Journal, April 1768: Volume 75

Journal, April 1768

Tuesday, April 12th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Several letters and papers received since the Board's adjournment, were laid before the Board and read, vizt.,
Trade, Africa.
Letter from Mr. Poirier to the Secretary, dated February 10th, 1768, transmitting,
fo. 61.
Copy of a letter from Mr. Thomas Trinder, Chief of Fort Appollonia, to the African Committee, dated July 17th, 1767.
Copy of a letter from Gilbert Petrie, esquire, Governor of Cape Coast Castle, to the African Committee, dated August 7th, 1767.
Copies of several letters to and from the African Committee to Gilbert Petrie, esquire, Governor, and the Council at Cape Coast Castle, and Mr. Trinder, Chief of Fort Appollonia.
Hamburgh.
Letter from Ralph Woodford, esquire, his Majesty's Resident at Hamburgh, to the Board, dated March 4th, 1768, transmitting,
State of trade at Hamburgh, 1767.
Algiers.
Letters from Archibald Campbell Fraser, esquire, his Majesty's Consul at Algiers, to the Board, dated February 19th, 1768, transmitting,
A general state of the trade of Algiers.
fo. 62.
Senegambia.
Letter from Joseph Debat, esquire, Lieutenant Governor and Superintendant of Trade in Senegambia, to the Board, dated September 21st, 1767, informing their lordships of the receipt of his Commission, and of the state of commerce in that province.
A return of the shipping arrived at and sailed from James Fort, Gambia, from May 4th, 1766.
Quebec.
Letter from Guy Carleton, esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, to the Board, dated November 5th, 1767, transmitting,
Copies of all the patents for lands granted in the Province of Quebec, between the 20th of May and 5th of November, 1767.
Copies of all Commissions granted in the Province of Quebec between the 20th of March and 5th of November, 1767.
fo. 63.
Letter from Guy Carleton, esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, to the Board, dated November 21st, 1767, containing his reasons for suspending the execution of the Acts relative to bankrupts.
Petition of sundry merchants of Quebec concerning the Bankrupt Act, November 17th, 1767.
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Carleton to the Board, dated December 23rd, 1767, transmitting,
Minutes of Council to the 30th of September, 1767.
Nova Scotia.
fo. 64.
Letter from Michael Francklin, esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, to the Board, dated December 18th, 1767, transmitting,
Proceedings of the Council in Nova Scotia from the 15th of October to 20th of December, 1766.
Journals of the Council in General Assembly from the 23rd of October to the 22nd of November, 1766.
Proceedings of the Council from the 3rd of January to the 24th September, 1767.
fo. 64.
Journals of the Council in Assembly between the 1st of July and 1st of August, 1767.
Journals of ditto, between the 17th and 19th of October, 1767.
Journals and votes of the House of Assembly between the 1st of July and 1st of August, 1767.
Extracts of the records made of lands granted, to 16th of December, 1767.
Collection of the perpetual Acts of the province.
New Hampshire.
Letter from John Wentworth, esquire, Governor of New Hampshire, to the Board, dated September 3rd, 1767, respecting his proceedings as Surveyor General of his Majesty's Woods in North America.
Letter from Governor Wentworth to the Board, dated December 2nd, 1767, informing their lordships of Nathaniel Barrel, esquire's, removal from the province, and recommending Daniel Rogers, esquire, to succeed him as one of the Council.
fo. 65.
Letter from Governor Wentworth to the Board, dated December 5th, 1767, relative to the preservation of pine timber.
Account of sales of sundry white pine trees in the Province of Massachusets Bay, which were prosecuted by John Wentworth, esquire, as Surveyor General of Woods.
New York.
Letter from Cadwallader Colden, esquire, Lieutenant Governor of New York, to the Board, dated January 21st, 1768, relative to his administration of government, and complaining of some late proceedings of the Assembly.
Extract of the journal of the General Assembly of New York, December 30th, 1767.
Virginia.
Letter from Francis Fauquier, esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, to the Board, dated November 25th, 1767, transmitting,
fo. 66.
Duplicate of a letter from Lieutenant Governor Fauquier to the Earl of Shelburne, dated November 24th, 1767, acknowledging the receipt of his Lordship's letter of 11th of July, with a new Seal for the colony, and an Act passed in the last session of Parliament for granting certain duties in the British colonies, etc.
