Journal, March 1767: Volume 74

Journal, March 1767

fo. 80.

Tuesday, March 3rd. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson.

Miscellanies.

The Secretary having acquainted the Board, that the office of chamber keeper and assistant messenger was vacant by the dismission of Thomas Terrie, Mr. William Bonnick was, upon the recommendation of Lord Clare, appointed to that station.

New York.

fo. 81.

Major McLean, associated with Captain John Campbell and others for the settlement of the lands in New York claimed by Mr. Renslaer, attended, and moved the Board, that the order, made at his request on the 10th of February last, might be discharged, and that a report of an additional instruction to the Governor of New York, conformable to what his Majesty had directed, might be made.

Mr. McLean being withdrawn, it was ordered, that the draught of such an instruction should be prepared.

The following draughts of representations to his Majesty prepared pursuant to order, were approved and ordered to be transcribed, vizt.,
Quebec.
Draught of a representation on the ordinances of Quebec, ordered to be prepared on the 29th of January last.
New Hampshire, Nova Scotia.
fo. 82.
Draught of a representation on the Acts of New Hampshire and Nova Scotia "for ascertaining the number of representatives," ordered to be prepared by the minutes of the 10th of February.
Draught of a representation on the bill transmitted by the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia for partition of lands, ordered to be prepared on the 27th of February.
The Secretary laid before the Board the following papers received from the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, vizt.,
Abstracts of grants from the time of the last transmits in May 1765 to 3rd of December, 1766.
Particulars of the estimates for 1766.
Proceedings of the Council from the 31st of May, 1764, to 29th of September, 1766.

fo. 83.

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

Senegambia.

The draught of a letter to the Earl of Shelburne upon the subject matter of Mr. Barber's memorial to his Lordship, complaining of his having been obstructed in putting some slaves on board a French ship at Albreda, having been prepared pursuant to order, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Trade, Portugal.

fo. 84.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty on the several papers which have been referred to this Board, respecting the grievances and difficulties under which our trade with Portugal at present labours, having been prepared pursuant to order, was read, approved and ordered to be transcribed.

Tuesday, March 10th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Georgia.

fo. 85.

This day being appointed for hearing what the parties concerned for and against the Act for better strengthening the Province of Georgia had to offer by their counsel thereupon, the counsel were ordered to be called in, but the counsel in support of the Act not attending at the hour appointed, their lordships adjourned the consideration of this business to another day.

Trade, Portugal.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the Portugal papers, having been transcribed pursuant to order, was signed; as was also a letter to the Earl of Shelburne inclosing it, and desiring him to lay it before his Majesty.

Massachusetts.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following papers, which were this day received from the Secretary of the Province of Massachusets Bay, vizt.,
fo. 86.
Journal of the proceedings of the General Court of Massachusets Bay from the 28th of May to the 9th of December, 1766.
Minutes of Council from the 28th of May to the 9th of December, 1766.
Printed journal of the House of Representatives from the 29th of October to the 9th of December, 1766.
Two Acts passed in 1766.

Ordered, that the Secretary do forthwith communicate to the Secretary to the Earl of Shelburne, for his Lordship's information, the Act for compensation to the sufferers by the disturbances at Boston in August 1765, and for indemnity to those concerned in the said disturbances, and also the printed votes of the Assembly abovementioned.

fo. 87.

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

Massachusetts.

The Secretary acquainted the Board, that he had, pursuant to their order, communicated to the Earl of Shelburne's Secretary the Act passed in Massachusets Bay in December 1766, for compensation and indemnity, and also the printed votes of the House of Representatives.

Miscellanies.

fo. 88.

The Board judging it unfit that Thomas Terrie, lately discharged as chamber keeper, and who was also joint stationer with John Philip Meuly, should continue to serve the office in that employment, it was ordered, that the whole of the stationery should be supplyed by the said John Philip Meuly.

