Journal, December 1707: Journal Book L

Journal, December 1707

December 1. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Monckton.

Trade.

Letter to Mr. Perry for several accounts from the Royal African Company.

Ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. John Perry, secretary to the Royal African Company [fo. 386, 393], for an account how often the said company have ballanced their books since 1698 to this time, and what those ballances amount to, and also that in the account already required from the said company, touching the ten per cent. paid them by the seperate traders, that he do add to the particular sums the names of the persons who have paid the same.

Pennsylvania.

Letter to Mr. Wilcox.

Act for qualification of magistrates.

Further ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Wilcox to hasten his answer to Mr. Penn's reply [fo. 335, 402] to his reasons against the Act about qualifications of magistrates &c. in Pensylvania, mentioned in the minutes of the 20th October last.

Jamaica.

Representation for repealing an Act about subsistence of the soldiers, &c.

A representation in pursuance of her Majesty's Order in Councill of the 21st of July last [fo. 316, 389], proposing the repeal of an Act past in Jamaica, entituled An Act to provide an additional subsistence for her Majesty's officers and soldiers, from the 1st of February, 1706/7, to the 1st of February following, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

Bermuda.

Mr. Jones. Representation to be prepared touching the complaints against him.

Mr. Jones attending, and desiring that a report might be made upon the hearing at this Board the 11th of June last [fo. 218, 408], touching the complaints of the Councill and Assembly of Bermuda against him. Ordered that a draught of a representation be prepared thereupon accordingly.

December 3. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Dartmouth, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Monckton.

Plantations General.

Trade.

Letter from Mr. Secretary Harley requiring the representations about cruizers and convoys to be laid before the House of Commons.

A letter from Mr. Secretary Harly of yesterday's date, signifying her Majesty's pleasure that this Board do lay before the House of Commons such representations as have been presented to her Majesty by their lordships relating to convoys and cruizers for the last year, was read, and a report to the House of Commons [fo. 393] for that purpose, being laid before their lordships, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

Virginia.

Letter from Mr. Savage, Secretary of Customs.

Admeasurement of ships.

Letter to Mr. Perry to be communicated to the merchants thereupon.

A letter from Mr. Savage, secretary to the Commissioners of her Majesty's Customes, in answer to one writ him the 28th of the last month [fo. 386], touching the admeasurement of ships, was read; and directions given for sending a copy of the said letter to Mr. Perry, to be communicated to the rest of the merchants trading to Virginia [fo. 394], and to acquaint him that, unless the said merchants had anything further to offer on that subject, their lordships did concur with the Commissioners of the Customes that the rule mentioned in Mr. Savage's former letter of the 12th of the last month is proper to be follow'd.

Jamaica.

Representation for repealing an Act about soldiers' subsistence.

Letter to the Earl of Sunderland therewith.

A representation proposing the repeal of an Act past in Jamaica [fo. 388, 419], entituled An Act to provide an additional subsistance for her Majesty's officers and soldiers &c., as agreed at the last meeting, together with a letter to the Earl of Sunderland, inclosing the same, were signed.

Jamaica.

Copy of her Majesty's letter of leave for a counsellor's absence.

Plantations General.

Draught of letter to the Earl of Sunderland.

Matters fit to be communicated to the Board.

A copy of her Majesty's letter of leave for Henry Low, esquire [fo. 392], one of the members of the Council in Jamaica, to be absent from thence during the space of one year, from the first day of November last, was read, and thereupon ordered that the draught of a letter be prepared to the Earl of Sunderland, with the opinion of the Board that it would be for her Majesty's service, that matters relating to the plantations be communicated to them before her Majesty's pleasure be signified upon them.

Trade.

Jamaica.

Merchants about Sir William Hodges's petition for four passes for Spanish ships.

Mr. Way, Mr. Whitchurch and other Jamaica merchants attending [fo. 385, 392], the petition of Sir William Hodges, mentioned in the minutes of the 28th of the last month, was read to them, and thereupon being asked whether the granting of passes to Spanish ships from Cales to the Honduras would be any ways prejudicial to the trade from Jamaica to the Spanish coast, they said that it certainly would, for they trade all along the coast, and in the Bay of Honduras itself; and though it may seem at first view to be of advantage to this kingdom that our woollen manufactures be exported by any way, yet the consequence of this proposed trade will be very detrimental, for it will supply the Spaniards in the West Indies by the way of Cales, with what they use to have by the way of Jamaica; so that the Spaniards by having a pass from her Majesty will trade securely and become the carriers, whilst we run the risk for want of the protection necessary of being taken by the enemy. And these gentlemen being desired to put their thoughts hereupon in writing [fo. 392], they promised to do it accordingly.

