Journal, March 1713: Journal Book P

Journal, March 1713

March 3. Present:—Lord Guilford, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Foley, Sir J.H. Cotton.

Trade.

Letter from Earl of Dartmouth.

Weavers’ petition.

A letter from the Earl of Dartmouth, of the 27th of February, 17 12/13 [fo. 298, vide infra], in answer to one from this Board of the 25th of the same month, with the petition of the Company of Weavers, London, was read.

Memorial from the worsted weavers &c. in Norwich touching their trade with France.

Mr. Berney, member of Parliament for Norwich, and others attending [fo. 310], presented to their lordships a memorial from the headsmen, wardens and assistants of the worsted weaving trade in the said city and county of Norfolk, and the merchants, wooll combers and others concern'd in the said manufactory, setting forth the great increase of that manufactory in France, and their fear least it shou'd be prohibited in that kingdom, or high duties laid or continued on the same, to the great discouragement of the woollen manufacture of this kingdom, was read; whereupon [vide supra] their lordships comunicated to them my Lord Dartmouth's above-mention'd letter.

Trade.

Memorial from persons concern'd in the woollen manufacture at Taunton.

Earl of Dartmouth's letter comunicated to them.

Mr. John Dyer and others attending [fo. 310], also presented to the Board a memorial from the merchants, clothiers, sergemakers and others concerned in the woollen manufacture at Taunton, which was read, being to the same purpose as that from Norwich above-said; and their lordships then comunicated to them my Lord Dartmouth's letter to the Board of the 24th of the last month [fo. 299, infra], as also the letter above-mention'd.

Earl of Dartmouth's letter in relation to the memorial from the East India Company communicated to Sir William Hodges and Mr. Herne.

Sir William Hodges and Mr. Nathaniel Herne, from the East India Company, attending [fo. 295] (as they had been desired by the secretary's letter to Mr. Woolley, the 24th of February last), their lordships comunicated to them my Lord Dartmouth's letter of the 20th of the last month, in answer to one from this Board the 17th, inclosing the copy of a memorial from the said Company.

Letter to the Earl of Dartmouth with the two foregoing memorials.

Then their lordships gave directions for preparing the draught of a letter to my Lord Dartmouth [fo. 305, supra], inclosing copies of the two above-mention'd memorials, for her Majesty's pleasure thereupon.

March 4. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Mr. Gwyn, Sir J.H. Cotton.

Trade.

Mr. Diston and Dubois.

Lord Dartmouth's letter on memorials about Treaty of Commerce with France.

Allegations explain'd.

Mr. Diston and Mr. Dubois attending [fo. 299], their lordships comunicated to them the Earl of Dartmouth's letter of the 24th of the last month; whereupon Mr. Diston said that he never had heard till very lately that a Treaty of Commerce had been so long on foot. Then the memorial presented by them the 20th of the last month was again read, and these gentlemen being ask'd several questions thereupon, Mr. Diston said that, as to the quantity of wooll bought by France this year, he was inform'd of it by a Spaniard (a merchant of Madrid), who was lately here in England; but desir'd to be excused from naming him, because it might be a prejudice to him in Spain; the said Spaniard inform'd him that formerly the French never bought above 1,500 baggs of wooll per annum, and that this year it appear'd by the registers of wooll, kept at Madrid, that they had bought 10,000 bags.

As to the præ-emption, he said that though it is true the Convent at the Escurial and others do sell the wooll, and that the King has nothing to do with it, yet by the influence of the Grandees in the French interest, they have always given the præ-emption to the French, as the foremention'd Spaniard inform'd him.

As to the drawback of four pieces of eight allow'd by King Philip to the French upon their exporting of Spanish wooll, he said that he had seen several invoyces himself wherein it was allow'd; but that, since the last time he was here, he has heard that, upon the suspension of arms, part of that drawback has been disallow'd, how much exactly he cou'd not tell; and that the duty of two peices of eight per bagg on what we export was remitted also, but, as he has heard, it is to be laid on again, and some English ships that are now at Bilboa are stopp'd in their lading for that reason.

