Journal, July 1735: Volume 44

Journal, July 1735

Tuesday, July 1st. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer.

South Carolina.

Act for regulating courts considered.

The order of the Committee of Council, referring Mr. Wright's petition against the Carolina Act for regulating courts of justice, read the 12th of February last, was again read; and Mr. Fury, agent for the province, and Mr. Hume, attending, as they had been appointed the last meeting, after their lordships had had some discourse with them, resolved to consider further thereof at another opportunity, and ordered that Mr. Fane be desired to attend at the same time [fo. 116].

Rhode Island.

Cannon and shot petitioned for

An order of the Committee of Council, referring to the Board Mr. Partridge's petition, praying for cannon and shot for a new fortification erected by the people of Rhode Island, as ordered at the last meeting, was again read; and their lordships observing that the petition did not express the number either of cannon or shot desired, Mr. Partridge acquainted the Board that their fort will mount about 50 guns; that they had 12 old guns, but of little or no use; that he had lately bought six guns, 24 pounders with 20 shot to each gun; and that the year before he bought them 18 guns of 18 pound ball and that they wanted 20 more of about 18 to 24 pounders 10 each. and 20 shot to each gun [fo. 119, 122].

A favourable report ordered to be prepared.

Ordered that a report in favour of the said petition be prepared.

New York.

Act for lotting a duty on slares, consideration of it postponed.

Their lordships resuming the consideration of the order of the Committee of Council, referring to this Board the petition of the merchants of Bristol, against an Act passed at New York, laying a duty on slaves imported into that province; and Mr. Wood attending in behalf of the said merchants, as ordered the 26th of the last month, he acquainted their lordships that he had wrote to Bristol for the particulars objected against it by the merchants, but had yet received no answer; and Mr. Guerin, agent for the province, not attending, their lordships postponed the further consideration of that affair till application shall be made [fo. 114].

Wednesday, July 2nd. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Plummer.

Rhode Island.

Report in favour of, for cannon and shot.

The draught of a report upon Mr. Partridge's petition, praying for some cannon and shot for a new fort built in Rhode Island, ordered to be prepared yesterday, was considered and signed the 4th instant [fo. 120].

Leeward Islands.

State of them considered.

The Board then took into consideration that part of the general report upon the state of the Islands, mentioned in the minutes of the 18th of the last month, which relates to the Leeward Islands, and made a progress therein [fo. 102].

Jamaica.

Letter from the President read, public papers, address to be laid before his Majesty.

A letter from Major Ayscough, Commander in Chief of Jamaica, dated April the 16th, 1735, was read, and the papers, referred to therein, were laid before the Board, vizt.:
Major Ayscough's speech to the Council and Assembly of Jamaica, and the Assembly's address in answer thereto.
Address of thanks from the Council and Assembly to his Majesty for sending the six independent companies for their defence.
Copy of a letter from Colonel Ely to Major Ayscough of April 9th, 1735 about the rebellious negroes.

Ordered that a letter be prepared for inclosing the said address to the Duke of Newcastle in order to be laid before his Majesty.

Thursday, July 3rd. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer.

South Carolina.

Appropriation Act considered.

Mr. Fury, agent for [South] Carolina, Mr. Wood in behalf of the merchants of Bristol and Liverpool, together with Sir William Chapman, Mr. Hulet, Mr. Hume, Mr. Thorpe, Mr. Wragg and Messrs. Wrights attending, as had been desired on Tuesday the 24th of the last month, their lordships took again into consideration the order of the Committee of Council, referring to the Board a remonstrance from the Governor, Council and Assembly of Carolina, and a petition of Colonel Purry in behalf of the Appropriation Act; and their lordships asking Mr. Wood, whether he had any answer from the merchants to the proposal made him the 24th of the last month, vizt., "that the overplus of the sinking fund, after provision made for new comers, should be applied to the sinking of the paper bills current in that province; Mr. Wood declared that the merchants could not come into it, but desired their lordships would report in favour of the petitions of the merchants of London and Bristol, referred to their lordships; Mr. Wragg alleged that there was about 3000 negroes annually imported in South Carolina; and Mr. Wood produced an extract of a letter from that province, shewing that besides the £10 per head laid upon negroes payable by the importer, there was a bill passing laying an additional duty of £7 10s. 0d. per head payable by the purchaser, which was too heavy a burthen, and much affected the trade and shipping of this kingdom, and therefore prayed they might be repealed [fo. 107. Bundle D 64, 65, E 28].

But Sir William Chapman said he had no objection to the duty, provided it was payable by the purchaser.

Their lordships resolved to consider further thereof to-morrow morning.

Friday, July 4th. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Plummer.

South Carolina.

Appropriation Act further considered.

Mr. Fury and Mr. Yonge, agents for South Carolina, attending, as they had been directed by their lordships, Mr. Fury presented to the Board an extract of a letter from Mr. Eveleigh of South Carolina to Mr. Morley (the late Provost Marshal of that province) in London, setting forth "that the Assembly had passed a Bill for appropriating all the money that arises by the duty on negroes to the incouragement of strangers, and for a tax for sinking of the orders, which would have been a law if the Governor had lived"; and Mr. Wood inclosed to their lordships a letter he had received from the merchants of Bristol, insisting on their first petition, "to have the Appropriation Act repealed and no duties raised on negroes imported," which being both read, their lordships resumed the consideration of the order of the Committee of Council read yesterday, and ordered the draught of an instruction to be prepared to the Commander in Chief of South Carolina, to assent to a law for applying the overplus of the duties arising upon the impost of negroes, after provision be made for new comers, to sinking £55,000 of their paper money [fo. 107, 123, 125, 126, 128].

