Journal, March 1769: Volume 76

Journal, March 1769

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Thursday, March 2. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns. Mr. Robinson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Lisburne.

Plantations General.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated May 31st, 1768, referring to this Board, for their consideration and report, a memorial of Major General Lyman to the King, praying that certain tracts of land, particularly described in the said memorial, may be granted to his Majesty's provincial forces and others, in the proportions mentioned therein.

Their lordships, upon consideration of General Lyman's petition, agreed that it should lye by for further consideration at another opportunity.

New York.

The draught of a letter to the Governor of New York, relative to the petition of Captain Samuel Bayard and others, having been prepared pursuant to order, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

fo. 46.

Nova Scotia.

Quebec.

New Hampshire.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the petition of Sir William Mayne and others for a grant of lands in Nova Scotia. having been prepared pursuant to order, was approved and ordered to be transcribed; as were also the draughts of a representation to his Majesty upon Mr. Dutens' petition, praying for a grant of ten thousand acres of land in Chaleur Bay in the province of Quebec, and upon an Act passed in New Hampshire in 1768. relative to idiots and distracted persons.

Their lordships made a further progress in the consideration of several other Laws passed in New Hampshire in 1768.

Plantations General.

fo. 47.

The Board having taken notice, that a practice had of late prevailed of raising money in the colonies by lotteries, and it appearing to their lordships. that such general practice was inexpedient and improper, it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty thereupon should be prepared.

Tuesday, March 7. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Fitzherbert Lord Lisburne.

Nova Scotia.

Quebec.

New Hampshire.

The draughts of representations to his Majesty upon the petition of Sir William Mayne and others for lands in Nova Scotia; upon the petition of Mr. Dutens for lands in Quebec, and upon the Act of New Hampshire relative to idiots and distracted persons, having been transcribed pursuant to order, were signed.

fo. 48.

Plantations General.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the subject matter under the consideration of the Board, relative to the raising money in the colonies by lotteries, having been prepared pursuant to order, was approved, transcribed and signed.

The Earl of Hillsborough, by his Majesty's command, communicated to the Board, for their consideration, the following papers relative to the proceedings of the Superintendents for Indian affairs in America, in settling a boundary line with the said Indians, and upon other matters belonging to their departments, vizt.
Copy of a letter, No. 4, from Sir William Johnson to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated October 23rd, 1768, relative to his proceedings with the Indians concerning the boundary line.
fo. 49.
Copy of a letter. No. 5, from Sir William Johnson to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated November 18th, 1768, inclosing.
Proceedings at a treaty at Fort Stanwix for establishing a boundary line between the colonies and Indians in October and November, 1768.
Deed of Cession from the Indians to his Majesty of lands in North America.
Copy of a letter from John Stuart, Esquire, Superintendent for the Southern district of North America, to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated December 28th. 1768, relative to his proceedings with the Indians; their cessions of lands to his Majesty; and inclosing copies of treaties and other papers on this subject.
Letter, No. 8, from Mr. Stuart to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated January 3rd, 1769, respecting the state of the country near the boundary line, and the behaviour of the inhabitants on the frontiers. and transmitting,
fo. 50.
Copy of a letter from Mr. Sommerhall to Mr. Stuart, dated November 10th. 1768.
Letter from Mr. Stuart to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated January 3rd, 1769, praying that his Majesty's determination of his rank as Superintendent, may be signified to him.
Copy of a letter from Mr. Stuart to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated September 15th, 1768, relating to arrangements for conducting the affairs of his district, and inclosing,
Copy of a circular letter from Mr. Stuart to the Governors of the Southern district, September 15th, 1768.
Virginia.
Duplicate of a letter, No. 4. from Lord Botetourt, Governor of Virginia, to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated November 12th, 1768, transmitting,
Copy of a letter from Mr. Stuart to Mr. President Blair, October 17th, 1768, relative to the cession of lands by the Indians.
fo. 51.
Copies of three letters from Lord Botetourt to Mr. Stuart, November 6th, 1768.
Duplicate letter. No. 5, from Lord Botetourt to the Earl of Hillsborough, transmitting several publick papers.
Copies of some letters relative to the provision made for a Congress with the Indians.
Duplicate of a letter, No. 6, from Lord Botetourt to the Earl of Hillsborough, December 20th, 1768, containing the reasons for disapproving the boundary line agreed to by Mr. Stuart, and inclosing,
Papers relative to the proceedings at the Conference held at Fort Stanwix.
Georgia.
Copy of a letter from Governor Wright to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated January 14th, 1769. transmitting the surveyor's sketch of the boundary line, as marked from William's Creek to St. Mary's River, and containing his observations thereon.
fo. 52.
New York.
Copy of a letter from Sir Henry Moore, Governor of New York. to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated January 27th, 1769, transmitting a sketch of the boundary line between that province and the Indian country, and containing his observations thereon.

