalf of Mr. Morse against the charges of the said Mr. Sharpless: and Mr. Dunning declining to reply, the parties having nothing further to offer, were desired to withdraw.

In the course of the proceedings the following papers, exhibited by the Counsel, were read, and returned, vizt.
Copy of the decree in the cause between Francis McNamara and the creditors of Lewis Narcissus Alsambo.
Copy of a Bill in Equity. McNamara against Wallace and Nicholson, addressed to Governor Clarke.
Copy of a Warrant by which Mr. Sharpless was sent to England.
Certificates which Mr. Sharpless produced to Captain Wall, as his authority for having certain timber in his possession.

fo. 155.

And Mr. Dunning having also, in the course of the above proceedings, moved the Board to order Mr. Brown to produce the warrant and other papers respecting Mr. Sharpless, Mr. Brown, who was present, was directed by the Board to produce the said papers, which he promised to do.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to Mr. Drew, agent to Lieutenant Governor McNamara to inform him that unless the said Lieutenant Governor shall appear either by himself or by his Counsel on Thursday, the 23rd of this month, to substantiate the charges contained in his memorial against Mr. Chief Justice Morse, mentioned in the minutes of the 27th of January last, the Board will consider the said memorial as deserted, and will dismiss it accordingly.

fo. 156.

Thursday, July 23rd. Present:—Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Greville, Mr. de Grey.

Senegambia.

Read a letter from Mr. Robinson to Mr. Cumberland, dated July 11th, 1778, transmitting a memorial of Thomas Bullock, esquire, to the Lords of the Treasury, praying an imprest of the sum granted by Parliament in the last session for the service of the Province of Senegambia, to which he is agent, and desiring that this Board will inform the Lords of the Treasury whether there is any objection to issuing the same to Mr. Bullock.

Ordered, that Mr. Bullock be desired to attend the Board on Thursday next, the 30th instant, at twelve o'clock.

fo. 157.

Read a letter from Mr. Knox to Mr. Cumberland, dated July 9th, 1778, desiring, by direction of Lord George Germain, that he will move the Board to transmit to the Office of Secretary of State for the Department of the Colonies, copies of all such representations as their Lordships have made in pursuance of their intention expressed in their representation of the 10th of June, 1776; and of the instructions which they submitted to be given to the Governor of the Province of Senegambia, in consequence thereof; and also, copies of such orders and instructions, as the Board have thought fit to give to Governor Clarke, for preventing the continuance of the various abuses complained of, in the said representation, as well as those which appear to exist, by the minutes of the evidence on the hearings against Lieutenant Governor McNamara in January last.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to Mr. Knox in answer to the foregoing letter; and that copies of such papers be forthwith prepared, as are requested by the said letter; and also the copies of any other papers which may be necessary for the information of Lord George Germain's Office, respecting the proceedings of the Board relative to the Province of Senegambia.

fo. 158.

Read a letter from Mr. Robert Browne to Mr. Cumberland, dated July 11th, 1778, transmitting, pursuant to the order of the Board of the 9th instant, the following papers respecting the Province of Senegambia, vizt.

A.

John Grier's Certificate of office as Register, authenticating, 12th August, 1777.
Affidavit of Thomas Parkin against Thomas Sharpless, 4th July, 1777.
Affidavit of Robert Dann against Thomas Sharpless, 1st July, 1777.
Recognizance of Thomas Parkin and Captain Joseph Wall, 23rd May and 23rd June, 1777.

B.

Letter from Chief Justice Morse to Robert Browne, esquire, dated Senegal, 4th August, 1777, inclosing,
Copy of Thomas Parkin's original Affidavit against Thomas Sharpless, 23rd June, 1777.
Copy of Chief Justice Morse's warrant for apprehending Thomas Sharpless, 23rd June, 1777.