Nova Scotia.

Letter to the Lieut.-Governor agreed.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Armstrong, Lieut-Governor of Nova Scotia, was agreed to, and ordered to be transcribed.

New Jersey.

£10,000 bills of credit to be considered.

Mr. Partridge, agent for the Province of New Jersey, presented to the Board a memorial, praying their lordship's favourable report on an Act passed in that province for making £40,000 in bills of credit, in order to obtain his Majesty's approbation; their lordships resolved to consider thereof on Thursday next, and ordered that Mr. Wood, who appears in behalf of the merchants of Bristol against the said Act, have notice to attend at the same time [fo. 130, 143].

Jamaica.

Act for peopling the Island considered.

An order of the Committee of Council of the 2nd instant, directing the Board with the assistance of the Attorney and Solicitor General, to prepare the heads of a Bill for the better peopling and cultivation of Jamaica, together with the draught of an additional instruction to Mr. Cunningham, the present Governor, for recommending the same to the Council and Assembly of that island, was read, and orders were given for preparing the same accordingly, and that Mr. Fane have notice to attend the Board thereupon on Monday next [fo. 127].

Monday, July 7th. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Plummer.

Jamaica.

The said Act to be prepared.

Mr. Fane attending, as he had been desired, the order of the Committee of Council, read at the last meeting, directing the Board to prepare the heads of a Bill for the better peopling and cultivating Jamaica, was again read; and their lordships ordered a draught of heads of a Bill and of an instruction to the Governor of Jamaica to procure the passing of it to be prepared accordingly [fo. 126, 128].

Tuesday, July 8th. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Plummer.

Jamaica.

Heads of a Bill for peopling the Island agreed.

The order of the Committee of Council read yesterday, for preparing heads of a Bill for the peopling and cultivating Jamaica, was again read, and heads for such a Bill, as also the draught of an instruction to the Governor thereupon, were agreed [fo. 127, 129].

Ordered that a report for transmitting the same to the Lords of the Committee be prepared.

South Carolina.

Sinking fund appropriated.

The draught of an instruction to the Commander in Chief of South Carolina, impowering him to assent to a law for applying the overplus of the duties arising upon the impost of negroes, after provision made for new comers, to sinking £55,000 of their paper money, ordered to be prepared the 4th instant, as also the draught of a report, inclosing the same to the Lords of the Committee of Council, were agreed to [fo. 126, 132].

Wednesday, July 9th. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Plummer.

Jamaica.

Bill for peopling and cultivating Jamaica, prepared and reported.

The report to the Lords of the Committee of Council, inclosing the draught of an instruction to the Governor of Jamaica, with the heads of a Bill to be passed into an Act there for the better peopling and cultivating Jamaica, ordered yesterday to be prepared, was agreed and signed [fo. 128, 140].

Lord Fitzwalter coming from the Committee reported to the Board that the Council desired the Board would reconsider the abovementioned heads of a bill, there being only a provision for vacating grants for failure of paying quit rents, and not for want of cultivation.

Ordered that Mr. Attorney General be desired to attend the Board thereupon this day sennight.

Thursday, July 10th. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Plummer.

New Jersey.

Act for making £40,000 bills of credit considered, and postponed.

Mr. Fane's report upon an Act passed in New Jersey in 1733 for making £40,000 in bills of credit, was read, and Mr. Partridge, attending in behalf of the said Act, and Mr. Wood, in behalf of the merchants, whose petition against it was referred to this Board by an order of the Committee of Council, read the 6th of February last; and he being asked what objection he had to the said Act, he acquainted their lordships that he had wrote to the merchants of Bristol about it, but had received no answer thereto; their lordships resolved to let the said Act lie by till this day fortnight, that the merchants might have time to make objections to it, if they thought fit in that time [fo. 126, 143].

Massachusets.

Acts considered, a resolve thereon.

Their lordships took again into consideration the several Acts passed in the Massachusets Bay in the years 1732 and 1733, mentioned in the minutes of the 17th of the last month, and ordered the draught of a report to be prepared, for confirming those laws, against which they have no objection, not expired, and are within one year or less of taking place of themselves.

Resolved that for the future, all Acts of the Massachusets Bay shall lye two years (from the time of their being presented to the Crown) probationary, (unless objected to in the meantime), and then to report on them [fo. 116, 138].

Trade.

Iron in Sweden and the plantations.

Ordered that Mr. Carey and Mr. Norris be reminded of their promise on the 19th ult. to let their lordships have their own and other merchants' opinion in relation to the trade to Sweden, and to the manufacture of iron in that country and our own plantations, and that they be desired to lay the same before the Board on Thursday next [fo. 103, 141].

Jamaica.

Letters to be read.

Their lordships resolved to consider several letters from the late governor and the since commander in chief at Jamaica to-morrow [fo. 133].

Bahamas.

Fortifications wanted.

Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated March 6th, 1734–5, referring to the Board a report made by Mr. Fitzwilliams, Governor of the Bahamas, with an account of repairs, and new work necessary to be done at Fort Nassau in Providence, etc., was read.

Ordered that search be made in the journals of this office, if any of the chief officers of the Ordnance have ever attended this Board upon the like occasion.

Friday, July 11th. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Plummer.

Sooth Carolina.

Sinking fund has to be appropriated.

The report to the Committee of Council, agreed the 8th instant, for inclosing the draught of an instruction to the Commander in Chief of South Carolina, empowering him to assent to a law for applying the overplus of the duties of impost on negroes, after provision made for newcomers, to the sinking £55,000 in bills of credit, was signed [fo. 256].

