Journal, May 1749: Volume 57

Journal, May 1749

Monday, May 1. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Fane.

Nova Scotia.

The Board being informed that, notwithstanding directions have been long since given, that the ships contracted for by the Commissioners of the Navy for carrying over persons to Nova Scotia should be forthwith fitted up for their reception, no less than five of the said ships remain still unprovided with blankets, for the use of the persons on board, and that although one of the said ships, belonging to Captain Cook, was contracted for by the Commissioners of the Navy on Wednesday last, yet no notice thereof has been given to this office.

Ordered that a letter to the Duke of Bedford be prepared to acquaint him therewith, and to desire him to enforce the orders his Grace has already given, that the said ships be immediately furnished with blankets and all other necessaries, and that the ship belonging to Captain Cook may have immediate orders to fall down to Long Reach to receive persons on board, and the said letter having been prepared, was laid before the Board, agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Tuesday, May 2. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Leveson Gower, Mr. Grenville, Sir Thomas Robinson.

Nova Scotia.

The Board being informed that the ship Brotherhood was arrived at Portsmouth, to take on board such persons as had entered their names at that place and at Plymouth, the Solicitor and Clerk of the Reports was ordered to write to Mr. Hughes, Commissioner for the Navy at Portsmouth, to desire him to use his best endeavours forthwith to cause the said persons to embark, and to give them all possible assistance and accommodation, and, if it shall be found necessary, to furnish them with small vessels to carry them on board, that he will be so good as to take care thereof, and directions will be given to defray any expence that may be incurred on that or any other account relative to this service; as also to the Commissioner at Plymouth, to desire him to use his best endeavours to cause the persons who have entered with him to repair to Portsmouth immediately; and their lordships being informed that small coasting vessels frequently pass betwixt Plymouth and Portsmouth, the Solicitor and Clerk of the Reports was further directed to desire him to defray the passage of such persons on board the said vessels, as should be unable to pay it themselves, and their lordships will give directions to their agent to reimburse any expences that may arise upon this or any other account relative to the service.

Thursday, May 4. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Leveson Gower, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane, Sir Thomas Robinson.

Massachusets.

Read Mr. Lamb's report upon an Act, passed at Boston, in January, 1748–9, for drawing in the Bills of Credit of the several denominations, which have at any time been issued by this Government, and are still outstanding, and for ascertaining the rate of coined silver in this Province for the future; containing several observations thereupon, dated the 25th April, 1749.

Agreed that the order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, referring the above mentioned Act, mentioned in the minutes of the 18th of last month, be taken into consideration to-morrow morning, and that Mr. Bollan, agent for the province of the Massachusets Bay, have notice to attend.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from the principal officers of the Ordnance, signifying their having appointed two engineers, a commissary of stores, a clerk and a detachment of the Royal Regiment of Artillery at Annapolis, to attend the settlement in Nova Scotia, and desiring that those who go from hence may be received on board the transports, and that all their officers may enjoy the same privileges and advantages as other persons going thither in his Majesty's service, and several of the said officers attending, directions were given for their having orders to be admitted on board the ships and properly accommodated.

Ordered that the Secretary do write to the principal officers of the Ordnance to acquaint them therewith, and that proper directions will be given that all their officers shall have the same privileges and advantages, as other persons in his Majesty's service.

Barbados.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Grenville, Governor of Barbados, in answer to several lately received from him, having been prepared, was laid before the Board, agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from Mr. Hardman to Mr. Pownall, dated the 3rd instant, acquainting him that the Commissioners of the Navy had contracted with him for the ship Sarah, and that orders had been sent from that office and from the Victualling Office to fit her up immediately.

Read a letter from the mayor of Liverpool to Mr. Pownall, dated 30th ultimo, desiring to know if any subsistence could be allowed to the persons who have entered their names with him to go to Nova Scotia, until they embark.

Ordered that Mr. Pownall do write to the mayor of Liverpool, and acquaint him that a ship has been taken up, and to desire him that as soon as the ship is ready, he will give notice thereof that the persons may be embarked, and that he will give them all possible assistance therein.

