Journal, October 1740: Volume 48

Journal, October 1740

Tuesday, October 7. Present:—Right Honourable Mr. Walpole, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Brudenell, Sir A. Croft, Mr. Plummer.

Trade.

Turkey.

France.

Read a letter from Mr. Stone, Secretary to the Lords Justices, dated September 15th, 1740, inclosing a translation of the Treaty of Commerce lately concluded between the Ottoman Porte and France, directing this Board to take the same into consideration, and report their opinion, what directions may be proper to be sent to his Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople.

Trade.

Turkey.

James Lock, Treasurer.

John March.

Edward Ratcliffe.

Theophilus Salwey.

Charles Smyth.

Samuel Bosanquet.

Read a letter from Mr. Stone, Secretary to the Lords Justices, dated September 15th, 1740, referring to this Board two memorials delivered to the Duke of Newcastle by the Turkey Company, relating to the disadvantages the English trade lies under, by the increase of the French cloth trade to Turkey; and William Dunster, Esq., Deputy Governor of the Company, attending by desire of the Board, together with the several merchants, whose names are in the margin: their lordships had some discourse with them on the subject of their two memorials abovementioned, and of their trade, as likewise upon the subject of the Treaty of Commerce, lately concluded between the Ottoman Porte and France, referred to this Board by a letter from Mr. Stone, Secretary to the Lords Justices, dated September 15th, 1740; and the said gentlemen being withdrawn, the Board took the affair into consideration, and ordered the draught of a representation to the Lords Justices thereupon to be prepared.

Trade.

Russia.

Persia.

Read a letter from Sir John Thompson, Governor of the Russia Company, to the Board, dated October 3rd, 1740, signifying that he has called a Russia Court to meet next Thursday, to consider of Captain Elton's scheme for opening a commerce through Russia into Persia, and that he, with some of the gentlemen of that Company, will wait on this Board, with their opinion upon that subject, any day the week after.

Ordered that the Secretary write a letter to Sir John Thompson, acquainting him that the Board have appointed Wednesday the 15th inst. to consider of that affair, and that their Lordships desire the Governor would attend then, with such other gentlemen of the Russia Company, as he shall please to bring with him.

Plantations General.

Ordered that letters be wrote to the agents of the several Provinces on the Continent of America, desiring their attendance at the Board on Tuesday the 14th inst., to know if they have anything to offer, that might be of service in settling the paper currency of America, as they had been desired, when they attended the Board the 18th of June last.

South Carolina.

Read a letter from Colonel Bull, President of the Council and Commander in Chief of South Carolina, dated July 28th, 1740, inclosing a copy of a representation from the Council and Assembly of that Province, to his Majesty, of the bad situation of their affairs, with regard to the French, Spaniards and Indians.

Ordered that copies of the said letter and representation be transmitted in one, to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle.

Miscellanies.

The Secretary acquainting the Board with the death of Mr. John Hutchinson, one of the Chamberkeepers and assistant messengers of this office; and Sir Archer Croft, recommending Mr. Samuel Simpson to succeed the said Hutchinson in this employment, he was admitted accordingly.

Wednesday, October 8. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Sir A. Croft, Mr. Plummer.

New York.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following papers, referred to in a letter from Mr. Clarke, Lieutenant Governor of New York, dated the 13th of June, 1740, mentioned in the minutes of the 19th of August last, and received since that time, viz:
Minutes of Council, beginning the 17th of May, 1739, ending the 3rd of April, 1740.
Minutes of Council and Assembly, beginning the 28th of August, ending the 17th of November, 1739.
Nineteen Acts, passed at New York, in October and November, 1739.

Trade.

Persia.

Read a letter from the Duke of Newcastle, dated September 16th, 1740, inclosing two letters from Mr. Finch, his Majesty's Minister at Petersburgh, to Lord Harrington, dated in June and July last, and transmitting two papers, viz:
A paper, put into the hands of Mr. Finch at Petersburg in July, 1740, containing a project for opening a trade by the British merchants in Russia, to those parts of Persia adjacent to the southern ports of the Caspian Sea.
Another paper from Capt. Elton, upon the same subject as the foregoing, put likewise into the hands of Mr. Finch at Petersburgh, in July, 1740.