Jamaica.

Eight letters from the President read.

Eight letters from Major Ayscough, Commander in Chief of Jamaica, were read, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board vizt. [fo. 132, 137]:

Letter from Major Ayscough to the Board, dated April 15th, 1734, transmitting,
Minutes of Assembly from 12th February to 9th March, 1733–4.

Letter from Major Ayscough, dated 20th August, 1734, signifying that he had called an Assembly, who had made provision for the companies going thither.
Copy of an address from the President, Council and Assembly of Jamaica to his Majesty, dated 13th August, 1734.
Major Ayscough's speech to the Council and Assembly of Jamaica with the Assembly's address in answer thereto.
Journal of the Assembly from 7th May, 1734, to 16th August following, inclusive.

Letter from Major Ayscough, dated 16th September, 1734, containing observations on the Acts for subsisting the soldiers; damage done by a hurricane, and disposition of the parties kept up against rebellious negroes.
Reasons of the Council for advising Major Ayscough to give his consent to the passing a bill for raising several sums of money, and for subsisting the six independent companies expected there.
Journal of the Assembly of 31st August and the 2nd and 3rd of September, 1734.
Five Acts passed at Jamaica in May and August, 1734.
List of vessels that received damage in the hurricane at Jamaica, August 31st, 1734.

Letter from Major Ayscough, dated 21st October, 1734.
The reasons and resolutions of the Council for discharging the parties.
Mr. Draper's examination, May 14th, 1734, about the miscarriage of the parties.
A seditious letter from the inhabitants of Titchfield of 27th September, 1734, to Sir Challoner Ogle, with the Assembly's address thereon and the President's answer.
Minutes of Council, from 4th September, 1733, to 18th September, 1734.
Minutes of Council in Assembly from 2nd October, 1733, to 3rd September, 1734.
Minutes of Assembly, from the 1st to the 7th October, 1734.
List of Acts passed, October 17th, 1734.

Letter from Major Ayscough, dated the 2nd November, 1734, signifying his going with the Council to keep the militia to their duty against the rebellious negroes.
Resolutions of a council of war held at St. Iago de la Vega, the 24th and 25th of October, 1734.

Letter from Major Ayscough, dated 4th January. 1734–5.

Letter from him, dated 11th January, 1734–5.
Resolutions of the council of war held at St. Iago de la Vega, the 24th and 25th of October, 1734, duplicates.
Two letters from Captain Brooks to Major Ayscough, dated at Negro Town, the 19th and 29th December, 1734.

Answer to them to be prepared.

And directions were given for preparing an answer to all the said letters and to one other, dated 16th April, 1735, and read the 2nd instant [fo. 137].

Nova Scotia and Bahamas.

Coram's settlement.

Ordered that Mr. Coram have notice to attend the Board on Tuesday next upon his petition for settling in Nova Scotia and on Cat Island, mentioned in the minutes of the 27th of the last month [fo. 115].

Tuesday, July 15th. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Plummer.

Coram's proposals for settlements.

Mr. Coram attending, as he had been desired, presented to their lordships a paper containing the manner in which he proposes to carry on settlements on Cat Island, one of the Bahamas, and in Nova Scotia, which was read, and he desired that these two grants might be put into the hands of proper trustees to be appointed for that purpose, for a certain term of years, and then the government to revert to the Crown; and being asked how many years were expected to be limited for that purpose, he said fourteen years was a sufficient term.

Jamaica.

Two letters from the President read.

Two letters from Major Ayscough, President of the Council and Commander in Chief of Jamaica, were read, vizt.:

Letter from him, dated 27th February, 1734–5, giving an account of the success their parties have had in suppressing the rebellious negroes in that island, and including
Copy of a letter from Mr. Granville to himself, signifying his not succeeding in his intended treaty with the rebellious negroes, and inclosing some examinations and accounts relating to them.

Letter from Major Ayscough, dated 22nd of March, 1734–5, giving advice of their success against the rebel negroes, and hopes of reducing them, and inclosing,
The journal of Messrs. Lamport and Williams in an expedition against the rebel negroes in February and March, 1734–5.

Answers to be prepared to them.

And directions were given for preparing an answer to these two letters in the same draught, which was ordered to be prepared at the last meeting to eight other of his letters [fo. 135, 138].

Wednesday, July 16th. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Plummer.

Jamaica.

Answer to the President's letters agreed to.

The draught of a letter to Major Ayscough, President and Commander in Chief of Jamaica, ordered to be prepared yesterday, was agreed to [fo. 137, 142].

Massachusets.

Report upon Acts agreed.

The report upon several Acts passed in the Massachusets Bay in 1732 and 1733, ordered to be prepared the 10th instant, was also agreed to [fo. 131, 142].

Barbadoes.

Lord Howe's letters read.

The Board taking into consideration several letters from the Lord Howe, late Governor of Barbados, the six following were now read, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board, vizt.:
Letter from the Lord Howe, dated 22nd November, 1733, with.
Treasurer's accounts of impost and excise from June 13th, 1732, to June 13th, 1733.
Naval officers' lists of vessels entered and cleared at Barbados from April 13th to July 13th, 1733.
Minutes of Council, from 10th of July to the 8th of October, 1733.
Journal of Assembly from 17th April to 6th November, 1733. Two Acts passed in 1733.

Letter from Lord Howe, dated June 10th, 1734, transmitting an Act for supplying the deficiency of the excise, etc.