Jamaica.

Memorial from Mr. Way, &c. recommending Mr. Hodgkin to be of the Council.

Characters of Mr. Broderick and Mr. Stewart.

Then Mr. Way presented to their lordships a memorial signed by himself and others recommending Mr. Robert Hodgkin, Attorney General of Jamaica, as a fit person to serve her Majesty in the place of a counsellor in that island; and being asked their opinion of William Brodrick [M. fo. 50], lately recommended by the Governor, they said that he was a very ill man, and had so misbehaved himself formerly that, when he was in place, they could none of them sue for their just debts; much less could they hope for any justice, if he were now in the Council. And as to John Stewart, lately put into the Council, they said he was a surgeon and very poor, and therefore ought not, according to her Majesty's instructions, to have been put into that place.

December 4. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Dartmouth, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Monckton.

Plantations General.

Jamaica.

Letter to Earl of Sunderland about Mr. Low's absence from Councill.

A letter to the Earl of Sunderland [fo. 340, 390, 421], relating to her Majesty's licence for Mr. Lowe to be absent from the Councill of Jamaica for a twelvemonth, as directed in yesterday's minutes, was agreed and signed.

Plantations General.

Letter from Mr. Savage about premium of naval stores.

A letter from Mr. Savage, of yesterday's date, enclosing an account of such naval stores from the plantations, as have received certificates of their goodness, in order to the allowance of the premium according to the late Act of Parliament in that behalf, was read.

Trade.

Jamaica.

Merchants about trade from Cadiz to the Honduras.

A memorial from several merchants trading to Jamaica [fo. 391, 397], upon the petition of Sir William Hodges touching a trade to be carried on from Cadiz to the Honduras, mentioned in the minutes of the 28th of the last month, was read, but the said merchants being now to attend a committee of the House of Lords, they were desired to come again on Monday morning next, that their lordships might discourse with them further of this matter, which they promised to do accordingly.

Plantations General.

Trade.

Report to the House of Commons.

A report to the House of Commons [fo. 389], agreed at the last meeting, was signed and delivered to Mr. Monckton, who promised to present the same to the House.

December 5. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Dartmouth, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Monckton.

Trade.

Letter from the African Company with several accounts.

A letter from the African Company [fo. 387, 396], with the several accounts required from them by the secretary's letter of the 27th of the last month, and 1st instant, was read, and directions given for preparing a scheme out of the said accounts for their lordships' consideration.

Trade.

Letter from the Consul at Maderas about Consul at Lisbonne.

A letter from Sir Jeffry Jeffry's, of the 4th instant, inclosing a letter from Benjamin Hemming, esquire, consul for the Islands of Maderas [fo. 396; M. fo. 277], to their lordships, signifying that he has been acquainted by several merchants in London that Mr. Milner, consul at Lisbon, is endeavouring to unite the consulship of the Maderas to that of Lisbon, was read, and their lordships agreed to take the same into consideration when anything relating to that matter should come before them.

Virginia.

Merchants about admeasurement of ships.

Mr. Perry, Mr. Hyde and other Virginia merchants attending [fo. 389], upon the letter writ them the 3rd instant, inclosing the copy of one from Mr. Savage of the 2nd, touching the admeasurements of ships, they said that they could not comply with the admeasurement proposed by the Commissioners of the Customes, but would rather agree to that directed in an Act of Parliament of the sixth and seventh of King William (Keeble Statutes, volume the second, fol. 1749). Whereupon their lordships gave direction for preparing the draught of a representation for laying the Act for raising a publick revenue &c. [fo. 397], past in Virginia in 1705, wherein is the clause for admeasurement of ships complain'd of by the merchants, before her Majesty for her disapprobation.

Virginia.

Maryland.

Memorial from the merchants touching an Act relating to the gage of tobacco hoggsheads.

A memorial from several merchants trading to Virginia and Maryland [fo. 385], against an Act past in Maryland in 1704, entituled An Act ascertaining the gauge of tobacco hogsheads, inserted in the book of Maryland laws (marked Nos. 16, fo. 35), was read, and the abovesaid merchants attending, they said that what they desired was that the Maryland hoggsheads, which are by that Act 48 inches in length and 32 diameter in the head, might be reduced to the size of the Virginia hoggsheads, as directed by an Act past in 1661, viz.:—43 inches in length and 26 inches diameter in the head, and the reason why it ought to be the same, they said, was that ²/3rds of the tobacco in Virginia was the same sort of tobacco as that of Maryland.

