Journal, September 1714: Journal Book Q

Journal, September 1714

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

Newfoundland.

Their Excellencies attended by the Board in relation to Captain Taverner.

To write to out-ports touching the survey.

The several papers in this office relating to Captain Taverner and his survey of Newfoundland, as directed the last meeting, being now prepar'd and laid before the Board, their lordships went to attend their Excellencies the Lords Justices [fo. 310, 313]; and after some discourse with their Excellencies thereupon, they were directed to write to the several out-ports to know whether such a survey be necessary, and whether Colonel Nicholson may not be a proper person to get it done, or whether any other person there may be more proper for the doing of it.

September 2. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Moore, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Pytts.

Newfoundland.

Letter from Mr. Addison about necessity of the survey and who proper to undertake it.

Letter to Sir John Lambert and Mr. Mertit thereupon.

A letter from Mr. Addison, by order of the Lords Justices, of the 1st instant, desiring the Board to receive informations from the fishing bourroughs whether such a survey be necessary [fo. 312], as was proposed by Mr. Taverner? Whether Mr. Nicholson may not properly be directed to procure such a survey to be made; if not, and that their lordships think it necessary that they recommend to their Excellencies a person fit for that service, was read; and thereupon ordered that letters be writ to Sir John Lambert and Mr. Solomon Merrit [fo. 314], desiring to speak with them and such other merchants trading to Newfoundland, as they think proper to bring with them, thereupon to-morrow at 11 a clock in the morning.

Pensylvania.

Plantations General.

Report in relation to temporary laws.

A report to the Lords of the Committee of Appeals from the plantations, pursuant to an order from them of the 5th instant last [sic] [fo. 309], in relation to temporary laws pass'd there, mention'd in the minutes of 30th last month, was sign'd.

September 7. Present:—Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Moore, Sir John Hynde, Cotton, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Pytts.

Newfoundland.

Sir John Lambert and Mr. Merret.

A letter and memorial from them in behalf of Captain Taverner, appointed to survey Newfoundland.

Letter from Sir John Lambert [fo. 313], signifying his having sign'd a memorial to the Lords Justices, recommending Captain Taverner as a fit person to take a survey of Newfoundland, was read.

Mr. Merret attending, as he had been desired the 2nd instant, presented to their lordships the copy of a memorial from several merchants trading to Newfoundland to the Lords Justices, in behalf of Captain Taverner, appointed to survey those parts, which was read; and Mr. Merret being ask'd his thoughts upon the said survey, he said, that he was of opinion it was absolutely necessary, and that none was so fit to do it as Captain Taverner.

Letter to Mayors of several out-ports thereupon.

After Mr. Merret was withdrawn, ordered that letters be writ to the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, to the Mayors of Exeter, Bristol, Plymouth, Dartmouth, Weymouth, Pool, Barnstable, Leverpool, Fowey, and to the Collector of the Customs at Biddiford [fo. 447], to desire them to consult the merchants, and let the Board have their opinion whether the said survey be necessary, and to name a person fitly qualify'd to do it, and if they think Colonel Nicholson may find a proper person there, that then they wou'd inform the Board of his name and qualifications for that purpose.

Trade.

Illegal [trade] between France and the Spanish West Indies.

Anonymous letter.

An anonymous letter, dated the 2nd instant, and signed A.D.Wt., giving an account of a clandestine and illegal trade carry'd on in British ships between France and the Spanish West Indies, was read; and directions given for an advertizement to be put in the Gazet, that if the persons who sent the said letter will attend their lordships thereupon, they shall have all fitting encouragement.

Barbadoes.

Mr. Lowther &c. about Mr. Sharp's displacing counsellors there &c.

