Journal, March 1714: Journal Book Q

Journal, March 1714

March 1. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

Bermuda.

Letter from Lord Viscount Bolingbroke.

English vessels seiz'd by the Spaniards.

Civilians.

Letters to Sir Charles Hedges and Sir Nathanael Lloyd.

A letter from the Lord Viscount Bolingbroke, dated 27 of the last month [fo. 137], signifying that his lordship having laid the Board's letter of the 23rd of the same month with the papers there inclosed (being copies of a letter and affidavits received from Mr. Pullein, Lieutenant Governor of Bermuda, relating to several vessels seiz'd by the Spaniards in those parts) before the Lords of the Council, it was thought proper the Board should advise with the civill lawyers thereupon, and report the said civilians’ and their own opinion, before the Council offer anything to her Majesty in this matter, was read. Whereupon ordered that copies of Mr. Pullein's letter of the 9th of January, 1713/14, and of the affidavits therein referr'd to, be sent to Sir Charles Hedges and Sir Nathanael Lloyd [fo. 151], with this Board's desire of their and other civilians’ opinion in writing, as to the seizures complain'd of in the said papers, on Fryday morning next, and that their lordships desire likewise to speak with those gentlemen at the same time.

Trade.

Fishery. Memorial from Leverpooll.

A memorial from the mayor, merchants and fishermen of Leverpoole, dated the 12th of February, in answer to the secretary's letter of 12th January, 1713/14, relating to the fishery, being receiv'd from Mr. Clayton, was read.

Trade.

Letter from Lord Provost of Edinburgh.

Fishery.

Comerce with France.

A letter from George Warrender, esquire, Lord Provot of Edenburgh, dated the 13th February, 1713/14, in answer to the secretary's letter of 28th January foregoing [fo. 109], relating to the fishery, and inclosing the copy of a memorial from the Royal Boroughs of Scotland relating to the Treaty of Commerce with France, was read.

Yarmouth fish.

A memorial from the town of Yarmouth, relating to their fishery, being received some time since from Sir John Hynde Cotton, was read.

St. Christopher's.

Papers about setting French part.

Then their lordships resolved to take into consideration on Thursday morning next, the several papers in this office relating to the settlements of the island of St. Christopher's.

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

Trade.

France, commissaries.

Letter from Mr. Martin.

French full powers.

Memorial from her Majesty's commissaries.

Letter to Lord Bolingbroke and Mr. Secretary Bromley.

Commissaries summon'd.

A letter from Mr. Martin, secretary to her Majesty's commissaries [fo. 139], appointed to treat with those of France, signifying that my Lord Bolingbroke had sent for the copies of the French commissaries’ full powers, and that his lordship would let her Majesty's commissaries know her pleasure thereupon; and inclosing a memorial from her Majesty's said commissaries, with the draughts of what they propose to offer to the French commissaries, as a preliminary to their conferences, which letter and papers were read; whereupon letters were imediately writ to the Lord Bolingbroke and Mr. Secretary Bromley, desiring they would please to be at the Board to-morrow morning on this affair; and further ordered that her Majesty's commissaries have notice [fo. 150] to be at the Board at the same time.

Miscellanies.

Privy seal.

A warrant of privy seal, directing the payment of the salaries and incidental charges of this office, was laid before the Board, and read, and a copy thereof ordered to be taken.

March 4. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

Trade.

Flanders.

Letter from Mr. Secretary Bromley.

Letter from Mr. Drummond.

Amendments to draught of Treaty of Commerce.

Letter from Mr. Brown. Bruges.

A letter from Mr. Secretary Bromley, of the 3rd instant [fo. 102, 152], referring to the Board a letter from Mr. Drumond to him, and some amendments made by Mr. Drummond to the draught of a Treaty of Commerce with Flanders, pursuant to a report of this Board's of the 2nd of December last, together with a letter from Mr. Brown to Mr. Drumond, relating to the sale of fish and leather at Bruges, were read, and their lordships agreed to take the same into further consideration to-morrow morning.

Trade.

France.

Commissaries.

Her Majesty's commissaries attending [fo. 149, 152], as they had been desired yesterday, they were acquainted that, the Lord Bolingbroke and Mr. Secretary Bromley being prevented by other business from coming to the Board as they had been desir'd, their lordships did not think proper to give any particular directions upon the memorial and other papers of the said commissaries, mention'd in yesterday's minutes, till they had first an opportunity of discoursing with my Lord Bolingbroke or Mr. Secretary Bromley.