After these gentlemen were retired, their lordships took notice that the Virginia Act, which they referr'd to, has been repealed by other Acts, and that there was an Act past in 1695, which makes the size of the hoggsheads 48 inches in length and 30 inches diameter in the head, which Act expired in 1702, but the same was re-enacted again in 1705, so that it appears that all the difference between the Virginia and Maryland hogsheads at present is only two inches diameter in the head, and therefore their lordships resolv'd to offer the Maryland Act, complained of by the merchants, to her Majesty for her royal approbation, when they shall have gone through the consideration of the rest of the Maryland laws.

December 8. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Monckton.

Trade.

Letter to be writ the Consul of Maderas.

Upon consideration of the letter mentioned in the last minutes to be received from the Consul of Maderas [fo. 393, 399], together with a paper now laid before the Board, containing reasons for the Consul of the Maderas being independant of the Consul of Lisbonne, their lordships agreed that a letter be writ to him, acknowledging the receipt of his, and advising him to continue his utmost endeavours to get any burthens laid upon our trade taken off, particularly the imposition of the four hundred reis laid upon every pipe of wine ship'd at Maderas by the English mentioned in his foresaid letter.

Royal African Company's accounts.

Letter to the Secretary to attend with their accountant.

The secretary laid before their lordships a scheme of the accounts mentioned to be received from the Royal African Company at the last meeting [fo. 393], and there appearing several difficulties therein, order'd that a letter be writ to Mr. Perry, desiring him with Mr. Beaumont [fo. 399], accountant to the Company, to call at the office any morning this week.

Virginia.

Revenue Bill.

The secretary having given their lordships an account of the state of the Revenue Bill in Virginia, and the reasons for his not having prepared the draught of a representation, as directed at the last meeting [fo. 394, 399], ordered that the said state be drawn in writing to lay before their lordships.

Trade.

Jamaica.

Merchants about Sir William Hodges's petition for passes to Spanish ships.

Mr. Way, Mr. Wood and other Jamaica merchants attending, and being asked several questions, upon the memorial they presented to the Board the 4th instant [fo. 392, 401], they said that besides the English woollen manufactures pretended to be carried by Sir William Hodges from Cadiz to the Honduras (which would be inconsiderable) the chief of the loading of that ship would be oyle, wine, brandy, olives, the produce of Spain, with linnens of the manufactures of France, which in that respect would be a prejudice to the Jamaica trade, for we furnish those parts with Germany linnen, exported from this kingdom to Jamaica; that the reason why the French ship mentioned in their petition left the coast of Honduras, and went to the Havana to sell her cargo, was that not agreeing with the inhabitants in their barter, demanding ²/3 money and ⅓ goods, he stayd so long upon that coast, till two Flushingers came in, who being superior in force to him, he retired to the Havana; and Mr. Wood added that he and Mr. Galdy keep two sloops continually imploy'd in the trade to the Honduras; that, as soon as one came into Jamaica, the other is fitted out, and make about 4 voyages a year; each voyage they carry between 1,500 and 2,000l. in goods in each sloop, and in the whole between 10 and 15,000l. a year.

Sir William Hodges to attend.

After these gentlemen retired, order'd that Sir William Hodges have notice to attend the Board on Wednesday morning next [fo. 401].

December 9. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Dartmouth, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Monckton.

Trade.

Corn and product of corn exported.

Doctor Davenant, Inspector General of her Majesty's Customs [fo. 376], attending, presented to their lordships an account of corn and the product of corn exported between the 25th day of December, 1703, and the 25th day of December, 1705.

Letter to the Consul of the Maderas.

The secretary laid before their lordships the draught of a letter to Mr. Benjamin Hemings, Consul of the Maderas [fo. 397], as directed in yesterday's minutes, was approved.

Maryland.

Laws considered.

Then their lordships proceeded in the consideration of the Maryland laws [fo. 372], and read two of the said laws.

Trade.

Improvement of woollen manufacture by African Company.

An account of the improvement of the woollen manufactures by the Royal African Company [fo. 397, 402], being received from Mr. Beaumont, was laid before the Board.

December 10. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Dartmouth, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Monckton.

Virginia.

State of the Revenue Act.

The secretary laid before the Board the state of the Virginia Revenue Act [fo. 397], which is as follows, viz.:—
In 1679 three Acts were sent to the Lord Colepeper under the broad seal of England, in order to be passed into Acts by the Assembly of Virginia (Virginia Entries, vol. 2[n]d, fo. 394, 395, 385).
The Assembly passed the said Acts, except only that they added two provisoes to the Revenue Act, which is one of the three Acts above-mentioned.
In October, 1680, the said Revenue Act so passed by the Assembly was laid before his then Majesty in Council, and was then by an Order in Council of the 14th of October, 1680, confirmed and finally ratified with one of the said provisoes, but by the said order the last of the said provisoes was disallow'd (Virginia Entries, vol. 2[n]d, fo. 392). Notwithstanding which order the said proviso has been ever since the year 1680 put in execution.

