Journal, December 1713: Journal Book Q

Journal, December 1713

December 1. Present:—Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

New England.

Mr. Dummer &c. on his memorials about capture of ships by the Spaniards at Tertudas.

Address from the Massachusets Bay thereupon.

Mr. Dummer attending [fo. 50, 54], with Mr. Ludwell, of Virginia, Colonel Cleland and Mr. Woodbridge, of Barbadoes, Mr. Dummer's memorials relating to the seizing of several New England ships by the Spaniards, as they were lading salt at Tertudas (mention'd in the minutes of the 25th September and 13th October last), were again read; and Mr. Dummer thereupon acquainted their lordships that he had lately receiv'd and address from the Governor, Council and Assembly of the Massachusets Bay to her Majesty, complaining of the forementioned captures, and praying her Majesty's interposition with the Court of Spain therein. And these gentlemen being ask'd several questions thereupon, they all agreed that if the Spaniards should continue to take our ships gathering salt there, if would not only be of very great prejudice to our governments on the Continent, but entirely ruin us (sic) to our sugar plantations, more especially to Barbadoes, for that the planters could not maintain and provide for their negro's without the salt mackrel and scale fish from New England.

Bahama's.

New England.

Captain Martin's certificate about ships taken by the Spaniards going to load salt at the Bahama's.

Draught of a representation.

Then Mr. Dummer [fo. 53, 60] presented to their lordships a certificate from Captain John Martin, relating to the Spaniards having taken several English vessels of New England, Bermuda &c., going to load salt at the Bahama Islands, which was read; and their lordships gave directions for preparing the draught of a representation upon this whole matter [fo. 88].

Trade.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Bromley. Treaty with Spanish Netherlands.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Secretary Bromley, in answer to his of the 8th October last, upon the project of a Treaty of Commerce between Great Britain and the Spanish Netherlands [v. infra], was agreed, and order'd to be transcrib'd.

December 2. Present:—Lord Guilford, Mr. Monckton, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

Trade.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Bromley. Treaty of Commerce.

Netherlands.

A letter to Mr. Secretary Bromley, in answer to his of the 8th October last, upon the project of a Treaty of Commerce between Great Britain and the Spanish Netherlands [v. supra, fo. 295], mention'd in yesterday's minutes, was sign'd.

Pennsylvania.

Letter to Mr. Borrett.

Laws with Mr. Solicitor General.

Ordered that the secretary write to Mr. Borrett, Solicitor to the Treasury, to remind him of what was written to Mr. Solicitor General and himself, the 3rd of August last, upon several Acts of Pennsylvania, and desiring Mr. Solicitor General's opinion thereupon, without delay.

December 3. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

Leeward Islands.

Mr. Heysham.

Debentures.

William Heysham, esquire, attending, and the powers of attorney from several of the sufferers at St. Christopher's to himself and his brother Robert Heysham, esquire, being examin'd at the Board, Mr. William Heysham's receipts were taken for the six debentures number'd 232, 608, 624, 626, 627 and 645; and the said debentures order'd to remain in the office till Mr. Robert Heysham shall sign the said receipts also.

Mr. Baker.

Debentures.

Mr. Richard Baker attending, and his letters of attorney from some of the sufferers at Nevis being examin'd at the Board, the debentures number'd 410, and 521 were deliver'd to him.

Massachusets.

Mr. Edmonds about Southack.

Mr. Benjamin Edmonds attending [fo. 51], in behalf of Captain Southack, commander of the Province galley of the Massachusets Bay, the said Southack's petition, referr'd to this Board by the Order of Council of the 8th August, mention'd in the minutes of the 26th of the last month, was again read; and after some discourse with Mr. Edmonds thereupon, he acquainted their lordships that Captain Southack was desirous the government of New England might pay his demands, in case it should not be thought fit for her Majesyt to pay him here, and hop'd their lordships would accordingly represent it; whereupon the Board resolv'd to take this matter again into consideration on Tuesday morning next.

Trade.

Hopegood.

Porteen.

Consul at Malta.