March 5. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Pytts.

Bermuda.

Sir Charles Hedges and Sir Nathanael Lloyd's answer about seizures by the Spaniards.

Letter to Lord Viscount Bolingbroke.

Sir Charles Hedges and Sir Nathanael Lloyd attending [fo. 147], presented to their lordships theirs and other civilians’ answer to the letter writ them the 1st instant, upon one from Mr. Pulleine, relating to the seizure of several English ships by the Spaniards in America, was read, and after some further discourse with these gentlemen thereupon, a letter was immediately prepared to my Lord Viscount Bolingbroke and sign'd, inclosing a copy of the foremention'd answer, with the opinion of the Board concurring therewith.

Jamaica.

Letter from Colonel Laws and others.

Colonel Handasydes regiment.

Letter to Lord Bolingbroke.

A letter from Colonel Laws, Mr. Kent, and other Jamaica merchants and planters, relating to the continuance of Colonel Handasyd's regiment in that island [fo. 138, 154], was read, and directions given for preparing a letter to my Lord Bolingbroke, in answer to his of 16th of last month upon that subject.

Trade.

Lord Bolingbroke.

Commissaries. France.

Their lordships being inform'd that my Lord Bolingbroke intended to be at the Board to-morrow morning, ordered that her Majesty's commissaries [fo. 150, 153] have notice to be here also, at half an hour after ten at the latest.

March 6. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Pytts.

Trade.

Flanders.

Drumond's proposals.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Bromley.

Their lordships taking again into consideration Mr. Drumond's proposals [fo. 150, 174] upon the observations of the Board of the 2nd of December last, referr'd to their lordships by Mr. Secretary Bromley's letter of the 3rd instant, and mention'd in the minutes of the 4th, a letter to Mr. Secretary was drawn up and sign'd.

March 9. Present:—Lord Viscount Bolingbroke, Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Pytts.

Trade.

France.

Commissaries at the Board.

Amendments to proposals.

Her Majesty's commissaries attending [fo. 152, 164], the draughts of what they proposed to be offer'd to the French commissaries as a preliminary to their conferences, mention'd in the minutes of the 3rd instant, were again read, and after some discourse with them, their lordships agreed to the three articles in the first draught, with the following amendments. In the second article, after the words, have carried to France, the following words were added, and sold there, and in the said article, after the words tariff of the year 1664, the following words were added, and to such British ships and vessels wherein the same shall be imported; and in the third article, after the words, Britancik Majesty, the following words were added, shall and may at all times hereafter import into France the merchandizes comprehended under the said excepted species.

Jamaica.

Letter to Lord Viscount Bolingbroke.

After these gentlemen were withdrawn, their lordships signed a letter to my Lord Bolingbroke [fo. 152], in answer to his lordship's of 16th February last, relating to the regiment in Jamaica.

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

Virginia.

Letter from Mr. Lowndes.

Memorial from Earl of Orkney. Mines.

Colonel Blakiston summond.

A letter from Mr. Lowndes, of the 4th instant [fo. 155], signifying the Lord High Treasurer's desire of this Board's opinion upon a memorial from the Earl of Orkney, relating to some discoveries lately made in Virginia of an ore that has the semblance of silver in it, referr'd to the Lord Treasurer by her Majesty's Order in Council of the 30th of November last, was read, together with the said order and copy of the memorial. Whereupon ordered that Colonel Blakiston, agent for Virginia, have notice to attend the Board to-morrow morning at ten of the clock.

Jamaica.

Memorial from Mrs. Fryday.

Pardon for her son.

Papers about John Fryday.

A memorial from Frances Fryday, widow [fo. 157], in behalf of her son John Fryday, under sentence of death in Jamaica for lightning Spanish money, setting forth that the Lord Archibald Hamilton, Governor of that island, had granted her said son a reprieve, and given hopes of recommending him to her Majesty's mercy; and thereupon praying their lordships’ favourable representation of what they may have received from the Lord Archibald Hamilton in relation to this matter, was read; and directions were given for laying such papers as are in the office upon this subject before the Board to-morrow morning.

March 12. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philp Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

Virginia.

Colonel Blakiston.

