Journal, December 1764: Volume 71

Journal, December 1764

Thursday, December 6th. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Rice, Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Dyson.

Georgia.

fo. 474.

Their lordships took into consideration the two memorials presented by the agent for the affairs of Georgia, mentioned in the minutes of Tuesday, and Mr. Garth attending, their lordships, after some conversation with him, declared their opinion that the payment of officers' salaries to their attornies here, or to the bills of such officers, without a certificate from the Governor of such officers being alive and in the execution of their offices at the time to which the salaries are demanded or drawn for, is irregular and inconsistent with the directions contained in the Board's letter to the Governor of the 29th of May last.

Trade, Africa.

fo. 475.

Their lordships entered into a consideration of the state of the forts, factories and establishments upon the Coast of Africa, and the management of the African Committee in respect thereto, in order to the forming an opinion of what measure it may be proper to take with respect to a matter of so great national importance.

Friday, December 7th. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Rice, Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Dyson.

Newfoundland.

Their lordships took into further consideration the several letters and papers received from the Governor of Newfoundland, in order to the making a representation thereupon to his Majesty.

fo. 476.

Read a letter from Mr. Whately, Secretary to the Treasury Board, to Mr. Pownall, dated this day, inclosing the copy of a minute of that Board on the 28th of November last, approved by his Majesty, relating to expences, which may be incurred or bills drawn by any commander in chief or governor, to the end this Board may give such directions thereon as shall appertain to their department.

fo. 477.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit a copy of the said minute to each of the governors of those colonies, which are under his Majesty's immediate government, and signify to them, that the regulations of the said minute are not to be understood to extend to any monies, which have been or may be granted by Parliament for the support of the civil government of the colonies, or to any establishments which have been approved by his Majesty.

Monday, December 10th. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Dyson.

Trade, Africa.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, desiring their attendance tomorrow morning upon the subject of his Majesty's right to Arguin, Portendic, Joually and Portodally upon the Coast of Africa.

fo. 478.

Georgia.

Read a memorial of the agent for the affairs of Georgia, stating that a bill had been drawn upon him by the Governor of that province for seventy seven pounds, eight shillings and two pence on account of contingencies for the half year from Christmas, 1763, to Midsummer, 1764, and desiring the Board's directions thereupon.

The bill being produced, as also the usual vouchers for the amount thereof, and a letter from the Governor, containing advice of the said bill, having been read, it was ordered, that the said bill should be accepted and paid.

fo. 479.

Read a memorial, prepared by the agent for the affairs of Georgia, to be presented to the Treasury Board, stating the exceedings on account of the silk culture from Midsummer 1763 to Midsummer 1764, and desiring directions for payment thereof out of the amount of the sale of silk for the years 1763 and 1764.

The said memorial having been approved, the agent was ordered to present it to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury for their lordships' directions upon it.

Plantations General.

Their lordships took into consideration the report of his Majesty's Attorney General upon the questions stated to him relative to aliens in the Plantations, in order to the forming an opinion. what measures it may be proper to take thereupon.

fo. 480.

Tuesday, December 11th. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Dyson.

Trade, Africa.

Read a letter from the Earl of Halifax, dated this day, signifying his Majesty's commands that this Board should lay before his Majesty a state of his Majesty's right to Arguin, Portendic, Joually and Portodally upon the Coast of Africa, with their opinion of what measures it may be proper to take for preventing the French from making any establishments at the two first mentioned places.

fo. 481.

Three of the gentlemen of the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa attending, as desired, their lordships had some conversation with them respecting his Majesty's right to the abovementioned places.

Barbados.

