Journal, September 1713: Journal Book Q

Journal, September 1713

September 18. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Vernon.

Miscellanies.

New commission.

A new commission from her Majesty, dated the 15th instant, was open'd and read, whereby (besides the great officers of State, as in other commissions of this Board, the Chancellor of the Exchequer excepted), the Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, senior, Robert Monckton, Arthur Moore, esquires, Sir John Hynde Cotton, baronet, John Sharp [fo. 15], Samuel Pytts and Thomas Vernon, esquires, are appointed Commissioners for promoting the trade of this kingdom, and for inspecting and improving her Majesty's plantations in America and elsewhere; and Mr. Vernon, being present, took his place at the Board accordingly.

Trade.

with France.

Letter from Lord Bolingbroke.

A letter from my Lord Bolingbroke, of the 2nd instant, referring to the Board the consideration of the trade between Great Britain and France [fo. 12], was read, and their lordships agreed to consider that matter on Tuesday next.

Another from his lordship about improvement of our trade to Portugal.

Letter to Mr. Delavall for book of rates &c.

Another letter from the Lord Bolingbroke [fo. 10], of the 4th instant, requiring the Board to lay before her Majesty what they may have to offer in this conjuncture for improving our trade to Portugal, was read. Whereupon their lordships immediately writ and sign'd a letter to Mr. Delavall [fo. 90], her Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary at Lisbon, desiring him to send their lordships, with all expedition, the Portugal book of rates, pragmaticas, and other orders relating to trade that are extant.

And further ordered that care be taken to get all the tariffs or books of rates of any other country in Europe.

September 22. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Vernon.

Trade.

Mr. Clement's memorial.

memorial.

Fishery.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Bromley for collection [of] Dutch placaerts.

Mr. Clement presented to their lordships a memorial containing his proposal for the better regulating our fishery, which was read, and a letter immediately drawn up, sign'd, and sent to Mr. Secretary Bromley, desiring that her Majesty's Minister in Holland may be directed to get some advocate there to make a collection of all the Dutch placaerts relating to their fishery.

Trade

with Portugal under consideration.

Then their lordships taking into consideration my Lord Bolingbroke's letter of the 4th instant [fo. 8, 30], relating to the trade with Portugal, they read an Order of Council of 19th December, 1711, referring to the Board a memorial from the British factory at Oporto [vide January 14th, 1711], relating to the state of the British trade there, and gave directions that the treaty between England and Portugal in 1653 be translated.

September 24. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Mr. Vernon.

Trade.

Letter from Mr. Secretary Bromley &c.

Treaty of Commerce with Spain.

A letter from Mr. Secretary Bromley, dated this day, referring to their lordships’ consideration several papers relating to a Treaty of Commerce with Spain [fo. 4, 11], was read; and Mr. Gilligan, her Majesty's late Commissary for Commerce at Madrid, being present at the Board, a progress was made in considering the said papers accordingly, and their lordships resolv'd to proceed further thereupon to-morrow morning.

A letter from Mr. Hare, secretary to the Lord Viscount Bolingbroke, of this day's date, with three articles of the treaty with Portugal in 1704, was read.

September 25. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Mr. Vernon.

Jamaica.

Memorial from Mr. Stawell, recommending a new councillor

Representation about councillors being absent from their duty.

Mr. Bernard.

A memorial from Mr. Stawell, in behalf of Thomas Bernard, esquire, of Jamaica, was read, setting forth that there are two vacancies in the Council of that island, by reason of the absence of Colonel Long and Mr. Edlyn, who have both of them been several years in this kingdom, without her Majesty's licence for such their absence, and praying that their lordships would recommend the said Bernard to her Majesty for filling up one of the said vacancies [fo. 29], he having a considerable estate there, and is otherwise well qualify'd to serve her Majesty in that station. Whereupon ordered that a representation be prepared to her Majesty, setting forth the inconveniency of Councillors in the plantations being so long absent from their duty, and proposing the said Bernard to be a member of the Council of Jamaica in the room of Colonel Long.