Mr. Perry. Mines.

Colonel Blakiston, agent for Virginia, attending, as he had been desired, and Mr. Micajah Perry being also present, the letter from Mr. Lowndes, of the 4th instant [fo. 154, 157], mentioned in yesterday's minutes, referring to the Board, by order of the Lord High Treasurer a memorial from the Earl of Orkney relating to some mines in Virginia, was again read; whereupon their lordships discoursed these gentlemen, who, representing that several miners had been already sent from hence at a great charge, and that the undertakers must be at considerable expence before they could hope for any return of advantage from this project, wherein there was a probability and hopes of her Majesty's receiving very great profit, without runing the least risque, they proposed that the undertakers be incouraged by a patent for the sole benefit during the first one and twenty years of all such mines as they shou'd discover.

Mr. Harrison recommended to be of the Council.

Colonel Blakiston and Mr. Perry then desiring that Mr. Harrison, who is a person of a very good estate, well affected to her Majesty's government, and otherwise well qualify'd, may be recommended to her Majesty for filling up one of the present vacancies in the Council of Virginia, pursuant to the request of Colonel Spotswood, her Majesty's Lieutenant Governor of that colony; after which they withdrew.

Colonel Blakiston and Mr. Perry to put their proposals in writing about mines.

Ordered that Colonel Blakiston and Mr. Perry [fo. 155] be desired to prepare and lay before this Board as soon as may be, a memorial in writing of what they desire in relation to the forementioned undertaking of the mines, in order to their lordships’ answer to the Lord High Treasurer thereupon.

Jamaica.

Representation.

Sympson and Gandy.

A representation upon her Majesty's Order in Council of the 8th of March, 1711/12 [P. fo. 230], relating to a former representation of this Board upon the petition of Thomas Simpson and the widow of Charles Gandy of Port Royal in Jamaica, deceased [R. fo. 144], as also upon an Act pass'd in that island for vesting the estate real and personal of Thomas Finch in trustees, &c., was sign'd.

Mrs. Fryday's memorial.

Governor's letter &c. about John Fryday under sentence of death.

Representation for his pardon.

Their lordships, resuming the consideration of the memorial from Frances Fryday, widow [fo. 155], in behalf of her son John Fryday, under sentence of death in Jamaica for lightening Spanish mony, mention'd in yesterday's minutes, that part of the Lord Archibald Hamilton's letter, dated the 11th of July, 1713, and laid before the Board the 19th of January last, in relation to the said Fryday, was again read, together with his petition and the report of the judges of the Supream Court in Jamaica thereupon, referrd to in the Lord Archibald Hamilton's said letter; whereupon, the draught of a representation for laying before her Majesty the case of the said Fryday, in order to her Majesty's most gracious pardon, was immediately drawn up, agreed and sign'd.

March 16. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

Trade.

Newfoundland

Fishery.

Mr. Mackburney. Mr. Taverner.

Their lordships, taking again into consideration the fishery of this kingdom, order'd that Mr. Macburney [fo. 160], be desired to attend their lordships on Fryday morning next, and likewise that Mr. Taverner [fo. 162, 170] be directed to lay before the Board at the same time what he has prepar'd in relation to the fishery of Newfoundland [fo. 159, 161].

March 17. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

Pensylvania.

Orders of Council upon Acts.

Letter to Captain Gookin therewith.

An Order of Council, of the 20th of February, upon a representation of the 15th of January, 1713/14 [fo. 89], for confirming several laws pass'd in Pensylvania in the years 1708, 1709, 1710, 1711, and 1712, was read; as also another Order of Council, of the same date, and upon the said representation, for repealing several laws pass'd in that province in the years aforesaid, was read; and directions were given for preparing the draught of a letter for inclosing the said Orders of Council to Captain Gookin, Deputy Governor of Pensylvania [fo. 160].

Newfoundland.

Letter from Mr. Cuming.

A letter from Mr. Cumming, of the 10th of October, 1713, relating to the ill state of the fishery and to illegal trade at Newfoundland [fo. 158], was read.

March 19. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Pitts.

St. Christopher's.

Settlement of the late French part.

Their lordships resolved to take into consideration on Tuesday morning next the settlement of the late French part of the island of St. Christopher's.

Pennsylvania.

Letter to Captain Gookin.

Orders upon Acts.