Read the following letters and papers received from the Governor of Barbados, vizt.,
Letter from Charles Pinfold, esquire, Governor of Barbados, dated June 22nd, 1764, acknowledging the receipt of the Boards' letters of the 7th, 10th and 11th of October last, and containing remarks on illicit trade; transmitting publick papers; an Act lately passed there; and an account of Mr. Barnard's conduct.
A list of the Honourable the Members of his Majesty's Council of Barbados.
Treasurer's return of new negroes imported from the 18th of May, 1763, to the 18th May, 1764.
fo. 482.
Store Keeper's return of powder from the 27th October, 1762, to 31st of October, 1763.
Abstract of all persons born, christened and buried from the 1st of January, 1763, to the 31st of December following.
Minutes of the General Assembly from the 31st of May, 1763, to the 21st of February, 1764.
Minutes of Council from the 4th of June, 1763, to the 9th of May, 1764.
Five Acts passed, June the 4th and November 1st, 1763; and May 9th and June 5th, 1764.
Naval Officers returns of ships and vessels entered and cleared in the Port of Bridgetown, from 1st January to the 1st of April, 1764.
fo. 483.
Letter from Governor Pinfold to the Board, dated August 23rd, 1764, acquainting their lordships with the death of Ralph Weekes, esquire, one of the Council, and recommending Richard Worsam, esquire, to succeed him, and with the continuance of the Reverend Mr. Barnard's contumacious behaviour.

Extracts having been made of so much of the Governor's letters as relate to the conduct of Mr. Barnard, Rector of St. Michael, Bridgetown, a representation to his Majesty thereupon, was prepared, agreed to and signed; as was also a representation to his Majesty, recommending Richard Worsam, esquire, to be appointed of the Council of Barbados in the room of Ralph Weekes, esquire, deceased.

fo. 484.

Massachusetts, New York.

Their lordships took into consideration the printed votes of the House of Representatives of the Province of Massachusets Bay in their last Session of Assembly, transmitted to the Board by Governor Bernard, as also a book therein referred to, and an address of the Assembly of New York to the Lieutenant Governor, and his answer thereto; and it appearing to their lordships, that in the said votes and address, the Acts and resolutions of the British Parliament were treated with indecent disrespect, and principles of a dangerous nature and tendency adopted and avowed, it was agreed to lay the said papers before his Majesty in Council, and a representation to his Majesty thereupon was prepared, agreed to and signed.

fo. 485.

Newfoundland.

Their lordships took into further consideration the letters and papers received from the Governor of Newfoundland, and extracts having been made of such parts of them as relate to the naval force of France assembled last season at Miquelon and St. Pierre, their proceedings and designs, and also to the neglected and defenceless state of the forts and garrisons in that island, a representation to his Majesty thereupon was prepared, agreed to and signed.

Wednesday, December 12th. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Dyson.

Trade, Africa.

fo. 486.

Their lordships took into consideration the letter from the Earl of Halifax, mentioned in yesterday's minutes, relative to his Majesty's title to Arguin, Portendic, Joually and Portodally, and several of the gentlemen of the Committee attending again, with Mr. Ewer, a merchant, who had, before and since the late war, traded to Africa, and also two captains of vessels trading there, their lordships had some conversation with them upon the subject matter of the abovementioned letter.

fo. 487.

The gentlemen being withdrawn, a representation to his Majesty upon the state of his Majesty's right to Arguin, Portendic, Joually and Portodally, and upon the proper measures to be taken to prevent the French from taking possession of the two first mentioned places, was prepared, agreed to, transcribed and signed; as was also a letter to the Earl of Halifax inclosing it, and desiring his Lordship to lay it before his Majesty.

Thursday, December 13th. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Dyson.

Trade, Africa.

Read the following papers received from the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, vizt.,
Letter from Mr. Poirier, Secretary to the African Committee, to Mr. Pownall, without date, inclosing,
Copy of a letter from John Barnes, esquire, Governor of Senegal, to the African Committee, dated 27th August, 1764.
fo. 488.
List of ships sailed from Senegal between the 25th of July and 9th August, 1764.

Trade.

Read a memorial of the Weavers Company, London, stating the discouragements they labour under, and praying that the duties payable on the importation of all foreign wrought silks and velvets may (at least) be doubled; and that if the drawback on the exportation of such silks and velvets be continued, no part of the additional duty, which shall be paid on the inportation thereof, be drawn back or allowed on exportation.

Trade.

fo. 489.

Read a memorial of several silk throwsters and persons concerned in throwing silk, stating the insufficiency of the quantity of raw silk imported from foreign parts for the employment of the poor in that manufacture, and proposing the free importation of raw silk by taking off the duty thereon.

