Journal, May 1712: Journal Book P

Journal, May 1712

May 2. Present:—Earl of Winchilsea, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Sir Charles Turner, Mr. Baillie, Mr. Moore, Mr. Gwyn.

Leeward Islands.

Barbadoes.

Letters to the Governors.

A letter to Major Douglas, Governor of the Leeward Islands [vide supra], and another letter to Mr. Lowther, Governor of Barbadoes, were signed.

Nevis.

St. Christopher's.

Draught of a clause about the sufferers there, sent to Mr. Attorny General.

Mr. Campbell, Mr. Duport, and Mr. Carpenter attending [fo. 148, 172], they presented to their lordships the draught of a clause proposed to be added to some Act of Parliament relating to the sufferers at Nevis and St. Christopher's, which was read; whereupon ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Attorney General, inclosing a copy of the said clause, for his opinion thereupon.

Leeward Islands.

Mr. Duport's memorial about two islands near St. Christopher's.

Mr. Duport presented to their lordships a memorial, giving an account of the islands of St. Martin and St. Bartholine lying about ten leagues north north-west of the island of St. Christopher's, which was read.

Antego.

Mr. Pepper's memorial against Mr. Warner's being of the Council.

Mr. Pepper attending [fo. 101], presented to their lordships a memorial against Mr. Edward Warner, lately appointed a member of the Council of her Majesty's island of Antego, which was read; and he was acquainted that the said Mr. Warner had been recomended to their lordships by several considerable merchants (mentioned in the minutes of the 5th February last), as a person very well qualifyed to serve her Majesty in that station.

Trade.

Eastland merchants’ memorial.

Their Deputy Governor summond.

Their lordships, taking into consideration the memorial from the Eastland merchants [fo. 158], mentioned in the minutes of the 30th of the last month, ordered that Mr.Philp, Deputy Governor of the Eastland Company, have notice to attend their lordships on Tuesday morning next.

May 6. Present:—Earl of Winchilsea, Mr. Monckton, Sir Charles Turner, Mr. Baillie, Mr. Moore.

Nevis.

St. Christopher's..

Returns of the losses there to be laid before the Commons.

A letter from Mr. Secretary St. John, of the 5th instant, inclosing an address to her Majesty from the House of Commons of the 3rd, desiring that the returns made by the Commissioners appointed by her Majesty to examine into the losses upon the late invasion of the French at Nevis and St. Christopher's be laid before that House, was read, and laid before the House accordingly.

Virginia.

Letter to the Earl of Dartmouth about supply of ammunition &c. for Virginia.

A letter to the Earl of Dartmouth, in answer to one from his lordship, of the 22nd of the last month [fo. 154, 173], relating to a supply of arms, ammunition and other necessaries for putting Virginia in a better state of defence, mentioned in the minutes of the 29th ditto, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

Trade.

Order of Council on Hamburgh Company's petition about ships performing quarantine.

Mr. Phelp, Deputy Governor of the Eastland Company [fo. 163, 168], with some other merchants attending, as desired the 2nd instant, the Order of Council of the 3rd of the last month on the petition of the Hamburgh Company to her Majesty, praying

Mr. Phelp with extracts of letters from Elsinore about ceasing of the plague in those parts.

that the ships coming from thence may not be obliged to perform the quarentine, in regard that the said city and places adjacent are not, nor have been, infected with the plague, or any contagious distemper, was read; whereupon Mr. Phelp acquainted their lordships that he had laid before the Commissioners of her Majesty's Customs the extracts of several letters the Eastland Company had from Mr. Robert Tigh at Elsinore, from the 17th of October, 1711, to the 19th of March last, containing an account that the sickness had wholly left those parts, which account he thought had been transmitted by the Commissioners of the Customs to this Board; and he being informed by their lordships to the contrary, he communicated to them the said extracts, who gave directions for taking a copy thereof.

Trade.