Bahamas.

Read a letter from Mr. Burchet, Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, dated August 20th, 1740, in answer to one from the Secretary of this Board, inclosing an extract of a letter from Mr. Howell, Commander in Chief of the Bahamas, in relation to the want of a station ship there.

South Carolina.

A letter transmitting to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, copies of Mr. Bull's letter to the Board, and of the representation from the Council and Assembly of the Province of South Carolina to his Majesty, ordered by the minutes of yesterday, was agreed to, and signed.

Massachusetts.

Read an Order of the Lords Justices in Council, dated August 14th, 1740, referring to this Board six Acts, passed in the Province of the Massachusets Bay in December, 1739.

Ordered that the said Acts, with twenty others, mentioned in the minutes of the 19th of August last, be sent to Mr. Fane, his Majesty's Counsel at Law, for his opinion thereon.

Maryland.

Read a letter from Capt. Ogle, Deputy Governor of Maryland, dated at Annapolis, April 20th, 1740, in answer to the Board's circular letter of July 5th, 1739, upon the addresses of both Houses of Parliament, concerning the rates of gold and silver coins, and the paper currency in America.

Massachusetts.

Read a letter from Mr. Belcher, Governor of New England, dated July 15th, 1740, relating to the Assembly's raising money for the support of the Government, and men for the intended expedition of Lord Cathcart.

Trade.

Italy.

Barbary.

Read a letter from Mr. Couraud, Secretary to the Lords Justices, dated August 22nd, 1740, inclosing an extract of one from Mr. Villette, his Majesty's Secretary at Turin, to my lord Harrington, with an account that a Dutch vessel had been seized by the Custom House officers at Villa Franca, and ordered to be confiscated, for not having paid a certain duty, imposed long ago for the defence of that coast, against the privateers of Barbary; The consideration of this affair to be resumed at another opportunity.

Thursday, October 9. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plummer.

Trade.

Turkey.

A representation to the Lords Justices on the subject of the two memorials, delivered to the Duke of Newcastle by the Turkey Company, and referred to this Board, as mentioned in the minutes of Tuesday last, having been prepared, according to order, was agreed to, and signed.

South Carolina.

A representation to the Lords Justices, recommending John Cleland, Esq., to be of the Council of South Carolina, in the room of John Braithwaite, Esq., deceased, was agreed to, and signed.

Trade.

Denmark.

Russia.

Read a letter from the Duke of Newcastle, dated September 16th, 1740, referring to this Board Mr. Titley's letter to Lord Harrington of the 9th August, N.S., 1740, and extracts of two letters from Mr. Finch, dated at Petersburg, in July and August last, to his Lordship, concerning new passports from Russia and Danish duties, together with his Pro memoria on the Sound affair. Resolved, that the Board will, on Wednesday next, the day appointed by the minutes of Tuesday for the Governor and others of the Russia Company to attend, discourse with them on the subject of these papers. [Wednesday, 15th inst.]

Trade.

Dantzig.

Read a letter from Lord Harrington, dated at Hanover, 31 August, /11 September, transmitting copy of a letter to him from Mr. Gibsone, the king's agent at Dantzig, with other papers, relating to a new pretension set up by the magistrates, in relation to British subjects residing there.
The 3rd Article of the British Convention with the town of Dantzig.
The Senate of Dantzig's answer to Mr. Gibsone's memorial, relating to the British privileges there.
Copy of Lord Harrington's letter to Mr. Gibsone, dated at Hanover, 31 August/11 September, 1740.

Read likewise another letter from the Lord Harrington, dated at Lintzburg, 19/30 September, 1740, inclosing copy of another letter to him from Mr. Gibsone, with some further explanations, in relation to the case of Elizabeth Anderson at Dantzig.

Ordered that the consideration of the said papers be postponed to another opportunity, and that in the mean time enquiry be made after some agent, or other person, concerned in the affairs of Dantzig.

North Carolina.

