Journal, March 1742: Volume 50

Journal, March 1742

Tuesday, March 2. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Keene.

Massachusets.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council, upon the Massachusets Bill for supplying the Treasury of the province with £36,000, in Bills of Credit, mentioned in the preceding minute, having been transcribed, was laid before the Board and signed.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated the 19th of February, 1741–2, referring to the Board six Acts, passed in the Massachusets Bay, the 8th of August, 1741.

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

North Carolina.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following publick papers transmitted from North Carolina, and brought to the office by William Smith, Esquire, President of the Council of that province, viz.:—
Minutes of Council, from the 22nd May to the 24th of August, 1740; and from the 6th March, 1740–1, to the 23rd of May, 1741.
Minutes of Council in Assembly, beginning the 6th of February, 1738–9; and beginning the 5th of February, 1739–40, and ending 27th February, ditto.
Minutes of Assembly, beginning the 6th February, 1738–9; and beginning 5th February, 1739–40, and ending 27th February, ditto.

Newfoundland.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, accompanying the draught of a commission and instructions for John Byng, Esquire (mentioned in the minutes of the 19th instant), as likewise a letter to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, transmitting the same, having been prepared, were laid before the Board, agreed to and signed.

Wednesday, March 3. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

St. Christophers.

Read a letter from Colonel Fleming, Lieutenant General of the Leeward Islands, and Lieutenant Governor of St. Christophers, to the Board, without any date, giving an account of the rise, progress and present state of the dispute between the Council and Assembly, in relation to the raising the supplies of the Government, and payment of the public debts of the Island. Agreed to take the same into consideration the first opportunity.

Thursday, March 4. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plumer.

St. Christophers.

The Board took again into consideration Colonel Fleming's letter, mentioned in the minutes of yesterday, and some parts of the extract from the minutes of Council of St. Christophers, relating to raising publick funds (from the 2nd of September, 1734, to the 2nd of April, 1741), transmitted with Colonel Fleming's said letter, were read.

Friday, March 5. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Pelham.

St. Christophers.

The Board reconsidered the letter from Colonel Fleming, Lieutenant General of the Leeward Islands, together with the extracts from the minutes of Council of St. Christophers, transmitted therewith (mentioned in yesterday's minutes), and gave directions to the Secretary to prepare an answer to the said letter.

Tuesday, March 9. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Pelham.

Pennsylvania.

Read an order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated the 19th of February last, referring to this Board a petition from divers merchants and other inhabitants of Pennsylvania, setting forth the defenceless condition of the said province, occasioned by the opposition of the Quakers.

Ordered that the charter and laws of Pennsylvania be inspected, as likewise the Governor's letters relating to the subject of the present disputes, and that they be laid before the Board, for their consideration, the first opportunity.

Wednesday, March 10. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene, Mr. Pelham.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from Mr. Corbett, Secretary to the Lords of the Admiralty, to the Secretary of this Board, dated March 8th, 1741, signifying that Captain George Burrish of the Dover is ordered to Canceau to protect the fishery there; and desiring that heads of enquiry for him may be sent to that office, as soon as may be; and the said heads of enquiry having been prepared and examined, were accordingly transmitted in a letter to the Secretary of the Admiralty.

Thursday, March 11. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

Plantations General.

The Board took into consideration heads of an Act of Parliament to regulate the American currency, and gave directions to the Secretary to write to Captain Tomlinson to desire his attendance on Tuesday next [Tuesday, March 16th], and that he would bring such other persons as he shall please, in order to discourse with them on that subject.

Friday, March 12. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene, Mr. Pelham.

Maryland.

Read an Order in Council of March 10th, 1741–2, signifying his Majesty's approbation of Thomas Bladen, Esquire, appointed by Charles Lord Baltimore to be Deputy Governor of Maryland, in the room of Samuel Ogle, Esquire, and directing this Board to prepare instructions for him, and to take care that security be given for his observance of them.

