Journal, January 1756: Volume 63

Journal, January 1756

Wednesday, January 14. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Fane, Mr. Stone, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Talbot, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rigby.

Miscellanies.

A Commission under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date the 29th of December, 1755, constituting and appointing George Dunk, Earl of Halifax, Francis Fane, Andrew Stone, James Oswald, Thomas Pelham, John Talbot, Soame Jenyns and Richard Rigby, Esquires, Commissioners for promoting the trade of Great Britain and the Dominions thereunto belonging, and for inspecting and improving his Majesty's Plantations and Colonies in America and elsewhere, was opened and read, and the Commissioners took their seats at the Board accordingly.

The Secretary having acquainted the Board that the place of junior clerk in this office was vacant by the resignation of Edward Sedgwick, Esquire, late one of the clerks, Mr. Fane recommended Mr. Henry Heron to supply the vacancy, which was agreed to by the Board, and he was ordered to be admitted accordingly.

The Secretary laid before the Board an account of petty expences and incidental charges of this office from the 10th of October, 1755, to the 5th of January, 1756, amounting to four hundred, thirty nine pounds, fourteen shillings, and a letter to the Lords of the Treasury desiring payment thereof, and of the salaries due to the Secretaries and under officers in the service of this Board for the same time was signed.

Nova Scotia.

The Secretary laid before the Board an account of the money paid and charges incurred by supporting and maintaining the settlement of his Majesty's colony of Nova Scotia for the year 1754, and also an abstract of the said account prepared pursuant to their lordships' orders, and the same was ordered to lye upon the table.

Georgia.

Read a letter from Mr. West, Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, to the Secretary of this Board, dated the 13th of January, 1756, desiring he would acquaint the Board that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had received his Majesty's commands that they should prepare and lay before the House of Commons an estimate of the expence of the colony of Georgia from Midsummer, 1755, to Midsummer, 1756.

Ordered, that the draught of an estimate of the civil establishment of his Majesty's colony of Georgia and of the incidental expences attending the same from the 24th of June, 1755, to the 24th of June, 1756, be prepared with all possible dispatch.

Plantations General.

Read a letter from the Right Honourable Henry Fox, Esquire, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, dated the 18th of December, 1755, inclosing the copy of an address from the House of Lords to his Majesty for copies of several papers relating to the French incroachments in America; and signifying the King's pleasure that the Board of Trade do cause copies of such of the said papers to be made as relate to their office.

Ordered, that the memorials, letters and representations made by the Board to his Majesty or either of his principal Secretaries of State relating to encroachments committed by the French in North America from the time of the Treaty of Aix la Chappelle, be looked out, and a list of them made and laid before the Board to-morrow morning.

Read a letter from the Right Honourable Henry Fox, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, dated the 2nd of January, 1756, signifying the King's commands that this Board do acquaint him what sum of money it may be proper to ask of Parliament for the assistance of his Majesty's subjects in North America.

Ordered, that the Secretary do prepare from the books and papers in this office and from the best information he can obtain from the agents of the several Northern colonies an account of what number of men have been raised and sums of money granted and expended in the said colonies for the service of the expeditions undertaken for the reduction of the forts at Niagara, Crown Point and upon the Ohio.

Thursday, January 15. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Fane, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Talbot, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rigby.

Nova Scotia.

Their lordships took into consideration an account of money paid and charges incurred by supporting and maintaining the settlement of his Majesty's colony of Nova Scotia for the year 1754, and Mr. Oswald was desired to acquaint the House of Commons that the said account was ready to be laid before the House when the House would be pleased to receive it.

Georgia.

The Secretary laid before the Board the draught of an estimate of the expence of the civil establishment of his Majesty's colony of Georgia and of the incidental expences attending the same from the 24th of June, 1755, to the 24th of June, 1756, prepared pursuant to their lordships' order, and the said draught having been agreed to was ordered to be transcribed, and Mr. Oswald was desired to present it to the House of Commons.

Nova Scotia.

Mr. Oswald was also desired to move the House of Commons that there might be laid before the House an estimate of the charges of supporting and maintaining the settlement of his Majesty's colony of Nova Scotia for the year 1756.