Extract of a letter from Mr. Jackson about obstructions to commerce at Stockholm.

Then the letter from Mr. Secretary St. John, of the 19th of March last [fo. 127, 163], mentioned in the minutes of the 20th ditto, with an extract of a letter from Mr. Jackson, her Majesty's Resident at Stockholm, relating to his hopes of removing the obstructions in our trade there, was also read; and these gentlemen being asked some questions thereupon, they said that that matter being out of their charter, they beleived that the Swedish merchants would be better able to give their lordships the informations they desired.

Letter to Mr. Joy for the Swedish merchants’ opinion on the foregoing extract.

These gentlemen being withdrawn, ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Charles Joy [fo. 162, 168], inclosing a copy of the aforesaid extract of Mr. Jackson's letter, and that he be desired, if he or the merchants concerned in the trade to Sweden have anything to offer on that head, the same be done in writing, as soon as conveniently may be.

Letter to Mr. Carkess about infection at Hamburgh &c.

Further ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Carkess [fo. 161, 167], to move the Commissioners of her Majesty's Customs, that their lordships may have copies of what informations they may have received, that the city of Hamburgh and places adjacent are not, nor have been, infected with any contagious distemper.

May 7. Present:—Earl of Winchilsea, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Sir Charles Turner, Mr. Baillie, Mr. Moore, Mr. Gwyn.

Trade.

Hamburgh Company's petition touching the quarentine communicated to Mr. Twyford.

Commissioners of the Customs’ report thereupon.

Mr. Twyford, secretary of the Hamburgh Company, attending [fo. 161], her Majesty's Order in Council of the 3rd of the last month (mentioned in yesterday's minutes) upon the petition of the said Company relating to the quarantine, was communicated to him; whereupon he laid before their lordships a copy of the report from the Commissioners of the Customs, who had the like reference to them from the Lord High Treasurer, which report was read, and he promised to lay before their lordships to-morrow morning a translation of a letter from Hamburgh to Mr. Jacob Jacobson [fo. 167], containing an account that that city has not been, nor is, infected with any contagious distemper.

New Jersey.

Proprietors in relation to their memorial proposing the removal of some of the Council &c.

Mr. Dockmenic and Mr. Richier attending, in relation to the Council of New Jersey [fo. 9], they desired that their lordships would please to reconsider their memorial, read the 7th of November last, proposing the removal of Daniel Cox, Peter Sonmans, William Pinhorn, Hugh Huddy and William Hall, from the Council of that

Reason.

province, and of Mr. Jeremiah Bass from being secretary thereof; and they said, in discourse, that by letters they had lately received from thence, they were informed that, whilst these persons continued in the Council, nothing could be done for the good of the said province; and therefore desired that their lordships would move her Majesty for their dismission; whereupon they were desired [fo. 171] to give their lordships the characters of persons to supply vacancies in Council, which they promised to do accordingly.

Maryland.

Virginia.

Mr. Roos, with two new seals.

Mr. Roos, her Majesty's seal cutter, having brought two large new silver seals for the provinces of Maryland and Virginia, the same were laid before their lordships; who thereupon gave directions for preparing two warrants for her Majesty's signature, directing the Governors there to use the said seals in their respective governments; as also the draught of a letter to the Earl of Dartmouth [fo. 172], inclosing the said warrants.

New England.

Information of two persons about a trade carried on between the Canada Indians and people of Albany.

Mr. Jeremiah Dummer attending, with two men lately come from France, who had been prisoners two or three years in Canada, he presented to the Board their informations in writing, relating to a trade carry'd on between the Canada Indians and the people of Albany; and these two men being asked several questions concerning that matter, they said that they did not speak this of their own knowledge, but were only told it by the foresaid Indians. They added that the town of Quebec is very ill provided for defence, there not being above 4 or 500 men in it, and that it was not above one-third walled, and that the inhabitants of Canada, as well Canada Indians as French, were not above 7,000 men. After they were withdrawn,

New York.

