Journal, November 1781: Volume 88

Journal, November 1781

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Saturday, November 17th. Present:— Lord Grantham, Mr. Stuart, Mr. Gibbon.

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

Barbados.

Read a letter from John Fisher, esquire, Secretary to Lord George Germain, to Mr. Cumberland, dated October 10th, 1781, inclosing
Memorial of the Council of Barbados, to the Lords of Trade, justifying the Governor as to the legality of the fees by him taken.

Read a letter from Mr. Fisher to Mr. Cumberland, dated October 12th, 1781, inclosing,
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Letter from Governor Cuninghame to Lord George Germain, dated Barbados, July 17th, 1781, containing a list of the public papers there in inclosed, vizt.
Minutes of Council commencing September 5th, 1780, and ending May 8th, 1781.
List of the Honourable members of his Majesty's Council, dated July 13th, 1781.
An abstract of christenings and burials in the year 1780.
Storekeeper's certificate of money collected in lieu of gunpowder, from April 14th, 1780, to April 13th, 1781.
Treasurer's certificate of new negroes imported, from June 6th, 1780, to April, 1781.
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Three Acts passed in Barbados in November, 1780, and May, 1781, No. 133, 134 and 135.

Read a letter from Mr. Fisher to Mr. Cumberland, dated October 13th, 1781, inclosing
Extract from the minutes of the Council of Barbados, in Mr. Lowther's administration, referred to in the memorial of the Council of Barbados to the Lords of Trade, inclosed in Mr. Fisher's letter, to Mr. Cumberland, of October 10th, 1781.
Read a letter from Mr. Fisher to Mr. Cumberland, dated November 14th, 1781, inclosing,
Copy of an address from the Council of Barbados to the King.

Read a letter from Mr. Estwick to Mr. Cumberland, dated November 13th, 1781, together with,

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The petition of Samuel Estwick, esquire, agent for the Assembly of Barbados, to the Board, dated November 6th, 1781, referring to certain assertions said to be made by Governor Cuninghame, in his correspondence with President Dotin, respecting his Majesty's approbation of his conduct; (but of which circumstance no vouchers are exhibited), and desiring to know if their Lordships will be pleased to appoint as short a day as may be, to hear and determine upon the charges of the Assembly, against the said Governor.

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Ordered, that Mr. Estwick, agent for the Assembly of Barbados, be informed by the Secretary, in answer to such part of the prayer of his petition, as refers to a speedy appointment of a day of hearing, that their Lordships, in obedience to his Majesty's commands, signified to them by Lord George Germain, in his letter of the 24th of February last, should have proceeded to hear the matters in complaint against the Governor of Barbados, if his defence had come to hand. However, as a considerable time has elapsed, since the directions of the Board have been received by him, their Lordships, in consideration thereof, and to avoid the inconveniencies incident to a longer delay, resolve to appoint a day, as soon as may be, after Christmas, for hearing the complaints set forth in the petition of the Assembly to his Majesty, relative to the fees established by the Governor, with advice of the Council, as far as they may be enabled by such evidence as shall be then before them.

Ordered, that the three Acts passed in Barbados be referred to Mr. Jackson, for his opinion in point of law.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from Mr. Fisher, to Mr. Cumberland, dated October 13th, 1781, inclosing
List of the members of his Majesty's Council for Nova Scotia, dated June 30th, 1781.
List of laws passed by the General Assembly of Nova Scotia, in June session, 1781.
Journals of the Council of Nova Scotia, from June 11th to the 5th of July, 1781.
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Proceedings of the Council, from March 12th to June 17th, 1781.
Journal and proceedings of the Assembly, from June 11th to July 5th, 1781.
Eleven Acts passed by the Legislature of Nova Scotia in June, 1781.

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

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Letter from Sir Richard Hughes, Baronet, late Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, to the Board, dated Deal, November 9th, 1781, inclosing sundry papers relative to the case of Jonathan Binney, esquire, one of the members of his Majesty's Council for Nova Scotia, and respectfully recommending Mr. Binney's affairs to the consideration of the Board, his services having been faithful, and his sufferings very considerable by the destruction of his property at Canso; he, therefore, humbly hopes that their Lordships will be pleased to favor Mr. Binney with some allowance for his losses, and that he might be put upon the provincial estimate of Nova Scotia for a salary of £100 per annum, as chief magistrate for the district of Canso, in like manner as the chief magistrate for the district of Louisbourg is now allowed.
Proceedings of the Council and Assembly of Nova Scotia, November 15th, 1780, and June 30th, 1781, together with an estimate of the losses sustained by Mr. Binney at Canso, as certified by Richard Bulkley, esquire, Secretary for Nova Scotia, August 4th, 1781.

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Georgia.

Read a duplicate letter (original not received) from Sir James Wright, Baronet, Governor of Georgia, to the Board, dated May 1st, 1781, acknowledging his having received a duplicate of their Lordships' letter of 13th of December, 1781, relative to his correspondence with their Lordships, which will be duly attended to.

Quebec.

Read a letter from Mr. Fisher, to Mr. Cumberland, dated October 16th, 1781, inclosing,
Three ordinances of the Governor and Legislative Council of Quebec, passed

Ordered, that the said ordinances be sent to Mr. Jackson, for his opinion in point of law.

Read a letter from Mr. Fisher, to Mr. Cumberland, dated November 6th, 1781, inclosing

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St. John's.

Copy of a letter from Governor Patterson to Lord George Germain, March 1st, 1781.
Copies of sixteen Acts received by Lord George Germain, from Walter Patterson, esquire, Governor of the Island of Saint John.

Leeward Islands.

St. Christopher's.