The said papers were severally read, and their lordships made some progress in the consideration thereof.

Thursday. March 9. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Rice, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Lisburne.

Trade, Russia.

fo. 53.

Read a letter from Thomas Bradshaw, Esquire, Secretary to the Lords of the Treasury, to the Secretary to this Board, dated March 3rd, 1769, referring, for the consideration and opinion of their lordships,
Memorial of the Russia Company, praying that the drawback on foreign rough hemp exported may be restored on the same footing that it was before the Bounty Act on cordage took place.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to the Commissioners of the Customs for the following accounts to be made out and transmitted to their lordships, vizt.
An account of the quantities of foreign rough hemp imported into Great Britain between the 24th of June, 1763, and the 24th of June, 1768, distinguishing each year; and also an account of the quantities re-exported within that time, distinguishing each year, and the places to which exported.
An account of British made cordage exported from Great Britain between the 24th of June. 1763, and the 24th of June, 1768, distinguishing each year, and the places to which exported.

fo. 54.

New Hampshire.

Their lordships made a further progress in the consideration of several Laws passed in the province of New Hampshire in 1768, and a letter from the Governor to the Earl of Hillsborough, communicated to the Board by his Lordship. containing observations upon the said Laws, was read.

Tuesday, March 14. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Roberts, Lord Lisburne.

Trade, Africa.

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The Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa attend, and communicate to the Board two papers, as evidence of their having given notice to their officers upon the coast of Africa of the Act of Parliament, by which the said officers are required to account upon oath for the expenditure of the publick money, and also as evidence of their having directed an enquiry and report to be made of the state of the forts.

The said papers are entitled as follows, vizt.
Extract of a letter from the committee of the company of merchants trading to Africa to Mr. William Mutter, Governor, and the Council of Cape Coast Castle, dated August 1st. 1765, inclosing the Acts of Parliament passed last sessions, relative to the account to be given of stores; also extract of a letter from the same to Gilbert Petrie, Esquire. Governor, and the Council at Cape Coast Castle, November 17th, 1767, respecting the accounts to be sworn to.
fo. 56.
Copy of a letter from the African Committee to Gilbert Petrie, Governor. and the Council at Cape Coast Castle, November 10th. 1768, requiring an account of the state and condition of the forts on that coast, and likewise an estimate of the expence necessary for their repair.

It having been observed to the Committee, that they ought to have made application for the appointment of such a person to administer the oath to their officers, as is pointed out by the Act. they acknowledged their neglect therein, and promised to deliver in a memorial to the Board on that subject.

The Committee were then questioned as to the conduct of their officers in employing the slaves, servants and craft of the publick, and also the goods sent out for the payment of the expences of the forts, in their own private trade, upon which heads the committee acknowledged complaints had been made, and it was recommended to them to consider of proper instructions to their officers upon these points.

fo. 57.

Plantations General.

Their lordships took into further consideration the papers relative to the proceedings of the superintendents for Indian affairs in the settlement of a boundary line with the Indians, and made a further progress therein.

Thursday, March 16. Present:-Mr. Rice, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Roberts, Lord Lisburne.

Trade.

Read a memorial of Mr. George Pitt, alleging that he has discovered the art of making salt petre in America, and suggesting the propriety of a Bounty upon the importation from thence of that commodity.

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Mr. Pitt attends, and having been heard in what he had to offer upon the subject of his memorial, he withdrew.

The following papers, communicated to the Board by the Earl of Hillsborough, for their consideration, in consequence of his Majesty's commands, were read and considered, vizt.
New Jersy.
Extract of a letter from the Governor of New Jersey to the Earl of Hillsborough. dated Burlington. New Jersey. 28th of January. 1769. inclosing a Bill for emitting one hundred thousand pounds in paper Bills of credit upon loan, and containing his observations upon the said Bill.
Grenada, Tobago.
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Letter from Ulysses Fitzmaurice, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Tobago, and Commander in Chief of the southern Charibbee Islands, to the Earl of Hillsborough, inclosing a Bill passed by the Council and Assembly of Dominica, for granting a revenue to his Majesty for the support of Government in that island.
Nova Scotia.
Two letters from the Governor of Nova Scotia to the Earl of Hillsborough, the one, inclosing an Act passed there, with a suspending clause, for trial at Halifax of felonies committed in other counties; the other inclosing two Bills passed by the Council and Assembly, the one for preventing lame and impotent persons imported into that province becoming chargeable to the community, the other, for ascertaining the rate of interest.

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Tuesday, March 21. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Rice, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Robinson, Lord Lisburne.

Trade.