Duplicate of a letter, No. 10, from Lieutenant Governor Fauquier to the Earl of Shelburne, dated November 24th, 1767, acknowledging the receipt of his Lordship's letter of 7th of August last, with an Order in Council, repealing three, and confirming five Acts passed in 1765.
North Carolins.
Letter from William Tryon, esquire, Governor of North Carolina, to the Board, dated July 18th, 1767, transmitting,
Minutes of Council on the 11th and 12th of July, 1767.
Ditto: from the 15th to the 27th of April, 1767.
Letter from Governor Tryon to the Board, dated December 22nd, 1767, relative to the death of one of the officers of his Majesty's Customs in that province, and the appointment of others.
fo. 67.
South Carolina.
Letter from Lord Charles Greville Montagu, Governor of South Carolina, to the Board, dated November 10th, 1767, relative to insurrections of the people in the interior parts of that province.
Journals of the Commons House of Assembly from November 11th, 1766, to 28th of May, 1767.
Georgia.
Letter from James Wright, esquire, Governor of Georgia, to the Board, dated January 18th, 1768, transmitting,
Minutes of Council from October 7th to December 2nd, 1766.
Ditto: from January 6th to March 27th, 1767.
Ditto: from April 7th to June 2nd, 1767.
Ditto: from July 7th to September 17th, 1767.
Lists of ships and vessels entered and cleared at the Port of Savannah, from July 5th to October 10th, 1767.
fo. 68.
East Florida.
Duplicate of a letter, No. 9, from James Grant, esquire, Governor of East Florida, to the Earl of Shelburne, dated October 10th, 1767, relative to a dispute between him and Colonel Tayler.
Copy of Governor Grant's letter to Colonel Tayler, August 24th, 1767.
Duplicate of a letter No. 10, from Governor Grant to the Earl of Shelburne, dated October 31st, 1767, relative to a murder committed by some Indians on St. Mary's River.
Copy of Governor Grant's talk to the Cowkeeper, Long Warrior and other Indians.
Duplicate of a letter No. 11, from Governor Grant to the Earl of Shelburne, dated December 10th, 1767, relative to his proceedings in consequence of the murder committed by some Indians.
Congress held with the Indians at Picolata by Governor Grant, November 21st, 1767.
fo. 69.
Duplicate of a letter No. 13 from Governor Grant to the Earl of Shelburne, dated December 25th, 1767, signifying his intention to comply with his Majesty's direction in favour of the first five hundred Greeks who arrive in that province.
Duplicate of a letter No. 14 from Governor Grant to the Earl of Shelburne, dated January 6th, 1768, relative to the expences incurred by presents to the Indians.
General account of expences incurred for the Congress held with the Lower Creek Indians at Picolata.
State of Indian presents in store at St. Augustine.
State of Indian presents wanting to compleat an assortment for a meeting proposed to be held with the Indians.
West Florida.
fo. 70.
Letter from Monfort Browne, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of West Florida, to the Board, dated September 29th, 1767, relative to the inconveniencies arising from the absence of several of the patent officers.
Letter from Montfort Browne, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of West Florida, to the Board, dated September 29th, 1767, containing his reasons for having sent the provincial sloop to the Havanna.
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Browne to the Board, dated September 29th, 1767, relative to the regulations of the Indian trade.
Copy of an oath taken by several Indian traders for seizing such persons as foment sedition among the Indians.
Newfoundland.
Duplicate of a letter from Hugh Pallisser, Esquire, Governor of Newfoundland, to the Earl of Shelburne, containing a report of occurrences respecting the state of the British fishery in 1767, and inclosing several papers on that subject.
fo. 71.
Jamaica.
Letter from Roger Hope Elletson, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica, to the Board, dated October 31st, 1767, relative to the refusal of the Assembly to make provision for the pay of the two regiments stationed there during the intermission of their sitting; and to the great want of specie in the said island.
Answer of the Assembly to the Lieutenant Governor's message respecting the pay of the two regiments, etc.
Lieutenant Governor's speech to the Assembly, and their address.
Leeward Islands.
Letter from James Verchild, Esquire, Commander in Chief of the Leeward Islands, to the Board, dated November 16th, 1767, informing their lordships of his having appointed Drewry Ottley, junior, Esquire, one of the Council for St. Christopher's.
