Journal, July 1753: Volume 61

Journal, July 1753

Tuesday, July 3. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Townshend, Mr. Oswald.

Nova Scotia.

Read the following letters and papers received from Mr. Hopson, Governor of Nova Scotia, viz.:—
Letter from Mr. Hopson to the Board, dated at Halifax, the 26th of May, 1753, in answer to one from the Board, dated the 22nd of December last, and transmitting:—
Copy of a letter from the Secretary of Nova Scotia to Governor Hopson, dated the 13th May, 1753.
Reductions of the civil list officers in Nova Scotia.
Abstract of proceedings of the General Court in Halifax in April, 1753.
Minutes of Council from the 5th of April to the 10th of May, 1753.
A list of ships and vessels entered and cleared at Halifax from Christmas, 1752, to Ladyday, 1753.
Copy of a letter from the Marquis Duquesne's letter to Governor Hopson, dated 25th of February, 1753, approving the cartel for exchange of deserters.
Letter from Mr. Hopson to the Board, dated May 29th, 1753, relative to the intentions of the Indians to interrupt the settlement at Merlegash.

Ordered that an extract be made of so much of the first mentioned letter as also of the minutes of Council as relate to the request of the French inhabitants to be released from the payment of their arrears of quit rents, to be transmitted to the Lords of the Treasury and that the Secretary do write a letter thereupon to the Secretary to that Board.

Ordered that a copy be made of Mr. Hopson's letter of the 29th of May, to be transmitted to the Secretary of State and that the draught of a letter to Lord Holdernesse thereupon be prepared, and the said letter having been accordingly prepared, was laid before the Board, agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Ordered that the Secretary do transmit an extract of so much of Mr. Hopson's said letter of the 29th of May, as relates to the proceedings of the French in laying an embargo upon the English ships at Louisbourg, and to the state of our naval force upon the coast of Nova Scotia to the Secretary to the Lords of the Admiralty to be laid before that Board.

Ordered that the draught of a letter to Mr. Hopson, Governor of Nova Scotia, in answer to such as have been received from him since the Board's last letter be prepared.

Read a letter from the Earl of Holdernesse, dated the 25th of June, 1753, acquainting the Board that his Majesty has been pleased at Governor Hopson's request to grant him leave of absence from his government for twelve months and that their lordships may prepare the proper instrument for that purpose to be laid before his Majesty for his royal signature.

The draught of a warrant for his Majesty's signature and also of a letter to Lord Holdernesse therewith having been prepared was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Wednesday, July 4. Present:—Earl of Holdernesse, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Townshend, Mr. Oswald.

New York.

New Jersey.

Mr. Charles and Mr. Paris, agents for the provinces of New York and New Jersey, attending as desired by the minutes of the 7th of June last, were called in and their lordships' resolution and opinion upon the Act of New Jersey for running the boundary line between the two provinces having been read they were asked if they had any reasonable proposition to offer for determining the disputes which have for so long a space of time subsisted with respect to the limits in prejudice to the peace and satisfaction of both provinces.

Whereupon Mr. Charles proposed to their lordships that the only proper method of terminating these differences would be by a Commission to be issued by the Crown for running the line between the two provinces, to which Mr. Paris replyed that he apprehended there could be no objection to such a Commission if proper and disinterested Commissioners were appointed, but desired a few days to consult his constituents upon it.

The parties being withdrawn their lordships ordered the draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the Act to be prepared.

New York.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the general instructions and upon those relative to the Acts of Trade prepared for Sir Danvers Osborn, Governor of New York, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Massachusets.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from the Earl of Holdernesse to the Board, dated June 28th, 1753, relative to the removal of five hundred musquets and accoutrements from the province of the Massachusets Bay to Nova Scotia and inclosing:
Copy of a letter from Lord Holdernesse to Governor Shirley, dated June 18th, 1753.
Copy of a letter from Lord Holdernesse to the Governors of New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Jamaica.