Letter from his Lordship, dated September 15th, inclosing another, dated August 31st, 1734, and public papers, vizt.:
Treasurer's accounts, from June 13th, 1733, to June 13th, 1734.
Representation of Mr. Blenman, Attorney General of Barbados to the Lord Howe, in relation to the more speedy recovery of the arrears of tax upon the Act for supporting the honour and dignity of the Government.
An Act for recovering arrears due on the Act of 1722, entituled, an Act for supporting the honour and dignity of the Government.

Letter from the Lord Howe, dated November 7th, 1734, with his answers to queries relating to the trade, strength, etc., of the island, and complaining of Spanish depredations.
Account of new negroes and wine imported at Barbados, from August 8th, 1723, to September 13th, 1734.
Three Acts, passed in October, 1734, remarked on in the letter.

Letter from the Lord Howe, dated 23rd November, 1734, inclosing the state of a case relating to laws passed by former governors of that island, who had no power to pass laws for more than two years, unless approved by the Crown, with Mr. Attorney General Blenman's opinion thereon.
And their lordships made a progress in the consideration thereof.

Jamaica.

Act prepared for peopling the island.

Mr. Cunningham attending with Mr. Attorney General, directions were given Mr. Attorney for preparing heads of a bill to be passed into an Act for the better peopling and cultivation of Jamaica [fo. 129].

Thursday, July 17th. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Plummer.

Trade,

to Sweden, considered,

prohibitions there.

The letter from the Lord Harrington, inclosing several papers from Mr. Finch, relating to new prohibitions and additional duties laid on our manufactures in Sweden, read the 5th and 19th of the last month, were again read; and Mr. Norris and Mr. Major attending on that subject, Mr. Major said that he had a ship arrived there about a month ago, with iron manufactures, silk stockings, leather, etc., on board, not knowing of their new placart, when he sent the ship out; notwithstanding which his goods had been detained, but whether they were confiscated or not, he had not received advice; but these gentlemen not having reduced what they had to offer upon this subject into writing, their lordships resolved to appoint another day, when they were advised what had been done in Sweden with the forementioned ship and cargo, and were ready to lay the same before the Board in writing; these gentlemen observed that this prohibition extended to iron and leather manufactures, silk stockings and hats; that they had fallen into an iron manufactory in Sweden, but cannot work so cheap as we, and therefore they had prohibited ours; and that five per cent. laid on our woollen manufacture in that kingdom was given to their own woollen manufacturers for their encouragement, and that a certain great man has set up a stocking manufactury there [fo. 131, 154].

Massachusets.

Report for confirming several Acts.

A report to the Lords of the Committee of Council for approving several Acts passed in the Massachusets Bay in 1732 and 1733, agreed at the last meeting, was signed [fo. 138].

Jamaica.

Letter to the President signed.

And a letter to Major Ayscough, President of the Council and Commander in Chief at Jamaica, agreed to yesterday, was also signed [fo. 138].

Friday, July 18th. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Plummer.

Barbadoes.

Letter to the President signed.

A letter to Mr. Dottin, President of the Council and Commander in Chief of Barbados, was agreed to and signed.

New York and New Jersey.

Acts considered.

Mr. Sharpe, attending in behalf of the Acts of New Jersey for issuing £40,000 in paper money and laying a duty on copper ore exported to any other part of America, as also in behalf of the Act passed at New York for laying an impost on negroes, desired their lordships would please to appoint a day for considering the said Acts; and their lordships appointed Thursday next for that purpose, and ordered that all parties concerned have notice to attend accordingly [fo. 90, 126, 130, 149, 151].

Leeward Islands.

Letters from the Governor read.

Then were read the following letters from Michael Smith, Esqr., Commander in Chief of the Leeward Islands, and General Mathews, the present Governor there, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board, vizt.:

Letter from Mr. Smith, dated September 10th, 1733, complaining of the difficulty of getting copies of journals of Council, etc., by reason no fund is appropriated to pay for the same.

The tryal of Wavel Smith, Esqr., secretary of the Leeward Islands, for extortion at Antigua in 1731–2.
Minutes of Council of St. Christophers, from November 26th, 1731, to June 28th, 1733.
Minutes of Council of Antigua, from July 26th, 1731, to May 30th. 1733.
Minutes of Council of Montserrat from February 5th, 1731–2, to February 3rd, 1732–3.
Minutes of the Council of Nevis, from October 22nd, 1731, to February 26th. 1732–3.

A letter from General Mathew, dated at Antigua. November 5th. 1733, signifying his arrival there, publishing his commission, meeting the Assembly, and complaining of the absence of councillors.

A letter from General Mathew, dated January 28th, 1733–4, with an Act of Nevis for his better support, giving him £300 per annum, and desiring the same may be approved.

Letters and papers read.

Another letter from General Mathew to the secretary, dated January 28th, 1733–4, with,
Minutes of Council in Assembly at Antigua, from October 31st to November 29th, 1733.
Minutes of Assembly of Antigua for the same time.
Minutes of Council of Montserrat from January 10th, 1732–3, to December 11th, 1733.
Two Acts passed in Montserrat in December, 1733.

St. Christophers.

Mr. Fane's report on Acts.

Mr. Fane's report upon three Acts passed at St. Christophers in March, 1733–4, was also read.

Act for Powder Duty there to be continued.

And a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council, with the draught of an additional instruction to General Mathew for continuing the Powder Duty at St. Christophers, was signed [vide June 18th. 1735, fo. 103].

Plantations General.

Board desires to see all licences for councillors' absence.