Trade.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Bromley, with observations on Treaty of Commerce with Spain.

Then their lordships went through the consideration of the draught of a Treaty of Commerce with Spain [fo. 10, 13], mention'd in yesterday's minutes, and made several observations thereupon, and transmitted the same in a letter to Mr. Secretary Bromley, sign'd at the same time.

New England.

Letter from Lord Bolingbroke, with Mr. Dummer's memorial about capture of ships at Tertuda.

A letter from the Lord Bolingbroke, of yesterday's date, referring to the Board a memorial from Mr. Dummer [fo. 20], agent for the Massachusets Bay, relating to the capture of several English ships by the Spaniards at Tertudas, since the suspension of arms, was read; and ordered that Mr. Dummer have notice to attend their lordships thereupon on Tuesday morning next.

September 29. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Vernon.

Trade.

Letter from Lord Bolingbroke about state of commerce between Great Britain and France.

Letter to Mr. Carkesse, for an account of exports and imports to and from France.

A letter from the Lord Viscount Bolingbroke, dated yesterday, signifying her Majesty's pleasure that this Board do immediately take into consideration and report the present state of commerce between Great Britain and France [fo. 8, 14], and how it ought to stand by virtue of the late Treaty of Commerce, though the 8th and 9th articles thereof be not render'd effectual, was read; whereupon their lordships entred upon the consideration of it accordingly, and resolv'd to proceed further therein to-morrow morning; and in the meantime ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Carkesse [fo. 15], desiring him to move the Commissioners of her Majesty's Customs, that this Board may have an account of the exports and imports between Great Britain and France, from the 31st of March last to this time, as soon as possible.

Trade.

Treaty of Commerce with Spain reconsider'd.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Bromley thereupon.

Their lordships reconsidering the 3rd article of the Treaty of Commerce with Spain [fo. 11, 73], mentioned in the last minutes, as also some of the articles of commerce with Spain, as were propos'd by the merchants, receiv'd from Sir William Hodges (Trade, No. 29), immediately writ a letter to Mr. Secretary Bromley, informing him that though the duties payable at St. Mary's and Cadiz might be as low or lower than in other places of the King of Spain's dominions, yet the abatements made by the King, as also those by the farmers, were greater in the other parts of Spain than at Cadiz or St. Mary's; whereupon their lordships were sent for to the Lords of the Cabinet Council then sitting, and were directed by their lordships to consult with some merchants further upon this matter.

Spanish merchants consulted on this matter.

In the afternoon the Board did consult accordingly with Sir William Hodges, Mr. Mead, Mr. Dolliffe and Mr. Bowles [fo. 14], and agreed upon several heads to be represented to the Lords of the Cabinet to-morrow morning.

September 30. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Mr. Vernon.

Trade.

Letter to Lords of the Cabinet Council about Treaty of Commerce with Spain.

Merchants summon'd thereupon.

A letter to the Lords of the Cabinet Council, upon several heads relating to the Treaty of Commerce with Spain, as agreed yesterday, was sign'd, and by the Board deliver'd to the said Lords of the Cabinet [fo. 13], who thereupon directed the Board to summon the merchants to attend their lordships at my Lord Bolingbroke's office on Friday next at twelve of the clock. Whereupon order'd that Sir William Hodges, Mr. Dolliffe, Mr. Mead and Mr. Bowles [fo. 17], be writ to accordingly, and desir'd to bring along with them such other Spanish merchants as they may think proper.

Present state of commerce with France reconsider'd.

The letter from the Lord Viscount Bolingbroke, of the 28th September [fo. 12, 15], signifying her Majesty's pleasure that the Board immediately consider and report the present state of commerce with France, and how it ought to stand by virtue of the late treaty, though the 8th and 9th articles thereof be not render'd effectual, mention'd in the minutes of 29th September, was again read, and their lordships made a progress in considering the Treaty of Commerce with France.