Journal, December 1765

fo. 352.

Tuesday, December 3rd. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Fitzherbert.

Trade.

fo. 353.

Their lordships took into further consideration the memorial of the Weavers Company of London, stating the disadvantages and obstructions the silk manufacture of this kingdom now lyes under; and the Committee of the Company of Weavers attending, they were called in, and their lordships had some discourse with them on the subject matter of their memorial, and the nature of the relief they had in view, which they stated to be the same additional duties on foreign wrought silks, proposed in the bill that passed the House of Commons the last session, and which they represented to be the more necessary, as the Italians had begun to manufacture flowered and clouded silks.

Trade.

Mr. Hinchliff and two other silk mercers also attended, and were heard in what they had to offer, who appeared to continue in the same sentiments, and to rest their case upon the same facts and arguments stated the last year, alleging that the increase of duties on foreign wrought silks would only encourage smuggling, and that, if any thing was to be done, they had rather it was a total prohibition of them.

The following letters of excuse from several other silk mercers for not attending, were read, vizt.,
Letter from Mr. Carr to the Secretary, dated December 3rd, 1765, containing his reasons in excuse for not attending the Board on the subject matter of the Weavers' memorial.
fo. 354.
Letter from Messrs. Swan, Buck, Barlow, Ashburner and Ellison to Mr. Pownall, December 2nd, 1765, begging to be excused any further attendance in respect of the complaints of the Weavers' Company.

Ordered, that this affair be taken into further consideration on Tuesday next, and that the Secretary do write to some of the principal merchants, exporters as well as importers, trading to the Italian States, to desire the favour of their attendance.

fo. 355.

Thursday, December 5th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Fitzherbert.

Bahamas.

Grenada.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the extracts of two letters from the Governor of the Bahama Islands to the Earl of Halifax, and upon a memorial presented to the Board by Mr. Symmer containing several propositions in respect to the further improvement and security of those islands, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of the 8th ult., was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed; as was also a representation to his Majesty upon the memorial of the merchants of London, proprietors of lands in and trading to Grenada, respecting the constituting an assembly for that island.

fo. 356.

Senegambia.

The Secretary laid before the Board the heads of instructions for the Superintendant of Trade for the Province of Senegambia, and the same having been approved, he was ordered to transmit them to the Clerk of His Majesty's Council in order to be laid before the Lords of the Committee.

East Florida.

The further consideration of the memorial and petition of the agents for Messrs. Gordon and Fish, claiming lands in East Florida, upon a pretended purchase from the Spaniards, was postponed to another opportunity.

Trade, Africa.

fo. 357.

Their lordships took into consideration the copy of a letter to the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa from the Governor and Council of Cape Coast Castle, dated July 20th, 1765, relative to the state of that coast in respect to the Ashantee war, and also a copy of an Act of Council of the 10th of that month, containing their opinion and resolution thereon; and several of the Committee attending, they were called in, and, after some discourse with them on this business, they were ordered to withdraw, and their lordships came to the following resolutions, vizt.
That the affair of the Ashantee war as represented in the letter from the Governor and Council of Cape Coast Castle, dated the 20th July, and in their resolutions of the 10th of that month, appears to be a matter of a very serious and important nature, as well with respect to the security of the national possessions, as to the effect it may have upon the trade.
fo. 358.
That the measures recommended by the Governor and Council in their resolutions of the 10th of July, were prudent and necessary, and that they ought to be supported in the execution of them, as far as the grant of Parliament for the service of the Coast in general will allow.
That the most speedy and effectual measures should be taken to put all the forts that may be affected by this event into a proper state of defence, more especially Cape Coast Castle, which their lordships with concern observe, from the resolutions of the Governor and Council, is in a very weak state in respect to its garrison.

The Committee were called in again and the foregoing resolutions having been read, they desired a copy thereof, which the Secretary was ordered to transmit to them.

fo. 359.

Leeward Islands.

Read a letter from Charles Lowndes, esquire, to the Secretary, dated November 4th, 1765, transmitting, by order of the Treasury,
The memorial of Sir William Codrington, baronet, praying for a new grant of the Island of Barbuda.

Ordered, that the above mentioned memorial be taken into further consideration tomorrow morning.

Friday, December 6th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Roberts.

Leeward Islands.

fo. 360.