Copy thereof sent Col. Hunter.

Ordered that in the next letter to Colonel Hunter a copy of the aforemention'd information be sent him.

Trade.

Certificate of the master of the Mary gally who desires a pass.

A certificate of Richard Geohogan, sworn before a Master in Chancery, relating to the ship Mary gally [fo. 142, vide infra], for which he desires he may have her Majesty's pass, to go from Ostend to Cadiz, mentioned in the minutes of the 7th of the last month, was read; whereupon ordered that he be acquainted that the certificate ought to shew the property of the goods and not the growth.

May 8. Present:—Earl of Winchilsea, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Baillie, Mr. Gwyn.

Trade.

Pass for the Mary gally.

Letter to Sir Charles Hedges about security to be given.

Their lordships, taking into consideration the certificate of Richard Geohogan [vide supra, fo. 175, 142], relating to a pass for the ship Mary galley to sail from Ostend to Cadiz (mention'd in yesterday's minutes), ordered [fo. 169] that a letter be writ to Sir Charles Hedges, to desire to know what security ought to be given to prevent indirect practises, in case such passes be granted by her Majesty.

Trade.

Commissioners of the Customs’ report about the infection's being ceased at Elsinore and Copenhagen, &c.

A letter from Mr. Carkesse, of yesterday's date [fo. 163], inclosing a copy of the report from the Commissioners of the Customs to the Lord High Treasurer, upon a referrence to them from his lordship, mentioned in the minutes of the 6th instant, relating to the infection's being ceased at Elsinore and Copenhagen &c., was read.

Papers relating to the present healthiness of the city of Hamburgh, &c.

Mr. Twyford, secretary to the Hamburgh Company, with Mr.Van Heymaert attending, he presented to their lordships [fo. 164] the copy of a letter from the Senate of that city to Mr. Jacob Jacobson in London, dated the 25th of September, 1711; as also the extract of another letter to the said Mr. Jacobson from an eminent master at Hamburgh, dated the 26th April, 1712, new style, giving an account of the present healthiness of the city of Hamburgh, and that the quarentine is taken off in France; which letters and extracts were read, and Mr. Van Heymært acquainted their lordships [fo. 170] that Mr. Jacobson had received an account that the same had been also done in Holland about three months ago, and promised to bring to their lordships to-morrow the extracts of some letters on that head.

Trade.

Representation.

Quarentine.

A representation upon her Majesty's Order in Council of the 3rd of the last month [fo. 161], referring to this Board the petition of the Hamburgh Company, relating to the quarentine mentioned in yesterday's minutes, was agreed and signed.

Swedish merchants’ opinion on Mr. Jackson's letter about obstructions to comerce at Stockholm.

Mr. Joy attending [fo. 163, 177], as he had been directed the 6th instant, upon the extract of the letter from Mr. Jackson, mentioned in the minutes of the same day, he said that he had consulted with several Swedish merchants thereupon, who all agreed that the high duties in Sweden upon our British goods and manufactures has almost wholly beat her Majesty's subjects out of that trade, which at present is chiefly carried on by the Swedes them-selves; that, if the said duties were taken off, it would be of advantage, and that the Swedish merchants had nothing further to add to the memorials formerly laid before this Board relating to their grievances in Sweden, and which has been already represented by their lordships.

May 9. Present:—Earl of Winchilsea, Mr. Monckton, Sir Charles Turner, Mr. Baillie, Mr. Moore, Mr. Gwyn.

Trade.

Treaty of commerce.

A letter from Mr.Secretary St.John, of the 8th instant [fo. 190, 272], relating to a tarif, and the Treaty of Commerce with France, was read.

Pass for the Mary gally.

A letter to Sir Charles Hedges [fo. 167, 173], relating to a pass for the ship Mary galley to sail from Ostend to Cadiz, and mentioned in yesterday's minutes, was agreed and ordered to be sent.

