Journal, February 1727: Journal Book D.D

Journal, February 1727

February 1. Present:—Earl of Westmoreland, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Plummer.

Trade.

Mr. Lynn cannot attend.

A letter from Mr. Lynn, Secretary to the Royal African Company [fos. 17, 24], signifying his not being able to attend to-day, as desired, but that some of the directors will in a few days, was read.

Mr. Elkin.

Trade to Bremen.

Mr. Elkin attending [fos. 13, 21], their Lordships had some discourse with him in relation to the herring trade carried on to Bremen by the Dutch, and to the reasons why our trade to that city was not so flourishing, which he imputed to the little care that was taken in curing and packing our herrings, but he said, that if our herring fishing was put under proper regulations, he would engage that city would not only annually take off 2,000 tun, but that he could procure certain valuable privileges for this nation; their Lordships then resolved to consider further of this affair at another opportunity.

February 2. Present:—Earl of Westmoreland, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer.

Trade.

Lord Townsend's letter.

Trade to Bremen.

Prepare an answer.

Their Lordships, taking into consideration the Lord Townsend's letter [fos. 20, 24] relating to the herring trade to Bremen, mentioned in the Minutes of the 13th of December last [Jour. C.C. fos. 331, 359], gave directions for preparing the draught of a representation thereupon.

New England.

Letter from Colonel Shute about paper money.

A letter from Colonel Shute, Governor of New England, dated this day, desiring the Board would send directions to the Lieutenant Governor of that Province, that the paper money, now current there, may all be called in and sunk in May next, as the Act for creating the same will then expire, was read; and their Lordships ordered that a letter should be prepared accordingly [fo. 24].

Post Meridiem.

February 3. Present:—Earl of Westmoreland, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Plummer.

Virginia.

Colonel Spotswood's petition.

Grants of Land.

Their Lordships took again into consideration Colonel Spotswood's petition [fos. 10, 24], mentioned in the Minutes of the 30th August, 1726 [Jour. C.C. fo. 305], and made a progress therein.

Post Meridiem.

February 8. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Plummer.

Virginia.

Colonel Spotswood's petition.

Grants of Land.

Their Lordships took again into consideration Colonel Spotswood's petition [fos. 23, 26], mentioned in the last Minutes, and made a progress therein.

New England.

Paper Money.

The letter to the Lieutenant Governor of the Massachusets Bay in relation to the Act, passed there in 1716, for creating paper money, ordered to be prepared the 2nd inst. [fo. 22], was agreed and ordered to be sent.

Trade.

Africa.

Letter from Mr. Lynn.

French settlements.

A letter from Mr. Lynn, in answer to one writ him the 26th of last month [fos. 20, 32], giving an account that no agreement has been made with the French relating to settlements at Joally Odally on the River Gambia, was read; whereupon ordered that a letter be writ to him, to desire he will inform the Board, what proofs the African Company may have of our charters being previous to those of the French, and of our having been previously in possession of any parts of the coast of Africa, and of what parts; ordered likewise that he be desired to attend the Board upon this subject on Wednesday morning next [fo. 32].

February 9. Present:—Earl of Westmoreland, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Plummer.

Virginia.

Colonel Spotswood.

Colonel Spotswood attending, as he had been desired [fos. 24, 46], their Lordships, after some discourse with him in relation to his lands in Virginia, gave him the following queries, to which he was desired to give a particular answer, viz:—
Queries.
What he means by the pine lands that he proposes to surrender ? Where they lye ? What quantity they consist of ? When they were originally patented ? In whose name, and for whose use ?
Whether it was not at first the intention of the House of Burgesses, that the patentees in the new counties of Spotsylvania and Brunswick should be restrained to some certain number of acres, and what ?
If that were once the design of the Burgesses, how they came to recede from it ?
And whether this restriction was not the subject matter of a conference between the two houses ?
Whether the Council of Virginia did, on the 19th of April, 1722, or at any other time, advise Colonel Spotswood to pass any grants in Spotsylvania, and what ? And to whom ? Upon what conditions ? And in what terms ?
What part of the lands in question were bona fide purchased by Colonel Spotswood for valuable considerations ? Of whom ? And when ? And where do these lands lye respectively ?
What part of the lands in question were granted in trust for the petitioner ?
In whose name ?
When, and where do these lands lye ?
Whether any lands patented in other counties, before the erection of Spotsylvania county, were included afterwards in Spotsylvania county ?
What quantity of acres were so included ?
Why they were included ?
What quantity of the petitioner's lands formerly patented are now included in this new county ?
And whether he desires the king should remit the quit rents of such lands ?
When were the 14,000 acres, said to be a part of the Spotsylvania Company's tract of 40,000 acres, surveyed and patented ? In whose name ? And why were they afterwards included in the Spotsylvania tract ?

