Journal, November 1713: Journal Book Q

Journal, November 1713

November 4. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Sharp.

Jamaica.

Order of Council.

Petition of Kupius.

Escheat.

November 4. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Sharp.

An Order of Council, of the 1st of October, 1713, referring to the Board the petition of Johanna Kupius, relating to an escheat at Jamaica [fo. 40], was read.

Petition for hearing by counsel.

Hearing appointed.

Notice to Mr. Thurston.

Another petition from the said persons, praying to be heard by counsel upon the said matter, was also read. Whereupon ordered that they be heard, according to their petition, on Thursday, the 12th instant, and that Mr. Thurston, agent for the Lord Archibald Hamilton, have notice thereof, that he may prepare council, in behalf of the Lord Archibald Hamilton, against the said time.

November 6. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Pytts.

Miscellanies.

Mr. Pytts taking his place.

Mr. Pytts this day came and took his place at the Board [fo. 15], according to her Majesty's commission, mention'd in the minutes of the 18th September last.

Trade.

Letter from Mr. Lewis.

Netherlands.

Treaty of Commerce.

Letter from Mr. Secretary Bromley.

Flanders merchants summon'd.

A letter from Mr. Lewis, of yesterday's date, desiring, by order of Mr. Secretary Bromley, to know when the Board will have finish'd their report upon the project of a Treaty of Commerce with the Spanish Netherlands [fo. 42, 295], was read; and their lordships then read a letter from Mr. Secretary Bromley, of the 8th of October last, as also the said project therein referr'd to, and ordered that the Flanders merchants have notice to attend their lordships on Tuesday next at eleven a clock in the morning. And further ordered that the secretary acquaint Mr. Lewis that their lordships hop'd to be ready in this matter by Wednesday or Thursday next.

Letter from Mr. Tilson Lord Bolingbroke. Treaties of Commerce, France, Portugal.

A letter from Mr. Tilson, of the 4th November, by order of my Lord Bolingbroke, desiring dispatch in the Treaties of Commerce with France and Portugal [fo. 36, 41, 50], was read; whereupon they agreed to proceed thereupon out of hand.

Jamaica.

Petition from Mr. Thurston.

Escheat of Kupius.

Hearing put off.

A petition from Mr. Thurston, agent for the Lord Archibald Hamilton, Governor of Jamaica, desiring that the hearing relating to the escheated estate of Mrs. Kupius, deceas'd [fo. 38, 52], appointed to be on Thursday next, be put off to a further day, by reason that his council could not be ready so soon, was read; and thereupon ordered that the said hearing be put off till Tuesday, the first of December next.

November 10. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

Trade.

Letter from Mr. Tilson. Lord Bolingbroke. Treaty of Commerce, Portugal.

A letter from Mr. Tilson, of the 6th instant, desiring to know, by order of my Lord Bolingbroke, when their lordships will be ready to send him what they have to offer in relation to the Treaty of Commerce with Portugal, was read; and the secretary acquainted the Board that he had inform'd Mr. Tilson that, before the receipt of his former letter, mention'd in the minutes of the 6th instant [fo. 40, v. infra], their lordships had made a considerable progress in that matter, and that he hop'd they might be ready to lay the same before his lordships in a few days.

Mr. Dorpere Treaty of Commerce, Netherlands.

Then Mr. Dorpere attending, as ordered at the last meeting, their lordships made a progress in considering the Treaty of Commerce with the Spanish Netherlands, and agreed to proceed further therein to-morrow morning.

November 11. Present:—Lord Guilford, Mr. Monckton, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

Trade.

Letter from Lord Bolingbroke. Treaties of Commerce; Portugal, France.

A letter from my Lord Bolingbroke, of the 9th instant, desiring the Board to dispatch their observtions upon the Treaties of Commerce with Portugal and France, was read [v. supra, fo. 43]; whereupon they agreed to comsider that of Portugal to-morrow.

Netherlands.

Treaty of Commerce.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Bromley.

Their lordships then proceeded further in the consideration of the Treaty of Commerce with the Spanish Netherlands [fo. 39, v. infra], and went through the same, and gave directions for preparing the draught of a letter to Mr. Secretary Bromley, with their lordships’ observations thereupon.

Letter from Mr. Ball. Tobacco at Leghorne.

Mr. Vernon communicated to the Board a letter from Mr. Robert Ball to him, relating to the importation and sale of tobacco at Leghorne, which was read.

November 12. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

Trade.

Treaty of Commerce.

Netherlands.

Article sent to Mr. Carkesse.

Opinion of Commissioners of the Customs.

Their lordships again considering some of the articles of the project of a Treaty of Commerce with the Spanish Netherlands [v. supra, fo. 44], ordered that the 20th article of the said treaty be sent to Mr. Carkesse [fo. 47], and that he be desir'd to let their lordships have the opinion of the Commissioners of the Majesty's Customs thereupon.

Portugal.

Treaty of Commerce.

Merchants summon'd.

