Journal, December 1714: Journal Book Q

Journal, December 1714

December 20. Present:—Lord President, Earl of Halifax, Lord Viscount Townshend, Lord Berkeley of Stratton, Mr. Molesworth, Mr. Cokburne, Mr. Hutcheson, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Cooke, Mr. Docminique.

Miscellanies.

New commission.

His Majesty's commission, dated the 13th instant, was open'd and read, whereby (besides the great officers of State as in the last commission for this Board), the Right Honourable the Lord Berkeley of Stratton, Sir Jacob Astley, knight and baronet, Robert Molesworth, John Cokburne, Archibald Hutcheson, John Chetwynd, Charles Cooke, and Paul Docminique, esquires, are appointed commissioners for promoting the trade of this kingdom, and for inspecting and improving his Majesty's plantations in America and elsewhere, and the lords and gentlemen first abovemention'd to be present took their places at the Board accordingly.

Letter from Lord Townshend.

Mr. Popple, secretary.

A letter from the Lord Viscount Townshend, dated the 16th instant, signifying his Majesty's having appointed William Popple, esquire, to be secretary to this Board, was read; and Mr. Popple accordingly admitted as their lordships’ secretary, pursuant to his Majesty's royal pleasure therein.

Under officers settled.

Then their lordships, taking into consideration the state of this office, ordered that Mr. Bryan Wheelock [fo. 363] be their deputy secretary or chief clerk in the room of, and upon the same foot as, Mr. Adrian Drift was, and that the rest of the present clerks have salaries according to their respective precedencies, vizt.:

Further order'd that Maurice Carrol, a clerk in this office, in consideration of his age and infirmities, have leave to retire, and that he be allowed 30l. per annum, to be paid him quarterly out of the salary of 80l. per annum belonging to his place by the present regulation.

Lord Berkeley recomends Mr. Hoskins.

Then the Lord Berkeley was pleased to recomend Mr. William Hoskins to officiate as a clerk in this office, instead of Mr. Carrol, which was approved of by the Board.

And in relation to the chamber keepers, messengers and necessary woman, their lordships were pleased they should continue on the foot they were.

Orders about copies of papers.

Order'd that no copies be given of any papers in this office without leave of the Board.

Clerks’ attendance.

Order'd that the clerks in this office do attend their duty here, from 8 a clock in the morning till the rising of the Board, and from three in the afternoon till six at least.

Custody of books and papers.

Order'd that no clerk do keep any of the office papers or books in his desk at night, but that they bring them to the secretary to be lock'd up.

Demanding money.

Ordered that no clerk presume to demand any money of any person for any business done in the office.

Resolv'd that if any clerk transgress any of these orders, he shall lose his place in the office.

Minutes to be read and sign'd.

Order'd that the minutes of the proceedings of this Board at each meeting be first read at the next meeting, and sign'd by the first Commissioner that shall be present at the reading thereof, and who was likewise present when the business therein mention'd was transacted, before the said minutes be enter'd in the journal.

Trade.

Spain.

Letters to Mr. Haynes and Mr. Bowles.

Spanish tarif.

Factors’ agreements.

Their lordships, taking into consideration some matters relating to the trade to Spain, ordered that letters be writ to Mr. Haynes and Mr. Bowles [fo. 302], desiring them to comunicate to their lordships the tarif or book of rates of the duties payable in Spain upon British goods and manufactures, as also an account of the agreements or adjustments made between the British factors and the customers in Spain, relating to the payment of the said duties in the years 1680, 1682 and 1683, and, in case they shou'd not have the said tarif and accounts, that they be desired to procure them of other Spanish merchants.
Berkeley.

December 21. Present:—Lord Berkeley of Stratton, Mr. Molesworth, Mr. Cokburn, Mr. Hutcheson, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Dockminique.

Trade.

Letter to Mr. Haynes and Mr. Bowles.

Duties in Spain.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Haynes and Mr. Bowles [fo. 344, 346], relating to the Spanish tarif, and accounts of agreements made for duties by British factors in Spain, was agreed, and the letters ordered to be sent accordingly.

Letter from Mr. Loggan.

Ostend.

Imposition on British ships.

Letter to Lord Townshend.

