Journal, June 1781: Volume 88

Journal, June 1781

fo. 239.

Tuesday, June 12th. Present:—Lord Grantham, Mr. Stuart, Mr. Gibbon, Mr. Sloane.

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

Trade.

Hemp.

fo. 240.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, stating the opinion of the Board upon the memorial relative to an improvement in the manufacture of hemp, having been prepared pursuant to order of the 29th of last month, together with the draught of a letter to Lord Viscount Stormont, accompanying the said representation, were approved, transcribed and signed.

Georgia.

Read a letter from Mr. Knox to Mr. Elliott, dated Whitehall, June 8th, 1781, transmitting, by direction of Lord George Germain, to be laid before the Board for their consideration, vizt.,
Extract of a letter from Sir James Wright, baronet, Governor of the Province of Georgia, to Lord George Germain, dated Savannah, 9th of April, 1781, transmitting the following Act.
fo. 241.
An Act for granting to his Majesty certain duties on all goods, wares and merchandize of the growth or production of this Province, which may be exported from hence as the contribution of Georgia to the general charge of the British Empire. Passed March 6th, 1781.

Mr. Elliott acquainted the Board, that understanding it was necessary the said Act should be ready for their Lordships' consideration as soon as possible, he had, immediately on receiving it, sent it to Mr. Jackson, who had reported his opinion on it.

Upon which their Lordships read and considered the said Act, together with Mr. Jackson's report thereupon; and the draught of a representation to his Majesty, proposing the confirmation of the said Act, having been prepared by their order, was approved, transcribed and signed.

fo. 242.

Ordered, that the draught of a letter to Sir James Wright, baronet, Governor of the Province of Georgia, be prepared, acquainting him, that the Board have proposed the Act beforementioned to his Majesty for confirmation; but recommending a revisal of the said Act in some particulars; and if necessary, that a Bill may be proposed to explain and amend the same; and the said draught having been prepared accordingly, was approved, transcribed and signed.

St. John's.

fo. 243.

Their Lordships read and considered eighteen Acts passed in the Island of St. John in October, 1779, and March and July, 1780, (mentioned in the minutes of the 29th of January and 8th of May last), together with Mr. Jackson's two reports thereupon, dated 29th April and 31st May, 1781.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared, proposing the disallowance of one of the said Acts intituled, An Act for ascertaining the privileges of the members of the present Assembly and their servants, and the mode of general and partial elections.

fo. 244.

Ordered, that the draught of a letter to Governor Patterson be prepared, acquainting him with the resolution of the Board respecting the Act abovementioned; and also with their opinion upon several other of the Acts, against which objections seem to lie; recommending his transmitting the Act respecting attachments, which though mentioned in his letter to be sent, has not been received; and directing him to acquaint Lieutenant Governor Desbrisay, that unless all the lots of lands, granted by him, during his administration, be surrendered in Court by him, as well by the other officers of the Crown who have obtained improper grants of the said lots, except one lot for each of his and their families, their Lordships will find themselves obliged to represent the matter to his Majesty.

Bermuda.

fo. 245.

Read a letter from Lord George Germain to the Board, dated May 29th, 1781, signifying his Majesty's commands, that this Board do prepare an additional instruction to the Governor of Bermuda or Somers Islands, directing, that the whale fishery should be free and open to all his Majesty's subjects in those Islands, without paying any duty, acknowledgement or fee, or obtaining any license for the same.

The draught of an additional instruction to William Browne, esquire, Governor of the Bermuda or Somers Islands, having been prepared in pursuance of his Majesty's commands, signified by Lord George Germain's letter beforementioned, was approved, and a representation to his Majesty thereupon was signed.

fo. 246.

Bahama.

