Journal, August 1748: Volume 56

Journal, August 1748

Tuesday, August 16. Present:—Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin.

Plantations General.

The following copies of Orders of Council were laid before the Board, and the titles thereof were read, viz.:—
St. Christophers.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 30th June, 1748, approving a representation of this Board, proposing William Mathew Burt, James Verchild and Ralph Payne, Esquires, to supply three vacancies in the Council of St. Christophers, by the death of the Reverend Walter Thomas, Joseph Estridge and John Douglas, Esquires.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 30th June, 1748, approving a representation of this Board, proposing Gilbert Fane Fleming, Esquire, to be of the Council of St. Christophers, in the room of Charles Dunbar, Esquire, who has been some years absent from that Island—and likewise proposing George Leigh, Esquire, as a proper person for that station, to complete the number of the said Council to twelve.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 30th June, 1748, approving a representation of this Board, proposing Richard Rowland, Esquire, and the Reverend Andrew Perrot to be of the Council of St. Christophers, in the room of Mathew Mills and Daniel Cunningham, Esquires, who have been several years absent from that Island.
Antigua.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 30th June, 1748, approving a representation of this Board, proposing Edward Otto Bayer and Henry Douglas, Esquires, to be of the Council of Antigua, in the room of Richard Oliver and James Gordon, Esquires, who have been absent several years from that Island.
Jamaica.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 30th of July, 1748, approving a representation of this Board, proposing Charles Dawes, Esquire, to be one of the Council of Jamaica, in the room of Colin Campbell, Esquire, who has been several years absent from that Island.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 30th of June, 1748, approving the draught of an additional instruction prepared by this Board, for Mr. Trelawney, Governor of Jamaica, directing him not to pass any Act for taxing absentees in a greater proportion than residents, without a suspending clause.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 30th of June, 1748, approving a representation of this Board, proposing the repeal of an Act, passed in the Island of Jamaica, in May, 1746, for the further qualification of Assemblymen.
New Hampshire.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 30th of June, 1748, approving the draught of an additional instruction prepared by the Board for Mr. Wentworth, Governor of New Hampshire, directing him to dissolve the Assembly of that province, and to issue writs to certain towns, whose representatives had been before rejected, to send members to the Assembly.
South Carolina.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 30th June, 1748, approving a representation of the Board, proposing the repeal of an Act, passed in the province of South Carolina, in May, 1745, for enlarging the qualifications of Assemblymen.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 30th June, 1748, approving the draught of an additional instruction prepared by this Board for James Glen, Esquire, Governor of South Carolina, directing him to enter into an agreement with the Cherokees, for building a fort in their country.
Bermuda.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 30th of June, 1748, approving the draught of an additional instruction prepared by this Board for William Popple, Esquire, Governor of Bermuda, directing him to dissolve the Assembly, and allowing him to accept of a salary from the next Assembly.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 30th of June, 1748, approving the draught of an additional instruction prepared by this Board for William Popple, Esquire, Governor of Bermuda, directing him to receive the profits heretofore arising from licences for fishing for whales, unless the Assembly make him the usual allowance in lieu thereof.

New Jersey.

Their lordships took into their consideration the letter from Mr. Belcher, Governor of New Jersey, mentioned in the minutes of the 29th July, and ordered the draught of an answer thereto to be prepared.

Virginia.

Read a letter from Sir William Gooch, Baronet, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, to the Board, dated at Williamsburg, the 16th of June, 1748, in answer to the Board's letter to him, dated the 19th January last, concerning grants of land petitioned for, on the western side of the Great Mountains; signifying the death of Philip Lightfoot, Esquire, one of the Council, and recommending Thomas Nelson, Esquire, in his room, and inclosing:—
Account of his Majesty's revenue of 2/- per hogshead arising in Virginia, from the 25th of October, 1747, to the 25th of April, 1748.

