Journal, January 1773: Volume 80

Journal, January 1773

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At a Meeting of His Majesty's Commissioners for Trade and Plantations.

Thursday, January 21. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Lord Greville, Mr. Gascoyne, Lord Garlies.

The Earl of Dartmouth, one of His Majesty's principal Secretarys of State, attends.

Grenades, St. Vincent's.

The Earl of Dartmouth signified to their Lordships the King's commands, that they do prepare and lay before His Majesty, copies of certain papers mentioned in two Addresses to His Majesty of the House of Commons on the 23rd of the last month.

The Secretary having laid before the Board such of the said papers as are to be found on the books of this Office, copies thereof were ordered to be made, and a representation to His Majesty thereupon, and containing a special return with regard to two of the said papers, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

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

The Earl of Dartmouth signified to their Lordships the King's command, that they do prepare and lay before the House of Commons, Estimates of the sums which will be necessary for the support of the Civil Establishments of the Colonies of Senegambia, Nova Scotia, Georgia, East Florida, West Florida, and for general Surveys of His Majesty's Dominions in America, for the year 1773.

Several of the agents attending, were examined as to the state of their accounts, and the several Estimates having been prepared, were agreed to, and Mr. Gascoyne was desired to present them to the House of Commons, pursuant to His Majesty's command.

Africa.

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The Secretary laid before the Board copies of several papers transmitted to him from the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, the titles of which papers are as follows, vizt.:
Copy of a letter from the Governor and Council at Cape Coast Castle, to the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, dated June 22nd, 1772.
Copy of an Act of Council, dated Cape Coast Castle, August 11th, 1772, inclosed in the following letter.
Copy of a letter from David Mill, Esquire, Governor of Cape Coast Castle, to the African Committee, dated August 12th, 1772.
Copy of a letter from the African Committee to the Governor and Council at Cape Coast Castle, dated November 4th, 1772.
Do: to the Governor and Council at Cape Coast Castle, dated December 2nd, 1772.
Do: to the Governor and Council at Cape Coast Castle, December 10th, 1772.

fo. 4.

The Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa attending on the subject matter of the letter from David Mill, Esquire, dated the 12th of August last, respecting the resolution of the Council of Cape Coast Castle to give assistance and protection to the Fantees in the war that is likely to break out between that nation and the Ashantees; they were called in, and, after some discourse with them thereupon, they were ordered to withdraw, and their Lordships came to the following resolution, vizt.:
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Resolved, that it is the opinion of this Board, that in the case of the difference between the Ashantees and Fantees, as stated in the papers laid before their Lordships by the Committee, it was the duty of the servants of the Company to have made application to the servants of the Dutch West India Company at St. George D'Elmina to have concurred in such measures, as should have been judged most effectual for composing the difference between the said nations, pursuant to the agreements between the Royal African Company and the Dutch West India Company in the years 1708, 1713 and 1728, and that any resolution of the servants of the Committee to give assistance and protection to the Fantees before such application to the servants of the Dutch West India Company, and a refusal on their part to join in such mediation, was irregular and contrary to the said agreements, which ought to be strictly observed.

The Committee were again called in, and the foregoing resolution having been read to them, they desired a copy thereof, which was granted, and they were ordered to withdraw.

Plantations General.

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The Secretary laid before the Board the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantations affairs upon the petition of the Earl of Eglintoune and others in respect to a Colony on the Mississippi, and the said draught having been read and approved, it was ordered that it should be transcribed.

Friday, January 22. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Jolliffe, Lord Robert Spencer, Lord Garlies.

The Earl of Dartmouth, one of His Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, attends.

Grenades, St. Vincent's.

A representation to His Majesty upon the subject of the copies of papers to be laid before the House of Commons was signed, and the Earl of Dartmouth was requested to lay the said representation and copies of papers before His Majesty.

Plantations General.

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Their Lordships also signed a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon the petition of the Earl of Eglintoune and others relative to a colony on the Mississippi.

Monday, January 25. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Lord Robert Spencer, Mr. Jolliffe, Mr. Gascoyne, Lord Greville, Lord Garlies.

Grenada, St. Vincent's.

fo. 8.

The Secretary reported to the Board, that he was desired by the Earl of Dartmouth to acquaint their Lordships, that it was the King's pleasure, that they should prepare and transmit to him copies of certain papers, mentioned in an Address to the House of Commons to His Majesty on the 22nd instant, and the said copies having been accordingly prepared, the Secretary was ordered to transmit them to one of the under Secretaries of State in the Earl of Dartmouth's Department, with a request that he would lay them before his Lordship, pursuant to His Majesty's commands.

Plantations General.

