Journal, June 1780: Volume 87

Journal, June 1780

fo. 89.

Thursday, June 1st. Present:—The Earl of Carlisle, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Greville, Mr. Eden, Mr. Stuart, Mr. Gibbon.

The minutes of the last Board were approved and signed.

Jamaica.

Read a letter from Lord George Germain, dated June 1st, 1780, to the Board, informing their lordships, that he should take his Majesty's pleasure upon the matters mentioned in their letter of the 25th of May last.

Trade.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated May 31st, 1780, referring to this Board, the petition of Samuel Wilson, for leave to export to the Island of Antigua, on board the ship Fanny, one hundred barrels of gunpowder, for the supply of privateers fitting out in that island.

fo. 90.

Their lordships being of opinion, that the exportation prayed for in the aforementioned petition should be allowed; and the draft of a report to the Lords of the Privy Council, having been prepared thereupon, was approved, transcribed and signed.

Leeward Islands.

The representation to his Majesty upon an Act passed in the Island of Antigua, intituled, An Act for enabling persons therein named to borrow a sum not exceeding twenty thousand pounds, etc., having been prepared pursuant to order of the last Board, was approved, transcribed and signed.

Senegambia.

fo. 91.

The Board took under consideration the memorial of Charles O'Hara, esquire, transmitted by Mr. Robinson, and directed, that Mr. Elliott do write to Mr. Robinson, and acquaint him, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, that in the year 1776, many charges against Mr. O'Hara being then under the consideration of this Board, the accounts to which the said memorial applies, were transmitted by Treasury for their opinion thereupon, as they were connected with the said charges; and the sentiments of the Board upon the said accounts having been delivered at a conference with Treasury on the 14th of November, 1776, they cannot offer any opinion upon the said memorial, the charges in question, and which brought the said accounts before the Board, being no longer before them.

fo. 92.

Friday, June 9th. Present:—The Earl of Carlisle, Lord Robert Spencer, Mr. Stuart.

The minutes of the last Board were approved and signed.

Trade.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated June 5th, 1780, referring to this Board, the petition of Ketland and Walker, for leave to export to Dublin, on board any vessel that may offer, three hundred guns, and five hundred gun barrels, bayonets and rods; and to Londonderry, on board any vessel that may offer, three hundred guns, for the private trade of Mr. Richard Wilson at Dublin, and Mr. Andrew Ferguson at Londonderry.

fo. 93.

Their lordships, being of opinion, that the exportation prayed for in the aforementioned petition should be allowed; and the draft of a report to the Lords of the Privy Council, having been prepared thereupon, was approved, transcribed and signed.

fo. 94.

Thursday, June 15th. Present:—The Earl of Carlisle, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eden.

Read the minutes of the 1st and 9th instant which were approved and signed.

Senegambia.

Mr. Elliott informed the Board, that he had wrote to Mr. Robinson as directed by the minute of the 1st instant.

Jamaica.