Read a letter from Mr. Stanley, Secretary to the Commissioners of the Customs, to the Secretary to this Board, dated March 17th, 1769, transmitting,
An account of the quantities of foreign rough hemp imported into Great Britain from Christmas, 1762, to Christmas, 1768, distinguishing each year.
An account of the quantity of British made cordage exported from England between Christmas, 1762, and Christmas, 1768, distinguishing each year, and the places to which exported.
fo. 61.
An account of the quantities of foreign rough hemp re-exported from England between Christmas, 1762, and Christmas, 1768, distinguishing each year, and the places to which exported.

Russia.

Ordered, that the memorial of the Russia Company, mentioned in the minutes of the 9th instant, be taken into consideration on Thursday, and that notice be given to the principal members of the Company to attend.

Africa.

Read a memorial of the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, to this Board, praying that a proper person may be appointed by His Majesty to administer the oath required by an Act of Parliament passed in the 5th year of his Majesty's reign for the better regulating the trade to Africa.

fo. 62.

Newfoundland.

The Earl of Hillsborough, by his Majesty's command, notified to the Board the appointment of Captain Byron to be Governor of Newfoundland, and signified his Majesty's pleasure, that this Board should prepare draughts of a Commission and instructions for the said Governor.

Newfoundland.

Ordered, that draughts of a Commission and instructions be prepared with all convenient dispatch.

Nova Scotia.

Their lordships took into consideration the letter from the Governor of Nova Scotia to the Earl of Hillsborough, inclosing two Bills passed by the Council and Assembly of that province, mentioned in the minutes of the 16th instant, and having made some progress therein, it was agreed to take them into consideration on Thursday next, and that Mr. Franklyn, the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, now in England, should be desired to attend.

fo. 63.

Grenada, Dominica.

Their lordships then took into consideration the Dominica Treasury Bill, inclosed in Mr. Fitzmaurice's letter to Lord Hillsborough, mentioned in the said minutes, and after some time spent therein, ordered the draught of a representation to his Majesty thereupon to be prepared.

New Jersey.

It was also ordered, upon further consideration of the New Jersey paper Currency Bill, that the draught of a representation thereupon should be prepared.

East Florida.

Read two orders of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated March 9th, 1769, referring to this Board, for their consideration and report, the petitions of John Bowman, senior, and John Bowman, junior, Esquires, praying for a grant of five thousand acres of land to each in the province of East Florida.

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Their lordships agreed to take the said orders of reference into consideration on Thursday next, and it was ordered, that the petitioners should have notice to attend.

Trade.

Mr. George Pitt attended again upon the subject of his memorial, mentioned in the minutes of the 16th instant, and was acquainted, that their lordships did not see sufficient ground to recommend what is therein suggested.

Thursday, March 23. Present:—Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Rice, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Lisburne.

East Florida.

fo. 65.

Their lordships took into consideration the petition of Messieurs Bowman for grants to each of five thousand acres of land in East Florida; and Lord Frederick Campbell, attending in behalf of the petitioners, acquainted their lordships, that they were persons of considerable substance, and of ability, in his opinion, to carry the plan they propose into execution; and that John Bowman, the son, was actually embarked for East Florida, in order to prosecute the adventure; whereupon it was ordered, that the draught of a report should be prepared, recommending that the prayer of the petitioners should be comply'd with.

Trade, Russia.

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fo. 67.

The Governor and several of the principal members of the Russia Company attended, pursuant to notice, upon the subject of their memorial, and were heard in what they had to offer in support thereof, after which they withdrew, and their lordships, upon further consideration of this matter, directed the Secretary to signify by letter to Mr. Bradshaw, that, though their lordships do not find, from the accounts they have received from the Commissioners of the Customs, of the state of the importation and exportation of hemp, before and since the Act of the 6th of his present Majesty took place, that the discontinuance of that drawback has yet had any material influence, to diminish either the importation or exportation of that article; yet they are of opinion, upon general principles of commerce, and from the consideration of the good policy of trying every expedient that can be suggested to encourage a plentifull supply of so important a material, that it may be advisable to restore the drawback of the duties upon the re-exportation of foreign rough hemp, provided such regulation does not extend to restore the drawback upon such hemp exported to America, which drawback was discontinued by an Act of the 4th of George the second; and provided also, that no foreign rough hemp, re-exported to other places, be entitled to such drawback of the duty, unless it appears by a certificate from the Commissioners of the Navy, that the pre-emption of such hemp has been offered to them.

Nova Scotia.

Their lordships then took into consideration the two Nova Scotia Bills, mentioned in the minutes of the 21st instant, and Mr. Franklyn attending, their lordships, after some conversation had with him thereupon, ordered the draught of a representation to his Majesty to be prepared.