The following Orders of the King in Council, and of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation affairs were read, vizt.:
Trade, East Indies.
Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated December 19th, 1772, referring to this Board, for their examination and report, an account of the East India Company's Exports from the 29th of September, 1771, to the 29th of September, 1772.
Virginia.
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Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated December 19th, 1772, referring to this Board, for their consideration and report, an Address of the House of Burgesses of Virginia to the King, praying that the Governor of that Colony may be permitted to assent to such Laws, as may check the importation of slaves from the coast of Africa into the said Colony.
Newfoundland.
Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated December 19th, 1772, referring back to this Board their representation on the case of the proprietors of seal fisheries on the coast of Labrador, for their report, how far the said fisheries may be relieved from the loss represented to have ensued from their being made subject to the rules laid down by the Governor of Newfoundland for the fisheries of cod and whales, without prejudice to those considerations of policy, which induced His Majesty to put the said coast under the care of that Government.
Jamaica.
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Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated December 19th, 1772, referring back a representation of this Board for disallowing an Act passed in Jamaica in December, 1770, for dividing the Parish of St. James into two distinct parishes, etc., and a memorial of the agent of the said Island, praying that the said Act may be confirmed.
Massachusetts.
Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation affairs, dated December 19th, 1772, referring to this Board, for their examination and report, a memorial of William Bollan, Esquire, His Majesty's Advocate for Massachusets Bay, stating his services and hardships, and praying such relief as His Majesty shall think meet.
Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation affairs, dated December 19th, 1772, referring to this Board, for their examination and report, twenty six Acts passed in the Province of Massachusets Bay in June and July, 1772.
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Proprieties, Pennsylvania.
Order of the King in Council, dated January 15th, 1773, referring to this Board, for their consideration and report, thirty Acts passed in the Province of Pennsylvania in March and September, 1772.

Ordered, that the several Acts mentioned in the two foregoing Orders of Council be referred to Mr. Jackson for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

St. Vincent's, Dominica.

Their Lordships considered several application of persons interested in leases of lands in the Ceded Islands, for their Lordships' approbation and allowance of assignments of the said leases to British subjects, and it was ordered, that the Secretary should certify their Lordships' approbation of such assignments, vizt.:
St. Vincent's.
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Assignment by Susanne Louise Marques and Jean Charles Darrie of a lease of two parcels of land in the Island of St. Vincent, the one containing sixty two acres and the other thirty one acres, to Henry Wilmot, Esquire.
Assignment by Alexis Gayrin, Jacques Greaux, Gerard Heude, Prillieux Dujardain, Philip Beuse, Charles Beuse, Jean Beuse and of Michel Heude, of a lease of two parcels of land in the Island of St. Vincent, the one containing forty one acres, and the other twenty one acres, to Pierre Gayrin.
Dominica.
Assignment by Dominique Bartouilh and Pierre Pantier of a lease of nine acres of land in the Island of Dominica to John Robinson.
Assignment by Francoise Marie Jeanne Goddard De Casseaux of a lease of one hundred and fifteen acres of land in the Island of Dominica to Anthony Richardson and Thomas Court, Gentlemen.
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Assignment by Lewis Joseph Titre and George Titre of a lease of twenty two acres of land in the Island of Dominica to Thomas Durham, David Ferguson and Henry Thornton, Esquires.

Thursday, January 28. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Lord Greville, Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Jolliffe, Lord Garlies.

The Earl of Dartmouth, one of His Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, attends.

Barbados.

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Read a petition of Joseph Keeling, Esquire, praying their Lordships' permission to him or his agent to search the books of this Office for precedents of proceedings in the case of complaints against Judges in the Plantations, and that he may have extracts or copies of such papers as may be useful to him in the prosecution of a complaint made by him against the Judges of Barbados, and which is now depending before the Privy Council.

Ordered, that the petitioner or his agent have permission to search the books of this Office for such precedents as are above referred to, but that they be not allowed to take copies or extracts of any papers, without their Lordships' further orders upon a list of the said papers to be laid before them.

New York.

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Their Lordships took into consideration the reference of the petition of Henry Remsen and his associates respecting a purchase made by them in the Province of New York, and praying a grant of part of the said lands, and Mr. Hurst, one of the associates, attending in behalf of himself and the rest of the petitioners, he was heard in what he had to offer in support of the said petition, and it was ordered, that the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council should be prepared.

Newfoundland.

Read a memorial to the Earl of Dartmouth of George Cartwright, Esquire, containing a state of the nature of the fisheries and commerce on that part of the coast of Labrador in North America which lies to the North of the Streights of Bellisle, complaining of his having been disturbed in the possession of a fishing post on that coast, and praying that he may be confirmed and protected in the possession of the said post by His Majesty's authority.

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Mr. Cartwright attending, their Lordships had some discourse with him on the subject matter of his memorial, and it was agreed to take the same into further consideration on this day se'nnight, and that Governor Shuldham should be desired to attend. The Secretary was also directed to request the favour of Mr. Pallisser's attendance at the same time, in order that their Lordships may receive his sentiments upon the subject matter of the said memorial.