Ordered, that application be made to the Commissioners of his Majesty's Customs, that the following accounts may be prepared and laid before their lordships with all possible dispatch, vizt.,
An account of the quantity of raw silk imported into England between Christmas, 1758, and Christmas, 1763, distinguishing from what places, and also the amount of the duty paid thereupon.
An account of the quantity of raw silk re-exported for the same time, with the amount of the drawback of the duty thereupon.
An account of the quantities of foreign wrought silks imported for the same time, and the amount of the duties-paid thereupon.
fo. 490.
An account of the quantity of foreign wrought silk re-exported for the same time, and the amount of the drawback of the duties thereupon.
An account of the amount of the bounty paid upon the exportation of British wrought silks or British manufacture mixed with silk, for the same time.

Saturday, December 15th. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Dyson.

Trade, Africa.

fo. 491.

Read a letter from the Earl of Halifax, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, dated the 14th instant, signifying that his Majesty, having directed the commanding officer of the ships of war now going out to the Coast of Africa, to take possession of Portendic and Arguin, it was his Majesty's pleasure, that this Board should call upon the African Committee to procure and put on board the said ships a proper assortment of goods for presents to the natives of those places; and that the said Committee should be required to procure more positive information, whether his Majesty's subjects were in possession of the trade of Portodally and Joually in the late war, or have been in possession of that trade since.

fo. 492.

A letter to the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, signifying his Majesty's commands in respect of the presents therein mentioned, and also requiring from them more positive information in respect to Joually and Portodally, was prepared, agreed to and signed, and the Secretary was ordered to send it to the Secretary to the said Committee, and to point out to him the necessity of his forthwith calling together the members of the said Committee, or otherways immediately to communicate the said letter to them.

Monday, December 17th. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Dyson.

Barbados.

A letter to the Governor of Barbados, in answer to those from him of the 22nd of June and the 23rd of August last, was agreed to and signed.

fo. 493.

Trade.

Their lordships agreed to take into consideration on Friday next the memorials of the Silk Throwsters and Weavers Company of London, mentioned in the minutes of the 13th instant, and the Secretary was ordered to give notice thereof to the memorialists.

East Florida.

Their lordships resumed the consideration of the recommendation of Mr. Hawksworth to be a schoolmaster in Florida, and Mr. Hawksworth having desired to be established in East Florida, it was agreed, that the Governor of that province should be directed to admit him a schoolmaster upon the establishment from midsummer last, and that the agent should pay to the said Mr. Hawksworth the sum of £25 out of the surplus moneys of the last year's grant of Parliament, towards defraying the expence of his passage to Charles Town.

fo. 494.

West Florida.

Read a memorial of the agent for West Florida, setting forth that two bills having been drawn on him by Mr. Clifton, Chief Justice of that province, he had paid the first, for the reasons mentioned in his memorial, and praying the Board's directions on the latter.

Their lordships were of opinion, that the agent must use his own discretion, as to the payment of the bills mentioned in his memorial, but that, when the accounts of the expenditure of the grant were laid before the Board, consideration would be had to the peculiar circumstances of this case.

South Carolina.

Read the following letters received from the Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina, vizt.,
fo. 495.
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Bull to the Board, dated August 20th, 1764, relative to Mr. Burn's being admitted a councillor; the temporary line of jurisdiction; Cherokees and Creeks; settling the French Protestants; licences for Indian trade; Act for encouraging settlers; importation of negroes; exportation of rice; building a goal.
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Bull, dated September 13th, 1764, relative to the disposition of the Indians and the trade with them; and containing remarks on the Acts of Assembly lately passed.
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Bull, dated October 8th, 1764, relative to the temporary line of jurisdiction; Tax Act; ordinance on the Indian trade; oath required by the American Duty Act; and the appointment of Mr. Rutledge as Attorney General.
fo. 496.
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Bull, dated October 18th, 1764, relating to the provision made by the Assembly for the balance of the account due to Messrs. Torrans, Greg and Poaug.
Naval Office lists of ships and vessels entered and cleared at Charles Town, from the 5th of April to the 5th of July, 1764.

