Journal, May 1740: Volume 48

Journal, May 1740

Thursday, May 1. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Sir A. Croft, Mr. Plummer.

Nova Scotia.

Governor Philips, attending, as desired by the minutes of Tuesday last, the Board had some discourse with him upon the subject of the two letters from Mr. John Adams, President of the Council of Nova Scotia, mentioned in the same minutes. Ordered that extracts of the said two letters, as far as they relate to the State of Canco and Annapolis Royal, be transmitted in one to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, and extracts of the same having been made, and the letter prepared, the same was agreed to, and signed.

Massachusetts.

New Hampshire.

The Board had under consideration the draught of an instruction, relating to the settling the boundaries of the Provinces of Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire, mentioned in the minutes of Tuesday last, and made some progress therein.

North Carolina.

Read a letter from Mr. Johnston, Governor of North Carolina, to the Board, dated at Cape Fear, January 28th, 1739–40, containing his observations on the Acts lately passed in that Province and particularly upon the Quit Rent Law.

Tuesday, May 13. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer, Sir A. Croft.

Virginia.

Read a letter from Major Gooch, Lieut.-Governor of Virginia, dated February 9th, 1739–40, in answer to the Board's Circular Letter, dated the 5th July last, upon the addresses of both Houses of Parliament, concerning the rates of gold and silver coins and the paper currency in America; as also to another letter from the Board, dated September 5th, 1739.

Bahamas.

Read the memorial of Richard Fitzwilliams, Esq., late Governor of the Bahama Islands, praying for a yearly rent to be paid him by the future Governors of the said islands for a house erected there by him for their use. Ordered that the Secretary write to Mr. Fitzwilliams to desire his attendance at this Board on Thursday next, (Thursday, May 16th), on the subject of the said memorial.

Jamaica.

Read Mr. Fane's report upon An Act, passed at Jamaica, the 12th of May, 1739, to dissolve the marriage of Edward Manning, Esq., with Elizabeth Moore, and to enable him to marry again, with some particular remarks and observations upon it.

Read likewise his report upon four other Acts, passed at Jamaica in 1739, to which he has no objection. Ordered that the Secretary write to Mr. Fane to desire his attendance at the Board to-morrow, in order to have some discourse with him on the Acts from North Carolina, and such other Acts as are now before him. [Wednesday, 14th inst.]

Leeward Islands.

Read an account of the British Virgin Islands, presented to the Board by Robert Dinwiddie, Esq. Ordered that all papers relating to these islands, that are in the office, be looked out, in order to be laid before the Board to-morrow, when the state of the said islands will be taken into consideration.

Nevis.

A representation recommending Richard Cox, Esq., to be of the Council in the island of Nevis, in the room of Thomas Butler, Esq., who has desired leave to resign, having been prepared, as ordered by the minutes of the 30th ulto, was agreed to, and signed.

Wednesday, May 14. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer.

St. Christophers.

The draught of a representation to the Lords Justices, recommending William Ottley, Esq., to be of the Council of St. Christophers, in the room of Abraham Payne, Esq., deceased, as mentioned in the list transmitted by Governor Mathew in his letter of the 8th of January last, was ordered to be prepared.

Leeward Islands.

Read two letters from General Mathew, Governor of the Leeward Islands, the first dated December 21st, 1739, transmitting (besides several duplicate papers):—
Two Acts of St. Christophers.
Minutes of Assembly of that island to September, 1739.
the other, dated February 5th, 1739–40, inclosing an account of the gold and silver coin as it passed in the island of Nevis, from the year 1700, to 1739–40, and transmitting:—
Minutes of Council and of the Assembly of Montserrat, from 29th September, to the 25th December, 1739.

Plantations General.

Read two letters from the Duke of Newcastle, dated the 30th of April, 1740, one inclosing copies of three addresses of the House of Commons to the king, of the 25th of April, 1740, relating to Bills of Credit issued in all the British colonies in America, now outstanding etc., and to a complete collection of all the laws in force in any of the said British Colonies; as also copies of such charters of his Majesty's colonies in America, granted by his Majesty, or his royal predecessors, as are now subsisting and in force. The other inclosing copies of two addresses of the House of Commons, of the 25th of April, to the king, relating to his Majesty's instruction to the respective Governors in America, directing that the Act of the 6th of Queen Anne, for ascertaining the rates of foreign coins in her Majesty's plantations in America be punctually observed; and that they pass no act, whereby Bills of Credit may be issued in lieu of money, without a suspending clause.

Whereupon directions were given for preparing the draught of a circular letter to the Governors of his Majesty's plantations on the continent of America, in relation to Bills of Credit issued there and now outstanding: As also for preparing the draught of an order to be signed by the king, to all his Majesty's Governors, for their observing his Majesty's instruction that the Act, abovementioned, for ascertaining the rates of foreign coins in America, be strictly put in execution; and likewise that they pass no act whereby Bills of Credit may be issued in lieu of money, without a suspending clause.

Thursday, May 15. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer.

Bahamas.

Mr. Fitzwilliams attending, as desired by the minutes of Tuesday last, the Board, after some discourse with him on the subject of his memorial, was of opinion it was not proper to do any thing upon it.