Friday, January 29. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Lord Robert Spencer, Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Jolliffe, Lord Garlies.

Newfoundland.

fo. 17.

Their Lordships took into further consideration Mr. Cartwright's memorial, mentioned in the preceding day's minutes, and it having appeared from the information of Mr. Cartwright, that one Andrew Pinson of Dartmouth was in possession of part of the premises claimed by Mr. Cartwright, it was ordered, that the Secretary should acquaint Mr. Pinson by letter of Mr. Cartwright's proposal, in order that, if he has any objection on the ground of any title to such possession, he may state the same before their Lordships' final resolution on Mr. Cartwright's memorial.

Their Lordships took into consideration the Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council on the 19th of December last, relative to the proposal made by this Board for re-annexing a part of the Labrador coast to the Government of Quebec, and it was agreed to consider further thereof on Thursday next.

Jamaica.

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It was also agreed to take into consideration on Thursday next the reference of the petition of the agent of Jamaica, respecting an Act passed there in December, 1770, for dividing the Parish of St. James, and it was ordered, that the agent should have notice to attend.

Grenada, Dominica.

Read an Order of the King in Council, dated January 15th, 1773, for revoking so much of the instructions given on the 24th of March 1764 to the Commissioners for the sale of lands in the Ceded Islands, as directs grants and leases of lands in Dominica to be passed under the Seal of Grenada; and directing, that all grants and leases of lands in Dominica should, in future, be passed under the Seal of the said Island of Dominica.

Ordered, that draughts of additional instructions to the Governors of Grenada and Dominica, conformable to the said Order, be prepared.

fo. 19.

Massachusetts.

Their Lordships took into consideration the reference of Mr. Bollan's memorial, mentioned in the minutes of the 25th instant, and Mr. Bollan attending was called in, and having insisted to be heard upon such evidence as he had to adduce in support of the allegations of his memorial, it was agreed to take the same into further consideration on Monday, the 8th of February, when he was ordered to attend again.

The Secretary laid before the Board several papers received during the late adjournment, which were read, and are intituled as follows, vizt.:
Nova Scotia.
Letter from Lord William Campbell, Governor of Nova Scotia, to the Board, dated October 27th, 1772, in answer to one from their Lordships, respecting a clause proposed to be inserted in all future draughts of Commissions to Governors with regard to the custody of idiots and lunaticks.
fo. 20.
New Hampshire.
Report of Timothy Ruggles, Esquire, Inspector and Surveyor of white pine trees within the district of the Province of New Hampshire, etc. to the Board, dated May 24th, 1772. Maps.
New York.
Letter from William Tryon, Esquire, Governor of New York, to the Board, dated December 2nd, 1772, in answer to one from their Lordships, respecting a clause proposed to be inserted in all future draughts of Commissions to Governors with regard to the custody of idiots and lunaticks.
Minute of the Council of New York on the additional clause proposed to be inserted in the Commissions to Governors of the Plantations.
Jamaica.
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Letter from Sir William Trelawny, Governor of Jamaica, to the Board, dated November 15th, 1772, in answer to one from their Lordships, respecting a clause proposed to be inserted in all future draughts of Commissions to Governors with regard to the custody of idiots and lunaticks.
Bahamas.
Letter from Thomas Shirley, Esquire, Governor of the Bahama Islands, to the Board, dated November 3rd, 1772, in answer to one from their Lordships, respecting a clause proposed to be inserted in all future draughts of Commissions to Governors with regard to the custody of idiots and lunaticks.
Barbados.
Letter from Samuel Rous, Esquire, President of the Council and Commander in Chief of Barbados, to the Board, dated October 17th, 1772, in answer to one from their Lordships, respecting a clause proposed to be inserted in all future draughts of Commissions to Governors with regard to the custody of idiots and lunaticks.
fo. 22.
Letter from Samuel Rous, Esquire, President of the Council and Commander in Chief of Barbados, to the Board, dated November 5th, 1772, transmitting an Act lately passed in that Island for improving the Molehead, etc., with a remark upon it.
Account of the number of Negroes imported into Barbados from August 11th, 1771, to August 11th, 1772.
Abstract of all persons born, christened and buried in Barbados from January 1st, 1771, to December 31st, following.
List of the Members of His Majesty's Council of Barbados, August 31st, 1772.
The storekeeper's certificate of gunpowder collected into the publick magazine of Barbados from August 11th, 1771, to August 11th, 1772.
fo. 23.
Letter from the Honourable Edward Hay, Esquire, Governor of Barbados, to the Secretary, dated November 27th, 1772, requesting copies of the answers of several Governors of Barbados to the queries of the Board's respecting the state of that Island.

Ordered, that Mr. Hay have copies of the papers mentioned in his letter.