John Grier's Certificate as Register, 12th August, 1777, authenticating,
Affidavit of Robert Dann against Thomas Sharpless, 1st July, 1777.
Affidavit of Thomas Parkin against Thomas Sharpless, 4th July, 1777.
Recognizance of Thomas Parkin and Captain Joseph Wall, 23rd May and 23rd June, 1777.

C.

fo. 159.

John Grier's Certificate as Register, 12th August, 1777, authenticating,
Affidavit of William Stevenson against Thomas Wallace, 1st February, 1776, and 27th May, 1777.
Affidavit of William Nicholson against Thomas Wallace, 1st February, 1776, and 27th of May, 1777.
Bill of Indictment found Billa Vera against Thomas Wallace, 21st June, 1777.

D.

John Grier's Certificate as Register, 12th August, 1777. authenticating.
Thomas Parkin's Affidavit against Lieutenant Governor McNamara, 4th June, 1777.
William Stevenson's Affidavit against Lieutenant Governor McNamara, 24th January, 1776, and 22nd May, 1777.
William Nicholson's Affidavit against Lieutenant Governor McNamara, 24th January, 1776, and 23rd May, 1777.
Bill of Indictment found Billa Vera against Lieutenant Governor McNamara, 21st June, 1777.

Ordered, that copies of the foregoing papers, transmitted by Mr. Browne, be made for the use of the Office, and that the originals be returned to Mr. Browne agreable to his request.

fo. 160.

Mr. Drew, agent to Lieutenant Governor McNamara, and Mr. Morse, attending pursuant to the minute of the 9th instant, they were called in, when Mr. Drew acquainted their Lordships, that as he apprehended his client Lieutenant Governor McNamara would be unable, from a variety of circumstances, to attend their Lordships, in order to substantiate the charges contained in his memorial against Mr. Morse, he had no objection to offer on the part of his client, why the said memorial should not be dismissed; and Mr. Morse concurring, the Board were pleased to dismiss the said memorial accordingly.

Leeward Islands.

Virgin Islands.

Read a memorial of Thomas Wildman, esquire, stating his being empowered to solicit the restoration of Messieurs George Nibbs, Henry Martin and William Turnbull, Councillors in the Virgin Islands, to their former seats and rank; and praying that their Lordships will recommend to his Majesty, that the said gentlemen may be restored to the seats and rank in the Council of the said Islands, which they originally enjoyed.

fo. 161.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, recommending that George Nibbs, Henry Martin and William Turnbull, esquires, may be restored to the seats and rank which they originally enjoyed in the Council of the Virgin Islands, having been prepared, was approved, transcribed and signed.

Trade.

Read the two following orders of the Lords of the Privy Council, vizt.
(fn. 1) fo. 161.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated July 16th, 1778, referring to this Board, the petition of Baugh, Ames and Company, praying leave to export from Bristol to the Island of Jamaica, on board the ship Success, fifty barrels of gunpowder, for the use of the inhabitants.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated July 16th, 1778, referring to this Board, the petition of A. and I. Harrison, praying leave to export from Chester to Dublin, on board the ship Active, sundry military stores therein mentioned, for the use of letters of marque and of other ships fitting out there.

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

Thursday, July 30th. Present:—Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Greville, Mr. de Grey.

Africa.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following papers received from the Committee of Merchants trading to Africa, vizt.
fo. 162.
Copies of three letters from Richard Miles, esquire, Governor of Cape Coast Castle, to the Committee of Merchants trading to Africa, dated January 15th, 1778, November 20th, 1777, and January 19th, 1778.

Trade.

Read two orders of the Lords of the Privy Council, vizt.:
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated July 29th, 1778, referring to this Board, the petition of Messieurs Le Cras and Le Messurier, praying leave to export from Weymouth to the Island of Alderney, certain military stores therein specified, on board the ship Wren, for the use of two letters of marque.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated July 29th, 1778, referring to this Board, the petition of Charles and Edward Hague, praying leave to export to Rotterdam, on board the ship Elizabeth, certain iron guns therein mentioned, for the use of the Dutch ships in the Guinea Trade.

fo. 163.