St. Christopher's.
Minutes of the Assembly of the island of St. Christophers', from the 27th of January to the 28th of August, 1767.
Bermuda.
fo. 72.
Letter from George James Bruere, Esquire, Governor of Bermuda, to the Board, dated November 14th, 1767, relative to the receipt of the cannon and ordnance stores, and a new Seal; as also the behaviour of the Assembly, and his issuing writs for the election of a new one.
Minutes of the Council from May 5th to September 19th, 1767.
Ditto: of Council in Assembly from May 4th to September 19th, 1767, inclusive.
Votes and proceedings of the General Assembly from May 4th to September 19th, 1767.
Grenada.
Copy of a letter from Governor Melvill, to the Earl of Shelburne, dated November 4th, 1767, promising to transmit copies of the Acts of St. Vincent.
Letter from Robert Melvill, Esquire, Governor of Grenada, etc., to the Board, November 14th, 1767, transmitting several publick papers.
fo. 73.
Copy of a letter from Governor Melvill to the Earl of Shelburne, dated November 14th, 1767, relative to the measures he has taken for compelling purchasers and other possessors of the King's lands to perform the conditions upon which they purchased or leased.
Copy of a letter from Governor Melvill to John Hunt, Esquire, on of the Commissioners for the sale of lands, dated November 2nd, 1767, inclosing
Copy of a letter from Governor Melvill to the Commissioners for the sale of lands, dated November 2nd, 1767, relative to enforcing the speedy payment of the quit rents of his Majesty's lands sold and leased.
Copy of the notice directed to be given by the Receivers General with respect to the payment of quit rents on grants and leases of lands.
fo. 74.
Copy of a letter from Governor Melvill to the Earl of Shelburne, dated November 14th, 1767, desiring directions with respect to enforcing the Capitation Tax, and auditing the publick accounts.
Copy of a letter from Governor Melvill to the Earl of Shelburne, November 14th, 1767, apologizing for not transmitting copies of the complaints against Judge Atwood.
Grenada.
Copy of a letter from Governor Melvill to the Earl of Shelburne, November 14th, 1767, relative to the establishment of a complete legislature in St. Vincent's and Dominica; of the death of Lieutenant Governor Scott; and of the persons appointed to be members of the Council for Dominica.
Copy of a letter from Governor Melvill to the Earl of Shelburne, November 16th, 1767, relative to the factious behaviour of almost all the French inhabitants.
fo. 75.
Copy of a letter from Governor Melvill to the Earl of Shelburne, November 16th, 1767, representing the inconveniencies arising from the absence of the Lieutenant Governors, and praying for leave to return to England.
Copy of a letter from Governor Melvill to the Earl of Shelburne, December 2nd, 1767, acknowledging the receipt of his Lordship's letter of the 8th of October, relative to the Governor's having deferred his return to England.
Copy of a letter from Governor Melvill to the Earl of Shelburne, December 2nd, 1767, transmitting copies of the complaints against Judge Atwood.
Copy of a letter from Governor Melvill to the Earl of Shelburne, dated December 7th, 1767, requesting his Lordship's application to his Majesty for the pardon of two slaves condemned for murder.
fo. 76.
Trade.
Duplicate of a letter from James Banks, Esquire, his Majesty's Consul at Gallicia, to the Earl of Shelburne, dated January 27th, 1768, relating to the state of the British trade in the kingdom of Gallicia, and the principality of Asturias.
Bahamas, Turks' Islands.
Letter from the Earl of Shelburne to the Board, dated October 27th, 1767, referring several papers relative to Turks' Islands, for their lordships' report, on the expediency of carrying into execution certain regulations made or intended to be made by his Majesty's agent for those islands.
Trade, East Indies.
fo. 77.
Order of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated January 26th, 1768, referring to the Board, for their examination and report, an account of the East India Company's exports between the 29th of September, 1766, and 29th of September 1767.
New York.
Letter from the Earl of Hillsborough to the Board, dated February 26th, 1768, transmitting, for their lordships' report,
Petition of John Tabor Kempe, Attorney General of New York, to the King, praying to be allowed some addition to his salary, or, from time to time, such sums as any of the Judges of the Supreme Court for that province shall certify to be reasonable for his services and disbursements.
Extract of Sir Henry Moore's letter, No. 5, to Lord Shelburne.