Their lordships took into further consideration the memorial presented by Sir William Codrington to the Lords of the Treasury, praying a further grant of the Island of Barbuda, and a letter and memorial from the Governor of the Leeward Islands in the year 1756, relative to the state of the said island, and Sir William Codrington's claim thereto was read, and it was thereupon ordered, that the further consideration of this business should be postponed to another opportunity.

New Jersey.

fo. 361.

The Secretary reported to the Board, what appeared upon the law book of New Jersey respecting marriages in the Colony of New Jersey, upon consideration of which and of the Bishop of London's memorial, it was ordered, that a copy of the said memorial should be transmitted to the Governor of New Jersey, with directions to report how the case stands in respect to the authority of civil magistrates to perform marriage rites, and whether such authority rests upon any declared law or upon usage only, and, if upon usage, to report his opinion, whether the same may reasonably be altered as the Bishop of London requests, without complaint or inconveniency.

New Jersey.

Ordered, that the draught of a letter to the Governor, conformable to the abovementioned resolution, be prepared.

Virginia.

fo. 362.

Their lordships then, at the suit of the parties concerned, took into consideration four private Acts passed in the Colony of Virginia in 1764, together with Sir Mathew Lamb's reports thereupon, and no objection appearing to any of the said Acts, it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty, proposing the confirmation thereof, should be prepared.

Jamaica.

Their lordships also, at the suit of the parties concerned, took into consideration two Acts passed in Jamaica in 1764, the one for appointing an agent for the said island, the other for vesting in the Crown a tract of land, in order to pass a grant to John Ellis, esquire; and the said Acts having been read, together with Sir Mathew Lamb's reports thereupon, and no objection appearing to them, it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty, proposing the confirmation thereof, should be prepared.

fo. 363.

Their lordships took into consideration the state of the respective Councils in Jamaica, the Leeward Islands, Bermuda and New Hampshire, and it was ordered, that draughts of representations to his Majesty should be prepared, recommending the following persons to supply vacancies in the said Councils, vizt.,

fo. 364.

Upon this occasion the following letters were read and considered, vizt.,
Grenada.
Letter from Robert Melvill, esquire, Governor of Grenada, to the Board, dated August 26th, 1765, informing their lordships of the death of Anthony Malcolm, esquire, one of the Council, and recommending three gentlemen to supply vacancies.
Leeward Islands.
Letter from George Thomas, esquire, Governor of the Leeward Islands, to the Board, dated September 27th, 1765, signifying the death and resignation of some of the councillors of Nevis and Montserrat, and his appointment of others in their room.
New Hampshire.
fo. 365.
Letter from Benning Wentworth, esquire, Governor of New Hampshire, to the Board, dated October 5th, 1765, relative to the opposition made in that province to the raising a revenue from stamps, and informing their lordships of four vacancies in the Council.

Bermuda.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated September 17th, 1765, referring to the Board, for their opinion, two Addresses to his Majesty, and several other papers, respecting some new regulations made by Governor Bruere in regard to the number of ports to be allowed in the Government of Bermuda.

fo. 366.

Ordered, that the said order of reference be taken into further consideration on Tuesday next, and that the agent for the Assembly and inhabitants of Bermuda, have notice to attend.

Barbados.

Read a letter from Charles Pinfold, Governor of Barbados, to the Board, dated September 25th, 1765, relative to the strenuous attempt of the French to establish a strong settlement at Cayenne.
Copy of Captain Knowler's remarks on the proceedings of the French at Cayenne.

Tuesday, December 10th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert.

Trade.

fo. 367.

fo. 368.

Their lordships took into further consideration the memorial of the Weavers' Company of London, stating the disadvantages and obstructions the silk manufacture of this kingdom now labours under, and several of the principal merchants of London trading to the Italian States, attending as desired, they were called in, and, being asked their opinion what effect a high duty or prohibition on the importation of foreign wrought silks might have on our commerce with Italy, as well in respect to the importation of raw silk from thence, as to our exports in general to that country, they seemed to agree in opinion that, as little or no raw silk comes from any of those places where wrought silks are manufactured, such duty or prohibition could have no effect as to the supply of raw silk; as to the effect it might have upon our exports, they differed in opinion, some thinking it would, others that it would not prejudice our trade to those states from which we now take wrought silk, some gentlemen alleging that ⁷/8 of the wrought silks we now import from Leghorn as Italian silks are the manufacture of Lyons, as well brocaded and flowered as plain; but others appeared to doubt of this fact in the extent to which it was stated, but all agreed that a great quantity of French silks came here as the manufacture of Italy.