Their lordships, pursuant to the minutes of the 6th of April last, took into consideration the Order of Council referring to their consideration a letter from Sir William Gooch, relating to the grants of land, mentioned in the above letter from him, and ordered that all papers in this office, relative to grants of land and the quit rents in his Majesty's province of Virginia, be forthwith laid before them.

Massachusets Bay.

Read the four following papers, received with a duplicate of a letter from Mr. Shirley, Governor of the Massachusets Bay, dated
Massachusets.
the 1st of December, 1747, mentioned in the minutes of the 10th of May last, viz.:—
Votes of the town of Boston, concerning the riot, dated the 20th of November, 1747.
Governor Shirley's Proclamation, dated the 21st of November, 1747, for apprehending rioters.
Resolves of the House of Representatives; Vote of Council and House of Representatives concerning the riot at Boston, both dated the 19th of November, 1747.
Vote of the Council and House of Representatives, concerning the releasing of Captain Erskine, and other officers of Mr. Knowles's squadron, dated also the 19th of November, 1747.

Antigua.

St. Christophers.

Read Mr. Lamb's report upon three Acts, passed in Antigua, and one Act in St. Christophers, in June, July and October, 1747, dated the 27th of July, 1748.

Plantations General.

Massachusets.

Their lordships took into consideration a letter from Mr. Shirley, Governor of the Massachusets Bay, mentioned in the minutes of the 10th May last, relating to the defects of the Acts of Trade, and the want of jurisdiction in the Admiralty Courts, and also a letter from Mr. Bollan, Advocate General of that province (therein referred to) relative thereto, and to the illicit trade carried on there, mentioned in the minutes of the 4th of May, 1743, together with several other papers upon the same subject, and agreed further to consider the same to-morrow morning.

Wednesday, August 17. Present:—Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin.

North Carolina.

Read a letter from Mr. Johnston, Governor of North Carolina, to the Board, dated at Edenton, the 17th of May, 1748, in answer to the Board's letter to him, dated the 11th of August, 1747, inclosing a petition of several Palatines in that province, complaining of their having been dispossessed of lands, which they had settled upon, by the heirs of Colonel Pollock, and inclosing:—
Copy of two affidavits, viz.:—of Samuel Swan, dated the 10th of October, 1747; and of John Lovick, the 4th of January, 1747–8, sworn before George Gould, Esquire, one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for Bertie County in North Carolina, relating to the members of the Northern Counties refusing to attend the Assembly at Wilmington.
Minutes of the upper house of Assembly, from the 20th of November to the 6th of December, 1746.
Minutes of Assembly, from the 21st of November to the 5th of December, 1746.

Ordered that the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council, pursuant to their Lordships' Order of the 13th of July, 1747, referring the petition of the Palatines, mentioned in the above letter from Mr. Johnston, be prepared.

New Jersey.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Belcher, Governor of New Jersey, in answer to his last letter, ordered to be prepared by the preceding day's minute, was laid before the Board, agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Virginia.

Read Mr. Lamb's report, dated the 27th of July, 1748, upon an Act, passed in Virginia in 1746, to enable George Eskridge to sell part of a Tract of Land not exceeding 350 acres, to raise money for the Payment of his proportionable part of the Debts of his grandfather.

Plantations General.

Massachusets.

Their lordships, pursuant to the minutes of yesterday, took into further consideration the several papers, therein mentioned, relating to illegal trade, and the defects of the laws relating to Trade and the Plantations.

Thursday, August 18. Present:—Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin.

New Jersey.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Belcher, Governor of New Jersey, Having been transcribed, pursuant to the preceding day's minutes, was laid before the Board and signed.

Plantations General.

Massachusets.

Their Lordships made a further progress in the consideration of the several papers relating to illegal trade, and the defects of the laws relating to the Plantation Trade.

Tuesday, August 19. Present:—Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin.

Antigua.

Read Mr. Attorney and Mr. Solicitor General's Report upon an Act, passed in the Island of Antigua, the 25th of September, 1746, to prevent the Increase of Papists in that Island, dated the 5th of August, 1748.

Ordered that the draught of a representation to their Excellencies the Lords Justices, proposing the repeal of the said Act, be prepared.

