Journal, December 1747: Volume 55

Journal, December 1747

Tuesday, December 1. Present:—Mr. Plumer, Mr. Leveson Gower, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane.

South Carolina.

Read a letter from Mr. Hammerton, Secretary and one of the Council of South Carolina, relating to his absence from the said province, and praying to be indulged therein until March, when he proposes to return.

New York.

Read a letter from George Clarke, Esquire, Secretary of New York, and one of the Council of that province, dated the 30th of November, 1747, signifying his intention to go there in a little time, and desiring the Board to continue him in the list of Councillors of that province.

Antigua.

The Board took into consideration two private Acts, passed in the Island of Antigua, in 1742 and 1746, the one, entituled, An Act for the Sale of part of the Real Estate, late of Samuel Byam, Esquire, deceased, scituate in this Island, for and towards the payment of his Debts; the other, entitled, An Act for the Sale of part of the Real Estate of William Lindsey, late of the Island of Antigua, Gentleman, deceased, scituate in the said Island, for and towards the payment of the said William Lindsey, and ordered the draught of a representation to his Majesty, proposing the confirmation of the said Acts to be prepared.

Wednesday, December 2. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Leveson Gower, Mr. Fane.

Antigua.

The draught of a representation upon two private Acts, passed in the Island of Antigua, having been prepared, as ordered by the preceding minutes, was laid before the Board, transcribed and signed.

Thursday, December 3. Present:—Mr. Plumer, Lord Dupplin.

Virginia.

Read a letter from Sir William Gooch, Baronet, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, dated at Williamsburg, the 25th of September, 1747, acquainting the Board of the death of John Tayloe, Esquire, one of the Council of that province, and recommending John Lewis, Esquire, to succeed him therein.

Ordered that the draught of a representation to his Majesty, proposing John Lewis, Esquire, to be of the Council of Virginia, in the room of John Tayloe, Esquire, deceased, to be prepared.

Tuesday, December 8. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin.

South Carolina.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated the 26th of October, 1747, referring to this Board the petition of James Peyn of London, merchant, praying for a grant in his name of five hundred thousand acres of land in the province of South Carolina, lying waste and uncultivated, where it has not already been run out for other grantees etc.

Ordered that the Secretary do write to the petitioner, to desire his attendance at the Board on Thursday sen'night upon the subject of the said petition.

Virginia.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty proposing John Lewis, Esquire, to be of the Council of Virginia, in the room of Mr. Tayloe, deceased, ordered to be prepared by the minutes of Thursday last, was laid before the Board, agreed to, transcribed and signed.

New York.

Mr. Alderman Baker presented to the Board a letter from Daniel Horsmanden, Esquire, one of the Council of the province of New York, dated the 29th of September, 1747, acquainting the Board that he had been suspended from his seat at the Council Board by Mr. Clinton, without his assigning any reasons for so doing, and desiring to be heard before anything further be done thereupon, and inclosing:—
Copy of paper of particulars delivered by his Excellency to the Council, August 27, 1747.
Copy of Report of Committee of Council of New York, to his Excellency, Governor Clinton, 26th August, 1747.
Copy of a minute of Council of New York, the 28th of August, 1747.
Copy of a minute of Council of New York, dated the 12th September, 1747.

Agreed that, so soon as the Board shall receive any reasons from Mr. Clinton for his suspension of Mr. Horsmanden, Mr. Alderman Baker be acquainted therewith.

Trade.

Africa.

Read a letter from Mr. Corbett, Secretary of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, dated the 1st of December, 1747, inclosing the extract of one to him from Captain Swanton, Commander of his Majesty's ship the Mary Galley, dated at Antigua, the 5th of July last, giving an account of his proceedings, in relation to the Royal African Company's settlements, while he was on the coast of Africa, for the information of this Board.

Trade.

East India.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated the 26th of November, 1747, referring to this Board an account of the East India Company's exports between the 29th of September, 1746, and the 29th September, 1747, to be examined and reported upon.

Tuesday, December 15. Present:—Mr. Plumer, Mr. Leveson Gower, Mr. Fane.

Barbados.

Read a letter from Reynold Hooper, Esquire, one of the Council of Barbados, dated the 12th of December, 1747, signifying that he intends to return to that Island, so soon as he has settled his affairs and recovered his health.

Read a letter from Richard Salter, Esquire, one of the Council of Barbados, dated the 12th of December, 1747, signifying that he intends to return to that Island, so soon as he has settled his affairs and recovered his health.

Thursday, December 17. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Leveson Gower, Mr. Pitt, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Fane.

South Carolina.

Mr. Joshua Sharpe, attending in behalf of Mr. Peyn, on the subject of the petition mentioned in the minutes of the 8th instant, acquainted the Board that Mr. Peyn was absent in Languedoc, procuring persons to carry on his design; that others were concerned in this affair, and that Mr. Hamilton, one of them, attended without; and the said Mr. Hamilton being called in, he informed the Board that he was the principal person concerned, and had agreed with several Jews and others in this undertaking, and that Mr. Salomon da Costa was Trustee for them; whereupon the Board desired that he would attend on Tuesday next, and bring with him such persons as might give them some assurance of his design being carried into execution.

New York.

Read a letter from the Honourable George Clinton, Esquire, Governor of New York, to the Board, dated 29th September, 1747, signifying that he has suspended Mr. Stephen Bayard from his seat in the council of that province, and referring for his reasons to those given for the suspension of Mr. Horsmanden.

Agreed to take his letter into consideration, so soon as the reasons referred to therein shall be received.

Virginia.

Read a letter from Sir William Gooch, Baronet, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, to the Board, dated the 6th September, 1747, acquainting them that several persons in partnership had made application for grants of lands on the Western side of the Great Mountains, setting forth the advantages that would attend the making such grants, and desiring the royal sentiments on that head; inclosing also:—
The account of his Majesty's revenue of 2s. per hogshead etc. arising within the colony of Virginia, from the 25th of April, 1747, to the 25th of October, 1747.

Ordered that a letter be prepared, for transmitting so much of the said letter, as relates to application for grants, to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, in order to be laid before his Majesty for his directions; and that in the meantime the Governor be wrote to, to acquaint him therewith, and to desire that he would acquaint the Board what difficulties he is under as to making such grants.

Barbados.

Read a letter from Mr. John Sharpe to the Secretary, dated the 16th December, 1747, acquainting him that Abel Dottin, Esquire, one of the Council of Barbados, now in the country for his health, proposed to return soon to his seat in Council, and that in the meantime he had directed him to take out a leave of absence, as had also Messrs. Salter and Hooper, two other absent Councillors of that Island.

Tuesday, December 22. Present:—Mr. Plumer, Mr. Leveson Gower, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane.

South Carolina.

Mr. Hamilton attending with Mr. Sharpe, his solicitor, together with Mr. Solomon da Costa, upon the subject of Mr. Peyn's petition, mentioned in the minutes of the 17th instant, they were called in; and Mr. da Costa, having acquainted the Board that he and Messrs. Salvador and Mendez Da Costa had agreed with Mr. Hamilton for the settlement of several of their poor in South Carolina, and subscribed a sum of money for that purpose, Mr. Hamilton was directed to draw up some proposals in writing, with respect to the terms whereon he desired a grant might be made to his associate Mr. Peyn, and lay them before the Board at their next meeting.

Barbados.

Read a letter from Reynold Hooper, Esquire, one of the Council in the Island of Barbados, to the Secretary, dated the 21st December, 1747, signifying that he has obtained his Majesty's licence of absence under the seal; and the Secretary was directed to write to him to acquaint him that they expected a copy of the said licence should be entered in this office.