Journal, March 1744: Volume 52

Journal, March 1744

Thursday, March 1. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene, Sir Charles Gilmour.

Virginia.

Read Mr. Fane's report upon an Act, passed in the colony of Virginia, in June, 1742, entituled, An Act to enable Frances Greenhill to sell and dispose of the Lands and other Estate by Deed or Will, notwithstanding her husband Joseph Greenhill should happen to be living, and for other purposes therein mentioned, together with his observations thereon.

Ordered that the consideration of the said report be postponed till application is made by the party concerned.

Friday, March 2. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene, Sir Charles Gilmour.

Bermudas.

Read a letter from Mr. Popple, Governor of Bermudas, to the Board, dated September, 8th, 1743.

Tuesday, March 6. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

South Carolina.

Read a letter from Mr. George Hunter, Surveyor General of his Majesty's lands in South Carolina and Inspector and Comptroller of the Quit Rents, etc., dated at Charles Town, the 31st of October, 1743, enclosing the following papers, viz.:—
His Majesty's commission appointing Mr. George Hunter, Surveyor General of his Majesty's lands in South Carolina, also Inspector and Comptroller of the Quit Rents, etc., in that province. Dated the 29th of April, 1743.
Memorial of Mr. Hunter, Surveyor General, to Colonel Bull, Lieutenant Governor, and to the Council of South Carolina, dated at Charles Town, August the 23rd, 1743, for vacating of old surveys of land not taken up by the claimants.
An account of the business done in the Surveyor General's office of South Carolina, from the 29th of April, to the 30th October, 1743.
List of grants passed in South Carolina, from the 29th of April, to the 30th October, 1743. Recorded in the Secretary's office.

Wednesday, March 7. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plumer.

Plantations General.

Jamaica.

Read a letter from Mr. Trelawney, Governor of Jamaica, to the Board, dated December 19th, 1743, giving account of an English settlement proposed to be made on the Island of Rattan and the Mosquito Shore, and desiring the Board's advice and assistance therein; transmitting likewise, An Account of the Road cut from Black River on the Mosquito Shore towards opening a commerce with Guatemala.

Ordered that a copy of the said letter and Account of the Road, etc., be made, and the draught of a letter, for transmitting the same to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, be prepared.

Thursday, March 8. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

Plantations General.

Jamaica.

The draught of a letter to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, for enclosing copy of Mr. Trelawney's letter, ordered by yesterday's minutes, having been prepared and laid before the Board, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Read two letters from Mr. Trelawney, Governor of Jamaica, dated December 24th, 1743. One desiring the Board's assistance and protection towards preventing the evils that attend the impressing seamen for the manning the Royal Navy in those parts, enclosing an extract of a letter from the Governor of St. Iago de Cuba, to Sir Chaloner Ogle, dated June 22nd, 1743, relative to that subject, and transmitting a copy of his letter to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty on the same subject, dated the 21st December, 1743. The other containing his answer to the Board's letter to him of the 12th of July last, relating to the royal mines, complaining of the absence of Mr. Gregory, Mr. Lawes and Mr. Garthwaite from the Island, and recommending others to supply their places at the Council Board, without which it would be impossible to have a quorum, as often as the public occasions require.

Ordered that the Secretary write to the several absent gentlemen of the Council, mentioned in the said letter, to desire they would acquaint the Board whether their intentions are to return to the said Island, and how soon.

Friday, March 9. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

Plantations General.

Jamaica.

Mr. Hodgson (mentioned in the minutes of the 21st of last month), attending, produced a letter from the Governor of Jamaica to him, relating to the intended settlement on the Mosquito Shore, which was read; and the Board, after some discourse had with him, appointed him to attend again on Tuesday next [Tuesday, 13th inst.], when they propose to hear what he has further to say, and to take into consideration the Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, mentioned in the minutes of the 16th of February last.

Tuesday, March 13. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene, Sir Charles Gilmour.

Plantations General.

Jamaica.

Mr. Hodgson attending, as appointed by the preceding minute, the Board had some discourse with him on the subject of Mr. Trelawney's letter, referred to this Board by Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, of the 6th of February last, and read the 16th, after which the said letter was again read and taken into consideration; and after some progress made therein it was agreed to reconsider the same again to-morrow, in order to form a report thereupon.

Wednesday, March 14. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene, Sir Charles Gilmour.

Plantations General.

Jamaica.

The Board having taken again into consideration the letter mentioned in yesterday's minutes from Mr. Trelawney, Governor of Jamaica, and gone through the same, gave directions for preparing the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon the subject thereof.