Then their lordships took into consideration the draught of a Treaty of Commerce with Portugal [fo. 41, 45], and made a progress therein; and ordered that Sir Samuel Clarke, Mr. Charles Houblon, Mr. Milner and Mr. Lordell be acquainted that their lordships desire to speak with them, on Tuesday next atten of the clock in the morning, upon the subject of the trade to Portugal; and that they be desired, in case they have anything to offer to their lordships for the advantage of the said trade, that they would bring it with them in writing.

Letter to Sir Nathanael Lloyd thereupon.

And further ordered that the 17th, 19th, 20th and 24th articles of the aforesaid project be sent to Sir Nathanael Lloyd [fo. 47], to desire him to consult with the other civilians, and to let their lordships have their opinion upon the said articles.

November 13. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Moore, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Pytts.

Trade.

Letter from Lord Bolingbroke.

Mr. Herne at Alicant.

Woollen and tobacco trade there.

Letter to Lord Bolingbroke.

Treaties.

A letter from the Lord Viscount Bolingbroke, of yesterday's date, inclosing an extract of one from Mr. Herne, Counsul at Alicant, complaining of the discouragements given there to our woollen and tobacco trade, was read; and a letter to his lordship in answer thereto, as likewise giving the reason for not having compleated the project of a Treaty of Commerce with Portugal, and promising their observations upon the Treaty of Commerce with France in a short time, was drawn up, and sign'd.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Bromley. Treaty with the Netherlands.

A letter to Mr. Secretary Bromley, signifying that their lordships will transmit their observations on the project of a Treaty of Commerce with the Spanish Netherlands [fo. 42, 102], so soon as they have receiv'd the opinion of the Commissioners of the Customs upon some articles thereof, was sign'd.

November 17. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

Trade.

Flanders treaty.

Letter to Mr. Carkesse.

Ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Carkesse, to remind him of that writ him the 12th instant, for the opinion of the Commissioners of the Customs upon the 20th article of a project of a Treaty of Commerce with Flanders.

Portugal merchants about treaty with that kingdom.

Sir Samuel Clarke, Mr. Lordell and Mr. Milner attending [fo. 43], as they had been desir'd the 12th instant, their lordships acquainted them that they had under consideration the draught of a Treaty of Commerce with Portugal, and desir'd to know whether they had anything to offer upon that subject. Whereupon they said that the treaties of 1654 and 1661 provided very well for our trade; that the representation of this Board of the 23rd November, 1709, Contain'd what they had to complain of, which representation was read [Trade E., fo. 467], and being ask'd thereupon whether they desir'd any alteration in the duties as they were paid in the year 1653 (as mention'd in the 2nd article of the project), they said that those were the duties they now pay; that the duties upon our goods inwards were very reasonable, and that they did not complain of any hardship put upon them by the treaty of 1654, but only of infractions of that treaty, and particularly that as that treaty provides her Majesty's subjects may trade to the Brazils from Portugal, the same is now evaded them by the Portuguese; and therefore they propos'd that the said treaty might be again stipulated in all its parts.

Then being ask'd whether, if provision was made to pay the duties and Customs which have been paid in Portugal within six months, twelve months or two years last past, upon British goods imported there, wou'd be sufficient; or in what other manner they thought it might be more effectually provided, that the duties and Customs upon our importations might not be increas'd; they said that they had no objection to such a provision, but as they are upon a very easy foot for their importations, they submitted it to their lordships, whether the mentioning this matter in the treaty might not put the Portuguese in mind of raising the said duty of importations.

Being ask'd their opinion upon the method of loading and unloading ships, mention'd in the third article, and of weighing the goods on board ships, mention'd in the tenth article, they said that those articles were very much for their advantage.

Then being further ask'd whether they desir'd that their appeals should be to the Court of Relations, or to the Council of War, they said they had always been well treated by the said Court of Relations, and therefore did not desire to change.

The tenth article of the project being read to them, they said they had no objections to it, and desir'd it might be stipulated as it is.

After this, these gentlemen being desir'd to reconsider these matters, and, if they had anything to offer, to let their lordships have it in writing, they promis'd to do the same accordingly on Thursday next.

November 18. Present:—Lord Guilford, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

Trade.

Letter from Mr. Carkesse.

Treaty of Commerce, Netherlands.

A letter from Mr. Carkesse [fo. 42, 48], secretary to the Commissioners of the Customs, promising a speedy answer to one writ him the 12th instant, about an article to be inserted in the Treaty of Commerce with the Spanish Netherlands, was read.

Report from Sir Nathanael Lloyd.

Portugal treaty.

A report from Sir Nathanael Lloyd [fo. 43, 48], in answer to a letter writ him the 16th instant, desiring his observations on the 17th, 19th, 20th and 24th articles of a project of a Treaty of Commerce with Portugal, was read.

Consider'd.

Their lordships again enter'd into the consideration of the project of a Treaty of Commerce with Portugal, and made a further progress therein.

November 19. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

Trade.

Letter from Mr. Carkesse.

Flanders treaty.