Plantations General.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following copies of Orders in Council upon Plantation business, received from the Clerk of the Council, vizt.,
Nova Scotia.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated December 3rd, 1766, prohibiting, for the present, the opening and working of coal mines in the Island of Cape Breton.
East Florida.
fo. 89.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated December 3rd, 1766, directing measures to be taken for bringing to a trial the pretended right of Messrs. Gordon and Fish to divers large tracts of lands, purchased by them from Spanish subjects, inhabitants of East Florida.
New Hampshire, New York.
Copy of his Majesty's Order in Council, dated July 20th, 1764, declaring the boundary line between the Provinces of New Hampshire and New York.
North Carolina.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated February 13th, 1767, directing that James Murray, esquire, be restored to his rank in the Council of North Carolina.

The following papers, received since the Board's last meeting, were laid before their lordships and read, vizt.,
South Carolina.
fo. 90.
Letter from Lord Charles Montagu, Governor of South Carolina, to the Board, dated January 16th, 1767, acquainting their lordships, that he had issued a proclamation requiring obedience to be paid to the King's proclamation of 1763, respecting the Indians.
Lists of ships and vessels entered and cleared at Charles Town, in the quarter ending January 5th, 1767.
Leeward Islands.
Letter from James Verchild, esquire, Commander in Chief of the Leeward Islands, to the Board, dated November 19th, 1766, recommending Robert Henvill, esquire, to be of the Council for the Island of St. Christopher's.
East Florida.
fo. 91.
Duplicate of a letter from James Grant, esquire, Governor of East Florida, to the Earl of Shelburne, dated 17th of January 1767, relative to the repair of a fort in the Indian country, and his contract with Mr. Moncrief for building a bridge; and informing his Lordship of Mr. Ainslie's desire to resign his seat in the Council, and the Governor's appointment of Dr. Turnbull to succeed him.
Copy of Governor Grant's letter to the Commanding Officer of his Majesty's troops in East Florida.
An estimate for building a bridge and making a boat over the marsh at St. Sebastine's Creek near St. Augustine.
Elevation of a proposed bridge over St. Sebastine's Creek.
fo. 92.
Duplicate of a letter from Governor Grant to the Earl of Shelburne, dated January 20th, 1767, relative to Dr. Turnbull's zeal in settling the lands granted to him, and proposing that a praemium should be given upon the importation of new settlers.
Plantations General.
Letter from Samuel Holland, esquire, Surveyor General of the Northern District of North America, to the Secretary, dated November 10th, 1766, containing an account of his proceedings in the execution of his office.
Description of the Island of Cape Breton.
Explanation referring to each township in the Island of Cape Breton.

Ordered, that the letter from Mr. Holland, and also the papers to which it refers, be copied to be laid before the Earl of Shelburne.

fo. 93.

Senegambia, Nova Scotia, Georgia, East Florida, West Florida.

Plantations General.

The Secretary laid before the Board fair transcripts of the estimates mentioned in the minutes of the 23rd of January last, and also a fair transcript of the account mentioned in the minutes of the 27th of January last, and Lord Clare was desired to present the said estimates and account to the House of Commons, pursuant to his Majesty's commands.

Virginia.

Their lordships took into further consideration the laws passed in the Colony of Virginia in the years 1763, 1764, and 1765, and made a further progress therein.

fo. 94.

Ordered, that the Act for amending the staple of tobacco and preventing frauds in his Majesty's Customs, be sent to the Commissioners of the Customs, for their consideration thereof, in respect to that branch of his Majesty's service under their direction.

Ordered, that the agent for Virginia be desired to attend the Board on Thursday next on the subject of the law for regulating trade with the Indians.

Massachusetts.

Their lordships took into consideration the law passed in the Province of Massachusets Bay in December 1766, for compensation to the sufferers by the disturbances at Boston in 1765, and for indemnity, etc. and the said law appearing to be of a new and extraordinary nature and importance, it was ordered, that it should be referred to his Majesty's Attorney and Sollicitor General, for their opinion upon it.

fo. 95.