Mr. Hopegood and Mr. Porteen attending [fo. 51, 59], as they had been desir'd the 26th of the last month, the extract of Mr. Prior's letter of the 20th October, with the memorial relating to the English Consulship at Malta, inclos'd in Mr. Tilson's letter, mention'd in the minutes of the said 26th of the last month, were read; whereupon these gentlemen said that though the English Consul at Messina has a power by his patent to name a deputy for Malta, the great Master never did admit of such nomination, but has always appointed the Consul there himself, and that he never did allow any Protestant in that employment for longer than twelve months. Mr. Hopegood and Mr. Porteen likewise acquainted the Board that they have no objection to Mr. Rigord, mention'd in the aforesaid memorial, nor to the nomination of a Consul by the great Master, they having always found ready assistance from such Consul, who, ‘tis natural to believe, will have more interest with the great Master than a deputy nam'd by the Consul at Messina; and they did not apprehend any inconvenience from the said nomination, especially considering we have little or no trade directly to that island, but only by ships touching there in their way to or from other places.

Convention about trade with Sicily.

Then the letter from Mr. Tilson of the 20th November, by order of the Lord Viscount Bolingbroke, with the copy and a translation of the convention made in February last, with the Duke of Savoy, relating to the trade to Sicily, were read in presence of these gentlemen, who being ask'd if they desir'd anything further for the advantage of our trade in those parts, they said they were satisfy'd with what is there stipulated, and had nothing more to ask.

December 4. Present;—Lord Guilford, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Sir John Hynde Cotron, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

Trade.

Letter to Lord Bolingbroke about Consul at Malta.

A letter to the Lord Bolingbroke, upon the memorial from the Ambassador of Malta, at Parish [fo. 57], relating to the nomination of an English Consul for that island, mention'd in the minutes of the 26th of November last, was sign'd.

Letter from Lord Bolingbroke.

Commissaries for French trade.

Article with Portugal about negro's.

Letter to Mr. Pery.

Royal African Company.

A letter from the Lord Bolingbroke, of the 3rd instant, relating to the Board's preparing instruction &c^a for Commissaries to treat with those of France [fo. 69], and to an article to be desir'd of Portugal about carrying negro's to the Brazils, was read; whereupon ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Pery, secretary to the African Company, to acquaint him that their lordships having propos'd to her Majesty that application be made at the Court of Portugal for liberty to import negro's into the Brazils [fo. 65], by her Majesty's subjects, they are desirous to discourse with any of the Royal African Company, or any other persons as are best acquainted with that trade, on Tuesday next.

New England.

Letter from Lord Bolingbroke. Case of ships seiz'd at Tertudos.

A letter from the Lord Bolingbroke, of the 3rd instant, referring to the Board the abstract of the case of several ships being seiz'd by the Spaniards for lading salt at Tertudos [fo. 54, 74], was read; whereupon their lordships resolv'd to reconsider the abovemention'd two letters on Tuesday morning next.

Jamaica.

Hearing about escheat of Kupius's estate.

Mr. Whitlock [fo. 52, 98], agent for Joanna Kupius, &c., attending with Sir Peter King, their counsel; and Mr. Thurston, agent for the Lord Archibald Hamilton, attending with Mr. Attorney and Mr. Solicitor General, the Order of Council of the 1st of October last, referring to the Board the petition of the said Joanna, &c., mention'd in the minutes of the 4th of November last, together with the said petition, were read; and Sir Peter King open'd the case of the petitioners, as follows:
Sir Peter King opens the case.
First, he set forth that the petitioners were the nearest relations of Williamina Kupius, deceas'd, as set forth in the petition, and offer'd to prove the same, but that it was not contested by the other side. He said, that William Kupius, a Dutch man, went over to Jamaica, upon encouragement of an Act passed there in the time of King Charles the Second, for encouraging the settling of that island (First Vol. Laws, fo. 103). That he was there naturalized pursuant to the said Act, and bought the estate for which the petitioners now pray. That when he dy'd, he left two children; that the said two children are also dead; that the petitioners did not claim by virtue of any right as nearest relations, being aliens, and not qualify'd to inherit; but being willing to make themselves capable of a grant, he hop'd her Majesty would, after they had so done, be graciously pleas'd to make them a grant of the said estate in consideration of their proximity of blood.
That this is not without precedent, he instanced in the case of the daughter of Sir Edward Thomas, who was born in Holland, and marry'd there to a foreigner, and by consequence, upon her father's death, could not inherit to his estate in Jamaica, till, upon application to his late Majesty about the year 1688, the husband was endenized, and had a grant of that estate.