Trade.

Mr. Elkin's memorial.

Herring trade to Bremen.

Mr. Elkin attending [fos. 21, 64], presented to the Board a memorial, relating to the herring trade at Bremen, as also an account of the quantity of herrings imported from Holland to Bremen, and of butter from Ireland for the years 1725 and 1726, which were read; and their Lordships resolved to consider further thereof at another opportunity.

February 14. Present:—Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique.

Maryland.

Order in Council, approving Mr. Calvert to be Lieutenant Governor.

Draught of bond sent to Mr. Fane.

An Order of Council, of the 8th February, 1726-7, approving the nomination of Benedict Leonard Calvert to be Lieutenant Governor of Maryland [fo. 31], and directing the Board to prepare proper instructions for him, was read; and their Lordships, taking into consideration the draught of the bond [Jour. S. fo. 171] to be entered into by Mr. Calvert's securities, when they shall be named, for his observing the Acts of Trade, gave directions for inclosing to Mr. Fane [fo. 43] the draught of the bond, as prepared by Sir Edward Northey, when Attorney General in 1702, [Proprieties D. fo. 165] and to desire he will give his opinion in point of law, how far the same is agreeable to the Act of Parliament of 33 of Henry the 8th, Cap. 39, entituled, the erection of the Court of Surveyors of the King's lands, the names of the Officers there, and their authority.

February 15. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham.

Maryland.

Mr. Calvert.

His Sureties approved.

Mr. Calvert, Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, attending [fos. 30, 43], acquainted the Board that Captain Hyde and Mr. Lowe were willing to become sureties for his observing the several Acts of Trade, which their Lordships approving, directions were given for preparing the draught of a bond to be entered into for that purpose.

Virginia.

Letter from the Duke of Newcastle.

Lord Orkney's commission, etc.

Letter to Mr. Fane.

A letter from the Duke of Newcastle [fos. 19, 47], of the 13th inst., desiring the opinion of the Board, whether the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia is authorised to act by virtue of copies of the Lord Orkney's commission and instructions, was read; whereupon ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Fane, for his opinion thereupon.

The Secretary then acquainted the Board that the Directors of the African Company [fos. 24, 33] desired to be excused from attending to-day, as they had been desired, but that they would attend next Friday.

February 17. Present:—Earl of Westmoreland, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Plummer.

Trade.

Sir Robert Sutton.

Representation from the African Company.

Count de Broglio's memorial.

Sir Robert Sutton and several other of the Directors of the Royal African Company attending [fos. 32, 34], their Lordships took into consideration a letter from Mr. Lynn, inclosing a representation from the said Company, in proof of their allegations, in answer to the Count de Broglio's memorial, and a copy of the French king's edict for settling the trade to Africa in an exclusive Company, both which papers were read; and their Lordships, after some discourse with these gentlemen thereupon, gave directions for preparing the draught of a representation thereupon [fo. 35] in answer to the letter from the Duke of Newcastle of the 7th of June, 1726 [Jour. C.C. fo. 239], and mentioned in the Minutes of the same date, referring to the Board a memorial from the Count de Broglio, the French Ambassador, relating to the French African Company's being molested by some of our settlements on the river Gambia.

February 17. Present:—Earl of Westmoreland, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Plummer.

Trade.