Mr. Kilby having acquainted their lordships that orders have been given for all the transports to fall down to the Nore, directions were given that an advertisement should be published giving notice for all persons not yet embarked to repair to-morrow and Sunday to Tower Wharf, during which time only a vessel will be provided to carry them on board.

Read a letter from Mr. Clevland, Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, dated the 2nd of May, 1749, inclosing copy of a letter from the Commissioners of the victualling to Mr. Corbett, relating to the complaint of the badness of the provisions put on board the transports to carry the settlers to Nova Scotia.

Friday, May 5. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Leveson Gower, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane.

New Jersey.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated the 13th of April, 1749, referring the petition from the Council of Proprietors of the Eastern Division of New Jersey, dated at Perth Amboy, the 23rd of December, 1748, relating to the riots and disturbances in that province; and Mr. Paris, attending, moved the Board in behalf of the petitioners to take the said petition into their consideration, whereupon their lordships acquainted him that they would consider the same, as soon as conveniently they could, on account of other business, and desired him in the mean time to prepare a state of the case to be laid before them.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from Mr. Hughes, Commissioner of the Navy at Portsmouth, to Mr. Pownall, dated the 4th instant, acquainting him that only 53 persons had embarked on board the Brotherhood at that place for Nova Scotia.

The draught of a warrant containing instructions for Major Gilman, nominated to attend the settlement in Nova Scotia for the building of saw mills and other works, having been laid before the Board, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed, and, after being signed by the Secretary, to be delivered to him.

Monday, May 8. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin.

Nova Scotia.

Read the report of the Attorney and Solicitor General, dated the 6th instant, upon the form of a grant of lands to be made to the new settlers in Nova Scotia, with their observations thereupon.

Ordered that 3000 copies of the said Form and of the Form of a Warrant to the Surveyor for laying out the said lands, be forthwith printed, in order to be transmitted to the Governor of the said province.

Massachusets.

Mr. Bollan, agent for the province of the Massachusets Bay, attending, moved their lordships for their favourable report upon an Act, passed in that province, for drawing in the Bills of Credit, by means of the money voted in Parliament, for reimbursing to the said province their expences in the Louisbourg expedition.

Ordered that the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council be prepared, proposing the confirmation of the said Act.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from Mr. Lascells, in the name of the rest of the officers of the Ordnance, dated the 6th instant, desiring that orders may be given for the admission on board the transports going to Nova Scotia of four officers and two matrosses, who are to repair to Annapolis Royal, to compleat the company of artillery there.

Ordered that directions be given accordingly, and that Mr. Lascelles be acquainted therewith.

Wednesday, May 10. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane, Sir Thomas Robinson.

Massachusets.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon the Act, passed in the province of the Massachusets Bay, relating to the Bills of Credit having been prepared, pursuant to the preceding minutes, was laid before the Board, agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Nova Scotia.

The draught of a warrant to Mr. Kilby to pay to Mr. Pownall such sum or sums of money, as may be necessary to discharge the expences arising in this office, relative to the expedition for the settlement of Nova Scotia, was laid before the Board and signed.

Thursday, May 11. Present:—Mr. Pitt, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane, Sir Thomas Robinson.

Massachusets.

The draught of the report to the Lords of the Committee of Council, ordered to be transcribed by the preceding minutes, was laid before the Board and signed.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from the Mayor of Liverpool to Mr. Pownall, dated the 7th instant, acquainting him with what had been done for the accommodation of the people, who are to embark there for Nova Scotia.

Ordered that a letter be wrote to Mr. Hardman, to desire him to endeavour to get a small chest of medecines put on board the ship at Liverpool, appointed for transporting persons to Nova Scotia, as also to make the best agreement he can with a person to serve as surgeon on board during the passage, and to use his endeavour to get the people shipped as soon as possible.

The draught of a letter to his Grace the Duke of Bedford, desiring that orders may be given for the sailing of the ship at Liverpool, as soon as the number of persons to be embarked is completed, having been prepared was laid before the Board, agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Tuesday, May 23. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Sir Thomas Robinson.