Read and considered the following Acts passed in the Island of Jamaica in August, September, November and December, 1779, together with Mr. Jackson's report thereupon, vizt.,
fo. 95.
An Act to secure the monies which have already been lent to the public, and to impower his Majesty's Receiver General of the Receiver General for the time being, to borrow a further sum of money not exceeding thirty thousand pounds, current money of this island, within the space of twelve months from the passing of this Act, at an interest of six pounds per centum per annum, to pay the troops quartered in this island, and for other purposes.
An Act for postponing the drawing the lottery, and for appointing a further time for drawing the same.
An Act for subsisting the Militia in time of martial law, and for accommodating them; and also his Majesty's regular forces quartered in this island while on march.
An Act for compleating, finishing, and repairing the works now carrying on for the defence of the island.
fo. 96.
An Act for laying a duty on tonage, and applying the same to the use of the forts and fortifications; and for regulating the duty payable on tonage by virtue of an Act, intituled An Act for granting a revenue of his Majesty, his heirs and successors, for the support of the Government of this island; and for reviving and perpetuating the Acts and Laws thereof; and to enable the Receiver General, to import and purchase gunpowder under certain regulations.
An Act impowering any one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of Judicature to take the examination of witnesses, leaving this island in any action brought or to be brought for the recovery of debts, actually in suit, in the same manner as if such examination had been taken, and returned under the Seal of the City of London, pursuant to An Act of Parliament, passed in the fifth year of the reign of George the second.
An Act to regulate the trials of controverted elections, or returns of members to serve in Assembly.
fo. 97.
An Act for appointing Stephen Fuller, esquire, an agent in Great Britain, to solicit the passing of laws, and for transacting in Great Britain other public affairs of this island; and for empowering certain members of the Council and Assembly, during the intervals of assembly, from time to time as occasion shall require, to give instructions for such his management.
An Act for raising and fitting out parties, for suppressing any rebellion in this island, during the continuance of this Act.
An Act for ascertaining who shall compose future Councils of War, and for subsisting the Militia in time of martial law; and for other purposes respecting the Militia.
An Act for raising several sums of money, and applying the same to several uses.
Jamaica.
An Act for raising a tax by the poll, and on trades, super cargoes, and masters of vessels in the out ports; and on offices and houses, and also for laying a tax on certain wheel carriages, and applying the same to several uses.
fo. 98.
An Act to oblige the several inhabitants of this island to provide themselves with a sufficient number of white men, white women, or white children; or to pay certain sums of money in case they shall be deficient, and applying the same to several uses; to protect freeholders on the days of choosing Church Wardens and Vestry Men; and to ascertain who shall be deemed duly qualified to vote at such elections.
An Act to enable his Excellency, John Dalling, esquire, Captain General Governor and Commander in Chief of this island; or the Governor or Commander in Chief for the time being, to issue his Majesty's royal proclamation during the recess of the present Assembly, prohibiting the exportation of flour and other provisions from this island for a limited time.
An Act for establishing, and declaring rules and articles of war.
An Act for laying a duty on all wines, rum, and other spirits and strong waters, retailed within this island, and for laying a further tax on licences to be granted for the retailing of wines, rum, and other liquors, and on the public offices, and applying the same to several uses.
fo. 99.
An Act to entitle William Wagg of the parish of Kingston, a free quadroon man, to the same rights and privileges with English subjects, under certain restrictions.
An Act to entitle John Breary of the parish of Saint Ann, a free quadroon man, to the same rights and privileges with English subjects, under certain restrictions.
An Act to entitle John Ashburne, a free mulatto man, to the same rights and privileges with English subjects, under certain restrictions.

Plantations General.

fo. 100.

The Board took under their consideration Mr. White's letter of the 25th of May, and directed that Mr. Elliott do write to Mr. White, and inform him, that the Board, by the letter which Mr. Elliott wrote to him on the 19th of the said month, meant to convey their intention of not admitting any further documents in the dispute between the inhabitants of the Musquito Shore and Mr. Hodgson, nor taking any steps which might tend to prolong a matter long since, as far as lay with this Board, decided upon; and that the allegation of Mr. Hodgson, that the agent, or any of the said inhabitants, had surprized or impelled a hasty decision of this Board, upon the matters referred to them by his Majesty's command in May, 1776, was ill founded.

fo. 101.

Thursday, June 22nd. Present:—The Earl of Carlisle, Mr. Jenyns, Lord Robert Spencer, Mr. Eden, Mr. Stuart, Mr. Gibbon.

Read the minutes of the last Board which were approved and signed.

Plantations General.

Mr. Elliott informed the Board, that he had wrote to Mr. White, as directed by the minutes of the 15th instant.

Trade.

Read the three following Orders of the Lords of the Privy Council, vizt.,
Order, dated June 15th, 1780, referring to this Board, the petition of Robert Mangles, for leave to export to Barbados, on board the ship Kitty, sundry military stores, for the use of the storekeeper of that island.
fo. 102.
Order, dated June 20th, 1780, referring to this Board, the petition of Simpson and Birkley, for leave to export to St. Christopher's, on board the ship Catherine, sundry military stores, for the use of vessels fitting out in that island.
Order, dated June 20th, 1780, referring to this Board, the petition of Abraham Clibborn, for leave to export to Antigua, on board the ship Crown, sundry military stores, for the use and defence of the inhabitants of that island.

Their lordships, being of opinion, that the exportation prayed for in the above petitions should be allowed; and the drafts of three reports to the Lords of the Privy Council thereupon, having been prepared, were approved, transcribed and signed.

fo. 103.