Read a letter from Anthony Johnson, esquire, President of the Leeward Islands, to the Board, dated St. Christopher's, May 13th, 1781, containing several particulars of his proceedings as President of said Islands.

Trade.

Military Stores.

Read an order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated November 9th, 1781, referring the petition of William Smith of London, merchant, praying leave to export to Ostend, on board an Imperial ship, sundry military stores.

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Their Lordships postponed the consideration of the foregoing petition, until the petitioner shall make further application.

Read an order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated November 16th, 1781, referring the petition of John Shoolbred, praying leave to export to Charles Town, South Carolina, certain military stores therein mentioned.

Read an order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated November 16th, 1781, referring the petition of John White, praying leave to export to Jamaica, certain military stores therein mentioned.

Their Lordships being of opinion, that the exportation prayed for should be allowed; two reports to the Lords of the Privy Council were prepared, transcribed and signed.

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Trade.

Custom House Ledgers.

Read a letter from Edward Stanley, esquire, Secretary to the Commissioners of the Customs, to Mr. Cumberland, dated Custom House, London, September 5th, 1781, transmitting,
Copy of the Inspector General of the Customs' ledger of imports and exports for the year 1775.

Read a letter from Mr. Stanley to Mr. Cumberland, dated November 7th, 1781, transmitting,

Copy of the Inspector General of the Customs' ledger of imports and exports for the year 1776.

Barbados.

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Ordered, that the draught of a letter be prepared to Governor Cuninghame, signifying to him, that their Lordships had appointed a time for hearing the complaints of the Assembly, relative to the establishment of fees, and transmitting copies of Mr. Estwick's petition to the Board, dated August 18th, 1781, together with the petition of the said Assembly to the King, and the memorial and remonstrance of the merchants, traders and inhabitants, of the town of St. Michael to the said Assembly; and directing him to prepare his answers, to the articles of complaint therein mentioned, and transmit them, by the earliest opportunity, in the manner prescribed by their Lordships, in their letter of the 13th of March last, to the said Governor.

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Wednesday, November 28th. Present:—Lord Grantham, Mr. Stuart, Mr. Gibbon, Mr. Sloane.

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

Barbados.

The draught of a letter to Governor Cuninghame having been prepared pursuant to order at the last Board, was approved, transcribed and signed.

Africa.

Read a letter from Mr. Rutherford, Secretary to the African Committee, to Mr. Cumberland, dated August 28th, 1781, inclosing
No.1. Copy of a letter from the African Committee, to the Governor and Council at Cape Coast Castle, dated August 20th, 1781.
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No. 2. Copy of the African Committee's order, to Mr. John Fountaine, dated August 20th, 1781, relative to the manner of his disposing the goods and necessaries sent out, for victualling the King's troops on the Gold Coast of Africa.
No.3. Copy of a letter from Robert Stubbs, esquire, late Governor of Annamaboe Fort, to the African Committee, dated Cape Coast Castle, March 26th, 1781.
No.4. Copy of a letter from Robert Stubbs, esquire, late Governor [of] Annamaboe, to the African Committee, dated Annamaboe Road, on board the William, Captain Hanly of Liverpool, January 30th, 1781.

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Read a letter from Mr. Rutherford, Secretary to the African Committee, to Mr. Cumberland, dated October 13th, 1781, inclosing
Copy of a letter from the Governor and Council at Cape Coast Castle to the Committee, dated January 25th, 1781.
Copy of a letter from Jerome Bernard Weaves, esquire, Governor of Cape Coast Castle, to the Committee, dated June 20th, 1781.
Copy of a letter from Governor Weaves, to the Committee, dated Cape Coast Castle, June 29th, 1781.

Read a letter from Mr. Rutherford to Mr. Cumberland, dated October 20th, 1781, inclosing
Copy of the African Committee's minutes, January 31st, 1781, relating to Richard Miles, esquire, appointed Governor of Cape Coast Castle, President of the Council, etc.
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A card from the African Committee to the Board, dated October 20th, 1781, desiring leave to attend their Lordships, at such time as they shall appoint, on the subject of the foregoing minutes.

Read a letter from Mr. Rutherford to Mr. Cumberland, dated November 17th, 1781, inclosing,
Copy of the African Committee's instructions to Governor Miles, dated November 14th, 1781.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, desiring their attendance at the Board on Tuesday next, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon.

West Florida.

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Read a petition from Mr. Joshua Sharpe, agent on behalf of Governor Chester, dated July 20th, 1781, praying that the complaints exhibited against the said Governor by Adam Christie, esquire, and other inhabitants of West Florida, by their memorial presented to the Board on the 6th of August, 1779, may be dismissed, it being now near two years since the said complaints were preferred.

Read a letter from Albany Wallis, esquire, to Mr. Cumberland, dated November 23rd, 1781, acquainting him that he has received directions, from the agent to the inhabitants of West Florida, complaints against Governor Chester, to proceed to the hearing of their complaints as soon as some gentlemen, now on their passage home, may arrive, whose testimony is material.

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Jamaica.

Read a memorial from Stephen Fuller, esquire, agent for Jamaica, to the Board, dated November 27th, 1781, praying the immediate consideration of and Act passed in that Island, to make the places of the judges of the Supreme Court of Judicature, etc., more permanent, etc., and that their Lordships would be pleased to recommend the said Act to his Majesty, for confirmation.

Ordered, that Mr. Jackson be desired to make and transmit his report upon the above Act.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from John Fisher, esquire, Secretary to Lord George Germain, to Mr. Cumberland, dated November 24th, 1781, inclosing
Address of the Assembly of Nova Scotia to the King without date, covering,

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Copy of a Bill relating to the duty of excise referred to in the above address.

Resolved, that the consideration of the said address be taken up on some future opportunity.