Journal, April 1705: Journal Book I

Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations: Volume 1, April 1704 - January 1709. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1920.

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'Journal, April 1705: Journal Book I', in Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations: Volume 1, April 1704 - January 1709, (London, 1920) pp. 122-132. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/jrnl-trade-plantations/vol1/pp122-132 [accessed 24 March 2024]

Journal, April 1705

April 2. Present:—Lord Dartmouth, Mr. Cecill, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Prior.

Virginia.

Order of Councill about settling ports.

Merchants summon'd.

Acts to be looked out.

An Order of Councill of the 29th of the last month, refering to the consideration of this Board a report from the Commissioners of the Customes, and one from the Lord High Treasurer upon a memorial from the Virginia merchants, relating to the settling of ports in Virginia, was read; and thereupon ordered that the Virginia merchants be summoned to attend their lordships to-morrow at ten of the clock in the morning; [fo. 349] and further ordered that the Acts for cohabitation and settling of ports in Virginia be lookt out.

Letter from Mr. Secretary Hedges for commission, &c. for Colonel Nott to be Governor.

A letter from Mr. Secretary Hedges of this date, directing the Board to prepare the commission and instructions for Colonel Edward Nott [fo. 351, 359] to be Governor of Virginia, was read; and directions given for preparing the commission to be laid before her Majesty on Thursday next.

Plantations General.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Hedges upon Dummer's petition about duty of powder money, with draught of a letter to the Governors for an exemption thereof.

A letter to Mr. Secretary Hedges, in answer to his of the 28th of the last month [fo. 345], relating to Mr. Dummer's desire that his packet boats may be exempted from paying the powder duty and all other duties in the plantations, inclosing to Mr. Secretary the draught of a letter to be writ to the Governors of the said plantations for suspending the levying the said powder duty, and for indeavouring to get Acts past in the respective Assemblies for exempting the said packet boats from paying the same, was signed.

Barbados.

Memorial from Sir John Collecton against Mr. Colleton's being of the Councill till the cause between them be determined.

Letter to the Governor thereupon.

A memorial from Sir John Colleton [fo. 344] praying their lordships' directions to Sir Beville Granville, that he take care that Mr. James Colleton may not, by virtue of his being one of her Majesty's Councill, any ways impede or obstruct the proceedings at law of the said Sir John against the said Mr. Colleton, was read; and thereupon ordered that a letter be writ to Sir Beville Granville [fo. 353], directing him not to admit the said Mr. Colleton to sit as judge in any of the courts in that island, nor in Councill upon any writ of error or appeal any ways relating to this cause, till the suit between him and Sir John Colleton be determined.

Plantations General.

Reference from Mr. Secretary Harley on Mr. Bridger's petition.

A reference from Mr. Secretary Harley of the 29th of the last month [fo. 325, 349] upon a petition of Mr. Bridger to her Majesty, praying that he may be appointed Surveyor General of the woods in America, and that he may be imployed in promoting and incouraging the production of naval stores in the plantations, was read; and thereupon ordered that a letter be prepared to Mr. Secretary Harley in answer thereunto.

April 3. Present:—Lord Dartmouth, Mr. Cecill, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Plantations General.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Harley.

Bridger.

A letter to Mr. Secretary Harley in answer to his reference upon the petition of Mr. Bridger, mentioned in yesterday's minutes, was signed [fo. 348].

Letter to Mr. Secretary Hedges with draught of circular letter to Governors on the continent. Naval stores.

A letter to Mr. Secretary Hedges inclosing to him the draught of a circular letter [fo. 352] to the Governors on the continent of America, relating to the production of naval stores, for his consideration thereof, was signed.

Virginia.

Merchants about settling ports, &c.

Draught of representation thereupon.

Mr. Perry with other Virginia merchants attending [fo. 347], her Majesty's Order in Councill of the 29th of the last month upon their memorial relating to the settling of ports in that colony, mentioned in yesterday's minutes, was read; and several questions being asked them, they said that they did not mean that the said ports should be settled till towns and warehouses could be built at the places that should be agreed upon; and therefore they only desired that her Majesty would please to give an instruction to Colonel Nott that he move the Assembly to pass an Act for setting out of lands for building the said towns and warehouses on, in order to be ports; but that the said places be not reckoned as ports till two years after the passing the said Act. And they promised to bring to their lordships on Thursday next a list of the names of such places [fo. 351], as they conceived proper for that purpose. And in the meantime their lordships gave directions for preparing the draught of a representation thereupon [fo. 351].

