Journal, February 1767: Volume 74

Journal, February 1767

fo. 38.

Friday, February 3rd. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Trade, Africa.

Read a letter to Mr. Pownall from Mr. Poirier, Secretary to the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, dated January 31st, 1767, acquainting him, for the information of the Board, of the state of the fort building at Cape Appollonia, and the preparations made here and in Africa for carrying on that work.

fo. 39.

Read a letter to Mr. Pownall from Mr. Poirier, Secretary to the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, dated January 28th, 1767, inclosing copies of several letters to the Committee from the Chief of Cape Coast Castle, relative to the state of affairs on that coast, and to the ruinous condition of several of the forts; also inclosing copies of two letters from the Committee to the said Chief of Cape Coast Castle.

Read a letter from the Earl of Shelburne to the Board, dated, February 2nd, 1767, inclosing several papers relative to a claim of the Dutch West India Company to an exclusive possession of Cape Appollonia and the country dependent thereupon, and signifying his Majesty's commands, that the Board should consider the same and report their opinion thereupon.

fo. 40.

Ordered, that all the abovementioned papers be taken into consideration on Thursday next, and that the Secretary do give notice to the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, to attend the Board on that day.

Thursday, February 5th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Trade, Africa.

fo. 41.

Their lordships took into further consideration the papers relative to Africa, mentioned in the minutes of Tuesday last, and the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa attending, pursuant to notice, they were called in, and being asked whether they had any further or other accounts of the ruinous state of the forts at Seccondee and Cape Coast, than what are contained in Mr. Hippisley's letter of July last, or whether they could form any estimate of the expence of putting Cape Coast Castle into a state of repair, they said they had no other accounts, and were not able to form any such estimate at present, but hoped shortly to be able to do it, as they hourly expected indents from their officers on the coast, from which they should be able to make it out.

fo. 42.

Their lordships then proceeded to the consideration of the claim of the Dutch West India Company to an exclusive possession of Cape Appollonia, and Mr. Mutter, late Chief of Cape Coast Castle, who attended with the Committee, being called in, their lordships informed them of the state of the pretensions of the Dutch West India Company, and some questions were asked of Mr. Bell and Mr. Mutter touching their correspondence with the Governor of the Dutch fort at Elmina on this subject, as referred to in the representation of the directors of the said Dutch West India Company; after which it was resolved and ordered, that the said representation, and papers thereunto annexed, should be referred to the Committee for their answer thereto in a report to the Board, in the making of which they were desired to use all convenient dispatch.

fo. 43.

Ordered, that Mr. Hippisley's letter of July last, relative to the ruinous state of several of the forts, and particularly of Cape Coast Castle, be copied, to be transmitted to the Earl of Shelburne, and that a letter to his Lordship thereupon be prepared.

New Jersey.

The Secretary laid before the Board several laws passed in the Colony of New Jersey received from the office of the Earl of Shelburne, and it was ordered, that they should be referred to Sir Mathew Lamb, for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

The Secretary laid before the Board several letters and papers received by the New York packet, the titles of which are as follows, vizt.,
fo. 44.
Nova Scotia.
Duplicate of a letter from Michael Francklin, esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, to the Earl of Shelburne, dated October 15th, 1766, acknowledging the receipt of several letters, and proposing a method for the more convenient carrying on of the correspondence between Great Britain, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
Duplicate of a letter from Lieutenant Governor Francklin to the Earl of Shelburne, dated November 19th, 1766, relative to the tranquility subsisting between the province and the Indians, and to the regard paid to their rights.
fo. 45.
Duplicate of a letter from Lieutenant Governor Francklin to the Earl of Shelburne, dated November 21st, 1766, relative to the manufactures set up in Nova Scotia, and inclosing a state of manufactures in Nova Scotia, November 21st, 1766.
Duplicate of a letter from Lieutenant Governor Francklin to the Earl of Shelburne, dated November 22nd, 1766, concerning the proceedings of the Assembly; the growing debt of the province; and proposing the remission of the fines imposed on four officers, who were convicted of assault; also inclosing,
Address of the Council and Assembly of Nova Scotia to his Majesty.
New York.
fo. 46.
Letter from Sir Henry Moore, baronet, Governor of New York, to the Board, dated December 19th, 1766, relative to the sentiments of the Assembly with respect to the quartering of his Majesty's troops; the draught of an Act respecting the paper currency of the colonies; and to the boundary line between the said province and Quebec.
The Governor's message to the General Assembly of New York on the 17th of November, 1766, and the General Assembly's answer.
Sketch of a bill for repealing the restraining Act about paper currency in the colonies.
Letter from Governor Moore, dated December 23rd, 1766, relative to the state of grants of lands upon Connecticut River.

fo. 47.