Plantations General.

Massachusets.

Their Lordships made a further progress in the consideration of the several papers relating to illegal trade, and the defects of the laws relating to the Plantation Trade.

Tuesday, August 23. Present:—Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin.

Barbados.

Read a letter from Mr. Grenville, Governor of Barbados, to the Board, dated the 22nd June, 1748, transmitting several publick papers, viz.:—
List of the members of the Council of Barbados, certified the 20th of June, 1748.
List of the number of planters and inhabitants in the several parishes within the Island of Barbados, certified the 20th June, 1748.
Abstracts of the births, christenings and burials in the several parishes within the Island of Barbados, from the 25th March, 1747, to the 25th March, 1748, certified the 20th June, 1748.
Account of Powder received, from the 18th of February, 1746–7, to the 18th of February, 1747–8.
Importation of negroes into Barbados, from 14th April, 1747, to the 14th October following.
Importation of negroes into Barbados, from the 14th October to 14th April, 1748.

Barbados.

Minutes of Council, from the 4th August, 1746, to the 10th of May, 1747.
Minutes of the General Assembly, from the 24th November, 1747, to the 9th May, 1748.
List of ships and vessells entered in the port of Bridge Town, and of such as have cleared out at the said port, between the 14th April, 1747, and the 25th June, following; and also from the 25th June, 1747, to the 25th September following.
Six Acts, passed at Barbados, between the 15th of March, 1747–8, and the 7th of June following.

Ordered the said Acts be sent to Mr. Lamb, for his opinion thereupon in point of law, as soon as conveniently may be.

Ordered that the draught of a letter to Mr. Grenville, in answer to the above, be prepared.

Antigua.

The draught of a representation to their Excellencies the Lords Justices, proposing the repeal of the Act, passed in the Island of Antigua in 1746, to prevent the Increase of Papists, having been prepared, pursuant to the minutes of Friday last, was laid before the Board, agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Plantations General.

Massachusets.

Their lordships took again into consideration the several papers relating to illegal trade, and the defects of the laws relating to the Plantation Trade, and the Secretary was directed to write to Mr. Bollan, his Majesty's Advocate in the province of the Massachusets Bay, to desire his attendance at the Board tomorrow morning, at eleven o'clock.

Wednesday, August 24. Present:—Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin.

Plantations General.

Massachusets.

Mr. Bollan, his Majesty's Advocate General in the province of the Massachusets Bay, attending, as he had been desired, his letter to the Board, dated the 26th of February, 1742–3, relating to the illegal trade carried on in the Northern colonies, and the defects of the laws relating to the Plantation Trade, as likewise a letter from Mr. Shirley, Governor of the said province, dated the 6th of February, 1747–8, upon the same subject, were read; and after some discourse had with him concerning the said illegal trade, and the methods to prevent the same, and remedy the defects of the laws relative thereto, he was desired to reduce his thoughts into writing, which he promised to do, as soon as his health and other avocations would admit.

Thursday, August 25. Present:—Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin.

Read the following copies of Orders of Council, viz.:—
Plantations General.
Barbados.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 4th of August, 1748, approving a representation of this Board, proposing John Dottin, Esquire, to supply a vacancy in the Council of Barbados, by the resignation of John Maycock, Esquire.
Montserrat.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 4th of August, 1748, approving a representation of this Board, proposing George Frye, Esquire, to be one of the Council of Montserrat, in the room of Charles Dunbar, Esquire, who had been for some years absent from that Island.
Pennsylvania.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 4th of August, 1748, approving the draught of instructions relating to the Acts of Trade, prepared by this Board for James Hamilton, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania.
North Carolina.
Copy of an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated the 14th of July, 1748, upon a report of this Board upon the petition of the inhabitants of the Northern counties in North Carolina against an Act for ascertaining the Number of the Members of the Assembly, directing the Governor of the said province to transmit his answer to the said petition, and such other evidence in support of the allegations of the said petition, as the petitioners or their agents shall require.
South Carolina.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 4th of August, 1748, approving a representation of this Board, proposing the repeal of an Act, passed in the province of South Carolina, in June, 1747, to impower two Justices and three Freeholders, or a Majority of them, to determine all suits under £75, current Money.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 4th August, 1748, directing his Majesty's Secretary of State to signify to the Governor of South Carolina the Lords Justices' high displeasure for a breach of his instructions in passing an Act to impower two justices and three freeholders to determine suits under £75 currency, without a suspending clause.