Mr. Lowther and Mr. Heysham attending, acquainted the Board that they had received letters from Barbadoes, informing them that Mr. Sharp [fo. 324] had displaced three of the judges, vizt., Mr. Sutton, Mr. Carter and Mr. Vaughan, and that four of the Council, vizt., Mr. Frere, Mr. Hallet, Mr. Maxwell and Mr. Berwick, were threatn'd to be turn'd out from that Board for not complying with Mr. Sharp; and therefore these gentlemen desired that they might be heard before any resolution was taken upon these matters.

Account of Mr. Sharp's proceedings.

Then Mr. William Heysham communicated to their lordships the copy of a letter he had received from some of the members of the Council and Assembly, giving and account of Mr. Sharp's proceedings since his being at Barbadoes.

St. Christopher's.

Mr. Heysham.

Debentures deliver'd.

He then produced the powers of attorny from Mr. James Ramsey, of St. Christopher's, to himself and brother, Robert Heysham, which being examin'd at the Board, the debenture number'd 605 was delivered to him.

September 8. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Pytts.

Barbadoes.

Letter from the President.

A letter from Colonel Sharp, President of the Council of Barbadoes, dated the 1st July, 1714, was read, and the three papers therein referr'd to were laid before the Board, and are as follows, vizt.:
Papers referr'd to.

List of gentlemen recommended by Colonel Sharp to supply vacancies in the Council of Barbado's.
The President's speech to the Council of Barbadoes.
Copy of her Majesty's warrant to Mitford Crow, esquire, directing him to discharge Mr. Downs, judge of the Comon Pleas, for delaying the tryal of a suit between him and Mr. Bentley, and to supply his place by persons well qualify'd to attend their duty.

September 9. Present:—Lord Guilford, Mr. Moore, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Sharpe, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

Virginia.

Letter from the Governor.

Letter from Colonel Spotswood, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, dated 9th March, 1713/14, was read; and the several papers therein referr'd to were laid before the Board, and are as follows, vizt.:
Papers therein referr'd to.
Treaty with the Nottoway Indians, concluded at Williamsburgh, the 27th February, 1713.
Treaty with the Saponie Indians, concluded at Williamsburgh, the 27th February, 1713.
Treaty with the Tuscaruro Indians, concluded at Williamsburgh, the 27th of February, 1713.
Minutes of Council, from the 12th August, 1713, to the 1st March following.
Minutes of Council in Assembly, from the 5th of November, 1713, to the 12th December following.
Minutes of Assembly, from 5th November, 1713.
Twelve Acts pass'd the 12th of December, 1713.

Maryland.

Two letters from the Governor.

Two letters from Mr. Hart, Governor of Maryland, to the Board, dated the 14th and 22nd of June, 1714, signifying his arrival there the 29th of May, summoning the Council, publishing his commission &c., will sent a state of the province, and has publish'd the proclamation of the peace with Spain, were read.

September 14. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Moore, Sir John Hynde Cotton, Mr. Pytts, Mr. Vernon.

Nevis.

Mr. Millis.

Debentures deliver'd.

Mr. Mills attending, and the powers of attorney from several of the sufferers of Nevis to the said Mr. Mills being examin'd at the Board, the three debentures number'd 490, 525 and 593 were delivered to him.

Virginia.

Letter from Colonel Spotswood.

A letter from Colonel Spotswood, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, dated the 20th of July, 1714, was read; and the papers therein referr'd to were laid before the Board, and are as follows, vizt.:
Account of quit rents, from 25th April, 1713, to 25th April, 1714.
Copies of two proclamations about taking up land and publishing the peace with Spain.
Account of the revenue of 2s. per hogshead on tobacco, from 25th April, 1713, to 25th April, 1714.
Minutes of Council, from the 30th of March to the 16th June, 1714.

September 17. Present:—Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Moore, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Pytts.

Nevis.

Mr. Millis.

Debentures deliver'd.

Mr. Mills attending, and the powers of attorney from several of the sufferers at Nevis to the said Mr. Mills being examined at the Board, the three debentures number'd 480, 494 and 563 were delivered to him.