The Secretary having acquainted the Board, that he was informed, upon enquiry at the Earl of Shelburne's office, that his Lordship had received a letter to the same effect as that from Sir Henry Moore to this Board, dated the 19th of December, and also the same papers as are therein inclosed, their lordships did not think it necessary to make any report of that letter to his Lordship.

Friday, February 6th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Trade, Africa.

The draught of a letter to the Earl of Shelburne with a copy of Mr. Hippisley's letter of July last, relative to the ruinous state and condition of some of the forts on the Coast of Africa, having been prepared pursuant to order, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

fo. 48.

Plantations General.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, upon the memorial of Sir William Johnson, setting forth his services, and praying consideration thereof in several requests stated in the said memorial, having been prepared pursuant to order, was approved, and ordered to be transcribed.

Massachusetts.

Their lordships took into consideration the laws passed in the Province of Massachusets Bay in the years 1764 and 1765, together with Sir Mathew Lamb's reports thereupon, and made some progress therein.

fo. 49.

Tuesday, February 10th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Robinson.

New York.

The Secretary laid before the Board a letter to him from the Lord Bishop of London, desiring a copy of a petition, presented to his Majesty in May last, by the ministers of the Presbyterian Church at New York, and referred to this Board on the 28th of that month; whereupon it was ordered, that the said petition should be copied, and such copy transmitted to his Lordship as soon as conveniently may be.

Plantations General.

The draught of a report upon Sir William Johnson's memorial, mentioned in the minutes of Friday last, was signed.

fo. 50.

Read the following letters received since the last meeting of the Board, vizt.,
North Carolina.
Letter from Edward Brice Dobbs, esquire, one of the Council of North Carolina, to the Secretary, dated January 26th, 1767, acquainting him that he has no intention of returning to that province, and that he willingly resigns his seat.
Bahamas.
Letter from William Shirley, esquire, Governor of the Bahama Islands, to the Board, dated October 27th, 1766, representing the state of his case with regard to his present income for supporting the administration of his government.
Bermuda.
fo. 51.
Letter from George James Bruere, esquire, Governor of Bermuda, to the Board, dated October 30th, 1766, acknowledging the receipt of their lordships' letter of the 1st of August last, and containing remarks on the regulations for preventing illicit trade.
Proprieties, Pennsylvania.
Letter from Joseph Shippen, junior, esquire, to the Secretary, dated November 10th, 1766, transmitting,
Certificate of foreigners naturalized in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, September 1765.
Ditto: April 1766.
Connecticut.
Letter from the Governor of Connecticut to the Board, dated December 5th, 1766, containing an account of the several manufactures set up in that colony since 1734.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit a copy of the last mentioned letter to the Secretary to the Earl of Shelburne, to be laid before his Lordship.

fo. 52.

New York.

Read an Order of the King in Council, dated September 10th, 1766, directing this Board to lay before his Majesty the draught of an instruction for the Governor of New York, for ordering a suit to be commenced against Mr. Renslaer, relative to his claim to a tract of land on the back of that province; and, in case his Majesty's right to the said tract be established, for granting parts thereof to Captain John Campbell and his associates on the terms of the Proclamation of October 7th, 1763.

fo. 53.

Major McLean, one of the associates of Captain Campbell, attended, and presented to the Board a list of the persons engaged with Captain Campbell in the plan of settlement to which the above order refers; but it appearing that the number exceeded that stated in Mr. Campbell's petition, on which the order was founded, Major McLean desired that the further proceedings on this order may be staid, until the sense and directions of the Lords of the Council may be known, as to the number to be entitled to the benefit thereof; to which their lordships agreed.

Massachusetts.

Their lordships having gone through the consideration of the laws of the Massachusets Bay passed in the years 1764 and 1765, it was ordered, that the draught of a report thereupon to the Lords of the Committee of Council should be prepared.

Nova Scotia, New Hampshire.

fo. 54.

