Journal, June 1741: Volume 49

Journal, June 1741

Wednesday, June 3. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plummer, Mr. Keene.

Jamaica.

Barbados.

Bermuda.

New Hampshire.

Virginia.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated April 9th, 1741, directing this Board to prepare a draught of an additional instruction to be sent to the Governors of Jamaica, Barbados, Bermuda, New Hampshire and Virginia, requiring them to transmit an account in what manner the Acts, passed in those Governments respectively, for raising a powder duty, have been executed, and what quantities of powder have been annually collected by virtue thereof, for seven years last past; requiring likewise that the said duty be duely collected for the future, and that an account of the particular quantities of powder, collected under the said Acts, be transmitted every six months to the Board of Trade: That the Governors of Bermuda and Virginia be instructed to recommend to the respective Assemblies the passing new Acts for that purpose, and also the Governor, now going to New York, be instructed in like manner.

Ordered that the draught of an additional instruction be prepared accordingly.

Barbados.

The Board had under their consideration the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council, upon an Address of the Assembly of Barbados to his Majesty, relating to the duty of 4½per cent. etc. (mentioned in the minutes of the 27th of last month), and after some progress made therein, ordered the Secretary to write to Mr. Sharpe, agent for Barbados, desiring his attendance at the Board thereupon next Friday morning. [Friday, 5th].

Thursday June 4. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plummer, Mr. Keene.

New Hampshire.

Lieutenant Governor David Dunbar, Surveyor General of his Majesty's woods in America, attending, was called in, and presented a memorial, relating to the reservation of woodlands for the use of the Royal Navy, which having been read, the Board, after some discourse had with him on the subject thereof, referred the further consideration to the time when the draught of instructions for the new Governor of New Hampshire shall be laid before them. They proposed likewise to have some further discourse with Colonel Dunbar at another opportunity, particularly on the subject of the woods lying contiguous to the rivers of St. Croix and St. John in Nova Scotia, and also in respect to woodlands in the disposition of the Crown in New Hampshire.

South Carolina.

James Crockat, Esq., one of the Council of South Carolina, attending, acquainted the Board, that, not designing to return again to that province, he was come to resign his seat in the Council there, upon which the Board ordered the draught of a representation to be prepared, recommending Charles Pinckney, Esq., to supply that vacancy.

Leeward Islands.

Read a letter from General Mathew, Governor of the Leeward Islands, dated January 30th, 1740, inclosing a new half yearly list of the Council of each island, and transmitting several Acts and other publick papers, viz:
Minutes of the Assembly of St. Christophers, from the 29th January, 1739, to the 4th July, 1740.
Minutes of the Council and of the Assembly of Montserrat, from the 29th September, to the 25th December, 1739.
Five Acts, passed at St. Christophers, November 14th, 1740.

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

Massachusetts.

Read a letter to the Secretary of this Board from Mr. Willard, Secretary of the Massachusetts Bay, dated at Boston, March 13th, transmitting several public papers of that province, viz.:
Minutes of Council, beginning March 6th, 1739/40, ending August 26th, 1740.
Minutes of General Assembly, beginning March 14th, 1739/40, ending March 28th, 1740, and beginning May the 28th, ending October the 12th, 1740.

New Hampshire.

Ten Acts, passed at Boston in March, June, July and September, 1740.

The draught of a representation to their Excellencies the Lords Justices, accompanying the draught of a commission for Benning Wentworth, Esq., to be Governor of New Hampshire, as likewise a letter to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, for inclosing the same, having been prepared, as ordered by the minutes of the 14th of last month, were agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Friday, June 5. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Plummer, Mr. Keene.

Jamaica.

Read a letter from Mr. Trelawney, Governor of Jamaica, dated March 21st, 1740, inclosing a copy of his speech to the Council and Assembly of that island, as also of the Assembly's Address and his reply; transmitting likewise several publick papers, viz:
Minutes of Council, beginning the 1st of July, and ending 20th December, 1740.
Journal of the Council and Assembly, beginning the 16th of June, ending the 23rd of December, 1740.
Minutes of Assembly, from the 2nd to the 20th of December, 1740.