Friday, March 13th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Fitzherbert.

Virginia.

The Secretary acquainted the Board that the parties interested in a privage Act passed in Virginia in December 1766, entitled an Act to impower trustees to sell and convey certain lands whereof Charles Carter the elder is seized as tenant in fee tail and for other purposes, had desired him to move the Board to report the said Act for confirmation.

fo. 96.

Whereupon their lordships taking the said Act into consideration, together with Sir Mathew Lamb's report thereupon, it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty, proposing it may be confirmed, should be prepared.

Nova Scotia.

Read and considered twelve Acts passed in the Province of Nova Scotia in June and July 1766, together with Sir Mathew Lamb's report thereupon.

New York.

Read and considered four Acts passed in the Province of New York in July 1766, together with Sir Mathew Lamb's report thereupon.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared proposing that the Act for erecting the lands on Connecticut River into a county, be repealed.

fo. 97.

Ordered, that the Act for furnishing the barracks in New York and Albany with necessaries, do lye by for further consideration.

North Carolina.

Read and considered thirty eight Acts passed in the Province of North Carolina in the years 1764 and 1765, together with Sir Mathew Lamb's reports thereupon.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared, proposing the repeal of several of the said laws.

fo. 98.

Thursday, March 19th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

West Florida.

Read a letter from the Earl of Shelburne, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, to the Board, dated March 16th, 1767, signifying the appointment of John Eliot, esquire, to be Governor of West Florida, and signifying the King's pleasure, that draughts of a Commission and instructions be prepared for him.

fo. 99.

Ordered, that the draught of a Commission appointing John Eliot, esquire, Governor of West Florida, be prepared with all convenient dispatch.

Virginia.

Read a letter from Francis Fauquier, esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, to the Board, dated February 2nd, 1767, transmitting,
Duplicate of a letter from him to the Earl of Shelburne, dated February 2nd, 1767, relative to the running of a boundary line between that colony, and the lands claimed by the Cherokees as their hunting grounds.

Trade, Russia.

fo. 100.

Read a letter from William Fraser, esquire, to the Secretary, dated March 14th, 1767, inclosing, by Mr. Secretary Conway's direction, six papers received from Mr. Consul Swallow, at Petersbourg, containing accounts of goods exported and imported at Petersbourg, Riga and Narva in 1766.

Virginia.

Master Montague, agent for Virginia, attending as desired, their lordships had some conversation with him on the subject of the objections, which had occurred to several of the laws of Virginia, more especially to that for regulating trade with the Indians, after which minutes were taken for a report on the said laws.

New York.

fo. 101.

Their lordships then took into consideration the Act passed in the Province of New York in July 1766, for furnishing the barracks in the Citys of Albany and New York with necessaries, and the said Act appearing to be repugnant to and inconsistent with the Act of Parliament of the 5th of his present Majesty, "relative to the "quartering of his Majesty's troops in America," it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty should be prepared, proposing that it may be disallowed.

Massachusetts.

Their lordships read and considered eight Acts passed in the Province of Massachusets Bay in January and February 1766, together with Sir Mathew Lamb's report thereupon.

fo. 102.

Tuesday, March 24th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert.

New York.

Their lordships took into consideration the draught of a representation to his Majesty, on the Act passed in New York in July last, for providing necessaries for the barracks in Cities of New York and Albany, prepared pursuant to order, and made some progress therein.

fo. 103.

The draught of an additional instruction to the Governor of New York, on the petition of Captain Campbell and others, for grants of land claimed by Mr. Renslaer, having been prepared pursuant to order on the 3rd instant, was laid before the Board, approved, and ordered to be transcribed, and a representation to his Majesty thereupon was signed.

Virginia.

The draughts of representations to his Majesty, proposing the confirmation of two private Acts of Virginia, relative to the estates of Dandridge and Carter, having been prepared pursuant to order, were approved, transcribed and signed.

North Carolina.

fo. 104.

