Journal, May 1762

fo. 142.

Tuesday, May 4. Present:—Lord Sandys, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Bacon.

Trade.

Russia.

Their lordships took into further consideration the papers relative to a treaty of commerce with Russia, and made some progress therein.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write a letter to Mr. Nettleton, Governor of the Russia Company, to desire the favor of his attendance at the Board on Thursday next, and that he will bring with him such other members of the Company and other persons concerned in the trade to Russia, as he shall think proper.

fo. 143.

Georgia.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, with the extract of a letter from the Governor of Georgia, relative to the negroes and cattle escheated to his Majesty by the death of a half breed Indian without heirs, having been prepared pursuant to order, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Wednesday, May 5. Present:—Lord Sandys, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Bacon.

Trade.

Russia.

Their lordships made a further progress in the consideration of the papers, relative to a treaty of commerce with Russia.

fo. 144.

Thursday, May 6. Present:—Lord Sandys, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Yorke.

Trade.

Russia.

fo. 145.

fo. 146.

Their lordships took into further consideration the papers relative to a treaty of commerce with Russia, and Mr. Nettleton, Governor of the Russia Company, attending, as desired, with several other members of that Company, and some other gentlemen interested and concerned in the trade to Russia, their lordships acquainted them that, they had fully considered the project of a treaty of commerce with Russia, presented by them to the Board on the 11th day of November, 1761, but that, as some time had passed since that project was offered, they had thought it their duty, before they made their final report to his Majesty, to require of them if they had any thing further to offer; whereupon the gentlemen present said, that they had nothing further to offer, except what was contained in a memorial, addressed to the Lords of his Majesty's Council by the British merchants residing at Riga, who complained of several grievances attending the British commerce at that place, a copy of which memorial, transmitted by the merchants at Riga to their correspondents here, was presented to the Board and read, and the gentlemen were desired to favor the Board with a copy of the said memorial, and also a translation of the ordinance of the magistracy of Riga referred to therein.

fo. 146.

The gentlemen being withdrawn, their lordships agreed to take this matter into further consideration tomorrow morning.

Friday, May 7. Present:—Lord Sandys, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Yorke, Sir Edmund Thomas.

Trade.

Russia.

fo. 147.

Their lordships took into further consideration the papers relative to a treaty of commerce with Russia; and some doubts having occurred, with respect to those articles of the project offered on the part of her late Imperial Majesty, which relate to the capture and condemnation of the ships and vessels of either nation for contraband trade in times of war, a message was sent to Dr. Hay, his Majesty's Advocate General, to desire the favor of his advice and assistance; but, he not being to be found, the Secretary was ordered, to transmit to him a copy of those articles, and desire the favor of his sentiments upon them; and the draught of a representation to his Majesty, upon the points referred to the Board by the Earl of Bute's letter of the 17th of August, 1761, was ordered to be prepared.

fo. 148.

Wednesday, May 12. Present:—Lord Sandys, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Yorke, Sir Edmund Thomas, Mr. Rice.

Trade.

Russia.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the project of a treaty of commerce with Russia, referred to their lordships by the Earl of Bute's letter of the 17th of August, 1761, having been prepared pursuant to order, was read and considered; and the further consideration was postponed, untill the Board should receive the opinion of his Majesty's Advocate General upon those parts of the project, which were ordered to be referred to him on Friday last, and also untill they should receive from the Russia Company the copy of the petition of the British merchants residing at Riga.

fo. 149.

Tuesday, May 18. Present:—Lord Sandys, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Yorke. Sir Edmund Thomas, Mr. Rice.

Nova Scotia.

Mr. Ellis, Governor of Nova Scotia, attended the Board, and acquainted their lordships, that since he had received their commands to go to his government, his state of ill health had been such as to compell him to apply to his Majesty's Secretary of State, for his Majesty's leave to be absent from that government for some further time, and that his Majesty had been graciously pleased to grant his request.

fo. 150.

Trade.

Russia.

Read a letter from Dr. Hay, his Majesty's Advocate General, to Mr. Pownall, dated the 13th of May, 1762, containing his observations upon those articles of the project of a treaty of commerce with Russia, referred to him by order of the Board on the 7th instant.

Read a letter from Robert Nettleton, Esquire, Governor of the Russia Company, dated May 14th, 1762, inclosing a copy of the petition of the British merchants residing at Riga, mentioned in the minutes of the 6th instant.

fo. 151.