Ordered, that the draught of a letter to the Lieutenant Governor, in answer to those from him, be prepared.

Georgia.

Read the following letters and papers received from the Governor of Georgia, vizt.,
fo. 497.
Letter from Governor Wright, dated May 26th, 1764, containing remarks on Acts lately passed there; the small pox at Savannah; trade with the Creeks; the merit of Mr. Henry Yonge, Surveyor General of the province; the repairs necessary at Fort Augusta; and inclosing,
Copy of a minute of Council on the 4th of April, 1764, relative to the state of Indian affairs.
Amount of lands granted and quit rents due to the 25th of March, 1764.
Account of the produce and application of the said granted for the support of government for 1763, and of different funds heretofore granted.
Extract from the minutes of the Council of Georgia of the 4th of April, 1764, relative to the inexpediency of stopping the trade to the Creek Indians.
fo. 498.
Abstract of grants registered from the 25th of September to 25th December, 1763.
Ditto: from the 25th of December, 1763, to the 25th of March, 1764.
Copy of the journals of Council in Assembly from 21st of November, 1763, to 29th February, 1764.
Journal of the Commons House of Assembly from November 21st, 1763, to February 29th, 1764.
Naval Office lists of ships and vessels entered and cleared at the Port of Savannah, from the 5th of January to 5th of April, 1764.
Minutes of Council from the 3rd of January to 6th of March, 1764.
Ten Acts passed, the 19th February, 1764.
fo. 499.
Letter from Governor Wright, dated July 5th, 1764, relative to General Gage's sentiments on the inexpediency of stopping the trade with the Creek Indians; to the last Indian talk; and the Carolina grants; and desiring their lordships' directions with respect to those grants.
Copy of an Indian talk at Little Talsey, April 10th, 1764.
Letter from Governor Wright, dated July 5th, 1764, a duplicate except the last paragraph, and inclosing,
Two Acts passed May 29th, 1764.
Letter from Governor Wright, dated July 23rd, 1764, acquainting the Board with his having sent publick papers by Captain Scott; with the tranquillity still subsisting in the Indian country; and the weather having been unfavourable to the silk culture.
Letter from Governor Wright, dated the 6th of August, 1764, relative to the silk of that province.
fo. 500.
Letter from Governor Wright, dated August 27th, 1764, containing his sentiments on the Indian trade, and inclosing,
Copy of the Mortar's talk and Governor Wright's answer, August 24th, 1764.
Proceedings of the Governor in Council for April, May and June, 1764.
Letter from Governor Wright, dated September 13th, 1764, inclosing,
List of ships and vessels cleared at the Port of Sunbury, between 30th December, 1763, and 5th of April, 1764.
Ditto: between the 5th of April, 1764, and 5th of July following.
Letter from Governor Wright, dated the 26th of September, 1764, relative to the silk culture.

fo. 501.

Ordered, that the draught of a letter to the Governor, in answer to those from him, be prepared.

Ordered, that the state of the silk culture in Georgia be taken into consideration tomorrow morning, and that the King's agent, and also the provincial agent, have notice to attend.

East Florida.

Read a letter from James Grant, esquire, Governor of East Florida, dated 2nd of September, 1764, containing an account of his arrival at St. Augustine, and the state of affairs in that province.

Ordered, that the draught of a letter to Mr. Grant, in answer to his, be prepared, and that a paragraph be inserted, directing the admission of Mr. Hawksworth to be a schoolmaster in East Florida.

fo. 502.

Leeward Islands.

