Journal, March 1776: Volume 83

Journal, March 1776

Tuesday, March 5th. Present:—Mr. Jenyns. Mr. Gascoyne, Lord Robert Spencer. Mr. Jolliffe. Mr. Keene. Mr. Greville.

Newfoundland.

fo. 40.

Lord George Germain, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, attended and acquainted the Board, that the King had been graciously pleased to approve of John Montague. Esquire. Vice Admiral of the Blue, being appointed Governor of Newfoundland: and that it was his Majesty's pleasure, that this Board should prepare, and lay before his Majesty in Council, drafts of a Commission and instructions for the said Governor in the usual form and manner: and the said drafts having been prepared accordingly, a representation to his Majesty accompanying them was agreed to and signed.

Newfoundland.

fo. 41.

The Secretary acquainted the Board, that he had received letters and reports from the mayors of Pool. Dartmouth and Plymouth, and from the Master of Merchants' Hall. Bristol, on the subject of the Newfoundland memorial, mentioned in the minutes of the 16th of January last, copies whereof had been severally transmitted to them, pursuant to order of that day: and the said letters and reports being read, and it appearing, that every purpose of the above memorial is fully answered by the operation of the late Act of Parliament. for prohibiting all trade and intercourse with certain colonies of North America therein mentioned, their lordships agreed to postpone any further consideration thereof for the present.

Africa.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following papers received from the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, vizt.
Copy of a letter from the African Committee to the Governor and Council at Cape Coast Castle, dated 22nd of December, 1775.
Copy of the African Committee's petition to Parliament respecting the state of the British forts on the coast of Africa, and praying for a grant of such sum, for the support and repair of the said forts, as to the House shall seem meet.

Dominica.

fo. 42.

Their lordships approved of the following leases of lands in the island of Dominica being assigned to the persons therein named, and the Secretary was ordered to certify the same.
Assignment by Francis Roger Bellair of a lease of thirty three acres of cleared land in the island of Dominica to John Pelletier.
Assignment by Charles Martin Roger Bellair of a lease of fourteen acres of cleared land in the island of Dominica to Nicholas Laverdaint and Theodora, his wife.

Georgia.

Read a letter from Sir James Wright, Governor of Georgia, to the Board, dated the 3rd of November, 1775, signifying the death of Mr. James Habersham, Mr. Clement Martin and Mr. Noble Jones, three of his Majesty's Council of that province.

Ordered, that the draft of a representation to his Majesty be prepared, proposing that William Mackinnen, Esquire, may be appointed of the Council for the province of Georgia.

fo. 43.

Trade.

Their lordships read and considered the following Orders of the Lords of the Privy Council; vizt.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated February 28th, 1776, referring to this Board, for their consideration and report, the petition of Isaac Pratt, for leave to export ten thousand, five hundred sword blades to the East Indies.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated March 4th, 1776, referring to this Board the petition of Philip Peter de Gurchy and John Fiott of London, merchants, praying leave to export to the Bay of Chaleur twenty barrels of gunpowder, for trade there.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated 27th of February, 1776, referring to this Board the petition of John Shoolbred, praying leave to export to the Bay of Chaleur sundry military stores, for trade with the Accadians and savages.
fo. 44.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated February 28th, 1776, referring to this Board the petition of James Baril, for leave to export to Havre de Grace sundry military stores therein specified, for the use of a French ship trading to the Gold Coast of Africa.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated 28th February. 1776. referring to this Board the petition of John and George Dyer, for leave to export to the Mosquito shore. sundry military stores therein specified.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated March 4th, 1776. referring to this Board the petition of Jeffery Randall and Street, for leave to export certain military stores to Newfoundland.

fo. 45.

The parties interested in the abovementioned petitions attending, and their lordships having entered into examination of such points as they thought fit to interrogate them upon, were of opinion, that the exportation prayed for should be allowed; and drafts of reports to the Lords of the Council thereupon were ordered to be prepared.

Tuesday. March 12th. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Jolliffe. Mr. Keene. Mr. Greville.

Lord George Germain, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, attends.

Trade.

fo. 46.

The Secretary having represented to the Board, that the Commissioners of his Majesty's Customs had not transmitted to the Office any ledger of imports and exports since the year 1768, their lordships directed him to write to the Secretary of the Customs, desiring a communication of all such ledgers as are, or can be, made ready since that period. Their lordships further directed him to desire a report to be made, whether any and what bonds and securities, given by merchants upon the exportation of military stores to European ports, since the prohibition, have been cancelled, upon the terms of exportation being fulfilled.