The Secretary then laid before the Board a list of the memorials, letters and representations of this Board to his Majesty, as also to his principal Secretarys of State relating to encroachments committed by the French in North America from the time of the Treaty of Aix la Chappelle, and orders were given that the said memorials, letters and representations should be copied with all possible dispatch.

Nova Scotia.

The Secretary laid before the Board pursuant to their order the best account he had been able to obtain from the books and papers in this office and from the information of the agents of the several colonies in North America of the number of men raised and sums of money granted or expended in the said colonies for the service of the expeditions undertaken for the reduction of the forts at Crown Point, Niagara and upon the Ohio; and after some time spent in the consideration thereof the Secretary was ordered to write to the said agents to desire their attendance at the Board to-morrow morning at eleven o'clock.

The Secretary then laid before the Board the following papers relating to this affair, viz.:—
Massachusetts.
Letter from Mr. Bollan, agent for the Massachusetts Bay, to Mr. Pownall, dated the 7th of January, 1756, inclosing extract of a letter from the General Assembly of that province relating to the expences they have been at for the Crown Point expedition.
Pennsylvania.
An account of what sums of money have been voted by the Assembly of Pennsylvania for the service of the expedition to the Ohio, and for the defence of their frontiers.
Rhode Island.
Memorial of Mr. Partridge, agent for Rhode Island, relating to the number of men raised in that colony for the Crown Point expedition.

Nova Scotia.

Read a memorial of Chauncy Townsend, Esquire, late contractor for victualling the settlers in Nova Scotia, praying their lordships' report to the Lords of the Treasury upon a former memorial of his relating to a sum of £350 demanded by him to make good his loss on 1000 cwt. of bread purchased on his account by Colonel Cornwallis, late Governor of the said province, at an advance price.

Ordered, that the said memorial be taken into consideration on Tuesday next and that the Secretary do write to Mr. Townsend to desire his attendance on that day.

Jamaica.

Read a report of the Attorney and Sollicitor General, dated the 27th of December, 1755, upon four Acts lately passed in the Island of Jamaica relating to the removal of the seat of government to Kingston, referred to them on the 30th of October last.

Ordered, that the said report be taken into consideration on Tuesday next.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated the 11th of December, 1755, referring to this Board the petition of Robert Kirke, agent to the officers, seamen and others who belonged to a squadron of His Majesty's ships commanded by Rear Admiral Knowles, at the taking Port Louis from the French in the late war, relating to some ordnance and artillery stores taken there and applyed by Governor Knowles to the use of the fortifications in Jamaica.

Ordered, that the draught of a letter to Mr. Knowles pursuant to the directions of the said order be forthwith prepared.

Friday, January 16. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Stone, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Talbot, Mr. Jenyns.

Plantations General.

Their lordships took into consideration the Secretary of State's letter concerning a sum of money to be asked of Parliament for the assistance of his Majesty's subjects in America, and the agents for the colonies of New York, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, Massachusets Bay, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maryland and Pennsylvania attending, as desired, their lordships had some discourse with them upon the subject matter of the said letter, and Mr. Calvert, Secretary and agent for the province of Maryland, laid before the Board the following paper, viz.:—
An account of the proceedings of the Governor, Council and Assembly of Maryland in relation to the raising money and men for the service of the expedition to the Ohio under the command of General Braddock and for other services.

The agents being withdrawn, the draught of a letter to the Secretary of State upon this affair was prepared and having been agreed to, was transcribed and signed.

Jamaica.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Knowles, Governor of Jamaica, concerning some cannon and ordnance stores taken at Port Louis in the last war and by him applyed to the use of the fortifications in Jamaica, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of yesterday, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Tuesday, January 20. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Talbot, Mr. Jenyns.

Nova Scotia.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following orders of the House of Commons, viz.:—
Jovis 15 die Januarii, 1756.
Ordered,
That there be laid before this House an account of the money paid and charges incurred by supporting and maintaining the settlement of his Majesty's colony of Nova Scotia from the 1st of January, 1754, to the 31st of December following.
Ordered,
That there be laid before this House an account of the money paid and charges incurred by supporting and maintaining the settlement of his Majesty's colony of Nova Scotia from the 1st of January, 1755, to the 31st of December following.
Ordered,
That there be laid before this House an estimate of the charges of supporting and maintaining the settlement of his Majesty's colony of Nova Scotia for the year 1756.