Read a letter from the Earl of Holdernesse to the Board, dated June 28th, 1753, relative to the present state of the Mosquito Shore, and inclosing the following papers, viz.:—
Copy of a letter from Mr. Knowles, Governor of Jamaica, to the Earl of Holdernesse, dated January 10th, 1753.
Copy of a letter from Mr. Knowles, Governor of Jamaica, to the Earl of Holdernesse, dated 26th March, 1753.
Copy of a letter from Captain Hodgson to Governor Knowles, dated in December, 1752.
Copy of a letter from Captain Hodgson to Governor Knowles, dated 19th January, 1753.
Copy of a letter from Governor Knowles to Captain Hodgson, dated 24th January, 1753.
Copy of a letter from Captain Hodgson to Governor Knowles, dated 9th February, 1753.
Extract of a letter from Captain Hodgson to his friend in London, dated 26th March, 1753.
Translation of a letter from Don José Vasg. Prego, President of Guatemala, to Mr. Trelawney, dated 25th November, 1752.
Copy of a letter from Governor Knowles to the President of Guatemala, dated 26th March, 1753.
Copy of a letter from Mr. Lewis to Governor Knowles, dated Lucca, 29th January, 1753.
List of the names of the settlers on the Mosquito Shore.

Trade.

Africa.

Ordered that the draught of a letter thereupon to the Earl of Holdernesse be prepared.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following papers received from the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, viz.:—
Copy of a letter from Mr. Christopher Whytell, Secretary of Cape Coast Castle, to the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, dated at Cape Coast Castle, 11th March, 1753.
Copy of a letter from James Skinner, Esquire, to the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, dated at James Fort, 16 January, 1753.
Copy of a letter from James Skinner, Esquire, President of Gambia, etc., to the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, dated James Fort, 23rd January, 1753.
Fantee Law for excluding the French (1st).
Fantee Law for excluding the French (2nd).

Their lordships took into consideration the papers relative to the disputes with the Dutch upon the coast of Africa, mentioned in the minutes of the 2nd and 25th of May last, and ordered the draught of a letter to the Duke of Newcastle thereupon to be prepared.

Thursday, July 5. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Townshend, Mr. Oswald.

Nova Scotia.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Hopson, Governor of Nova Scotia, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of the 3rd instant, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Trade.

Africa.

The draught of a letter to the Duke of Newcastle concerning the disputes with the Dutch upon the coast of Africa having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of yesterday, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

New York.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the instructions prepared for Sir Danvers Osborn, Governor of New York, having been transcribed pursuant to the minutes of yesterday, was signed.

Jamaica.

The draught of a letter to Lord Holdernesse concerning the reference from his Lordship relative to the settlement upon the Mosquito Shore having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of yesterday, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Nova Scotia.

Ordered that an extract of Mr. Hopson's letter to the Board, dated the 28th of March last, together with copies of the several papers therewith transmitted relative to the damage upon the cargo of the sloop Hannah be sent to Mr. Lamb for his opinion thereupon, and what method it will be proper to take to recover the said damage.

Ordered that an extract of so much of the said letter as relates to Mr. Townshend's not having complyed with his contract for victualling the augmentation of Colonel Hopson's Regiment be transmitted to the Lords of the Treasury.

Monday, July 9. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Townshend, Mr. Oswald.

Nova Scotia.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Hopson, Governor of Nova Scotia, having been transcribed, was signed.

Jamaica.

The draught of a letter to Lord Holdernesse relative to the papers concerning the Mosquito Shore having been transcribed, was signed.

Trade.

Africa.

The draught of a letter to the Duke of Newcastle concerning the disputes with the Dutch upon the coast of Africa, having been transcribed, was signed.

Tuesday, July 10. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Oswald.

Georgia.

Read the following letter and papers received from the President and Court of Assistants of Georgia, viz.:—
Letter from the President and Court of Assistants of Georgia to the Board, dated at Savannah, the 11th of April, 1753,
giving an account of the state of that colony and inclosing:—
An account of vessels entered at the Port of Savannah in the province of Georgia from February, 1752, to January, 1753.
An account of vessels cleared out at the Port of Savannah in the province of Georgia from March, 1752, to January, 1753.
Minutes of the Council of the President and Assistants of the colony of Georgia from 24th June to the 29th of November, 1752.