Their lordships then took into consideration the laws passed in the Province of Nova Scotia in 1765, and also one passed in the Province of New Hampshire in the year 1764, together with Sir Mathew Lamb's reports thereupon, and it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty should be prepared, proposing the repeal of the Act passed in New Hampshire for regulating the choice of representatives, and also for repealing a law to the like effect passed in the Province of Nova Scotia.

fo. 55.

Thursday, February 12th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Trade, Portugal.

Their lordships took into consideration the papers referred to this Board, relative to the grievances and obstructions to which the British commerce with Portugal has been and still continues to be exposed, and a committee of the Oporto merchants attending, they were called in, and presented the following papers, vizt.,
fo. 56.
Extract of a letter, dated Porto, January 24th, 1767, relative to two of the Wine Company's actions for payment of an inland bill being refused to be accepted.
List of ships entered the harbour of Porto, from 1748 to 1763.

After which their lordships had some conversation with them on the subject of the difficulties to which their trade for wines is exposed by the institution of the Wine Company, and then they withdrew.

Trade, Portugal.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty on the subject matter of the several papers referred, be prepared.

New York.

fo. 57.

Their lordships then took into consideration several laws passed in the Province of New York in the years 1763, 1764 and 1765, together with Sir Mathew Lamb's reports thereupon, and made some progress therein.

Friday, February 13th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

New York.

Their lordships took into further consideration the laws passed in the Province of New York in the years 1736, 1764 and 1765, and having gone through the same, it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty thereupon should be prepared.

fo. 58.

New Jersey.

Their lordships then proceeded to take into consideration the laws passed in the Province of New Jersey in the years 1763, 1764 and 1765, together with Sir Mathew Lamb's reports thereupon, and having gone through the same, it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty on the Act annually passed for the supply and support of government, should be prepared.

Monday, February 16th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

New York.

fo. 59.

Read a letter from the Earl of Shelburne, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, dated the 13th instant, returning the petition to the House of Commons of the merchants of New York, received with Sir Henry Moore's letter to the Board of the 10th of December last, and signifying his Majesty's commands, that their lordships should acquaint the House of Commons with their having received the said letter and petition.

Lord Clare was thereupon desired to acquaint the House of Commons therewith accordingly.

Georgia.

fo. 60.

At the request of the parties interested in an Act passed in the Province of Georgia in 1765, for the better settling and strengthening that province, etc., their lordships appointed that the same should be taken into consideration, and the parties heard by their counsel, on Tuesday the 10th of March.

Tuesday, February 17th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Robinson.

New York.

Lord Clare informed the Board, that having, pursuant to his Majesty's commands, acquainted the House of Commons that a petition of the merchants of New York to that House had been received at this office, the said petition was thereupon presented and read in the House.

South Carolina, Nova Scotia, New York.

Plantations General.

fo. 61.

Read a letter from the Earl of Shelburne, dated the 13th instant, inclosing, for the Board's consideration, two memorials to his Majesty from the Provinces of South Carolina and Nova Scotia; also a petition to the House of Commons from the Assembly of New York, and a minute taken at a meeting of merchants of the City of London trading to the North American colonies, relative to the state of the paper currency in the said colonies, and to a proposal for repealing the Acts of Parliament by which such paper currency is restrained from being issued as a legal tender.

Ordered, that the said papers do lye on the table.

Plantations General.

fo. 62.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated November 29th, 1766, referring to the Board, a memorial of William Bollan, esquire, his Majesty's Advocate General for Massachusets Bay, representing the inefficacy of the present regulations for preserving the white pine trees in America for his Majesty's service, and proposing a method for securing a perpetual supply of masts, etc., for the use of the Royal Navy, in order to their lordships' consideration and report on such parts thereof as fall within their department.

Their lordships agreed to take the said order of reference into consideration on Friday next.

Proprieties, Maryland.

fo. 63.

Read a letter from Horatio Sharpe, esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, to the Board, dated December 9th, 1766, containing an account of the manufactures set up since 1734, and the publick encouragements given thereto.
Address of the House of Delegates of Maryland, relative to manufactures in that province, dated December 6th, 1766.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit a copy of the said letter and paper to Mr. McLean, Secretary to the Earl of Shelburne, to be laid before his Lordship.