Read a letter from Mr. George Hunter, Surveyor General of Lands and Inspector and Comptroller of the Quit Rents in South Carolina, to the Board, dated the 20th of June, 1748, desiring the Board's interest for obtaining a warrant from the Treasury for the payment of his arrears, and transmitting:—
A list of grants passed by the Governor of South Carolina, from the 29th of April, 1747, to the 30th of October, 1747.
A list of grants passed by the Governor of South Carolina, from the 29th October, 1747, to the 30th April, 1748.
List of warrants of survey, from the Governor of South Carolina to the Surveyor General, from the 29th October, 1747, to the 30th April, 1748.
List of warrants of survey, from the Governor of South Carolina to the Surveyor General, from the 29th October, 1747, to 30th April, 1748.

Ordered that the Secretary do transmit an extract of so much of the above letter from Mr. Hunter, as relates to his salary and arrears, to Mr. Scrope, Secretary to the Lords of the Treasury, to be laid before that Board, and likewise write to Mr. Hunter, and acquaint him therewith.

Georgia.

Read a letter from Mr. Alexander Heron, Commander in Chief in Georgia, to the Secretary of the Board, dated at Frederica, the 13th of May, 1748, giving an account of his having fitted out two sloops for the protection of the coast, and relating to the condemnation of a vessell for illicit trade.

Not sent.

Ordered that the Secretary do write to Mr. Alexander Heron, and signify their lordships directions that he take particular care to prevent any illicit trade being carried on in that province for the future.

Antigua.

The draught of a representation to the Lords Justices upon an Act of Antigua, to prevent the increase of Papists, having been transcribed, pursuant to the minutes of the 23rd, was laid before the Board, and signed.

North Carolina.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council, upon the petition of the Palatines in North Carolina, ordered to be prepared by the minutes of the 17th instant, was laid before the Board, agreed to, and ordered to be transcribed.

Ordered that a draught of a letter to Mr. Johnston, Governor of North Carolina, in answer to his of the 17th of May last, mentioned in the minutes of the 17th instant, be prepared.

Friday, August 26. Present:—Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin.

Barbados.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Grenville, Governor of Barbados, ordered to be prepared by the minutes of Tuesday last, was laid before the Board, agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

North Carolina.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Johnston, Governor of North Carolina, ordered to be prepared by the preceding day's minutes, was laid before the Board, agreed to, and ordered to be transcribed.

Tuesday, August 30. Present:—Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin.

Barbados.

North Carolina.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Grenville, Governor of Barbados, having been transcribed, pursuant to the preceding minutes, was laid before the Board and signed; as was likewise a letter to Mr. Johnston, Governor of North Carolina, ordered to be transcribed by the said minutes.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council, upon the petition of the Palatines in North Carolina, having been transcribed, pursuant to the minutes of Thursday last, was laid before the Board and signed.

Virginia.

Their lordships took into consideration a letter from Sir William Gooch, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, relating to an application for a grant of lands beyond the Great Mountains of that province, mentioned in the minutes of the 16th instant, as also several papers relating to grants, and to the quit rents of the said province, ordered to be laid before them by the said minutes; and the draught of a report thereupon to the Lords of the Committee of Council, pursuant to their Order of the 27th of February, 1747–8, was ordered to be prepared.

Wednesday, August 31. Present:—Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin.

Miscellanies.

The Secretary laid before the Board an account of the incidental charges of this office, from Michaelmas to Christmas, 1747, amounting in the whole to £323 7s. 8d., 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.