Barbados.

Mr. John Sharpe, agent for the island of Barbados, attending, as desired by the minutes of the 3rd inst., their lordships, after some discourse had with him on the subject of the representation of the Assembly of Barbados (mentioned in the minutes of the 16th of April last), and the Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, referring to this Board an Address of the Assembly of Barbados to his Majesty (mentioned in the minutes of the 27th May last), they reconsidered the draught of a report prepared upon that subject, mentioned in the minutes of the 3rd instant, and made some progress therein.

South Carolina.

The draught of a representation to their Excellencies the Lords Justices, recommending Charles Pinckney, Esq., to supply the vacancy in the Council of South Carolina, made by the resignation of James Crockat, Esq., having been prepared, as ordered by yesterday's minutes, was agreed to, transcribed, and signed.

New Hampshire.

The Board took into consideration the draught of instructions for Benning Wentworth, Esq., appointed Governor of New Hampshire, and made some progress therein.

Wednesday, June 10. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Plummer, Mr. Keene.

Barbados.

A box of publick papers for this Board, transmitted from Barbados, the 19th of January, 1740/1, (referred to in President Dottin's letter of the 9th January, read the 14th of April last), having been lately received, the Secretary laid the said papers before the Board, viz:
Minutes of the Council, beginning the 14th of May, ending the 12th of December, 1740.
Minutes of the General Assembly, beginning the 3rd of June, ending the 23rd of December, 1740.
Attested copies of several Acts, passed at Barbados, not inserted in the Printed supplement sent to Mr. Byng, the late Governor.
Eight Quarterly lists of all ships entered and cleared in the Naval Office, from the 25th of March, 1736, to the 25th of March, 1738.
Separate lists of all causes that have been determined in the five several Courts of Common Pleas, as also of all such, as were depending, from the 13th of August, 1739, to the 1st September, 1740.

Massachusetts.

Mr. Hutchinson, in behalf of himself and other petitioners, attending, with Mr. Sharpe, his solicitor; and Mr. Tomlinson, agent for New Hampshire, attending likewise, with Mr. Paris, his solicitor, the petition of the said Mr. Hutchinson, referred to this Board by order of the Committee of Council (as mentioned in the minutes of the 22nd of April last), was again read; but the petitioner, not being able to produce any proofs to support the allegations of his petition, the Board directed the draught of a report thereupon, to the Lords of the Committee of Council, to be prepared.

Thursday, June 11. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plummer, Mr. Keene.

Massachusetts.

Read a letter from Mr. Belcher, Governor of the Massachusetts Bay, dated January 14th, 1740/1.

Read another letter from Mr. Belcher, Governor of the Massachusetts Bay, dated January 23rd, 1740/1, desiring the opinion of the Board concerning a clause in their Charter, respecting forts and fortifications, and also giving some account of the Assembly's appointing a committee to inspect the accounts of the repairs of the fortifications, and his reason against it.
Extracts of the proceedings of the General Court or Assembly of the Massachusetts Bay, in May, August, November, December, 1740, and January, 1740/1, under Seal of the province.
Extracts of the proceedings of the General Court or Assembly of the Massachusetts Bay, in November and December, 1740, and January, 1740/1, under Seal of the province.

Read likewise a letter from the Governor and Council of the Massachusetts Bay to the Board, dated January 31st, 1740/1, relating to the present situation and circumstances of an extraordinary project, for emitting bills to pass in lieu of money in that province, called the Land Bank, or Manufactory Scheme, and inclosing a printed account of that scheme.

New Hampshire.

Read a letter from Mr. Belcher, Governor of New Hampshire, dated January 13th, 1740/1, transmitting:
Acts and Laws passed by the General Court or Assembly of his Majesty's province of New Hampshire, in New England, beginning in July, 1696.
A volume infolio, printed at Boston.