Georgia.

The draft of a representation to his Majesty, recommending (fn. 1) Charles William Mackinnen, Esquire, to be appointed of the Council of Georgia, having been prepared pursuant to order, was approved transcribed and signed.

Trade.

The following reports to the lords of the Privy Council having been prepared, pursuant to order of the last Board, were approved and signed.
Report upon the petition of Isaac Pratt, for leave to export sword blades to the East Indies.
fo. 47.
Report upon the petition of Philip Peter de Gurchy and John Fiott. for leave to export gunpowder to the Bay of Chaleur.
Report upon the petition of John Shoolbred. for leave to export military stores to the Bay of Chaleur.
Report upon the petition of James Baril, for leave to export military stores, for the use of a French ship trading to Africa.
Report upon the petition of John and George Dyer, for leave to export military stores to the Mosquito shore.
Report upon the petition of Jeffery Randall and Street, for leave to export military stores to Newfoundland.

Their lordships read and considered the following Orders of the Lords of the Privy Council; vizt.
fo. 48.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated 8th of March, 1776, referring to this Board the petition of David Grant, for leave to export to the coast of Labrador, sundry military stores, for trade there.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated 8th of March, 1776, referring to this Board the petition of John Strettell, for leave to export certain military stores, therein specified, to the coast of Labrador, for the trade there.

The parties interested in the abovementioned petitions attending, and their lordships having entered into examination of such points as they thought fit to interrogate them upon, were of opinion, that the exportation prayed for should be allowed; and drafts of reports to the lords of the Council thereupon were ordered to be prepared.

fo. 49.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated the 8th of March, 1776, referring to this Board the petition of Benjamin and Thomas Boddington of London, merchants, praying leave to export to Grenada thirty barrels of gunpowder, for the purpose of blowing up rocks.

Their lordships, upon consideration of the abovementioned petition, were of opinion, that it would not be expedient to recommend the exportation prayed for.

New Jersey.

Read a report of Richard Jackson, Esquire, dated February 22nd, 1776, on an Act passed in the province of New Jersey in September 1772, for the relief of Richard Stevens, with respect to the imprisonment of his person.

Tuesday, March 19th. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Gascoyne, Lord Robert Spencer, Mr. Jolliffe, Mr. Keene, Mr. Greville, Mr. Eden.

fo. 50.

Lord George Germain, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, attends.

Miscellanies.

A new Commission under the Great Seal of Great Britain bearing date the 15th instant, constituting the Great Officers of State, together with Soame Jenyns, and Bamber Gascoyne, Esquires, Robert Spencer, commonly called Lord Robert Spencer, William Jolliffe, Whitshed Keene, the Honorable Charles Greville, Esquires, together with William Eden, Esquire, in the room of Edward Eliot, Esquire, to be his Majesty's Commissioners for promoting the trade of this kingdom; and for inspecting and improving his Majesty's Plantations in America and elsewhere, was read, and Mr. Eden took his seat at the Board.

fo. 51.

Trade.

The Secretary laid before the Board a letter received from Mr. Stanley, Secretary to the Commissioners of the Customs, in answer to one from him, directed by the minutes of the last Board, promising to send copies of the ledgers of imports and exports, as soon as they can be prepared: as likewise an account of all such bonds, given upon the exportation of military stores to European ports. as have been canncelled upon the terms of exportation being fulfilled.

The following reports to the Lords of the Privy Council having been prepared. pursuant to order of the last Board. were approved and signed, vizt.
Report upon the petition of David Grant. for leave to export military stores to the coast of Labrador.
Report upon the petition of John Strettell. for leave to export military stores to the coast of Labrador.

fo. 52.

St. Vincent's.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty having been prepared upon the form and device of a publick Seal for the island of St. Vincent, newly erected into a separate Government: the said draught was approved, transcribed and signed.

St. Vincent's.

The Secretary laid before the Board draughts of general instructions and of those for the observance of the Acts of Parliament for the encouragement and regulation of trade and navigation, prepared for Valentine Morris. Esquire, appointed Governor of the island of St. Vincent, and a representation to His Majesty thereupon was agreed to and signed.

St. John's.

fo. 53.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation affairs, dated March 4th. 1776. referring to this Board, for their consideration and report, the petition to His Majesty of the proprietors of the island of St. John in the Gulph of St. Lawrence, who have paid their quitrents and complied with their engagements to Government: praying, for the reasons therein contained, that the civil establishment of the said island may be provided for by grant of Parliament, in the same manner as the Governments of East and West Florida: etc.