Barbados.

Mr. Heysham, &c. about Mr. Downes

Mr. William Heysham with his brother presented to their lordships [fo. 411] an answer to Sir Beville Granville's reasons for not admitting Mr. Downes into the Councill of Barbados; and they were acquainted that that matter did not properly lye before their lordships, but that their best way would be to apply to her Majesty.

April 5. Present:—Lord Dartmouth, Mr. Cecill, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Virginia.

Several merchants about ports.

Mr. Perry with several Virginia merchants presented to their lordships a list of the names of the places they conceive proper to be established as ports in Virginia, which was read [fo. 350].

Representation about ports.

A representation in obedience to her Majesty's Order in Councill of the 29th of the last month [fo. 350, 352] relating to settling of ports in Virginia, was signed.

Representation with instructions for Colonel Nott.

A representation for laying before her Majesty the draught of a commission for Colonel Nott [fo. 347, 371] to be Governor of Virginia, was signed.

Memorial from Sir Thomas Frankland about letter of revocation for Colonel Nicholson.

A memorial from Sir Thomas Frankland, desiring her Majesty's letter of revocation to Colonel Nicholson, was read; [fo. 352] and ordered that presidents of such letters be look'd out.

New Jersey.

Memorial from Mr. Dockwra.

Lord Cornbury.

Mr. Dockwra, Mr. Cox and Mr. Sonmans presented to their lordships a memorial relating to New Jersey, which their lordships resolved to take into consideration at the first opportunity.

April 11. Present:—Mr. Cecill, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

New England.

Plantations General.

Pirates.

Naval stores.

Ordered that the draught of a letter be prepared to Mr. Secretary Hedges, to remind him of the letters writ him the 2nd of February last and the 3rd instant relating to pirates seized in New England [fo. 256, 349, 355] and to a circular letter relating to the late Act for incouraging the importation of naval stores from America.

Virginia.

Order of Council about ports.

Instruction to be prepared for the Governor.

An Order of Councill of the 5th instant upon a representation [fo. 351] of the same date relating to the settling of ports in Virginia, approving the same and directing the Board to prepare an instruction to Colonel Nott, as is proposed in the said representation, was read, and directions given for preparing the said instruction accordingly [fo. 358].

Letter of revocation to Colonel Nicholson.

The draught of a letter for her Majesty's signature for the revocation of Colonel Nicholson [fo. 351, 354] from the government of Virginia, as also a letter inclosing the same to Mr. Secretary Hedges, were agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

Maryland.

Letter to the Governor about Sir Thomas Lawrence.

A letter to Colonel Seymour [fo. 346, 354] upon Sir Thomas Lawrence's petition mentioned in the minutes of the 30th of the last month, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

Barbados.

Letter to the Governor about Sir John Colleton.

A letter to Sir Beville Granville upon Sir John Colleton's memorial [fo. 348, 354] relating to Mr. James Colleton's being of the Councill of Barbados mentioned in the minutes of the 2nd instant, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

Newfoundland.

Letter from Mr. Thurston about stay of the soldiers.

Letters to Mr. Secretary Hedges and Mr. Burchet to be prepared thereon.

A letter from Mr. Thurston desiring to know whether the company of soldiers at Newfoundland are to stay there or to be relieved, was read, and directions given for preparing a letter to Mr. Secretary Hedges [fo. 354] thereupon, and further ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Burchet to inquire when the Newfoundland convoy will be ready to saile [fo. 355].

Plantations General.

Commissions for trying of pirates.

Ordered that Mr. Baker be desired to dispatch the commissions for trying of pirates in America [fo. 113, 357], in order to be sent by the ships now bound for those parts.

New Jersey.

Lord Cornbury's letters under consideration.

Proprietors to be summoned.