Barbados.

Read a letter from Mr. Dottin, President of the Council and Commander in Chief of Barbados, dated April 2nd, 1741, transmitting an authentick copy of an Act, passed there January 21st, 1740/1, for the relief of insolvent debtors, and for preventing their deserting the island, and carrying away their effects to the prejudice of their creditors, together with his observations thereon and reasons for passing it.

Trade.

Denmark.

Barbados.

Read a letter from Sir John Thompson, Governor of the Russia Company, dated the 4th inst., in answer to one from the Secretary of this Board, which inclosed copy of a memorial of Baron Sohlenthal, proposing some methods for the more effectual securing the payment of the Sound duties to his Danish Majesty.

Barbados.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council, upon an Address of the Assembly of Barbados to his Majesty, and upon a representation of that Assembly to this Board, (mentioned in the minutes of the 5th inst.), was agreed to, and ordered to be transcribed.

Friday, June 12. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plummer, Mr. Keene.

Barbados.

The Secretary laid before the Board copies of several Acts passed in Barbados, not inserted in the printed supplement, sent to Mr. Byng, the late Governor, transmitted with other papers by Mr. Dottin (inserted in the minutes of the 10th inst.). Ordered that the said Acts be sent to Mr. Fane, for his opinion thereon, in point of law; as also the Act, likewise mentioned in the said minutes, together with the other Acts of Barbados, that have not yet been sent to him.

Massachusetts.

The draught of a report on the subject of Mr. Hutchinson's petition, referred to this Board by order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, (mentioned in the minutes of the 10th inst.), having been prepared and laid before the Board, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Trade.

Denmark.

In consequence of the letter from Sir John Thompson (mentioned in yesterday's minutes) the Board took into consideration Baron Söhlenthal's memorial, referred to them by my Lord Harrington, (as mentioned in the minutes of the 15th January last). Ordered that the Secretary do send a copy of the same to the Secretary of the Customs, together with the papers therein mentioned, and do desire him to lay the same before the Commissioners of the Customs for their opinion thereon.

Barbados.

The draught of a report concerning the additional salary of the Governor of Barbados, having been transcribed, as ordered by the minutes of yesterday, was agreed to and signed.

Wednesday, June 17. Present:—Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer, Mr. Keene, Mr. Pelham.

New Hampshire.

The Board took into consideration the draught of an additional instruction to the Governor of New Hampshire, relative to the preservation of certain woods in that province, for the use of the Royal Navy, in consequence of a memorial presented by Colonel Dunbar, (as mentioned in the minutes of the 4th instant); and ordered the same to be prepared, in order to be inserted in the body of general instructions preparing for Mr. Wentworth, appointed Governor of New Hampshire.

New Hampshire.

Massachusetts.

The Board also at the same time took into consideration the several alterations made in the said general instructions, and in those likewise preparing for Mr. Shirley, Governor of the Massachusetts Bay.

Jamaica.

Barbados.

Bermuda.

Virginia.

New York.

New Hampshire.

The draughts of an additional instruction to the Governors of Jamaica, Barbados, Bermuda and Virginia, relative to the powder duty, in pursuance of an Order in Council (mentioned in the minutes of the 3rd inst.), were agreed to and ordered to be transcribed; also ordered that an instruction of the like tenor be added to those now preparing for the Governors of New York and New Hampshire.

New York.

Bermuda.

Read a letter from Mr. Popple, Governor of Bermuda, dated April 18th, 1741, transmitting several publick papers viz:
Minutes of Council, from the 4th December, 1739 to the 5th March, 1740/1.
Minutes of Assembly, from the 7th of August, 1739, to the 5th March, 1740/1.
Fourteen Naval Officer's lists of all vessels entered and cleared there, between the 25th of March, 1739, and the 25th of December, 1740.
An Act to regulate the whale fishery of the Bermuda Islands, passed March 5th, 1740/1.
The laws of Bermuda, printed at London, (in two volumes), after having been examined by two of their lawyers, sent back, with several corrections and additions.

