Journal, July 1776: Volume 83

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, July 1776: Volume 83', in Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations: Volume 14, January 1776 - May 1782, (London, 1938) pp. 37-42. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/jrnl-trade-plantations/vol14/pp37-42 [accessed 25 March 2024]

Journal, July 1776

fo. 122.

Friday, July 12th. Present:—Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Keene, Mr. Greville, Mr. Eden.

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

Nova Scotia.

Governor Legge attending on the subject of the complaints exhibited against him by several members of the Council of Nova Scotia, and by certain persons, inhabitants of the said province, mentioned in the minutes of the 13th of February last, was called in, and their lordships appointed Thursday next, at 11 o'clock, for hearing the Governor, by his counsel, thereupon, notice whereof was ordered to be given to the agents for the complainants.

fo. 123.

Trade.

Read the following Orders of the Lords of the Privy Council, vizt.,
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated June 28th, 1776, referring to this Board the petition of Messrs. Roberts and Baines, for leave to export to West Florida certain military stores, on board the ship Sisters.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated July 4th, 1776, referring to this Board the petition of Messrs. Clark and Milligan, for leave to export to West Florida certain military stores, on board the ship St. Andrew.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated May 31st, 1776, referring to this Board the petition of Edmund Hill, for leave to export to Portugal a certain quantity of gunpowder.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated June 5th, 1776, referring to this Board the petition of James Mather, for leave to export to West Florida certain military stores therein specified.

fo. 124.

Their lordships, upon consideration of the aforementioned petitions, agreed to postpone any determination thereupon until Thursday, the 25th instant, when the parties interested were desired to attend again.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated June 28th, 1776, referring to this Board the petition of Messrs. Dunlop and Wilson, for leave to export to Antigua eight barrels of gunpowder, on board the ship Camden.

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

The following Orders of the Lords of the Privy Council were read and considered, vizt.,
fo. 125.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated July 11th, 1776, referring to this Board the petition of James Russell, for leave to export to the Mosquito Shore, on board the brigantine Friendship, certain military stores therein specified for trade there.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated July 4th, 1776. referring to this Board the petition of Joseph Cottin and Nons. for leave to export to St. Maloe's certain military stores. on board the first ship that may offer for that purpose.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council. dated June 21st. 1776. referring to this Board the petition of John and Nathaniel Free. for leave to export to Scanderoon certain military stores. on board the Scanderoon Galley.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council. dated May 17th, 1776. referring to this Board the petition of Gill Slater. for leave to export to St. Vincent's a certain quantity of gunpowder. on board the ship Isabella.

fo. 126.

The petitioners attending were called in. and their lordships having entered into an examination of such points as they thought necessary, were of opinion, that the exportation prayed for should be allowed: and it was ordered. that draughts of reports to the Lords of the Privy Council should be prepared accordingly.

Jamaica.

Read a letter from John Ellis. esquire. one of the Council for Jamaica. dated July 2nd. 1776. in answer to one written to him by the Deputy Secretary. respecting his intention of returning to that island.

Ordered. that Mr. Fuller, agent for the Island of Jamaica, be desired to attend the Board on Thursday next the 18th instant.

Africa.

fo. 127.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following letters received from the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa. vizt.,
Copy of a letter from David Mill. esquire. Governor of Cape Coast Castle. to the African Committee. dated the 30th of December. 1775.
Copies of letters which passed between David Mill. esquire. Governor of Cape Coast Castle, and the Dutch General Peter Woortman. Governor of Elmina. relating to an English vessel seized by the inhabitants of Apam.
Copy of a letter from the African Committee to the Governor and Council of Cape Coast Castle, dated the 19th of June. 1776.

Barbados.

Read a letter from the Honourable Edward Hay, esquire. Governor of Barbados. to the Board, dated May 9th. 1776, desiring directions concerning the right of the Governor to command the Naval Officer.

fo. 128.

Ordered, that the draught of a letter, in answer to Governor Hay's, be prepared.

Bermuda.

Read a letter from George James Bruere. esquire, Governor of the Bermuda Islands, to the Board. dated May 25th. 1776, in answer to their lordships' letter relative to an Act passed in the Bahama Islands for regulating the salt ponds at Turks Islands.
Copy of twelve questions put by the Governor of the Bermuda Islands to the Chief Justice. relative to the trade to Turks' Islands, May 28th. 1776.