St. Christopher's.

Order of Council on Mrs. Salenave's petition about a plantation there.

Order of Council of the 17th of the last month [Q. fo. 172], upon the petition of Elizabeth Salenave, widow of Jordain Salenave, Lieutenant Governor of the French part of St. Christopher's, praying that she being naturaliz'd may possess and enjoy the plantation left her by her said husband, in the said island, was read, and their lordships agreed to respit the same till the peace be made.

New York.

Vice Admiralty Register's petition about his salary.

A petition of Mr. Robinson, Register of the Court of Vice-Admiralty at New York, praying that this Board will recommend his case to the Lord Treasurer, that his salary and the arrears due to him may be paid here, was read.

Barbadoes.

Complaints against the Governor for seizing the ship Oxford.

Order of Council, of the 2nd instant, upon the petition of Philip Freake and others, part owners of the ship Oxford, complaining against Mr. Lowther, Governor of Barbadoes, for unjustly seizing and detaining the said ship there, was read; whereupon ordered

Copy thereof sent his agent.

[fo. 171] that a copy of the said petition be sent to Mr. Tilden, agent for Mr. Lowther, and that he be acquainted their lordships will be ready to hear what he may have to offer thereupon in behalf of the Governor on Thursday morning next.

Mr. Weston sum mond.

Further ordered that Mr. Weston, who appears in behalf of the complainants, have notice to attend their lordships at the same time.

Trade.

Extracts of letters about the quarantine's being taken off in Holland, &c.

Mr. Van Heymert [fo. 167], having, as he promised yesterday, brought to their lordships the extracts of two letters, the one from Dantzick, dated the 21 of October, 1711, new style, the other from Amsterdam, dated the 24th of November, 1711, new style, relating to the healthiness at Queensborough, Elbing, Dantzick and other places, and to the taking off the quarantine in Holland, were read.

May 13. Present:—Earl of Winchilsea, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Sir Charles Turner, Mr. Baillie, Mr. Moore, Mr. Gwyn.

Trade.

Method of making tar in Russia.

A letter from Mr. Whitworth, her Majesty's Ambassador to the Czar of Muscovy, inclosing an account of the method of making tarr in Russia, with some remarks on the said method, was read; and directions given for sending a copy thereof to Colonel Hunter, Governor of New York.

New Jersey.

Persons recomended to be of the Council.

A memorial from Mr. Richier, Vice President of the Society of the Proprietors of New Jersey [fo. 165], recommending six persons to be of the Council of that province, in case a removal be made of those members in the said Council, complain'd of by Colonel Hunter as persons obstructing the publick good of the said province, was read; and directions were given [fo. 176] for preparing the draught of a representation thereupon.

Barbadoes.

Letter from Mr. Tilden. Ship Oxford seiz'd by the Governor.

Hearing appointed, and Mr. Weston to have notice thereof.

A letter from Mr. George Tilden [fo. 170, 178], agent to Mr. Lowther, Governor of Barbadoes, in answer to the letter writ him the 9th instant, in relation to the ship Oxford, seized at Barbadoes, was read; and Mr. Tilden attending at the same time, and desiring that the hearing appointed for Thursday next upon that matter might be deferr'd till Wednesday morning, the 21st instant, when he desired to be heard by counsell, their lordships agreed thereto, and he being withdrawn, ordered that Mr. Weston, who appears in behalf of the complainants, have notice thereof.

Nevis.

St. Christopher's.

The islands’ case relating to the sufferers there.

A copy of the case of the islands of Nevis and St. Christopher's [fo. 159], relating to the sufferers there, received from Mr. James Campbell, was laid before the Board.

Virginia.

Maryland.

Warrants directing the use of the new seals.

A letter to the Earl of Dartmouth [fo. 165], inclosing warrants for her Majesty's signature to the Governor of Virginia and the President of the Council of Maryland, directing them to use the two new seals for those governments, mentioned in the minutes of the 7th instant, was signed.

