Journal, March 1778: Volume 85

Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations: Volume 14, January 1776 - May 1782. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1938.

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'Journal, March 1778: Volume 85', in Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations: Volume 14, January 1776 - May 1782, (London, 1938) pp. 170-177. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/jrnl-trade-plantations/vol14/pp170-177 [accessed 19 March 2024]

Journal, March 1778

fo. 79.

Tuesday, March 3rd. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Jolliffe, Mr. Greville, Mr. Eden, Mr. de Grey.

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

Grenada.

Read a letter from Mr. Knox to Mr. Cumberland, dated March 2nd, 1778, transmitting
Extract of a letter from Lord Macartney Governor of the Island of Grenada, to Lord George Germain dated December 1st. 1777. acquainting his Lordship with the death of Mr. Fotheringham one of the Council for that Island and that he had called up Dr. Robert Johnston to a seat in the said Council, recommending him in the strongest manner to be appointed by mandamus from his Majesty.

fo. 80.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared, recommending Dr. Robert Johnston to be of the Council for the Island of Grenada.

St. Vincent's.

Read a letter from Mr. Knox to Mr. Cumberland, dated March 2nd, 1778. transmitting, by direction of Lord George Germain,
Extract of a letter to his Lordship from Valentine Morris, esquire, Governor of the Island of St. Vincent, dated November 9th, 1777. informing his Lordship of the want of a sufficient number of members of the Council, and recommending Mr. John Sharpe, who he has appointed to be of the said Council, to be confirmed by his Majesty: and also setting forth the inconvenience he is under, for want of power to nominate to the Council, when the number is under nine, instead of seven.

fo. 81.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared, recommending John Sharpe esquire, to be of the Council for the Island of St. Vincent.

The draught of an additional instruction to Valentine Morris, esquire, Governor of the Island of St. Vincent, commanding him to abstain from passing any grant of lands, in his Majesty's disposal, within the said Island, unless with the advice and consent of the Council, having been prepared pursuant to order, by the minutes of the 24th of February last, was approved, and a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, accompanying the same, was signed.

Mr. Wilmot moved the Board for a copy of the representation to his Majesty of the 9th of December last, on the grants of lands made by Governor Morris in the Island of St. Vincent, which was ordered to be given to him.

Senegambia.

fo. 82.

fo. 83.

Read a memorial of Edward Morse, esquire, Chief Justice of the Province of Senegambia, to the Board, in reply to the charges against him contained in the memorial of Lieutenant Governor McNamara, mentioned in the minutes of the 27th of January last, together with annexed copies of several papers, tending to support the assertions contained in the said Chief Justice's memorial, which he hopes the Board will at present accept as an answer to the said Lieutenant Governor's complaints, or until he can prepare his memorial in reply to Mr. Francis McNamara's complaints, contained in the memorial of the said Francis McNamara, mentioned in the minutes of the 10th of February last, which will necessarily include his answer to certain parts of the charges made against him by the said Lieutenant Governor; and praying, that their lordships will dismiss the said complaints, or that the memorialist may be at liberty to make such further answer thereto, in the Province of Senegambia, where only he can collect the evidence and vouchers necessary for his defence against the said charges.

Ordered, that a copy of the foregoing memorial be given to Mr. Drew, agent to Lieutenant Governor McNamara, and also, upon the application of Mr. Drew, that there be given to him copy of that part of the evidence, upon the hearing against Lieutenant Governor McNamara, which was transmitted to the Treasury, pursuant to the minute of the 10th of February last.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, upon the complaints exhibited before the Board by the Merchants and Adventurers of London, trading to Senegal, prepared pursuant to order, was approved, transcribed and signed.

Plantations General.

fo. 84.

Read a memorial of Gerard de Brahm, esquire, Surveyor General of the Southern District of North America, praying, that the allowance made last year upon the estimate for general surveys, may be continued to him for the present year.

Their lordships, having taken the said memorial into consideration, directed Mr. de Brahm to be informed, that the allowance in last year's estimate, having been granted to him as a support, during his being in confinement by the rebells, and he being now liberated from that confinement, the reason for making any extraordinary provision, in their opinion ceased.

Africa.

The Secretary acquainted the Board, that pursuant to order he had procured from the African Committee the following paper, vizt.:—
Copy of a letter from Mr. Westgate to the said Committee dated [blank].

Newfoundland.

fo. 85.