Miscellanies.

Mr. Gabriel Mathias, one of the clerks in this office, having desired leave of their lordships to resign his employment, the Earl of Halifax recommended Mr. Richard Cranwell to supply the vacancy occasioned thereby, and he was appointed accordingly.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from Mr. Charles, agent for the transports bound to Nova Scotia, dated on board the Baltimore off Plymouth Sound, the 18th instant, to the Board, acquainting them that the fleet was then safe off that place.

New Jersey.

Mr. Paris, attending, moved their lordships to take into consideration the petition of the Council of Proprietors of East New Jersey, relating to the riots committed in that province, mentioned in the minutes of the 5th inst., and their lordships desired his attendance thereupon on Friday next, the 26th.

Nova Scotia.

Read three letters from the Mayor of Liverpool to Mr. Pownall, dated the 14th, 16th and 19th instant, giving an account of what readiness the ship taken up to carry persons to Nova Scotia from that place was in, and desiring to know, whether any money would be allowed for the subsistance of those, who came from distant parts of the country, and arrived there before the ship was actually ready to receive them.

Ordered that Mr. Pownall do acquaint him, in answer to the said letters, that any money he shall advance to such, as may be in acutal necessity, will be reimbursed to him, recommending to him, at the same time, that they be embarked as soon as possible.

Friday, May 26. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane, Sir Thomas Robinson.

New Jersey.

Mr. Paris attending, as had been desired, their lordships desired him to give them such information as he was able with respect to the situation of affairs in that province, and the riots and disturbances committed and still subsisting there; whereupon he informed them, that the papers he had already laid before them, mentioned in yesterday's minutes, contained a full state of that affair, and was prepared and drawn up by a committee of the Council from papers laid before the Council and Assembly by the Governor, in November, 1747, and mutually communicated to each other; that one step taken by the Governor then, was passing an Act of Grace, whereby pardon was offered to the rioters upon very easy terms, but only nine conformed to it; that if the authority of government had been exerted, these riots might easily have been quelled by forty men in the beginning, and referred to the opinion of the Council in the minutes of the 12th of December, 1748, upon that point, but the Assembly refused their assistance, by refusing to raise any money; and being asked concerning the pretence the persons, who have possessed themselves of the lands belonging to the Proprietors, found their claims upon: he said, that the pretence was exactly the same as was brought in question in the year 1667 between the Possessors and the Proprietors, and referred to an opinion thereupon in page 45 of a book entituled, The Case …… which he laid before their lordships,—and being asked if he had any instructions to propose any methods for suppressing these disturbances, he acquainted their lordships that in the instructions from his principals, they had mentioned to him that a sufficient force from hence would be effectual, but they were unable to bear the expence of maintaining them, and were of opinion that a letter from his Majesty or his ministers to the Assembly of the province, requiring them to raise money for that service, might be effectual; but he hopes that whatever measures their lordships should take, they would be speedy, as the distress of the province was now very great.

Thursday, May 25. (fn. 1) Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Leveson Gower, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane, Sir Thomas Robinson.

New Jersey.

Read a letter from the Council of New Jersey to this Board, dated at Perth Amboy, the 22nd of December, 1748, relating to the state of that province, and transmitting the following papers, viz.:—
Copy of the humble address and representation of several of the members of his Majesty's Council for the province of New Jersey, dated at Perth Amboy, the 22nd of December, 1748.

New Jersey.
Copy of a letter from the Council of New Jersey to his Grace the Duke of Bedford, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, dated at Perth Amboy, the 22nd of December, 1748.

Read the following papers from Mr. Paris, viz.:—
A state of facts concerning the riots and insurrections there, and the remedies attempted to restore the peace of the province.
Extracts from the minutes of Council, of the 12th December, 1748.
Copy of the Governor's speech to the new Assembly.

Nova Scotia.

