Journal, February 1733: Journal Book K.K

Journal, February 1733

February 1. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman.

Virginia.

Letter from the Lieutenant Governor, laws, manufactures and trade,

A letter from Major Gooch, Lieut. Governor of Virginia, dated the 5th of October, 1732, relating to the laws, manufactures and trade in the plantations, which may affect those of Great Britain, was read.

Plantations General.

Representation, laws, manufactures and trade.

Governors' salary.

The representation to the House of Commons relating to laws, manufactures and trade in the plantations, which may affect the trade of this kingdom, and to Governors taking or not taking any sums of money by way of present from the said Plantations, agreed the 10th of January last, was signed.

Massachusetts.

Order of the Committee, five Acts.

An Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated—, referring to the consideration of this Board five Acts, passed in the Massachusetts Bay in May, 1732, was read; ordered that the said Acts be sent to Mr. Fane, for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

February 2. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Bladen, Sir O. Bridgeman.

Massachusetts.

The Governor empowered to give his assent to the bill for a support.

An Order of the Committee of Council, dated the 26th of the last month, directing this Board to prepare an additional instruction for Mr. Belcher, Governor of the Massachusetts Bay, empowering him to give his assent to a bill for granting to His Majesty £3000, to be paid to the said Mr. Belcher towards his support, was read; and the Secretary laying before the Board the draught of an additional instruction accordingly, the same was agreed, and a report to the Lords of the Committee thereupon was agreed and signed.

February 7. Present:—Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman, Sir A. Croft.

Trade.

Letter from the Duke of Newcastle, with papers from the commissaries.

A letter from the Duke of Newcastle, dated the 17th of last month, was read, as were also the following papers, therewith transmitted, viz:—
Extract of a letter from His Majesty's commissaries to My Lord Harrington, dated at Seville, July 14–25, 1732.
Translation of the Spanish paper relating to the King of Spain's right to the countries, etc., in America.
Copy of a letter from the commissaries to the Duke of Newcastle, dated the 15–26, September, 1732.
Extract of a letter from the commissaries to the Duke of Newcastle, dated the 13–24, October, 1732.
Translation of the Spanish paper.
Copy of a paper delivered by His Majesty's commissaries, in answer to the Spanish paper.
Extract of a letter from the commissaries to the Duke of Newcastle, dated the 1–12 December, 1732.
Translation of the Spanish paper.
Spanish commissaries, logwood.
Paper delivered by His Majesty's commissaries to those of Spain, in reply to their paper.
Copy of a letter from the commissaries to the Duke of Newcastle, dated the 12-23rd December, 1732.
Translation of the Spanish commissaries' reply, relating to the right of cutting of logwood.

Ordered that the papers upon this subject be looked out.

February 8. Present:—Mr. Bladen, Sir. O. Bridgeman.

Trade.

Logwood.

The Board, taking again into consideration the letters from the Duke of Newcastle, with the papers from the commissaries at Seville about cutting of logwood, read yesterday, made a progress therein.

Miscellanies.

Letter to the Secretary at War, for a sentinel.

The Secretary then acquainting the Board with the frequent disturbances committed by loose and disorderly persons before the door of this office every evening, a letter to the Secretary at War, desiring a sentinel to be constantly posted there, to prevent the same, was agreed and ordered to be sent.

February 9. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman.

Trade.

Spain.

Commissaries, cutting logwood.

The Board, taking again in to consideration the letter from the Duke of Newcastle, and papers from the commissaries at Seville, about cutting of logwood, mentioned in yesterday's Minutes, made a progress therein, and gave directions for writing to Mr. Harris, that if he has any proofs with respect to the British right of cutting logwood in the Bay of Campeachy, he may lay the same before the Board.

Trade.

Hamburgh.

Herring fishery.

The Board then took into consideration the letter from the Lord Harrington, relating to the herring fishery at Hamburgh, mentioned in the Minutes of the 7th December last, and gave directions for preparing the draught of a representation thereupon.

February 13. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman, Sir A. Croft.