Representation upon the Count de Broglio's memorial signed.

A representation upon the memorial of the Count de Broglio [fo. 33, Jour. C.C. fo. 239], Ambassador from His Most Christian Majesty, wherein he complains that the French African Company have lately been molested in their trade by some of our settlements on the river Gambia, referred to the Board by the Duke of Newcastle's letter of the 7th June, 1726, read the same day, was signed, as also a letter for inclosing the said representation to the Duke of Newcastle.

February 22. Present:—Earl of Westmoreland, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Plummer, Sir John Hobart.

New Jersey.

Letter from Mr. Burnet with papers.

A letter from Mr. Burnet, Governor of New Jersey, dated the 19th of December, 1726, was read, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board, viz:—
Account of the money received and paid by the Treasurer of the Western division of New Jersey, from September, 1720, to September, 1725.
Account of money received and paid by the Treasurer of the Eastern division of New Jersey, from December, 1723, to October, 1726.
Certificate of the New York merchants of the value of New Jersey bills in 1726.
Certificate of Perth Amboy merchants of the value of New Jersey Bills in December, 1726.

Representation for a Councillor ordered,

Whereupon ordered that the draught of a representation [fo. 42] be prepared for proposing Cornelius Van Horn, Esq., recommended by Mr. Burnet's said letter, to be a member of the Council in New Jersey for the Eastern division, in the room of Mr. David Lyell, deceased;

and an answer to Mr. Burnett's letter.

And ordered that an answer be prepared to Mr. Burnet's said letter [fo. 49].

New York.

Letters from Mr. Burnet and papers.

A letter from Mr. Burnet, Governor of New York, to the Board, dated the 2nd of June, 1726, was read.

A letter from Mr. Burnet to the Secretary, of the same date, was read, and the Minutes of Assembly of New York, from the 12th of May, 1724, to the 24th July following, received with the said letter, were laid before the Board.

A postscript of a letter from Mr. Burnet, dated the 25th, inserted in a duplicate of his of the 2nd of June, 1726, was read; and the papers, referred to in the said postscript, were laid before the Board, viz:—
Account of Escheats at New York, from December, 1721, to June, 1726.
Number of inhabitants at New York in 1723.

Miscellanies.

Board of Works, the wall on the clerk's room.

The Secretary then acquainted their Lordships that he had moved the Board of Works, in relation to the rebuilding the wall in the clerks' room [fo. 133], and that they had desired him to inform their Lordships, that they could not do it, without receiving orders from the Lords of the Treasury for the purpose; whereupon a letter to their Lordships was agreed and signed.

February 23. Present:—Earl of Westmoreland, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Plummer, Sir John Hobart.

New York.

Letters from Mr. Burnet with papers.

A letter from Mr. Burnet, Governor of New York, to the Secretary, dated the 25th of June, 1726, was read, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board, viz:—
Minutes of Council, from the 18th July, 1723, to the 1st of May, 1724, and from the 15th of May, 1724, to the 1st of October, following.
Naval officer's lists of ships entered and cleared at New York, from Michaelmas, 1725, to Lady Day, 1726.

A letter from Mr. Burnet to the Board, dated 20th December, 1726, was read, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board, viz:—
The Treasurer's account of receipts and payments, from the 5th of June, 1721, to the 20th April, 1726.
A list of warrants drawn upon the Revenue and paid by the Treasurer of the colony of New York, from the 5th of June, 1721, to the 20th of April, 1726.
Receiver General's account of Quit Rents, from the 8th August, 1722, to the 29th September, 1726.
Account of the men, arms and stores in the garrisons of Fort George, Schenectady, Albany and Fort Hunter in October, 1726.
Account of negroes imported into New York since 1700.
Account of the negroes imported into the Eastern division of New Jersey, from July, 1698, to December, 1726.

A letter from Mr. Burnet to the Secretary, dated the 20th December, 1726, was read, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board, viz:—
Minutes of Council, from the 14th of October, 1726, to the 24th November following.
Minutes of Assembly, from 27th September, 1726, to the 11th of November following.
Lists of vessels trading to and from New York, from the 25th of March, 1726, to the 29th September following.
New York
List of twelve Acts, passed at New York, the 11th of November, 1726.