A letter from Mr. Loggan, his Majesty's Consul at Ostend, dated the 17th instant, new style, signifying that the magistrates and burghers there have form'd and sign'd a scheme for laying an imposition of four stivers per tun on all British and Irish shipping which trade to that port, for rebuilding a church and steeple there, was read; and their lordships gave directions for preparing the draught of a letter to the Lord Viscount Townshend thereupon [fo. 346].

Trade.

Spanish trade consider'd.

Then their lordships took again into consideration the state of our trade with Spain [fo. 345], and made a further progress therein.
Berkeley.

December 22. Present:—Lord Berkeley of Stratton, Mr. Molesworth, Mr. Cokburne, Mr. Hutcheson, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Cooke, Mr. Docminique.

Trade.

Ostend.

Letter to Lord Townshend.

A letter to the Lord Viscount Townshend, relating to a new imposition laid on British and Irish shipping at Ostend [fo. 345], as directed at the last meeting, was signed.

Newfoundland.

Nova Scotia.

Letter from Lord Townshend about French inhabitants.

Monsieur Pontchartrain.

D'Iberville. Queen's letter.

Colonel Vetch.

His answer to queries.

A letter from the Lord Viscount Townshend, of the 15th (mention'd in the minutes of the 16th) November last [fo. 334], with a copy of one from Monsieur de Pontchartrain to Monsieur D'Iberville, relating to the French inhabitants of Nova Scotia, was again read; as also a copy of her late Majesty's letter to Colonel Nicholson, of the 23rd of June, 1713, directing him to allow the French at Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, that are willing to remain there, to retain and enjoy their lands and tenements, or to sell the same if they shall chuse to remove elsewhere. And Colonel Vetch [fo. 338] attending at the same time, presented to their lordships his answer to several queries that had been made to him by the late Board, upon the foresaid letter from Monsieur de Pontchartrain, which was read; and being asked whether if leave be deny'd the French to carry off their effects, they not having demanded to do it in the time limited by the treaty, they might not be inclined to remain there, he said he did not doubt but they wou'd, for that he beleiv'd if they had not been threatn'd by the French officers to be treated as rebels, if they did not remove, none of them wou'd have quitted their settlements. Being then asked how he knew they were so threatn'd, he said he knew it from one Mr. Fergusson, lately come from thence. Whereupon he was desir'd to bring the said Fergusson to the Board to-morrow morning. He added that he had heard the same threats had been used at Newfoundland.

Nova Scotia.

Colonel Vetch's memorial with account of that place.

Advantages to be drawn thence.

Fish.

Naval stores.

Reasons for speedy settlement &c.

Then he presented to their lordships another memorial, containing an account of the extent and soil of Nova Scotia [fo. 281, 362], and of the advantages that might accrue to this kingdom by the fish and naval stores that may be procur'd there, with some reasons and proposals for settling that coast and country with all imaginable dispatch; which was also read, and, after some discourse with him upon that matter, their lordships agreed to take the same into further consideration at the first opportunity.

Barbadoes.

Mr. Heysham.

Letter from Lord Townshend.

Counsellors for that island.

Character of persons recommended.

Mr. William Heysham attending, presented to their lordships a letter from the Lord Viscount Townshend, of the 9th instant, signifying that Thomas Maycock, Guy Ball and John Colleton had been thought proper persons to be inserted in Mr. Lowther's instructions as councillors of Barbadoes [fo. 358], in the room of William Sharpe, Alexander Walker, and Samuel Beresford, if the Board have no objection against them, which was read; and Mr. Heysham being ask'd the character of the abovesaid three gentlemen recomended, he said that they all had good estates and were well qualify'd to serve in that station.

Mr. Lowther's character of them.

Caveats against persons recomended.

Sir John Colleton to be heard.

Mr. Lowther, Governor of Barbadoes, who attended the Board some time afterwards, said the same, and their lordships agreed to consider thereof at a convenient opportunity, and in the meantime ordered that the papers in this office relating to caveats against any of the said persons be look'd out, and particularly that Sir John Colleton be heard if he desire it.
Berkeley.

December 23. Present:—Lord Berkeley of Stratton, Mr. Molesworth, Mr. Cokburne, Mr. Hutcheson, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Cooke, Mr. Docminique.

Newfoundland.

Sir William Lewin.