Sir Peter then took notice that the estate in question was very much under-valued in the inquisition of the jury; for that he was inform'd it had been let for 300l. a year; and he call'd upon Mr. Joseph Hodges, of Jamaica, who acquainted their lordships that he had seen the counterpart of the lease of that estate, whereby it appear'd that it was let at 300l. a year; he added that the value of working negro's in Jamaica was from 20l. to 25l. per head, that the children were of much less value. Sir Peter also produced a letter from Mr. Anthony Swymmer, tenant to that estate, wherein he writ that he gave 300l. a year for it; and Sir Peter added that the petitioners were desirous to be naturalized or endenized, and did intend, if her Majesty would be graciously pleas'd to grant them the estate petition'd for, to go and live upon it.

Mr. Attorney and Mr. Solicitor General's answer.

What Mr. Attorney and Mr. Solicitor General said in answer to this, is as follows:
That what the Lord Archibald Hamilton had done in this matter, had been by impartial proceedings according to the common forms of law in that island; that it has been the constant practice of all Governors to encourage the discovery of the title of the Crown to any lands escheated, by promising the grant thereof to the discoverers, who, relying upon such promises, have been at the charge of the prosecutions, and that therefore, if those promises be not made good, but the grants given to other persons, no further discoveries of that nature can be expected; and the benefit thereby will be lost to the Crown.
That the Act which gives the Crown a title by excheats (Jamaica Laws, Printed, Vol. I, fo. 73), gives the Governor the power of making grants thereof, which was very reasonable, for if the Governor have not such power the estates must go to ruin, because nobody that is not in expection of the grant, will be at the expence of maintaining and keeping up the same, especially if it be a sugar work. That the Act for raising a revenue &c. passed in November, 1703, appropriates the value of the escheats, as return'd by the juries, to the support of the government of that island, so that whoever has the grant must pay to the Government there the value the jury has return'd.

In answer to what Sir Peter said, as to the value of the estate of Kupius, they said that the inquisition had been made by a jury upon oath, and by them return'd to the Supream Court, who are impower'd (if they had thought the estate under valu'd) to order a new inquisition, which not being done, ‘twas reasonable to believe they did not think it so. However, there may be a new inquisition at any time, if there be any reason to supect that the return of this is not right; but besides, there was a great deal of difference to be made as to the value between a plantation (especially a sugar work) that is well stock'd, and one that is not. And Mr. Rigby inform'd their lordships that estates in Jamaica were seldom, if ever, sold for above six years’ purchase; that working slaves there are let from four to five pounds per annum; that the children of negro's, till they are able to work, are a burthen to an estate; for that they are taxed as grown negro's; that since her Majesty's instructions restraining the Governor from granting escheats, several escheats have layn waste, and the island has been forced to raise about ten thousand pounds for the support of the government, which was formerly supply'd by the value of escheats sold there.

December 8. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

Trade.

Members of African Company about carrying negro's to the Brazils.

Mr. Pindar, Mr. Hopegood and other members of the Royal African Company, attending, as they had been desir'd the 4th instant, their lordships communicated to them the last paragraph of their letter of the 20th of the last month to the Lord Viscount Bolingbroke, relating to our importing negro's into the Brazils [fo. 59], as also what my Lord Bolingbroke has writte to their lordships thereupon in his letter of the 3rd instant. Whereupon Mr. Pindar said, that he did not think it was our interest to carry negro's to the Brazils, that would make the price of negro's in our plantations (where there is a great demand for them) much dearer; that it is our interest that the price of negro's at the Brazils should be kept up as high as possible; that the Portuguense, who can get but few of their own, ought to buy what they want of us upon the coast of Africa, as they have hitherto done at 50 per cent. dearer than they cost us; for if we carry them to Brazil, the Portuguese will not buy them but at their own price. And he acquainted their lordships that Captain Boun, who has lately been there, is now in town, and they promis'd to send him to wait on their lordships on Thursday morning next.

Merchants summon'd.

These gentlemen being withdrawn, ordered that Mr. Robert Nightingale, Mr. Francis Chamberlain, Mr. Richard Harris and Mr. Charles Kent [v. infra] be desired to attend the Board on Thursday morning next.

December 10. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

Trade.

