Journal, March 1755: Volume 62

Journal, March 1755

Tuesday, March 4. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville.

Leeward Islands.

Virgin Islands.

Their lordships pursuant to the minutes of the 19th of February, took into consideration Mr. Purcell's proposal for settling a civil government in the Virgin Islands, and after some time spent therein ordered the draught of a representation to his Majesty to be prepared, setting forth the expediency of establishing some form of civil government in those islands.

Wednesday, March 5. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Oswald.

Nova Scotia.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following letter and papers from Mr. Lawrence, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, delivered to him by Captain Taggert, commander of the New Casco sloop in the service of that province, viz.:—
Letter from Colonel Lawrence, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, dated the 12th of January last, relating to the present state of that colony and inclosing:—
Copy of a letter from Lieutenant Governor Lawrence to Mr. Shirley, Governor of the Massachusets Bay, dated 5th November, 1754.
List of cannon and other ordnance stores wanting for the service of Nova Scotia.

Ordered, that the said letter and papers be copied to be laid before his Majesty and the draught of a letter to Sir Thomas Robinson, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, inclosing them, having been prepared, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Friday, March 7. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Oswald.

New York.

Read the following letters and papers received from James Delancy, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of New York, viz.:—
Letter from Mr. Delancy to the Board, dated the 15th of December, 1754, relating to the present state of affairs in that province.
Two printed reports of a Committee of the Council of New York relating to the line between New Jersey and that province. Dated March and December, 1754.
Copies of two bills, one for payment of the debts, the other for the payment of the salaries and services therein mentioned.
Minutes of Council from the 28th of May to the 18th of December, 1754.
Journal of the Council in a session of the Assembly begun the 20th of August, 1754, to the 7th of December following.
Printed votes of the General Assembly from the 20th of August, 1754, to the 7th of December following.
Eight naval office lists of ships entered and cleared from the 10th of October, 1753, to the 10th of October, 1754.
Thirteen Acts passed in New York in the year 1754.

Ordered, that an extract be made Ordered, that an extract be made of so much of the said letter as relates to the measures necessary to be taken for the security and defence of the Frontiers of that province and for the preservation of the alliance with the Six Nations of Indians to be laid before his Majesty and that the draught of a letter to Sir Thomas Robinson inclosing the same be prepared.

Ordered that the Acts be sent to Sir Mathew Lambe for his opinion thereon in point of law.

Tuesday, March 11. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Oswald.

New York.

The draught of a letter to Sir Thomas Robinson inclosing extract of a letter from Mr. Delancy, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of Friday last, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Nova Scotia.

The Secretary laid before the Board a memorial of Captain Taggert, commander of the New Casco sloop belonging to his Majesty in the service of Nova Scotia, setting forth the bad condition of the said sloop and her unfitness for a further service, and praying their lordships' orders for the purchase of another vessel now lying in the river, and which upon examination he apprehends will be very well adapted to this service.

Ordered, that Mr. Kilby, agent for the colony, do take care that the state and condition of the New Casco sloop be inspected, and if he finds it to be as represented in Captain Taggert's memorial, that he do dispose of it to the best advantage, and forthwith purchase another vessel such an one as he shall think best adapted to the service, and place the expence thereof to the account of the service of the colony.

Wednesday, March 13. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Pelham.

New Jersey.

New York.

Their lordships took into consideration the several letters and papers received from the Governor of New Jersey and Lieutenant Governor of New York concerning the disputes about the boundary line between the said two provinces and made a further progress therein.

Nova Scotia.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty with a list of cannon and other ordnance stores necessary for the defence and security of the town of Halifax in Nova Scotia was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Ordered, that the draught of a letter to Sir Thomas Robinson, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, be prepared inclosing the said representation. And the said letter having been accordingly prepared, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to the Secretary to the Board of Ordnance to acquaint him that if that Board have any ordnance stores to send to Nova Scotia there is now lying in the river a vessel purchased by their lordships to be employed in the service of the colony, which will sail on a few days notice and will take on board any quantity of stores not exceeding 130 tons.