Their lordships took into consideration the Lord Cornbury's letters of 14th January, 170¾, and 4th of November last [fo. 256, 257], relating to his government of New Jersey, which were read the 2nd of February last and made some progress therein; and ordered that Mr. Dockwra, Mr. Dockminique and the other proprietors [fo. 356, 357] be summoned to attend their lordships on Friday morning next.

April 12. Present:—Lord Dartmouth, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Newfoundland.

Letter from Mr. Thurston about necessaries for soldiers.

A letter from Mr. Thurston with an account of the necessaries annually sent for the company of soldiers at Newfoundland, was read, and a letter to Mr. Secretary Hedges, as directed in yesterday's minutes [fo. 353] inclosing also the said account, was signed.

Virginia.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Hedges with draught of one to Colonel Nicholson recalling him home.

A letter to Mr. Secretary Hedges, with the draught of a letter for her Majesty's signature for the revocation of Colonel Nicholson [fo. 352, 363] from the government of Virginia, was signed.

Maryland.

Letter to the Governor about Sir Thomas Lawrence.

A letter to Colonel Seymour upon the petition of Sir Thomas Lawrence [fo. 352; K. fo. 119], relating to the secretary's office in Maryland, as mentioned in yesterday's minutes, was signed.

Barbados.

Letter to the Governor about Sir John Colleton.

A letter to Sir Beville Granville upon Sir John Colleton's memorial [fo. 353] as mentioned in yesterday's minutes, was signed.

Virginia.

Mr. Jennings' memorial about his passage to Virginia.

Letter to Mr. Burchet thereupon.

A memorial from Mr. Jennings desiring the Board's recommendation of him to the Admiralty for his passage to Virginia [fo. 358] in one of the men-of-war now bound thither, was read; and a letter ordered to be writ to Mr. Burchet accordingly.

New England.

Letter to the Governor.

A letter to Colonel Dudley, Governor of New England [fo. 346], was signed.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Hedges about pirates.

Plantations General.

Naval stores.

A letter to Mr. Secretary Hedges relating to the pirates condemned in New England [fo. 352, 359] and to a circular letter for inclosing the Act for incouraging the importation of naval stores [fo. 352, 360] from the plantations, as agreed at the last meeting, was signed.

April 13. Present:—Lord Dartmouth, Mr. Cecill, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen.

Newfoundland.

Letter from Mr. Fawler about convoy.

Answer with heads of inquiry.

A letter from Mr. Fawler in the absence of Mr. Burchet, secretary to his royal highness the Lord High Admiral [fo. 353], signifying that the Newfoundland convoy were sailed for the Downes in order to their proceeding to Newfoundland, was read, and a letter writ to him inclosing the usual heads of inquiry [fo. 364] to be sent to the Commodore of the said convoy for his answers thereunto.

Newfoundland.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Hedges with draught of a commission for Commadore to command at land.

A letter to Mr. Secretary Hedges inclosing the draught of a commission impowering the Commodore of the Newfoundland convoy to command at land during his stay there, was signed.

Virginia.

Memorial from Colonel Nott to stop the fleet ten days.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Hedges thereon.

Colonel Nott presented to their lordships a memorial setting forth that he could not have his dispatches so as to be ready to go along with the Virginia fleet the 20th instant, and praying that the said fleet may be stopt ten days longer, or that a man-of-war may be ordered to stay for him, was read; and a letter to Mr. Secretary Hedges, inclosing the said memorial to be laid before her Majesty, was signed.

Leeward Islands.

Letter from Mr. Secretary Hedges with several Spanish and French letters.

A letter from Mr. Secretary Hedges of the 12th instant [fo. 369] inclosing several Spanish and French letters taken on board a ship coming from Martinico, and desiring the Board to see if there be anything for her Majesty's service in them, was read.

New Jersey.

Mr. Docmenique at the Board about complaints against Lord Cornbury.

Mr. Docmenique attending [fo. 353], acquainted their lordships that he had not yet been able to get a court of the proprietors of West New Jersey, and, therefore, could not give their lordships any answer to the papers from the Lord Cornbury that had been communicated to him; whereupon he was desired to bring a memorial [fo. 360] of what he and others might have to offer, on Tuesday next at furthest.

New Jersey.

Mr. Dockwra, &c. Method of choosing Assembly men.