Bahamas, Turks' Islands.

Ordered, that the reference of the papers relative to Mr. Symmer's proceedings at Turks' Islands, be taken into consideration on this day sennight.

fo. 78.

Grenada, Dominica.

Ordered, that the papers relative to Mr. Atwood's suspension from his office of Chief Judge of Dominica, be taken into consideration on Friday next, and that Mr. At wood have leave to be heard by his counsel in support of his conduct.

New York.

Ordered, that the reference of Mr. Kempe's petition be taken into consideration on this day sennight, and that Mr. Kempe be desired to attend on that day.

Plantations General.

Their lordships took into consideration the reference of the petition of Captain McDougal, praying for a grant of Hog Island at the Detroit; and Mr. McDougal having been heard in support of his petition, it was ordered, that the draft of a report thereupon to the Lords of the Committee of Council should be prepared.

fo. 79.

Nova Scotia.

Their lordships took into further consideration the memorial of the merchants of London trading to Nova Scotia, complaining of the alteration made there in the duties of impost and excise on spirits, and it was ordered, that the draught of a representation thereupon should be prepared.

Newfoundland.

Read a letter from Captain Pallisser, Governor of Newfoundland, dated the 6th instant, desiring some explanation of his instructions respecting the fisheries on the coast of Labrador.

Ordered, that a copy be made of the said letter, to be transmitted to the Earl of Hillsborough, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, and that a letter to his Lordship thereupon be prepared.

fo. 80.

Plantations General.

Ordered, that the memorial of Henry Bostwick and others, praying for a grant of all mines, discovered or to be discovered in the country adjacent to Lake Superior, be taken into consideration on Thursday, the 21st instant, and that notice be given to the memorialists to attend the Board on that day.

Thursday April 14. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Nova Scotia.

fo. 81.

Read a letter from the Earl of Hillsborough, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, referring to this Board a memorial of Mary Magdalen How, relative to a ballance due on account of services performed and expences incurred by her late husband in Nova Scotia; and signifying his Majesty's commands, that, if such demand shall appear to the Board to be reasonable, they should make provision for it in the next estimate, which they shall be directed to prepare and lay before Parliament, for the service of Nova Scotia.

Ordered, that the memorial and other papers therein referred to be taken into further consideration, when the Board shall receive his Majesty's commands to prepare any estimate for the service of Nova Scotia.

Bahamas, Turks' Island.

fo. 82.

Read a letter from the Earl of Hillsborough, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, referring to this Board several letters lately received from Mr. Symmer, his Majesty's agent at Turks' Islands, and signifying his Majesty's pleasure, that the Board should, with all convenient dispatch, report their opinion upon the measures pursued by this gentleman, as stated in these letters, and in the former ones referred by the Earl of Shelburne.

Virginia.

The Secretary acquainted the Board, that he was desired by the parties interested in two private Acts, passed in Virginia in 1767, to move their lordships to report them to his Majesty for his royal confirmation, vizt.
An Act to dock the intail of certain lands whereof Kendal Lee is seized, and for settling other lands and slaves to the same uses.
fo. 83.
An Act to dock the intail of certain lands whereof Harry Beverley, Gentleman, is seized, and for settling slaves to be purchased in lieu thereof.

The Board took the said Acts into consideration, together with Sir Matthew Lamb's report thereupon, and no objection appearing to lye thereto, it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty, proposing their confirmation, should be prepared.

Proprieties, Pennsylvania.

Their lordships then took into consideration nineteen laws passed in Pennsylvania in February and May, 1767, and the said laws, together with Sir Matthew Lamb's report thereupon, having been read and considered, it was ordered, that the draught of a report thereupon to the Lords of the Committee of Council should be prepared.

fo. 84.

Newfoundland.