Nova Scotia.

New England.

Read an order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated May 6th, 1740, referred to this Board the petition of several merchants trading to, and interested in, New England, and the fishery carried on from thence and Nova Scotia, setting forth the defenceless condition of Canço, and humbly proposing that a fortification may be erected there.

Ordered that the Secretary write a letter to Mr. Joshua Sharpe, to inform him that the Board will take the said reference into consideration Wednesday next, and to desire his attendance then, and that he will acquaint the petitioners therewith that such as are willing may come with him. [Wednesday, 21st inst.]

Leeward Islands.

Virginia Islands.

Mr. Dinwiddie attending, the Board had some discourse with him on the subject of the paper delivered in by him, and mentioned in the minutes of Tuesday last, relating to the state of the Virgin Islands, and after hearing his sentiments in relation to the best manner of settling them, the Board desired him to put them in writing, which he accordingly did, and the Board thereupon agreed to resume the consideration of this affair to-morrow morning.

Massachusetts.

Read a letter from Mr. Belcher, Governor of the Massachusetts Bay, dated March 4th, 1739–40.

Jamaica.

Ordered that the draught of a representation be prepared recommending Hampson Needham, Esq., to be of the Council in Jamaica, in the room of Richard Mill, Esq., deceased.

Then the Secretary laid before the Board two papers lately received from Mr. Dinwiddie, viz:—
Barbados.
The British right to the islands of St. Vincent, Santa Lucia and Dominica, asserted by Robert Dinwiddie, Esq.
Plantations General.
A computation of the value and trade of the British Empire of America, as also an account of the number of fighting men in each colony or plantation, by Robert Dinwiddie, Esq.

Friday, May 16. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer.

Massachusetts Bay.

Rhode Island.

Read an order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated May 6th, 1740, to the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations to lay before the Committee heads and clauses for a commission for settling the boundaries between Rhode Island and the Massachusetts Bay.

Plantations General.

Ordered that letters be wrote to the agents of all his Majesty's Colonies in America, to desire their attendance at this Board on Wednesday next, (Wednesday the 21st May).

Tuesday, May 20. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer.

Plantations General.

The draught of a circular letter to the Governors on the continent of America, ordered by the minutes of the 14th inst., being prepared, was agreed to and signed.

Miscellanies.

Ordered that the Secretary write to Mr. Basket, his Majesty's Printer, desiring his attendance at this Board to-morrow morning.

St. Christophers.

A representation recommending William Ottley, Esq., to be of the Council of St. Christophers, mentioned in the minutes of the 14th inst., having been prepared, was agreed to, and signed.

Jamaica.

A representation recommending Hampton Needham, Esq., to be of the Council in Jamaica, mentioned in the minutes of the 15th inst., having been prepared, was agreed to, and signed.

Leeward Islands.

Virgin Islands.

The Board took into consideration the state of the Virgin Islands, and ordered the draught of a representation to the Lords Justices to be prepared, shewing the advantage they may be of to the nation, and recommending the settling of them.

Barbados.

Read a letter from Mr. Byng, Governor of Barbados, dated February 21st, 1739–40; whereupon ordered that the first paragraph relating to his letter to M. Champigny, Governor of Martinique, be transmitted to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, and that the 4 paragraphs, marked C. D. E. and F., be sent to the Secretary of the Admiralty.

Wednesday, May 21. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Brudenell, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plummer.

Plantations General.

A representation to the Lords Justices, enclosing draughts of an additional instruction to the several Governors in America, as mentioned in the minutes of the 14th inst., was agreed to, and signed.

Plantations General.

Circular letters to the several Governors of his Majesty's plantations in America, directing that the act of the 6th of Queen Anne, mentioned in the minutes of the 15th inst., be punctually observed, were agreed to, and signed.

The agents of the several plantations in America, attending, as desired by the minutes of May 16th, the Board recommended the abovementioned circular letters to the Governors abroad to their care, in order to be transmitted to the said Governors with all expedition.

Nova Scotia.

New England.

Mr. Joshua Sharpe, attending, with Messrs. Tomlinson, Wentworth, Townsend and several other merchants, trading to, and interested in New England, and the fishery carried on from thence and Nova Scotia, as desired by the minutes of the 15th inst., the Board had some discourse with him on the subject of their petition, and ordered the draught of a report to be prepared.

Massachusetts.

Rhode Island.

At the desire of Mr. John Sharpe and Mr. Paris, the Board was pleased to appoint this day fortnight, (Wednesday, June 4th), to take into consideration the order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, mentioned in the minutes of the 16th inst., relating to settling the boundarys between Massachusetts Bay and Rhode Island.

Barbados.

The letter to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, transmitting the extract of one from Mr. Byng, Governor of Barbados, as ordered in yesterday's minutes, was agreed to, and signed.

Thursday, May 22. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer.

North Carolina.

Their lordships took into consideration the Quit Rent Law of North Carolina, and Mr. Fane attending, had some discourse with him upon the subject matter of the said law, and at the same time desired he would give them his thoughts thereupon, as soon as conveniently may be after the holy days, which he promised to do accordingly.