Their lordships resolved to write to the Duke of Newcastle to desire an account may be sent to this office when any licence is granted to any councillor in any of the plantations in America to be absent from such plantation, and ordered the draught of a letter to be prepared accordingly [fo. 172].

Tuesday, July 22nd. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham.

Jamaica.

Bill for the better peopling of it.

The draught of a bill for the better peopling and cultivating Jamaica, ordered to be prepared the 16th instant, was laid before the Board, and their lordships made a progress in the consideration thereof [fo. 140, 148].

Leeward Islands.

Several letters from Governor Mathew reconsidered, an extract sent to the Admiralty.

Plantations General.

Copies of commissions and instructions to privateers.

Several letters from General Mathews, Governor of the Leeward Islands, formerly read, were taken again into consideration, and their lordships ordered a copy of his 78th instruction and of paragraph G in his letter of March 19th, 1733–4, Bundle V. 36, to be sent to Mr. Burchet, in order to obtain copies of the commissions and instructions therein mentioned for private ships of war, to be sent to the Governors of his Majesty's plantations as occasion shall require [fo. 182].

Montserrat.

Absent councillors.

Upon reading paragraph B. in General Mathew's letter of April 18th, 1734, their lordships resolved to send for such absent councillors of Montserrat as are in this kingdom to attend the Board on Tuesday next [fo. 159].

Leeward Islands.

Governor to have a small vessel to attend him.

Ordered the draught of a representation to be prepared in favour of Governor Mathew's request for a small vessel to attend him from one island to another under his government [fo. 148 Paragraph G. in bundle V 37].

St. Christophers.

Agent to attend.

And that Mr. Coope, agent for St. Christophers, have notice to attend the Board on Thursday next.

Wednesday, July 23rd. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham.

Jamaica.

Bill for the better peopling of it agreed.

The draught of a bill for the better peopling and cultivating Jamaica was agreed to.

And the draught of a report, for transmitting the same to the Lords of the Committee of Council, was ordered to be prepared [fo. 146].

Leeward Islands.

A vessel to attend the Governor.

My Lord Fitzwalter informed the Board that having spoke to Sir Charles Wager about the vessel desired by Governor Mathews, Sir Charles informed him that Captain Brant, commodore of the king's ships at the Leeward Islands, had instructions that the sloop now there was to carry him from island to island, and to serve the Governor as occasion shall require; the Board then agreed not to make the report, nor to send the letter to Mr. Burchet, as ordered yesterday [fo. 147, 152].

Miscellanies.

Letter to the Treasury for incidents and salaries.

The secretary then laid before the Board the account of the incidental charges of this office from Lady Day to Midsummer last; and a letter to the Lords of the Treasury, desiring payment thereof, as also of the salaries due to the secretary and other officers in the service of this Commission, was signed.

Thursday, July 24th. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Plummer.

New Jersey.

£40,000 paper money Act considered.

Order of the Committee of Council, dated November 1st, 1734, referring to the Board the petition of the merchants of Bristol complaining of an Act passed at New Jersey for the making £40,000 in bills of credit, read the 6th of February last, was again read, and Mr. Partridge, agent for New Jersey, in behalf of the Act, and Mr. Sharpe in behalf of the merchants against it, attending, Mr. Sharpe acquainted the Board with the following objections to the said Act, vizt.:

The land, by being made security for bills, can be no longer security to the merchants upon which they are trusted.

Notes to be a tender in all cases is a clause of an extraordinary nature, because their contracts are made for payment in silver money.

Why should juries to try counterfeiters of paper money be taken out of one or two counties only, they should be tried by a jury of the county where the fact is committed; therefore the clause to try facts in a different county is contrary to law; and the like objection arises to the trying of facts committed out of the province.

The clause, declaratory of wills to be made, is improper.

Copper ore Act.

Ordered that each party attend again on Tuesday next in order to lay before the Board what they had to offer for and against the said Act in writing.

New York.

Duty on negroes and European goods.

Resolved that the Act of the same province for laying a duty on copper ore exported to any other of his Majesty's plantations be further considered at the same time [fo. 157].

Their lordships then took into consideration the Act of New York to repeal the Act, and to cancel the bills of credit therein mentioned, and to grant unto his Majesty several duties for supporting his government, etc.; and Mr. Guerin, agent for New York, attending, acquainted the Board that he was not ready to lay before their lordships the proper reasons for passing that Act; and Mr. Sharpe having read the clauses laying the duty of five ounces of plate or 40 shillings current money per head on slaves imported, and a duty of five per cent. on European or East India goods imported there from the British islands in America [fo. 143];

Ordered a report to be prepared with the draught of an instruction to Colonel Cosby, Governor of New York, to the clauses laying the said duties on negroes and on European goods imported from the islands, repealed or altered by a new law, and in the meantime proposing this law to lye by [fo. 160].

Leeward Islands.

Vessel for the Governor.

Mr. Coope, agent for St. Christophers, attending, was acquainted by my Lord Fitzwalter, with yesterday's minute about the vessel desired by Governor Mathew [fo. 148].

St. Christophers.

Duty or poll tax on negroes, five per cent. on rents and secretary's fees of three shillings per sheet.

Mr. Coope then presented to their lordships a memorial desiring the two Acts of St. Christophers for granting a duty of eight shillings per poll on negroes and five per cent. on rents of houses, etc., the other for reducing the fee of three shillings per sheet taken by the secretary as clerk in Chancery, etc., may be reported to his Majesty for confirmation, was read; and their lordships being informed that Mr. Smith, secretary of the Leeward Islands, was daily expected in England, deferred the consideration of the Act about the three shillings fee [fo. 153].

Montserrat.