Ordered that the draught of a letter in answer thereto be prepared.

Jamaica.

Read a report of his Majesty's Attorney and Solicitor General, dated the 22nd of June, 1753, upon several Acts passed in the Island of Jamaica in November and December, 1751, referred to them by Mr. Pownall's letters, dated in February last.

Read Mr. Lamb's report upon sixteen Acts passed at Jamaica in October and November, 1752.

Read a petition of Thomas Graham, Esquire, Receiver General of Jamaica, to the Board, setting forth that his rights as Receiver General of that Island have been invaded by some Acts lately passed there.

Ordered that the Secretary do write to Mr. Joshua Sharpe, agent for Mr. Graham, and to Mr. John Sharpe, agent for the Island of Jamaica, to desire their attendance at the Board on Tuesday next.

Nova Scotia.

Read a memorial of Lieutenant Robert Campbell setting forth his services in Nova Scotia and praying to be appointed to some office.

Ordered that the said memorial be taken into consideration at another opportunity.

Wednesday, July 11. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Oswald.

Georgia.

The draught of a letter to the President and Court of Assistants of the colony of Georgia having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of yesterday, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Barbados.

Read a letter from the Honourable Henry Grenville, Esquire, Governor of Barbados, to the Board, dated the 10th instant, desiring their lordships to obtain him his Majesty's further leave of absence from the said Island.

Ordered that the draught of a letter to the Earl of Holdernesse be prepared desiring his Lordship to move his Majesty for a continuance of his leave of absence to Mr. Grenville for the recovery of his health.

Virginia.

Read Mr. Lamb's report upon a private Act passed in Virginia in April, 1752, entitled,
An Act to dock the Intail of certain Lands whereof David Garland is seized and for settling other Land and Slaves of greater value to the same uses.

Ordered that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared proposing the confirmation of the said Act.

Jamaica.

Read Mr. Lamb's report upon a private Act passed at Jamaica in May, 1746, relating to the naturalization of Robert Halhead and Susanna Halhead.

Ordered that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared proposing the confirmation of the said Act.

Read Mr. Lamb's report upon a private Act passed at Jamaica in December, 1751, relating to the estate of William Vassal, Esquire, deceased, in the parish of St. Elizabeth, etc.

Ordered that the said Act do lye by for further consideration.

Barbados.

Read Mr. Lamb's report upon six Acts passed in Barbados between October, 1751, and August, 1752.

Ordered that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared proposing the confirmation of two of the said Acts, viz:—
the Act to reduce the rate of interest to six per cent.
the Act to allow interest on all debts ascertained by judgments.

Nevis.

Their lordships took into consideration the draught of a representation to his Majesty proposing the confirmation of an Act passed at Nevis in 1751, for repealing an Act to prevent Papists from settling in that Island, etc., mentioned in the minutes of the 5th December, 1751, and Mr. Paris at whose instance their lordships have deferred reporting on this Act (as appears by the minutes of the… and 5th December, 1752), having offered nothing to induce their lordships to alter their opinion thereupon, the said draught was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Plantations General.

Ordered that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared proposing that the instruction relative to appeals from the Plantations prepared by the Attorney and Sollicitor General for the Governors of his Majesty's colonies in America should be sent to the said Governors, and the said draught having been prepared, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

South Carolina.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Treasury upon the memorial of Mr. James Crokatt praying that the sum of £3000 may be issued for presents to the Indians, ordered to be prepared by the minutes of the 24th of June, 1752, was laid before the Board, agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Thursday, July 12. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Fane, Mr. Oswald.

New Jersey.

New York.

