Journal, September 1739: Volume 47

Journal, September 1739

Tuesday, September 4. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Brudenell.

Bermudas.

The Draught of the answer to the Governor of Bermudas' letters, mentioned in the preceding minutes, was signed.

Massachusetts.

Mr. James Woodside, attending, on the subject of the petition of John North, Esqr., John Wordling, Gentleman, and others, against the Governor of the Massachusets, mentioned in the minutes of the 9th of last month, and praying that the Board would please to appoint a time for the hearing the said petitioners, their lordships ordered that a letter be wrote to Mr. Partridge, agent for the said Governor, desiring his attendance at this Board on Thursday next. [Thursday the 6th.]

Barbados.

Read an order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated the 29th of last month, directing the Board to lay before their lordships a particular account of what addition has been made to the 26th article of the Governor of Barbados' Instructions, relating to his appointments; ordered that the draught of a report be prepared.

Virginia.

The Board having had under consideration the several letters received from the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, since their last to him, ordered the draught of an answer to be prepared.

Ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Leheup, to enquire whether he has sent to the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia copies of the several memorials, passed at this Board, relative to the Act for mending the Staple of Tobacco in that Colony.

Wednesday, September 5. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Brudenell.

Barbados.

The draught of a report on the subject of the 26th article of the Governor of Barbados' Instructions, ordered by the minutes of yesterday, was agreed to, and signed.

Virginia.

The draught of an answer to the several letters to the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, having been prepared, as ordered in yesterday's minutes, was agreed to, and signed.

Massachusetts.

The draught of an answer to several letters of Governor Belcher, since the last from the Board to him, was ordered to be prepared.

Pennsylvania.

The draught of a letter to George Thomas, Esqr., Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, in answer to his of August 3rd, 1738, mentioned in the minutes of October the 13th of the same year, was agreed to, and signed.

Thursday, September 6. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer.

Massachusetts.

New Hampshire.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated August 29th, 1739, referring back to this Board their report upon the memorial of Messrs. Gulston etc., relating to the defenceless condition of the province of New Hampshire; referring likewise the memorial of Mr. Richard Partridge, in behalf of great numbers of his Majesty's subjects in the said province, together with several addresses, annext, from the freeholders and inhabitants of New Hampshire, and desiring to be continued under the Government of the present Governor; and Mr. Tomlinson attending, on the behalf of the memorialists, and Mr. Partridge, on behalf of the petitioners, desiring to be continued under the present Governor, the Board was pleased to appoint Wednesday next for the hearing of the parties. [Wednesday September 12th.]

Massachusetts.

Read a letter from the Rev. Mr. Woodside, dated September 6th, instant, complaining of Governor Belcher demolishing, dismantling and reducing three forts between New England and Nova Scotia.

Mr. Woodside, Junior, attending, prayed the Board that a day might be appointed for hearing the petition of John North, Esqr., etc., against the Governor of the Massachusets, mentioned in the minutes of 9th of August last; and Mr. Partridge, agent for the said Governor, likewise attending, and praying for copies of the papers relating to the said complaint, the Board was pleased to give directions that he should have copies of the same, in order to be transmitted to the Governor, for his answer.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter to the Secretary of this Board from Mr. Burchett, Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, transmitting to the Lords Commissioners of Trade and Plantations the copy of an account received from Capt. Warren of the weakness of the Garrison of Canço, and of the strength of the French at Cape Breton in June, 1739, and of what he has further observed in those parts.

Friday, September 7. Present:—Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer.

Massachusetts.

An answer to several letters received from Governor Belcher, before and since the last from the Board to him, was agreed to, and signed.

New York.

An answer to the several letters of the Lieutenant Governor of New York, since the last from the Board to him, was agreed to, and signed.

Trade.

Denmark.

Russia.

Read a letter from Mr. Holden, Governor of the Russia Company, dated the 6th, instant, upon the subject of a memorial presented to the king by Monsieur Sohlenthal, Envoy from the Danish Court, and transmitted to this Board by a letter from the Lord Harrington, as mentioned in the minutes of the 1st of the last month; ordered that a copy of the said letter be sent to his Lordship.

Wednesday, September 12. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer.

South Carolina.

North Carolina.

A letter to Colonel Bull, President of the Council and Commander in Chief of South Carolina, in answer to several letters received from him, was agreed to, and signed; as also was a letter to Mr. Johnston, Governor of North Carolina, in answer to several of his letters.

New Hampshire.

Hearing.

Mr. Richard Partridge, agent for Mr. Belcher, Governor of the Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire, attending, according to appointment, with Mr. Hollings, his Counsel, and Mr. Sharpe, his Solicitor; as also Mr. Tomlinson, in behalf of the province of New Hampshire; the Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated the 29th of last month, (and mentioned in the minutes of the 6th instant), referring back to this Board their report upon the memorial of Messrs. Gulston, Wentworth, Chapman and Tomlinson, relating to the defenceless condition of the province of New Hampshire; and referring likewise a memorial of Mr. Richard Partridge, in behalf of great numbers of his Majesty's subjects in the said province, together with several addresses annexed, from the freeholders and inhabitants of New Hampshire, desiring to be continued under the Government of the present Governor; the above mentioned Order of reference, was again read.

Then after hearing what Mr. Hollings had to offer in behalf of the Governor of New Hampshire, several papers were read to prove what the Counsel for Mr. Belcher had opened, vizt.: one of the five addresses to his Majesty from that province, (the other four being of the same tenour, and almost in the same words), praying that they may continue under the Government of Mr. Belcher; together with several votes of that province, and some of the Governor's speeches to the Council and Representatives of New Hampshire, (inserted in the minutes of that province), in vindication of the Governor's administration there.

After which Mr. Tomlinson produced to the Board a letter to him from six gentlemen of the Council, and almost all the Assembly of New Hampshire, desiring that Mr. Tomlinson would endeavour that they might be separated from the Government of the Massachusets Bay and have a distinct Governor; which said letter was read, and Mr. Samuel Waldo, Mr. Benning Wentworth and Mr. Rymes, being sworn, were severally examined to prove the handwriting of those gentlemen of the Council and Assembly of New Hampshire, whose hands and seals were put to the above mentioned letter to Mr. Tomlinson; the three gentlemen before named were likewise examined as to the substance, reputation and character of those persons, who had signed the five addresses from New Hampshire to his Majesty, praying to be continued under the Government of Mr. Belcher.

Then some directions were given for preparing the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council, upon the hearing of both parties.

Trade.

Denmark.

Russia.

A letter to the Lord Harrington, in answer to one from his Lordship, dated the 31st of July, (mentioned in the minutes of the 1st of August), inclosing a memorial presented to the king by Baron Söhlenthal, Envoy from the Danish Court, concerning the difference of the Passports given by the Russians and other nations etc., was agreed to, and signed; and a copy of a letter from Mr. Holden, Governor of the Russia Company, to this Board, dated the 6th inst., upon the subject of Monsieur Sohlenthal's memorial, above mentioned, (as ordered at the last meeting), was sent inclosed in the said letter to Lord Harrington.