A letter to the Earl of Hillsborough inclosing the copy of a letter to the Board from Captain Pallisser, Governor of Newfoundland, relative to the Labrador fishery, was signed.

Friday April 15. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Grenada, Dominica.

fo. 85.

The Secretary laid before the Board an answer in writing from Mr. Atwood to the several articles of complaint against him, contained in the papers transmitted by Governor Melvill, and referred to the Board by the Earl of Hillsborough.

Mr. Atwood attending without, with Mr. Graham, his counsel, they were called in, and Mr. Graham was heard in support of Mr. Atwood's justification, in the case of Messrs. Alexander Campbell and Joshua Snook, relative to exorbitant bail alleged to have been taken by the said Atwood, and also in the case of Mary Barthelemi, a negro woman, relative to the said Atwood's having taken two Johannes to assist her in a cause of complaint against her husband.

fo. 86.

As to the article of charge contained in the papers referred by Lord Hillsborough, Mr. Graham observed, that, admitting there had been any irregularity in Mr. Atwood's proceedings, which however he was ready to controvert, it amounted to no more than an error in judgement in matters of judicial proceedings, without any imputation of partiality or oppression; and therefore the parties, as in all such cases, might have remedy by appeal to a superior Court, but that, if their lordships should not, after examination, be satisfied upon this point, he hoped to have an opportunity of being further heard.

Ordered, that this business be further considered on this day sennight, and Sir Matthew Lamb, who attended on this occasion, was desired in the meantime to consider of those articles which relate to Mr. Atwood's proceedings in the case of Mcintosh and McKenzie.

fo. 87.

Tuesday April 19. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

New York.

Their lordships took into consideration the memorial of Mr. Kempe, Attorney General of New York, relative to the inadequate provision made for that office, and Mr. Kempe attending, was heard in what he had to offer in support of his memorial, and several letters from the Governor of New York to the Secretary of State, recommending some further establishment to be made for the office of Attorney General, were read.

Virginia.

fo. 88.

Plantations General.

A representation to his Majesty, proposing the confirmation of two private Acts of Virginia relative to the estates of Kendal Lee and Harry Beverley, Gentleman, was signed; and a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon Mr. McDougal's petition for a grant of Hog Island at the Detroit was approved and ordered to be transcribed.

Bahamas.

The consideration of the papers relative to Turks' Island was further postponed.

Thursday April 21. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Plantations General.

fo. 89.

Their lordships took into consideration the memorial of several merchants of London and others, containing proposals for opening copper mines in the country adjacent to Lake Superior, and several of the memorialists attending, they were heard in what they had to offer in support of their memorial.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon McDougal's petition, having been transcribed, was signed.

Friday April 22. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Grenada.

fo. 90.

Sir Matthew Lamb attended, and delivered his opinion on those articles of the complaints exhibited against Mr. Atwood, Chief Judge of Dominica, which relate to the cases of McIntosh and McKenzie.

Tuesday April 26. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns. Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Trade, Africa.

The Secretary laid before the Board several papers received from the Committee of the company of merchants trading to Africa, vizt.
Trade, Africa.
fo. 91.
N.B. The original papers, the titles of which should have been entred here, were sent to the Earl of Shelburne, there not being time to make copys.

Several of the committee attended, and after discourse had with them on the subject of such of the above mentioned papers as relate to the danger to be apprehended from the war, likely to break out between the Ashantees and Fantees, it was ordered, that the said papers should be copied and transmitted to the Earl of Shelburne's secretary, for his lordship's information.

fo. 92.

Thursday April 28. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Nova Scotia.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the revenue laws of Nova Scotia, complained of by the merchants trading to that province, having been prepared, was approved, transcribed and signed.

Grenada, Dominica.

Mr. Atwood attending upon the subject of those articles of complaint against him, which relate to his conduct in the cases of McIntosh and McKenzie, and desiring to be heard by his counsel thereupon, their lordships appointed Tuesday next for this business.

fo. 93.

Friday April 29. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Bahamas, Turks' Island.

Their lordships took into further consideration the papers relative to the conduct and proceedings of Mr. Symmer at Turks' Island, and it was ordered, that the draught of a representation thereupon should be prepared.