The following letters and papers were laid before the Board and read, vizt.,
Letter from John Maxwell, esquire, Governor of the Bahama Islands, to the Board, dated New Providence, March 16th, 1781, acknowledging the receipt of the Board's letter of the 5th of October last.
Letter from Governor Maxwell to the Board, dated March 16th, 1781, recommending Robert Sterling, esquire, to be Lieutenant Governor of the Bahama Islands.
Letter from Governor Maxwell to the Board, dated March 30th, 1781, acquainting their Lordships that he had appointed Mr. Ross and Mr. McKenzie to be of the Council, and transmitting,
fo. 247.
Letter from Patrick Tonyn, esquire, Governor of East Florida, to Governor Maxwell, dated St. Augustine, January 30th, 1781, acquainting him with an intended attack on the Bahama Islands.
Minutes of Council of the Bahama Islands, from the 14th July, 1780, to the 21st of March, 1781.
Journal of Council in Assembly from the 12th of September, 1780, to 4th October, 1780; and also from the 6th to the 20th February, 1781.
Journal of the General Assembly from 12th September to 4th October, 1780.
Journal of the General Assembly from 6th to 21st February, 1781.
fo. 248.
List of civil officers in the Bahama Islands, dated March 31st, 1781.
Seven Acts passed in the Bahama Islands in October, 1780, and February, 1781, vizt.,
An Act for cleansing and preserving the harbour of New Providence.
An Act for the forming and disciplining the militia, and the better providing for the defence and security of these Islands.
An Act for the better securing all vessels within the harbour of New Providence, and providing an allowance for an Harbour Master.
An Act for laying a poll tax and other taxes and assessments for the year there in mentioned, and directing how the same shall be collected and applied.
An Act for continuing an Act intituled, An Act for granting a salary to a Barrack Master for this Island, and for providing oil or candles and firewood for the troops doing duty in the same.
fo. 249.
An Act to amend an Act intituled, An Act for cleansing and preserving the harbour of New Providence.
An Act for amending an Act intituled, An Act for raising a sum of money, and impowering commissioners for putting this Island in a better state of defence.

Ordered, that the foregoing Acts be sent to Mr. Jackson, for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

Leeward Islands, St.Christopher's

Read a letter from President Johnson to the Board, dated St. Christopher's, April 18th, 1781, acknowledging the receipt of the Board's letter of the 31st of January last.

Read a letter from President Johnson to the Board, dated St. Christopher's, April 20th, 1781, transmitting the following public papers, vizt.,
fo. 250.
Minutes of Assembly of the Island of St. Christopher from 18th January to 16th June, 1781.
Antigua.
Minutes of Assembly of the Island of Antigua from 1st November, 1780 to 17th January, 1781.
An Act passed in the Island of Antigua, 20th March, 1781, intituled,
An Act for continuing an Act Intituled, An Act for establishing Courts of Common Pleas, Error, King's Bench and Grand Sessions, and for compelling the specific performance of money contracts and an equitable performance of other contracts, and for the better regulating and settling due methods for the administration of justice, and for limiting a time for executing executions out of the Court of Chancery and other Courts in this Island, and more effectual support of credit; and also for continuing the several Acts since made for the continuing, reviving and amending the firstmentioned Act.

Nevis.

Address of the Council of Nevis to President Johnson, praying that Judge Dasent may be suspended from his seat in the said Council.

fo. 251.

Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands.

Minutes of the Assembly of the Virgin Islands from the 21st October, 1778, to the 1st of October, 1780.
A Bill passed by the Council and Assembly of the Virgin Islands, January 4th, 1781, but not assented to by the President, intituled,
An Act for confirming titles to lands in the said Islands and for quieting the inhabitants and others in their possessions thereof, and also for confirming the proceedings of the Lieutenant Governors and Councils and the Presidents and Councils of the Virgin Islands as a Court of Law before the establishment of the legislature in the year 1774, and for removing all doubts touching the authority of the said Court, and for providing a remedy for such who have obtained judgement therein and still remain unsatisfied, and for indemnifying the Judges and officers of the said Courts; and also an Act for establishing Courts of Common Pleas, Error, King's Bench and Grand Sessions, and for the compelling the specific performance of money contracts and an equitable performance of other contracts, and for the better regulating and settling due methods for the administration of justice, and for limiting a time for executing executions out of the Court of Chancery and other Courts in these Islands, and more effectual support of credit.

fo. 252.

Ordered, that the foregoing Act and Bill be sent to Mr. Jackson, for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

fo. 253.