Read the following letters and papers received from the Governor of the Leeward Islands, vizt.,
Montserrat.
Letter from Governor Thomas, dated May 30th, 1764, acquainting the Board with the reasons of his having appointed Mr. White Deputy Governor of Montserrat; and recommending Mr. Anthony Wyke's being appointed one of the Council, in the room of the late President Wyke.
Letter from Governor Thomas, dated 25th August, 1764, inclosing,
Antigua.
Minutes of Council from the 4th of June, 1763, to 1st March, 1764.
Ditto: from the 15th May to the 16th August, 1764.
Five Acts passed in February, May, June, July and August, 1764.
fo. 503.
St. Christopher's.
Minutes of Council from the 20th of November, 1762, to 20th January, 1764.
Minutes of Assembly from 10th of February to the 10th of August, 1763.
Leeward Islands.
Ditto: from the 15th of August, 1763, to 10th of February, 1764.
Two Acts passed 8th June, 1763, and 6th of November.
Letter from George Thomas, esquire, Governor of the Leeward Islands, dated October 10th, 1764, proposing that the packet should be ordered to stop rather at Antigua than St. Christopher's; and respecting the Acts of Parliament passed last Session relative to the colonies; and the instruction on the fees taken in publick offices.

fo. 504.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit to Mr. Sedgwick, Secretary to the Earl of Halifax, for his Lordship's information, an extract of so much of Mr. Thomas's letter of the 30th of May last, as relates to the appointment of Mr. White to be Deputy Governor of Montserrat.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit to Mr. Whately, Secretary to the Lords of the Treasury, for the information of that Board, an extract of so much of Mr. Thomas's letter of the 30th of May, as relates to the character and situation of Mr. Daniel, Searcher of the Customs in the Port of Plymouth in Montserrat.

fo. 505.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit to Mr. Todd, Secretary to the Post Office, for the information of the Postmaster General, an extract of so much of Mr. Thomas's letter of the 10th of October, as relates to the inconvenience of the packets stopping at St. Christopher's instead of Antigua, which is the seat of government.

Ordered, that the draught of a letter to Governor Thomas, in answer to those from him, be prepared.

Grenada.

Read the following letters and papers received from Colonel Scott, Commanding Officer at Grenada, vizt.,
Letter from George Scott, esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Dominica, dated March 13th, 1764, acknowledging the receipt of the Board's letter of the 10th of October last, inclosing the King's proclamation of the 7th of that month; and promising to conform thereto.
fo. 506.
Letter from George Scott, esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Dominica, dated the 15th of March, 1764, acknowledging the receipt of the Board's letter of the 11th of October, respecting the King's Revenues and illicit trade in America; and informing their lordships of the measures he has taken in consequence of the said letter.
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Scott, dated Island Grenada, September 4th, 1764, relative to the revenue of that island; and recommending Mr. Andrew Irwin as a person capable of giving the Board an account of the plantations there.
Imports to Grenada from the 20th of January, 1763, to 20th January, 1764.
Exports from Grenada for the same time.

fo. 507.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit to Mr. Whately, Secretary to the Treasury, for the information of that Board, an extract of so much of Mr. Scott's letter of the 4th of September, as relates to the amount and application of the revenue for 1763, and also a copy of the extracts from the exports therein mentioned.

Jamaica.

Read a letter from William Henry Lyttelton, esquire, Governor of Jamaica, dated July 16th, 1764, acknowledging the receipt of two letters of 15th March and 14th of May, relating to Spanish vessels coming into that island, and to the Deficiency Laws, and containing his observations upon them.
Letter from Captain Otway to the Board, dated the 25th of April, 1764, containing an account of the settlement on the Mosquito Shore.
The number of inhabitants of the Mosquito Shore.
Copy of Governor Lyttelton's letter to the commanding officers of all the garrisons round the island, and the several custos's and colonels of the militia of every parish on the sea coast.
fo. 508.
Copy of Governor Lyttelton's letter to the Naval Officer and Collector of the Customs.
Copy of Governor Lyttelton's letter to Lieutenant Colonel Dalling of the 43rd Regiment, and Colonel Spragge of the 49th Regiment.

Ordered, that the draught of a letter to Mr. Lyttelton, in answer to his, be prepared.

Ordered, that the laws passed in Jamaica in December, 1763, be taken into consideration on Thursday, and that notice thereof be given to Mr. Eyre, who appears to have entered a caveat against the confirmation of that for raising several sums of money and applying the same to certain uses.

fo. 509.

Tuesday, December 18th. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Dyson.

Georgia.

