Journal, April 1780: Volume 87

Journal, April 1780

fo. 46.

Thursday, April 6th. Present:—The Earl of Carlisle, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Greville, Mr. Eden, Mr. de Grey, Mr. Stuart, Mr. Gibbon.

Trade.

Portugal.

Their lordships having taken into their further consideration the several papers referred to them by the King's commands, relating to the complaints of the Portugueze Envoy, mentioned in the minutes of the 23rd of last month, and having also read and considered the following papers transmitted by the Earl of Hillsborough, order was taken that the draught of a representation to his Majesty thereupon should be prepared.

Two letters from Sir Stanier Porten to Mr. Cumberland, dated 25th March and 1st April, 1780, transmitting,
fo. 47.
A printed copy of the additional instructions to the Commanders and Officers of his Majesty's ships and vessels of war.
Copy of the Honorable Mr. Walpole's letter to the Earl of Rochford, dated Lisbon, the 9th of January, 1773, with copies of the several papers therein mentioned.

Trade.

Wool.

fo. 48.

Read a letter from Mr. Robinson to Mr. Cumberland, dated March 22nd, 1780, transmitting, by directions of the Lords of the Treasury, to be laid before the Lords of Trade for their opinion thereupon, A report of the Commissioners of the Customs on a memorial of several merchants and others concerned in the wool trade, and in the woollen manufacture, praying a repeal of a clause in the Act of the 13th and 14th of Charles the Second, which prescribes the time for removing wool, etc., and stating that the trade cannot be carried on if the said prohibiting clause continues.

Mr. West, agent for the memorialists, attending, was called, and after some conversation had with him, the further consideration of the matter was postponed until Monday next, when Mr. West was desired to attend, together with such persons as he thought fit and capable to give the Board further information upon the subject of the said memorial.

Trade.

Verdigrease.

fo. 49.

Read a letter from Mr. Robinson to Mr. Cumberland, dated March 30th, 1780, transmitting by directions of the Lords of the Treasury, to be laid before the Lords of Trade for their opinion thereupon, "A report of the Commissioners of the Customs on the memorial of the proprietors of the works, established at Newnham in Gloucestershire, for the manufacture of verdigrease, praying that a duty of fourpence in the pound may be laid on all verdigrease of the common sort imported into this kingdom; and a duty of one shilling in the pound on all such verdigrease as may be distilled or chrystalized."

The Secretary at the same time laid before the Board the following paper presented by the memorialists abovementioned, vizt.,
Additional appendix to the memorial of John William Anderson and others, praying a duty to be laid on verdigrease, containing the proceedings in Parliament on a former application of the proprietors of the works at Newnham in Gloucestershire: An account of premiums given by the Society for the encouragement of arts, manufactures and commerce: Certificates of the goodness of the English verdigrease; And a chemical proof of the comparative purity of the English and foreign verdigrease.

fo. 50.

Their lordships being informed that Mr. Anderson and Mr. Hopkins, two of the proprietors of the verdigrease works beforementioned attended, together with Mr. Bartlett, they were called in, and having stated to the Board the nature of the manufacture in which they were engaged, and their views in the application for a duty on foreign verdigrease, they were questioned as to such particulars as their lordships thought proper, in respect to the quantity, quality, and price of the verdigrease made by them, and to the comparison in those respects with verdigrease manufactured in foreign countries, upon which they were desired to withdraw; And their lordships, having made some progress in the consideration of the papers before them, adjourned their decision on the said papers till Monday next.

Trade.

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Read an Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated April 5th, 1780, referring the petition of Messieurs Baugh, Ames and Company of Bristol, praying leave to export gunpowder to New York, on board the ship John.

Their lordships being of opinion, the exportation prayed for should be allowed; the draught of a report to the Lords of the Privy Council was prepared, approved, transcribed and signed.

Africa.