Agreed further to consider the said papers to-morrow morning.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from Mr. Hardman to Mr. Pownall, dated at Liverpool, the 20th instant, acquainting him that the ship taken up there for carrying persons to Nova Scotia was to go out of dock the next day, that orders were come down for her sailing, as soon as the people are embarked, and that he would provide a surgeon and chest of medicines.

Monday, May 29. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Grenville.

Miscellanies.

The Secretary laid before the Board an account of the incidental charges of this office, from Midsummer to Michaelmas, 1748, amounting to three hundred and one pounds, seventeen shillings; and a letter to the Lords of the Treasury, desiring payment thereof, and of the salaries due to the Secretary and under officers in the service of this Board for the same time, was agreed to and signed.

Bermuda.

Read the following letters and papers received from William Popple, Esquire, Governor of Bermuda, viz.:—
Letter from Mr. Popple, Governor of Bermuda, to the Board, dated the 1st of September, 1748, inclosing copy of an appeal mentioned therein.
Letter from Mr. Popple, Governor of Bermuda, to the Board, dated the 6th of December, 1748, inclosing:—
Minutes of Assembly in November, 1748.
Letter from Mr. Popple, Governor of Bermuda, to the Board, dated the 5th of February, 1748–9, inclosing:—
Resolutions of the Assembly.
Minutes of the Council, of the 11th of November, 1748.
Letter from Mr. Popple, Governor of Bermuda, to the Board, dated the 3rd of March, 1748–9, transmitting:—
Minutes of Council, from the 8th of November, 1748, to the 23rd of March, 1748–9.
Letter from Mr. Popple, Governor of Bermuda, to the Board, dated the 3rd of March, 1748–9, with a postscript of the 25th of March, transmitting:—
Copy of a letter from Governor Popple to the President of the Council of Bermuda, dated 23rd January, 1748–9.
Copy of a letter from the Council of Bermuda to Governor Popple, dated 27th January, 1748–9, with
Copy of Governor Popple's answer to the foregoing letter from the Council, dated 28th January, 1748–9.
Bermuda.
Attested copy of the original protest of Captain John Smith, taken at Bermuda, the 25th of November, 1748, remaining in the Secretary's office there.
Copy of a proclamation issued in Bermuda for putting in force the laws relating to trade.
Instructions for Mr. Nathaniel Bethel, etc.
Copy of a letter from Governor Popple to the President and Council of Bermuda, dated the 24th of February, 1748–9.
A paper put into the hands of the Governor of registers, let-passes, out-ports, creeks, entering and clearing, and construction of the king's 71st instruction.

Letter from Mr. Popple, Governor of Bermuda, to the Board, dated the 3rd of March, 1748–9, with a postscript of the 25th ditto, inclosing:—
Copy of a letter from him to the Commissioners of his Majesty's Customs, dated the 3rd of March, 1748–9.

Letter from Mr. Popple, Governor of Bermuda, to the Board, dated the 3rd of March, 1748–9, with a postscript of the 25th ditto, inclosing:—
Copy of a letter from him to the Duke of Bedford, dated the 25th March, 1749, giving an account of a negro woman that was tried and condemned, and afterwards made her escape.
Copy of a proclamation offering a reward for apprehending the negro woman who had made her escape.
Deposition of George Tucker, Esquire, Provost Marshal General of Bermuda, relating to the escape of a negro woman out of his Majesty's gaol in Bermuda.

Letter from Mr. Popple, Governor of Bermuda, to the Board, dated the 25th of March, 1749, to which is annexed a rent roll of his Majesty's lands in that Island, dated in December, 1747.

Letter from Mr. Popple, Governor of Bermuda, to the Board, dated the 25th of March, 1749, to which is annexed a copy of this letter to the gentlemen of his Majesty's Council in that Island, dated the 10th March, 1748–9.

Letter from Mr. Popple, Governor of Bermuda, to the Board, dated the 25th of March, 1749, inclosing copy of a paper he lately received from Barbados, and transmitting:—
Minutes of Assembly of Bermuda, from the 2nd of January, 1748–9 to the first Monday in February following.
Letter from Mr. Popple, Governor of Bermuda, to the Board, dated the 27th of March, 1749, containing some observations upon the laws of trade.