Bahama.

Mr. Elliott laid before the Board the following letters and papers received from John Maxwell, esquire, Governor of the Bahama Islands, vizt.,
No. 1. Letter from the said Governor to the Board, dated Nassau, New Providence, March 10th, 1780; inclosing,
No. 1. Copy of the Address of the principal inhabitants of New Providence to the Governor, with his answer; and also
No. 2. Copy of a letter from the Governor to his Excellency, Sir Henry Clinton, together with his remarks on the particulars of the said letter.
No. 2. Letter from the Governor to the Board, dated New Providence, March 15th, 1780, inclosing duplicate of No. 1 and the inclosures, together with, [N.B. These duplicates have not been received, tho' mentioned in the above letter.]
Copy of the Address of the Council to the Governor. [N.B. Tho' this address is mentioned in the Governor's letter to have been transmitted, it was not received.]
fo. 104.
No. 3. Letter from the Governor to the Board, dated New Providence, April 1st, 1780, enclosing,
Copy of the address of the Council to the Governor.
No. 4. Letter from the Governor to the Board, dated New Providence, April 5th, 1780.
No. 5. Letter from the Governor to the Board, dated New Providence, April 27th, 1780, enclosing,
No. 1. The joint address of the Council and General Assembly to the Governor, and also,
No. 2. The resolve of the said Council.
Bahama.
No. 6. Letter from the Governor to the Board, dated New Providence, April 28th, 1780, enclosing,
The memorial of the Council and Assembly to the Governor.

fo. 105.

The Board directed, that Mr. Elliott do write to Mr. Knox, and enclose him, for the information of Lord George Germain, copy of the memorial of the Council and Assembly of the Bahama Islands, relating to the extraordinary charges incurred in preparing for defence.

Nova Scotia.

Mr. Elliott laid before the Board a letter from Sir Richard Hughes, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, to their lordships, dated Halifax, May 9th, 1780, and enclosing,
An account of rum and British spirits imported into Halifax in Nova Scotia from the 1st of January, 1772, to the 1st of May, 1780.

fo. 106.

The Board directed, that a letter be prepared to Sir Richard Hughes, informing him that in the account transmitted by him as abovementioned, the quantity of rum as well as British spirits imported into that province, being blended together, their lordships desire that a distinct account of British spirits should be transmitted to them by the first opportunity; also an account of the quantity of rum imported, as well from Great Britain as the British Islands, and the American Colonies, since 1772.

St. John's.

Read a memorial of Nathaniel Coffin, attorney to Philips Calbeck, esquire, President, and commanding in the Island of St. John, stating that the Government of the said island, during the absence of Walter Patterson, esquire, had developed upon the said Philips Calbeck, by which the memorialist conceived, he became entitled, as well by the invariable custom established, as by his Majesty's instructions, to half the salary and perquisites, during the absence of the said Governor, and that the agent for the said island had refused to pay him the same, alledging that Governor Patterson had directed, that no part of the said salary should be paid to the order of the said Philips Calbeck, and praying the Board would give directions, that the agent should pay the same.

fo. 107.

The Board thereupon directed, that the agent for Governor Paterson be acquainted with the application made on the part of Mr. Calbeck, and asked if he had anything to offer in behalf of the said Governor against the said application.

fo. 108.

Tuesday, June 27th. Present:—The Earl of Carlisle, Mr. Jenyns, Lord Robert Spencer, Mr. Greville, Mr. Eden, Mr. de Grey, Mr. Stuart, Mr. Gibbon.

Read the minutes of the preceding Board which were approved and signed.

Bahama.

Mr. Elliott acquainted the Board, that he had wrote to Mr. Knox, and transmitted him, for the information of Lord George Germain, a copy of the memorial of the Council and Assembly of St. John's.
the Bahama Islands as directed by the minutes of the 22nd instant; also, that he had, as directed by the said minutes, seen the agent of Walter Paterson, esquire, Governor of the Island of St. John's, who informed him, that he should present a memorial to the Board on the part of the said Governor, against the application made in behalf of Mr. Calbeck.

fo. 109.

Nova Scotia.

The letter from the Board to Sir Richard Hughes, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, having been prepared pursuant to order of the 22nd instant, was approved and signed.

Ireland.