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

Thursday, June 18. Present:—Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer, Mr. Keene, Mr. Pelham.

Rhode Island.

Read a letter from the Governor and company of Rhode Island (without date), in answer to the Board's circular letter of May 20th, 1740, in relation to Bills of Credit, and the Act of Parliament, sexto anno, For ascertaining the rates of foreign coins in her Majesty's plantations in America.

Jamaica.

Barbados.

Bermuda.

Virginia.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council, accompanying draughts of additional instructions to the Governors of Jamaica, Barbados, Bermuda and Virginia, relative to the collection of the powder duty in those colonies, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Friday, June 19. Present:—Mr. Plummer, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Keene, Mr. Pelham.

New Hampshire.

Colonel Dunbar attending, as desired, the Board had some discourse with him concerning that part of his memorial, which relates to the situation of such places in the province of New Hampshire, wherein he proposes a reservation of woods to be made for the service of the Royal Navy; and after some time spent therein, he was desired to attend again on Wednesday morning next. [Wednesday, June 24th.]

Tuesday, June 23. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Plummer, Mr. Pelham.

New York.

Read a letter from Mr. Clarke, Lieutenant Governor of New York, dated April 22nd, 1741, mentioning 13 Publick Acts and one private one (not yet arrived), and transmitting his speech to the Assembly of New York, the 15th April, 1741. [v. infra. fol.…]

Address of the General Assembly of New York, in answer to the Lieutenant Governor's speech, the 15th April, 1741.

Wednesday, June 24. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer, Mr. Keene.

South Carolina.

Read a letter to the Secretary of this Board from Mr. Legge, Secretary to the Treasury, dated the 19th June, 1741, desiring the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations would take into consideration and report their opinion to the Lords of the Treasury, to whom and in what proportions the money granted by Parliament to the late sufferers at Carolina, may most reasonably be paid, and to whose hands the same may be with safety issued, and what rules or regulations may be necessary for the guidance of the persons receiving the same in the just and due distribution thereof.

And Mr. Fury, agent for the said province, being at the same time present, the Board desired him to attend again to-morrow sennight, in order to have some discourse with him on the subject of the said letter. [Thursday, July 2nd.]

New Hampshire.

Mr. Dunbar attending, the Board had some discourse with him on the subject of that part of his memorial, mentioned in the minutes of the 17th and 19th inst., and agreed to the draught of an instruction to the new Governor of New Hampshire thereupon.

Miscellanies.

Mr. George Bradley, one of the clerks in this Office, having been frequently reprimanded by the Board, and twice suspended for great neglect of his duty; their lordships ordered that he be discharged from any further service, as this day; and Mr. Plummer recommended Mr. John Pownall to supply the vacancy made by his removal, which was agreed to by the Board.

Thursday, June 25. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer, Mr. Pelham.

Massachusetts.

The Board had under consideration eleven Acts, passed in the Massachusetts Bay in January, 1737, and agreed to consider the same again to-morrow.

Ordered that the Secretary write to Mr. Fane, his Majesty's Counsel at Law, as also to Mr. John Sharpe, to desire their attendance on Wednesday next, in order to discourse with them on the subject of a clause in one of the Acts abovementioned for raising£6000.

New York.

The Honourable Mr. Clinton, Governor of New York, attending, presented to the Board a paper entitled, Some few observations upon the New York draught of instructions, which the Board agreed to consider the first opportunity.

Friday, June 26. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer, Mr. Keene.

Massachusetts.

Acts.

The Board had again under consideration some Acts, passed in the Massachusetts Bay.

New York.

Read and considered Mr. Clinton's observations upon the draught of instructions for the Governor of New York, (as mentioned in yesterday's minutes), and the further consideration of the same was referred to another opportunity.