Journal, March 1759

Thursday, March 1. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Sloper.

Virginia.

The draught of a letter to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury upon the Memorial of the agent for Virginia, respecting presents for the Ohio and other Western Indians, having been prepared pursuant to order, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Nova Scotia.

fo. 85.

The Secretary laid before the Board a Memorial prepared by the agent for the settlement of Nova Scotia, to be presented to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, praying that the sum of eight hundred, forty eight pounds, seven shillings and seven pence may be issued to him to discharge Bills drawn upon him by the Governor of the said Colony, and other demands relative thereto; and the said Memorial having been approved, it was ordered, that the agent should present it to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury for their directions upon it.

Barbados.

fo. 86.

Their lordships took into consideration the following Act passed in Barbados in 1756, together with Sir Matthew Lamb's Report thereupon, viz.
An Act to prevent His Majesty's Subjects in this Island from corresponding with those of the King's Enemies, and from supplying them with Provisions or warlike Stores of any kind, and also for remedying the defects of the several Laws already made against Forestallers, Ingrossers and Exporters of Provisions, and for enforcing the said Laws.

Ordered, that the said Act do lye by, till the further effect and operation of it may be known.

Jamaica.

fo. 87.

Their lordships then took into consideration the following Acts passed in Jamaica in 1756, together with Sir Matthew Lamb's Reports thereupon, viz.
An Act for explaining, amending and rendering more effectual an Act, intituled, An Act to secure the Freedom of Elections and the proceedings in the Choice of Members to serve in Assemblies in this Island; to qualify Persons elected to serve in future Assemblies in this Island, and to ascertain who shall be deemed Mulattoes for the future; and for preventing the fraudulent Practice of multiplying votes at the Elections of Members to serve in the Assembly of this Island.
An Act to reverse the Sentence against Thomas Kello, a Prisoner, in the Gaol of St. Iago de la Vega.

fo. 88.

Ordered, that the said Acts be taken into further consideration on Tuesday next, the 6th instant, and that the Secretary do give notice to the agent for the Island to attend on that day.

Antigua.

Their lordships then took into consideration the following Act passed in the Island of Antigua in 1754, together with Sir Matthew Lamb's Report thereupon, viz.
An Act for preventing Wrongs and Inconveniencies arising from dormant Judgments.

Several material objections appearing to their lordships against the said Act, a Representation thereupon to His Majesty, proposing it might be repealed, was ordered to be prepared.

fo. 89.

Saturday, March 3. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Sloper.

Leeward Islands.

Read an Order in Council dated this day, approving a Representation of this Board of the 27th February, 1759, proposing that John Symes, Esqr., should be appointed of the Council in Montserrat; and directing a Warrant to be prepared for that purpose.

A Warrant having been accordingly prepared was approved, and a Representation to His Majesty was signed.

fo. 90.

Tuesday, March 6. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Sloper.

North Carolina.

Their lordships took into further consideration the Report of the Chief Justice and Attorney General of North Carolina upon several laws passed in that Province since Governor Dobbs' Administration; and the Chief Justice and Attorney General attending as desired, they were called in; and their lordships had some discourse with them upon the subject-matter of the said laws.

fo. 91.

It appearing, that no notice was taken in their Report of two of the laws referred to them, viz. that for appointing Sheriffs, and that for regulating Orphans, their Guardians and Estates, the said laws were redelivered to them, and they were desired to consider thereof, and report their opinion thereupon to the Board; and then they withdrew.

Jamaica.

Their lordships then took into further consideration the Jamaica Laws, mentioned in the Minutes of the 1st instant; and the agent for the Island attending as desired, was called in; and after some discourse had with him thereupon, he withdrew.

Ordered, that the Act for explaining and amending the Act for securing the Freedom of Elections, etc. do lye by, until the further effect and operation of it may be known.

fo. 92.

Several material objections appearing against the Act for reversing the Sentence against Thomas Kello, a Prisoner in the Gaol of St. Iago de la Vega, a Representation to His Majesty thereupon proposing its repeal, was ordered to be prepared.

Wednesday, March 7. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Sloper.

Antigua.

fo. 93.

Jamaica.

The draught of a Representation to His Majesty, proposing the repeal of an Act passed in the Island of Antigua in 1754 for preventing wrongs and inconveniencies arising from dormant Judgments, having been prepared pursuant to order, was agreed to, and ordered to be transcribed; as was also the draught of a Representation to His Majesty, proposing the repeal of an Act passed in the Island of Jamaica in 1756 for reversing the sentence against Thomas Kello, a prisoner in the goal of St. Iago de la Vega, prepared pursuant to order.