Their lordships being informed that Mr. Paris, agent for the Proprietors of East Jersey, with Mr. Morris, one of the said Proprietors, were attending, they were called in and Mr. Morris acquainted their lordships that having been informed by Mr. Paris of the proposition made by the agent for New York for running the line between the two provinces by a Commission from the Crown he was ready on the behalf of the Proprietors of East Jersey to consent thereto, but that he had no power or authority whatever from the Proprietors of West Jersey to consent to such a proposition, and then they withdrew.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the Act of New Jersey for running the line of partition between the two provinces, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of the 4th instant, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Nova Scotia.

Their lordships took into consideration the state of affairs in his Majesty's province of Nova Scotia and ordered the draught of a letter to Mr. Hopson thereupon to be prepared, and the same having been prepared was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

The following letters and representations having been transcribed pursuant to their lordships' orders, were signed, viz.:—
Barbados.
Letter to Lord Holdernesse desiring he would move the King for a continuance of Mr. Grenville's leave of absence.
Representation to his Majesty upon two Acts passed in Barbados in August, 1752.
Plantations General.
Representation to his Majesty proposing additional instructions should be sent to the Governors of the plantations in America relative to appeals.
Jamaica.
Representation to his Majesty upon a private Act passed in Jamaica in May, 1746.
Georgia.
Letter to the President and Court of Assistants of Georgia.
Virginia.
Representation upon a private Act passed in Virginia in April, 1752.
South Carolina.
Letter to the Lords of the Treasury upon Mr. Crokatt's memorial relative to presents for the Indians in South Carolina.

Tuesday, July 17. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Oswald.

Jamaica.

Their lordships took into consideration sixteen Acts passed in Jamaica in 1752, and Mr. Joshua Sharpe, sollicitor to Mr. Graham, the Receiver General, in support of his petition complaining of several of the said Acts, and also Mr. John Sharpe, agent for the Island, attending they were called in, and their lordships having heard what they had to offer they were ordered to withdraw.

Ordered that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared proposing the repeal of the following Acts passed in Jamaica in 1751 and 1752, viz.:—
An Act providing that all the judges of the Supreme Court of Judicature of this Island shall hold their offices quam diu se bene gesserint.
An Act for choosing the members of the Assembly of this Island by ballot and for the more effectual preventing abuses and indirect practices in elections.
An Act for explaining an Act for the further quieting possessions and regulating re-surveys and for establishing reputed boundaries.
An Act for appointing Commissioners of nisi prius and enlarging the jurisdiction of the justices of peace in matters of debt.
An Act for making good and wholesome provision for raising and establishing the credit of this Island and repealing of an Act entitled a Supplemental and Explanatory Act.
An Act for the further regulation of the provost Marshall's proceedings, establishing priority of judgments, quieting possession of slaves purchased upon venditioni, and for limitation upon bonds, mortgages, judgments and other securities, and impowering the assistant judges to sign writs and other process.
An Act for raising several sums of money and applying the same to several uses for subsisting for one year the officers and soldiers of the Regiment of Foot of which Edward Trelawney, Esquire, is Colonel.
An Act for laying a duty on all wines, rum and other spirituous liquors retailed within this Island and applying the same to several uses and for repealing after the first day of November in the present year of our Lord 1752 an Act intitled An Act for laying a Duty on all Wines, Rum and other spirituous Liquors retailed within this Island and applying the same to several uses, passed the 31st day of October, 1751.
An Act for raising companies in the several negroe towns and encouraging them to reduce rebellious and runaway slaves.
An Act to oblige the Receiver General to give a longer security than what is directed by the Revenue Act and to prevent certain officers from being members either of the Council or Assembly of this Island.
An Act to explain and amend a clause in an Act passed in the year 1751, intitled An Act for making good and wholesome provisions for raising and establishing the credit of this Island, and repealing of an Act intitled a Supplemental and Explanatory Act.
An Act to oblige the several inhabitants of this Island to provide themselves with a sufficient number of white men, white women or children or pay certain sums of money in case they shall be deficient and applying the same to several uses.

New York.