Ordered that the said instructions be prepared, and that the Secretary do send to Mr. Fane, his Majesty's counsel at law, the draught of a bond, and desire him to consider and report whether it be necessary to make any alteration in it from that entered into by Samuel Ogle, Esquire, in August, 1731, on account of any Acts of Parliament that have passed since that time.

Tuesday, March 16. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Keene, Mr. Herbert.

Planatations General.

Captain Tomlinson attending, as desired by the minutes of Thursday, the 11th instant, together with Mr. Alderman Baker, Mr. Tonnereau and Mr. Jarrell, the Board had some discourse with them on the subject of the heads of an Act of Parliament for regulating the American currencies, mentioned in the same minutes.

Wednesday, March 17. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Pelham.

New York.

Read a letter from Mr. Clarke, Lieutenant Governor of New York, to the Board, dated October 19th, 1741, inclosing his speech to the Assembly, and their address, with some observations on their behaviour, and on an extraordinary resolve, concerning the payment of the charges of the Government, transmitting likewise:
The Lieutenant Governor's speech to the Assembly of New York, the 17th September, 1741.
The Assembly's address to the Lieutenant Governor, September 30th, 1741.
Resolve of the Assembly, October 16th, 1741.

Thursday, March 18. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Herbert, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Keene.

New York.

Read a letter from Mr. Clarke, Lieutenant Governor of New York, to the Board, dated December the 15th, 1741, transmitting a state of the Council, and giving an account of the administration, and of the present flourishing state of the province, with respect to the trade, wealth and fortifications of it.

Friday, March 19. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Keene.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from Major Mascarene, President of the Council and Commander in Chief of Nova Scotia, to the Board, dated at Annapolis Royal, November 23rd, 1741, giving an account of the defenceless condition of the province, and transmitting:—
Minutes of Council, in November, 1741, relating to rules prescribed to the Romish missionary priests for their behaviour; and what has passed in Council towards putting these missionaries under more restraint from exercising any ecclesiastical authority in that province.

Tuesday, March 23. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Keene, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Pelham.

Maryland.

Read Mr. Fane's report upon the draught of a bond to be entered into for Thomas Bladen, Esquire, the Lieutenant Governor of Maryland's observing the Acts of Trade, etc., dated 22nd of March, 1741–2.

North Carolina.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following papers, lately received from William Smith, Esquire, President of the Council of North Carolina, viz.:—
Journal of the Upper House of Assembly at the sessions begun July 31st, 1740.
Minutes of Assembly, beginning July 31st, and ending the 22nd of August, 1740.

Wednesday, March 24. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Pelham.

Antigua.

Mr. Martin, son-in-law to Edward Byam, Esquire, late Lieutenant Governor of Antigua, attending with Mr. Yeamans, acquainted the Board with the death of the said Lieutenant Governor; whereupon the Board gave directions for preparing the draught of a representation in favour of Edward Byam, Esquire, (fn. 1) recommending him as a person very well qualified to supply the vacancy in the Council of Antigua by the death of the said Lieutenant Governor.

Thursday, March 25. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Keene.

Antigua.

The draught of a representation, ordered by the preceding minutes, having been prepared and laid before the Board, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Tuesday, March 30. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene, Mr. Pelham.

Pennsylvania.

The Board took into consideration the Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council (mentioned in the minutes of the 9th instant), referring to this Board a petition from divers merchants and other inhabitants of Pennsylvania, etc., and made some progress therein.

Ordered that the Secretary write to Mr. Paris and Mr. Sharpe, to desire their attendance on Thursday next [Thursday, April 1st], between eleven and twelve, on the subject of the said petition and reference, and that Mr. Paris be desired to bring along with him the Proprietors of Pennsylvania.

Wednesday, March 31. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Keene.

St. Christophers.

The draught of a letter, in answer to that from Colonel Fleming, Lieutenant General of the Leeward Islands (mentioned in the minutes of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th instant), having been prepared and laid before the Board, was agreed to, and ordered to be transcribed.