Trade.

Hamburgh.

Herring fishery.

The draught of a report, ordered to be prepared at the last meeting, relating to the herring fishery at Hamburgh, was agreed, and ordered to be transcribed.

February 14. Present:—Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman, Sir A. Croft.

The draught of the report, relating to the herring fishery at Hamburgh, agreed yesterday, was signed, as also

A letter, for inclosing the same to the Lord Harrington.

February 15. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Brudenell.

Trade.

Logwood.

A letter from Mr. Harris, in answer to one writ him the 7th inst., relating to the British right of cutting logwood at the Bay of Campeachy, was read, and their Lordships taking again into consideration the letter from the Duke of Newcastle, with the papers from the commissaries at Seville, mentioned in the Minutes of the 9th inst., as also a representation made by the Board upon this subject, the 25th September, 1717, made a progress therein.

February 20. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman.

Trade.

Sicily.

Difficulties.

The Lord Micklethwaite attending, desired the Board would please to take into their consideration the petition of the merchants of Leeds and Wakefield, relating to difficulties they meet with in their trade with the King of Sardinia's dominions; the Board read the letter from the Duke of Newcastle of the 9th of the last month, inclosing the aforesaid petition, and the following papers:—
Translation of a paper, relating to the trade carried on by His Majesty's subjects in the dominions of the King of Sardina.
Copy of a paper, relating to the duties laid on the British manufactures in Piedmont.
Extract of a letter from Mr. Allen, His Majesty's minister at Turin, to Mr. Delafaye, dated July 22nd-August 2nd, 1732.
Copy of a letter from Mr. Allen to Mr. Delafaye, dated 9th September, 1732, N.S.
Copy of a letter from Mr. Allen to Mr. Delafaye, dated November 15–26, 1732.
Memoire des marchands qui trafiquent en draperies d'Angleterre dans les etats du Roi de Sardaigne.
Extract of a letter from the Earl of Essex to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, dated the 10th-21 December, 1732.

Persons summoned.

And agreed to consider thereof on Friday morning next, and ordered that Messrs. John Lewis Loubier and son, Mr. Claude Aubert and Mr. Peter Gaussen should be acquainted with the Board's desire of speaking with them at the same time upon this subject.

February 21. Present:—Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman, Sir A. Croft.

Sweden.

Grievances in trade.

A letter from the Lord Harrington, dated the 7th inst., referring to the Board the following papers, relating to grievances in our trade to Sweden, was read:
Extract of Mr. Finch's letter to Lord Harrington, dated the 22nd of November, 1732.
Extract of Mr. Finch's letter to Lord Harrington, dated the 29th November-6th of December, 1732.
Extract of Mr. Finch's letter to Lord Harrington, dated the 6th of December, 1732.
Mr. Finch's harangue to the Three Colleges.
Discours du C. Bonde, etc.
Interdicuntur et cohibentur.
Indigentis et civibus.
Extract of Mr. Finch's letter to the Lord Harrington, dated the 13th of December, 1732.
Extract of Mr. Finch's letter to the Lord Harrington, dated the 20th of December, 1732.
Extract of goods shipped from Stockholm in 1732.
Extract of Mr. Finch's letter to the Lord Harrington, dated the 27th of December, 1732.
Exports from Stockholm and Gothenburg in 1732.
Extract of Mr. Finch's letter to the Lord Harrington, dated the 3rd of January, 1732–3.
Exports of iron from Gothenburg in 1732.
Extract of Mr. Finch's letter to the Lord Harrington, dated the 17th of January, 1732–3.

A letter from the Lord Harrington, dated the 20th inst., inclosing the following papers, relating to a dispute with the Swedish ministers about the interpretation of the treaty of commerce between Great Britain and Sweden, was read.
Extract of Mr. Finch's letter to the Lord Harrington, dated the 24th of January, 1732–3.
Extract of Mr. Finch's letter to the Lord Harrington, dated the 31st of January, 1732–3.

And the Board agreed to consider further thereof to-morrow morning.