Mr. Dockwra and Mr. Cox attending [fo. 353, 358], and being asked about the method of choosing Assembly men in New Jersey, they said that they thought it might be for the good of the province that the Assembly men be elected as follows, viz.:—Two for the town of Perthamboy in East New Jersey, and two for each county, there being five counties in the said division; two for the town of Burlington in West New Jersey, and two for each county; but, there being but four counties in that division, they offered that two might be chosen for the town of Salem in the said division, which together make up the number of twenty-four, as is limited by her Majesty's instructions to the Lord Cornbury.

Persons to be recommended for counsellors.

They further proposed that there being two vacancies in the Councill of New Jersey, their lordships would be pleased to recommend Mr. Sonmans to her Majesty [fo. 378] to fill up one of the said vacancies, which their lordships resolved to consider of at their next meeting, and they now agreed to recommend Mr. Cox to her Majesty to fill up the other vacancy.

Plantations General.

Commissions for trying of pirates.

Mr. Henry Baker [fo. 353, 361] presented to their lordships nine commissions for the tryal of pirates in America as follows:—One for the Massachusets, New Hampshire and Rhode Island, one for New Yorke, New Jersey and Connecticut, one for Maryland and Pennsylvania, one for Virginia and Carolina, one for Jamaica and the Bahama Islands, one for the Leeward Islands, one for Barbados, one for Bermuda, and one for Newfoundland.

April 16, Present:—Lord Dartmouth, Mr. Cecill, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Prior.

Virginia.

Letter from Mr. Fawler about Mr. Jennings's passage.

A letter from Mr. Fawler signifying that his royal highness the Lord High Admiral's Councill had given directions for Mr. Jennings and his servants passage in one of the men-of-war bound for Virginia [fo. 354], was read.

New Yorke.

New England.

Proprieties.

Letters to Lord Cornbury and Colonel Dudley with charge against Connecticut and Rhode Island.

The draughts of letters to the Lord Cornbury and Colonel Dudley [fo. 341, 361], inclosing a charge against the charter governments of Connecticut and Rhode Island, were agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

New Jersey.

Letter to Lord Cornbury about Assembly men.

The draught of an additional instruction to the Lord Cornbury relating to the method of choosing Assembly men in New Jersey [fo. 357] was agreed.

Virginia.

Draught of instruction about ports.

The draught of an instruction to Colonel Nott, Governor of Virginia [fo. 352] relating to the settling of ports in that colony, was agreed.

April 17. Present:—Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Virginia.

Colonel Nott's instructions.

Colonel Nott returned to the Board the draught of his instructions for the government of Virginia, which had been communicated to him some days ago, and acquainted their lordships that he had no objections thereunto; whereupon ordered that the said instructions be transcribed [fo. 347, 362].

Antego.

Act.

Mr. Cary desired their lordships to report upon an Act past at Antegoa the 3rd of July, 1704; whereupon the said Act, viz.:— An Act for holding a court of chancery in this island by the Lieutenant Governor or President and Councill in the absence of the Commanderin-Cheif, and for the more speedy dispatch of causes in the said court, was sent to Mr. Attorney General for his opinion in point of law.

New England.

Pirates pardoned.

Circular letter about naval stores writ by Mr. Secretary Hedges.

The secretary acquainted the Board that Mr. Ellis had told him that, her Majesty having been pleased to pardon the pirates in New England [fo. 355], Mr. Secretary Hedges would write to Colonel Dudley accordingly. That Mr. Secretary thought fit to write himself the circular letter to the Governors on the continent of America relating to the late Act for incouraging the importation of naval stores from the plantations [fo. 355], the draught whereof was sent him the 3rd instant, and that the draught of a letter for her Majesty's signature to Colonel Dudley about Pemaquid and the Governor's salary, laid before her Majesty with a representation from this Board of the 11th January last, having been mislaid, he desired another copy thereof, which was ordered to be given him accordingly.

Maryland.

Draught of additional instructions to Colonel Seymour.

Ports.

The draught of an additional instruction to Colonel Seymour, Governor of Maryland [fo. 363], relating to the settling of ports in that colony [v. Virginia, fo. 358], was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

Connecticut.