Georgia.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to the Secretary of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to desire he will move that Board to grant the usual protection to the master and crew of the sloop Juno bound to Georgia with the presents ordered by his Majesty to be delivered to the Indians bordering upon that province.

Friday, March 14. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Oswald.

New York.

New Jersey.

Their lordships proceeded in the consideration of the several papers relative to the dispute concerning the boundary line between New York and New Jersey.

New York.

Read an Act passed in the province of New York on the 7th of December, 1754, entitled:—
An Act for submitting the controversy between the colonies of New York and New Jersey relating to the partition line between the said colonies to the final determination of his Majesty.

New York.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to Mr. Charles, agent for the province of New York, to Mr. Paris, agent and sollicitor for the Proprietors of New Jersey, and to Mr. Partridge, agent for the province of New Jersey, to desire their attendance at the Board on Tuesday morning next.

Tuesday, March 18. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Fane, Mr. Oswald.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from Mr. Bogdani of the Board of Ordnance to Mr. Pownall, dated March 17th, 1755, relating to the issuing ordnance stores for Nova Scotia.

New York.

Their lordships took into consideration the Act passed in New York in December, 1754, for submitting the controversy between that province and New Jersey concerning the boundarys to his Majesty, and being informed that Mr. Charles, agent for New York, Mr. Partridge, agent for New Jersey, and Mr. Paris, sollicitor for the Proprietors of that province, were attending without pursuant to their lordships' order of the 14th instant, they were called in, and their lordships heard what Mr. Charles and Mr. Paris had to offer upon the said Act, and it being admitted by both partys that the method proposed by the said Act of determining the controversy between the two provinces was inexpedient and ineffectual, their lordships represented to them the necessity there was of having the controversy determined by a Commission from his Majesty for running the final line of property and jurisdiction, and having desired to know whether they were authorized to join in the expence of taking out such a Commission, Mr. Paris declared that he was authorized and was ready to give security for being at his share of the expence of such a Commission.

Mr. Charles likewise declared that he thought the only method to determine the controversy was by a Commission, but desired time to consult his counsel upon it, which being agreed to by the Board, it was ordered that the further consideration of this affair should be postponed untill Tuesday next when both parties were desired to attend.

Mr. Partridge as agent for New Jersey said he had no authority or instructions to take any part in this affair, the whole management of it being left to Mr. Paris.

New Jersey.

Mr. Charles and Mr. Paris being withdrawn, Mr. Partridge desired leave to present a memorial containing some further reasons in support of the New Jersey Bill for emitting £70,000 in bills of credit, which he hoped would (joined with the present circumstances of affairs in North America) induce their lordships to report in favour of the said Bill, and then he withdrew.

Read the memorial of Richard Partridge, agent for New Jersey, in support of the Bill passed by the Assembly of that province for emitting £70,000 in bills of credit.

Barbados.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated the 13th of February, 1755, referring to the consideration of this Board a memorial from Mr. Grenville, Governor of Barbados, praying a supply of cannon etc. for a fort now building in the said Island.

Barbados.

Their lordships being informed that Governor Grenville was attending without he was called in, and being desired to acquaint the Board what he knew of the state of the fort now building and for which the demand of ordnance was made, he said that the account he had of it was from the Commissioners of Fortifications, that he knew the point of land upon which it was erected, that he apprehended it would be a great additional security to one of the principal harbours in Barbados, and was erected in lieu of two batterys, which were useless the guns being unfit for service, and that it had cost the Island a very large sum of money.

Mr. Grenville being withdrawn, the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council was ordered to be prepared.

Wednesday, March 19. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Fane, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Edgcumbe.

Barbados.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon the memorial of the Governor of Barbados praying for some ordnance for a fort erecting in that Island having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of yesterday, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

New Jersey.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the petition of the Assembly of New Jersey with the draught of a Bill for emitting £70,000 in paper bills of credit having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of the 18th February, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Leeward Islands.