Read a memorial from four gentlemen of the Council in North Carolina, to the Board of Trade, dated at Cape Fear River, July 3rd, 1740, complaining of Mr. Smith, the eldest councillor, and three other members of that Board, who join in supporting him in the exercise of a power, whereby the rights of the Council there have been infringed.

Ordered that the said memorial lye by, to be considered when the minutes of Council and representation, to which it refers, shall arrive.

Tuesday, October 14. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer.

Jamaica.

The Secretary having read a letter from Mr. Trelawney, Governor of Jamaica, dated July 26th, 1740, giving an account of his having appointed Mr. Benjamin Blake and Mr. Samuel Smith of the Council, in the room of Messrs. Concanen and Fuller; the Board was pleased to defer the consideration of the same till the parties had been heard.

Trade.

Russia.

Denmark.

Read a letter from the Duke of Newcastle, dated October 10th, 1740, referring to this Board a copy of a declaration lately made by order of the Court of Russia to the Danish Envoy there, with a representation from the College of Commerce, relating to the passports granted at Petersburgh to merchant ships to go to the Sound, and concerning the duties paid at the Sound.

Plantations General.

Mr. Partridge.

Mr. Paris.

Mr. Fury.

Mr. Sharpe.

Mr. Kilby.

Mr. Tomlinson.

The agents for several of the Provinces in America, whose names are in the margin, attending, as desired by the minutes of the 7th inst., the Board had some discourse with them on the subject of the paper currency, and desired to know their sentiments as to what they thought the properest method for settling that affair upon a good foundation; but they informed the Board that as they had received no instructions on that head from their constituents, they were not able to offer anything further, than what they have already offered in their former discourses on that subject with the Board; but Mr. Sharpe delivered a letter from Mr. Wilks, containing his opinion, in relation to the paper money in the Province of Connecticut, and Mr. Sharpe likewise informed the Board that he had no instructions, any more than the rest, but that he apprehended the Act, passed already in Maryland, for establishing the paper currency was sufficient for that purpose. Mr. Partridge, also, agent for the Massachusets, delivered in to the Board a paper entituled, Some hints of R. Partridge's arguments with two members of Parliament, as did Mr. Kilby, a printed draught of a Bill, which he conceived to contain the best plan for settling the paper currency in the Massachusets Bay.

Barbados.

Read a letter from Mr. Byng, Governor of Barbados, dated August 13th, 1740.

Wednesday, October 15. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer.

Jamaica.

Read a letter from Mr. Trelawney, Governor of Jamaica, dated July 26th, 1740, transmitting:
Minutes of Council, beginning August 7th, 1739, and ending May 27th, 1740.
Minutes of Council and Assembly, beginning July 3rd, 1739, and ending May 27th, 1740.
Minutes of Assembly, beginning March 18th, 1739/40, and ending May 27th, 1740.
Ten Acts, passed in April and May, 1740.

Trade.

Russia.

Persia.

Mr. Nettleton.

Mr. Robert Thornton.

Mr. Brian Benson.

Mr. Matthew Shiffner.

Mr. Joseph Fawthorp.

Mr. Morley, Secretary.

Sir John Thompson, Governor of the Russia Company, attending, with the several merchants trading thither, whose names are in the margin, the Board had some discourse with them on the subject of Capt. Elton's scheme for opening a commerce through Russia into Persia, mentioned in the minutes of the 8th inst.; and the Governor acquainted the Board, that they were not yet come to any resolutions upon that affair, but that a Court would be soon called, and that then they would communicate to the Board the result of their deliberations: at the same time the Board communicated to them Mr. Titley's letter to Lord Harrington, together with other papers, mentioned in the minutes of the 9th inst., relative to the Sound duties and new passports from Russia, as likewise a declaration lately made by order of the Court of Russia to the Danish Envoy there, as mentioned in the minutes of the 14th inst.; and after some discourse had with them thereupon, the Board was pleased to direct copies of Monsieur Schulin's letter to Mr. Titley, of the 6th August, 1740, and of the declaration made to Mr. de Bachoff, Envoy of Denmark at the Court of Russia, to which is annexed a representation of the College of Commerce, touching the affair of the passeports, to be prepared and sent to the Russia Company, for their opinion.

