Journal, February 1721: Journal Book X

Journal, February 1721

February 1. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe.

Barbadoes.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Craggs.

Lord Irwin's commission.

A letter to Mr. Secretary Craggs, inclosing the draught of a commission for the Lord Viscount Irwin, appointed Governor of Barbadoes, was signed.

Trade.

Representation about calicoes.

A representation in relation to the prohibiting the wearing of painted, stained and dyed calicoes, agreed yesterday, was signed, as also a letter inclosing the same to Earl Stanhope.

Carolina.

Bahamas.

Bishop of Salisbury, to be heard, about, Mr. Younge, bring in writing.

The bishop of Salisbury attending, acquainted the Board, that he desired to be heard, in case anything should be offered for the removal of Mr. Francis Younge, Surveyor General of Carolina and the Bahama Islands, whereupon his Lordship was desired to leave in writing what he desired upon that subject, and the Board promised he should have timely notice if anything offered.

February 2. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Ashe.

Trade.

Letter from Mr. Morrice, losses.

French Senegal Company.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Craggs.

Copy.

A letter from Mr. Morrice, of the 8th September, 1720, inclosing Mr. Harris's and his answer to papers relating to the French Senegal Company, was read; whereupon a letter to Mr. Secretary Craggs, inclosing the copy of an account of Mr. Travers's and Mr. Morrice's losses by the French on the coast of Africa, as also some papers relating to the incroachments of the French on His Majesty's subjects trading there, was signed.

Letter to ditto.

Losses and demands.

Another letter to Mr. Secretary Craggs, inclosing several copies of complaints, accounts of losses and other demands of his Majesty's subjects on those of Spain, was signed.

Letter to Mr. Crosse.

Canaries.

A letter from the secretary to John Crosse, Esq., His Majesty's Consul at the Canaries, was agreed and ordered to be sent.

Letter to Mr. Russell.

Sevilla.

A letter from the secretary to Charles Russell, Esq., Consul at Sevilla, was likewise agreed, and ordered to be sent.

St. Christophers.

Mr. Trueman.

Debenture.

Mr. Thomas Trueman attending, and his powers of attorney from some of the sufferers by the French invasion at St. Christophers, being examined at the Board, the debenture No. 611 was delivered to him.

February 3. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen.

Carolina.

Bahamas.

Letter from Bishop of Salisbury.

Mr. Francis Younge.

A letter from the bishop of Salisbury, of the 2nd inst., desiring to be heard, in case anything be offered for the removal of Mr. Francis Younge, Surveyor General of Carolina and the Bahama Islands, was read.

February 7. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe.

New York.

Letter from Mr. Burnett.

Representation.

Councillors.

Their Lordships, taking into further consideration the letter from Mr. Burnett, Governor of New York, dated the 26th of November, 1720, (mentioned in the Minutes of the 28th of last month), ordered that the draught of a representation be prepared, proposing Cadwalader Colden and James Alexander, Esqrs., to be of the Council of New York, instead of Peter Schuyler and Adolphus Philips, Esqrs., as desired by Mr. Burnett's said letter.

New England.

Mr. Bridger, waste committed in the woods.

Mr. Bridger, late surveyor of the woods in America, attending, their Lordships, after some discourse with him in relation to the waste committed in the woods in New England, desired he would lay before the Board in writing what he had to offer upon that subject, as also that he would propose some methods to prevent it for the future, which he promised to do accordingly.

Barbadoes.

Letter from Lord Irwin.

Tobago.

A letter from the Lord Viscount Irwin, appointed Governor of Barbadoes, in relation to the inserting the Island Tobago in his Lordship's commission, was read; and ordered that his Lordship be acquainted that the Board desire to speak with him thereupon on Thursday morning next.

February 9. Present:— Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Pulteney. Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe.

Barbadoes.

Lord Irwin.

Tobago.

The Lord Viscount Irwin, appointed Governor of Barbadoes, attending, as he had been desired, in relation to the Island of Tobago being inserted in his commission. the Board had some discourse with his Lordship thereupon.

Plantations General.

General report.

State of plantations.

Their Lordships then took into further consideration the draught of a general report upon the state of the plantations, (mentioned in the Minutes of the 17th of last month), and made a progress therein.

New York.

Representation.

Councillors.

The draught of a representation, (ordered yesterday to be prepared), proposing Cadwalader Colden and James Alexander, Esqrs., to be of the Council of New York, instead of Peter Schuyler and Adolphus Philips, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

February 10. Present:— Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Ashe.

New York.

Representation.

Councillors.

A representation proposing Cadwalader Colden and James Alexander to be of the Council of New York, in the room of Peter Schuyler and Adolphus Philips, agreed yesterday, was signed.