The draught of an additional instruction to the Governor of Newfoundland, directing him to receive the King's Tenth of all such metals, ores and minerals, as shall be extracted from the mines granted to John Agnew, esquire, and others, having been prepared pursuant to order, by the minute of the 24th of February last, was approved; and a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, accompanying the same, was signed.

Nova Scotia.

fo. 86.

Sir Herbert Mackworth, Baronet, attending pursuant to desire, their lordships directed, that the minute of the 24th of February last, respecting the objections made by Messieurs Lamprière, Lemessurier and Fiott against the grant of the Isle de Madame, prayed for by the memorial of Sir Herbert Mackworth, should be read; which being done, Sir Herbert informed the Board, that in praying for the grant of that Island, he and his associates had no view in anywise contrary to the interest of those who might chuse to establish fisheries there; that their intentions were to cultivate the Island, in a manner which they apprehended would be a publick service to this Country, and even a convenience to those who might chuse to resort thither for the purpose of the fishery; and that they were willing to accept the grant, under such restrictions as might be thought necessary to give all possible security in future, to the fisheries on the coasts of the said Island.

Ordered, that Messieurs Lamprière, Lemessurier and Fiott be desired to attend on Tuesday next at twelve o'clock.

Trade.

Read an order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated February 20th, 1778, referring to this Board, the petition of Messrs. Graham and Simpson, praying leave to export sundry military stores therein specified to Pensacola in West Florida, for the Indian trade, on board the ship Friendship.

fo. 87.

Their lordships, on consideration of the above petition, 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 approved, transcribed and signed; as also three reports upon the petitions of Messrs. Murray and Sansom, John Frazer, and Messrs. Isaac and Benjamin Lester, which had been prepared pursuant to order.

Mr. Perchard, whose petition for leave to export certain military stores to Guernsey, was read at the last Board, attending, was called in; and their lordships having questioned him in respect to such particulars as they thought fit, relative to the exportation prayed for, it was ordered, that the draught of a report thereupon to the Lords of the Privy Council should be prepared, and the said draught having been prepared accordingly, was approved, transcribed and signed.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following publick papers, vizt.:—
fo. 88.
Nova Scotia.
Proceedings of his Majesty's Council of Nova Scotia, commencing September 16th, and ending September 30th, 1777.
List of Members of his Majesty's Council of Nova Scotia, dated December 31st, 1777.
West Florida.
Minutes of Council of West Florida, from the 6th of January, 1776, to the 23rd of March, 1776.
Minutes of Council of West Florida, from the 26th of March, 1777, to the 29th March, 1777.
East Florida.
List of all vessels which have entered inwards and cleared outwards in the Port of St. Augustine in East Florida, from June 24th, 1776, to June 24th, 1777.

fo. 89.

Tuesday, March 10th. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Gascoyne, Lord Robert Spencer, Mr. Jolliffe, Mr. Greville, Mr. Eden.

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

Nova Scotia.

fo. 90.

Messieurs Lampriere, Fiott and Lebras, attending pursuant to desire, they were acquainted with the substance of what Sir Herbert Mackworth, Baronet, had offered to the Board, in answer to objections made by them against the grant for the Isle de Madame; and the minute of the 3rd instant having been read to them, they informed their lordships, that they had written to their correspondents engaged in the fishery at the said Island for such further information as they thought would be necessary to lay before the Board in respect to the soil of the Island and other particulars, to which they were unable to speak with sufficient accuracy, when they last attended their lordships; for which reason they requested, that any further proceedings upon the said grant might be postponed, until they shall receive answers to their enquiries; to which request their lordships were pleased to assent, and ordered that a copy of the minute beforementioned should be given to them.

Read a letter from R. Gibbons, esquire, Solicitor General of the Province of Nova Scotia, to Mr. Cumberland, dated Halifax, January 15th, 1778, transmitting, for the information of the Board,
A brief account of the present mode by which lands in Nova Scotia are taken from original grantees for nonperformance of the conditions of their grants, and re-granting the same to others, together with an humbly proposed amendment thereof.

St. Vincent's.

fo. 91.

Grenada.

The draughts of two representations to his Majesty, recommending John Sharpe, esquire, to be of the Council for the Island of St. Vincent, and Robert Johnston, esquire, to be of the Council for the Island of Grenada, having been prepared pursuant to order, by the minute of the 3rd instant, were approved, transcribed and signed.

Trade.

