Journal, July 1781: Volume 88

Journal, July 1781

fo. 260.

Friday, July 6th. Present:—Lord Grantham, Mr. Stuart, Mr. Gibbon, Mr. Sloane.

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

Miscellanies.

The Secretary, after expressing his acknowledgements to their Lordships for their indulgence during his absence, signified his entire acquiescence in so much of the minute of the 1st of December, as was referred to him, vizt., respecting the partition of salary, fees and perquisites; and also assured the Board, that he had written to Mr. Elliott to that effect out of Spain, although it appeared his letter had miscarried.

fo. 261.

Africa.

Read a letter from Mr. Rutherford to the Secreatary, dated African Office, June 21st, 1781, transmitting, by direction of the African Committee, for the information of the Board,
Copy of a letter from the Committee to the Governor and Council at Cape Coast Castle, dated June 20th, 1781.

Nova Scotia.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following public papers received from the Province of Nova Scotia, which were read, vizt.,
Proceedings of his Majesty's Council for the said Province, commencing the 17th of April, and ending 20th November, 1780.
Journal of the General Assembly from the 9th of October to the 3rd of November, 1780.

fo. 262.

New York.

Their Lordships read and considered a private Act passed in the Province of New York in February, 1772, numbered in the list of Acts 365, together with Mr. Jackson's report thereupon.

Virginia.

Their Lordships read and considered five private Acts passed in the Province of Virginia in the years 1771, 1772 and 1773, numbered in the list of Acts, 320, 321, 331, 401 and 420, together with Mr. Jackson's report thereupon.

West Florida.

fo. 263.

The Secretary acquainted the Board, that pursuant to order of the 20th of last month, Mr. Elliott had, on the 21st of the said month, written to Mr. Robinson, transmitting to him a copy of the memorial of sundry merchants, complaining of the conduct of Mr. Nesham as agent for the said Province; and at the same time informed their Lordships, that no person on the part of the complainants against Governor Chester, had yet appeared to pray for the appointment of a day for hearing the said complaints.

South Carolina, Georgia.

fo. 264.

Read a memorial of the merchants of London trading to the Provinces of South Carolina and Georgia, to the Board, complaining of certain Acts which operate to their prejudice; and praying relief by the abolition of the said Acts, together with certain other regulations which they conceive necessary for the security and advantage of their trade with those colonies; and to prevent the losses to which they would be otherwise subjected by the regulations, which they conceive to be partial to the persons residing in those colonies, or who may happen to be present there.

Their Lordships having taken the said memorial into consideration, gave orders, that the merchants, subscribers thereto, be desired to attend the Board on Fryday next at 12 o'clock, and that Mr. Jackson be desired to attend at the same time.

St. John's.

fo. 265.

The agent for the Island of St. John having transmitted the Act respecting attachments (numbered in the list of Acts) passed in July, 1780, and which by the minutes of the 12th of June last appeared to be missing, the said Act was ordered to be referred to Mr. Jackson, for his opinion in point of law. At the same time it was observed to their Lordships, that the Seal of the Island was not affixed to it.

Bahama.

Their Lordships read and considered seven Acts passed in the Bahama Islands in October, 1780, and February, 1781, mentioned in the minutes of the 12th of last month, together with Mr. Jackson's report thereupon.

fo. 266.

Ordered, that when the Board write next to the Governor of the Bahama Islands, mention be made of an objection which appears to one of the said Acts intituled, An Act for the forming and disciplining the militia and the better providing for the defence and security of those Islands, inasmuch as it compels all transient persons to serve in the militia, without exception of masters or mariners ready to put to sea, or even persons in his Majesty's militia service.

Leeward Islands, Antigua.

Read and considered an Act passed in the Island of Antigua in March, 1781, (mentioned in the minutes of the 12th of June last) together with Mr. Jackson's report thereupon.

Bermuda.