Grenada.

Bahamas.

fo. 369.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the memorials of the proprietors of lands and inhabitants of the Island of Grenada, relative to the constituting an Assembly, having been transcribed pursuant to order, was signed; as was also a representation to his Majesty upon the extracts of two letters from the Governor of the Bahama Islands, and upon a memorial presented to the Board by Mr. Symmer, containing several observations and propositions in respect to the further improvement and security of those islands, and also a letter to the Secretary of State, inclosing the said representation.

Bermuda.

The agent for the Assembly and inhabitants of Bermuda, not being able to attend on account of sickness, the consideration of the order of reference of the address of the said Assembly was postponed to another opportunity.

Their lordships took into consideration an Act passed in the Bermuda Islands in August 1764 for raising money for the payment of the Governor's salary and other purposes therein mentioned; and the said Act having been read, together with Sir Mathew Lamb's report thereupon, and no objection appearing thereto, it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty, proposing the confirmation of it, should be prepared.

fo. 370.

Thursday, December 12th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert.

New Jersey.

Virginia, Jamaica, Bermuda.

The draught of a letter to the Governor of New Jersey upon the subject of the Bishop of London's memorial relative to marriage licences, having been prepared pursuant to order, was approved, transcribed and signed; as were also representations to his Majesty, proposing the confirmation of the several Acts of Virginia, Jamaica and Bermuda, mentioned in the minutes of the 6th and 10th instant.

Senegambia.

fo. 371.

His Majesty's Engraver of Seals attended and presented to the Board a drawing for a seal for the Province of Senegambia, which was approved with some alterations.

Trade.

Their lordships then took into consideration the state of the silk manufacture of this kingdom, and it was ordered, that the Secretary should write to the British Consul at Leghorn, for information as to the quantity of French silks and velvets imported into the dominions of the Duke of Tuscany for seven years, the duties paid thereupon, the quantity re-exported, and the state of the silk manufacture at Florence, Mantua, Padua and Milan; the Secretary was also ordered to write to the Consuls at Nice and Genoa, and to his Majesty's Resident at Turin, for information as to the quantity of French silks imported into those ports and places, and the duties paid thereupon, and whether such silks are imported for home consumption or for exportation.

fo. 372.

Friday, December 13th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert.

Jamaica, Grenada, Leeward Islands, Bermuda, New Hampshire.

The draughts of representations to his Majesty, recommending persons to supply vacancies in the Councils of Jamaica, Grenada, Nevis, Montserrat, Bermuda and New Hampshire, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of the 6th instant, were approved, transcribed and signed.

Trade, Portugal.

The following letters of reference from the Earl of Halifax, late one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, together with the papers inclosed therein, were read and considered, vizt.,
fo. 373.
Letter from the Earl of Halifax to the Board, dated January 22nd, 1765, transmitting several papers relative to the commercial grievances of the British merchants; and signifying the King's pleasure, that their lordships should immediately consider and report their opinion, how far the claim of the said merchants respecting the Brazil trade, is founded, and how far it may be just and reasonable to insist on the redress of the grievances they set forth under that head of complaint.
Copy of a memorial from the British factory at Lisbon to Mr. Secretary Pitt, June 6th, 1760.
Copy of the third article of the memorial of the British factory at Oporto, 31st October, 1764.
Copy of the 2nd article of the memorial of the British factory at Lisbon, November 29th, 1764.
fo. 374.
Extract of a letter from the Earl of Kinnoul to Mr. Secretary Pitt, Lisbon, the 7th of June, 1760.
Letter from the Earl of Halifax to the Board, dated July 10th, 1765, transmitting several papers, for their consideration and report, relative to the grievances of which the merchants trading to Portugal complain, and containing several directions respecting the points on which their lordships are required to report their opinion.

Tuesday, December 17th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert.

Massachusetts.

fo. 375.

Two letters from Francis Bernard, esquire, Governor of the Province of Massachusets Bay, to the Board, one dated the 12th, the other the 17th of October, 1765, containing further accounts of and inclosing certain seditious papers printed and published in that province, in opposition to the Stamp Act and the authority of the legislature of Great Britain, were read, together with extracts of several private letters from the said Governor to Mr. Pownall, which he had laid before the Board, containing also accounts of the like nature, and inclosing certain resolutions and proceeding of the Council and House of Representatives relative to the Stamp Act.