New York.

Letter to Lord Treasurer on Mr. Lee's petition.

The draught of a letter to the Lord High Treasurer [fo. 158, 174], upon the petition of Robert Lee, esquire, executor in trust of the younger children of the late Earl of Sterling, relating to a large tract of land in America, part of New York and Long Island &c., directed the 29th of the last month, was agreed, and ordered to be transcribed.

Plantations General.

Virginia.

Letter to Earl of Dartmouth about disposal of stores of warr.

The draught of a letter to the Earl of Dartmouth [fo. 161, 174], in answer to one from his lordship of the 22nd of the last month, relating to the disposal of stores of war in the plantations, agreed the sixth instant, was ordered to be transcribed.

May 15. Present:—Earl of Winchilsea, Sir Charles Turner, Mr. Baillie, Mr. Gwyn.

Trade.

Opinion of Sir Charles Hedges in relation to passes to sail to Ostend.

The Earl of Winchilsea acquainted the Board the he had, yesterday, discoursed with Sir Charles Hedges in relation to the granting of passes for ships to sail from Ostend to Cadiz [fo. 169], and that Sir Charles was of opinion that the persons applying for such passes ought to produce a certificate from the proper officer in the Custom House, that the ship is British built, or made free and intire British property; that they ought also to produce a certificate from the Register of the Admiralty, at Doctors’ Commons, of their having made oath that the greatest part of the said ship's loading is British property, and for the account of her Majesty's subjects; and that the rest of the loading is the property, and for the account, of the subjects of her Majesty's allies.

Trade.

His observations on the Bill about British built ships.

Sir Charles Hedges further said, upon the Bill for preserving the right of British built ships [fo. 154, 176], sent him the 28th of the last month, that the consideration of that matter was more proper for Mr. Attorney General. However, he had made two or three observations upon the Bill, which are noted in the margen thereof.

Plantations Generall.

Virginia.

Letter to the Earl of Dartmouth.

Disposal of arms, &c.

A letter to the Earl of Dartmouth, relating to the disposal of stores of warr in the plantations [fo. 173], mentioned in the minutes of the 13th instant, was signed.

New York.

Answer on Mr. Lee's petition about late Earl of Sterling's children.

A letter to the Lord High Treasurer, upon the petition of Robert Lee, esquire [fo. 172, 185], concerning the late Earl of Sterling's younger children, also mentioned in the minutes of the 13th instant, was signed.

May 20. Present:—Earl of Winchilsea, Mr. Monckton, Sir Charles Turner, Mr. Baillie, Mr. Moore, Mr. Gwyn.

Barbadoes.

Hearing in relation to the ship Oxford deferr'd.

Mr. Tilden to have notice thereof.

Mr. Weston attending, in relation to the ship Oxford, seiz'd at Barbadoes, and desiring that the hearing appointed for to-morrow upon that matter might be put off till Wednesday the 28th instant, by which time he expected some papers to prove the allegations set forth in the petition, complaining of the seizure of the said ship, mentioned in the minutes of the — instant, the said hearing was put off accordingly, and directions given that Mr. Tilden, who appears in behalf of the Governor, have notice thereof.

New York.

Mr. Dupré's petition about his passage.

A petition of Mr. Dupré, praying their lordships’ recommendation of him to the Lords of the Admiralty for his passage with two servants in the man-of-war ordered to New York, was read; where-upon order'd that a letter be writ to Mr. Burchet, to desire him to recommend the same to the Lords Commissioners accordingly.

Trade.

Affidavit about the Mary gally's being British built.

Certificate thereof to be procured from the Custom House.