The draught of an estimate of the charges for supporting and maintaining the settlement of his Majesty's colony of Nova Scotia for the year 1756 having been prepared was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed, and Mr. Oswald was desired to present it to the House of Commons with an account of the money paid and charges incurred by supporting and maintaining the settlement of his Majesty's colony of Nova Scotia from the 1st of January, 1754, to the 31st of December following, laid before the Board on the 14th instant; and at the same time to inform the House that it is not possible to comply with that part of the abovementioned order which directs that there be laid before the House an account of the money paid and charges incurred by supporting and maintaining the settlement of his Majesty's colony of Nova Scotia from the 1st of January, 1755, to the 31st of December following, the proper officers in the colony not having transmitted any accounts of the expenditure or any vouchers for the payment of money for the year 1755 lower down than the 30th of June last, but that as soon as the accounts and vouchers are received the account will be made up with all possible dispatch and laid before the House.

Their lordships took into consideration Mr. Chauncy Townsend's memorial relating to a sum of money alledged to be due to him on account of his contract for supplying the settlers in Nova Scotia with provisions, mentioned in the minutes of the 15th instant, and Mr. Townsend attending, as desired, was called in, and their Lordships having heard what he had to offer in support of the allegations of his memorial he withdrew, and the draught of a letter to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury upon the subject of his memorial was ordered to be prepared.

Jamaica.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated the 19th of January, 1756, referring to this Board for their consideration and report a petition to his Majesty of several members of the Assembly in Jamaica complaining of some late illegal and violent proceedings therein.

Ordered, that the said Order of reference be taken into further consideration to-morrow morning.

Their lordships pursuant to the minute of the 10th instant, took into consideration the Attorney and Solicitor General's report upon four Jamaica Acts relating to the removal of the Courts of Justice and Records in Jamaica from St. Iago de la Vega to Kingston; and it appearing to their lordships that the Attorney and Solicitor General had not given their opinion fully upon the questions referred to them the Secretary was ordered again to transmit the Acts to them for their further report thereupon.

Wednesday, January 21. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Fane, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Talbot, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rigby.

Nova Scotia.

The draught of a letter to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury upon Mr. Chauncy Townsend's memorial mentioned in the preceding minutes having been prepared, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Jamaica.

Their Lordships pursuant to the preceding minute, took into consideration the Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated the 19th instant, referring to the Board a petition to his Majesty of several members of the Assembly in Jamaica, complaining of some late illegal and violent proceedings therein, and Mr. Paris, solicitor for the petitioners, and John Sharpe, Esquire, agent for the Island, attending without, they were called in, and after some discourse had with them upon the subject matter of it they withdrew, and the draught of a report thereupon to the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs having been prepared, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Thursday, January 22. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Talbot, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rigby.

Nova Scotia.

The draught of a letter to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury upon Mr. Chauncy Townsend's memorial having been transcribed pursuant to the preceding minute, was laid before the Board and signed.

New York.

Read the following letters and papers received from Sir Charles Hardy, Governor of New York, viz.:—
Letter from Sir Charles Hardy to the Board, dated the 27th of November, 1755, acquainting the Board with his return to that city from Albany where he had resided for some time in order to assist and promote the expeditions under the command of Generals Shirley and Johnson.
Letter from Sir Charles Hardy to the Board, dated the 18th of December, 1755, inclosing the following papers and containing his observations upon that part of the Assembly's address to him which relates to a permanent revenue for the support of government:—
The speech of Sir Charles Hardy to the Council and General Assembly of New York, on the 2nd December, 1755.
The address of the Council of New York to Sir Charles Hardy, with his answer thereto, on the 4th of December, 1755.
The address of the General Assembly of New York to Sir Charles Hardy, on the 9th December, 1755, with his answer thereto.

Bermuda.

Read the following letters and papers received from Mr. Popple, Governor of the Bermuda or Somer Islands, viz.:—
Letter from Mr. Popple to the Board, dated the 7th of December, 1755, giving an account of his arrival there and recommending Mr. Thomas Hunt to supply the vacancy in the Council of that Island occasioned by the death of Mr. Riddell.
Letter from Mr. Popple to the Board, dated the 16th of December, 1755, concerning a difficulty he is under as to the validity of an additional instruction given to him in December, 1753, relating to appeals, and desiring the Board's directions whether he is to put the said instruction into execution.
Lists of ships and vessels that have entered and cleared at the Port of St. George in Bermuda between the 5th of January, 1754, and the 5th of January, 1755.