Virgin Islands.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty representing the expediency of establishing a civil government in the Virgin Islands, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of the 4th instant, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from Jonathan Belcher, Esquire, Chief Justice of Nova Scotia, to Mr. Pownall, dated Halifax, the 16th of January, 1755, inclosing:—
Copy of a Commission appointing a Chief Justice in Nova Scotia. Dated 14th October, 1754.
Observations on the power of the Governor and Council to make laws for Nova Scotia.
Abstract of the records of the Supreme Court, Michaelmas Term, 1754.
Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit Mr. Belcher's observations upon the power of the Governor and Council of Nova Scotia to make laws together with the clauses in the Commission and instructions therein referred to his Majesty's Attorney and Sollicitor for their opinion thereupon.

Read a letter from Mr. Lawrence, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, to the Board, dated at Halifax, the 12th of January, 1755, transmitting several publick papers, viz.:—
Certificates of issues of wet stores to the troops, etc., at Halifax between the 10th of September, 1753, and the 8th of September, 1754.
The report of the Committee of his Majesty's Council appointed to audit and examine the publick accounts of wet stores with the accounts inclosed.
The report of the Committee of his Majesty's Council appointed to audit and examine the publick accounts of stores and provisions with the accounts inclosed.
Three lists of victualling Rolls of Colonel Hopson's regiment between the 9th of September and 1st of December, 1754.
Lists of inhabitants victualled at Halifax for the same time.
List of ships and vessels that have entered and cleared at Halifax between the 1st July and 31st of December, 1754.

Georgia.

Read a letter from Mr. Reynolds, Governor of Georgia, dated Savannah, the 5th of December, 1754, acquainting the Board that he arrived there on the 29th of October last, transmitting:—
His memorial to the Board of Trade, dated the 5th of December, 1754, setting forth the great charge and expence of living in that country, and praying their lordships to increase his salary.
His memorial to the Board setting forth the dangerous situation of the province and praying that a small number of regular troops may be stationed there for its security and defence.
Proceedings of the President and Assistants in Council assembled for the colony of Georgia in America from the 3rd of September, 1753, to the 30th of October, 1754.
Copy of the minutes of the Journal of the Governor and Council of the province of Georgia from the 30th of October, 1754, to the 2nd of December following.

Ordered, that an extract be made of so much of Mr. Reynolds's letter, as relates to the present temper and desposition of the Indians and the practices of the French to withdraw them from his Majesty's interest, to be laid before his Majesty and that the draught of a letter to Sir Thomas Robinson, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, be prepared inclosing the same.

Ordered, that a copy be made of Mr. Reynolds's memorial relating to the expediency of having an Independent Company stationed in Georgia to be laid before his Majesty in Council and that the draught of a representation thereupon be prepared.

Ordered that the draught of a letter to Mr. Reynolds be prepared.

Thursday, March 20. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Edgcumbe.

Georgia.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Reynolds, Governor of Georgia, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of yesterday was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

The draught of a letter to Sir Thomas Robinson, inclosing an extract of the letter from Mr. Reynolds, Governor of Georgia, relating to Indian affairs, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of yesterday, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty with a copy of the memorial of the Governor of Georgia, praying that an Independent Company may be stationed there having been prepared pursuant to yesterday's minutes, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Leeward Islands.

Virgin Islands.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty's representing the expediency of establishing a civil government in the Virgin Islands, having been transcribed pursuant to the minutes of yesterday, was signed.

Trade.

The Secretary having acquainted the Board that two of the trustees for Ramsgate Harbour were attending without, they were called in and laid before their lordships the state of the case now depending in Parliament relative to that harbour and then withdrew.

Georgia.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following papers which he received from Mr. Martyn, agent for the colony of Georgia.
Letter from Mr. Ottolanghi, employed in the direction of the silk culture in Georgia, to Mr. Martyn, dated 13th June, 1754.
Letter from Mr. Ottolanghi, employed in the direction of the silk culture in Georgia, to Mr. Martyn, dated 25th November, 1754.