Petition for cannon etc.

An order of the Committee of Council of March 6th, 1734–5, referring to this Board a petition of the Council and Assembly of Montserrat for cannon and other ordnance stores for the defence of the island, was read; which petition, being subsequent to the Board's report of this day twelvemonth, proposing such stores to be sent for the defence of all the islands, their lordships ordered a report to be drawn up in favour of this petition.

Friday, July 25th. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Plummer.

St. Christophers.

Act to lye by.

Mr. Coope's memorial, desiring the confirmation of two Acts of St. Christophers. read yesterday, was taken again into consideration, and the Act of 1732, for granting a poll tax on slaves and five per cent. on rents, etc., being read, as also Mr. Fane's report thereon, and their lordships resolved to let the said Act lye by till Mr. Wavel Smith arrives, and then a paragraph to be inserted in the next letter to Governor Mathew, to get a new law for granting the salaries, enacted by this law, and to admonish the Governor to pass no law contrary to the directions of his 17th instruction, directing that no perpetual clause shall be made part of any temporary law [fo. 152. Bundle V 54].

Trade and Plantations General.

Sweden.

Duty of ten per cent. and probhibitions on English manufactures.

Letter from the Lord Harrington, dated at Hanover, July 16–27th. 1735, referring to this Board some papers transmitted to him by Mr. Finch, his Majesty's minister at Stockholm, vizt.:
The answer given by the Court at Stockholm to Mr. Finch's representations concerning the new duty of 10 per cent., and prohibitions of English manufactures there, with Mr. Finch's reply to the Swedish answers.

Montserrat.

Ordnance stores to be sent.

Ordered that an answer be drawn to my Lord Harrington's said letter, and that he be desired to send any answers Mr. Finch may have received to his last demands [fo. 142. 159, 167].

The draught of a report, ordered yesterday to be prepared, in favour of the petition of the Council and Assembly of Montserrat, praying for cannon and other ordnance stores for the defence of the island, was agreed and signed [fo. 152].

Leeward Islands.

Governor's letters read.

Letter from General Mathew to the secretary, inclosing another to the Board, both dated at Antigua, May 26th, 1734, transmitting,
Minutes of Council of Antigua, from 21st January, 1733–4, to the 8th of April, 1734.
Minutes of Council of Nevis, from March 8th, 1732–3, to 6th March, 1733–4.
Minutes of Assembly of Nevis, from 8th March. 1732–3, to January 28th, 1733–4.
Minutes of Council of St. Christophers, from October 8th, 1733, to February 20th, 1733–4.
Four Acts passed at Antigua in 1734.

Letter from General Mathew, dated 17th June, 1734, chiefly relating to the want of government among the inhabitants of the Virgin Islands, and proposals for remedying thereof, and transmitting,
Minutes of Assembly of Antigua in 1733–4.

Tuesday, July 29th. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter. Mr. Pelham Mr. Plummer.

South Carolina.

Boundaries settled.

Letter from Mr. Fury, dated July 29th. 1735. inclosing an extract of one from Mr. Abercrombie, signifying that the boundaries between North and South Carolina are settled to general satisfaction, was read [fo. 113, 215].

New Jersey.

Act laying a duty on copper ore considered.

Mr. Partridge and Mr. Belcher attending in behalf of the Act, passed in New Jersey in 1733, entituled, An Act for the further support of the government, laying a duty on copper ore exported out of that province to any of his Majesty's plantations in America, and Mr. Fane's report upon it, and the British merchants' petition against it, being read; Mr. Sharpe, in behalf of the merchants, alledged that every ship which brings of that ore to Great Britain. must touch at New York for part of her cargo, for which reason the duty has the same effect, by laying it upon exportation to New York, as to lay it upon the exportation directly to Great Britain; a great part of this ore is not worth above £6 a ton, and therefore cannot bear so great an imposition, it being equal to a prohibition; and that this law was contrary to the Governor's 22nd instruction, forbidding him to pass Acts which might affect the trade or shipping of this kingdom.

Mr. Belcher alledged in favour of the Act, that the duty was appropriated to Colonel Cosby's salary, and some other uses, and that the duty was only on such ore as was exported to other colonies, and not on that shipped for Great Britain; and therefore was agreeable to the Act of the 8th of George 1st, which makes this an enumerated commodity, and more especially to the Act of the 5th of his present Majesty, which prohibits hats from being exported from one plantation to another; he alledged also that Colonel Schuyler's ore sells in England from £40 to £45 sterling per ton and that the duty is but 18d. per cwt. and that the Act of 25th, Charles 2nd, does not allow enumerated goods to be carried from one colony to another. without paying a duty,

Mr. Partridge also in behalf of the Act, said that Port Amboy was a very good port, and owned that this Act had some view to advance the trade of New Jersey; and that ships may take in copper ore at New Jersey in their way from New York to Great Britain, but that at present the trade of New Jersey is so small, that no ships sail directly with their cargoes from New Jersey to Great Britain, and that he could prove Colonel Schuyler sent over ore to be sold here by commission.

Mr. Sharpe replied that the opening of Port Amboy would prejudice New York,. which ought to be encouraged, and that Colonel Cosby's salary was secured out of the interest arising from their paper currency in New Jersey, and therefore this duty was in that case unnecessary.

Ordered that the draught of a representation for repealing the said law, and an instruction to the Governor to procure a new law to be enacted to the same purpose, except what relates to copper [fo. 183].

Montserrat.

State of the Council.

