Journal, July 1744: Volume 52

Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations: Volume 8, January 1742 - December 1749. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1931.

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'Journal, July 1744: Volume 52', in Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations: Volume 8, January 1742 - December 1749, (London, 1931) pp. 117-122. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/jrnl-trade-plantations/vol8/pp117-122 [accessed 24 March 2024]

Journal, July 1744

Wednesday, July 4. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

Trade.

Minorca.

Colonel Pinfold and Captain Dunbar attending, as desired by the minutes of the 27th ult., the Board had some discourse with them on the subject of the petition of the Greek merchants, referred to their lordships by Lord Carteret's letter; after which they had also some discourse with Father Bartholomew Cassano, interpreter to Father Gregory Kassava, who appeared for the petitioners, and then the Board took the affair into consideration, and gave directions for preparing the draught of a representation in favour of the petitioners.

South Carolina.

Georgia.

Mr. George Morley, agent for the petitioners, James Maxwell and Cornelius Doharty, as likewise Mr. Fury, agent for the province of South Carolina, and Mr. Harman Verelst, for Mr. Benjamin Martyn, Secretary to the Trustees of Georgia, attending, as desired by the minutes of the 27th ult., Mr. Morley acquainted the Board that he was not sufficiently instructed by his constituents, Messrs. Maxwell and Doharty; whereupon their lordships deferred the further consideration of that matter till fresh application shall be made.

New York.

Read a letter from Mr. Clinton, Governor of New York, dated May 14th, 1744, enclosing an extract of the minutes of Council of the 19th of October, 1743; at which time Mr. Clarke, Lieutenant Governor of the province, came into the Council Room, and being asked to qualify himself as Councillor, desired to be excused by reason of his great age and infirmities; on which occasion the Governor recommends again to the Board Mr. Renslaer, to supply that vacancy.

Resolved to postpone the consideration of this affair to another time.

Thursday, July 5. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

North Carolina.

The Secretary laid before the Board the Naval Officer's lists of ships entered and cleared at Port Bath, in North Carolina, for two quarters, viz.:—from Midsummer to Michaelmas, 1743, and from thence to the Christmas following.

Laid likewise before the Board minutes of Council, from the 15th March, 1742–3, to the 2nd April, 1743.

Leeward Islands.

Read a letter from General Mathew, Governor of the Leeward Islands, to the Board, dated at Antigua, April 3rd, 1744, enclosing a state of his Majesty's Councils, and the Acts and other public papers under-mentioned, viz.:—
Minutes of the Assembly of Antigua, from the 3rd of August, 1743, to the 3rd of February, 1743–4.
Minutes of the Council of Montserrat, for the quarter ending at Christmas, 1743.
Four Acts of Antigua, passed in January and March, 1743–4.

Ordered that the said Acts be sent to Mr. Fane for his opinion thereon, in point of law.

Trade.

Minorca.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the petition of some Greek merchants in the Island of Minorca, who desire to become subjects to his Majesty (as directed yesterday), having been prepared, was laid before the Board, and being agreed to, was transcribed and signed, as was also a letter to the Lord Carteret, for enclosing the same.

Trade.

Africa.

Ordered that the Secretary write to Charles Hayes, Esquire, Deputy Governor of the Royal African Company, and signify to him, that the Board desire to have, as soon as consists with their conveniency, the answer of the Court of Assistants of that Company, to the papers communicated to the said Mr. Hayes at this Board, the 13th of last month, and of which he desired a copy to be laid before the said Court.

Wednesday, July 11. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

Bahamas.

Read a letter from Mr. Tinker, Governor of the Bahamas, to the Board, dated New Providence, February 20th, 1743–4. Ordered that the Secretary transmit to the Secretary of the Admiralty an extract of so much of the said letter, as relates to sloops, which he desires to be stationed there, in order to lay the same before the Lords of the Admiralty.

Trade.

Africa.

Read a letter to the Secretary from Mr. Hayes, Deputy Governor of the Royal African Company, in answer to that writ to him by the Secretary, ordered in the minutes of the 5th inst., acquainting him that the Board shall have the Company's answer this week.

South Carolina.

Georgia.

fol. 107.

Ordered that the Secretary write another letter to Mr. Fane, to desire he will send immediately his report upon the Act entituled, An Act for establishing the Tenures of Lands in Georgia, and reducing the Quit Rents thereof.

Massachusetts.

The Board took into consideration six Acts, passed at Boston, in the province of the Massachusetts. Bay, and ordered the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council thereupon to be prepared.

Leeward Islands.

The Board took into consideration the letters received from General Mathew, Governor of the Leeward Islands, since their last to him, and ordered the draught of a letter, in answer to them, to be prepared.

Thursday, July 12. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

Massachusetts.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council, ordered by the minutes of yesterday, having been laid before the Board, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Bermuda.

The Board took into consideration the letters received from Mr. Popple, Governor of Bermudas, since their last letter to him, and ordered the draught of a letter, in answer to them, [to] be prepared, which was accordingly done, transcribed and signed.

Jamaica.

The Board took into consideration the letters received from Mr. Trelawney, Governor of Jamaica, since their last letter to him, and ordered the draught of an answer to them to be prepared.

Rhode Island.

Mr. Alderman Baker attending, communicated to the Board some papers he had lately received from Rhode Island, viz.:—
An Act for emitting the sum of forty thousand pounds in Bills of Public Credit of the new tenor, to be let upon loan, dated at South King's Town in Rhode Island, the 14th of February, 1743–4.
Copy of protests in the House of Magistrates, and in the House of Deputies, at South King's Town, in Rhode Island, the 18th of February, with the reasons of their dissent to the forementioned Act, passed there the 14th of February, 1743–4;
of which copies were ordered to be made, and the originals to be returned him.

