Journal, February 1748: Volume 56

Journal, February 1748

Tuesday, February 2. Present:—Mr. Plumer, Lord Dupplin.

St. Christophers.

Read a letter from General Mathew, Governor of the Leeward Islands, to the Board, dated at St. Christophers, December 9th, 1747, transmitting the Tax Act for that Island, passed October 30th, 1747, with the minutes of Council of Montserrat, from the 25th of March to the 29th September, 1747.

Wednesday, February 3. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Leveson Gower, Mr. Fane.

Newfoundland.

Read a letter from Otho Hamilton, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Placentia, to the Board, dated the 31st October, 1747, complaining of the want of civil officers there, and desiring the Board's directions thereupon.

Ordered that a letter be prepared, for transmitting a copy of the abovementioned letter, to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle.

South Carolina.

The Board took into consideration Mr. Peyn's petition for a grant of lands in South Carolina, mentioned in the minutes of the 12th of January last, and ordered the Secretary to write to Mr. Joshua Sharpe, solicitor for the petitioner, to desire his attendance at the Board to-morrow morning, between eleven and twelve o'clock.

Thursday, February 4. Present:—Mr. Plumer, Lord Dupplin.

South Carolina.

Read Mr. Lamb's report upon an Act, passed in South Carolina, in June, 1747, to impower two Justices and three Freeholders, or a Majority of them, to determine in all Actions of Debt, where the matter in Dispute doth exceed Twenty Pounds current Money etc.

Friday, February 5. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Leveson Gower.

South Carolina.

Read a letter from Mr. Morley, dated 5th February, 1747–8, desiring the Board to appoint a short day for hearing the merits of the Act, mentioned in the preceding minute.

Ordered that the several parties concerned, for and against the merist of the said Act, be wrote to, to attend on Wednesday next.

Barbados.

Read a letter from Abel Dottin, Esquire, one of his Majesty's Council of the Island of Barbados, dated the 13th of January, 1747–8, inclosing a copy of his licence of absence from the Island for one year.

Newfoundland.

The draught of a letter to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, inclosing the copy of one from Mr. Hamilton, Lieutenant Governor of Placentia, ordered to be prepared by the minute of the 3rd instant, was laid before the Board, agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Tuesday, February 9. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Leveson Gower, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane.

South Carolina.

Read a letter from Mr. Fury, agent for the province of South Carolina, to Mr. Pownall, dated the 22nd January, 1747–8, inclosing his answer to several queries upon the Act, passed in South Carolina in 1746, for emitting £210,000 in Bills of Credit, transmitted to him by Mr. Pownall in his letter, dated 11th December last.

Agreed to take the said Act into consideration some day next week, and that in the meantime the principal merchants trading to the province of South Carolina be acquainted therewith.

Mr. Joshua Sharpe attending, as desired by the minutes of the 3rd instant, acquainted the Board that he had no authority from Mr. Peyn to appear in behalf of his petition, mentioned in the said minutes, whereupon it was agreed to postpone the further consideration of this affair, until the petitioner, or some person properly authorized in his behalf, shall appear to give satisfaction to the Board touching the said petition.

Wednesday, February 10. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Leveson Gower, Mr. Herbert, Lord Dupplin.

South Carolina.

Mr. John Sharpe, solicitor in behalf of the Act, passed in the province of South Carolina, in June, 1747, relating to the tryal of small causes, as likewise Mr. Paris, solicitor for the petitioners against the said Act, attending, pursuant to the minutes of the 5th instant, Mr. Sharpe moved the Board to appoint a further day for the hearing the merits of the said Act; which being agreed to by Mr. Paris, the Board appointed Friday, the 19th instant, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, when all parties were ordered to attend.

Thursday, February 11. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Leveson Gower, Lord Dupplin.

South Carolina.

The Secretary acquainted the Board, that Mr. Crokatt, in behalf of himself and the rest of the traders to the province of South Carolina, had desired that Thursday, the 18th instant, might be appointed for hearing what they had to offer upon the subject of the Act, passed in that province, for emitting £210,000 in Bills of Credit; but that Mr. Fury, agent for the said province, had desired that a further day might be appointed for that purpose, it was ordered that Mr. Crokatt be acquainted therewith.

Friday, February 19. Present:—Mr. Plumer, Mr. Leveson Gower, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane.

South Carolina.

Mr. Paris, in behalf of the petitioners against an Act, passed in the province of South Carolina in June, 1747, relating to the tryal of small causes, and Mr. Sharpe, in behalf of the said province, for the support of the said Act, attending, as directed by the minutes of the 10th instant, the Board heard what they had to offer for and against the merits of the said Act, and they being directed to withdraw, agreed to consider the same on Tuesday next.

Mr. Fury, agent for the province of South Carolina, attending, moved the Board that Friday next, the 26th instant, might be appointed for hearing what he had to offer in support of the Act, passed in that province in 1746, for emitting £210,000 in Bills of Credit, which was agreed to, and notice thereof was ordered to be given to such of the merchants trading thither, as had desired to be heard upon this subject. At the same time Mr. Fury moved the Board for a copy of the 99th article of his Majesty's instructions to the Governor of that province, which was granted, and a copy thereof ordered to be delivered to him.

Tuesday, February 23. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Leveson Gower, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane.

South Carolina.

The Board took into consideration the Act, passed in the province of South Carolina in 1746, relating to the tryal of small causes, mentioned in the minutes of the 19th instant; and after some time spent therein, ordered the draught of a representation to his Majesty to be prepared, proposing the repeal of the said Act.

New Hampshire.

Read Mr. Attorney and Mr. Solicitor General's report, dated the 19th instant, upon a letter from Mr. Wentworth, Governor of New Hampshire, to this Board, and several papers inclosed therein, relating to the Assembly's refusing to admit the representations of five new towns and districts in that province to sit and vote in the choice of a Speaker; and ordered the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council to be prepared, pursuant to their Order of the 2nd of December, 1746.

Friday, February 26. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Leveson Gower, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane.

South Carolina.

Mr. Alderman Baker.

Mr. James Crokatt.

Mr. Andrew Pringle.

Mr. John Nicholson.

Mr. William Stone.

Mr. John Beswick.

Mr. Richard Shubrick.

Mr. Nathan Newburry.

Mr. Charles Crokatt.

Mr. Fury, agent for the province of South Carolina, attending, with Mr. John Sharpe, his solicitor, in behalf of the Bill passed in the province of South Carolina for emitting £210,000 in Bills of Credit, together with several merchants and other principal traders to that province, in opposition to the said Bill; the Board heard what they had to offer upon this subject, and being directed to withdraw, agreed to take the same into consideration on Tuesday next, the 1st of March.

Trade.

Africa.

Sugar.

Trade.

Read two letters from Mr. Wood, Secretary to the Commissioners of his Majesty's Customs, dated the 13th and 16th instant, in answer to one from the Secretary of this Board, dated the 29th of last month, inclosing the following accounts, viz.:—
An account of the tonnage of ships trading from Great Britain to Africa, from Christmas, 1743, to Christmas, 1746, distinguishing each year, and what from London, and what from the out ports.
An account of the quantity of sugar imported into England, from any of the British sugar colonies, from Christmas, 1727, to Christmas, 1746, distinguishing each year, as likewise an account of the quantity of sugar exported for the same time, distinguishing each year.
An account of the value of goods imported and exported from and to Africa, from Christmas, 1743, to Christmas, 1746, distinguishing each year; and how much thereof from London, and how much from the out ports.