Ordered, that the draught of a letter to Thomas Shirley, esquire, Governor of the Leeward Islands, be prepared, acquainting him, that it appears to the Board, that several improper provisions are enacted in the Act passed in the Island of Antigua, for regulating the militia, mentioned in the minutes of the 26th of January and 8th of May last; that President Johnson having transmitted to the Board a Bill passed in the Virgin Islands for quieting possessions and establishing Courts of Judicature, which had been laid before Governor Burt for his assent, he will, after the same has been considered, receive instructions upon it; and that, it appearing to the Board, that the first answer of the Chief Justice of Nevis to the charges preferred against him by the Council and Assembly, has not been transmitted, their Lordships desire he will furnish them with a copy thereof, in order that they may be enabled to form an opinion thereon.

Barbados

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, proposing that Richard Hetherington, esquire, may be appointed of the Council for the Virgin Islands, was prepared, approved, transcribed and signed.

Barbados.

Read a letter from James Cuninghame, esquire, Governor of the Island of Barbados, to the Board, dated March 26th, 1781, acknowledging the receipt of the Board's letters of the 13th December and 19th January last, and assuring their Lordships of his attention to their directions respecting the Insolvent Act.

fo. 254.

Wednesday, June 20th. Present:—Lord Grantham, Mr. Stuart, Mr. Gibbon, Mr. Sloane.

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

West Florida.

Read a letter from Peter Chester, esquire, Governor of West Florida, to the Board, dated Pensacola, November 24th, 1780, acknowledging the receipt of their Lordships' letter of the 11th of May, 1780.

fo. 255.

West Florida.

Read a memorial of several merchants to the Board, stating, that in the course of their trade with the Province of West Florida, they have received at different times, remittances in Bills of Exchange drawn by the Public Officers there on the Crown agent; but that, since the appointment of Christopher Nesham, esquire, to that office, they have experienced repeated delays in the payment of the Bills drawn on him, and since the 16th June, 1780, they have not received payment of any of the Bills in their hands. They therefore pray, that the grant of Parliament for that Province may not be issued to him, but may remain in the Treasury for the payment of the said Bills, or that other relief may be given to them, in the premises.

Ordered, that Mr. Elliott do write to Mr. Robinson, transmitting to him a copy of the memorial beforementioned, for the information of the Lords of the Treasury.

fo. 256.

Jamaica.

Read a letter from John Dalling, esquire, Governor of the Island of Jamaica, to the Board, dated February 17th, 1781, stating his further reasons for the steps he took relative to the removal of four of the Judges of the said Islands.

Leeward Islands, St. Christopher's.

Read a letter from Mr. Knox to Mr. Elliott, dated June 19th, 1781, transmitting, by direction of Lord George Germain, the following paper, and desiring that he will acquaint the Lords of Trade, with Governor Shirley's wishes, that Mr. Wharton may be recommended as one of the Council for St. Christopher's.
fo. 257.
Extract of a letter from President Johnson to Lord George Germain, dated 13th February, 1781, acquainting his Lordship, that, there being but six members of his Majesty's Council in the Island of Saint Christopher, he had called William Wharton, esquire, as an additional one to the number.

Ordered, that the recommendation abovementioned be postponed for the present.

The draught of a letter to Thomas Shirley, esquire, Governor of the Leeward Islands, prepared pursuant to order of the 12th instant, was approved, transcribed and signed.

St. John's.

fo. 258.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, proposing the disallowance of an Act passed in the Islands of St. John, for ascertaining the privileges of the members of the Assembly, etc., prepared pursuant to order of the 12th instant, was approved; and it was ordered, that in addition thereto, the Act intituled, An Act directing the proceedings against forcible entry, passed in the said Island in July, 1780, should also be proposed for disallowance; which being done, the said representation upon the two Acts beforementioned was transcribed and signed; together with a representation, submitting to his Majesty's opinion another Act passed in the said Island, intituled, An Act for altering the name of this Island from Saint John to that of New Ireland.

The draught of a letter to Walter Patterson, esquire, Governor of the Island of St. John, prepared pursuant to order of the 12th instant, was approved, transcribed and signed.

fo. 259.

Friday, June 22nd. Present:— Lord Grantham, Mr. Stuart, Mr. Gibbon, Mr. Sloane.

Trade.

Military Stores.

Read an order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated June 21st, 1781, referring the petition of John Shoolbred, praying leave [to ship] five hundred sword blades to Charles Town, on board the ship Friends.

Their Lordships being of opinion, the exportation should be allowed; the draught of a report to the Lords of the Privy Council was prepared, approved, transcribed and signed.