Petition of Cleeves against Taverner.

Scheme of fishery.

Sir William Lewin attending, presented to the Board a petition from William Cleeves of Pool [fo. 448], against Captain Taverner, Surveyor of Newfoundland, as also a scheme of the fishery this year at St. Peter's, which their lordships promised to take into consideration the first opportunity.

Trade.

Letter from Lord Townshend.

Draught of instructions.

Mr. Methuen.Spain.

Scheme of Customs paid at Cadiz.

Mr. Methuen desired to be present.

A letter from the Lord Viscount Townshend, dated yesterday, referring to the Board a draught of instructions for Mr. Methuen [fo. 351, 360], who is to go his Majesty's Ambassador to the Court of Madrid, relating to the commerce and trade of his Majesty's subjects in those parts, was read, together with the said draught of instructions, as also a scheme of the computations of the Customs on English goods in Cadiz, from the year 1670 to 1680, and from 1680 to 1686, as also from 1686 to 1702. Whereupon their lordships made a progress in the consideration of the said instructions, and ordered that Mr. Methuen be acquainted with the Board's desire of conferring with him to-morrow upon this subject.

Mr. Rudge.

Memorial.

Trade to Alicant.

Mr. Rudge attending [fo. 358], presented to their lordships a memorial relating to the trade to Alicant, which their lordships promised to consider at the first opportunity.
Berkeley.

December 24. Present:—Lord Berkeley of Stratton, Mr. Molesworth, Mr. Cokburne, Mr. Hutcheson, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Cooke, Mr. Docminique.

Trade.

Letter to Mr. Vernon.

Spanish licence.

Ordered that the secretary write to Mr. Vernon, late member of this Board, to desire him to return as soon as possible the Spanish licence [fo. 293], which was lent their lordships by Sir Joseph Hodges.

Mr. Cooke.

Customs and other duties at Cadiz.

Mr. Cooke communicated to the Board an account of the Customs and other duties imposed on British woollen manufactures at Cadiz, which was read.

Mr. Methuen present.

Queries to Spanish merchants.