Resolved to postpone the consideration of this petition for the present.

Grenada, Tobago.

Their lordships took into consideration an Act passed in the island of Tobago in May 1775. for establishing Courts of Common Pleas, Error. King's Bench and Grand Sessions; etc., together with Mr. Jackson's report thereupon; and sundry objections occurring to a clause in the said Act, it was ordered, that the draught of a letter to the Governor of Grenada be prepared. stating those objections, and proposing to him to advise the passing of an Act for the repeal of the exceptionable clause.

fo. 54.

Trade.

Their lordships read and considered the following Orders of the Lords of the Privy Council, vizt,.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated February 27th, 1776, referring to this Board the petition of Messrs. Watson and Rashleigh. for leave to export to Halifax in Nova Scotia certain military stores therein specified.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated March 15th, 1776, referring to this Board the petition of Robert Hunter, for leave to export certain military stores therein specified to Quebec and Montreal.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated March 15th, 1776, referring to this Board the petition of Richard Morland, for leave to export certain military stores to Montreal, for trade in the Province of Quebec.

fo. 55.

The petitioners mentioned in the above Orders of Council attending, their lordships entered into an examination of the conditions, under which they propose to export the particulars prayed for.

Resolved, that it may be adviseable to recommend the allowance of the exportation prayed for, provided the ships on board of which the said stores are to be exported, shall be bonâ fide manned and armed in the manner, and depart at the time set forth in the petitions; and provided the said stores shall in all cases be consigned to the King's Governors or Commanders in Chief of the respective colonies, and the said Governors and Commanders in Chief shall certify to the faithful application of the said consignments to the uses set forth in the petitions.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Privy Council upon the foregoing petition of Messrs. Watson and Rashleigh, having been prepared, was approved, transcribed and signed.

fo. 56.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated March 15th, 1776, referring to this Board the petition of William Wilson, for leave to export fourteen hundred hanger blades to Africa for trade there.

Mr. Wilson attending and their lordships having entered into an examination of such points as they thought fit to interrogate him upon, were of opinion, that the exportation prayed for should be allowed; and the draught of a report to the Lords of the Privy Council thereupon having been prepared, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

fo. 57.

Tuesday, March 26th. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Keene, Mr. Greville, Mr. Eden.

Lord George Germain, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, attends.

Trade.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated March 15th, 1776, referring to this Board, for their consideration and report, the petition of the Governor and Company of Adventurers of England trading to Hudson's Bay, praying leave to export sundry military stores to the said Bay, for the support of their trade and the defence of their factories, etc.

The Secretary to the said Company attending, and their lordships having entered into an examination of such points as they thought fit to interrogate him upon, were of opinion, that the exportation prayed for should be allowed; and the draught of a report to the Lords of the Privy Council thereupon was ordered to be prepared.

Trade.

fo. 58.

Read three Orders of the Lords of the Privy Council, referring to this Board the petitions of Messrs. Bourdieu and Company. Thelusson and Company. and Harrison and Company, for leave to export to France sundry military stores, for the use of the French Guinea trade.

Their lordships, upon consideration of the above-mentioned petitions, were of opinion that it would not be adviseable to recommend the exportation prayed for.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, referring to this Board the petition of Mr. Phynn. for leave to export military stores to Canada: and it appearing, that Mr. Phynn had departed from the proportion prayed for in the joint petition of the Canada merchants, mentioned in the minutes of the 27th of last month, by enlarging the same, upon reasons not satisfactory to the Board, their lordships did not approve of any recommendation in his case.

fo. 59.

Nova Scotia.

Read and considered four Nova Scotia bills, the titles of which are as follows, vizt..
A bill. intituled, an Act for emitting the sum of Twenty thousand pounds in bills of credit on loan, and to appropriate the interest arising thereon to the support of the credit of said bills.
A bill, intituled. an Act for taking examining and stating the publick accounts of the province.
A bill, intituled, an Act for regulating the elections of members for serving in the House of Assembly.
A bill. intituled, an Act for granting to his Majesty a tax upon certain real and personal estates within this province, for and towards paying such debts of government as are not on interest, and other purposes therein mentioned.
together with Mr. Jackson's report thereupon; and it was ordered, that the draught of a letter to the Governor of Nova Scotia should be prepared, pointing out sundry amendments recommended to be made in the Acts to be formed upon the plan of the said bills.

fo. 60.

Read and considered twelve Acts passed in the Province of Nova Scotia in November 1775. together with Mr. Jackson's report thereupon.