Bermuda.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared, proposing that Thomas Hunt, Esquire, may be appointed of the Council of the Bermuda Islands in the room of William Riddell, Esquire, deceased.

Their lordships then took into consideration Mr. Popple's letter relating to the difficulty he is under with respect to the validity of the additional instruction given to him in December, 1753, relating to appeals, and were unanimously of opinion that as the said additional instruction was not incorporated in the body of instructions lately given to him by his Majesty which had prescribed other regulations with regard to appeals, and was likewise contrary to a law of that Island passed in 1707–8 and confirmed by the Crown, it ought not to be considered as in force or be put in execution.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from Charles Lawrence, Esquire, Governor of Nova Scotia, to the Board, dated Halifax, December 8th, 1755, transmitting:—
Copy of the Chief Justice's proposal for convening an Assembly in Nova Scotia, dated the 24th of October, 1755.

Ordered, that the Secretary do prepare from the books in this office and lay before the Board as soon as possible an account of the manner in which Assemblies were first constituted and convened in the different colonies in America.

New York.

Read a letter from Sir William Johnson, Bart., Commander in Chief of the forces at Albany, to the Board, dated, Camp at Lake George, the 24th of September, 1755, relating to Indian affairs, and transmitting:—
Minutes of a Conference on the 11th and 12th of September, 1755, between General Johnson and the Indians at the camp at Lake George.
Extract of a letter from Sir William Johnson to Sir Charles Hardy.

Nova Scotia.

The Secretary laid before the Board an original letter of attorney from Jonathan Belcher, Esquire, Chief Justice of Nova Scotia, to William Belcher of London, Esquire, dated the 23rd of August, 1754, constituting and appointing him his true and lawfull attorney, and the said letter of attorney was ordered to be entered in this office, and the agent for the settlement was directed to pay unto the said William Belcher all such sums of money as shall appear to be due or shall become due to the said Chief Justice on account of his salary.

Friday, January 23. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Talbot, Mr. Jenyns.

Bermuda.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty proposing Thomas Hunt, Esquire, to be appointed of the Council in Bermuda in the room of William Riddell, Esquire, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of yesterday was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

New York.

Their lordships took into consideration Sir Charles Hardy's speech to the Assembly of New York on the 2nd of December, 1755, and their address in answer thereto, relating to the establishment of a permanent revenue for the support of government, and ordered copies to be made, and also an extract of that part of Sir Charles Hardy's letter of the 18th of December which contains his observations thereupon, to be laid before his Majesty in Council, and that the draught of a representation to his Majesty thereupon be prepared.

Tuesday, January 27. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Fane, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Talbot, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rigby.

Barbados.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared proposing that Charles Pinfold, Esquire, may be appointed Governor of Barbados in the room of the Honourable Henry Grenville, Esquire, who has resigned.

Jamaica.

Read a letter from Mr. Fox, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, dated the 26th of January, 1755, inclosing a list of papers relating to affairs in the Island of Jamaica which the House of Commons have humbly addressed his Majesty to give directions to be laid before them, and signifying his Majesty's commands that the Board do prepare and lay before the House copies of such papers as belong to this office.

Ordered, that copies of such of the said papers as belong to this office be made with all possible dispatch, as also that a list thereof be prepared and laid before the Board.

South Carolina.

Read a letter from Mr. Bogdani, Secretary to the Board of Ordnance, to the Secretary of this Board, dated the 23rd of January, 1756, desiring he would move the Board to favour the Board of Ordnance with their advice upon an application made to them by several merchants for leave to export 179 barrels of gunpowder to the province of South Carolina.

His Majesty's proclamation of the 18th of December, 1755, prohibiting the exportation of gunpowder for a certain time therein limited having been read, the Secretary was ordered to write to the merchants mentioned in Mr. Bogdani's letter, and also to the agent or agents for the province of South Carolina, to desire their attendance upon the Board upon the subject matter of this letter on Thursday the 29th instant.