Mr. Norris summoned.

Ordered that Mr. Norris, a merchant trading to Sweden, be desired to attend at the same time.

Bermuda.

Letters from the Governor, whale licenses, answer ordered.

Three letters from Captain Pitt, Governor of Bermuda, the one dated the 27th of May, and the other two dated the 15th of November, 1732, relating to an equivalent for his former profit arising from licenses to fish for whales, were read; and the Board gave directions for preparing an answer thereto.

New Hampshire.

Copy, affidavit against Mr. Armstrong.

A memorial from Mr. Stocker, agent for Mr. Robert Armstrong, late Collector of New Hampshire, praying for the copy of an affidavit made against the said Armstrong by Dr. Richard Sharpe, was read, and directions were given for copying the said affidavit for Mr. Armstrong accordingly.

February 22. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman.

Trade.

Sweden.

Mr. Norris attends.

Mr. Norris, a merchant trading to Sweden, attending, as he had been desired, the Board took again into consideration the letter from the Lord Harrington about the heiresses of Mr. Grainger, mentioned in the Minutes of the 14th of November last, and the two letters from his Lordship, mentioned in yesterday's Minutes, relating to grievances the British merchants lye under, who trade to Sweden, and to a proposed new treaty of commerce. Upon the subject of the former of these letters, the Board desired Mr. Norris would give them the best account he could; and he said, that Mr. Grainger married a Swedish woman, and had two daughters by her, both born in Sweden; that while he resided in that kingdom, he had made some small purchase of a house, which, he imagined, was what the heiresses were now contending for.

As to the declaration desired on the part of this kingdom, with respect to Swedes dying here, and leaving any real estate, as mentioned in the extract from Mr. Finch, referred to the Board by Lord Harrington's first letter, their Lordships gave directions that Mr. Fane should be desired to attend to-morrow morning.

Their Lordships then mentioning to Mr. Norris the subject of the other two references from Lord Harrington, and the proposal made to Mr. Finch by the Swedes for making a new treaty of commerce to explain more at large the 12th article of the treaty of 1720, Mr. Norris acquainted the Board, that that article was very explicit, as to the trade of that kingdom; and as the Swedes had violated the same, there was too much reason to fear they would act in the same manner, were any new treaty to be made, and that he could think of no expedient to redress the grievances the trade to that kingdom lyes under, because laying any duties on iron, almost the only commodity we have from thence, would prove detrimental to ourselves.

Mr. Norris being withdrawn, their Lordships resolved to consider further of this matter at another opportunity.

February 23. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman.

Trade.

Sweden.

Heiresses of Mr. Grainger.

Mr. Fane attending, as he had been desired, the Board took again into consideration the letter from the Lord Harrington, about the heiresses of Mr. Grainger, who resided in Sweden, mentioned in yesterday's Minutes, and desiring Mr. Fane's opinion whether children born here of a foreigner marrying an English woman, can inherit the estate of their mother, and he acquainting the Board they could, directions were given for preparing the draught of a report upon the said letter from Lord Harrington.

Trade.

Sicily.

Merchants attend.

Mr. John Lewis Loubier, Mr. Claude Aubert, Mr. Peter Gaussen and Mr. Richard Merry, merchants trading to Piedmont, attending, as they had been desired, the Board took again into consideration the letter from the Duke of Newcastle inclosing papers, relating to the difficulties the merchants meet with in their trade to Sardinia, read the 20th inst., and gave directions that a copy of the French memorial, inclosed in the said letter, viz: Memoire des marchands qui trafiquent en draperies d' Angleterre dans les etats du Roi de Sardaigne, should be sent to these gentlemen, that they might make their remarks thereon, which they promised to do accordingly.

The Board then took into consideration the letters and papers about making a new treaty of commerce with Sweden, etc., mentioned in yesterday's Minutes, and gave directions for preparing the draught of a report thereupon.

Barbadoes.

Letters from the President, with papers and Acts.