Wednesday, July 18. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

Connecticut.

Read a letter from Messrs. Cortland, Lane and Horsmanden, to the Board, dated at New York, the 5th of March, 1743–4, transmitting a certified copy of a Book of Proceedings before the Commissioners of Review, impowered to determine the cause depending between the Governor and Company of Connecticut and the Mohegan Indians, by their guardians, beginning May 4th, and ending October 26th, 1743.

Trade.

Africa.

Read the answer of the Royal African Company of England to some papers communicated by this Board to Mr. Hayes, Deputy Governor, relating to the general state of the trade and settlements there, belonging to the said Company, and the necessary charge of maintaining the same, together with two estimates thereto annexed, viz.:—
An estimate of the annual charges, which may be necessary for effectually maintaining and supporting the British forts and settlements belonging to the Royal African Company of England on the coast of Africa, for the protection of the trade of all his Majesty's subjects there.
An estimate of what sum will be necessary to enable the Royal African Company of England forthwith to repair and put their forts and settlements into a defensible condition.

Ordered that copies of the said answer and estimates be made, and the further consideration thereof be referred to to-morrow.

Thursday, July 19. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

Trade.

Hamburgh.

Sweden.

Read a letter from Lord Carteret, dated the 17th inst., referring to the consideration of this Board the following papers, which were also read, viz.:—
Extract of a letter from Mr. Cope to Lord Carteret, dated Hamburgh, 30th June, N.S., 1744.
Copy of the city of Hamburgh's letter to the king, dated the 29th June, 1744.
Extract of a letter from the Lords of the Admiralty to Lord Carteret, 13th July, 1744.
Extract of Colonel Guy Dickens's letter to Lord Carteret, dated the 8th June, O.S., 1744.
Copy of Count Gyllenborg's letter to Colonel Guy Dickens, dated 5th June, O.S., 1744.
Copy of Colonel Guy Dickens's letter to Count Gyllenborg, dated the 5th June, o.s., 1744.
Extract of a letter from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to Lord Carteret, dated the 13th July, 1744.

Jamaica.

The draught of an answer to the several letters received from Mr. Trelawney, Governor of Jamaica, having been prepared, as ordered by the minutes of the 12th inst., was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Leeward Islands.

The draught of a letter to General Mathew, Governor of the Leeward Islands, in answer to those received from him, having been prepared, as ordered by the minutes of the 11th inst., was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Trade.

Africa.

Ordered that the Secretary write to the Secretary of the Lords of the Admiralty, to desire he would acquaint their lordships that it is the desire of this Board, that if they have received any informations, relating to the general state of the trade to Africa, and the condition of the forts and settlements there, belonging to the Royal African Company of England, and what is the necessary charge of maintaining the same, from the captains of his Majesty's ships stationed on that coast, their lordships would please to communicate such parts thereof as they shall judge proper, for the information of this Board.

North Carolina.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Johnston, Governor of North Carolina, taking notice that the Board has received no letter from him, since their last to him, having been prepared, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Wednesday, July 25. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plumer.

Trade.

Custom House Accounts.

Read a letter from Mr. Wood, Secretary to the Commissioners of his Majesty's Customs, dated July 23rd, 1744, with the copy of the Inspector General's ledger of imports and exports, for the year 1738.

Trade.

Africa.

Read a letter from Mr. Spence, Secretary to the Royal African Company, dated July 19th, 1744, enclosing extracts of two, dated the 10th and 18th of April last, received from Cape Coast Castle, relating to the behaviour of the French.

The Board then resumed the consideration of the state of the trade to Africa, etc., referred to them by his Grace the Duke of Newcastle's letter of the 24th of May last, as mentioned in the minutes of the 30th of the same month, and ordered the Secretary to write a letter to Messrs. Lascelles and Hall, traders to Africa, desiring their attendance on this day sennight [Wednesday, August 1st].

Trade.

Hamburgh.

Sweden.

The Board, after having had under consideration the several papers referred to them in the Lord Carteret's letter (mentioned in the minutes of the 19th inst.), gave directions for preparing the draught of a representation to his Majesty thereupon.

Ordered that the Secretary write to Mr. Gore, Governor of the Hamburgh Company, to desire his attendance at the Board, either to-morrow or this day sennight [Thursday, July 26th, Wednesday, August 1st], at twelve o'clock, as shall be convenient to him.

Thursday, July 26. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

Miscellanies.

The Secretary laid before the Board an account of the incidental charges of this office, from Lady day, 1743, to Midsummer following, amounting on the whole to £25 19s. 11½d.; And a letter to the Lords of the Treasury, desiring payment thereof, and of the salaries due to the Secretary and under officers for the same time, was agreed to and signed.

New Hampshire.

Read a letter from Mr. Wentworth, Governor of New Hampshire, dated Portsmouth, May 9th, 1744, complaining of the French encroachments on the frontiers of the British plantations, and transmitting a copy of the plan of a fort, lately erected by the French in Crown Point, within his Majesty's province of New Hampshire.

Ordered that a copy of the said letter and plan be made, and the draught of a letter, for transmitting them to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle be prepared, which was accordingly done, agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Trade.

Hamburgh.

Sweden.

The Board took into consideration the draught of a representation to his Majesty, ordered by yesterday's minutes, and made some progress therein.