Read a letter from Mr. Clinton, Governor of New York, to the Board, dated the 9th of June, 1753, transmitting the following letters and papers containing intelligence of the march of a great body of French Indians towards the Ohio:—
Copy of a letter from Captain William Trent, dated Virginia, 10th April, 1753, to James Hamilton, Esquire, Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania.
Copy of a letter from Colonel Johnson to Governor Clinton, dated the 20th of April, 1753.
Copy of a letter from Lieutenant Governor Hamilton to Governor Clinton, dated at Philadelphia, the 10th of May, 1753.
Copy of a letter from Captain Stoddard to Colonel Johnson, dated at Oswego, the 15th of May, 1753.
Copy of a letter from the Commanding Officer at Oswego to Governor Clinton, dated 15th May, 1753.
Governor Clinton's speech to the Council and Assembly of New York on the 30th of May, 1753, as also the Assembly's address thereupon.
Printed copy of the address of the Council of New York to Governor Clinton of 31st May, 1753.
Memorial of Joseph Miguel de St. Juan, supercargo and director of the snow St. Joseph and St. Helena and her cargo now at New London in the colony of Connecticut, dated at New York, the 4th of June, 1753.

Ordered that copies be made of such of the above mentioned papers as relate to the march of a body of French and Indians from Canada to the Ohio as also of the memorial of Don Miguel to be transmitted to the Earl of Holdernesse and that the draught of a letter to his Lordship be prepared.

Barbados.

Read a letter from Mr. Weekes, President of the Council and Commander in Chief of Barbados, dated at Pilgrim, the 23rd May, 1753, acquainting the Board that on Governor Grenville's departure, as the government of that island devolved into his hands, he had taken upon him the administration of it in the usual manner pursuant to his Majesty's instructions.

Jamaica.

Read Mr. Lamb's report upon a private Act passed at Jamaica in November, 1752, for granting to Robert Halhead of the parish of St. Thomas in the Vale, surgeon, the same rights, liberties, franchises and immunities as his Majesty's liege people do now hold and enjoy.

Ordered that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared proposing the confirmation of the said Act.

Trade.

Africa.

Their lordships took into consideration the copy of a letter from Mr. Whytell, Secretary of Cape Coast Castle, to the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, laid before the Board by the said Committee and ordered the Secretary to write to the Committee to desire their attendance at the Board to-morrow morning.

Wednesday, July 18. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Oswald.

New York.

The draught of a letter to Lord Holdernesse inclosing copies of several papers received from Mr. Clinton, having been prepared pursuant to the preceding day's minutes, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Jamaica.

The draught of a representation upon twelve Jamaica laws having been prepared pursuant to the preceding day's minutes, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

The two following representations to his Majesty were signed, viz.:—
Nevis.
Representation proposing the confirmation of an Act of the Island of Nevis for repealing the Act against Papists.
New Jersey.
New York.
Representation upon the Act of New Jersey for running the line of partition between New Jersey and New York.

Trade.

Africa.

The Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa attending, as desired, they were called in, and they informed their lordships that they had not received any other account whatever relative to the proceedings of a French fleet at Anamaboe, than what is contained in Mr. Whytell's letter and then they withdrew.

Jamaica.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon a private Act of Jamaica ordered to be prepared by yesterday's minutes, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Thursday, July 19. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Oswald.

Jamaica.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon twelve Acts passed in the years 1751 and 1752, were signed.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon a private Act of Jamaica passed in 1752, was signed.

New York.

Their lordships took into consideration the state of New York and Sir Danvers Osborn, Governor of the said province, attending was called in and their lordships recommended the following point to his attention, viz.:—
To make particular enquiry into the state of the Indian trade with respect to the manner in and the regulations under which it is carried on, and the effect of those regulations and to make a full report thereof to the Board as soon as possible after his arrival.
To enquire into the complaints made by the missionary established by the Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge in foreign parts in New York and New Jersey, of the obstructions he has met with from the Indian traders and to give all protection and encouragement to the said missionary in the execution of his mission.