Merchants et al’ about carrying negro's to the Brazils.

Mr. Monckton, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

Mr. Robert Heysham, Mr. Kent, Mr. Harris and Captain Boun attending [v. supra, fo. 69], as directed the last meeting, and being ask'd their opinion about our having a liberty of importing negro's into the Brazils from the coast of Africa,

Mr. Heysham said, it would certainly be an increase of the trade and navigation of this kingdom, but he doubted whether it would not be a prejudice to the plantations; for that we should certainly send our negro's to the best market, and the Portuguese do and will give more for negro's than the planters do.

Mr. Kent said, that he did not apprehend any ill consequence to the plantations by it; for, if we do not supply the Portuguese, they will have negro's of their own, or from the Dutch, French or Brandenburghers, and therefore he thought we had better supply them, than let other nations do it. If we only were possess'd of the negro trade, it would not then be advisable to furnish the Portuguese with negro's in the Brazils; for that, if they had plenty of negro's, they would again resume their sugar-works, which have of late been neglected. He added, that the dearness of negro's is not a disadvantage to our plantations; for, if negro's were cheap, and the French could be supply'd with them at easy rates, they would be able to improve their plantations on Hispaniola to that degree, as to be in a condition to outdo our sugar plantations; and therefore he thought it an advantage to have negro's dear.

Mr. Harris agreed in the main with what Mr. Kent had said, but he also doubted that for a year or two, the furnishing negro's to the Brazils would be a disadvantage to the plantations.

Captain Boun said, that he had liv'd at the Brazils about eighteen months, and was but lately come from thence; that the Portuguese employ their negro's both in their sugar-works and in their gold mines; and he was of opinion, the more negro's they have, the more sugar they'll make. But he did not think the Portuguese would ever allow us to carry negro's directly thither, and besides he thought it would be destructive to the plantations.

Agents and others summon'd.

These gentlemen were then desir'd to reconsider this matter, and to attend again on Tuesday morning next thereupon; and their lordships gave directions that Mr. Thurston, agent for Jamaica, Colonel Jory, and Mr. Duport for the Leeward Islands, and Mr. William Heysham for Barbadoes, with Mr. Rowland Tryon, Colonel Sharpe and Colonel Cleland, be desir'd to attend at the same time, with any planters or merchants concern'd in the trade to those places.

December 11. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

Trade.

Treaty of Commerce.

France.

Their lordships now made a progres in what is referr'd to them in relation to a Treaty of Commerce with France [fo. 59, 72].

December 15. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

Trade.

Merchants about carring negro's to the Brazills.

Mr. William Heysham, Mr. Rowland and Mr. William Tryon, Colonel Cleland, Colonel Sharp, Mr. Duport, Mr. Chester, Mr. Kent, Mr. Harris and Captain Boun attending [fo. 66, 99], as desir'd the 10th instant, in relation to the advantage or disadvantage it may be for Great Britain to have a liberty of importing negro's into the Brazils from the coast of Africa.

Mr. Heysham said, it was his opinion our carrying negro's to the Brazils would be prejudical to our plantations in America; for that such supply of negro's to the Portuguse in Brazil would enable them the easier and cheaper to produce sugars, whereas the would have a contrary effect on our plantations, whereby the Portuguese would under-sell us in that commodity in the markets of Europe.

But it being ask'd of these gentlemen, whether, after the British plantations had a sufficient annual supply of negro's at moderate rates, it would not be our interest to carry the surplus to the Brazils, rather than suffer the Portuguese themselves, the French, Dutch or Brandenburghers to have that benefit, as at present, since there seems now to be a favourable opportunity of procuring the British subjects to be admitted at least into a share of this trade.

Colonel Cleland answer'd, that it was impossible our plantations should leave any surplus of negro's; that the only method which seem'd to him capable of supporting our Colonies in so declining a condition, was, that we should endeavour to exclude all other nations from the negro trade, &c., on the coast of Africa; that the ground in Brazil being much more fertile than our plantations, which Captain Boun, who had liv'd there eighteen months, and was lately come from thence, affirm'd to their lordships, and a less number of negro's requir'd to cultivate the same, the Portuguese could afford to give better prices for negro's, so that our Colonies would not be supply'd, and our rivals in the sugar trade very much encouraged.