Read a letter from Mr. Robinson to Mr. Elliott, dated June 24th, 1780, enclosing, and desiring the opinion of the Board upon a memorial from the Sugar Refiners of London to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, stating, that the duty lately imposed by the Parliament of Ireland upon British refined sugar imported into the kingdom, was so far from being calculated to put the refineries of both countries on an equal footing, that it was in effect a prohibition; and praying relief therein; and also praying attention and referring to, a memorial presented by them in November last, relating to the moderating the duties upon prize sugars.

fo. 110.

The Board after spending some time thereupon, agreed to resume the consideration of the same on Thursday, the 29th instant, and directed, that Mr. Elliott do write to Mr. Robinson, and desire he will move the Lords of the Treasury, for a copy of the memorial presented to their lordships by the memorialists in November last, and to which they refer; and also for the copy of a report from the Commissioners of his Majesty's Customs to their lordships, of the proper duty to be imposed on British refined sugars imported into Ireland.

fo. 111.

Thursday, June 29th. Present:—The Earl of Carlisle, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Greville, Mr. Eden, Mr. de Grey, Mr. Stuart, Mr. Gibbon.

Read the minutes of the preceding Board which were approved, and signed.

Ireland.

Mr. Elliott informed the Board, that he had wrote to Mr. Robinson as directed by the minutes of the 27th instant.

Trade.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated June 27th, 1780, referring to this Board, the petition of Thomas Daniel, praying leave to export to the Islands of Barbados and St. Lucia, on board the ship Eagle, fifty barrels of gunpowder, for the use and defence of the inhabitants.

fo. 112.

Their lordships being of opinion, that the exportation prayed for in the aforementioned petition should be allowed; and the draft of a report to the Lords of the Privy Council, having been prepared thereupon, was approved, transcribed and signed.

Ireland.

Read a letter from Mr. Robinson to Mr. Elliott, in answer to his letter of yesterday, enclosing,
No. 1. Copy of a letter from Mr. Robinson to the Commissioners of the Customs, dated April 27th, 1780.
No. 2. Copy of a letter from Mr. Stanley to Mr. Robinson, dated May 12th, 1780, with an inclosure.
No. 3. Copy of a letter from Mr. Robinson to Mr. Sackville Hamilton, dated May 12th, 1780.

fo. 113.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of the Privy Council appointed to consider the Irish Bills, referring to the consideration of this Board, a Bill passed in Ireland during the present session of Parliament, and lately transmitted, intituled, An Act for granting to his Majesty the several duties upon imported sugar therein mentioned, and extending the sugar trade; as to what duty should now be laid upon refined sugar imported from Great Britain into Ireland, in consideration of the duties laid in the said Bill upon raw sugars imported into Ireland, so as to leave the British and Irish Refiners respectively, as nearly as possible, in the same situation they have hitherto been, and requiring their opinion with all possible dispatch.

fo. 114.

Read an Order of the Lords of the above Committee of Privy Council, referring to the Board, the memorial of the Sugar Refiners of London to the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury, in order that the memorialists might be heard upon the subject matter of the said memorial, at the same time that the Bill transmitted from Ireland, referred to in the foregoing Order of the Lords of the Committee, shall be considered.

Read a letter from Mr. George Griffin, Chairman of the Committee of Sugar Refiners, informing their lordships, that understanding that the above references had been made to this Board, he begged leave to acquaint their lordships, that the said Committee were ready to support the allegations contained in their memorial, and requesting their lordships to hear them thereupon.

fo. 115.

The Board, considering, that the memorial transmitted by Mr. Robinson and presented by the said Sugar Refiners to Treasury, was the same now referred to them by the Lords of the Privy Council, their lordships directed Mr. Elliott to write to Mr. Robinson, and acquaint him therewith, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury; and that as to the propriety of the duty imposed upon British refined sugar imported into Ireland, the Board being now proceeding to the consideration thereof, would as soon as they were prepared to make a report thereupon, communicate the same to their lordships for their satisfaction. And with respect to the prayer of the memorialists for moderating the duty upon prize sugars; although the Board inclined to think it might be expedient to comply therewith, yet as a matter of importance to the British Sugar Colonies, and in other respects deserving their utmost attention, they could not hope to enter upon it with any prospect of being able to furnish the Lords of the Treasury, with the result during the probable short duration of this session of Parliament; but that the Board, being to hear the memorialists upon the whole of their memorial, that whatever might appear upon that hearing to the Board, as to the subject in question, should be communicated to him for the information of Treasury.

fo. 116.

fo. 117.