Letter to Mr. Attorny and Solicitor General with the said state, &c. for their opinion upon the following query's.

Whereupon ordered that the said state, together with a copy of the Order of Council therein mentioned, to be sent to Mr. Attorney and Mr. Solicitor General [fo. 417, 419] for their opinion upon the following query, viz.:—
Whether the words of ratification and confirmation of the said law, in the first part of the order, are made null and void, by the disallowing and making void the said proviso, as mentioned in the later part of the said order.

Trade.

Jamaica.

Sir William Hodges about his petition.

Pass for the Spanish fishing ship insisted on.

Sir William Hodges attending, the said memorial received from the Jamaica merchants the 4th instant [fo. 398, 408], containing their objections to his desire of a pass for a Spanish ship from Cales to the Honduras and back, was communicated to him; whereupon he said that he was very glad to perceive that trade had been open'd by the Jamaica merchants, that it is not long since it was so. However, since they thought it would be such a prejudice to their trade, he submitted it, and would not insist upon it; but as for the other pass for the ship intended for the whale fishery from Bilboa, he said he hoped there would be no objection thereunto, because the merchants of Bilboa, desiring the same, are daily sending considerable effects to this kingdom, in return of which they export our woollen manufactures. Whereupon ordered that inquiry be made, whether there be any persons in London that send ships upon the Greenland fishery.

Pennsylvania.

Memorial from Mr. Wilcox. Act for qualification of magistrates.

Mr. Wilcox presented to their lordships a memorial, in answer to Mr. Pen's reply [fo. 387, 420] to his reasons against the Pennsylvania Act for qualification of magistrates &c., which their lordships resolved to take into consideration at the first opportunity.

Trade.

African Company's debts.

Ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Perry, secretary of the Royal African Company [fo. 399, 403] for an account of the debts of the said Company.

December 11. Present:—Lord Dartmouth, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Monckton.

Leeward Islands.

Letter from the Governor.

Damages by a hurricane, &c.

Answer.

A letter from Colonel Park, Governor of the Leeward Islands [v. infra, 403], dated the 8th of October last, relating to the damages done by a late hurricane there, the loss of several ships, the want of pay for the soldiers [fo. 409], and to the great want of nimble frigats to protect them from the French privateers, was read, and an answer thereunto was drawn up [v. supra], and signed.

Letter to the Earl of Sunderland.

thereupon.

A letter to the Earl of Sunderland [fo. 402], inclosing a copy of the foregoing letter, was signed.

December 12. Present:—Lord Dartmouth, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Monckton.

Trade.

African Company.

Their lordships took into consideration the several papers lately received from the Royal African Company [fo. 402, 405], and made several observations thereupon. And the said Company attending, and being asked several questions in relation to the said papers, they said that, as to their lordships' desire of having an account of the debts of the Company, signified in the secretary's letter of the 8th instant, that was included in the ballance of their books; for that ballance contained the true real value of the Company's stock, all their debts paid; so that as they alledge in the year 1706, the Company were really worth 176,594l. 14s. 2d.

As to the account of money called in by the Company, they said, that in 1698, after the passing the Act of Parliament, they agreed that whoever should pay to the Company 12l. should have a share and 57,096l. being paid in, there was 4,758 shares added to the Company, which makes them now in all 11,010½ shares.

As to the forts, they said that they had now most of those that were in the possession of the former Company before the passing of the present charter in 1672, excepting one or two which the Dutch took, but the Company took from the Dutch others instead of them.

That all the said forts have garrisons, and are well provided with arms, ammunition and other necessaries.

That the seperate traders have always had the protection of the said forts, when desired.

That they never made any settlement near the Portuguese in Angola.

After which these gentlemen being desired to let their lordships have a particular of the charge of the said forts, a list of the ships which are the property of the Company, and a list of the seperate traders, they promised to send the same to their lordships by their accountant on Monday next.

December 15. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Monckton.

Trade.

Papers from the Royal African Company.

Mr. Beaumont, accountant to the Royal African Company [fo. 403], delivered to the secretary several papers which were laid before the Board, and are as follows, viz.:—
An account of the imports made by the said Company from the 24th June, 1698, to the 29th September, 1707.
A list of ships sent from England to Guinea by the said Company from the 24th June, 1698, to the 29th September, 1707, distinguishing what are the Company's ships and what are hired.
An account of exports made by private traders from the 29th September, 1702, to the 29th September, 1707.

Letter to their secretary for account of the Company's ships, how their ballances and their books arise, &c.