Whereupon Mr. Kent reply'd, that Colonel Cleland's proposal of out getting the whole trade for negro's, &c., on the coast of Africa, would be of extraordinary benefit, were it practicable; that the Dutch, Brandenburghers, and others as well as the Portuguese, would not be prevented carrying negro's to the Brazils, and that the cheapness of negro's in America would put the French in a condition to cultivate more land in St. Domingo, which, as it was more fruitful than ours, would be a more immediate detriment to our trade. And Mr. Harris observ'd that the extraordinary profit of a negro's labour in the mines about the producing sugars, was the reason why the Portuguese could afford to give a better price for them; that our plantations were supply'd with more than 20,000 yearly, and some that could not be sold in the British Colonies, were carry'd to Martinique. To which Colonel Cleland answer'd, the dearness of those negro's occasioned the British planters not buying them, thought the French allow'd greater prices; and in relation to the Brazils, Colonel Sharpe was of opinion that a negro sold there at 50l. would not be of so much advantage to the interest of Great Britain, as one sold in the British plantations for 25l.

Upon the whole, it being consider's that the African trade is shared by so many several nations, the more persons are engag'd in supplying the Brazils with negro's, the chapter will negro's and their labour be, and consequently their sugar-works better supported; these gentlemen all unanimously agreed that our carrying negro's to the Brazils would be prejudicial to the British plantations in America.

Letter from Lord Viscount Bolingbroke.

Matters for Commissaries to treat with the French.

A letter from the Lord Viscount Bolingbroke, of yesterday's date, requiring the Board's dispatch of what is necessary to be prepared for the Commissioners appointed by her Majesty to treat with those of France [fo. 69, 74], in relation to commerce, was read.

Italian merchants.

Order of Council.

Mediterranean passes.

Several Italian merchants attending [fo. 79], the Order of Council of the 8th August, 1713, upon their petition to her Majesty, complaining of the prejudice they receive and are lyable to by Jews and other foreigners purchasing her Majesty's Mediterranean passes, issued and distributed to several English Consuls at the ports in the Mediterranean several years ago, was read; and after some discourse with these gentlemen, they were desir'd to state the

To state the matter in writing, with proofs.

matter more at large in writing, with what reasons and proofs they may have to offer thereupon, which they promis'd to do accordingly, and lay the same before the Board.

December 16. Present:— Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

Jamaica.

Order of Council repealing an Act.

The copy of an Order of Council of the 8th August last [P. fo. 447] upon a representation of the 6th of the same month, for repealing An Act of Jamaica to prevent any one person from holding two or more offices of profit, &c., was read.

Trade.

Commissaries for commerce with France.

Subject to proceed upon.

The letter from the Lord Bolingbroke, of the 14th instant, mention'd in the minutes of the 15th, relating to the Commissaries appointed to treat with those of France [fo. 72, 75], was again read; and their lordships agred that the properest matter to begin those negotiations with would be the explanations of the Treaty of Commerce with France, mention'd in the bill of commerce, brought into the House of Commons last Sessions of Parliament.

New England.

Affidavit about seizure of a ship at salt.

Tertuda.

An affidavit of Robert Keirton, mariner, on board the Marlborough galley, deposing that the said galley was taken at Tertudos by the Spaniards [fo. 60, 78], as she was gathering salt there, carry'd with her crew into St. Domingo, and there sold, was read; and their lordships agreed to consider that whole matter at the first opportunity.

December 17. Present:—Lord Viscount Bolingbroke, Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

Trade.

Lord Bolingbroke.

French Commissaries for trade.

The Lord Bolingbroke acquainted the Board that Mr. Prior had signify'd that the French Commissaries were ready to come over so soon as ours should be ready to treat with them [fo. 74, 77]; that thereupon her Majesty having nam'd her Commissaries, had sent orders to Mr. Prior to press at the Court of France that theirs should come away as soon as possible; that her Majesty therefore expected that such matters as may be proper for her Commissaries should be immediately dispatch'd, and that during the negotiation the Lords of the Cabinet Council should be assistant to the Board in their consultation upon those matters.

His lordships further acquainted the Board that there had been three doubts or difficulties rais'd in France upon the naming or extent of some clauses and words in the Treaty of Commerce, which he thought ought first to be settled and adjusted before the Commissaries proceeded to anything else; and having explain'd the said doubts, his lordships was inform'd that the Board had already prepar'd what they had to offer upon those matters, and should lay the same before his lordship to-morrow.