Read a letter from Mr. Rutherford, Secretary to the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, to Mr. Cumberland, dated April 4th, 1780, transmitting, by direction of the Committee, to be laid before the Lords of Trade.
Copy in triplicate of a letter from the Governor and Council of Cape Coast Castle to the Committee, dated July 26th, 1779.
Copy of triplicate of a letter from Richard Miles, esquire, Governor of Cape Coast Castle to the Committee, dated July 26th, 1779.
Copies of nine letters to and from the Chiefs at the Out Forts on the coast of Africa, dated July 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th, and 18th, 1779.
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Minutes of an engagement between the British fort at Secondee, and a French ship of war of forty guns in May, 1779.

Ordered, that the draught of a letter to Lord George Germain be prepared, transmitting an extract of so much of the letter from the Governor and Council of Cape Coast Castle beforementioned, as relates to the operations of the French, on the coast of Africa, and the state of defence of the British forts on that coast.

Barbados.

Read a letter from Mr. Knox to Mr. Cumberland, dated March 30th, 1780, transmitting, by direction of Lord George Germain,
Extract of a letter from President Dotin to his Lordship, dated Barbados, November 30th, 1779, containing the title of an Act, passed in Barbados in November, 1779, for providing for the expences of the President's table, etc., together with an authentic copy of the said Act.

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West Florida.

Read a letter from Mr. Knox to Mr. Cumberland, dated March 30th, 1780, transmitting, by direction of Lord George Germain, to be laid before the Board,
Copy of a letter from Peter Chester, esquire, Governor of West Florida, to Lord George Germain, dated Pensacola, November 26th, 1779, upon the subject of two petitions complaining of his conduct, which were presented to his Lordship, and by the King's commands referred to this Board in August last.

Read a letter from Peter Chester, esquire, Governor of West Florida, to the Board, dated Pensacola, 16th November, 1779, acknowledging the receipt of their lordships' letter to him of the 30th March, 1779, relative to the establishment of Courts of Justice at the Natchez; which letter, by the advice of his Council, he had laid before the Cheif Justice and Attorney General of that Province, and transmitting,
fo. 54.
Letter from William Clifton, esquire, Chief Justice of the Province of West Florida, to Governor Chester, dated October 16th, 1779.
Letter from E. R. Wegg, esquire, Attorney General of the Province of West Florida, to Governor Chester, dated November 24th, 1779.

Read also a letter from Peter Chester, esquire, Governor of West Florida, to the Board, dated November 16th, 1779, acknowledging the receipt of the Board's letter of 12th March, 1779, upon the subject of a memorial presented to their lordships, complaining of exorbitant demands for fees in that Province on the grants of lands.

fo. 55.

Monday, April 10th. Present:—The Earl of Carlisle, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Greville, Mr. Eden, Mr. de Grey, Mr. Stuart, Mr. Gibbon.

Trade.

Verdigrease.

Their lordships took into their further consideration the memorial and other papers, mentioned in the last minutes, respecting an application to Parliament for a duty to be laid on foreign verdigrease, when it was ordered that the Secretary do write to Mr. Robinson and acquaint him with the opinion of the Board upon subject matter of the said reference, for the information of the Lords of the Treasury.

Trade.

Wool.

fo. 56.

Their lordships having resumed the consideration of the memorial referred by the Lords of the Treasury, and mentioned in the last minutes, praying a repeal of the clause in the Act of the 13th and 14th of Charles the Second, which prescribes the time for removing wool, etc., Mr. White, together with several persons concerned in the different branches of the wool trade and woollen manufacture, were called; and having upon several questions put to them by the Board, answered in the most satisfactory manner, their lordships were of opinion, that a clause affecting so material a branch of the commerce of this kingdom, which it appeared could not be carried on under the restrictions therein contained, ought to be recommended for repeal; And it was ordered, that a letter be written by the Secretary to Mr. Robinson, acquainting him with the opinion of the Board, for the information of the Lords of the Treasury.

West Florida.