Acts sent to Mr. Fane.

Whereupon ordered that the said Acts be sent to Mr. Fane [fo. 197], for his opinion thereupon in point of law [fo. 48], and an answer be prepared to Mr. Burnet's said letters.

New Jersey.

Representation for a Councillor signed.

The representation, ordered yesterday to be prepared, for proposing Cornelius Van Horn, Esq., to be of the Council of New Jersey, in the room of Mr. Lyell, deceased [fos. 36, 203], was agreed and signed.

St. Christophers.

Letter from the Duke of Newcastle.

Assembly's Address.

A letter from the Duke of Newcastle, of 31st January, 1726–7, referring to this Board an address from the Assembly of St. Christophers, praying that Lieutenant General Mathew may give them an account of the monies raised, by an Act of that Assembly, to build a fortification for the defence of that Island, was read.

Copy sent to Mr. Mathew.

Whereupon ordered that a copy of the said address [fo. 45] be sent to Mr. Mathew, for his answer thereto.

February 24. Present:—Earl of Westmoreland, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Plummer.

Proprieties.

Maryland.

Mr. Fane's report.

Draught of a bond.

The draught ordered to be prepared and sent to Mr. Scrope.

Mr. Fane's report, relating to the draught of a bond [fos. 30, 31, 45] to be entered into by the Deputy Governors of proprietary plantations, for observing the Acts of Trade, was read.

Whereupon ordered that the draught of a bond [fo. 49] be prepared to be executed by Capt. Hyde and Mr. Lowe, the two sureties for Mr. Calvert, (lately appointed Governor of Maryland), for his observing the Acts of Trade, as also a letter for enclosing the same to Mr. Scrope.

Antigua.

Bermuda.

Barbadoes.

Mr. Fane's report.

Acts, with the Act, Parish of St. Peter.

Mr. Fane's report upon several Acts, passed at Antigua, Bermuda and Barbadoes, [Jour. C.C. 279, Ditto fol. 223] in 1718, 1724, and 1725, dated the 15th December, 1726, was read, as also one of the Antigua Acts for dividing the parish of St. Peter in the Island of Antigua, and for erecting a new parish to be called the parish of St. George, passed in 1725–6, and their Lordships gave directions for acquainting Mr. Marsh, (who solicits the confirmation of the said Act), with their desire of speaking with him on Tuesday morning next [fo. 46].

February 28. Present:—Earl of Westmoreland, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer.

Maryland.

Instructions for Trade.

Sent to the Commissioners of the Customs.

Ordered that the instructions for Mr. Calvert, appointed Deputy Governor of Maryland [fos. 43, 49], for his observing the Acts of Trade and Navigation be sent to Mr. Carkesse, Secretary to the Commissioners of the Customs, for their opinion whether any alterations be necessary to be made therein.

St. Christophers.

Letter to Mr. Mathew.

Agreed and sent.

The letter to General Mathew [fos. 42, 236], Lieutenant Governor of the Leeward Islands, for his answer to the address of the Assembly of St. Christophers, complaining that he will not give them an account of the money paid him, by Act of Assembly, for building a fortification for the defence of the said Island, ordered to be prepared the 23rd inst., was agreed and ordered to be sent.

Virginia.

Colonel Spotswood, answers to queries.

Colonel Spotswood's answers to the queries proposed to him by the Board the 9th inst. [fos. 26, 86], were read; and their Lordships resolved to consider further thereof at another opportunity.

Antigua.

Mr. Marsh upon Act, Parish of St. Peter.

Mr. Marsh attending [fos. 44, 48], as he had been desired, their Lordships took into consideration the Act, passed at Antego in 1725, entituled, An Act for dividing the parish of St. Peters in the said Island, and for erecting a new parish to be called the parish of St. George, and after some discourse with Mr. Marsh thereupon, their Lordships agreed to consider further thereof at another opportunity.