The Board now proceeded to consider the several matters abovementioned, and referred to their attention; and after spending a considerable time thereupon, agreed to resume the consideration thereof tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock; and in the meantime, Mr. Elliott was directed, to write to Mr. Jackson, and desire his attendance upon the Board at that hour; and to inform Mr. Griffin, that the Board would be ready to hear the Committee of Sugar Refiners in support of their memorial tomorrow at 1 o'clock; and in order to obtain the most perfect information upon the different subjects now before the Board, Mr. Elliott was directed, to write to Sir Stanier Porten, and stating the questions referred to their lordships, and the papers accompanying it, to desire he would move Lord Hillsborough for extracts of such official papers, and other information as may be in his Lordship's office, relating to the subject; together with the votes of the House of Commons in Ireland while the said Act was in debate, and requesting his speedy attention thereunto.

St. John's.

Read a memorial of John Patterson, esquire, attorney for Walter Patterson, esquire, of the Island of St. John's, setting forth, that Mr. President Calbeck's claim to a part of the salary, during the time he acted as Commander in Chief of that island, had been misstated; and that the case of Mr. Patterson being of a peculiar nature, and different from those to which the instruction with respect to the salary to be allowed the person commanding in chief may be supposed to apply, he prayed to be heard by counsel in support of Mr. Patterson's just claim to the whole salary, and against the claim of Mr. Calbeck to a part thereof.

The Board thereupon resolved, that the said memorial should be taken into consideration at some future opportunity.

fo. 118.

Friday, June 30th. Present:—The Earl of Carlisle, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Greville, Mr. Eden, Mr. de Grey, Mr. Stuart, Mr. Gibbon.

The minutes of the Board held yesterday were read, approved and signed.

Ireland.

Mr. Elliott informed the Board, that he had in pursuance of their lordships' directions wrote to Mr. Robinson, the Chairman of the Committee of Sugar Refiners, Mr. Jackson, and Sir Stanier Porten.

Bermuda.

The drafts of two representations to his Majesty, recommending Daniel Leonard and Robert Traile, esquires, to be of the Council of Bermuda, having been prepared, were approved, transcribed and signed.

fo. 119.

Ireland.

Read a letter from Sir Stanier Porten to Mr. Elliott in answer to his of yesterday, enclosing,
Copy of a letter from the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to Lord Hillsborough, dated Dublin Castle, 15th June, 1780.

Ireland.

Read copy of a memorial to the Lords of the Treasury, from the Sugar Refiners in November, 1779; and also copy of a memorial from them to their lordships subsequent thereunto, and by them given into this Board.

fo. 120.

The Board resumed the consideration of the several matters referred to them by the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council, and Mr. Jackson attending the Board as desired, the Committee of Sugar Refiners were called in, and the Board entered into a minute examination of the allegations contained in their memorial; in the course of which, it being alledged by them, that the duties imposed by the Irish Parliament upon raw sugar, and upon which the proper duty now to be laid on refined sugar must be founded, are not in fact equivalent to those paid in Great Britain, nor of course agreeable to the provision of the Act passed in this present session of Parliament, intituled, An Act for granting to his Majesty the several duties upon imported sugar therein mentioned, and extending the sugar trade; and also, that some of the regulations of the said Act of the Irish Parliament, might operate to favor a clandestine importation; they were desired to state the said several allegations in a memorial, the same being new matter of consideration, and not now before the Board, by tomorrow at 12 o'clock, at which time they were directed again to attend.

fo. 121.

It appearing to the Board, that the Bench Officers of the Customs had, by directions of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, made a calculation of what might be deemed a proper duty upon refined sugar imported into Ireland, Mr. Elliott was directed, to write to Mr. Stanley, and desire him to move the Commissioners of the Customs, that the said Bench Officers may be ordered to attend this Board tomorrow at 2 o'clock, with papers and documents, upon which they founded such calculations. And it was resolved, to resume the consideration of these several matters tomorrow at 11 o'clock.