Their lordships took into consideration the state of the silk culture in Georgia, and Mr. Knox, provincial agent for the colony, attending, their lordships had some discourse with him upon this subject, and Mr. Knox being withdrawn, their lordships agreed, that until some more effectual plan of encouragement for this culture can be established, the prices paid at the filature for the cocoons should be reduced, in order to prevent the inconveniences and embarrassment that would attend any exceeding the next year upon the grant of Parliament for this service.

fo. 510.

South Carolina.

The Secretary laid before the Board an account of lands granted to the southward of the Alatamaha River by Governor Boone, and doqueted in the Auditor General's Office.

Their lordships agreed to take the state of these grants into further consideration on Thursday next, and the Secretary was ordered to write to Governor Boone to desire his attendance.

Jamaica.

Mr. Eyre, sollicitor for the merchants complaining of the Act passed in Jamaica in December, 1763, for raising several sums of money and applying them to certain uses, having signifyed to the Secretary that he cannot be prepared to be heard upon the said Act on Thursday, agreable to the notice sent him, it was agreed to postpone the consideration of this law, and of the others passed at the same time, till after the holidays.

fo. 511.

Thursday, December 20th. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Dyson.

South Carolina.

Their lordships took into further consideration the state of the grants of land made by the Governor of South Carolina in the territory to the south of the River Alatamaha, and Governor Boone attending, was desired to inform the Board of the foundation of those grants, and how the same are reconcileable to his instructions; whereupon he referred to a letter from himself to the Board, dated 17th August, 1764, containing a full state of this matter, which letter was read, and Mr. Boone, having been asked some further questions in respect to the survey of the lands, withdrew.

fo. 512.

Trade, Africa.

Read a letter from the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, to the Board, dated December 19th, 1764, informing their lordships that they had, in compliance with their commands, purchased goods fit for presents to the natives of Arguin and Portendic, and dispatched them to be delivered to Captain Graves.
Invoice of the cost and charges of the goods sent by the African Committee to be shipped on board his Majesty's ship Edgar, Thomas Graves, esquire, Commander, for presents to the natives of the Coast of Africa.

North Carolina.

Read a letter from William Tryon, esquire, Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina, to the Board, dated October 15th, 1764, acquainting their lordships with his arrival in that government, and promising to execute their directions.
fo. 513.
Copy of the extract of instructions received by Colonel Tryon of the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, dated 2nd July, 1764, and delivered to Governor Dobbs.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from Joshua Mauger, esquire, to the Secretary, dated December 5th, 1764, desiring that the Board would make application in his behalf for the payment of the money supplied by him for the service of Nova Scotia.

Jamaica, Leeward Islands, East Florida, Georgia, South Carolina.

The draughts of letters to the Governors of Jamaica, Leeward Islands, East Florida and Georgia, and to the Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina, having been prepared pursuant to order, were agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

fo. 514.

Friday, December 21st. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Dyson.

Trade.

Their lordships took into further consideration the memorials of the silk throwsters and silk weavers, mentioned in the minutes of the 13th instant, and several of the memorialists attending, they were separately heard in what they had to offer upon each memorial respectively, and after some time spent in discourse upon the subject matter thereof, it was agreed to take the memorials into further consideration on Thursday, the 3rd of January next, when the gentlemen present were desired to attend again, and the Secretary was ordered to write to some of the principal silk mercers, to desire their attendance on that day.

fo. 515.

Monday, December 24th. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Dyson.

Jamaica, Leeward Islands, East Florida, Georgia, South Carolina.

The draughts of letters to the Governors of Jamaica, Leeward Islands, East Florida and Georgia, and to the Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina, having been transcribed pursuant to order, were signed.

Trade, Africa.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following paper received from the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, vizt.,
Copy of a letter from William Mutter, esquire, Governor of Cape Coast Castle, to the African Committee, dated July, 1764.

fo. 516.

Their lordships then took into further consideration the state of the forts, factories and establishments upon the Coast of Africa, more especially in Senegal and other parts of the Gum Coast and in the River Gambia; and further directions were given, in respect to the draught of a representation upon this subject, ordered to be prepared by the minutes of the 23rd of November last [vide Journal 1765, page 39].