Mr. Methuen [fo. 350, 360], who is to go his Majesty's Ambassador to Spain, then coming to the Board, according to appointment, their lordships had some discourse with him in relation to the British trade to that kingdom, and agreed upon several queries, which, with the account of Customs abovemention'd, were ordered to be sent to Sir James Dolliffe, Mr. Christopher Haynes, Mr. Edward Rudge and Mr. John Stafford, for their opinion thereupon in writing on Thursday next, the said queries being as follows, vizt.:
Some queries for the Spanish merchants’ consideration.
1st. Can the trade to Spain be carry'd on to the advantage of Great Britain on the foot of the Treaty of Commerce concluded at Utrecht in November, 1713, and the explanation made of the 3rd, 5th and 8th articles thereof by her late Majesty, on the ratification of the same in February, 1713?
2nd. If the King of Spain shou'd be willing to agree that the only duty of 10 per cent. ad valorem should include all duties whatsoever, as well those belonging to the Crown as to particular cities and private persons by alienations from the Crown or otherwise, and that the said 10 per cent. shou'd be the first duty in all parts of Spain on all goods whatsoever exported and imported, whether this wou'd be more to the ease and advantage of the British merchants, than to establish the trade with Spain on the very same foot in all respects as it was in the time of King Charles the Second?
And admitting the 10 per cent. in manner aforesaid to be less to the advantage of Britain than the other way, yet, whether it might not, however, even on that foot be carry'd on to the advantage of Britain?
3rd. To how much per cent. ad valorem did all the duties payable by the English merchants on the importation and first sale of their goods amount to in the time of King Charles the Second, after deduction of the gratias allow'd by the King and the farmers? And were the said allowances arbitrary and at pleasure, or determin'd and fixt and always the same, or very near the same? The answer to this is desir'd as to the port of Cadiz and St. Mary's in particular, and also as to the ports in the other parts of Spain where the duties were less.
4th. If the King of Spain shall agree to put the trade as it was in King Charles the Second's time, which wou'd be most to the ease and advantage of the British merchants to stipulate for this in general terms, or, if it can be obtain'd, to agree that the gratias of the King and farmers in the respective ports of Spain shall be fix'd as the same were in some particular year to be agreed on in the reign of King Charles the Second, or to fix the same at a certain and what determined proportion on the several species of goods in the several ports of Spain?
5th. Whether in the last mention'd case, or on a settlement of the trade on the foot of the only duty of 10 per cent., it will be more to the advantage of the British merchants to have a new book of rates settled in the manner prescribed by the 3rd article of the Utrecht Treaty? Or to let the same remain as it is in the old book of rates?
6th. Whether high duties on the exports from Spain (except as to their wooll and cochineal, which are absolutely necessary for us) be any real detriment to the trade of Britain, or only a prejudice to the Spaniards themselves? And whether any abatements on their exports can be an equivalent to the trade of Britain for increasing their duties on our imports to them?
7th. What quantity of wooll, and of what kinds, is brought from Spain to Britain one year with another? And how much and what kinds are sent to France? And what is the difference between the duties paid by our merchants on the exportation thereof by sea, and the duties paid by the French at the dry ports on transporting it by land?
8th. What was the usage in the time of King Charles the Second in the payment of the alcavalos and cientos? Whether the same were paid on the importation, together with the other duties or customs, or only on the sale of the same in the same manner as the duty of millones was paid?
9th. Whether the privileges of judges conservadors, as we formerly enjoy'd the same, be not absolutely necessary for the ease and protection of our merchants in our trafique in Spain?
10th. After perusal of the representation of the factory at Cadiz, formerly sent to this Board, and a through consideration had amongst yourselves, be pleased to give your answers to the foregoing queries, and also to remark such other particulars as you find prejudicial to the trade with Spain, in consequence of the late Utrecht Treaty or otherwise, together with your sentiments for the redress of the same, and such motives as you apprehend will be most likely to prevail with the Court of Spain to agree thereto.
11th. Admitting that all the said grievances shou'd be redress'd, and the trade to old Spain settled on such reasonable foot as is desired, yet whether the same wou'd be beneficial to Britain, and also a sufficient encouragement to our merchants to engage therein, unless the trade from France to the Spanish West Indies, directly and indirectly, can be effectually prevented, as is stipulated in the most express terms, as well between Britain and France, as between Britain and Spain?
12th. Did the Spaniards before the last war use any navigation directly to the South Seas with any merchandizes, or licence others so to do? Or did they only transport their goods to their northern ports by sea, and from thence by land to Panama &c.? Or have the Spaniards, either during the late war or since, carry'd on any trade for themselves, directly for the South Seas? Or have only licenc'd French ships or colour'd them in Spanish names so to do?
13th. Whether it be more for the advantage of old Spain to carry on their trade as formerly to their northern ports in the West Indies? Or to carry their goods directly to their ports in the South Sea? And please to mention your reasons for your opinion in this particular.
14th. Whether Britain will not have the same benefit they formerly had, or at least whether they will not have it in the same proportions with other foreign nations, as they formerly had it, in whatever manner the Spaniards shall think fit to carry on their trade to the West Indies, so as all foreign nations be equally and impartially excluded, and the Spaniards themselves be the sole carries as well to their southern as their northern ports?

To your answer to these queries be pleased to add what you further judge material to be consider'd of on this important subject.

Trade.

Mr. Rudge's memorial.

Alicant.

The memorial from Mr. Rudge [fo. 350], mention'd in yesterday's minutes, relating to the state of the trade at Alicant, being read, Mr. Cooke was desir'd to take the same, and to desire an explanation of some parts thereof by Mr. Rudge.
Berkeley.

December 29. Present:—Lord Berkeley of Stratton, Mr. Molesworth, Mr. Cokburne, Mr. Hutcheson, Mr. Cooke, Mr. Docminique.

Barbadoes.

Instructions for Mr. Lowther.

Councillors.

Letter to Sir John Colleton.

Their lordships, taking into consideration the draught of instructions for Mr. Lowther, his Majesty's Governor of Barbadoes, and the names of persons to be inserted therein as members of the Council of that island [fo. 348, 372], ordered that, pursuant to the direction of this Board, mentioned in the minutes of the 22nd instant, a letter be writ to Sir John Colleton, desiring him to attend their lordships on Wednesday morning next with his objections in writing, if he now have any to make against John Colleton, esquire, his being named in the said instructions as one of his Majesty's said Council, for which trust he has been recommended.