December 18. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

Nevis.

Mr. Ball.

Debentures.

Mr. Ball attending, and his powers of attorney from the sufferers of Nevis being examin'd at the Board, the two following debentures were deliver'd to him, number'd 227 and 575.

Mr. Alford.

Debentures.

Mr. Alford attending, and his powers of attorney from the sufferers of Nevis being examin'd at the Board, the two following debentures were deliver'd to him, number'd 143 and 435.

Board at a Committee of Council.

The Board being sent for to the Lords of the Committee of Council, at the Lord Bolingbroke's office [fo. 75], they went accordingly; and the Lord Guilford was desir'd to present to their lordships the Board's observations upon the Treaty of Commerce with France, mention'd in yesterday's minutes, and to acquaint their lordships that it was their opinion—
1st. When the French Commissaries should arrive, the objection made by France that the Act to make effetual the eighth and ninth articles not having pass'd, the other articles of the Treaty of Commerce were void, ought in the first place to be answer'd and explain'd.
2nd. That the extent of the words goods and merchandizes of Great Britain, mention'd in the ninth article, be adjusted and explain'd, as intended by the clause of the Bill lately depending in Parliament.
3rd. That the like adjustment and explanations be made, that any exemptions of duties or privileges in commerce, that shall be granted to or enjoy'd by any other nation, in respect to the four excepted species, shall be likewise enjoy'd by the subjects of Great Britain, in pursuance of the eighth and ninth articles of the said Treaty of Commerce.

December 22. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

New England.

Mr. Dummer.

Informations about seizures of ships for gathering salt at Tertuda.

Mr. Dummer attending with Daniel Frizel, master of the Marlborough galley (taken gathering salt at Tertudas by the Spaniards), and Robert Keirton, mariner in the said ship [fo. 74], and being ask'd several questions, the said Frizel inform'd the Board that he was taken at anchor at Tertudas by a privateer, Captain Neal, commander, who told him he did it by virtue of a Spanish commission; that they set him and two others on shoar at the said island, and carry'd the ship with the rest of the crew to St. Domingo. Then Robert Keirton inform'd their lordships that he with eight others were carry'd to St. Domingo, and there examin'd by the Spanish Governor, and threaten'd that, in case they were ever caught gathering salt at Tertudas again, they shou'd be sent to the mines for slaves.

Nevis.

Mr. Alford.

Debentures.

Mr. Alford attending, and his letters of attorney, for the sufferers of Nevis, being examin'd at the Board, the debentures number'd 434 and 444 were deliver'd to him.

Mr. Mills for Mr. Merriwether.

Debentures.

Mr. Mills attending in behalf of Mr. Merriwether, who is very ill, and his letters of attorney for several of the sufferers at Nevis being examin'd, thirteen debentures were order'd to be deliver'd to him, and that the secretary carry to-morrow morning to his house the book of receipts, that he may sign the same. The numbers of the said debentures are as follow:—267, 269, 327, 330, 360, 361, 364, 370, 472, 513, 515, 520, 527.

Trade.

Italian merchants.

Memorial about Mediterranean passes.

Letter to Mr. Burchett and to Sir Charles Hedges.

Several Italian merchants attending, upon an Order of Council of the 8th of August, 1713 [fo. 73], upon the petition of several merchants trading to Italy complaining of the prejudice to them by foreigners and Jews purchasing her Majesty's Mediterranean passes, mention'd in the minutes of the 15th of this instant December; they presented to their lordships a memorial containing their proposals for remedying the inconveniences complain'd of in the aforesaid petition, which was read; and thereupon ordered that a copy of the forementioned petition be sent to Mr. Burchett [fo. 84], to desire to know what the practice of the Admiralty is in that matter, and that another copy be sent to Sir Charles Hedges for his opinion thereupon.

Leeward Islands.

Debentures to be subscrib'd into the South Sea stock.

Ordered that in case my Lord Treasurer do all the debentures for the sufferers of Nevis and St. Christopher's to be subscrib'd in the South Sea Stock, that the secretary of this Board do subscribe such debentures as are yet remaining in this office, in trust for the persons who have not yet taken out the same.