Journal, April 1736: Volume 45

Journal, April 1736

Thursday, April 1. Present:—Earl Fitzwalter, Mr. Ashe, Colonel Bladen, Sir A. Croft, Mr. Plummer.

Jamaica.

Plantations General.

The Board, taking into consideration the draught of a report, ordered to be prepared the 25th day of February last, upon the order of the Committee of Council, referring to the Board a petition of the merchants of London, Bristol and Liverpool, complaining of several matters, and proposing some methods to prevent the same, made a progress in the consideration thereof; and ordered that the merchants do attend the Board on this subject on Thursday next.

Massachusets.

New Hampshire.

The report to the Lords of the Committee of Council, agreed to the 26th ult., with the names of persons proper to be appointed commissioners for setting out the boundary lines between the Massachusets Bay and New Hampshire, was signed.

Friday, April 2. Present:—Earl Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer.

North Carolina.

Mr. Jenner, Mr. Ochs.

These gentlemen being asked what number of foreign Protestants they proposed to carry over to the proposed settlement in North Carolina, according to their proposals, mentioned in the minutes of the 31st ult.; they said, they proposed to carry over thither 6,000 people within 10 years; but that at first they thought that 200 persons were sufficient, that there might not be a scarcity of provisions. The Board then took into further consideration the draught of a report upon the above proposals, and made a progress therein.

Tuesday, April 6. Present:—Earl Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Plummer, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Brudenell, Colonel Bladen, Sir O. Bridgeman.

Jamaica.

Letter from Governor Cunningham, dated 27th of December last, with his speech, was read; and a representation, proposing William Needham, recommended by Cunningham's letter, to be a councillor in the room of Hayman, who is dead, was signed.

Nova Scotia.

The secretary laid before the Board the state of government, ordered to be prepared the 30th ult., for the government of Nova Scotia, according to Captain Coram's proposal, then read; and agreed that a copy of it should be given to Captain Coram for his observations. [v. Minutes of the 26th March, 1737.]

Plantations General.

Jamaica.

The Board deferred the consideration of the memorial of the merchants of London, Bristol and Liverpool, appointed the 31st ult. for this day, till to-morrow morning.

Wednesday, April 7. Present:—Earl Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Plummer, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe.

Trade.

Mr. Wood.

Mr. Wood, agent for the merchants of London, Bristol and Liverpool, attending, desired the Board that the attendance of the merchants upon the subject of their two memorials, complaining of several grievances in their trade to the plantations, mentioned in the minutes of 31st ult., which was appointed for to-morrow, might be postponed to another day; and the Board appointed Thursday the 15th inst.

The above mentioned petitions were read again, and the Board made a progress in the consideration thereof.

Thursday, April 8. Present:—Earl Fitzwalter, Mr. Plummer, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Brudenell, Sir A. Croft.

New Jersey.

Order of the Committee of Council, directing the Board to prepare an instruction to the Governor of New Jersey to get a new Act passed for enacting the several clauses of that, passed there in 1734, an Act for the better support of government, except that laying a duty on copper ore etc., was read, and directions were given for preparing the draught of an instruction accordingly.

Barbadoes.

Copy of an order in Council for confirming the Act giving a sum of money to Lady Howe etc., was read.

South Carolina.

Copy of an order in Council, for repealing the two Acts, passed in 1731 and 1734, relating to juries and to the regulating courts of justice etc., was read.

Virginia.

Copy of an order in Council for confirming two Acts, passed in 1734, for amending the Act for settling the titles and bounds of land etc. and for the better support of the colledge, was read.

New Jersey.

Copy of an order in Council for confirming an Act passed in 1733, for making £40,000 in bills of credit, was read.

New York.

Two copies of orders in Council for permitting the Act passed in …, to repeal the Act, and to cancel the bills of credit therein mentioned, and to grant several duties for the support of government till the year 1737, to lye by probationary, as also the instruction to the Governor for that purpose, was read.

Massachusetts.

Copy of an order in Council for confirming the Act passed in 1732, for the tryal of capital offences etc. in Nantucket etc., was read.

Barbadoes.

Copy of an order in Council, for appointing Mr. [Abel] Dottin a councillor in Barbados, was read.

Jamaica.

Copy of an order in Council, approving an instruction to the Governor not to give his assent to any law, laying penalties on the officers of the independent companies for inlisting men in that island, was read.

Friday, April 9. Present:—Earl Fitzwalter, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Plummer, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Brudenell, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe.

Trade.

Russia.

Letter from Mr. Holden, Governor of the Russia Company, inclosing the copy of one from him to Mr. Rondeau, their agent at Petersburgh, and an account of port charges there, was read, shewing that their agents' profit arises from thence.

Barbadoes.

Letter from Mr. Dottin, President of the Council and Commander in Chief, dated the 29th of November last, with a postscript of the 4th of December, was read, inclosing a report of the Council of that island, and other papers relating to the state of that island; the Board resolved to reconsider this letter and all papers relating thereto on Wednesday next.

Tuesday, April 13. Present:—Earl Fitzwalter, Mr. Brudenell, Sir A. Croft, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Plummer, Colonel Bladen.

Trade.

Russia.

Mr. Chitty, Mr. Strut, Mr. Bond.