A letter ordered at the last meeting to be prepared to Captain Gookin, Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania [fo. 159], for transmitting two Orders of Council, dated the 20th February, 1713/14, for repealing some and confirming others of the laws pass'd in that province from the year 1708 to 1712, was signed.

Trade.

Mr. Mackburney. Fishery.

Treatise thereupon.

Draught of a Bill and other papers.

Mr. Mackburney attending [fo. 158], as desired the 16th instant, and being asked several questions in relation to the fishery of this kingdom, he communicated to the Board a book he had publish'd in the year 1701, intituled A letter to an honourable member of the House of Commons briefly shewing the wealth, power and strength that the Hollanders and other nations gain by fishing on the coast and seas of Great Britain, &c., and he promised likewise to lay before their lordships the draught of a Bill he had prepared to pass into an Act, together with other papers relating to the fishery.

Jamaica.

Letter from Lord Bolingbroke.

Address from Council and Assembly.

Occurrences in Jamaica.

Jamaica.

Barbadoes.

Leeward Islands.

Commission of inquiry.

A letter from the Lord Viscount Bolingbroke, dated yesterday [fo. 164], referring to the Board the copy of an address from the Council and Assembly of Jamaica to her Majesty, as likewise inclosing an abstract of occurrences there during my Lord Archibald Hamilton's government, and signifying that the disorders and confusions in that and other her Majesty's islands and colonies in those parts, seeming to require some speedy remedy, her Majesty has determined to send a commissioner to enquire thereinto; whereupon her Majesty is pleased to direct their lordships to consider of proper matters for instructions to the said commissioner with relation to Jamaica, Barbadoes, the Leeward Islands &c. [fo. 164], was laid before the Board, and their lordships resolv'd to take the same into consideration on Monday morning next.

Newfoundland.

Captain Taverner.

Remarks on state of English settlements.

Heads of an Act.

Captain Taverner attending, he presented to the Board some remarks on the present state of the English settlements in Newfoundland, together with heads for an Act of Parliament to incourage the trade and fishery of that place, and their lordships agreed to take the same into consideration to-morrow morning.

March 20. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

Newfoundland.

Taverner.

Remarks on English settlements.

Act of Parliament.

Captain Taverner attending, his remarks on the present state of the English settlements in Newfoundland, with heads for an Act of Parliament to incourage the trade and fishery there [fo. 158], were read; and their lordships resolved to take the same into further consideration on Monday morning next.

Extract of letter from Mr. Dobree.

French settlements.

St. Peter's.

Letter to Lord High Treasurer.

Captain Taverner then communicated to the Board an extract of a letter from Mr. Dobree, of Guernsey, to him, dated the 5th March, 1713/14, relating to the French settlements at St. Peter's, which was read; and thereupon ordered that a copy of the said extract, and of Captain Taverner's letter mentioned in the minutes of 16th February [fo. 128, 168], relating to his being dispatched for taking a survey of Newfoundland, as likewise a copy of the representation from the mayor, magistrates, merchants &c. of Dartmouth [fo. 122], relating to the preservation and security of the fishery there, mention'd in the minutes of the 11th February, be sent to the Lord High Treasurer [v. infra], and the draught of a letter for that purpose prepared against the next meeting.

March 22. Present:—Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

Newfoundland.

Letter to Lord High Treasurer.

Representation from Dartmouth.

The draught of a letter to the Lord High Treasurer [v. supra], ordered at the last meeting to be prepared for transmitting to his lordship the copy of a representation from the mayor, magistrates, merchants &c. of Dartmouth, relating to the security, trade and survey to be made of Newfoundland &c., being laid before the Board, the said draught was agreed, transcribed and signed.

Trade.

France.

Letter from commissaries.

A letter from her Majesty's commissaries appointed to treat with those of France in relation to commerce, dated the 20th instant [fo. 153, 172], with a copy of the French full powers, and their answer to the preliminary proposals of her Majesty's commissaries, mention'd in the minutes of the 9th instant, were read.

Jamaica.

Letter from Lord Viscount Bolingbroke.

Address.

Jamaica.

Barbadoes.

Leeward Islands.

Commission of inquiry.

Instructions.