The Secretary also laid before the Board, copies of the Swedish Ordinance of 1690, respecting the commerce of the Town of Riga, and also the ordinance of the magistracy of that town in 1756, upon the same subject, which he had received from the Governor of the Russia Company.

Their lordships having taken these papers into consideration, and also the draught of a representation to his Majesty, upon the project of a treaty with Russia, mentioned in the minutes of Wednesday last, the said representation was agreed to and signed, as was also a letter to the Earl of Bute inclosing the same.

Nova Scotia.

fo. 152.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated the 29th ultimo, directing this Board to prepare the draught of an instruction to the Governor of Nova Scotia, forbidding him to grant lands in that province to any of his Majesty's subjects of Ireland, who shall not have resided five years in that, or some other of his Majesty's colonies.

Ordered, that the draught of an instruction, conformable to the directions of the said order, be prepared.

Wednesday, May 19. Present:—Lord Sandys, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Yorke, Sir Edmund Thomas, Mr. Rice.

Nova Scotia.

fo. 153.

The draught of an instruction to the Governor of Nova Scotia, directing him not to grants lands to, or permit any subjects of Ireland to settle in that province, who have not been resident there, or in some other of the colonies for five years, having been prepared pursuant to order, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed, and a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council was signed.

New York.

fo. 154.

The Auditor General of his Majesty's Revenues in America attending, the Board took into further consideration the Act passed in New York in January last, for the better collecting his Majesty's quit rents and for partition of lands, and after some time spent therein, the Secretary was ordered to transmit a copy of it to the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, to be laid before that Board, and to propose, that it might be referred to the Auditor General of his Majesty's Revenues in America, for his opinion upon it.

Their lordships also took into consideration Mr. Charles's letter to the Secretary, mentioned in the minutes of the 6th ult.; and it was ordered, that the Secretary should acquaint him with the above mentioned reference of the Quit Rent Act to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury.

fo. 155.

Friday, May 21. Present:—Lord Sandys, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Bacon, Sir Edmund Thomas, Mr. Yorke, Mr. Rice.

South Carolina.

Read a letter from Mr. West, Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, dated the 3rd of March, 1762, inclosing a memorial of James Glen, heretofore Governor of the Province of South Carolina, praying for a reimbursement of some expences he was at for the publick service during his administration of that government, upon which memorial the Lords of the Treasury desire the opinion of this Board.

fo. 156.

The said memorial having been read and considered, as also Mr. Glen's letter to this Board, dated the 14th day of April, 1756, with the papers which accompanied it, Mr. Glen attending without, was called in; and their lordships having heard what he had to offer upon the subject matter of his petition, and having also read and considered several papers produced by him in support of the allegations of it, it was agreed to take this matter into further consideration on Monday next.

Monday, May 24. Present:—Lord Sandys, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Yorke, Sir Edmund Thomas, Mr. Rice.

South Carolina.

fo. 157.

Their lordships took into further consideration the memorial of James Glen, Esquire, late Governor of South Carolina, mentioned in the minutes of Friday last, and after some time spent thereupon, it was ordered, that the draught of a report to the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury, upon the subject matter of the said memorial should be prepared, and that Mr. Glen should be desired to attend the Board again on Wednesday next.

Nova Scotia.

fo. 158.

Read a letter from Jonathan Belcher, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, dated the 31st of March, 1762, giving an account of the measures he has taken for encourageing settlements upon the forfeited lotts in the new townships; of the state of the Publick accounts, and of the trial, condemnation and reprieve of a soldier convicted of murder; also desiring the Board's application to Government, for obtaining his Majesty's pleasure upon the case of Mary Webb, convicted of murdering her bastard child, in the administration of Governor Lawrence, and inclosing,
Business under consideration of the present session of the General Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia begun to be held on the 17th of March, 1762.
Proclamation for compleating the settlement of some of the new townships.
Record of the conviction of William Reach.
Memorial in behalf of William Reach.
Abstract of the state of the civil establishment for Nova Scotia, 1761.
fo. 159.
Abstract of the late Governor Lawrence's arrears, paid by the Honorable Jonathan Belcher, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor.
Original vouchers for the payment of publick money from the 1st of July to the 31st of December, 1761.

Ordered, that the foregoing abstracts of accounts and original vouchers be delivered to the agent for the settlement of Nova Scotia, and that he be directed to prepare, as soon as conveniently may be, in order to be laid before Parliament, an account of money paid and charges incurred in maintaining the settlement of Nova Scotia for the year 1761.

fo. 160.