Mr. Chitty attends upon account of his rhubarb contract, mentioned in the minutes of the 16th ult.; he presents to the Board copies of a paragraph out of Mr. Bardewick's letter to Mr. Felthusen of Count Gallokin's letter to Mr. Shues, and of the security given by Mr. Shues to Count Gallokin, in order to prove that Mr. Chitty's contract for the rhubarb was actually made, and that Mr. Rondeau has not faithfully related the affair.

The Board agree to defer this matter till Tuesday next, at which time ordered that Mr. Holden be desired to attend.

Jamaica.

Draught of the letter to Governor Cunningham, in answer to one from him, read 6th inst., was agreed to.

Wednesday, April 14. Present:—Earl Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Plummer, Sir O. Bridgeman, Sir A. Croft.

Jamaica.

Letter to Mr. Cunningham, Governor of Jamaica, agreed to yesterday, was signed.

Trade.

Russia.

Mr. Holden.

Mr. Holden, Governor of the Russia Company, attending, acquainted the Board that the said company had received letters from Russia, promising a full and exact account of the whole transaction of Mr. Chitty's rhubarb contract, mentioned in yesterday's minutes, and therefore desired the consideration of that affair might be deferred for some time; the Board, taking the same into consideration, appointed Tuesday the 11th of May for that purpose, and ordered that all parties should have notice thereof.

Barbadoes.

The Board taking into consideration the letter from Mr. Dottin, Commander in Chief at Barbados, read the 9th inst. and the papers, therein referred to, relating to the state of Barbados, and made a progress therein; the Board agreed to consider further thereof on Friday next.

Thursday, April 15 Present:—Earl Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Sir A. Croft, Sir O. Bridgeman, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plummer, Mr. Brudenell.

Jamaica.

Plantations General.

Mr. Wood, Mr. Coster, Mr. Gildart.

The Board take again into consideration the two memorials of the merchants of London, Bristol and Liverpool, read the 31st ult., complaining of several grievances in their trade to Jamaica and the plantations, and the same were again read; and it did appear that the several articles in the first memorial, relating to Jamaica, were already provided for in Governor Cunningham's instructions; that as to the second memorial, there appeared several facts asserted against all the governors, which, upon the Board's asking for proofs to make good the same, Mr. Wood, who appeared as an agent for the merchants, could not bring vouchers for, nor point out the colonies where those facts are complained of; the Board then informed them that they are surprised the merchants should lay memorials before his Majesty without having proofs ready to verify the same; and proposed to give them any reasonable time to make out their proofs, and to hear them further; but they fixed upon none, and the Board then deferred the further consideration of these memorials to another opportunity.

Friday, April 16. Present:—Earl Fitzwalter, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer, Sir O. Bridgeman.

St. Christophers.

Mr. Coope.

Mr. Coope, agent for St. Christophers, attending, desired the Board would please to take into consideration an Act of that island passed in 1733–4, for reducing the fees of the secretary of the island etc., and lay the same before the king for confirmation; and the Board acquainted him that Mr. Smith, the present secretary, having presented a petition to the king, complaining, among other things, of the said Act, the Board thought proper to defer the consideration of that Act for some time, in case his Majesty should think fit to refer that petition to the Board.

Trade.

Genoa.

The Earl Fitzwalter then laid before the Board a paper containing the privileges of the Porto Franco, and several other papers in Italian, shewing that the State of Genoa has from time to time imposed taxes on the inhabitants of Genoa, which his Lordship had received from Monsieur Guastalla, the Genoa Resident; and the Board gave directions that the said papers should be translated into English, and then laid before the Board.

Barbadoes.

The Board taking again into consideration the letter from Mr. Dottin, Commander in Chief at Barbados, mentioned in the minutes of the 14th inst., as likewise the minutes of Council, therein referred to, gave directions for preparing the draught of a letter for inclosing to the Duke of Newcastle such parts of the said letter and minutes, as relate to the evacuation of Santa Lucia, St. Vincent's and Dominica.

Tuesday, April 20. Present:—Earl Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Plummer, Sir A. Croft, Mr. Brudenell, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe.

Barbadoes.

St. Lucia, etc.

Letter to the Duke of Newcastle, ordered to be prepared at the last meeting, for enclosing extracts of the letter from Mr. Dottin, Commander in Chief at Barbados, and of the other papers, relating to the French settlement at Santa Lucia, St. Vincent's and Dominica, was agreed to and signed.

South Carolina.

Mr. Yonge, Mr. Braithwaite.

Mr. Yonge, agent for South Carolina, attending, and acquainting the Board that as he did not intend to return to that province, he resigned his seat in the Council there; and the Board agreed, and signed a representation to his Majesty, recommending John Colleton Esqr. in the room of Ralph Izard, who refuses to act as councillor, and John Braithwaite in the room of the said Mr. Yonge.

Jamaica.

Letter from Governor Cunningham, of the 9th of February last, was read; letter from Mr. Gregory, President of the Council of Jamaica, dated the 13th of February last, signifying Mr. Cunningham's death, and that he has thereupon taken upon him the government of the islands, was read; ordered that an answer be prepared thereto, and that a copy of the letter wrote to Mr. Cunningham, the 14th inst., be sent to Mr. Gregory.