Newfoundland.

Read a letter from Capt. Edwards, Governor of Newfoundland, to the Board, dated Gosport, 5th January, 1759, inclosing
Scheme of the Fishery and Inhabitants of Newfoundland for 1758.
Ordnance and stores at Placentia, June 23rd, 1758.
Return of troops in garrison at Newfoundland in 1758.
fo. 94.
Ordnance and stores at St. John's, Newfoundland, 31st May, 1758.

The Secretary laid before the Board several Memorials and other papers received from the merchants and others of the ports of Bristol, Exeter, Barnstaple, Bideford, Dartmouth and Poole, trading to the Island of Newfoundland, and concerned in the fishery there, in answer to the letters from the Secretary to the mayors of those port towns, mentioned in the minutes of the 7th of November, 1758.

fo. 95.

It appearing to their lordships, upon mature consideration of these Memorials and Papers, that they had reference only to the particular and unavoidable inconveniencies resulting to the trade of Newfoundland from a state of war; and that the principal remedies proposed to such inconveniencies were a regulation of convoys, and that the seamen employed in this trade should be exempted from imprests, they ordered copies of the said Memorials to be made to be transmitted to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty; and the Secretary was ordered to prepare a letter to accompany the same.

Tuesday, March 13. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Rigby, Mr. Sloper.

Jamaica.

Antigua.

fo. 96.

The draughts of two Representations to His Majesty upon two Acts, the one passed in Jamaica in 1756, the other in Antigua in 1754, having been transcribed pursuant to order, were signed.

New York.

Read a letter from James Delancey, Esqr., Lieutenant Governor of New York, dated 3rd February, 1759, informing the Board that he will endeavour to get a law passed for settling the borders of the Province, and inclosing
Printed copies of his speech to the Council and Assembly; and of the Council's Address to him.

Massachusetts.

fo. 97.

Read a letter from Thomas Pownall, Esqr., Governor of the Massachusets Bay, to the Board, dated January 10th, 1759, respecting his having recommended to the Assembly the keeping their troops upon half pay all the winter; and inclosing
Address of both Houses to Governor Pownall, with their assurances of continuing to act with vigor.

Friday, March 16. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Sloper.

North Carolina.

Read a Memorial of the merchants of London and others interested in and trading to the Province of North Carolina, complaining of two Acts passed there in 1748 and 1754, for emitting Paper Bills of Credit.

fo. 98.

Ordered, that the said Memorial be taken into consideration on Thursday, the 22nd instant, and that the Secretary do give notice thereof to the merchants, and desire their attendance on that day.

Trade.

Africa.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following Paper received from the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa; viz.
Copy of a letter from the Governor and Council of James Fort, Gambia, to the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, dated 1st November, 1758.

Newfoundland.

fo. 99.

The Secretary laid before the Board the draught of a letter to the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty inclosing the copies of the Memorials of the merchants of the Western Ports concerned in the trade to Newfoundland, prepared pursuant to order; and the said draught was approved.

Wednesday, March 28. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Rigby, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Sloper; the Auditor of His Majesty's Revenue in America.

North Carolina.

fo. 100.

Their lordships took into consideration the Memorial of the Merchants of London and others interested in and trading to the Province of North Carolina, complaining of two Acts passed there in 1748 and 1754 for emitting Paper Bills of Credit; and several merchants and others interested in the said Province attending without, they were called in; and their lordships having heard what they had to offer upon the subject matter of the said Memorial, they withdrew.

fo. 101.

Their lordships, after some time spent in the consideration of this affair, ordered the draught of a Representation to His Majesty to be prepared, proposing that an Additional Instruction should be sent to the Governor of North Carolina, directing him to recommend to the Council and Assembly to pass an Act for amending the said laws of 1748 and 1754, by making provision that all debts due upon contract for sterling money before they were passed shall be dischargeable in sterling money only; and that all debts contracted since, or hereafter to be contracted for sterling money be made payable in the said bills of credit, (if the creditor is willing to accept the same, and not otherwise) not according to the nominal value, but according to the the actual difference of exchange between such paper bills of credit and sterling money at the time of making such payment; and further that provision be made, that the paper bills of credit, issued by virtue of the said laws, or any laws hereafter to be passed for issuing Paper Bills of Credit, be expressly declared not to be a legal tender in payment of His Majesty's quit rents or any other His Majesty's revenue.