Read the following orders of the Lords of the Privy Council, vizt.:—
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated March 1778, referring to this Board, the petition of Edmund Hill, praying leave to export to Oporto, for trade, a certain quantity of gunpowder therein mentioned, on board the ship Kirby-Hall.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated March 6th, 1778, referring to this Board, the petition of Amos Hayton, praying leave to export certain military stores therein mentioned to Montreal, for trade, on board the ship New Adventure.
fo. 92.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated March 6th, 1778, referring to this Board, the petition of William Chrichton, praying leave to export to the Island of Grenada, on board the ship Lady Juliana, sundry military stores therein mentioned, for the purpose of fitting out vessels at that Island.

Their lordships, upon consideration of the three foregoing petitions, were of opinion, that the exportation therein prayed for should be allowed: and the draughts of three reports to the Lords of the Privy Council thereupon, having been prepared, were approved, transcribed and signed.

fo. 93.

Tuesday March 17th. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Gascoyne Mr. Jolliffe, Mr. de Grey.

Nova Scotia.

Richard Hughes, esquire, of the Royal Navy, appointed by his Majesty to succeed Admiral Arbuthnot as Commissioner and Lieutenant Governor at Halifax, waited on the Board to take leave previous to his departure for that place; and it being suggested, that it might be for his Majesty's service, that Captain Hughes should be furnished with the charts of the coasts and harbours of Nova Scotia published by Mr. Des Barres, the Secretary was directed to supply Mr. Hughes with the same, out of the collection belonging to the Office.

Jamaica.

fo. 94.

Read a memorial of the Duke and Duchess of Chandos, praying to be heard by Counsel, against an Act passed in the Island of Jamaica in December, 1776, respecting Hope Plantation Water, mentioned in the minutes of the 10th of February last.

Ordered, that a copy of the above memorial be given to Mr. Fuller, agent for the Island of Jamaica; and that notice be given to him, and to Mr. Lee. agent for the Duke and Duchess of Chandos, to attend the Board on Tuesday next at twelve o'clock.

Dominica.

Read a petition of Bruno Largarite, a free Mulatto of the Island of Dominica, praying to be heard by his Counsel, against an Act of that Island, which is by an Order of the Committee of Council, mentioned in the minutes of the 24th of February last referred to this Board for reconsideration.

fo. 95.

Bruno Largarite, attending, was called in, and acquainted by their lordships, that they will be ready to hear him by his Counsel against the Act of which he complains, on Tuesday, the 31st instant, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon; and it was ordered, that Mr. Frogat, who it is alledged has in his possession, papers belonging to the petitioner, should be desired to attend with the said papers, on Tuesday next.

Senegambia.

Read a memorial of Morgan Jenkins, mariner, praying, that the Board will give orders to the Governor and Council of Senegambia to reinstate him in the possession of a lot of land, granted to him by Governor O'Hara in July, 1775.

Ordered, that the draught of a letter to Governor Clarke be prepared, on the subject of the above memorial, and that a copy thereof be transmitted to him.

fo. 96.

Tuesday, March 24th. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Jolliffe, Mr. Eden.

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

Grenada.

Read a memorial of James Campbell, esquire, one of the Council of the Island of Grenada, praying, for certain reasons therein contained, that he may be recommended to his Majesty to have rank at that Board next to Samuel Williams, esquire, which he represents to be the seat to which he is intitled by appointment of Lieutenant Governor Young.

fo. 97.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared, proposing that James Campbell, esquire, may take his seat in the Council of the Island of Grenada, next immediately after Samuel Williams, esquire; which draught, having been prepared accordingly, was approved, transcribed and signed.

Jamaica.

Mr. Fuller, agent for the Island of Jamaica, and Mr. Lee, agent for the Duke and Duchess of Chandos, attending pursuant to order, they were called in; and the memorial of the Duke and Duchess of Chandos, mentioned in the last minutes, having been read, it was ordered, that the consideration of the said memorial should be postponed, until Mr. Fuller shall receive the direction of his constituents concerning an Act of that Island, passed in December, 1776, respecting Hope Plantation Water.

Dominica.

fo. 98.

Mr. Frogat's clerk attended, pursuant to order, with certain papers belonging to Bruno Largarite, whose petitions are mentioned in the minutes of the 24th of February and 17th of March last, which papers he left in the hands of the Secretary, for the information of the Board; and Bruno Largarite also attending, their lordships, at his request, confirmed the order of the last Board for a hearing upon his petition on Tuesday next.