As to the 32 sols per ell laid on our English cloth in France, he said that it was the old duty of 1664, and, if it be continued, will amount to a prohibition, for that though when that duty was laid it was no great burthen upon our woollen trade, yet at present, by reason that they have very much increased and improved their own woollen manufacture, that they have their work done much cheaper, vizt., for about 4 pence per day; whereas ours, the cheapest is tenpence, and that they have their wooll from Spain cheaper, it is certain they will always undersell us, and by that means effectually prohibit our carrying of woollen goods to France.

As to the French King's prohibiting any woollen manufactures being brought into France but in French bottoms, he said that was done in the late King James's reign, in the year 1687, and if it shou'd now be the same, that might be made to serve in lieu of an actual prohibition; for, if the King's pleasure shou'd be privately signify'd to the masters of French ships that they do not bring any woollen manufactures into France, there's none of them wou'd dare to do it.

As to the duty of 12 livres per piece laid in France upon English ratteens, serges &c., he said he had been inform'd, since he was here, that it was but 11 livres; however he look'd upon that as an effectual prohibition of those species.

Trade.

Mr. Lane upon his memorial on same subject.

Mr. Lane attending [fo. 299], as he had been desird, the foremention'd letter from the Earl of Dartmouth was comunicated to him, and the memorial, presented by him the 20th of the last month, was again read; whereupon he said that they had no knowledge of any Treaty of Commerce being under consideration till very lately, that they had asserted no facts in their memorial, but had only laid before their lordships their fears and apprehensions.

Letter to Earl of Dartmouth.

Memorials from Norwich and Taunton about Treaty of Commerce with France.

A letter to the Earl of Dartmouth, transmitting the copy of a memorial from the headsmen, wardens and assistants of the worsted weaving trade at Norwich [fo. 305, 306], as likewise another from the merchants, clothiers, sergemakers and others concern'd in the woollen manufacture at Taunton, in relation to a Treaty of Commerce with France (as agreed yesterday), was signed.

March 10. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Foley.

Jamaica.

Letter from Lord Archibald Hamilton.

Mr. Rigby, deputy secretary of Jamaica, attending, presented to the Board a letter from the Lord Archibald Hamilton, Governor of that island, dated the 3rd January, 17 12/13.

Merchants with memorial against captains of men-of-war.

Mr. Thompson, Mr. Morris, Mr. Milner and several other Jamaica merchants and planters presented to the Board a memorial complaining of the behaviour of the captains of her Majesty's ships of war attending the said island, particularly their ingrossing in a great measure the trade thereof to the Spanish coast; which was read, and their lordships resolv'd to take the same into further consideration.

March 11. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Foley, Sir J.H. Cotton.

New York.

Letter from Col.

Hunter.

A letter from Colonel Hunter, Governor of New York, to the Board, dated the 11th of July last, was read; and the papers therewith transmitted laid before the Board, which are as follow, vizt.:
Papers therein referr'd to.
Journal of the Assembly of New York, from the 30th of April, 1712, to the 26th of June following.
New York.
Acts pass'd at New York the 6th and 26th June, 1712.

Second letter from Col. Hunter.

Representation about behaviour of the Assembly.

A letter from Colonel Hunter to their lordships, dated the 31st of October, 1712, was read; and directions given [fo. 327] for preparing the draught of a representation upon paragraph F of the said letter, relating to the behaviour of the Assembly of New York, with regard to what has been required of them for the support of that Government.

Third letter from Col. Hunter.

Journal of Assembly.

A letter from Colonel Hunter, Governor of New York, to the Board, dated the 16th of December, 1712, was read; and the journal of the Assembly of that province, from the 25th of August to the 6th of November, 1712, referr'd to therein, was laid before the Board.

Two letters from Col. Hunter to the secretary.

Answers ordered.

Two letters from Colonel Hunter, Governor of New York, to the secretary of this Board, dated the 1st of November and 16th of December, 1712, the former relating to the unhappy state of affairs in that province, and the latter particularly complaining of the proceedings of the Assembly there, were likewise read; and directions given for preparing answers to the said letters.

New York.

Letter from Mr. Harley on one from Col. Hunter.

Ill state of New York.