Affidavit of Richard Geoghegan [fo. 166, 182], sworn in Doctors’ Commons, that the ship Mary gally, now at Ostend, and for which he desires her Majesty's pass, is British built, and that the greatest part of her loading does belong to her Majesty's subjects &c., was read; whereupon Mr. Geoghegan's agent was acquainted that unless he did produce a certificate from the Custom House that the ship is British built (according to the opinion of Sir Charles Hedges, mentioned in the minutes of the 15th instant), their lordships cou'd not advise the granting the pass he desired.

Trade.

Copy of a Bill about British built ships sent to Mr. Carkess.

Their lordships, taking into consideration the draught of a Bill for preserving the right of British built ships [fo. 174], ordered that a copy thereof be sent to Mr. Carkess with their lordships’ desire to have the opinion of her Majesty's Commissioners of the Customs thereupon.

New Jersey.

Representation about removal of councillors.

Mr. Dockwra summond.

Their lordships, taking into consideration the draught of a representation upon Brigadier Hunter's desire of having four of the Council of New Jersey remov'd [fo. 171], order'd [fo. 178] that Mr. Dockwra have notice to attend their lordships on Tuesday morning.

May 22. Present: —Earl of Winchilsea, Mr. Monckton, Sir Charles Turner, Mr. Baillie, Mr. Moore, Mr. Gwyn.

Trade.

Letter from Ostend about passes.

A letter from Mr. James Cullen, dated at Ostend the 22nd of May, 1712 [fo. 151, 180], relating to Flemish ships having her Majesty's passes to sail to Cadiz, was read; whereupon ordered that a copy thereof be transmitted to the Earl of Dartmouth for his information.

Trade.

Letter to Mr. Secretary St. John. Trade at Stockholm.

A letter to Mr. Secretary St. John [fo. 168], upon the extract of a letter from Mr. Jackson, her Majesty's envoy at Stockholm (mentioned in the minutes of the 8th instant), relating to the hopes he had of having the obstructions to our commerce in that country removed, was signed.

Barbadoes.

Attorny General's report on a private Act.

A report from Mr. Attorney General [fo. 207], upon an Act pass'd in Barbadoes for the better enabling the executors of Christopher Estwick, esquire, deceased, to pay the debts of the said Christopher Estwick, was read; and directions given for preparing the draught of a representation thereupon.

May 27. Present:—Earl of Winchilsea, Mr. Monckton, Sir Charles Turner, Mr. Baillie, Mr. Moore, Mr. Gwyn.

Barbadoes.

Letter from the Earl of Dartmouth, with Mr. Skeen's petition touching his suspension.

Mr. Alexander Skeen, secretary of Barbadoes [fo. 185, 186], being lately come from thence, attending with Mr. Tryon, he presented to their lordships a letter from the Earl of Dartmouth, of the 1st instant, referring to the Board a petition from the said Skeen to her Majesty [fo. 193], setting forth, among other things, his having been suspended from the execution of his office by Mr. Lowther, Governor of that island, without having any copy of the charge against him &c., and praying relief therein, was read; and their lordships agreed to reconsider that matter at a convenient opportunity.

New Jersey.

Mr. Dockwra about proceedings of the Council there &c.

Mr. Dockwra attending, as he had been desired the 20th instant [fo. 176, 184], in relation to the proceedings of some of the Council of New Jersey, a list of the names of six persons, that have been recommended to supply vacancies in the said Council, was communicated to him; and he being asked the characters of the said persons, he promised to lay the same before their lordships in writing.

Barbadoes.

Hearing further deferr'd about seizure of the ship Oxford.

Agents to be acquainted therewith.

Then their lordships, taking into consideration some papers transmitted by Mr. Lowther, Governor of Barbadoes [fo. 171, 185] relating to the seizure of the ship Oxford there, ordered that Mr. Tilden, who appears in behalf of the Governor, and Mr. Weston, in behalf of the petitioners, be acquainted that their lordships have put off the intended hearing of that matter to-morrow, and that they shall have notice when their lordships will hear what may be offered on both sides concerning the said ship.