Miscellanies.

The Secretary laid before the Board an account of the incidental charges of this office, from Christmas, 1739, to Lady Day, 1740, amounting to £289 8s. 7d.; and a letter to the Lords of the Treasury, desiring payment thereof, and of the salary due to the Secretary and under officers for the same time, was agreed to, and signed.

Thursday, October 16. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer.

Plantations General.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following copies of Orders of Council, transmitted from the Council Office the 22nd of September last, the titles whereof were read, viz:

St. Christophers.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 12th of June, 1739, approving a representation of this Board, proposing John Mills, Esq., to supply a vacancy in the Council of St. Christophers, by the death of John Williams, Esq.

Antigua.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 12th of June, 1739, approving a representation of this Board, proposing Richard Oliver, Esq., to supply a vacancy in the Council of Antigua, by the death of Samuel Byam, Esq.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 12th of June, 1739, approving a representation of this Board, proposing Benjamin King, Esq., to supply a vacancy in the Council of Antigua, by the death of Sir William Codrington.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 12th of June, 1739, approving a representation of this Board proposing William Mackinen, Esq., to supply a vacancy in the Council of Antigua, by the resignation of John Duer, Esq., on account of his bad state of health.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 22nd of November, 1739, postponing the consideration of an Act, passed at Antigua, to reduce the rate of interest in that island.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 22nd of November, 1739, directing the Governor and Council of Antigua to recommend to the Assembly, to provide for payment of the Secretary of the islands, for publick business done in the island of Antigua.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 27th of December, 1739, directing the Governor of the Leeward Islands to take care that the island of Antigua should provide an additional subsistance to the forces his Majesty should send thither.

Montserrat.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 27th December, 1739, directing the Master of the Ordnance to furnish the island of Montserrat with the stores mentioned in a schedule hereto annexed.

Nevis.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 27th of December, 1739, for restoring Thomas Pym, Esq., to his seat in the Council of Nevis.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 10th of July, 1740, approving a representation of this Board, proposing Richard Cox, Esq., to supply a vacancy in the Council of Nevis, by the resignation of Thomas Butler, Esq., now in England.

Barbados.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 12th of June, 1739, approving the draught of a commission prepared by this Board for Robert Byng, Esq., appointed Governor of Barbados.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 19th of October, 1739, approving the draughts of instructions prepared by this Board for Robert Byng, Esq., appointed Governor of Barbados.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 14th of August, 1740, approving a representation of this Board proposing Reynold Hooper, Esq., to supply a vacancy in the Council of Barbadoes, by the resignation of John Colleton, Esq., now in England.

Newfoundland.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 12th of June, 1739, approving the draught of a commission prepared by this Board, for Henry Medley, Esq., appointed Governor of Newfoundland.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 12th of June, 1739, approving the draught of instructions prepared by this Board, for Henry Medley, Esq., appointed Governor of Newfoundland.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 31st of July, 1740, directing the Board of Ordnance to fortify St. John's in Newfoundland, pursuant to a report of this Board on several petitions for that purpose.

South Carolina.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 12th of June, 1739, approving Mr. Glen's commission for the government of South Carolina, with some alterations therein, as petitioned for, by Mr. Glen.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 6th of September, 1739, approving Mr. Glen's instructions for the Government of South Carolina, with some alterations made by this Board therein.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 12th of June, 1740, approving a representation of this Board, proposing Colonel Joseph Blake, to supply a vacancy in the Council of South Carolina by the death of Thomas Waring, Esq.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 14th of August, 1740, approving a representation of this Board, proposing William Middleton, Esq., to supply a vacancy in the Council of South Carolina, by the death of Robert Wright, Esq.

South and North Carolina.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 14th of August, 1740, directing in what manner grants of land shall pass in South and North Carolina, and directing the Governors to countenance and protect Mr. McCulloch in his office of Comptroller of the Quit Rents there.