The following letters from Mr. Berwick, President of the Council of Barbadoes, were then read, and the papers, therein respectively referred to, were laid before the Board, viz:—

A letter from him, dated the 6th of October, 1731.

A letter from him, dated the 16th of April, 1732.
Minutes of Council and Council in Assembly, from 14th September, 1731, to the 15th of February, 1731–2.
Minutes of Assembly, from 27th April, 1731, to 4th April, 1732.
Two Acts, passed in 1731.
The Treasurer's account of receipts and payments of the duty of imposts on liquors and negroes, from the 27th November, 1730, to 27th May, 1731.

A letter from him, dated the 12th of August, 1732.
Minutes of Council, from September 14th, 1731, to the 10th of May, 1732.
Three Acts, passed in 1731 and 1732.
The Treasurer's account of receipts and payments of the public money, from the 27th November, 1730 to 27th of May, 1731.

A letter from him, dated the 8th of October, 1732.

A letter from him, dated the 2nd of December, 1732.
Minutes of the Assembly, from the 3rd of November, 1731, to the 20th of November, 1732.
Inventory of stores of war in the magazine, September the 23rd, 1732.

The Treasurer's account, from the 27th of May, 1731, to the 13th of June, 1732.

Leeward Islands.

Letters from the President.

A letter from Mr. Smith, President of the Council of Nevis and Commander in Chief of the Leeward Islands, dated the 30th of January, 1731–2, was read.

New York.

Letters from the President.

A letter from Mr. Van Dam, President of the Council of New York, dated the 16th of May, 1732, was read, as also

A letter from him, dated the 17th of June, 1732.

Massachusetts.

Letters from Mr. Willard, with papers and Acts.

The three following letters from Mr. Willard, Secretary of the province of the Massachusetts Bay, were read, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board, viz:—
A letter from him, dated the 30th November, 1731.
Minutes of Council in Assembly, from the 26th of May, 1731, to the 9th of November following.
Minutes of Council, from the 2nd of March, 1730–1, to the 25th of August, 1731.
Several Acts, passed in 1731.

A letter from him, dated the 27th of April, 1732.
Minutes of Council, from the 1st of September, 1731, to February, 1731–2.
Minutes of Council in Assembly, from the 1st of December, 1731, to the 2nd of February, 1731–2.
Eight Acts, passed in December, 1731, and January and February, 1731–2.

A letter from him, dated the 10th of November, 1732.
Minutes of Council, from the 3rd of March, 1731–2, to the 30th of August, 1732.
Minutes of Council in Assembly, from the 31st of May, 1732, to the 7th July following, and
The Treasurer's general account, from May, 1730, to May, 1731.

February 27. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Brudenell, Sir O. Bridgeman.

New York.

New Jersey.

Letters from the Governor.

Mr. Guerin, agent to Colonel William Cosby, Governor of New York and New Jersey, attending, with Mr. Harrison, they desired the Board would be pleased to consider the letter from Colonel Cosby, recommending some alterations in the Councils of these provinces, on account of the difficulty there sometimes is of getting a quorum there.

Their Lordships read the two following letters from him, viz:—

A letter from him, dated the 18th of December, 1732, relating to the affairs of New York, and

A letter from him, of the same date, about New York and New Jersey.

Miscellanies.

Mr. Campion succeeds Mr. Tregonning.

The Secretary then acquainting the Board with the death of Mr. Richard Tregonning, one of the chamber keepers and assistant messengers of this office, and Mr. Docminique recommending Mr. William Campion to succeed the said Tregonning in his employment, he was admitted accordingly [v. Journal 15th April, 1735, fol. 52].

February 28. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Brudenell.

Bahamas.

Bad state.

Mr. Fitzwilliams, appointed Governor of the Bahamas, attending, an Order of the Committee of Council, dated the 23rd of February, 1732–3, referring to this Board a memorial from the said Fitzwilliams, relating to the bad state of the Bahamas, was read; and their Lordships, after some discourse with him upon this subject, gave directions for preparing the draught of a report thereupon.