Then the letter from the Lord Viscount Bolingbroke, of the 18th instant [fo. 161, 168], with an address from the Council and Assembly of Jamaica &c., mention'd in the minutes of the 19th of this month, were read. Whereupon ordered that the draughts of the commissions and instructions, given to General Nicholson [fo. 161], for inquiring into the state of the governments of her Majesty's colonies on the continent of America, be laid before the Board to-morrow morning.

March 23. Present:—Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

St. Christopher's.

Mrs. Salenave.

Memorial and petition.

Colonel Blakiston and Mr. Duport's information thereupon.

Mrs. Salenave to get certificates.

Mrs. Salenave attending, presented to their lordships a memorial, praying their lordships to take into consideration her petition to her Majesty, relating to an estate of hers in the French part of St. Christopher's, referr'd to this Board by an Order in Council of 17th April, 1712 [P. fo. 169; fo. 172] (mention'd in the minutes of 9th May following), was read, as was also the said petition and Order of Council; and Colonel Blakiston and Mr. Duport being in the office, they were called in, and being asked if they knew anything of the case of Mrs. Salenave, they said that they knew both her and her husband in St. Christopher's; that they always had been friends to the English; that no person on the island were in greater esteem or lived better than they did; that her husband was in possession of the estate many years before the revolution; that she lost besides the estate, when it was taken from her, 120 negroes, all which she might have enjoy'd from the French, wou'd she have changed her religion; unto which she added, that it was now above 33 years since she first went over to St. Christopher's, and that her husband had been in possession of the estate 10 years before she went over. After some further discourse upon this matter, their lordships desired her to get certificates of these several particulars, and of the allegations in her petition, and to lay the same before their lordships on Tuesday, the 6th of April next, which she promised to do accordingly.

St. Christopher's.

Reference on petition of Mrs. Renoult to be reconsider'd.

A reference from the Earl of Dartmouth, of 25th June, 1712 [fo. 173], upon the petition of Mrs. Renoult, widow, praying letters patents for part of an estate granted her husband by Colonel Codrington in St. Christopher's, was read; whereupon order'd that Mrs. Renoult, or those that appear for her, have notice that their lordships will reconsider her petition and case on Tuesday, the 6th of April next.

St. Christopher's.

Letter from Mr. Lowndes. Petition of Stephenson.

Letter to Lord Viscount Bolingbroke.

A letter from Mr. Lowndes, by order of my Lord High Treasurer, referring to the Board the petition of Captain William Stephenson [fo. 193], praying the confirmation of a lease of some lands in the French part of St. Christopher's, granted to him by the Governor of the Leeward Islands, and desiring the Board to consider the whole that relates to the resettling the French part of St. Christopher's, was read; and a letter imediately writ to my Lord Bolingbroke, acquainting his lordship therewith, and desiring to know what day will be agreable to his lordship to come to this Board to consider of those matters.

New England.

Letter from Mr. Lowndes.

A letter from Mr. Lowndes, of this day's date, referring to the Board the proposal of Daniel Hall [fo. 170, 194], and several other late officers and soldiers, concerning a settlement in North America, and other matters, was read; and their lordships agreed to take the same into consideration on Thursday, the 1st April next.

March 24. Present:—Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

Jamaica.

Barbadoes.

Leeward Islands.

Commission of inquiry and instructions.

A draught of a commission and instructions for a commissioner to inquire into the present state of Jamaica, Barbadoes, and the Leeward Islands [fo. 164, 171], in like manner as General Nicholson has been authorized to inquire into the state of several governments on the continent of America, pursuant to her Majesty's pleasure, signify'd by the Lord Viscount Bolingbroke's letter of the 18th, mention'd in the minutes of the 19th instant, being laid before the Board, their lordships made a progress in the consideration thereof.

Newfoundland.

Taverner's commission and instructions.

Captain Taverner attending [fo. 163, 169], and communicating to the Board her Majesty's commission to him to be surveyor of such parts of Newfoundland and islands adjacent as the French have usually fishd upon, together with her Majesty's instructions thereupon, Ordered that copies be taken thereof.

March 31. Present:—Lord Guilford, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Mr. Pytts.

Newfoundland.

Captain Taverner.

Memorial about his dispatch.

Captain Taverner attending, presented to their lordships a memorial relating to the importance of his being speedily dispatch'd for Newfoundland, and complaining of the obstructions he has met with [fo. 168, v. infra], which was read; and their lordships resolved to take the same into further consideration the first opportunity.