North Carolina.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 12th of June, 1739, approving a representation of this Board, proposing James Murray, Esq., to supply a vacancy in the Council of North Carolina, by the death of Edmund Porter, Esq.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 31st of July, 1740, approving a representation of this Board, proposing the repeal of an Act, passed at North Carolina in 1739, for providing his Majesty a rent-roll for securing his Majesty's Quit Rents, for the remission of arrears of Quit Rents, etc.

Massachusetts.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 2nd of August, 1739, approving a representation of this Board, for confirming 12 Acts, passed in the Massachusets Colony in 1735, 1736, and 1737.

Massachusetts.

New Hampshire.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 27th of December, 1739, approving a report of the Committee of Council upon a petition of the agent of New Hampshire, complaining of the Governor's irregular proceeding with regard to the boundary line between that province and the Massachusets.

Massachusetts.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 31st of July, 1740, dismissing the petition of the agents of the Massachusets, praying leave to issue more paper money.

Massachusetts.

New Hampshire.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 31st of July, 1740, approving the draught of an instruction to the Governor of New England, relating to the settling of the boundaries between the Massachusets and New Hampshire.

Massachusetts.

Rhode Island.

Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 14th of August, 1740, approving the draught of a commission for determining the bounds between the colonies of the Massachusets Bay and Rhode Island.

Bahamas.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 27th December, 1749, directing the Board of Ordnance to send several stores of war to the Bahama Islands, as mentioned in a schedule hereto annexed.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 14th of August, 1740, approving the draughts of instructions prepared by this Board for John Tinker, Esq., appointed Governor of the Bahama Islands.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 14th February, 1739/40, directing the Board of Ordnance to send an engineer to the Bahama Islands.

Virginia.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 27th December, 1739, approving a representation of this Board, for confirming a private Act, passed at Virginia in December, 1738, to enable Ralph Wormeley, Esq., to sell certain intailed lands, to raise money for the payment of his sisters' portions, and performance of his father's will, etc.

Pennsylvania.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 10th of March, 1739/40, approving a representation of this Board for confirming eight Acts, passed in the Province of Pennsylvania in 1735.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 12th of May, 1740, approving a representation of this Board, for confirming five Acts, passed in the Province of Pennsylvania in May, 1739.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 12th of May, 1740, approving a representation of this Board, for repealing an Act, passed at Pennsylvania in May, 1739, relating to the forms of declarations of fidelity, etc.

Pennsylvania.

Maryland.

Connecticut.

Rhode Island.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 14th of August, 1740, approving the draught of an instruction to the Governors of the Propriety Plantations, about passing Bills creating paper money, and to put in force the Act of Queen Anne, about foreign coin.

Bermuda.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 12th of May, 1740, directing a supply of stores of war to be sent to Bermuda, according to a list, hereto annexed.

Jamaica.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 12th of June, 1740, approving a representation of this Board, proposing Hampson Needham, Esq., to supply a vacancy in the council of Jamaica, by the death of Richard Mill, Esq.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 14th of August, 1740, approving a representation of this Board, proposing Thomas Edlin, Esq., to supply a vacancy in the Council of Jamaica, upon Governor Trelawney's declining to swear in Samuel Whitehorne, Esq.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 14th of August, 1740, approving a representation of this Board, proposing Matthias Phelp, Esq., to supply a vacancy in the Council of Jamaica, by the death of John Campbell, Esq.

Plantations General.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 31st of July, 1740, approving the draughts of additional instructions prepared by this Board, for the respective Governors of his Majesty's colonies and plantations in America, about passing Bills for creating paper money, and to put in force the Act of Queen Anne, about foreign coin.

New York.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated 12th of June, 1739, approving a representation of this Board for confirming an Act, passed at New York in December, 1737, relating to an exchange of lands in the township of Oysterbay, etc.

Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 27th of December, 1739, directing the Board of Ordnance to send the quantities of ordnance and other stores to New York, as mentioned in a paper hereunto annexed.

Copy of an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated the 6th of May, 1740, referring a report of this Board (upon a letter from the Lieutenant Governor of New York, desiring presents for the Indians) to Mr. Horatio Walpole, auditor of the plantations, to find out a fund for supplying such presents.