Whereupon ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Perry [fo. 408] for an account of the number of the ships, their names and their tunnage, that are at this time the real property of the Company, and by them imployed in the trade; as likewise to know how the several balances of the Company's books do arise; and further that their lordships desire to see the particulars of the charges of the forts and fortifications as they stand in the said Company's books. And Mr. Pulteney [fo. 410] was desired to discourse with Mr. Beaumont, accountant general of the Company, thereupon.

Queries to the seperate traders.

Queries to be made for the seperate traders to Africa [fo. 419] were laid before the Board, and agreed, and thereupon ordered that copies thereof be sent to Mr. Benjamin Way, Mr. Robert Heysham, Mr. Joseph Martin, Mr. Isaac Milner, Mr. Daniel Waterhouse and Mr. John Tayler [fo. 418; M. fo. 1, 2], requiring them to communicate the said queries to the several merchants, and to return full answers to them (as strongly proved as may be) with all convenient dispatch.

Trade.

Letter from Mr. Knox.

Pamphlet about woollen manufacture.

A letter from Mr. Thomas Knox, of this day's date, inclosing a pamphlet containing a brief account of the woollen manufactures of England, with relation to the prejudice it receives by the clandestine exportation of wooll from Ireland into France, was read.

Letter from Mr. Tresillian.

Treatise about the herring and pilchard fishery.

A letter from Mr. Tresillian, of the 8th instant [fo. 288, 408], signifying his having sent up his treatise relating to the herring and pilchard fishery as desired by the secretary's letter of the 1st of July last. Whereupon ordered that the said book be sent for.

December 16. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Monckton.

Bermuda.

Memorial from Sir John Bennet about the difference between the Lieutenant Governor and Mr. Jones, &c.

Report to be prepared.

A memorial from Sir John Bennet [fo. 416], setting forth that he had endeavoured in behalf of his brother, her Majesty's Governor of Bermuda, to come to an accommodation with Mr. Jones, secretary and provost marshall of that island, in relation to the complaints exhibited against him by the Council and Assembly there; but that the said Jones's demands were so large that he could not comply therewith, and desiring to be heard thereupon, was read. Ordered that a report to her Majesty [fo. 388; M. fo. 8] upon the hearing relating to the said complaints be laid before the Board.

Trade.

Jamaica.

Letter to the Earl of Sunderland on Sir William Hodges's petition.

A letter to the Earl of Sunderland upon the petition of Sir William Hodges [fo. 401, 409], mentioned in the minutes of the 10th instant, was agreed, and ordered to be transcribed.

Trade.

Mr. Tresillian's treatise of the herring and pilchard fishery.

Mr. Tresillian's treatise relating to the herring and pilchard fishery [fo. 407; M. fo. 68] (mentioned in yesterday's minutes) being received, the same was laid before the Board.

December 17. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Monckton.

Trade.

Letter to Mr. Paggan with queries about African Company.

Ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Peter Paggan, with the same queries as were sent on the 15th instant [fo. 406] to the other seperate traders to Africa.

Letter from Mr. Perry about ships belonging to the said Company.

A letter from Mr. Perry, secretary to the Royal African Company [fo. 405, 416], inclosing a list of 10 ships that are now the property of the said Company, was read.

Trade.

Jamaica.

Letter to the Earl of Sunderland on Sir William Hodges's petition.

A letter to the Earl of Sunderland, upon Sir William Hodges's petition [fo. 408], as agreed at the last meeting, was signed.

Newfoundland.

Letter from Mr. Merret about cloths and mony for the soldiers.

Mr. Thurston at the Board thereupon.

A letter from Mr. Solomon Merret, of yesterday's date, signifying that the Advice man-of-war, in which the mony and cloths for the soldiers at Newfoundland [fo. 204], was sent the last year, having met Commodore Underdown 3 or 4 leagues off of St. John's, he was obliged by the said Commodore to return to England without leaving the said mony and cloths there, was read. And Mr. Thurston attending, and being acquainted therewith, he said that he had heard nothing of it; that the mony and cloths were sent by Captain Chamberlain, commander of the said ship, and he communicated to the Board a positive order from his Royal Highness to the said Chamberlain to carry and deliver the said mony and cloths to Newfoundland, and that he would make a further enquiry into that matter [fo. 415], and give their lordships an account thereof in writing.

Leeward Islands.

Want of pay for the soldiers.

Mr. Thurston's answer.

Then Mr. Thurston being acquainted with what Colonel Parke [fo. 402], writes in his letter of the 8th of October last, viz.:—That the soldiers there have not had any of their pay since their going over, he said that they received 800l. before their going from Ireland, and that he has since remitted to them 2,350l., which if the regiment be compleat, will pay them to July last.

Trade.

Royal African Company.

