Journal, October 1739: Volume 47

Journal, October 1739

Wednesday, October 10. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Sir A. Croft, Mr. Plummer.

Trade.

Denmark.

Russia.

Read a letter from Lord Harrington, dated September 18th, 1739, with the extract of one to his Lordship from Mr. Rondeau, dated at Petersburgh, August the 25th last, enclosing the memorial presented to the king by Monsieur Sohlenthal, relative to the Russian Passports; and the Board having at the same time read and considered a letter from Mr. Holden, Governor of the Russia Company, dated September 21st, to the Secretary, in which he signifies that it is impossible for the said Company to give any definitive answer to the said memorial of M. Sohlenthal, till they hear from their agent at Petersburgh, agreed to postpone the consideration of the said affair to another opportunity.

New Hampshire.

Massachusetts.

Mr. Woodside, attending, prayed the Board to grant him a copy of the petition presented by himself and others against Governor Belcher, as mentioned in the minutes of the 9th August last, and a copy thereof was accordingly ordered. At the same time, at his request, a letter was ordered to be writ by the Secretary to Governor Belcher, requiring he would cause the seal of the province to be affixt to all such affidavits, as should be offered by the agent for the petitioners there in support of their allegations.

Tuesday, October 16. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Sir A. Croft, Mr. Plummer.

New Hampshire.

Read a letter from Captain Tomlinson, dated September 28th, 1739, inclosing papers transmitted to him from Portsmouth and Stratham, two of the principal towns in New Hampshire, relating to a petition or an address to his Majesty, lately privately handed about in those parts, praying to be annexed to the Massachusets Government, disallowing and protesting against the said petition at a publick town meeting in each of those towns, in July, 1739.

The said papers having come too late to be made use of at the hearing on the 12th September last, ordered that they lye by.

Bermuda.

Read an order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated 29th of August last, referring to this Board a letter from Mr. Popple, Governor of the Bermuda Islands, to the Duke of Newcastle, September 23rd, 1739, with an address of the Council and Assembly of those Islands, praying for a supply of stores together with other papers relating thereto.

Ordered that the draught of a report be prepared.

Wednesday, October 17. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Brudenell, Sir A. Croft, Mr. Plummer.

Massachusetts.

Read a letter from Mr. Belcher, Governor of New England, dated at Boston, August 4th, 1739, in which he complains of the Assembly of the Massachusets Bay for not raising supplies, nor calling in £25,525, which they were obliged by their own laws to do at that time.

Read another letter from Mr. Belcher, Governor of New England, dated at Boston, August 14th last, signifying his having sent an Officer and six men to defend Fort Frederick, and inclosing a proclamation, relating to the rupture with Spain.

New Hampshire.

Ordered that an answer to the two foregoing letters be prepared.

The report in pursuance of the hearing had before this Board upon the subject of the memorial of Messrs. Gulston, Wentworth, Chapman, and Tomlinson, which was ordered to be prepared by the minutes of September 12th instant, was agreed to, and signed.

Thursday, October 18. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Sir A. Croft, Mr. Plummer.

Massachusetts.

The answer to the two letters from Governor Belcher, mentioned in the minutes of yesterday, was agreed to, and signed.

Leeward Islands.

Read two letters from General Mathew, Governor of the Leeward Islands, one dated July 20th, 1739, transmitting.

Minutes of the Council of Nevis, from November 12th, 1738, to March 27th, 1739.

Minutes of the Council and Assembly of Montserrat, for the quarter ending at Midsummer, 1739.

The other dated July 26th, 1739, transmitting 3 Acts of Antigua, passed in May, 1739; ordered that the said Acts be sent to Mr. Fane, for his opinion thereon.

Virginia.

Read two letters from Major Gooch, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, one dated July 3rd, 1739, containing a state of the Colony and its trade, as it stands at present, and transmitting, (in a large bound volume):

Minutes of the General Assembly in November and December, 1738.

The other dated August 1st, 1739, inclosing the extract of a letter to the Governor of New York, from the Commissioners of Indian Affairs at Albany, dated July 13th, 1739, informing him that the French had set an expedition on foot against the Southern Indians; transmitting likewise:

Account of his Majesty's Revenue of 2 shillings per hogshead in Virginia, from October 25th, 1738, to April 25th, 1739.

Account of his Majesty's Revenue of Quit Rents etc. in Virginia, from April 25th, 1738, to April 25th, 1739.

Ordered that a copy of the extract of the above said letter to the Governor of New York from the Commissioners of Indians Affairs at Albany, be transmitted in a letter to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, and the said letter being prepared, was agreed to and signed.

Bahamas.

Read a letter from Mr. Howell, President of the Council and Commander in Chief of the Bahama Islands, dated at New Providence, February 28th, 1738–9, complaining of the ruinous condition of the barracks and defenceless condition of the forts, for want of carriages etc.; transmitting likewise:

Treasurer's accounts between Midsummer and Christmas, 1738.

Minutes of the Council from Midsummer to Michaelmas, 1738.

Four Naval Office Lists of shipping inwards and outwards between Midsummer and Christmas, 1738.

Ordered that a letter be writ to Governor Fitzwilliams, desiring his attendance at this Board on this day sennight, in order to have some discourse with him on the subject of this letter and of several others from himself to this Board, not yet answered.

Tuesday, October 23. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Sir A. Croft, Mr. Plummer.

South Carolina.

Read a letter from Colonel Bull, President and Commander in Chief of South Carolina, dated June 25th, 1739, signifying that he had appointed Mr. Michie to be Secretary of the province, during the absence of Mr. Hammerton, agreeably to his Majesty's instructions; transmitting likewise:

An account of the Duties arising from the different branches of trade carried on in the province of South Carolina, from the 29th of March, 1735, to the 29th of September, 1737.

Virginia.

A representation, laying before his Majesty for his Royal Confirmation an Act, passed in Virginia, in December, 1738, entituled An Act to enable Ralph Wormely, Esqr., to sell and dispose of certain intailed lands, to raise money for the payment of his sister's portions, and performance of his father's will, was agreed to, and signed.

Bahamas.

Mr. Gellibrand acquainting the Board that Mr. Chaloner Jackson had desired to withdraw his petition, presented to them August the 2nd, to which the Board consented;

The Board had under consideration the several letters from Governor Fitzwilliams, that have not yet been answered, as also two from Mr. Howell, Commander in Chief, during the Governor's absence.

Wednesday, October 24. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Sir A. Croft, Mr. Plummer.

Bahamas.

The Board had again before them such of Mr. Fitzwilliams letters, as had not been already answered, and having gone through the remainder, referred the further consideration of them to to-morrow, at which time Mr. Fitzwilliams is, by the minutes of the 18th instant, appointed to attend.

Thursday, October 25. Present:—Sir A. Croft, Mr. Plummer.

Bahamas.

Mr. Fitzwilliams, Governor of the Bahamas, attending, the Board had some discourse with him on the subject of his letters, when he proposed an explanation of his Commission, and that the Turks Islands, which are part of the Bahamas, might be included by name in his Government.

Ordered that an extract of that part of Mr. Howell's letter, of February 28th, 1738, to the Board (mentioned in the minutes of the 18th instant), which relates to the ruinous condition of the barracks and defenceless state of the forts, be transmitted in a letter to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, and another to the Secretary at War.