A letter from Mr. Harley, of the 18th of last month, by order of the Lord High Treasurer, desiring the Board's opinion upon a letter from Colonel Hunter, Governor of New York, to his lordship, dated the 31st of October last, concerning the distracted state of that province, was read.

March 12. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Foley, Sir J.H. Cotton.

Leeward Islands.

Mr. Duport interrogated about any sums of money given or ingaged for debentures.

Bond to Mr. Campbell.

Mr. Duport attending, to receive the debentures for the sufferers at Nevis and St. Christopher's, for whom he appears, and being asked whether he had given or engaged to give any sums of money to any person for the procuring of the said debentures, he said that when the losses of Nevis and St. Christopher's were first laid before the Parliament, he was desired by the gentlemen concernd here to undertake that business, but, after a year or two's time, finding that his other affairs wou'd not permit him to follow that matter so close as it ought to have been, he, at the desire of the other gentlemen, engaged Mr. Campbell in it, and being authoriz'd and impowerd by them, he signed a bond to Mr. Campbell for two and a half per cent. for his pains and trouble, to be paid him when the debentures shou'd be issued, in the same manner as the debentures shou'd be paid; and he added, that he beleiv'd Mr. Campbell had been of great service to them in that matter, and that without his help they shou'd not have been able to have gone through the business.

Debentures delivered.

Their lordships then examin'd several of Mr. Duport's letters of attorny from some of the said sufferers, and deliver'd to him the 49 debentures, number'd as follows, vizt.:

March 13. Present:—Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Moore, Mr. Foley, Sir J. H. Cotton.

Leeward Islands.

Mr. Duport. Debentures.

Mr. Duport attending again, their lordships examin'd several of his letters of attorney from others of the sufferers at St. Christopher's, and deliver'd to him the thirty-five debentures number'd as follows, vizt.:

March 17. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Sir J. H. Cotton.

Miscellanies.

Letter to Lord High Treasurer.

Salaries.

A letter to the Lord High Treasurer, desiring his lordship will please to direct payment to be made of a year and half's salary to this Board, pursuant to the orders already issued for that purpose, was signed.

Trade.

Letter to Earl of Dartmouth.

Memorials about woollen manufacture.

Their lordships then gave directions for preparing a letter to the Earl of Dartmouth [fo. 299], in answer to that from him of the 24th of last month (read the 26th of the same) upon two memorials which had been presented to this Board, relating to the woollen manufactures.

Memorandum.—The above-mention'd letter was never sent.

March 19. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Foley, Sir J.H. Cotton.

New Jersey.

Letter from the Governor.

A letter from Colonel Hunter, Governor of New Jersey, dated the 1st of January, 17 11/12, was read, and the papers therein referr'd to, being laid before the Board, [are] as follows, vizt.:
Papers therein referr'd to.
An address from the inhabitants of Salem to Colonel Hunter, desiring to pay their taxes in wheat, and that new representatives may be chosen for that country.
Minutes of Council of New Jersey of the 6th, 7th, 14th, 15th and 16th of July, 1711.
An Act for the better recovery of her Majesty's quit rents.
An Act to prevent soldiers and sailors from deserting her Majesty's service, and servants and slaves from deserting their master[s] or mistresses.

Answer to be prepar'd.

Their lordships gave directions for preparing an answer to the said letter.

March 20. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Foley, Sir John H. Cotton.

Leeward Islands.

Debentures.

Mr. Heysham and Mr. Duport.

Inquiry about money given or ingaged for on account of debentures.

Mr. Robert Heysham and Mr. Duport attending, to receive the debentures for the sufferers of Nevis and St. Christopher's, for whom they appear, and their lordships enquiring whether they had given, or engaged to give, any money, or knew of any that had, for the said debentures, Mr. Heysham said that it had been agreed by the persons concernd here to allow Mr. Campbell 2½ per cent. commission for his pains and trouble in solliciting this affair, which he was willing to allow; but that he had heard that there was another instrument signed by some gentlemen, which gave to Mr. Campbell 5 per cent. more, if South Sea Stock was on the — of June, 1713, above 76 per cent.; but that as he had not sign'd, nor seen the same, he cou'd not be particular in it; he added that he had also heard that there was an account of 3 or 4,000l. allow'd Mr. Campbell for charges, and that he beleiv'd the whole might amount to above ten thousand pounds.