February 14. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe.

Trade.

Letter from Mr. Tigh.

Letter from Mr. Tigh, Consul at Elsinore, dated the 31st of December, 1719, was read, inclosing
Papers
List of ships passing the Sound in 1719.
List of ships repassing the Sound in 1719.

Letter from Mr. Tigh, dated the 2nd of January, 1720/21, N.S., was also read, inclosing.

List of ships passing the Sound in 1720.
List of ships repassing the Sound in 1720.

Answer.

whereupon ordered that an answer be prepared to Mr. Tigh's abovementioned letters.

New York.

Letter from Mr. Burnett.

A letter from Mr. Burnet, Governor of New York, to the secretary, dated the 24th of October, 1720, was read.

Nova Scotia.

Letter from Colonel Phillips.

A letter from Colonel Philips, Governor of Nova Scotia, dated at Annapolis Royal, the 27th of September, 1720, was read, and the papers, therein referred to, laid before the Board, viz.:
Papers.
List of papers received with Colonel Philips's said letter.
Examinations of the French prisoners taken, plundering Canso, in August, 1720.
Colonel Philips's letter to the Governor of Cape Breton, dated 29th August, 1720.
Colonel Philips's conference with the Indians in July, 1720.
Mr. John Alden's testimony of his sloop being plundered by the Indians at Minis, dated 14th September, 1720.
Colonel Philips's letter to the inhabitants of Minis, upon the subject of Mr. Alden's sloop being plundered, dated 9th September, 1720.
The inhabitants of Minis and the Indians' answer to Colonel Philips's letter, the 2nd and 3rd October, 1720.
The Governor of Canada's answer to Colonel Philips's letter of the 3rd of June, 1720. Dated at Montreal, 9th July, following.
A representation of the Governor and Council of the state of the province of Nova Scotia. Dated the 27th September, 1720.
Opinion of the principal officers of the garrison of Annapolis Royal, upon the state of affairs of Nova Scotia.
Minutes of Council for Nova Scotia, from the 25th of April, to the 5th September, 1720.
Description of Nova Scotia, &c., by Major Paul Mascarene, engineer.
Mr. Henshaw's memorial to Colonel Philips, relating to the robbery at Canso, as also his memorial to the Governors of Cape Breton in August, 1720.

Letter from Colonel Philipps.

Letter from Colonel Philips, dated at Annapolis Royal, the 24th of November, 1720, was read, and the papers, therein referred to, laid before the Board, viz.:
Papers.
List of papers.
The Indians' letters to Colonel Philips. Dated the 10th and 23rd November, 1720.
Letter from John Calby, one of the fishermen at Canso, to Colonel Philips, 1st October, 1720.
Receipts for five French prisoners, returned. Dated the 21st November, 1720.
Memorial from the commanders of ships and sloops, &c., at Canso, to Colonel Philips.
Account of the losses of His Majesty's subjects by the French at Canso, in August, 1720.

Plantations General.

and ordered that the said letters and papers be considered again, before the general report, (mentioned in the Minutes of the 9th inst.), upon the state of the plantations, be finished.

Connecticut.

Letter from Governor and Company.

A letter from the Governor and Company of Connecticut, dated at Newhaven, the 14th of September, 1720, in relation to their boundaries, and transmitting a map, was read.

Trade.

Letter to Mr. Martyn.

East India imports and exports.

Ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Martyn. Inspector General of the imports and exports, for an account of the value of the East India Company's imports for the year 1718, 1719 and 1720, as also an account of the value of the re-exports of all East India goods, from the year 1713 to 1720.

February 15. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Ashe.

Barbadoes.

Letter from Lord Townshend.

Tobago.

Letter to his Lordship.

A letter from the Lord Viscount Townshend, of the 14th inst., referring to this Board the petition of several gentlemen of Barbadoes, in relation to the inserting the island Tobago in the commission of Lord Irwin, appointed Governor of Barbadoes, was read, and the draught of an answer to his Lordship's said letter, agreed and signed.

Acts.

Their Lordships took then into consideration the Acts undermentioned, passed in Barbadoes in 1718, and directed to be noted on the said Acts, as is expressed under each respective title, viz.
An Act for the encouragement of David Aubin, gentleman, in two several projections by him invented, passed 19th February, 1717–18.
To lie by. No objection.
An Act to impower the Treasurer of this island to defray the expence of the late Grand Sessions, help on the 2nd Tuesday in December, 1717. Passed 21st May, 1718.
Had its effect. No objection.
An Act to raise a levy on the several inhabitants of this island. Passed 6th June, 1718.
No objection.
An Act for the better ordering and regulating His Majesty's high and honourable Court of Exchequer and Pleas of the Crown. Passed 6th June, 1718.
To lie by.