Mr. Pulteney [fo. 406] acquainted their lordships that he had this day discoursed with the accountant of the Royal African Company, who attended here according to the desire of the Board of the 15th instant, and particularly that, having asked Mr. Beaumont how the ballance of 1698, which is 189, 913–5[–0] did arise, he said that in that ballance was included the value of their ships and effects here and in Guinea, as also all the debts owing to the said Company, but he was not able to say what debts were good, and what not; and he own'd that there were several debts in the plantations, since the time of King Charles the second, still standing out, that the ballances for the succeeding years were computed upon the same foot.

And Mr. Beaumont agreed that when the 12l. for share in 1698 was called in, there were 4,758 additional shares made; that the original shares in the Company were but 6,252½ shares; which together make up the present number of 11,010½ shares.

And if the 6,252½ share be computed at the same rate as the additional shares, then the real stock of the Company would be 57, 787–5[–0] less than what the Company say the ballance of their books in that year amount to, and therefore he was not able to give any account thereof, otherwise than that he supposed the company had let in the 4,758 shares at a cheaper rate than they were really worth, which they might do to incourage those additional shares to enter into the company, they being at that time in need of money.

Then he was asked, how they computed their stock at 26l. 3s. 9d. per share, he said that was upon a supposition that all their debts in the plantations were good.

As to the charge of the forts and factories, he said that account was transmitted to them from their Governor General in Africa, and laid before the Cursitor Baron, who (no objections having been made to him by the seperate traders, some of whom had perused the said accounts at the Royal African Company house) had pass'd the same, and Mr. Beaumont produced their books, containing the said accounts, which consist of charges for repairing of the forts, for the Governor and other officers' salaries, for keeping a table for presents &c.

December 18. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pulteney.

Leeward Islands.

Letter from the Earl of Sunderland to know what's further necessary besides two frigats for those islands.

A letter from the Earl of Sunderland, of the 15th instant, signifying that her Majesty had ordered 2 frigats [fo. 321] to be sent to the Leeward Islands, and desiring to know what may be further necessary to be done, was read.

Mr. Duport, agent for St. Christophers's opinion thereon.

And Mr. Duport, agent for St. Christopher's, attending, as he had been desired, the said letter was communicated to him, whereupon he acquainted their lordships that one man of war of 28 or 30 guns and another of 50 guns would be a great protection in those parts [v. supra], provided they were forthwith dispatch'd; and he proposed that the commanders of the said ships might be strictly enjoined by instructions from his Royal Highness the Lord High Admiral, constantly to cruize, as the service may require, during their stay in the Leeward Islands; and that they be likewise obliged to follow such further directions as they may from time to time receive from Colonel Park, Governor of the said islands, in relation to that service.

Provisions.

As to provisions [fo. 415], he said that of five of the prizes taken some time since by her Majesty's ships of war and carried into Ireland, and ordered by her Majesty from thence with provisions for the relief of the inhabitants of Nevis and St. Christopher's, only two of them arrived there, the other three having been lost in a storm; that the greatest part of the provisions on board the said two ships had been embezled, insomuch that 20lb. of beef was the most each family had to their share; but however he hoped that five other ships, that were freighted by the merchants from Ireland and others from New England, with provisions for the supply of those islands, were arrived by this time, but there being no ships of war now at the said islands, and the French privateers numerous, they may, at least some of them, have been intercepted; and therefore if her Majesty would be pleased to order 1,000 barrils of beef, 200 barrils of pork, and 400 barrils of flower, to be sent along with the ships of war, it would be a seasonable relief in case of the miscarriage of the foresaid provision ships; and that it would be requisite that the same might be disposed of by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the several councils in each respective island.

Nails, &c. for building.

Being also desired to give their lordships an account of what quantity of nails he thought would be necessary for rebuilding the houses destroyed by the late hurricane there [fo. 415], he said that 50 barrils of several sorts might do, and that it would be likewise convenient to send them some hinges and bolts; that as to shingles and boards they might furnish themselves from New England.

Condition of the regiment.

Then being asked if he knew whether any recruits were wanting to fill up the regiment in the Leeward Islands [fo. 415], he said he did not know, but that he had been informed the soldiers were in a miserable condition, being almost naked for want of cloaths; and he added that most of the officers were absent from the regiment, and that Lieutenant Peletran, a raw unexperienced officer (though otherwise a deserving man) was the only officer that commanded the three companies at Antego. This being a matter of importance, he thought it would be absolutely necessary for (sic) the officers belonging to the said regiment should be forthwith ordered to their respective ports.

Letter to be writ the Earl of Sunderland.

Ordered that a letter be prepared to the Earl of Sunderland thereupon [fo. 413, 414].

December 19. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Monckton.

