Journal, April 1739: Volume 47

Journal, April 1739

Tuesday, April 3. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir A. Croft, Mr. Plummer, Mr. Herbert.

New England.

Massachusets.

Read a letter from Captain Tomlinson, dated March 29th, relating to a Bill lately transmitted by the Governor of New England, and mentioned in the minutes of Friday last.

The Board had under consideration the draught of a representation to his Majesty, in relation to the Bill above mentioned, and after some amendments made therein, referred the further consideration thereof to another opportunity.

Wednesday, April 4. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer, Mr. Herbert.

Newfoundland.

Read a letter from his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, dated April 2nd, 1739, directing the Board to prepare the draught of a Commission and Instructions for Henry Medley, Esq., Commander of his Majesty's ship the Romney, appointed Governor of Newfoundland, and the draughts were accordingly ordered to be prepared.

Friday, April 6. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Brudenell.

Leeward Islands.

St. Christophers.

Montserrat.

Read a letter from General Mathews, Governor of the Leeward Islands, dated January 13th, 1738/9, transmitting minutes of the Assembly of St. Christophers from September, 22nd, 1737, to September 12th, 1738; as also minutes of the Council of Montserrat, for the quarter ending September 25th, 1738.

Tuesday, April 10. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir A. Croft.

Leeward Islands.

St. Christophers.

Montserrat.

Read a letter from General Mathews, Governor of the Leeward Islands, dated February 5th, 1738/9, inclosing duplicates mentioned in the last minutes, and giving an account of the death of John Williams, Esq., a member of the Council of St. Christophers.

New England.

Massachusets.

The Board had under consideration the draught of a representation to his Majesty, in relation to a Bill, lately transmitted by the Governor of New England, and mentioned in the minutes of March 13th last, and after some further amendments made therein, ordered the same to be transcribed fair.

Virginia.

Ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Paxton, desiring his attendance at this Board to-morrow, in order to fix upon a day for hearing the dispute between the Crown and my Lord Fairfax, concerning the Northern Neck in Virginia.

Wednesday, April 11. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Brudenell, Sir A. Croft, Mr. Plummer, Mr. Ashe.

New England.

A representation to his Majesty, in relation to a Bill lately transmitted by the Governor of New England, for a fresh emission of Bills of a new tenor, mentioned in the minutes of the 13th of March, was agreed to, and signed.

Newfoundland.

Read a letter to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, enclosing the Commission and instructions for Henry Medley, Esq., Commander of his Majesty's ship the Romney, Governor of Newfoundland, together with a representation to his Majesty thereupon; and the said letter and representation were agreed to, and signed.

Virginia.

Mr. Paxton, attending, as desired by the minutes of yesterday, the Board was pleased to appoint Tuesday the 1st May next, for hearing the cause depending about the Northern Neck in Virginia.

Friday, April 13. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Brudenell.

Antigua.

The Board ordered the draught of a representation to be prepared for Richard Oliver, Esq., to be one of his Majesty's Council in Antigua, in the room of Samuel Byam, Esq., deceased.

As likewise the draught of a representation for William Mackinen, Esq., to be one of his Majesty's Council in the said Island, in the room of John Duer, Esq., who has had leave of the Governor to resign, on account of his bad health, as appears by the Governor's letter of October 21st, 1738.

Wednesday, April 18. Present:—Mr. Ashe, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer.

Antigua.

The two representations to his Majesty mentioned in the minutes of Friday last, one recommending Richard Oliver, Esq., to be of his Majesty's Council in Antigua, in the room of Samuel Byam, Esq., deceased; and the other recommending William Mackinen, Esq., to be one of his Majesty's Council in the said Island, in the room of John Duer, Esq., who has had the Governor's leave to resign, were both agreed to and signed.

Trade.

Sweden.

Read a memorial from Mr. Henry Norris, Junior, representing the ill consequences that would attend the laying on any additional duty on Swedish iron.

Miscellanies.

The Secretary laid before the Board an account of the incident charges of this Office, from Michaelmas, 1738, to Christmas following, amounting to £351 5s. 3d., and a letter to the Lords of the Treasury, desiring payment thereof, and of the salary due to the Secretary and under officers for the same time, was agreed to, and signed.

Thursday, April 19. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer.

Trade.

Wool.

Read a letter from Mr. Pearn, dated April 17th, praying some gratuity for his services in detecting the running of wool out and goods into the kingdom, and the Board were pleased to direct the Secretary to acquaint him that they had not the disposal of public money, and that any application of that kind must be made to the Treasury.

Memorandum, Friday, April 27th, 1739.

Nova Scotia.

Since the adjournment of the Board a letter was received from Mr. Burchet, Secretary to the Lords of the Admiralty, dated the 24th April, 1739, signifying that the captain of the Deal Castle is appointed to attend the fishery at Canço, and desiring that Heads of Enquiry for him may be sent to that Office, as soon as may be.

Whereupon the Lord Monson and Colonel Bladen were pleased to order the Deputy Secretary, in the absence of Mr. Hill, to prepare and transmit the usual Heads of Enquiry for Capt. Temple West accordingly, which were sent to the Admiralty Office the 27th of April, 1739.