A letter from Mr. Carkesse, of the 18th instant [fo. 47, 49], with the opinion of the Commissioners of the Customs, upon the 20th article of the Treaty of Commerce with Flanders, sent to Mr. Carkesse the 12th instant, was read.

Letter from Mr. Milner.

Portugal treaty.

A letter from Mr. Milner, signifying that he had consulted several of the Portugal merchants, and that they had nothing more to offer, in relation to the Treaty of Commerce with Portugal, than what was already before their lordships, was read.

To be transcrib'd.

Their lordships then went through the consideration of the said Treaty of Commerce [fo. 49], and order'd the same, and the papers relating thereunto, to be transcrib'd.

November 20. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

Trade.

Letter to Lord Bolingbroke with Portugal treaty.

A letter to the Lord Viscount Bolingbroke [fo. 48, 95], inclosing the draught of a Treaty of Commerce with Portugal, was sign'd.

Letter to Mr. Carkesse for account of duties on Flanders linnen.

Order'd that a letter be writ to Mr. Carkesse [fo. 48, 53], for an account of what sort of linnens they are that are imported from Flanders and other countries, of the same sorts that paid different duties, and what that difference is; as also for an account of the other reasons mention'd in the report of the officers of the Customs, read yesterday, against the 20th clause of the Treaty of Commerce.

November 24. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

Trade.

Treaty with France.

Their lordships took into consideration the Treaty of Commerce with France [fo. 40, 51], and agreed to proceed further on Thursday morning next.

New England.

Island of Tertuda.

Mr. Dummer summon'd.

Ordered that Mr. Dummer be desired to attend the Board on Friday morning next [fo. 53], in relation to the island of Tertuda.

November 26. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

Trade.

Letter from Mr. Tilson, with extract of one from Mr. Prior.

Consul at Malta.

Merchants summon'd.

A letter from Mr. Tilson, of the 20th instant, by order of the Lord Viscount Bolingbroke, referring to the consideration of this Board the extract of a letter from Mr. Prior, of the 20th of October last, relating to a Consul at Malta, was read. Whereupon ordered that Mr. Richard Frome, Mr. Andrew Hopegood, junior, and Mr. James Porteen [fo. 57], be desir'd to attend their lordships on Thursday morning next.

New England.

Order of Council on the petition of Captain Southack.

Canada expedition.

An Order of Council, of the 8th August, 1713, referring to the Board a petition from Captain Cyprian Southack [fo. 56], commander of the Province gally of the Massachusets Bay, employ'd in the expedition against Canada, was read; whereupon their lordships resolving to take the same into consideration on Wednesday morning next, ordered that such person or persons as are concern'd for Captain Southack, have notice to attend the Board at the same time.

Trade

with France reconsider'd.

Their lordships then resuming the consideration of the Lord Viscount Bolingbroke's letter of the 2nd and 28th of September last (which were read the 18th and 29th of the same month) relating to the trade between Great Britain and France [fo. 50], and a copy of Mr. Attorney General's report of the 30th September, 1713 [Trade Entry I, 44], relating to the legality of her Majesty's taking off the duty of five shillings per ton on French ships here, when ours are exempted from paying the duty of 50 sols per ton in France, being read, their lordships made a progress in that matter, and resolv'd to proceed further therein to-morrow morning.

November 27. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Foley, Mr. Pytts.

Nevis.

Mr. Bowden.

Debentures delivered.

Mr. William Bowden attending, and his letter of attorney from James Milliken and Joseph Hobson, guardians of John and Joseph Oraines, who were sufferers by the French invasion at Nevis, being examin'd at the Board, the debenture number'd 155, in the names of the said John and Joseph Oraines, was deliver'd to Mr. Bowden.

Jamaica.

Letter from Mr. Attorney General.

Kupius's hearing adjourn'd.

A letter from Mr. Attorney General, signifying that by reason of his and Mr. Solicitor General's being oblig'd to attend the Council at Windsor, they could (sic) not be able to attend this Board on Tuesday, the 1st of December, the day appointed for a hearing relating to the estate of Mrs. Kupius [fo. 40, 60], escheated by the Lord Archibald Hamilton, Governor of Jamaica (as mention'd in the minutes of the 6th instant), was read. Whereupon ordered that the said hearing be adjour'd to Friday next, the 4th of December, and that the parties concern'd have notice thereof.

Trade.

Letter from Mr. Carkesse about duties on Flanders linnen.

Officers of the Customs’ report thereupon.

A letter from Mr. Carkesse, secretary to the Commissioners of the Customs, of the 26th [fo. 49], in answer to a letter writ him the 20th instant, relating to several sorts of linnens imported from Flanders, which pay higher duties than the like sorts imported from other parts, &c., was read; and Mr. Tower and Mr. Andrews, two officers of the Customs, attending, they acquainted the Board that pursuant to the foremention'd letter of the 20th instant they had prepar'd a report to the said Commissioners of the Customs, who order'd them to lay it before their lordships, which they now did accordingly, and the same was read.