Ordered, that the said letters to the Board and extracts of the letters to the Secretary, be copied to be laid before his Majesty, and a representation thereupon to his Majesty was prepared, transcribed and signed.

fo. 376.

Thursday, December 19th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert.

Trade, Sardinia.

Read a letter from William Burke, esquire, to the Secretary, September 16th, 1765, transmitting, by General Conway's order, for the Board's consideration,
Some considerations on different articles of trade between Great Britain and the dominions of the King of Sardinia, by his Majesty's Resident Minister at Turin.

Trade, Sardinia.

fo. 377.

Several of the principal merchants of London trading to Italy in general and to the King of Sardinia's dominions in particular, attended, and the subject matter of the abovementioned paper having been stated to them, so far as regards the advantages of a more direct communication with that country through the ports of Nice and Villa Franca, they informed their lordships, that a direct trade to the King of Sardinia's dominions by the ports of Nice and Villa Franca had been already opened and established, and that the only thing wanting to render it more extensive and advantageous to his Majesty's subjects was, that ships coming from those ports, not having Levant goods on board, should be exempted from the performance of quarantine, and that they had some time since presented a petition to his Majesty in Council on this subject, which had been under consideration also of the Treasury and Commissioners of the Customs.

fo. 378.

The merchants being withdrawn, it was ordered, that the Secretary should acquaint Mr. Burke with their lordships' proceedings in this business, and with the information given to them by the Italian merchants.

Plantations General.

Read a letter from his Grace the Duke of Grafton, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, dated December 18th, 1765, signifying the King's pleasure, that this Board should immediately transmit to his Grace, copies of all letters and papers relative to the riots in America in opposition to the Stamp Act, as well as every information received, together with all orders, etc., issued by their lordships since the passing that Act.

Ordered, that copies and extracts be forthwith made of all letters and papers whatever received by this Board since the passing of the Stamp Act, relative to any riots, disturbances or proceedings in America in opposition to the execution of it.

fo. 379.

Jamaica.

Read an Order of the King in Council, dated November 29th, 1765, relative to the Board's transmitting to the Governor of Jamaica a copy of an Order in Council concerning the laying before Parliament the letters and papers from the said Governor on the extraordinary proceedings of some of the late Assemblies of that island respecting their privileges.

Ordered, that the draught of a letter to the Governor of Jamaica, conformable thereto, be prepared.

Quebec.

Read an Order of the King in Council, dated November 22nd, 1765, that the Board prepare and lay before his Majesty a draught of an additional instruction to the Governor of Quebec, relative to the framing of a new ordinance for establishing the currency of that province.

fo. 380.

Ordered, that the draught of an additional instruction to the Governor of Quebec, conformable to the said order, be prepared.

Plantations General.

Nova Scotia.

Read a memorial of Lieutenant Arthur Robinson, Deputy Surveyor of the Northern District of North America, to the Board, praying a compensation for his expences on the publick account, out of the fund appropriated to the contingencies of Nova Scotia.

Captain Robinson attending was called in, and being asked some questions relative to the facts stated in his memorial, it was ordered, that the agent for the receipt and application of the money granted by Parliament for the service of Nova Scotia for the year 1765, should pay to Captain Robinson the sum of one hundred pounds, and place the same to the account of contingent expences.

fo. 381.

(fn. 1) Newfoundland.

Read a letter from Mr. Secretary Conway to the Board, dated December . . . , 1765, transmitting, for their lordships' opinion,
Copy of a memorial of the Count de Guerchy, Ambassador from his Most Christian Majesty, in behalf of the Sieur de la Bourlarderie, whose possessions on the lands of Labrador, etc., were seized at the taking of the Isle Verderonne and Niganiche at the entrance of Baye Royale.
Ordered, that Count de Guerchy's memorial be taken into consideration on Tuesday next, and that Governor Palliser be desired to attend.

Plantations General.

Read a letter from Charles Lowndes, esquire, Secretary to the Lords of the Treasury, to Mr. Pownall, dated December 7th, 1765, transmitting, for the opinion of the Board,
fo. 382.
Copy of a letter from Mr. Lewis to the Lords of the Treasury, dated December 4th, 1765, representing the expediency of two additional packets to the Leeward Islands.