Ordered that Mr. Martyn do attend the Board on Tuesday next.

Massachusets.

New Hampshire.

The Secretary having acquainted the Board that Mr. Paris attended without, and had something to offer for their consideration, he was called in and moved the Board that he might have liberty to inspect the following papers and take copies of such as he should think necessary to be made use of in a hearing before the Council upon an appeal to his Majesty from New Hampshire, viz.:—
Massachusets votes, of blank date, 1725.
Mitchell's plan denoting the division line between Massachusets and New Hampshire.
Massachusets General Courts Orders, 5, 11 and 12th September, 1753.
Ordered that Mr. Paris have leave to inspect the said papers and to take copies of such as he should think proper.

Trade.

Africa.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following paper received from the Secretary of the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa:—
Copies of two letters from James Skinner, Esquire, Governor of James Fort in the river Gambia, to the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, dated 30th of October and 22nd November, 1754.

Leeward Islands.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation affairs, dated the 13th of February, 1755, referring to the consideration of this Board the extract of a letter from George Thomas, Esquire, Governor of the Leeward Islands, relating to the expediency of augmenting the regiment in the said Islands commanded by Colonel Duroure and granting them the navy allowance, as to his Majesty's forces at Gibraltar; as also the petition of John Sharpe, Esquire, agent for the Island of Antigua, relating to the same affair.

Ordered that the Secretary do write to John Sharpe, Esquire, agent for the Island of Antigua, to desire his attendance at the Board on Tuesday next.

Newfoundland.

Read the following letters and papers received from Hugh Bonfoy, Esquire, Governor of Newfoundland, viz.:—
Letter from Mr. Bonfoy to the Board, dated the 21st of February, 1755, transmitting the following publick papers, viz.:—
A general scheme of the fishery and inhabitants of Newfoundland for the year 1754.
The proceedings of the Court of Oyer and Terminer held at St. John's, Newfoundland, in September and October, 1754.
A general survey and remain of all the ordnance and ordnance stores in and for the defence of his Majesty's garrison at St. John's in Newfoundland. Taken in September and October, 1754.
A return of the garrison of Placentia, consisting of a Company of Colonel Hopson's Regiment of Foot and a detachment of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, the 23rd August, 1753.
An inventory of ordnance, carriages, ball, powder, arms and ammunition in this garrison of Placentia, the 23rd August, 1754.
Return of Captain Aldridge's Company in Colonel Hopson's Regiment of Foot and the detachment of the train of artillery in garrison at St. John's, Ferryland, Carbonier and Trinity the 29th of August, 1754.
Letter from Michael Gill, Esquire, the principal magistrate residing at St. John's in Newfoundland, to Captain Bonfoy, Governor of that Island, dated at St. John's, the 22nd of November, 1754.

Ordered, that the proceedings of the Court of Oyer and Terminer be copied, to be laid before his Majesty, and that the draught of a letter to Sir Thomas Robinson, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, inclosing the same be prepared.

Friday, March 21. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Pelham.

Newfoundland.

The draught of a letter to Sir Thomas Robinson, inclosing a copy of the proceedings of the Court of Oyer and Terminer held at Newfoundland in October last, having been prepared pursuant to yesterday's minutes, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Massachusets.

Read a letter from Mr. Shirley, Governor of the Massachusets Bay, to the Board, dated at Boston, the 31st of December, 1754, relating to the importance of the River Kennebeck to his Majesty's colonies in North America, and transmitting the three following papers, viz.:—
The Covenant in the Plymouth Patent, dated the 13th of January, 1629.
The state of the case relating to the Kennebeck Propriety, dated Boston, July 26th, 1751.
Petition of the Proprietors of the Kennebeck purchase from the late colony of New Plymouth to Governor Shirley, dated Boston, the 30th October, 1754.

Trade.

Custom House.

Read a letter from Mr. Wood, Secretary to the Commissioners of the Customs, dated the 13th of February, 1755, in answer to one from Mr. Pownall, transmitting for the information of this Board:—
Instructions to the collectors on the continent of America.
Instructions to the collectors of the customs in Barbados and the Leeward Islands.