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Read a letter from Mr. Nesham, agent for the Province of West Florida, to Mr. Cumberland, dated April 4th, 1780, transmitting the following papers, and requesting the opinion of the Lords of Trade, whether it will be proper for him to appropriate the savings on the Indian Fund, to the payment of Governor Chester's Bills drawn on him for extraordinary contingences, vizt.,
Letter from Governor Chester, dated 25th September, 1779, to Christopher Nesham, esquire.
State of the accounts for the province of West Florida for the year ending the 24th of June, 1779.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to Mr. Knox, transmitting, for the information of Lord George Germain, copy of Mr. Nesham's letter, together with copy of Governor Chester's letter to him; and requesting to know, if any directions have been given respecting the application of the savings on the Indian Fund to the extraordinary contingent disbursement in that province.

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Thursday, April 13th. Present:—The Earl of Carlisle, Mr. Jenyns, Lord Robert Spencer, Mr. Eden.

Africa.

The draught of a letter to Lord George Germain, transmitting an extract of a letter from Governor Miles, prepared pursuant to order of the 6th instant, was approved, transcribed and signed.

Trade.

Wool.

Verdigrease.

West Florida.

The Secretary read to their lordships two letters to Mr. Robinson on the references respecting wool and verdigrease; and a letter to Mr. Knox, transmitting copies of letters received from Mr. Nesham, pursuant to the order of the last Board, which, being approved, were ordered to be transmitted.

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Miscellanies.

The Secretary, having stated to the Board the necessity that appeared for directions being given for the more due and regular attendance of the clerks in their employ, order was given, that the Secretary shall put in force the power of suspending from their pay any clerk or clerks that shall be found absent from their duty, within the hours heretofore appointed for their attendance, unless such clerk or clerks shall be so absent upon leave, or shall exhibit good and sufficient reason for their non-attendance.

fo. 60.

Thursday, April 20th. Present:—The Earl of Carlisle, Mr. Jenyns, Lord Robert Spencer, Mr. Greville, Mr. Eden, Mr. de Grey, Mr. Stuart, Mr. Gibbon.

Trade.

Portugal.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, on the papers referred by the Earl of Hillsborough to this Board by his Majesty's command, relative to the complaints of the Portugueze Envoy, having been prepared pursuant to order of the 6th instant, was approved, transcribed and signed, together with a letter to the Earl of Hillsborough inclosing the said representation to be laid before his Majesty.

fo. 61.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated 19th of April, 1780, referring the petition of Messieurs Simpson and Birkeley, praying leave to export to New York, on board the ship Kingston, sundry ordnance and stores, for the use of vessels fitting out there.

Their lordships, upon the consideration of the above petition, were of opinion, the exportation prayed for should be allowed; and the draught of a report to the Lords of the Privy Council, having been prepared, was approved, transcribed and signed.

Jamaica.

Read a letter from Mr. Knox to Mr. Cumberland, dated April 15th, 1780, transmitting, by direction of Lord George Germain, the following papers to be laid before the Board, vizt.,
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Extract of a letter from John Dalling, esquire, Governor of Jamaica, to Lord George Germain, dated July 5th, 1779, acquainting his Lordship with the reasons which induced him to give his assent to the Lottery Bill, and inclosing copy of the minutes of the Council of Jamaica on the 3rd July, 1779.
Extract of a letter from Governor Dalling to Lord George Germain, dated Jamaica, August 9th, 1779, acquainting his Lordship, that by the advice of the Council of War, he had declared martial law, and inclosing,
Minutes of a Great Council of War held at St. Iago de la Vega on the 9th of August, 1779.
Extract of a letter from Governor Dalling to Lord George Germain, dated Jamaica, December 10th, 1779, containing his observations on the Act for subsisting the Militia in time of martial law, and on the Act for limiting the duration of the Assembly.
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Copy of a letter from Governor Dalling to Lord George Germain, dated Jamaica, 21st January, 1780, transmitting,
List of the several Acts passed by the Governor, Council and Assembly of Jamaica in their session commencing the 17th of August, 1779, and ending the 23rd of December following.
Twenty one Acts passed in the Island of Jamaica in August, September, November and December, 1779.

Ordered, that the Acts abovementioned be sent to Mr. Jackson, for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

West Florida.