Ordered that the Secretary do write to the Secretary to the Commissioners of his Majesty's Customs to desire he will move that Board to give directions that there be prepared and laid before this Board as soon as possible an account of the quantities of gunpowder exported to the province of South Carolina from the 1st of January, 1755, to the 1st of January, 1756.

Pennsylvania.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated the 19th of January, 1756, referring to the Board for their consideration and report and Act, passed in the province of Pennsylvania in November last, for granting the sum of £60,000 to the King's use, and for striking £55,000 thereof in bills of credit.

The said Act having been read, the Secretary was ordered to transmit it to Sir Mathew Lamb, one of his Majesty's counsel at law, for his opinion thereupon in point of law as soon as soon as possible.

North Carolina.

Read a letter from Arthur Dobbs, Esquire, Governor of North Carolina, to the Board, dated at Newburn, the 28th of October, 1755, with an account of the death of some members of the Council there and recommending others to supply the vacancies, and transmitting the following public papers, viz.:—
Governor Dobbs's speech to the Council and Assembly of North Carolina in October, 1755.
Address of the Council of North Carolina to Governor Dobbs.
Address of the Assembly of North Carolina to Governor Dobbs.
Titles of Acts passed at North Carolina in the Session begun in October, 1755.
Copy of a letter from George Nicholas, Esquire, Attorney General of North Carolina, to Governor Dobbs, dated May 20th, 1755, with an account of grievances he labours under in his office.
Names of three gentlemen recommended to be Councillors in the province of North Carolina in the place of those deceased.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared proposing that Edward Brice Dobbs, Esquire, may be appointed of the Council of North Carolina in the room of James Craven, Esquire, deceased.

Barbados.

The Secretary having acquainted the Board that the Honourable Henry Grenville, late Governor of the Island of Barbados, was attending without in consequence of a letter wrote to him by their lordships' orders on the 25th of November last, desiring his attendance upon a letter from the President of the Council of that Island relating to the removal of some of the Puisne Barons of the Exchequer there, he was called in and their lordships having had some discourse with him upon the subject he withdrew, and their lordships agreed further to consider of this affair at another opportunity.

Wednesday, January 28. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Fane, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Talbot, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rigby.

Bermuda.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Popple, Governor of Bermuda, in answer to his of the 7th and 16th of December last having been prepared, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

North Carolina.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty proposing that Edward Brice Dobbs, Esquire, may be appointed of the Council in the province of North Carolina in the room of James Craven, Esquire, deceased, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of the 27th instant, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Pennsylvania.

Read a letter from Robert Hunter Morris, Esquire, Lieutenant-Governor of Pennsylvania, to Mr. Pownall, dated the 28th November, 1755, acknowledging the receipt of two from him of the 15th of July and 19th of September, 1755, with the usual heads of enquiry, and directing him to transmit an account of the state of defence of the province.

Virginia.

Read the following letters and papers received from Mr. Dinwiddie, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, viz.:—
Letter from Mr. Dinwiddie to the Board, dated November 15th, 1755, relating to the present state of affairs in that colony and transmitting the two following accounts:—
Account of his Majesty's revenue of 2s. per hogshead etc., arising within the colony of Virginia from the 25th of April to the 25th of October, 1755.
Account of his Majesty's revenue of quit rents, etc., arising within the colony of Virginia for the year 1754.
Letter from Mr. Dinwiddie to the Board, dated November 24th, 1755, acquainting them with the steps taken for the reception and accommodation of the French inhabitants of Nova Scotia lately sent thither by the Lieutenant-Governor of that province.

Bahamas.

Read a letter from John Tinker, Esquire, Governor of the Bahama Islands, dated the 27th of October, 1755, relating to the defenceless state of those Islands and the want of cannon and ordnance stores, and transmitting:—
Lists of shipping entered and cleared in the Port of New Ordered, that a copy of the said letter be made to be laid before his Majesty in Council, and that the draught of a representation to his Majesty thereupon be prepared.

Newfoundland.