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

Dominica.

Read an order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated June 8th, 1778, directing this Board to prepare, and lay before the said Committee, a draught of an instruction to the Governor or Commander in Chief of the Island of Dominica, directing, that it be recommended to the Legislature of that Island, to pass an Act to explain and amend an Act passed in the said Island in September 1774 for regulating the manumission of slavesetc. conformable to what is proposed by this Board in their representation of the 5th of May last, upon con sidering the petitions of sundry of the free Negroes. Mulattoes and Mustees, inhabitants of the said Island of Dominica.

fo. 164.

The draught of an additional instruction to the Governor of the Island of Dominica, conformable to the directions contained in the foregoing order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, having been prepared, was approved, and a report accompanying the same was signed.

Senegambia.

Mr. Bullock, agent for the Province of Senegambia, attending pursuant to order, their Lordships took into consideration Mr. Robinson's letter, mentioned in the last minutes referring a memorial of the said agent, praying that the annual grant of Parliament may be issued to him.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to Mr. Robinson, and acquaint him, for the information of the Lords of the Treasury, with the opinion of the Board respecting the memorial of Mr. Bullock.

fo. 165.

The Secretary informed the Board that he had, pursuant to order, prepared the draught of a letter to Mr. Knox in answer to his letter of the 9th instant, together with a report upon the state of the papers respecting the Province of Senegambia, and that the copies of the papers necessary for the information of Lord George Germain's Office, towards explaining the proceedings of the Board respecting that Province, were also ready: when the Board having approved the said letter, it was ordered, that it should be forthwith transmitted to Mr. Knox, with the copies of the several papers according to the following list, vizt.:
No.1. Report upon the state of the papers respecting the Province of Senegambia, which have been received at the Plantations Office since the year 1775.
2. Copies of Minutes of the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, relative to the representation on the general state of Senegambia, not yet prepared.
A. Minute on the 21st June, 1776.
B. Minute on the 25th July, 1776.
fo. 166.
3. Copy of a representation of the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations to the King, which was prepared but not sent.
4. Copy of a representation of the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations to the King, dated March 3rd, 1778.
5. Extract of so much of a letter from the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations to John Clarke, esquire, Governor of the Province of Senegambia, as relates to the trade with the French, dated April 7th, 1778.
6. Copy of an Act passed in the Province of Senegambia, July 30th, 1777, and disallowed by his Majesty in Council. May 13th, 1778, intituled An Act to prevent the sale and delivery of Negroes exported from his Majesty's Province of Senegambia in Africa, to any foreign port, etc.
7. Copy of a representation of the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations to the King, dated February 3rd, 1778, proposing the repeal of an Act passed in the Province of Senegambia.
fo. 167.
8. Copy of a memorial of the Merchants and Adventurers of London trading to Senegal, presented to the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, January 10th, 1778.
9. Copy of the sixteenth Article of his Majesty's instructions to John Clarke, esquire, Governor of the Province of Senegambia.
10. Copies of two Ordinances passed in the Province of Senegambia during the administration of Lieutenant Governor McNamara, vizt.
A, dated November 28th, 1776.
B, dated December 6th, 1776.

Nova Scotia.

fo. 168.

The Secretary laid before the Board a letter which he had received, dated July 9th, 1778, from Mr. Lampriere, one of the gentlemen mentioned in the minutes of the 10th of March last, conveying, for the information of the Board, the sentiments of the principal merchants of Jersey, concerning the grant of the Isles de Madame, prayed for by Sir Herbert Mackworth and his associates; upon which their Lordships resumed the consideration of Sir Herbert Mackworth's memorial; and having maturely weighed the several reasons for and against the said grant, the Board were of opinion, that it would not be adviseable to recommend any exclusive grant of the said islands, in the present situation of affairs.

Footnotes

  • 1. The page following 161 is not numbered.