Sir Robert Davers, etc.

Tranquillity Act.

Letter to Mr. Lowther.

Mr. Robert leavers. Mr. Walker and several other gentlemen of Barbadoes, attending, in relation to the repealing an Act passed in Barbadoes in 1720. entituled, An Act for the better preserving the peace and tranquillity of this island; their Lordships, after some discourse with them thereupon, ordered that Mr. Lowther should be acquainted that the Board desire to speak with him on Tuesday morning next, thereupon.

Miscellanies.

Incident accounts.

The Secretary then laid before the Board the accounts of the incidental charges of this office, from Midsummer, 1720, to Christmas following, amounting to £325 3s. 4¼d., viz.

Letter to the Treasury.

whereupon a letter to the Lords of the Treasury, praying payment thereof, and of the salaries due to the Board, secretary and under officers at Christmas last, was signed.

February 17. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe.

Barbadoes.

Mr. Lowther.

Tranquillity Act.

Mr. West's report.

Mr. Lowther, late Governor of Barbadoes, attending, as he had been desired, their Lordships took again into consideration an Act passed in the island in 1720, (mentioned in the Minutes of the 15th inst.), entituled, An Act for the better preserving the peace and tranquillity of this island, as also a memorial, (mentioned in the Minutes of the 7th December, 1720), from Sir Robert Davers and several other Barbadoes gentlemen, against the above said act, and read Mr. West's report upon several Barbadoes acts, passed in 1719 and 1720.

And their Lordships then asking Mr. Lowther several questions in relation to the said act, he said the reasons that induced him to pass the act were, that Presidents commonly abused the power they had left them in the absence of Governors, and that this act was to restrain them from acting in any extraordinary cases, as placing or displacing any civil or military officer, &c., without a quorum in the Council of seven; but that in all common cases, five of the Council was a quorum; he further said, that Mr. Sharpe, when President, not only suspended Colonel Frere, but also three of the Judges, without allowing them a hearing, and that he dissolved the Assembly, altered the Commission of the Peace and Lieutenancy, and that it was for these reasons that the Council thought it proper to make seven a quorum.

Instruction.

Mr. Lowther being withdrawn, their Lordships considering further of this matter, ordered that an instruction should be prepared to prevent Presidents making any alterations in the Government, without a majority of the Council, during the absence of the governor.

New York.

Brigadier Hunter.

Act.

Brigadier Hunter, late Governor of New York, attending, as he had been desired, in relation to an act passed in that province in November, 1720, entituled, An Act to lay a duty of £2, on every £100 value prime cost, of all European goods imported into this colony; their Lordships had some discourse with him thereupon, and asking him whether any such act had ever had the Royal assent, he said, that in Colonel Fletcher's time there had been one approved, for laying a duty of 21/2; per cent on all European goods imported; but that in the Lord Cornbury's and the Lord Bellomont's time, that part of the revenue was entirely dropped; he further said, that as the 2 per cent was but so small a duty and only upon prime cost, he thought it would be for the interest of the province to pass that act into a law, it being for repairing and building of forts.

February 23. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe.

Barbadoes.

Act. about Common Pleas. Letter to Mr. West.

Their Lordships, taking into consideration an Act passed at Barbadoes in 1718, entituled, An Act for the better ordering and regulating the proceedings of His Majesty's Courts of Common Pleas within this island; ordered that Mr. West be acquainted that the Board desire to speak with him thereupon, to-morrow morning.

New England.

Letter to the Attorney General.

Negative voice of the Governor.

Ordered that the Attorney General be reminded of the secretary's letter to him, of the 3rd of the last month, inclosing an extract of one from Colonel Shute, Governor of the Massachusets Bay, as also of the charter granted by King William and Queen Mary, to that province, relating to the negative voice reserved to the Governor in the making of laws, as also in elections, &c., and that Mr. Attorney be desired to hasten his report thereupon.

February 24. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pulteney. Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe.

Barbadoes.

Mr. West.

Act about Common Pleas.

Mr. West attending, as he had been desired, in relation to an Act passed in Barbadoes in 1718, entituled, An Act for the better ordering and regulating the proceedings of His Majesty's Courts of Common Pleas within this island. Their Lordships after some discourse with him thereupon, agreed to take the said act into further consideration at another opportunity.

Newfoundland.

Letter from Mr. Burchet

Heads of inquiry.

A letter from Mr. Burchet, of the 20th inst., desiring the usual heads of inquiry may be prepared for Capt. Stuart, appointed Commodore of Newfoundland, was read; whereupon ordered that the draught of the said heads of inquiry be prepared accordingly.