Read a letter from William Tryon, esquire, Governor of North Carolina, to the Board, dated January 12th, 1767, acquainting their lordships with the death of Mr. Jones, late Attorney General of that province, and his appointment of Marmaduke Jones, esquire, to succeed him; also stating the necessity of creating a Sollicitor General for that colony.
Copy of a letter from Marmaduke Jones, esquire, to Governor Tryon, relative to the appointment of a Sollicitor General.

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

Trade, Africa.

fo. 105.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, reminding them of the reference of the representation of the Dutch West India Company, relative to Cape Appollonia, and desiring them to make their report thereupon with all convenient dispatch.

Thursday, March 26th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Trade, Africa.

fo. 106.

Read a letter to the Secretary from Mr. Poirier, Secretary to the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, acquainting him, for the information of the Board, that the Committee will make their report on the reference concerning Cape Appollonia, so soon as they shall have received answers to some questions sent to Bristol and Liverpool.

Nova Scotia.

Georgia, East Florida, West Florida, Senegambia, Plantations General.

Lord Clare having acquainted the Board, that the House of Commons had voted the services of Nova Scotia, Georgia, East Florida, West Florida, Senegambia, and of general surveys, according to the estimates laid before them by this Board; it was ordered, that the Secretary should transmit copies of the said estimates to the Secretary to the Earl of Shelburne, in order that they may be communicated to the governors of the said colonies, and other persons employed in the services to which they refer.

fo. 107.

West Florida.

The Secretary laid before the Board the draught of a Commission appointing John Eliot, esquire, Governor of West Florida, prepared pursuant to order, and the said draught having been approved, a representation to his Majesty thereupon was signed.

New York.

Their lordships took into further consideration the draught of a representation to his Majesty on the Quartering Act of New York, and the said draught having been approved and transcribed, was signed.

North Carolina.

fo. 108.

Their lordships took into consideration the Act passed in the Province of North Carolina in 1765, for establishing an orthodox clergy, together with the Bishop of London's observations thereupon, in his letter to the Board, dated the 1st of March 1766, and it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty thereupon should be prepared.

South Carolina.

Their lordships then took into consideration sixteen Acts passed in the Province of South Carolina in 1765 and 1766, together with Sir Mathew Lamb's reports thereupon, and made some progress therein.

Tuesday, March 30th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

North Carolina.

fo. 109.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty on the Church Act of North Carolina, prepared pursuant to order, was approved, transcribed and signed.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from the Earl of Shelburne to the Board, dated March 27th, 1767, referring to their lordships, for their consideration and report, the copy of a bill for the partition of lands in coparcenary, in the Province of Nova Scotia, and inclosing papers relative thereto.

Whereupon the orders made on the 17th of February and 3rd of March last on the said bill, transmitted to the Board by the Lieutenant Governor, were discharged, and it was ordered, that the draught of a report to the Earl of Shelburne on the said bill should be prepared.

fo. 110.

Trade, Africa.

The Secretary laid before the Board several papers received from the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, the titles of which are as follows, vizt.,
Copy of a letter from the African Committee to the Governor and Council at Cape Coast Castle, dated March 4th, 1767.
Copy of a letter from Gilbert Petrie, esquire, Governor of Cape Coast Castle, to the African Committee, dated September 13th, 1766.
Copy of two letters from Thomas Trinder, esquire, Chief of Fort Appollonia, to the Governor of Cape Coast Castle, dated the 3rd June and 26th of August, 1766.

fo. 111.

North Carolina, Grenada, St. Christopher's.

The Secretary laid before the Board several laws passed in the Province of North Carolina, and in the Southward Charibbee Islands, also one passed in the Island of St. Christopher's, which laws were received from the Secretary of State's Office, and it was ordered, that they should be sent to Sir Mathew Lamb, for his opinion thereupon.

Georgia.

Read and considered seventeen Acts passed in the Colony of Georgia in 1764 and 1765, together with Sir Mathew Lamb's report thereupon.