Mr. Field &c. petition against an Act.

Mr. John Field and Mr. Wyeth presented to their lordships a reference from Mr. Secretary Harley upon their petition to her Majesty in behalf of the Quakers in Connecticut, praying her Majesty's disallowance of an Act of that colony intituled Hereticks which was read; and thereupon ordered that a copy of the said petition, reference and Act be sent to Sir Henry Ashurst [fo. 366] for his answer thereunto.

New Jersey.

Memorial from Mr. Docminique against Lord Cornbury.

Mr. Docminique presented to their lordships [fo. 356] a memorial containing some complaints of the Lord Cornbury's administration in New Jersey, which was read, and their lordships agreed upon several heads to be writ to the Lord Cornbury thereupon.

April 18. Present:—Mr. Cecill, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Plantations General.

Draught of circular letter to send commissions about pirates.

The draught of a circular letter for transmitting the commissions for trying of pirates [fo. 357, 365] to the several Governors in America, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

New Jersey.

Letter to Lord Cornbury.

A letter to the Lord Cornbury, relating to his government of New Jersey, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

Connecticut.

Rhode Island.

Letters to Lord Cornbury and Colonel Dudley about irregularities.

Letters to the Lord Cornbury and Colonel Dudley [fo. 358], inclosing to them the charges against the governments of Connecticut and Rhode Island, were signed.

Maryland.

Letter to Colonel Seymour.

A letter to Colonel Seymour, Governor of Maryland [fo. 365], was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

April 19. Present:—Lord Dartmouth, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Virginia.

Colonel Nott's instructions.

Colonel Dudley Diggs to be of the Council.

Colonel Nott attending [fo. 359, and infra], his instructions for the government of Virginia were read and agreed. And Mr. Jennings, who attended at the same time, acquainted their lordships that Colonel Dudley Diggs having formerly been of the Councill of Virginia, and having been omitted in Colonel Nicholson's instructions, he desired to be restored to the same place in which he had been put by Sir Edmond Andros. Whereupon their lordships agreed to insert his name in Colonel Nott's instructions in the same place accordingly, and ordered that the list of persons recommended by Colonel Nicholson [fo. 364] to fill up vacancies in the Councill be laid before their lordships to-morrow, in order to the filling up the vacancy there by the death of Mr. Matthew Page.

Draft of representation to lay Colonel Nott's instructions before the Queen, and Instructions about trade.

Maryland.

Instructions about ports to Colonel Seymour.

The draught of a representation [fo. 365] for laying before her Majesty Colonel Nott's instructions for the government of Virginia [v. supra] and his instructions relating to the Acts of trade, as also an additional instruction to Colonel Seymour, Governor of Maryland [fo. 360], about settling of ports in that colony, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

Maryland.

Instructions about ports to Colonel Seymour.

Plantations General.

Representation about seals.

A representation [fo. 364] for laying before her Majesty new seals for New Hampshire, the Massachusets Bay, New Yorke, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Barbados, the Leeward Islands and Bermuda, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

New Jersey.

Representation with additional instructions to Lord Cornbury.

A representation [fo. 365] for laying before her Majesty the draught of an additional instruction to the Lord Cornbury, Governor of New Jersey, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

April 20. Present:—Lord Dartmouth, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Virginia.

Letter about Colonel Nicholson's revocation.

Mr. Wilcox communicated to their lordships a letter from Mr. Secretary Hedges to Colonel Nicholson [fo. 354] signifying that her Majesty did not recall him from his government of Virginia upon account of any informations against him, or of any displeasure her Majesty has taken against him, which was read, and a copy thereof ordered to be taken.

New York.

New England.

Letter from Mr. Burchet about ships going thither.

Packets to Lord Cornbury and Colonel Dudley.

A letter from Mr. Burchet of the 19th instant, signifying that her Majesty's ship the Loestaff was now in the Downes under orders to saile to New Yorke, and that the Deptford would shortly be at Portsmouth, from whence she is to saile in a little time to New England, was read; and thereupon ordered that the packets for the Lord Cornbury and Colonel Dudley be sent to the Postmaster General, to be sent to the Downes and Portsmouth, to be put on board those respective men-of-war.