Then their lordships took into consideration the state of the Council of Montserrat, and found that Mr. Hodges had been absent three years without his Majesty's leave; and that Mr. Roberts had been absent six years, and now lives about Mimms in Hertfordshire, and does not know when he shall return, but desires to continue of the Council [fo. 147].

A new councillor to be added.

The Board was of opinion that Mr. Hodges should be discharged, and another to be appointed in his room.

Trade.

Sweden.

Ten per cent.

duty on our manufactures and some prohibited.

A letter from the Lord Harrington, dated at Hanover, July 31st, 1735, N.S., with the extract of one from Mr. Finch, his Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary at Stockholm, concerning an additional duty of ten per cent. and some prohibitions laid on our manufactures in Sweden, was read; whereupon ordered that Mr. Carey be desired to attend the Board with Mr. Crawley upon that subject on Thursday next [fo. 154, 167].

Barbadoes.

Bishop of London's commission to be registered there.

A letter from the Lord Bishop of London, desiring that the Governor of Barbados may be instructed to cause his Lordship's commission to be enrolled in all the proper offices in that island, was read, and their lordships gave directions for drawing an answer thereto.

Wednesday, July 30th. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Plummer.

New York.

Act laying duties on negroes etc., to be altered.

The representation, ordered to be prepared the 24th instant, for repealing an Act passed at New York to repeal the Act and to cancel the bills of credit therein mentioned, and to grant unto his Majesty several duties for supporting his government, etc., wherein a duty is laid on negroes and European goods imported, was agreed to [fo. 151, 173].

Leeward Islands.

Letters from the Governer read.

Eleven letters from Mr. Mathew. Governor of the Leeward Islands were read, and the papers. therein referred to, were laid before the Board, and are as follows:

Letter from him to the secretary, dated July the 20th, 1734, with
Minutes of the Assembly of Nevis from April 4th to June 25th, 1734.
Minutes of Council of Montserrat from 28th March to 24th June, 1734.
Minutes of Assembly of Montserrat from 25th March to 25th April, 1734.

Letter from him, dated July 29th. 1734. giving reason why he cannot proportion the quantity of stores of war wanting for each island distinctly.

Letter from him, dated October 22nd, 1734, with,
Minutes of Council and Assembly of Montserrat for the quarter ending at Michaelmas, 1734.

Letter from him, dated 29th October, 1734, complaining of Mr. Smith, secretary of the Leeward Islands, for not furnishing him with the minutes of St. Christophers and Antigua, as he ought to do.

Letter from him, dated 12th November, 1734. with.
Minutes of Council of Antigua from 27th April to 25th September, 1734.

Letter from him, dated November 26th, 1734, with.
An Act for laying a poll on negroes in Nevis.

Letter from him, dated January 20th, 1734–5 about his Majesty's title to the Island of Santa Crux, and transmitting
Minutes of Council of Antigua, from 7th October to 20th December, 1734.
Minutes of Council of Montserrat from 29th September to 25th December, 1734.
Minutes of Assembly of Montserrat from 12th October to 14th December, 1734, and
An Act passed at Tortola for punishing rebellious negroes, etc.

Letter from him, dated February 15th, 1734–5, complaining of the treasurers and clerks of the Assemblies, for not furnishing him with copies of their leidgers and journals in due time, and transmitting.
Abstract of the treasurer of Nevis's account for 1731 and 1734.
Minutes of the Council of St. Christophers, from February 28th, 1733–4. to September 26th, 1734.

Letter from him, dated February 28th, 1734–5, to the secretary transmitting:
Three Acts passed at Montserrat in 1734–5.

Letter from him, dated April 14th, 1735, to the secretary, desiring leave to renew Acts laying powder duties on vessels at the islands, and transmitting the publick papers wanting to compleat the sets in this office, vizt.:
Account of the duty of wine licences in St. Christophers to January, 1734–5.
Liquor office account of St. Christophers to January, 1734–5.
Account of the powder duty at St. Christophers to 10th January, 1734–5.
Letter from a parson at St. Christophers, with lists of births and burials in that island in 1733 and 1734.
Lists of births and burials in Antigua in 1733 and 1734.
The Treasurer of Antigua's account from March 1st, 1733–4, to November 13th, 1734.
Minutes of Assembly of Nevis from the 10th July, 1734, to 25th March, 1735.
Minutes of Council of Montserrat from January 4th, 1734–5, to March 8th following.
Minutes of Assembly of Montserrat from 7th January to the 8th March, 1734–5.

Letter from him, dated May 5th, 1735, giving some account of the king's title to the Island of Santa Crux, and inclosing:
The treasurer of Nevis's account from May, 1734, to April, 1735, and
Act passed at Montserrat for encouraging the loan of money by factors or merchants in Great Britain, etc.

Secretary of the islands to be reprimanded.

And their lordships ordered a letter to be wrote to Mr. Smith to reprimand him for not sending the Governor copies of publick papers [fo. 173].

And the draught of an answer to all Governor Mathew's letters from the 5th of November, 1733, to the 5th of May last, read the 18th and 25th instant and this day, to be prepared [fo. 161, 182].

Montserrat.

Governor to allow a powder duty on vessels.

As also the draught of an instruction for the said Governor to assent to an Act for laying an impost of gunpowder on the tonnage of vessels. trading to Montserrat, under certain restrictions [fo. 176].

Bahama.

Governor's letters read and answered.

The five following letters from Mr. Fitzwilliams, Governor of the Bahama Islands, were read, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board, vizt.:

Letter from him, dated December 5th, 1733, signifying his arrival there, etc.
Letter from him, dated February 10th, 1733–4.
Letter from him, dated July 2nd, 1734, with,
Minutes of Council, from November 29th, 1733, the first after Governor Fitzwilliams arrived, to June 21st, 1734.
Naval office lists of vessels entered and cleared, from Christmas, 1733, to Christmas, 1734.