Plantations General.

fo. 129.

Read a letter from John Robinson, esquire, Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, to the Secretary to this Board, dated June 26th, 1776, transmitting three papers relative to bills drawn by Mr. Thomas, Deputy Superintendant of Indian Affairs, and desiring they may be laid before this Board, and their opinion upon them communicated to the Lords of the Treasury.

Ordered, that the Secretary do acquaint Mr. Robinson, for the information of the Lords of the Treasury, with the opinion of the Board upon the papers mentioned in his letter.

Trade.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated June 26th, 1776, referring to this Board the petition of Messrs. Watson and Rashleigh, for leave to export to the province of Quebec for trade, certain military stores, on board the Adamant.

Their lordships, upon consideration of the abovementioned 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 having been prepared accordingly, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

fo. 130.

Thursday, July 18th. Present:—Lord Robert Spencer, Mr. Keene, Mr. Eden.

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

Barbados.

The draught of a letter to the Governor of Barbados, in answer to one from him of the 9th of May last, desiring directions concerning his right to command the Naval Officer, having been prepared pursuant to order, was approved and ordered to be transcribed.

Plantations General.

fo. 131.

The draught of a letter from the Secretary to Mr. Robinson, Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, in answer to one from him of the 26th of last month, relative to bills drawn by Mr. Thomas, Deputy Superintendant of Indian Affairs, was read and approved.

Trade.

The following reports to the Lords of the Privy Council, prepared pursuant to the minutes of the 12th instant, were approved and signed, vizt.,
Report to the Lords of the Privy Council upon the petition of James Russell, for leave to export military stores to the Mosquito Shore.
Report to the Lords of the Privy Council upon the petition of Joseph Cottin and Sons, for leave to export military stores to St. Maloe's.
Report to the Lords of the Privy Council upon the petition of John and Nathaniel Free, for leave to export to Scanderoon certain military stores therein mentioned.
Report to the Lords of the Privy Council upon the petition of Gill Slater, for leave to export military stores to St. Vincent's.

Trade.

fo. 132.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated July 12th. 1776. referring to this Board the petition of Matthew Carrett. for leave to export to Lisbon sixteen iron cannon, six pounders, on board the first ship that shall offer.

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

Nova Scotia.

fo. 133.

Their lordships took into further consideration the complaints exhibited against Governor Legge by several members of the Council of Nova Scotia, and by certain persons, inhabitants of the said province, mentioned in the minutes of the 12th instant; and Governor Legge attending, with Mr. Skinner and Mr. Macdonald. his counsel: and Mr. Rashleigh, agent for the petitioners, attending likewise with Mr. Dunning and Mr.      , counsel of their behalf, they were called in, and the parties respectively heard in what they had to offer upon the subject of the said complaints.

Thursday, July 25th. Present:—Lord Robert Spencer. Mr. Keene. Mr. Eden.

Nova Scotia.

fo. 134.

Lord George Germain, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, attended and laid before the Board, by his Majesty's command, an humble address of the House of Assembly for the province of Nova Scotia to the King, expressing their firm and steady attachment to his Majesty's person, and due submission to the power of Parliament, together with their gratefull acknowledgments of his Majesty's goodness in recalling Governor Legge upon the complaints of several of the inhabitants of that province.

Grenada, Tobago.

His Lordship likewise communicated to the Board an extract of a letter from Lieutenant Governor Young to his Lordship, dated Grenada, the 25th of February, 1776, inclosing a copy of a petition of the merchants, etc. of Tobago to the said Lieutenant Governor, to have representatives in Assembly for Scarborough and George Town.

fo. 135.

The draught of a letter to Lord Macartney, Governor of Grenada, transmitting copies of the abovementioned extract and petition, and desiring him to take into consideration the matter therein contained, and act thereupon as may appear to his Lordship most for the advantage of the Island of Tobago, having been prepared, was agreed to transcribed and signed.

Nova Scotia.

Their lordships took into further consideration the complaints exhibited against Governor Legge. mentioned in the minutes of the 18th instant, together with what had been offered by counsel on behalf of the Governor, and also by the counsel in support of the complaints: and the draught of a representation to his Majesty thereupon having been prepared, was approved, transcribed and signed.