Newfoundland.

Letter from Mr. Burchet about heads of inquiry.

A letter from Mr. Burchet of the 17th instant, signifying that the heads of inquiry which were sent him the 13th instant [fo. 355], to be given to the Commodore of the Newfoundland convoy, have been sent to the said Commodore.

Virginia.

Counsellors' names.

Their lordships took into consideration the list of persons to fill up vacancies in the Councill of Virginia [fo. 362], and inserted the name of William Churchill instead of Matthew Page, deceased.

Plantations General.

Representation with new seals.

A representation [fo. 363, 371] for laying before her Majesty new seals for severall of the plantations, as mentioned in yesterday's minutes, was signed.

Virginia.

Representation with Colonel Nott's instructions, &c.

Maryland.

Additional instructions about ports.

A representation [fo. 362, 372] for laying before her Majesty Colonel Nott's instructions for the government of Virginia and his instructions relating to the Acts of trade, as also an additional instruction to Colonel Seymour, relating to the settling of ports in Maryland [fo. 370], was signed.

New Jersey.

Representation with draught of additional instructions to Lord Cornbury.

Representatives.

A representation for laying before her Majesty the draught of an additional instruction to the Lord Cornbury [fo. 363, 370] relating to his government of New Jersey, was signed.

Maryland.

Letter to Colonel Seymour.

A letter to the Colonel Seymour, Governor of Maryland [fo. 361] was signed.

New Jersey.

Letter to Lord Cornbury.

A letter to the Lord Cornbury relating to his government of New Jersey, was signed.

Plantations General.

Circular letters about pirates, &c.

Circular letters to the Governors of the Massachusets Bay, New Yorke, Maryland, Virginia, Jamaica, Barbados, Leeward Islands, and Bermuda [fo. 361], inclosing her Majesty's commission for the tryal of pirates, were signed.

April 24. Present:—Lord Bishop of London, Lord Dartmouth, Mr. Cecill, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Trade.

Letter from Mr. Secretary Hedges relating to the Canary merchants.

A letter from Mr. Secretary Hedges of the 21st instant [fo. 379], upon a representation of this Board of the 18th of January last upon the petition of the Canary merchants [fo. 234]; desiring to know in what particulars Mr. Raworth has not complyed with the literal sense of her Majesty's licence for sending two ships with convoy to the Canaries, was read; and thereupon ordered that the papers relating to that affaire be laid before the Board at their next meeting.

Connecticut.

Letter from Sir Henry Ashhurst about Quakers' petition.

A letter from Sir Henry Ashhurst, desiring to be heard before their lordships report upon the petition of the Quakers [fo. 360, 375], against an Act of Connecticut, was read.

Leeward Islands.

Letter from Colonel Johnson.

Copy of an agreement for exchanging prisoners.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Hedges thereupon.

About trade to St. Thomas.

Letters from Colonel Johnson, Lieutenant Governor of Nevis, dated the 6th and 9th of February last, were read; as also the copy of an agreement made between him and the Governors of the French islands relating to the exchange of prisoners, were (sic) read; and thereupon ordered that a letter be prepared for transmitting the said agreement to Mr. Secretary Hedges [fo. 369], as also copies of paragraphs D. and E. of the aforesaid letter of the 6th of February relating to the trade of St. Thomas, and to the want of a man-ofwar in the Leeward Islands.

Jamaica.

Letter from the Governor.

A letter from Colonel Handasyd, Governor of Jamaica, of the 27th of February last, was read; as also the following papers therein inclosed, viz.:—

Copy of the protection sent by Colonel Handasyd to some French who have revolted &c., and desire to come under her Majesty's government.

Minutes of Councill of the 22nd day of January, and 22nd day of February, 1704/5.

And thereupon ordered that copy of paragraph E., relating to the protection he has sent to some French that have deserted, be sent to Mr. Secretary Hedges.

Bermuda.

Letter from Colonel Bennet to the secretary.

A letter from Colonel Bennet to the secretary, dated the 28th December, 1704, was read.

Letter from him to the Board.

A letter from Colonel Bennet, Lieutenant Governor of Bermuda, to the Board, dated the — December last, as also the following papers therein inclosed, viz.:—

Papers inclosed.