Read a letter from Mr. Thompson to Mr. Elliott, dated June 29th, 1781, transmitting, by direction of Lord George Germain, to be laid before the Board,
Duplicate of a letter from Lieutenant Governor Bruere to Lord George Germain, dated Bermuda, March 26th, 1781.
fo. 267.
Minutes of his Majesty's Council for the Bermuda Islands from the 3rd of August, 1779, to the 11th of April, 1781.
Minutes of Council in Assembly from the 11th of October, 1779, to 27th May, 1780; from 18th to 23rd September, 1780; and from the 9th October, 1780, to the 28th March, 1781.
Journal of General Assembly from the 18th September, 1780, to 2nd February, 1781.
Depositions, being an appendix to the answer of Governor Bruere to the complaints against certain military and naval officers, contained in the address of the inhabitants, and the agent's memorial, mentioned in the minutes of the 3rd and 24th of September, 1779.
fo. 268.
Copy of a Bill intituled, An Act for the immediate repairs of the fortifications within these Islands. Passed by the Assembly, March 17th, 1781, but not concurred to by the Council.
Extract from the minutes of the Assembly on the abovementioned Bill.
Copy of an Act, for raising a publick revenue for the support of the Government of these Islands; passed in 1698, confirmed in 1704.

Read and considered a private Act passed in the Bermuda Islands in the year 1775, numbered in the list of Acts, 55, together with Mr. Jackson's report thereupon.

fo. 269.

Their Lordships took into further consideration the nine Acts passed in the Bermuda Islands, which are mentioned in the minutes of the 27th of March last, together with Mr. Jackson's report thereupon; and the Secretary informing their Lordships of what had been stated to him by Mr. Tucker, agent for the Council and Assembly of the said Islands, as reasons indispensable for the operation of the duty of 3¾ per cent on all prizes and prize goods taken by privateers and brought into, and sold in, the said Islands, imposed by the Act passed in September, 1780; it was resolved, that the said Act, together with another of the said Acts, suspending the operation of the said duty, till his Majesty's pleasure be known thereupon, should be reconsidered on Fryday next.

fo. 270.

Friday, July 13th. Present:—Lord Grantham, Mr. Stuart, Mr. Gibbon, Mr. Sloane.

Bermuda.

fo. 271.

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

Mr. Jackson attending, their Lordships, pursuant to their resolution of the 6th instant, took into further consideration the Act passed in the Bermuda Islands in September, 1780, imposing a duty on all prizes and prize goods, etc., together with the Act suspending the operation of the said duty, until his Majesty's [opinion] thereon should be known; and although the imposition of any burthen upon the exertion of his Majesty's subjects, in the course of the war, clearly appeared to their Lordships exceptionable in point of general policy; yet as the peculiar circumstances of these Islands, and their distress in point of revenue deserve consideration, their Lordships were of opinion, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty should be prepared, stating the case, and submitting to his Majesty's wisdom, to give a probationary operation of one year, to the Act imposing the said duty, or otherwise as his Majesty should think fit.

South Carolina, Georgia.

fo. 272.

fo. 273.

Their Lordships being informed, that the merchants, subscribers to the memorial mentioned in the minutes of the 6th instant, attended pursuant to order, they were called in; and the said memorial having been read, they were desired to state any particulars they had to offer, in aid, or explanation of their memorial; whereupon Mr. Nutt informed their Lordships, that so long as the operation of the Acts in question should be permitted, it would be difficult to say, to what alarming hazards and losses the merchants of this kingdom trading to those colonies were liable; that their property was thereby rendered precarious in a high degree, and the credit of the first houses in that commerce liable to be shaken, by the steps that had been, and might be, pursued under those Acts; that their application to their Lordships, is for a redress of grievances, and they hope that the necessity of recommending the said Acts for his Majesty's disallowance will be clearly seen, notwithstanding the time they have had operation; that they apprehend instructions to the Governors might not produced the object of the prayer; and, that although there has been no recent cause of complaint, so far as they are individually concerned; yet as the debt due to them from these colonies is to a very great amount, their property is every day becoming less secure, by the many actions, even to the amount of five hundred as he believes, which have been commenced in the Province of Georgia, under the Attachment Act since the said Province has been at the King's peace; of which however, he will more fully inform himself and give the necessary information to the Board.

fo. 274.