Ordered, that the Secretary do acquaint Mr. Lowndes, for the information of the Lords of the Treasury, that, as it has been thought adviseable to establish packets for the convenience of the correspondence with the islands and southern colonies, whatever shall tend to render that plan more extensive, and such correspondence more regular, certain and expeditious, cannot but be attended with advantage to the commerce of his Majesty's subjects and beneficial to government in general, but how far such a measure may be expedient is a question for the determination of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury.

fo. 383.

Friday, December 20th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert.

Jamaica.

The draught of a letter to the Governor of Jamaica, conformable to the Order of his Majesty in Council, mentioned in yesterday's minutes, having been prepared, was approved, transcribed and signed.

Plantations General.

Read a letter from the Right Honourable Mr. Secretary Conway to the Board, dated December 19th, 1765, signifying the King's pleasure, that their lordships should forthwith prepare and transmit to him copies of all letters and papers relative to the riots in America in opposition to the Stamp Act, as well as every information received, together with all orders issued from this office, since the passing of that Act, to be laid before the House of Commons.

fo. 384.

Plantations General.

Ordered, that copies and extracts be forthwith made of all letters and papers whatever received by this Board since the passing the Stamp Act, relative to any riots, disturbances or proceedings in America in opposition to the execution of it.

Massachusetts, New Jersey, Virginia.

The following letters from the Governors of Massachusets Bay and New Jersey, and from the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, in which mention is made of the state of those colonies in respect to the commotions which have prevailed in America on account of the Stamp Act, were read, and extracts ordered to be made of such parts as relate to this subject, in order to be transmitted to his Majesty's Secretaries of State with the other papers already received and read at the Board, vizt.,
fo. 385.
Massachusetts.
Letter from Governor Bernard to the Board, dated September 28th, 1765, relative to the opposition made to the carrying the Stamp Act into execution in the Province of Massachusets Bay, and inclosing,
Printed journal of the House of Representatives, September 25th, 1765.
New Jersey.
Letter from William Franklin, Governor of New Jersey, to the Board, dated October 10th, 1765, relative to the ferment of the people in America in general with respect to the Stamp Act.
Minutes of Council of New Jersey of the 13th and 24th of September, 1765, relative to the stamps.
Printed copy of the votes of the House of Representatives.
Virginia.
fo. 386.
Letter from Francis Fauquier, esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, to the Board, dated October 2nd, 1765, containing his observations upon two Acts lately passed there, and the commotions still subsisting in that colony on account of the Stamp Act.
Votes of the House of Burgesses from the 1st of May to the 1st of June, 1765.
Minutes of Council from October 30th, 1764, to June 1st, 1765.
Journal of the House of Burgesses from October 30th, 1764, to the 21st of December following.
Account of his Majesty's revenue of quit rents, etc., for 1763.
Account of his Majesty's revenue of 2/-per hogshead, etc., from the 25th of October, 1764, to 25th of April, 1765.

Naval Office lists of ships and vessels entered and cleared in several of the ports in the Colony of Virginia, between the 10th of October, 1763, and 5th of April, 1765.
Thirty seven Acts passed in — and June, 1765.

fo. 387.

Trade, Portugal.

Their lordships took into further consideration the papers relative to the difficulties and obstructions under which our commerce to Portugal at present labours, and made a further progress therein.

Quebec.

The draught of an additional instruction to the Governor of Quebec relative to the ordinance for establishing the currency of that province, having been prepared pursuant to order, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed, and a representation thereupon to his Majesty was signed.

Tuesday, December 24th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Roberts.

Newfoundland.

fo. 388.

The further consideration of the reference from Mr. Secretary Conway of the Count de Guerchy's memorial concerning the concession of land in Cape Breton to Monsieur Bourlarderie was postponed.

South Carolina.

Read a letter from the Right Honourable Mr. Secretary Conway to the Board, dated December 21st, 1765, notifying the appointment of Lord Charles Montagu to be Governor of South Carolina, and directing draughts of a Commission and instructions to be prepared for him.

The draughts of a Commission, of general instructions, and of those for the observance of the Acts of Parliament relating to the Plantation Trade, having been prepared pursuant to the abovementioned letter, were approved and ordered to be transcribed, and a representation to his Majesty thereupon was signed.

fo. 389.

The draughts of general instructions and of those for the observance of the Acts of Parliament relating to the Plantation Trade, having been prepared for the Governor of (fn. 2) North Carolina pursuant to order, were approved and ordered to be transcribed, and a representation to his Majesty thereupon was signed.

Footnotes