South Carolina.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated the 11th of May, 1749, referring to this Board the petition of Hans Jacob Riemensperger, late of Toggenburgh in Switzerland, now of Saxe Gotha in South Carolina, who has been twice in that province and settled several families of Swiss and German protestants there, and proposes to make a further settlement of many more families, provided the encouragement in the said petition be granted to him.

Ordered that notice be given to the petitioner to attend the Board to-morrow morning, at 11 o'clock, upon the subject of the said petition.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from the Mayor of Liverpool to Mr. Pownall, dated the 26th instant, desiring to know if any more ships will be provided this year for carrying settlers to Nova Scotia.

Ordered that Mr. Pownall do acquaint him, in answer thereto, that the season is too far advanced to send any more settlers this year, and to desire him not to receive or enter more persons, than will be sufficient to fill the ship now receiving persons at that port.

Ordered that a state of the case of the riots and insurrections in the province of New Jersey be prepared, to be laid before the Board, as soon as possible.

Tuesday, May 30. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Sir Thomas Robinson.

South Carolina.

Mr. Riemensperger attending, as desired, informed their lordships that he settled in Carolina in the year 1740, and came over from thence about three years ago and went into Germany and Switzerland, taking with him a certificate from the Governor, under the Seal of the province, of the bounty given to foreign protestants settling there, with a view to induce persons to settle in that province: that he prevailed upon many persons, who were able to pay their passage, to go and settle there, telling those, who were not able, that he should petition the government here to defray the expence of their passage, with a caution that they should not leave their country untill they had notice of his success, that there are now come down into Holland about six hundred, few of which are able to transport themselves, and some of those few have engaged with a merchant in Holland to go to Pennsylvania; the rest, with their families, being destitute, had sent over three persons to represent their condition to him; whereupon their lordships directed him to attend again to-morrow, and to bring with him those three persons and an interpreter.

Wednesday May 31. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Sir Thomas Robinson.

South Carolina.

Mr. Riemensperger attending, with the three persons he mentioned yesterday to have been come over from Holland, they, by the interpreter, gave the following account, viz.: That there are now actually in Holland very near six hundred persons of the Lutheran religion, men, women and children, natives of five balliwicks of the Duchy of Wirtemberg, who have lately left their own country, having a general leave so to do, and are come down into Holland, and more are coming down, in order to go and settle in South Carolina, being encouraged thereto by the certificate of the bounties allowed there to foreign protestants, which Mr. Riemensperger had published amongst them for that purpose; they also informed us, that he had acquainted them with his intention of applying here for money, to defray the passage of those, who were not able to pay it themselves, with assurance, that if he could not obtain that, he would endeavour to get some merchant to advance the money, which they in such case must work out; at the same time they acknowledged that he had given them a caution not to remove, till he acquainted them with the success of his application, but that the master of the vessels, which come down the Rhine, having acquainted them that he was ready to depart, and unless they took that opportunity they would lose their passage for this year, they determined to come down, with intention of coming over into England; and for that purpose, when they arrived in Holland, several of them applied to his Majesty's minister at the Hague for an order to pass over in the packet, which they obtained; but however the order not expressing their baggage, and the master of the packet refusing to take it on board, they were obliged to remain at Helvoetsluys, and that, as very few of them have any money wherewithal to subsist, they are in great want and distress, being obliged to lye in ditches exposed to the open air without any shelter, and that unless they can find some means of getting their passage to Carolina, which they are unable to pay themselves, they must inevitably starve, finding no relief in Holland, and being unable to get back again into their own country, where they have disposed of their properties and renounced all their rights and privileges; they further informed us, that some of them had applied to merchants in Holland, to be transported to Pennsylvania, but that the ships are gone; however, we must acquaint your lordships that these persons seemed to think that the people in general would not be willing to go to any other part of America than South Carolina.

Ordered that the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council, upon Mr. Riemensperger's petition, be prepared.