Read several letters and papers received since the last meeting, the titles of which are as follows,
New Jersey.
Letter from William Franklin, esquire, Governor of New Jersey, to the Board, dated December 18th, 1766, transmitting,
fo. 64.
Duplicate of his letter to the Earl of Shelburne, dated December 16th, 1766, concerning the murthers and violences committed on the Indians, and the New Jersey Act for supplying the barracks.
Georgia.
Letter from James Wright, esquire, Governor of Georgia, to the Board, dated November 29th, 1766, in answer to their letter of 4th of July last, and containing remarks on the laws for making partition of lands; registering of deeds; and the South Carolina grants.
Copy of Governor Wright's answer to the Board's heads of enquiry, given in February 1762, with notes and further observations.
A general state of the trade from Georgia from October 1765 to October 1766.
Bermuda.
fo. 65.
Letter from George James Bruere, esquire, Governor of the Bermuda Islands, to the Board, dated December 12th, 1766, desiring a salary may be granted to him on the same establishment as the Governor of the Bahama Islands; and informing their lordships of his having prevailed on Mr. Burch, one of the Council, to act as Chief Justice at the last assize.
State of his Majesty's Revenue in Bermuda.
An account shewing the yearly interest of the sale of his Majesty's lands in Bermuda.
Account of the Revenue due to his Majesty from the sale of the Crown lands.
Ditto: ending the 24th of June, 1766.
Minutes of Council from the 4th of March to the 4th of November, 1766.
fo. 66.
Minutes in Assembly from the 3rd of March to 5th of November, 1766.
Votes and proceedings of the Assembly from the 1st of April to the 5th of November, 1766.
Five Acts passed the 11th of October, 1766.
Copies of the depositions and accounts of the inhabitants of Bermuda concerning the capture of their vessels at the Isle Tortuga from the Spaniards, No. A, B, C, D, E.
Leeward Islands.
Letter from James Verchild, esquire, Commander in Chief of the Leeward Islands, to the Board, dated November 19th, 1766, relating to the state of the Council for St. Christopher's, and recommending Robert Henvill, esquire, to be appointed a councillor.
fo. 67.
Letter from Constantine Phipps, esquire, one of the Council for St. Christopher's, to the Secretary, dated February 12th, 1767, signifying his intention shortly to return to that island.

Bermuda.

Ordered, that the abovementioned Bermuda Acts be sent to Sir Mathew Lamb for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

Friday, February 20th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

fo. 68.

The Secretary laid before the Board several letters and papers received by the last packet from New York and Quebec, the titles of which are as follow, vizt.,
New York.
Letter from Sir Henry Moore, baronet, Governor of New York, to the Board, dated January 10th, 1767, relative to the destruction of white pine trees, and recommending Mr. Bentzel to be appointed Surveyor of that province.
Letter from Sir Henry Moore, dated January 12th, 1767, containing an account of the several manufacturers set up, and carried on within that province since the year 1734.
Letter from Sir Henry Moore, dated January 14th, 1767, relative to ships clearing out from the port of New York without let-passes.
Letter from Sir Henry Moore, dated January 17th, 1767, relative to the discovery of a silver mine in the province of New York.
fo. 69.
Quebec.
Letter from Guy Carleton, esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, to the Board, dated November 29th, 1766, relative to the arrest and imprisonment of the five gentlemen, charged with being concerned in the outrage committed on Mr. Walker in December 1764; and inclosing several papers on that subject.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit copies of the said letters and papers to Mr. McLean, Secretary to the Earl of Shelburne, to be laid before his Lordship.

Plantations General.

fo. 70.

Their lordships took into consideration the Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, referring the memorial of his Majesty's Advocate General for the Province of the Massachusets Bay, relative to the preservation of the King's woods in America, and made some progress therein.

Tuesday, February 24th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Robinson.