Letter from him, dated March 11th, 1735, complaining of a contagious distemper there, and of the Spanish depredations continuing.

Letter from him to the secretary, dated March 11th, 1734–5, and transmitting the
Treasurer's account from December 25th, 1733, to June 24th, 1734.
List of inhabitants in the Bahama Islands, December 25th, 1734.
Journal of the Council, from July 17th to 28th November, 1734.
Journal of Council in Assembly, and of the Assembly from August 20th, 1734, to January 4th, 1734–5.
Eight Acts and an Ordnance passed in December, 1734, and January, 1734–5.
Naval officer's list of ships entered and cleared at New Providence, from Midsummer to Christmas, 1734.

Acts sent to Mr. Fane, and Governor to be answered.

Ordered that the Acts be sent to Mr. Fane for his opinion thereon in point of law.

And that an answer to Mr. Fitzwilliams' said letters be prepared.

Thursday, July 31st. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Plummer.

South Carolina.

Act for regulating courts, hearing thereon appointed.

Mr. Fury, agent for South Carolina, attending, desired their lordships would appoint a day for hearing the merits of the Act for regulating the Courts of Justice in this province, etc., passed in 1734, and their lordships were pleased to appoint Thursday next, and ordered that Mr. Fury, Mr. Hume and Mr. Fane have notice to attend at the same time [fo. 177].

Trade.

Plantations General.

Swedish, Russian, Spanish and Plantation bar iron.

European and Plantation bar iron.

Mr. Cary and Captain Tomlinson attending, in relation to bar iron, Mr. Cary said that very little bar iron had been imported (except from Maryland) from the Plantations, and that plantation bar iron was as good as any from Sweden, and fit for all uses equally, and read a letter from Major Gooch, Lieut.Governor of Virginia, importing that they will not go on with bar iron without incouragement; that the taking off all the duty would be sufficient, but he apprehended that taking off only part of the duty would not be sufficient; that the chief use of the American pig iron is now put to, is to make rollers and cantlage or ballast iron, and not commonly converted into bar iron; as to Russia iron, he could say nothing to it.

Captain Tomlinson said that New England iron was good for ships, and that he had used himself of it for rudder irons, and found it effectual; and that at some forges on Merrimack and Piscatoqua rivers they had made as good bar iron as Swedish, which he believes to be better than Siberia iron, and that fourfifths of all the ships built in New England were finished with their own iron:

And that the making of bar iron in the plantations cannot induce them to manufacture more than at present, because their fishing ships from the Streights will always carry home Spanish iron, and supply the plantations with it as cheap or cheaper than we can have it.

Tar. foreign and plantation.

Mr. Cary said plantation tar is every way as good as Swedish, and the rope makers now buy it as willingly as Swedish tar; and that the Commissioners of the Navy buy great quantities of it; but if a war break out. the present bounty will not be sufficient.

Their lordships then ordered that Mr. Banister, Mr. Crawley's chief workman, should be desired to attend on Wednesday next [fo. 159, 160, 173].

New Hampshire.

Colonel Dunbar, Lieut-Governor, complains against Mr. Belcher, Governer.

Then Captain Tomlinson presented a memorial in behalf of Colonel Dunbar, Lieut-Governor of New Hampshire, complaining that Mr. Belcher, the Governor, continues still to deprive Colonel Dunbar of all power in New Hampshire, though the Governor was absent himself from the province, and produced the following papers.
Copy of Colonel Dunbar's letter to the Justices at Hampton, to publish the order of the king in Council for repealing the Act for removing the Courts, with Governor Belcher's order to send him the order in Council to Boston, and Colonel Dunbar's answer to the Governor, refusing to send it.
The Lieut-Governor's order for convening the Council, and their proceedings with regard to the said order in Council for repealing the said Act.
The answer of the House of Representatives to the Governor's speech of May 8th, 1735.

Bermuda.

Letters from the Governor read and answered.

The six following letters from Captain Pitt, Governor of the Bermuda Islands, were read, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board, vizt. [fo. 176].

Letter from him to the secretary, dated February 4th, 1732/3.

Letter from him, dated May 30th, 1734, complaining of his loss, by sinking the licences for whale fishing, and praying they may be renewed.

Letter from him to the secretary, dated May 30th, 1734, with Votes of the Assembly from February 5th to March 7th, 1733/4 and
An Act to lay a duty on the whale fishery for the use of the Governor, in lieu of the benefits formerly accrued thereby.

Letter from him, dated October 5th, 1734, recommending three new councillors in the room of three deceased.

Letter from him, dated October 10th, 1734, giving an account of the trade, manufactures and state of defence of those islands.

Letter from him, dated May 26th, 1735, with,
His answer to queries relating to the state of the Bermuda Islands.
The treasurer's account, from November, 1732, to November, 1734.
Votes of Assembly in November, 1734.
Three Acts passed in November, 1734.

Ordered that the said Acts be sent to Mr. Fane, for his opinion thereon in point of law;

And that an answer be prepared to Captain Pitt's said letters [fo. 176].

Plantations General.

Letter to Secretary of State for notice of all Plantation business passing that office.

The letter, ordered to be prepared the 18th instant, to the Duke of Newcastle, desiring notice may be given to this Board of all commissions, orders or instructions to officers, and of licences of absence to all councillors in the Plantations that pass the Secretary's office, was signed [fo. 145].