Their Lordships read and considered the following Acts, together with Mr. Jackson's reports thereupon, vizt.:—
Antigua.
Three Acts passed in the Island of Antigua in September and October, 1777.
St. Christopher's.
Two Acts passed in the Island of St. Christopher's in September, 1777.
St. Vincent's.
Two Acts passed in the Island of St. Vincent in November, 1777.
Tobago.
Six Acts passed in the Island of Tobago in May, June and September, 1777.
Dominica.
Six Acts passed in the Island of Dominica in September 1777.

fo. 99.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared, recommending Francis Home, esquire, to be of the Council for the Island of Dominica.

Tuesday, March 31st. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Jolliffe, Mr. Greville, Mr. de Grey.

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

Senegambia.

fo. 100.

Read a memorial of Edward Morse, esquire, Chief Justice of the Province of Senegambia, in answer to the complaints against him, contained in the petitions of Francis McNamara and Thomas Sharpless mentioned in the minutes of the 10th and 24th of February last: and praying, that the said two petitions may be dismissed, or that he may be at liberty to make further answer thereto in the Province of Senegambia; and also praying, that their lordships will move his Majesty to order that Thomas Sharpless be remanded to the Province of Senegambia, there to take his tryal for a felony, of which he stands charged upon oath.

Ordered, that a copy of the above memorial be prepared and given to Mr. Drew, agent to Francis McNamara, and Thomas Sharpless.

West Florida.

fo. 101.

Read a memorial of Clark Durnford on behalf of his brother, Elias Durnford, Surveyor General of the Province of West Florida, setting forth that he has received the Governor's certificate of the said Elias Durnford's being living, and of the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds being due to him, as charged in the estimate for the civil establishment of that Province; and praying their lordships aid in procuring payment of the said sum from the agent of that Province, to whom it is alledged by the memorialist the grant of Parliament has been issued.

Ordered, that the Secretary do apply to Mr. Robert Browne, acting agent to Mr. Nesham, on the subject of the above memorial, and report Mr. Browne's answer to the Board.

Dominica.

fo. 102.

Their lordships, in pursuance of the resolution of last Board, took into their consideration the several papers relating to the complaints of Bruno Largarite, a free Mulatto of the Island of Dominica, and of other free Negroes. Mulattos and Mustees, inhabitants of that Island, against an Act passed in the said Island in September, 1774 for regulating the manumission of slaves, mentioned in the several minutes of the 18th and 25th of March, the 8th and 15th of April, and the 6th of May, 1777; and the 24th of February, the 17th and 24th of March, in the present year: and the said Bruno Largarite, together with Mr. Dunning, Counsel on behalf of the complaints, attending, with several other gentlemen, they were called in; and the Act before mentioned, together with the two orders of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, referring to this Board the reconsideration of the said Act, with the petitions of Bruno Largarite and others, having been read, Mr. Dunning was heard in support of the complaints alledged by the petitioners against the said Act; and the parties having nothing further to offer, (no Counsel appearing on behalf of the Island), they were desired to withdraw, and the Board deferred the further consideration of the papers beforementioned until their next meeting, having previously had some conversation with the Lieutenant Governor of the said Island thereupon.

Trade.

fo. 103.

Read the following orders of the Lords of the Privy Council, vizt.:—
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated March 18th, 1778, referring to this Board, the petition of Thomas Woolrige and Company, praying leave to export to Quebec and Montreal sundry military stores therein mentioned, for the Indian trade, on board the ship Edmund Burke.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated March 18th, 1778, referring to this Board, the petition of Messieurs Hanbury and Gosling, praying leave to export to the Island of Barbados, on board the ship Polly and Charlotte, sixty barrels of gunpowder, for the use of his Majesty's forts in the said Island.
fo. 104.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated March 30th, 1778, referring to this Board, the petition of John and George Dyer, praying leave to export to the Mosquito Shore, on board the ship Hope, certain military stores therein specified, for the Indian trade.

Dominica.

Their Lordships, on consideration of the three foregoing petitions, were of opinion, that the exportation prayed for should be allowed; and the draughts of three reports to the Lords of the Privy Council thereupon, having been prepared, were approved, transcribed and signed; as also the draught of a representation to his Majesty, prepared pursuant to order, recommending Francis Home, esquire, to be of the Council for the Island of Dominica.