Their lordships having taken into consideration the letter received from Peter Chester, esquire, Governor of West Florida, mentioned in the minutes of the 6th instant, respecting fees taken in that province on the passing of grants of land, it was ordered, that the draught of a letter to Governor Chester thereupon should be prepared.

fo. 64.

Leeward Islands.

The Secretary, having observed to their lordships, that no answer had been received from the Secretary of the Treasury, to the letter written by order of the Board, respecting an Act passed in the Island of Antigua, mentioned in the minutes of the 24th of November last, order was taken, that the Secretary do write to Sir Grey Cooper, reminding him of the requisition made by the said letter, and desiring, that he will move the Lords of the Treasury to direct that an answer thereto may be given.

Plantations General.

fo. 65.

Ordered, that circular letters be prepared from the Board, to the Governors and Lieutenant Governors of the Plantations, informing them, that as it appears there has been an omission in the direct transmission of papers, accounts, and other occurrences to this Board, it is recommended, that they do pay a particular regard to that duty in future; and also acquainting them with the new appointment of the Board, and the alteration thereby made in the arrangement of 1768, by which the Secretary of State for the American Department presided at the Board.

fo. 66.

Thursday, April 27th. Present:—The Earl of Carlisle, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Greville, Mr. Eden, Mr. de Grey, Mr. Stuart, Mr. Gibbon.

West Florida.

The draught of a letter to Peter Chester, esquire, Governor of West Florida, respecting fees taken on the passing of grants of lands in that province, having been prepared pursuant to order, was approved, and ordered to be transcribed.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to Christopher Nesham, esquire, agent for the Province of West Florida, in answer to his letter of the 10th instant, and acquaint him, that it is the opinion of the Board, he will be warranted in paying the bills drawn upon him by Governor Chester, on account of services mentioned in his said letter.

fo. 67.

Senegambia.

Read a letter from Mr. Knox to Mr. Cumberland, dated April 26th, 1780, requesting, by direction of Lord George Germain, to be informed of the steps taken by this Board, for obtaining provision for the civil officers of the Province of Senegambia, and in what manner they are to be paid.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to Mr. Knox, acquainting him, for the information of Lord George Germain, that no provision having been made by Parliament for the civil establishment of Senegambia last year, nor any directions been given for preparing any estimate for the ensuing year, their lordships are not competent to judge how any provision for the civil officers was or is to be made.

Trade.

fo. 68.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated April 21st, 1780, referring to this Board, the petition of John Collard of Bristol, for leave to export to Jamaica, on board the ship Valiant, sundry military stores, for the use and defence of the inhabitants.

Their lordships, being of opinion, that the exportation prayed for should be allowed; and the draught of a report to the Lords of the Privy Council, having been prepared thereupon, was approved, transcribed and signed.

Read a letter from Mr. Robinson to Mr. Cumberland, dated the 26th instant, transmitting, by direction of the Lords of the Treasury, and desiring that the same might be laid before the Board for their opinion thereupon, the following papers,
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A petition from Alexander Fordyce, esquire, to the Lords of the Treasury, setting forth that he was possessed of the knowledge of a principle in chymistry, by the application of which a marine acid and fossil alkali were obtained from sea and rock salt, and might be substituted for vitriolic acid, barilla, and different kinds of ashes, now used in the manufactures of this kingdom, and which were in general imported from foreign parts; and praying, that the salt to be used in the process might be exempted from the duties now paid; and
A report upon the said petition from the Commissioners of the Salt Duties, to whom the consideration thereof had been referred by their lordships.
A petition of the said Alexander Fordyce to the Lords of the Treasury, explanatory of the abovementioned petition, and annexing a copy of a letter by him wrote, to the correspondent of the Commissioners of Salt Duties, proposing certain methods of obviating any possibility of fraud, should the prayer of his petition be granted; and
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Copies of several letters to the said Alexander Fordyce from manufacturers and others, confirming the allegations in his petitions.

Ordered, that Mr. Fordyce do attend, with such proof as he has to offer in support of his said petitions, on Monday next, the 1st of May, when their lordships will take the same into consideration.