Newfoundland.

Letter from Mr. Thurston.

Commodore arrived.

Mr. Latham sick, &c.

A letter from Mr. Thurston, agent for the soldiers at Newfoundland, to the secretary, acquainting him that Commodore Underdown and Captain Chamberlain [fo. 409], with the ships under his command, were making to the river, and that Mr. Latham was fallen sick in his way hither from Exeter, was read.

Leeward Islands.

Letter to the Earl of Sunderland.

Men of war, provisions, regiment.

A letter to the Earl of Sunderland [v. supra], relating to two men-of-war, provisions, nails, bolts and hinges, necessary to be sent to the Leeward Islands, and to the regiment there, as directed in yesterday's minutes, was signed.

Bermuda.

Sir John Bennet about complaints against Jones.

Profits of Mr. Jones's offices.

Sir John Bennet attending [fo. 407], he acquainted their lordships that Dr. Holland was now arrived from the Bermuda Islands, and was ready to give an account of the complaints exhibited against Mr. Jones by the Council and Assembly, whenever their lordships should require the same. Sir John Bennet added in discourse, that the mean profits of the secretary's office during Mr. Jones's suspension had never been received by the Governor, but by Mr. Minors, who was appointed by Mr. Jones his deputy; that, if Captain Bennet received any of the said profits, it was only for that of provost marshal, which was very inconsiderable; however, he engaged that his brother should be answerable for them. He further added, that his brother was not a party to the present complaint against the said Jones, and therefore he desired that he might not be mentioned as such.

Trade.

Situation of Royal African Company's settlements on the negroes coast.

A memorial from the Royal African Company [fo. 408, 418], with an account of the situation of the several settlements on the negroes coast, delivered by Mr. Perry, secretary to the African Company, was laid before the Board, and read.

Virginia.

Revenue Act.

Extracts of Governors' commissions sent to Mr. Attorny and Solicitor General about passing laws.

Ordered that the secretary send to Mr. Attorney and Mr. Solicitor General the extract of the Lord Culpepper's commission for the government of Virginia, dated the 6th December, 1679, directing the manner of passing laws in that colony, as also an extract of her Majesty's commission to Colonel Hunter, for the said government, upon the same subject, for their information in order to their report upon the Act of Revenue [fo. 400], sent them the 10th instant.

December 22. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Monckton.

Trade.

Letter from Mr. Secretary Harley to lay what has been done about woollen manufacture in Austria before the House of Commons.

A letter from Mr. Secretary Harley, of the 20th instant, signifying her Majesty's pleasure that this Board do lay before the House of Commons what has been done in relation to the prohibition to the woollen manufactures in Austria, was read; whereupon the following papers were copied, and Mr. Monckton desired to present the same to the House, viz.:—
List of papers relating thereto, July the 30th, 1701.
No. 1. Copy of a letter from Mr. Yard [B. fo. 216], inclosing one from Mr. Stepney to Mr. Secretary Hedges, relating to a woollen manufacture set up at Lintz, dated the 3/13 of July, 1701.
March 15th, 1702–3.
No. 2. Copy of a letter from Mr. Stepney [C. fo. 30] to the secretary to the Commissioners of Trade and Plantations, dated the 1st March, 170²/3.
January 9th, 1705–6.
No. 3. Copy of Mr. Stepney's memorial [D. fo. 1] to the Emperour upon the setting up a woollen manufacture at Lintz &c., dated the 30th December, 1704.
April 16th, 1706.
No. 4. Copy of a memorial from Mr. Burridge [D. fo. 21], in behalf of several merchants of Exeter, complaining of the Emperour's prohibiting of our perpetuanas and serges in Austria.

Trade.

Letter from Mr. Waterhouse in answer to queries about trade to Africa.

A letter from Mr. David Waterhouse [fo. 416] of the 19th instant, in answer to the secretary's letter of the 15th instant, inclosing several queries relating to the trade to Africa, signifying that he could not give any particular answers to the said queries, was read.

December 29. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pulteney.

Trade.

Letter to the seperate traders to Africa for answer to queries.

Ordered that the secretary write to the seperate traders to Africa [fo. 406], desiring their answer, as soon as possible, to the queries sent them the 15th instant, or at least to such of the said queries as they can at present make answer to.

Virginia.

Letter to Attorney and Solicitor General.

Revenue Act.

Ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Attorney and Mr. Solicitor General [fo. 400, 424], to hasten their report upon the late state of the case of an Act past in Virginia, sent them in the secretaries letter of the 10th instant.

Jamaica.

Order on representation repealing the Act about soldiers' subsistence.

Letter to be prepared to the Governor.