Mr. Duport said that the above instrument for 5 per cent. had been offer'd to him to sign, that he read the begining of it, and then return'd it, and refused to sign it. That he beleiv'd ‘twas intended to gratify Mr. Campbell for his further trouble in solliciting, till there shoud be a fund settled for the payment of the said debentures.

Mr. Merriweather and Alford summond.

Upon consideration of this matter, ordered that Mr. Merriwether and Mr. Alford have notice to attend the Board on Wednesday next.

Debentures deliver'd to Mr. Heysham and to Mr. Duport.

Then their lordships examin'd the letters of attorney from several of the sufferers at St. Christopher's to Mr. Robert Heysham, and deliver'd to him the five debentures, vizt.: 161, 162, 163, 164, 165.

Their lordships also deliver'd to Mr. Duport 38 other debentures, according to the following numbers, vizt.:

Leeward Islands.

Debentures signd.

The 44 debentures hereunder mention'd for the sufferers of Nevis and St. Christopher's being laid before the Board, the same were signed, vizt., No. 133, from No. 168 to 194, both inclusive, No. 196, and from No. 199 to 209, both inclusive, as likewise those number'd 211, 212, 213 and 214.

March 25. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Mr. Foley, Sir John H. Cotton.

Leeward Islands.

Campbell, Heysham, &c.

Expence contracted for debentures.

A letter from Mr. Thomas Allen (one of Mr. Campbell's clerks), of the 21st of February last, to Mr. Robert and Mr. William Heysham, desiring Mr. Robert Heysham to come to a general meeting of the gentlemen concern'd for the sufferers of Nevis and St. Christopher's, in order to settle the disbursments of each particular person, being left here yesterday by Mr. Heysham, was read.

Mr. Merriweather, Ball and Alford about money to be paid on account of debentures.

Allowance to Mr. Campbell.

Mr. Campbell call'd in about his sollicitations and money for procuring debentures &c.

Mr. Merriwether, Mr. Ball and Mr. Alford attending, and being asked what they knew of any money given, or intended to be given, to any person on account of the debentures for the sufferers at Nevis and St. Christopher's, they said that Mr. Campbell was to have, by the consent of all the gentlemen concernd here 2½ per cent. commission for his trouble, and his charges allow'd; that there was besides a contract to allow Mr. Campbell 5 per cent. more, when the said debentures shou'd be admitted into the South Sea Stock; but, as it was a long time since they had seen the said contract, they were not able to be very particular in it, and they inform'd their lordships that Mr. Campbell was attending without, who was best able to give their lordships an account of that matter; whereupon Mr. Campbell being call'd in and ask'd whether there was any agreement or contract to pay him anything on account of the said debentures, he said that there was; that when he first undertook to sollicit this affair, at the desire and request of all the gentlemen concern'd here, he acquainted them that he wou'd not do it without such a gratification as might compensate the loss he shou'd sustain in the neglect of his other affairs; and therefore they agreed to allow him 2 and ½ per cent. and his charges, to be paid in the same manner as the debentures shou'd be; then he produced to their lordships the above-mention'd contract for 5 per cent., which is dated the 15th October, 1712, and signed by Mr. Merriwether, Mr. Ball, Mr. Alford, Mr. Martin, Mr. Tryon, and some others; the purport whereof is, that they agree to pay him such sums of money as is express'd in an account agreed and settled with him on the 3rd of July last for his services and expences; and in consideration that the procuring the said debentures to be admitted into the South Sea Stock, or some other fund to be settled for the payment of them, might be attended with some difficulty and further expence, they agreed to allow him instead of a certain a contingent recompence, which was to depend upon the price of the said debentures, as follows, vizt., that, if at any time from their receiving their debentures to the 1st July, 1713, the said debentures shoud be sold for, or worth upon the Exchange of London (the interest thereof included) more than seventy-six pounds per cent., then the parties to the contract were to pay the said Campbell the excess of the said 76 per cent., in case such excess did not exceed 5 per cent. But, in case these debentures shall be incorporated in the South Sea Stock, and there shou'd be any call or contribution to the said Stock, which will occasion the rise thereof, the said call or contribution is to be discounted, and not reckon'd as part of the advance of the said Stock, intended to be allow'd the said Campbell.