The Secretary laid before the Board several letters and papers, received since the last meeting, the titles of which are as follows, vizt.,
Virginia.
fo. 71.
Letter from Francis Fauquier, esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, to the Board, dated November 22nd, 1766, desiring their lordships' support of Mr. Wythe's interest, in case the place of Attorney General should become vacant, and inclosing,
Duplicate of his letter to the Earl of Shelburne, dated November 18th, 1766, relative to the illegal settlers behind the frontiers; and the proceedings of the House of Burgesses.
Lieutenant Governor Fauquier's speech to the General Assembly.
Address of the Council.
fo. 72.
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Fauquier to the Board, dated December 17th, 1766, relative to the manufactures carried on in Virginia.
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Fauquier to the Board, dated December 18th, 1766, inclosing,
Duplicate of his letter to the Earl of Shelburne, dated December 18th, 1766, relative to the offices of Speaker and Treasurer being dis-united; the deficiency found in the Treasury upon the demise of the late Treasurer; to illegal settlers; and a boundary between that colony and any tribe of Indians.
Address from the Council in General Assembly to his Majesty.
North Carolina.
Letter from William Tryon, esquire, Governor of North Carolina, to the Board, dated December 3rd, 1766, transmitting,
An Address of the Council and Assembly to his Majesty.
Bahama.
fo. 73.
Letter from William Shirley, esquire, Governor of the Bahama Islands, dated October 14th, 1765, acquainting the Board with his having appointed Mr. Hutchinson a member of the Council, until his Majesty's pleasure be known.

Virginia.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit to Mr. McLean, to be laid before the Earl of Shelburne, a copy of Mr. Fauquier's letter of the 17th of December; also an extract of so much of that of the 18th of December as relates to his recommendation of Mr. Wythe for the office of Attorney General.

Bahama.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared, proposing that William Hutchinson, esquire, may be appointed of the Council of the Bahama Islands.

Plantations General.

fo. 74.

The Secretary laid before the Board a paper entitled,
A proposal for the preservation of the white pine timber of America,
transmitted to him by Mr. McLean, Secretary to the Earl of Shelburne, pursuant to directions from Lord Shelburne for that purpose.

Mr. Patterson, by whom the said paper had been drawn up and presented to Lord Shelburne, attending, their lordships had some discourse with him thereupon.

fo. 75.

Lord Clare having acquainted the Board, that some of the principal merchants of the City of London trading to North America, had desired to see a report made by this Board in 1764, relative to paper currency in the plantations, it was ordered, that the Secretary should transmit to them an extract of so much of the Board's report of the 9th of February, 1764, as relates to that subject.

Thursday, February 26th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Senegambia.

fo. 76.

Read a letter from the Earl of Shelburne, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, dated this day, referring to this Board, for their consideration and report, a petition of Miles Barber of Liverpool, merchant, and several papers thereunto annexed, complaining that the Governor of James Fort in the River Gambia had obstructed his agents in shipping some slaves on board a French vessel lying at Albreda in that river.

Their lordships, on consideration of the said letter and papers, agreed upon the report to be made thereon, and ordered, that the draught of a letter to the Earl of Shelburne should be prepared.

Bahama.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, recommending Mr. Hutchinson to be appointed of the Council of the Bahama Islands, having been prepared pursuant to order, was agreed to and signed.

Virginia.

fo. 77.

The Secretary acquainted the Board, that the parties interested in a private Act passed in the Colony of Virginia in 1752, for docking the intail of certain lands in the County of King William, and vesting the same in William Dandridge in fee simple, and for settling other lands and slaves of greater value to the same uses, had desired him to move their lordships to report the same to his Majesty for confirmation; the said Act was read, together with Sir Mathew Lamb's report thereupon, and it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty should be prepared, praying that it may be confirmed.

Their lordships then took into consideration several laws passed in the Colony of Virginia in the years 1763, 1764 and 1765, together with Sir Mathew Lamb's reports thereupon, and made some progress therein.

fo. 78.

Friday, February 27th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Rice, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Nova Scotia.

The Secretary laid before the Board Sir Mathew Lamb's report on a bill transmitted to this Board by the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, entitled an Act for partition of lands in coparcenary, jointenancy and tenancy in common and thereby for the more effectual collecting his Majesty's quit rents in the Colony of Nova Scotia.

fo. 79.

Their lordships, on consideration of the said bill and Sir Mathew Lamb's report thereupon, ordered that the draught of a representation to his Majesty should be prepared, proposing that instructions may be given to the Governor of Nova Scotia to pass the said bill into a law.

Miscellanies.

The Secretary laid before the Board the information (taken by him) of Mr. James Wilson, late of Deptford, peruke maker, touching a transaction between him and Thomas Terrie, chamber keeper and assistant messenger in the service of this Board; also a letter from said Wilson to Mr. Pownall relative thereto.

The said information and letter having been read, and Mr. Terrie examined and heard touching his improper conduct in the said transaction, it was ordered, that he should be dismissed from any further service in this office.