Ordered, that an extract be made of so much of Mr. Belcher's letter, as relates to the case of Mary Webb, to be laid before his Majesty, and that the draught of a letter to the Earl of Egremont, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, inclosing the same, be prepared.

Read a memorial of Benjamin Green, Esquire, Treasurer of the Province of Nova Scotia, praying that he may be permitted to place some monies, his own private property, now lying in Nova Scotia, in the Treasury there, and receive the like sum from the agent for the Colony here, out of the grant for the current year, when it shall be in his hands.

fo. 161.

Their lordships, upon consideration of the said memorial, were of opinion, that the subject matter thereof was proper for the consideration of the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury, and that it did not lye within the department of this Board to give any directions upon it.

Wednesday, May 26. Present:—Lord Sandys, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon, Sir Edmund Thomas, Mr. Rice.

South Carolina.

fo. 162.

Mr. Glen attending as desired, their lordships had some further conversation with him upon the subject of his memorial, more particularly with respect to the money received by him of Mr. Dinwiddie, and subscribed by the inhabitants of Charles Town for building a fort in the Cherokee Country, after which the draught of a report to the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury upon Mr. Glen's memorial, prepared pursuant to order, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Nova Scotia.

The draught of a letter to the Earl of Egremont, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, inclosing an extract of a letter from Mr. Belcher, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, relating to the case of Mary Webb, having been prepared pursuant to order, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

fo. 163.

Thursday, May 27. Present:—Lord Sandys, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Yorke, Sir Edmund Thomas, Mr. Rice, Mr. Roberts.

South Carolina.

Nova Scotia.

The draught of a report to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, upon Mr. Glen's memorial, having been transcribed pursuant to order, was signed; as was also a letter to the Earl of Egremont, inclosing an extract of a letter from Mr. Belcher, concerning the case of Mary Webb. condemned in the administration of Governor Lawrence for the murder of her bastard child, and reprieved by him till his Majesty's pleasure was known.

fo. 164.

Their lordships then took into consideration, that part of the minutes of the 17th of March last, which contains their resolution with respect to two Acts passed in the first session of the Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, the one entitled, an Act to establish the rate of Spanish dollars, the other, to revive and continue two Acts or resolutions of the Governor and Council, that foreign debts should not be pleadable in that province; and it appearing that by the minutes of the Assembly on the 17th of March last, that the latter of these Acts would have expired by its own limitation, so much of their lordships' order, as relates thereto, was discharged; and the draught of a representation to his Majesty, proposing the repeal of the first mentioned Act, having been prepared, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

fo. 165.

New York.

Read a petition of sundry inhabitants of the City of Albany in the Province of New York, in behalf of themselves and others trading with the Six Nations or cantons of Indians, setting forth that sundry persons had, under an authority from General Amherst, possessed lands and made settlements at or near Oniagra in the country, reserved to the said Indians by the Treaty of 1726, and stating the prejudice which would follow to them and to the publick from such settlements.

Their lordships, upon full consideration of the said petition, were of opinion, that such settlements, if any such had been made, would be very prejudicial to his Majesty's interest, and it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty thereupon should be prepared.

fo. 166.

Their lordships then took into consideration two Acts passed in the Province of North Carolina in December, 1760, for establishing vestries and making provision for an orthodox clergy, together with a report thereupon, made to their lordships by the Bishop of London; and the said Acts and report having been read and considered, it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty should be prepared, proposing that the Acts may be repealed.

fo. 167.

Friday, May 28. Present:—Lord Sandys, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Yorke, Sir Edmund Thomas, Mr. Rice, Mr. Roberts.

Nova Scotia.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, proposing the repeal of an Act passed in the Province of Nova Scotia in 1758, for establishing the rate of Spanish dollars, having been transcribed pursuant to order, was signed.

North Carolina.

fo. 168.

Read a letter from Arthur Dobbs, Esquire, Governor of North Carolina, dated the … of December, 1761, giving an account of some extraordinary claims and pretensions of the Lower House of Assembly in that province, and of other matters relative to the state of it, and inclosing,
Answer to the Board's general heads of enquiry concerning the present state of North Carolina.

Their lordships took the said letter into consideration, and having made some progress therein, agreed further to consider of it on Wednesday next, the 2nd of June.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit to the Auditor General of his Majesty's Revenues in America, an extract of so much of the said letter as relates to the conduct of his deputy.