Their Lordships having heared what the memorialists had to offer, assured them that their application should be considered with the attention and dispatch due to its importance; but as their several requisitions involved points of great legal moment, on which it would be necessary that opinions should be consulted, some time must, of course, be spent, before their Lordships could offer any advice to the Throne.

The memorialists being withdrawn, their Lordships directed the Secretary to prepare a case for the consideration of Mr. Jackson upon the foregoing proceeding, so soon as the merchants concerned shall send the information before specified.

fo. 275.

Miscellanies.

Mr. Elliott, having during the absence of Mr. Cumberland exercised the office of Secretary with great ability, and to the entire satisfaction of the Board, their Lordships think that the most effectual method of expressing their sentiments of his service on that occasion, will be to join in an earnest recommendation of him to Lord North, for some such mark of favour or addition of salary, as may enable him to continue his attendance on the Board; for which purpose Lord Grantham is requested to make such an application in the name of the Board, as he may judge most likely to be attended with success.

fo. 276.

Monday, July 16th. Present:—Lord Grantham, Mr. Stuart, Mr. Gibbon.

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

Bermuda.

Representation to the King, recommending Andrew Cazneau, esquire, to be of the Council in Bermuda, was signed.

Trade.

Military Stores.

fo. 277.

Read an order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated July 13th, 1781, referring the petition of Messieurs Whitmore, stating, that they have obtained restitution of eight cases of fire arms, manufactured at Lie´ge and intended to be sent to Lisbon for the use of the Portugueze in the Brazils, but which were captured on board a Dutch ship, by the Revenge privateer, and carried into Dover; and praying leave to export the said arms to Lisbon, the original place of their destination, on board the Portugueze ship Lamego.

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

South Carolina, Georgia.

fo. 278.

The Secretary laid before the Board, a case he had prepared pursuant to order of the 13th, for Mr. Jackson, on the matters contained in the memorial of the merchants trading to South Carolina and Georgia, which was approved and ordered to be transmitted. And it was likewise ordered, that the said case should be laid before the Attorney and Solicitor General, for their opinion thereupon.

Bermuda.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, submitting the opinion of the Board on the Act passed in Bermuda in September, 1780, imposing a duty on prizes and prize goods,etc.; and also on the Act passed in November, 1780, for suspending the operation of the former Act, having been prepared pursuant to order of the 13th instant, was approved, transcribed and signed.

Nova Scotia, East Florida, St. John's.

fo. 279.

Read the several memorials of the agents of Nova Scotia, East Florida, St. John's, and general Surveys to the Lords of his Majesty's Treasury, praying that the money granted by Parliament, for the support of the civil establishment of the said colonies, and for general Surveys for the year 1781, may be issued as usual into their hands; upon which the Secretary was directed to certify their Lordships' approbation of the said memorials, being presented accordingly.

Wednesday, July 18th. Present:—Lord Grantham, Mr. Stuart, Mr. Gibbon, Mr. Sloane.

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

Miscellanies, fo. 280.

Lord Grantham informed the Board, that agreeable to the minute of the 13th instant, he had made an application to Lord North in behalf of Mr. Elliot, and that he had received a letter from his Lordship in answer in these terms I am sorry there are at present no means of gratifying him (Mr. Elliott) with an office, but I will certainly make no difficulty in allowing £250 in the contingencies of the Board of Trade till he can be provided for in another manner. Lord Grantham further informed the Board, that Lord North had in the same letter declared he should consider himself as obliged to the Board if any saving in the contingencies to the same amount could be made. Whereupon Mr. Elliott expressed his grateful sense of the obligation he lay under on this occasion to their Lordships.