An Order of Council of the 18th, upon a representation of the 3rd instant [fo. 389], for repealing an Act passed in Jamaica, intituled An Act to provide an additional subsistance for her Majesty's officers and soldiers, from the first of February, 1707, to the first of February following, approving the said representation, was read; and thereupon ordered that a letter be prepared for transmitting the said order to Brigadier Handasyd, Governor of that island [fo. 422].

Pennsylvania.

Act about magistrates.

Their lordships gave directions for preparing a representation upon the Act of Pennsylvania [fo. 402, 422], relating to the qualification of magistrates &c.

New foundland.

Letter from Major Lloyd.

A letter from Major Lloyd, commander of the garrison at St. John's in Newfoundland, dated the 21st of October last, inclosing a muster roll of the company [M. fo. 4], and copy of an account of the damages done the French in their northern fishery by Commodore Underdown and himself, was read.

Maryland.

Letter from Colonel Seymour.

A letter from Colonel Seymour, Governor of Maryland, dated the 10th of September, 1707, was read, and the papers therein referr'd to laid before the Board, and are as follows, viz.:—
Papers therein referr'd to.
Copy of an address [fo. 424], from the Governor, Councill and Assembly of Maryland, to her Majesty, about settling the boundaries between that province and Pennsylvania.
Journal of the Committee of Accounts in March, 1707.
Minutes of the Council in Assembly in Maryland, from the 26th March, 1707, to the 15th of April following.
Minutes of Assembly of Maryland, from the 26th of March, 1707, to the 3rd of April following.
Laws past in April, 1707 [M. fo. 1].

Letter to the Earl of Sunderland.

with the address.

Whereupon ordered that a letter be prepared to transmit the fore-mention'd address to the Earl of Sunderland, to be laid before her Majesty.

December 30. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pulteney.

Maryland.

Letter to the Earl of Sunderland with address.

A letter to the Earl of Sunderland, inclosing the address from Maryland [fo. 420], relating to the boundaries between that province and Pennsylvania, mentioned in yesterday's minutes, was signed.

Plantations General.

Circular letters about attendance of counsellors.

Circular letters to the several Governors in America [fo. 392], inclosing her Majesty's letters to them, relating to the attendance of the members of the several Councills, were signed.

Pennsylvania.

Representation upon Act about magistrates.

A representation upon the Pennsylvania Act [fo. 420; M. fo. 21], relating to the qualification of magistrates, together with a letter inclosing the same to the Earl of Sunderland, were signed.

Jamaica.

Letter to the Governor.

Act about soldiers' subsistence.

A letter to Brigadier Handasyd, Governor of Jamaica [fo. 420], as directed in yesterday's minutes, was agreed and signed.

Newfoundland.

Letter from Commodore Underdown.

Papers therein referr'd to.

A letter from Captain Underdown, Commodore of the Newfoundland convoy, dated the 28th of last month, was read, and the papers therein referr'd to laid before the Board, which are as follow, viz.:—
Commadore Underdown's answer to the usual heads of inquiry relating to Newfoundland for the year 1707.
Survey of the provisions in the fort at St. John's in Newfoundland, taken the 28th of June, 1707.
Survey of the stores and ammunition in the forts at St. John's, taken the 7th of October, 1707.
Muster Roll of the company at St. John's in Newfoundland, taken the 25th of July, 1707 (being the same with that transmitted by Major Lloyd mentioned in yesterday's minutes).

December 31. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Monckton.

Ireland.

Order of Committee of the House of Lords.

Charge of fortifying

Crook Haven.

An order of the 29th instant from a committee of the House of Lords appointed to consider of the report of this Board [fo. 382], which was laid before their lordships the 28th of November last, requiring the directions the Board at any time received, to propose to the merchants trading to the plantations the bearing the charge or any proportion of the charge in fortifying Crook Haven in Ireland, to be laid before the said committee, was read; and thereupon the copies of 2 letters from Sir Charles Hedges, then Secretary of State, were delivered to the Earl of Stamford, and his lordship desired to lay the same before the said committee.

Newfoundland.

Agent for the soldiers to attend with Captain Chamberlain.

Ordered that Mr. Thurston, agent for the soldiers at Newfoundland, have notice to attend the Board on Monday morning next, and that he bring along with him Captain Chamberlain, commander of her Majesty's ship Advice [M. fo. 3], by whom the cloaths, money and provisions for the garrison at Newfoundland were sent the last year.

Virginia.

Revenue Act.

Attorney and Solicitor General's report.

A report from Mr. Attorney and Mr. Solicitor General upon the state of the Revenue Act in Virginia [fo. 419; M. fo. 1], sent them the 10th instant, was read; whereupon their lordships gave directions for finishing the draught of a representation thereupon.