Read a letter from R. Dorrill, Esquire, Governor of Newfoundland, dated on board his Majesty's ship Penzance at Woolwich, the 22nd of January, 1756, inclosing the following papers, viz.:—
A general scheme of the fishery and inhabitants of Newfoundland for the year 1755.
An account of ordnance stores received, issued and expended at St. John's from the 4th of September, 1754, to the 15th of August, 1755.
An account of ordnance stores sent from England for the service of the garrison at St. John's for the current year, dated 6th of October, 1755.
An inventory of ordnance carriages, arms, powder, ball, etc., in the garrison of Placentia, the 9th of October, 1755.
A return of the garrison of Placentia consisting of Captain Hamilton's company in Hopson's regiment, and a detachment of the train, the 8th of October, 1755.
A return of Captain Aldridge's company and a detachment of the train, the 11th of August, 1755.

Ordered, that an extract be made of so much of Mr. Dorrill's letter as relates to the five men under sentence of death in Newfoundland for the murder of Mr. Keen to be laid before his Majesty, and that the draught of representation to his Majesty thereupon be prepared.

Plantations General.

Virginia.

Read the following copies of Orders in Council, viz.:—
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 18th of December, 1755, approving a representation of this Board proposing the confirmation of a private Act passed in Virginia in 1754.
South Carolina.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 18th of December, 1755, approving the draught of general instructions and of those which relate to the Acts of Trade and Navigation for William Henry Lyttelton, Esquire, Governor of South Carolina, in lieu of those given to him by the late Lords Justices.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 18th of December, 1755, approving a warrant appointing Henry Middleton, Esquire, to be of the Council in South Carolina in the room of Alexander Vanderdussen, Esquire.
Jamaica.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 18th of December, 1755, approving a warrant, restoring Edmund Hyde, Esquire, to his former seat and rank in the Council of Jamaica.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 18th of December, 1755, approving the representation of this Board proposing the confirmation of a private Act passed in Jamaica in October, 1751.
Montserrat.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 18th of December, 1755, approving a warrant appointing Thomas Caines, junior, Esquire, to be of the Council in the Island of Montserrat.
Nova Scotia.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 18th of December, 1755, approving a warrant appointing Robert Grant, Esquire, to be of the Council in Nova Scotia.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 22nd of December, 1755, approving a representation of this Board with a warrant and Commission appointing Charles Lawrence, Esquire, Governor of Nova Scotia.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 18th of December, 1755, approving a Commission appointing Robert Monckton, Esquire, to be Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia.

Thursday, January 29. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Talbot.

South Carolina.

Their lordships took into consideration Mr. Bogdani's letter to the Secretary, mentioned in the minutes of the 27th instant, relating to an application made to the Board of Ordnance by Mr. Beswick of London, merchant, for leave to export 179 barrells of gunpowder to South Carolina, and Mr. Beswick attending as desired, with the agents for the province of South Carolina, their lordships had some discourse with them thereupon, and being withdrawn, the Secretary was ordered to write a letter to Mr. Bogdani containing their lordships' sentiments and advice in this affair.

Jamaica.

The Secretary laid before the Board an Order of his Majesty in Council, on the 27th of January, 1756, containing his Majesty's leave to Charles Knowles, Esquire, Governor of Jamaica, to resign the government of the said Island agreeable to the request made by him in his letter to this Board, dated the 25th of July last.

Jamaica.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit the said Order to Mr. Knowles by the first opportunity which offers.

Bermuda.

Read an Order of his Majesty in Council, dated the 27th of January, 1756, approving a representation of this Board to his Majesty proposing that Thomas Hunt, Esquire, may be appointed of the Council of Bermuda in the room of William Riddell, Esquire, deceased, and directing a warrant for his appointment to be prepared.

A warrant having been prepared in the usual form, was agreed to, and a representation to his Majesty therewith was signed.

Bahamas.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty with a copy of Mr. Tinker's letter relating to the defenceless state of the Bahama Islands having been prepared pursuant to the preceding minutes, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Newfoundland.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Fox, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, inclosing an extract of a letter from the Governor of Newfoundland relating to five persons now under sentence of death in that Island for the murder of Mr. Keen, having been prepared pursuant to the preceding minutes, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Jamaica.

The Secretary laid before the Board a list of such of the papers mentioned in the address of the House of Commons to his Majesty of the 23rd instant as belong to this office and are to be found recorded therein.