Dominica.

fo. 136.

Read a letter from Thomas Shirley, esquire, Governor of Dominica, to the Board, dated May 6th, 1776, signifying that Mr. Shaw, a member of the Council for that island, was lately arrived there, having been absent near two years without any leave, except that of the Lieutenant Governor, stating his reason for so doing, and recommending that Mr. Shaw may be restored to his seat in the Council.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, proposing that Mr. Shaw may be allowed to resume his former seat in the Council for Dominica, having been prepared, was approved, transcribed and signed; as was also a representation to his Majesty, recommending that Mr. Seaman, a member of the Council for the Island of Dominica, may be removed from his seat at that Board, for the reasons mentioned in Governor Shirley's letter of the 2nd of November last.

Senegambia.

fo. 137.

Read a letter from Mr. Robinson, Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, to the Secretary to this Board, dated July 8th, 1776, transmitting a memorial of Hugh Josiah Hansard, agent to the Lieutenant Governor of Senegambia, praying payment of three hundred, ninety three pounds, two shillings to the master of the schooner Tryal, and signifying the desire of the Lords of the Treasury, that he will lay the same before this Board.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to Mr. Robinson, and acquaint him, for the information of the Lords of the Treasury, that this Board see no objection why payment should not be ordered according to the prayer of Mr. Hansard's memorial.

Barbados.

The draught of a letter to the Governor of Barbados, in answer to one from him of the 9th of May last, desiring directions concerning his right to command the Naval Officer, having been transcribed pursuant to order, was signed.

fo. 138.

Senegambia.

Resolved, that the consideration of the state of the province of Senegambia, mentioned in the minutes of the 3rd of June last, be postponed, the merchants concerned in the trade to that province being at present unprepared to attend thereupon.

Trade.

The Secretary acquainted the Board, that he was desired by Mr. Woodmass, Chairman of the Oporto Company, to move their lordships for a copy of the Board's representation of the 10th of March, 1767, on the complaints of the said Company respecting their commercial grievances in the kingdom of Portugal.

Ordered, that a copy of the said representation be made and delivered to Mr. Woodmass.

fo. 139.

The following Orders of the Lords of the Privy Council were read and considered, vizt.,
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated July 8th, 1776, referring to this Board, for their consideration and report, the petition of James Montgomery, for leave to export to Pensacola certain military stores, on board the ship Sophia.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated July 17th, 1776, referring to this Board, for their consideration and report, the petition of John and George Dyer, for leave to export to the Mosquito Shore, on board the Phoebe, certain military stores therein specified.
fo. 140.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated July 19th, 1776, referring to this Board, for their consideration and report, the petition of John Clark and David Milligan, for leave to export to West Florida certain military stores, on board the ships St. Andrew and the Marian.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated July 12th, 1776, referring to this Board, for their consideration and report, the petition of Benjamin Adams, for leave to export to the Mississippi certain military stores, on board the ship William and Elizabeth.
fo. 141.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated July 24th, 1776, referring to this Board, for their consideration and report, the petition of Benjamin Adams, for leave to export to West Florida certain military stores, on board the ship Fisher and Hope.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated July 24th, 1776, referring to this Board, for their consideration and report, the petition of Richard Champion, for leave to export to Port L'Orient, Gottenburgh, Cork and St. Kitts, certain military stores, on board the ship Champion.

Their lordships, upon consideration of the abovementioned petitions, were of opinion, that it would not be adviseable to allow of the exportation prayed for.

fo. 142.

Mr. Clark attending, was called in, and their lordships having entered into an examination of such points as they thought necessary, agreed to recommend the exportation prayed for in his petition, mentioned in the minutes of the 12th instant, provided the vessel should be manned and armed with ten carriage guns and thirty men.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Privy Council conformable thereto having been prepared, was approved, transcribed and signed; as was also a report upon the petition of Edmund Hill, mentioned in the said minutes.

fo. 143.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated July 17th, 1776, referring to this Board, for their consideration and report, the petition of James Baird, for leave to export certain military stores therein specified to West Florida, on board the ship Sophia.

Their lordships, upon consideration of the abovementioned petition, were of opinion, that the exportation prayed for should be allowed; and the draughts of a report to the Lords of the Council having been prepared accordingly, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.