Then Mr. Campbell, being asked what sort of account that was which is referr'd to in the foresaid contract, he said that it consisted of four or five articles, vizt., of the 2½ per cent., which with the interest amounts to about 3,000l. of one per cent. more, which the gentlemen voluntarily gave him, and may be about 1,200l., the rest of the account being for expences, and for what he paid to six or seven sollicitors during three or four years that this business has been depending, amongst whom Mr. Huggins was one.

He added, that he had offer'd to the gentlemen concern'd that as there are several of them who have been in disburse several sums of money yet unsatisfy'd; if they wou'd pay him the 2½ per cent. in money, he wou'd make good to them all their said disbursements.

Mr. Ball said that, when the forementioned contract was signed, South Sea Stock was at 74½ per cent., and that then, for 200 guineas’ premium, anybody might have had a more advantageous contract for South Sea Stock, than Mr. Campbell's is to him.

March 27. Present:—Lord Guilford, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Foley, Sir John H. Cotton.

Leeward Islands.

Debentures sign'd.

Their lordships signed 44 debentures for the sufferers at Nevis and St. Christopher's, being number'd as follows, vizt.:

Mr. Duport.

Debentures deliver'd.

Mr. Duport attending the Board again, several of his letters of attorney from others of the sufferers at St. Christopher's were examined, and the five debentures number'd 35, 37, 40, 43 and 253 were deliver'd to him.

Mr. Bowden.

Debentures deliver'd.

Mr. Bowden likewise attending, their lordships examin'd his letters of attorney from some of the sufferers at Nevis and St. Christopher's, and delivered to him 13 debentures, which were number'd as follows, vizt.:

March 31. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Foley.

Jamaica.

Letter from Mr. Thurston, agent.

Charge of ingineer and storekeeper.

A letter from Mr. Thurston [fo. 297], agent to the Lord Archibald Hamilton, Governor of Jamaica, dated the 4th instant, and signifying that by what he can learn of the merchants here trading to that island, the people will scarsely agree to the charge of entertaining an engineer and store-keeper there, was read.

Barbadoes.

Jamaica.

New York.

Annapolis.

Letter to Lord Treasurer.

Ordnance Establishments.

A letter to the Lord High Treasurer, upon that from Mr. Harley of the 13th February [fo. 291] (which was read the 19th of the same month), relating to the establishments proposed by the Board of Ordnance for Barbadoes, Jamaica, New York and Annapolis, was signed.

Plantations General.

Letter from Mr. Harley. Instructions and heads of inquiry for General Nicholson.

Nova Scotia.

Newfoundland, &c.

Letter to Earl of Dartmouth.

A letter from Mr. Harley, secretary to the Treasury, dated the 21st instant, returning the instructions and heads of inquiry for General Nicholson, which had been transmitted from the Board to the Lord High Treasurer the 25th of the last month [fo. 298], relating to Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and arrears of prizes, and inclosing an instruction which his lordship desires may be added for the recovery of the arrears of Admiralty rights and perquisites in those parts, was read; and the said instructions being laid before the Board, their lordships approv'd the same; whereupon ordered [fo. 329] that the draught of a letter be prepared for inclosing the said instructions to the Earl of Dartmouth, in order to her Majesty's royal signature accordingly.

Leeward Islands.

Anonymous letter.

Printed account of Col. Park's murder.

An anonymous letter, with a printed paper, relating to the murder of Colonel Parke, late Governor of the Leeward Islands, intituled, Truth brought to light, or murder will out, &c., was laid before the Board.

New York.

Behaviour of Assembly.

Revenue.

Letter to Earl of Dartmouth.

The draught of a letter to the Earl of Dartmouth upon what Colonel Hunter, Governor of New York, has written [fo. 312, 329], relating to the misbehaviour of the Assembly of that province, and the settlement of a revenue for the support of the government there, was agreed, and ordered to be transcribed.