Wednesday, October 22. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer.

Leeward Islands.

Read two letters from General Mathew, Governor of the Leeward Islands, one dated July 24th, 1740, inclosing a state of his Majesty's Councils in those islands, and mentioning three Acts of Antigua, sent in a box, not yet received. [v. infra. p. 115.] Another letter from him dated the 5th of August, 1740, transmitting publick papers, viz:
Minutes of Council of Montserrat, from the 15th of April, to the 5th of June, 1740.
Minutes of Assembly from the 19th of April, to the 5th of June, 1740.
Minutes of the Assembly of Nevis, in April, 1740.
Three Acts, passed at St. Christophers in February, 1739, and May and June, 1740.

And the titles of the said Acts transmitted, being read, the Secretary was ordered to send them to Mr. Fane, his Majesty's Counsel at Law, for his opinion thereon, in point of law.

Thursday, October 23. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plummer.

Leeward Islands.

Mr. Fane attending, the Board had some conversation with him relative to one of the Acts of St. Christophers, which were referred to him by yesterday's minutes, entituled an Act for constituting a Court Merchant, and desired he would consider the same, and give his opinion thereupon, as soon as conveniently may be.

Tuesday, October 28. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plummer.

North Carolina.

The Secretary laid before the Board four Acts, passed in North Carolina in February, 1739/40, (referred to in Governor Johnston's letter of the third of March, 1739/40, and read the 18th of June last) the titles of which Acts were read.

Ordered that the said Acts be sent to Mr. Fane, his Majesty's Counsel at Law, for his opinion thereupon, in point of law.

At the same time the Secretary laid before the Board, likewise, the Journal of the Assembly of North Carolina, beginning June 5th and ending September 22nd, 1739.

Leeward Islands.

Read an Order of Council, dated the 23rd October, 1740, directing this Board to prepare a draught, or draughts, of additional instructions for the Governor or Commander in Chief of the Leeward Charribbee Islands (according to what is proposed in the report of the Board of Ordnance to the Committee of Council, annexed thereto), concerning the powder duty and the preservation of the stores, and to lay the same before the Lords of the Committee of Council for plantation affairs; and directions were given for preparing the draught of additional instruction accordingly.

Wednesday, October 29. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer.

Massachusetts.

Land-Bank.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated the 27th of this month, referring to this Board the petition of several merchants of London, in behalf of themselves and other merchants and traders in the Province of the Massachusets Bay, complaining of a scheme lately projected and published at Boston, called the Land Bank, for emitting £150,000 in Bills of Credit.

The Board having taken the said Order of Council into consideration, ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Paris, desiring him to attend this Board on Tuesday the 11th of next month, and to bring with him such merchants and others as he shall think proper: Ordered likewise that letters be wrote to Mr. Wilks and Mr. Kilby, agents for the Massachusetts Bay, to the same purpose. [Tuesday, November 11th.]

Trade.

Russia.

Persia.

Mr. Kenn attending, acquainted their lordships that Sir John Thompson, Governor of the Russia Company, and the other gentlemen of that company (mentioned in the minutes of the 15th instant), were ready to wait on the Board, whenever they pleased; and their lordships appointed Friday next at twelve.

Friday, October 31. Present:—Honourable Mr. Horatio Walpole, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer.

Trade.

Russia.

Persia.

Mr. Jackson.

Mr. Thornton.

Mr. Wayland.

Mr. Fawthorpe.

Mr. Nettleton.

Mr. Morley, Secretary.

Sir John Thompson, Governor of the Russia Company, attending, as appointed by the minutes of yesterday, together with the several gentlemen of the said Company, whose names are in the margin, delivered in at the Board a paper, entituled, The representation of the Governors, Consuls and Court of Assistants of the Russia Company, about opening a Trade to Persia, through Russia; which paper being read, the Board had some discourse with the said Governor and Company upon the subject of the same, and after they were withdrawn, the Board took the said affair into consideration, and ordered the draught of a representation to be prepared. [vide supra, fo. 88, 95, 110.]