Affidavit of Solomon Seares, relating to the boatswain of the hulk at Jamaica fraudulently disposing of some of her Majesty's stores.

Copy of the petition and affidavits of the company of soldiers at Bermuda against their Lieutenant.

Lieutenant Henley's petition to Colonel Bennet, praying that he will give credit for the petitioner's subsistence.

Proceedings at a Court of Assize against Lieutenant Henley &c., held the 8th of November, 1704.

An Act for the speedy payment of bills and costs at common law and Courts of Chancery in these islands.

An Act for punishing of officers and soldiers under pay that shall mutiny or desert in her Majesty's Bermuda or Summer Islands in America.

An Act to prevent the insolency of negroes and slaves.

Representation to be prepared on what he writes about Lieutenant Henley.

And thereupon ordered that a representation [fo. 369] be prepared for laying before her Majesty what Colonel Bennet has writ relating to the tryal of Lieutenant Henley.

April 26. Present:—Mr. Cecill, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Barbados.

Letter from the Governor.

A letter from Sir Beville Granville, Governor of Barbados, dated the 31st of January last, was read, and the papers therein refer'd to laid before the Board and are as follows:—

Publick papers.

Naval officers' list of ships entred and cleared from the 25th March, 1704, to the 24th June following exclusive.

Naval officers' list of ships entred and cleared from the 25th June, 1704, to the 24th September following, both inclusive.

Naval officers' list of ships entred and cleared from the 25th September, 1704, to the 24th December following inclusive.

Two Acts past in Barbados the 27th September and 4th October 1704.

Several Acts past in September, October, November, December, 1704, and January, 1704/5.

Leeward Islands.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Hedges about Spanish and French letters.

A letter to Mr. Secretary Hedges, in answer to his of the 12th instant, returning to him the French and Spanish letters [fo. 356] taken on board a ship coming from Martinico, was signed.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Hedges about trade to St. Thomas and exchange of prisoners.

Another letter to Mr. Secretary Hedges, inclosing the extract of a letter from Colonel Johnson, Commander-in-Chief of the Leeward Islands [fo. 366], relating to the trade of St. Thomas, as also an agreement with the French islands for exchange of prisoners, was signed.

Jamaica, Barbados, Leeward Islands, Bermuda.

Letters to the Governors.

Letters from the Board to the Governors of Jamaica, Barbados, the Leeward Islands and Bermuda, were signed.

Bermuda.

Representation about Lieutenant Henley and for repealing an Act about negroes, &c.

A representation relating to the tryal of Lieutenant Henley in Bermuda [fo. 368, 372], and to the repeal of an Act lately past [fo. 370] there for preventing the insolency of negroes and other slaves, was signed.

April 27. Present:—Lord Dartmouth, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Prior.

Pennsylvania.

Letter from Mr. Clement about Mr. Penn's surrender.

A letter from Mr. Simon Clement, inclosing the conditions upon which Mr. Penn [fo. 318, 373] was willing to surrender his government, as also the powers he was willing to surrender, which were read, and resolved to be taken into consideration at the next full Board.

Maryland.

Copy of an order of Councill on representation about ports.

Copy of an Order of Councill of the 23rd, approving the draught of an additional instruction for Colonel Seymour, Governor of Maryland [fo. 365], relating to the settling of ports in that colony, laid before her Majesty with a representation of this Board of the 20th instant, was read.

New Jersey.

Copy of an order of Councill upon representation relating to Assembly men.

Copy of an Order of Councill of the 23rd instant, approving the draught of an additional instruction for the Lord Cornbury [fo. 372], relating to his government of New Jersey, laid before her Majesty with a representation of the 20th instant [fo. 365], was read.

Bermuda.

Order of Councill on representation for repealing an Act about slaves.

An Order of Councill of the 26th instant upon a representation of the same date [fo. 369], repealing an Act lately pass'd at Bermuda for preventing the insolency of negroes and other slaves, was read.

Bermuda.

Letter to Lieutenant Governor.

A letter to Captain Bennet, Lieutenant Governor of Bermuda, inclosing to him her Majesty's foresaid order for repealing the said Act, was signed.