Thursday, March 15. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene, Sir Charles Gilmour.

Jamaica.

Read a letter from Mr. Temple Lawes, a member of his Majesty's Council in Jamaica, dated the 13th inst., in answer to one from the Secretary, by direction of the Board, desiring him to acquaint them if he intended to return to that island, and how soon.

Plantations General.

The Board had under consideration the draught of a report, ordered by the minutes of yesterday to be prepared, and made some progress therein.

Trade.

Linen.

Ordered that the Secretary write a letter to Mr. Wood, desiring him to move the Commissioners of his Majesty's Customs for copies of four accounts of linen and flax imported into England, for the use and information of this Board.

Friday, March 16. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene, Sir Charles Gilmour.

Plantations General.

Jamaica.

The Board made a further progress in the consideration of the draught of the report, mentioned in yesterday's minutes.

Trade.

Linen.

Read a letter from Mr. Wood, Secretary of the Customs, dated this day (in answer to one sent him yesterday), and transmitting the several accounts desired by this Board in the said letter, viz:—
An account of the quantity of linens imported into England from foreign parts, from Christmas, 1740, to Christmas, 1743, inclusive, distinguishing each year.
An account of the total amounts of the value of all exports and imports to and from England and Germany for fifteen years, ending at Christmas, 1742, distinguishing each year.
An account of the quantities of linen imported from Holland into that part of Great Britain called England, under the denominations of Broad and Narrow Germany, for seven years, ending at Christmas, 1742, distinguishing each year.
An account of the quantity of flax imported into that part of Great Britain called England, for seven years, ending at Christmas, 1742, distinguishing each year.

Tuesday, March 20. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene, Sir Charles Gilmour.

New York.

Mr. John Sharpe, solicitor, attending, desired the Board would please to appoint a day for considering Mr. Evans' petition, relating to two large tracts of land bounding upon Hudson's River, referred to the Board by Order of the Committee of Council, dated November 24th, 1742, and read the 15th of December following, and accordingly next Thursday sen'night, the fifth of April [Thursday, 5th April], was appointed to take the said petition into consideration.

Jamaica.

Read a letter from Mr. Gregory, a member of his Majesty's Council in Jamaica, dated the 16th inst., in answer to one from the Secretary of this Board, desiring him to acquaint them, if he intended to return to that Island.

Plantations General.

Read a letter from Mr. William Sharpe to the Secretary, dated the 17th of March, 1743–4, transmitting, by my Lord President's command, for the better information of this Board, several papers relating to the settlements proposed to be made at Rattan, and on the Muskito Shore, viz.:—
Copy of a letter from Governor Trelawney to the Duke of Newcastle, dated at Jamaica, December 10th, 1743.
Plantations General.
Copy of a letter from Captain William Cunningham (engineer), to Governor Trelawney, dated at Kingston, December,... 1743.
Extract of Admiral Ogle's letter to the Duke of Newcastle, dated at Port Royal Harbour, December 24th, 1743.
An account of what has been done at Black River on the Moskito Shore, towards settling a commerce with the inhabitants of Guatemala.

Wednesday, March 21. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene, Sir Charles Gilmour.

Plantations General.

The Board took into consideration the several papers relating to the settlement proposed to be made at Rattan, and on the Moskito Shore, transmitted with Mr. Sharpe's letter, read yesterday, and agreed to take into further consideration the draught of a report upon that subject at another opportunity.

Thursday, March 22. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Ashe, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Sir Charles Gilmour.

Jamaica.

Read a letter from Mr. Garthwaite, a member of his Majesty's Council in Jamaica, dated at Bath, the 19th inst., in answer to one from the Secretary of this Board, desiring him to acquaint them if he intended to return again to that Island, and how soon.

Agreed to take this and the other two letters from Mr. Gregory and Mr. Lawes, read the 15th and 20th inst., into consideration the first opportunity.

Plantations General.

Mr. Alderman Baker and Mr. Townshend attending, the Board had some discourse with them concerning an application proposed by them to be made to Parliament for remedying the ill-consequencies arising from the emission of paper money in his Majesty's plantations on the continent of America.

Miscellanies.

The Secretary laid before the Board an account of the incidental charges of this office, from Christmas, 1742, to Lady day, 1743, amounting in the whole to the sum of £296 13s. 10½d., and a letter to the Lords of the Treasury desiring payment thereof, and of the salaries due to the Secretary and under officers for the same time, was agreed to and signed.