Tuesday, March 25. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Edgcumbe.

Jamaica.

The Secretary having acquainted the Board that Mr. Paris, sollicitor for the petitioners of the town of St. Iago de la Vega, and Mr. Hammond, sollicitor for the petitioners of the town of Kingston in Jamaica, in the affair relative to the removal of the seat of government, were attending without, and also Mr. Richard Beckford of the said Island. they were called in, and Mr. Paris acquainted the Board that as the hearing upon this affair was fixed by their lordships for the 8th of April, he thought it his duty to attend their lordships to acquaint them that he had not as yet received any of the papers necessary to support the allegations of the answer given in by the St. Iago petitioners to the Kingston petition, and therefore moved their lordships to discharge the order for the hearing on the 8th of April and that some other future day might be appointed.

Mr. Beckford acquainted their lordships that being desired by the petitioners of St. Iago de la Vega to undertake the management and direction of this cause, he thought it his duty to attend their lordships upon the occasion and to assure them, that the delay moved for by Mr. Paris was not an affected delay, that it was the interest and desire of the petitioners for St. Iago de la Vega that this matter should come to a hearing as soon as possible, that for his part he was ready and willing to rest it upon proofs already here and proceed to an immediate hearing, but as the petitioners have acquainted him that they have proofs to offer to support their answer, which would have been sent sooner but that all business is obstructed by the great confusion the Island is at present in, he hoped their lordships would agree to Mr. Paris's motion, which not being opposed by Mr. Hammond, their lordships fixed Thursday the 8th of May for hearing what all parties might have to offer: and then they withdrew.

Leeward Islands.

Their lordships took into consideration the Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, referring an extract of a letter from Mr. Thomas, Governor of the said Islands, and also a petition of Mr. John Sharpe, agent for the Island of Antigua, representing the expediency of augmenting the regiment stationed there, and giving them the Navy allowance, and also praying that his Majesty would be pleased to grant a sum of money to enable the said Islands to compleat the barracks now building there.

Mr. John Sharpe attending, as desired, with several merchants and others interested in and trading to the Leeward Islands, they were called in and their lordships having heard what Mr. Sharpe had to offer in support of his petition and examined the merchants and others present as to the facts alledged therein, they were ordered to withdraw, and the further consideration of this affair was postponed untill to-morrow when Mr. Sharpe and the other gentlemen, or such of them as were able to give their lordships further information upon this affair, were desired to attend again.

Georgia.

Ordered, that the consideration of Mr. Ottolanghi's letter, mentioned in the minutes of the 20th instant, be postponed untill Friday the 4th of April, and that Mr. Martyn be desired to atterd on that day.

New York.

New Jersey.

Ordered, that the consideration of the papers relating to the dispute about the boundary line between New York and New Jersey be postponed untill Thursday the 3rd of April, and that the agents be desired to attend on that day.

Wednesday, March 26. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Edgcumbe.

Leeward Islands.

Their lordships pursuant to the preceding minutes, took into consideration the Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council referring an extract of a letter from Mr. Thomas, Governor of the Leeward Islands, and a petition of Mr. Sharpe, agent for the Island of Antigua, relating to the augmentation of the regiment stationed there, and Mr. Sharpe attending as desired with Dr. Setsorf and Mr. Dunbar, two gentlemen lately arrived from Antigua, their lordships proceeded further to examine them as to the facts alledged in the agent's petition, and having gone through the whole, they were ordered to withdraw.

Ordered that this affair be taken into further consideration on Thursday the 3rd of April.

Georgia.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Reynolds, Governor of Georgia, having been transcribed pursuant to the minutes of the 20th instant, was signed.

Newfoundland.

The draught of a letter to Sir Thomas Robinson, inclosing the proceedings of the Court of Oyer and Terminer in Newfoundland having been transcribed pursuant to the minutes of the 21st instant, was signed.