Merchants summond.

Further order'd that Mr. Rowland Tryon, Mr. Robert Chester, Mr. Robert Heysham, Thomas Hodges, esquire, Mr. … Walters, Colonel Cleland, and Mr. Salter [fo. 372], be acquainted that their lordships desire to speak with them on Wednesday morning next.

Virginia.

Jamaica.

Letters from Lord Townshend.

Commissions for Governors.

Letters to Lord Townshend.

Then the letters from the Lord Viscount Townshend, of the 14th instant, requiring commissions and instructions to be prepar'd for the Earl of Orkney and the Lord Archibald Hamilton [fo. 450, 453], the former to be his Majesty's Governor of Virginia, and the latter of Jamaica, being taken again into consideration, and the draughts of commissions being accordingly prepar'd and laid before the Board, two letters were sign'd by their lordships for transmitting the same to the Lord Viscount Townshend. Berkeley.

December 30. Present:—Lord Berkeley of Stratton, Mr. Molesworth, Mr. Cokburne, Mr. Hutcheson, Mr. Cooke, Mr. Docminique.

Trade.

Letter from Sir James Dolliffe.

Queries.

Spanish merchants.

Letter to him.

A letter from Sir James Dolliffe, dated yesterday, desiring longer time to answer the queries sent to him and other Spanish merchants the 24th instant [fo. 351, 375], was read; and another letter imediately writ to Sir James, to press for the answer of the said merchants with all possible expedition.

Letter to Lord Townshend about instructions for Mr. Methuen.

Then a letter to the Lord Viscount Townshend, acquainting his lordship with the steps the Board have taken towards a report upon his letter of the 22nd instant [fo. 350, 384], relating to instructions for Mr. Methuen, appointed his Majesty's Ambassador to Spain, was signed.

Spanish book of rates.

Mr. Christopher Haynes attending, presented to their lordships a Spanish written book of rates at the port of Cadiz for the year 1699, entituled Aforos de esta Real Aduana de Cadiz Hecho el anno de 1699.

Leeward Islands.

Letter from Mr. Lowndes for authentick list of debentures.

List to be prepar'd.

A letter from Mr. Lowndes [fo. 381], dated the 28th instant, desiring the Board to lay before the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury an authentick list of the debentures made out for several persons towards repairing the losses sustained by the French invasion of Nevis and St. Christopher's, in order to the payment of three years’ interest granted by Parliament thereupon, was read, and directions given for preparing the said list accordingly.

New England.

Nova Scotia.

Order of Council.

Petition of disbanded officers and soldiers about a settlement.

Hall and others present.

An Order of Council, of the 6th instant, referring to the Board a petition from Daniel Hall, William Armstrong and others [fo. 195, 362], disbanded officers and soldiers, relating to a settlement to be made upon an uninhabited tract of land in North America, between the rivers Sagadehoc and St. Croix, was read, and Mr. Hall, with Lieutenants Armstrong, Evans and Norbone attending, they were asked what knowledge they had of the lands they proposed to settle, to which they answer'd that they had only information from gentlemen and others acquainted with those parts, and that Mr. Byfeild, who is lately come from New England, and Mr. Dummer, agent for the Massachusets Bay, were able to give their lordships an account thereof. Whereupon they were advised to desire those gentlemen to attend the Board in relation to this affair.

Colonel Vetch's opinion.

Then Colonel Vetch attending, their lordships communicated to him the abovemention'd petition of the soldiers [fo. 361, 348, 396], and ask'd his opinion of their intended settlement in New England, between Sagadehoc and St. Croix. Whereupon he said that it wou'd undoubtedly be of advantage, the country being capable of producing all sorts of naval stores, but that he thought, if they were settled in Nova Scotia, it would be much more beneficial for this kingdom, that country being not only in all respects as good for the production of naval stores (if not better), but also infinitely preferable for the fishery on that coast from Cape Sables to Cape Breton; besides that settlements there, as proposed in his memorial, read the 22nd of the last month [fo. 348], would be the only means to frustrate the advantages that will accrue to France by their settling and fortifying Cape Briton; he added that there is no fishery, or, if any, very inconsiderable, on the coast between St. Croix and Sagadehoc. Berkeley.