Journal, January 1766

fo. 1.

At a meeting of his Majesty's Commissioners for Trade and Plantations.

Tuesday, January 7th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert.

Miscellanies.

A Commission under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date the 3rd of January, 1766, constituting and appointing William, Earl of Dartmouth, Soame Jenyns, Edward Eliot, George Rice, John Roberts, Jeremiah Dyson and William Fitzherbert, esquires, and Henry, Lord Viscount Palmerston of the kingdom of Ireland, his Majesty's Commissioners for promoting the trade of this kingdom, and for inspecting and improving his Majesty's Colonies and Plantations in America and elsewhere, was opened and read.

fo. 2.

Plantations General.

The Secretary laid before the Board two sets of copies of all letters and papers received by or communicated to the Board, so far as they relate to, or contain any information of the riots that have happened in America, in opposition to the putting in execution the Stamp Act, since the passing thereof, to the present time, together with lists of the said papers; and letters to his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, inclosing the said papers, were agreed to and signed.

Read a letter from Mr. Secretary Conway, dated December 25th, 1765, signifying his Majesty's pleasure, that all such further accounts as the Board have received or shall receive respecting any riots or proceedings in America, in respect to the Stamp Act, should be transmitted to Mr. Conway.

Nova Scotia.

fo. 3.

Read a letter from the Governor of Nova Scotia, dated November 19th, 1765, containing, amongst other things, an account that the Stamp Act had been put in execution in that province, without any opposition or obstruction.

An extract having been made of so much of the said letter as relates to the execution of the Stamp Act, a letter to Mr. Secretary Conway inclosing it, was agreed to and signed.

Newfoundland.

Their lordships took into further consideration the reference from Mr. Secretary Conway of the Count de Guerchy's memorial respecting the lands claimed by Monsieur Bourlarderie in Cape Breton, and it was ordered, that the draught of a letter to Mr. Secretary Conway thereupon should be prepared.

East Florida.

Their lordships also took into further consideration the order of reference of the memorial of the agents of Messrs. Fish and Gordon, respecting their claim to lands in Florida, on pretence of purchase from the Spaniards, and it was ordered, that the draught of a report thereupon should be prepared.

fo. 4.

Senegambia.

Their lordships then took into further consideration the Order of Council, containing directions in respect to the execution of the plan for the establishment of the government of Senegambia in Africa, and Colonel O'Hara, Governor of the said province, attending, their lordships had some discourse with him on the subject of the preparations made for his departure, and agreed to take the affairs of the said province into further consideration on Thursday next.

Nova Scotia.

fo. 5.

The Secretary laid before the Board a bill drawn upon the agent for Nova Scotia by the Governor, for services incurred in that province, relative to the grant of Parliament, between the 1st of January and 30th of June, 1765, as also a letter to the Board containing advice of the said bill; and it appearing, upon an examination of the account of the services annexed to the said bill, that it did correspond with the directions contained in the Board's letter of the 20th of March, 1764, it was ordered that the agent should pay the said bill.

Thursday, January 9th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert.

Trade.

fo. 6.

The Committee of the Weavers' Company of London attended, praying to be informed, whether their lordships had come to any resolutions on their memorial relative to the state of the silk manufactures, and were informed that, from the different and contradictory assertions and opinions which had been made and given in the course of their lordships' proceedings upon the memorial, they had thought it necessary to write to his Majesty's consuls or agents in some foreign parts for further information, in order to determine their own judgment on this occasion, and that, when the matter came into Parliament, (to which the Committee informed the Board they intended to make application) their lordships should, (if they received any information that might alter the state of the case from what it was last year), take the proper steps thereupon; desiring however that the Committee would not delay their application to Parliament on this account.

One of the Committee took notice that Mr. Prescot, a merchant of the City of London, was fully informed of the state of our trade in the Italian States, and had facts in his possession to shew that our trade to those places, from which we now take wrought silks, would not be affected by a prohibition or high duty here upon those silks; upon being asked, whether the Committee meant to apply or refer to this information in support of their memorial, they said, they did not.

fo. 7.

Newfoundland.

The draught of a report upon the Count de Guerchy's memorial concerning the case of Monsieur Bourlarderie, having been prepared, was laid before the Board, but it appearing to their lordships, that, there was an irregularity in the letter of reference from the Secretary of State, the further consideration of it was postponed.

Senegambia.

Their lordships took into consideration the Order of Council, containing directions in respect to the execution of the plan for the establishment of the civil government of Senegambia on the Coast of Africa, and several minutes were taken preparatory to the forming the draught of the general instructions.

fo. 8.

Upon consideration of those parts of the plan, which relate to the supplies to be sent out for the necessary contingent services of government, conformable to the estimate, and to the fitting out one or more armed vessels to be under the Governor's direction, it was ordered, that the person, appointed agent for the affairs of Senegambia, should attend the Board tomorrow morning.

Friday, January 10th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert.

Senegambia.

The Secretary acquainted the Board that Mr. Bullock, agent for the affairs of Senegambia, attended without, and laid before the Board the Commission containing the said agent's appointment, which had been delivered to him by Mr. Bullock.

fo. 9.

The said Commission having been read, and it appearing that the said agent was not subject to any comptroll or direction of this Board, their lordships were of opinion, that it was not within their department to give any directions upon those parts of the plan, that relate to the purchase of the supplies, necessary to be sent out to defray the contingent expences of government, or to the fitting out one or more armed vessels, to be under the Governor's directions.

Ordered, that the Secretary do redeliver the Commission to Mr. Bullock, and acquaint him, that the Board have no directions to give him.

Trade.

Read a letter from the Right Honourable Mr. Secretary Conway to the Board, dated September 26th, 1765, signifying his Majesty's pleasure, that their lordships should report their opinion upon the propriety of establishing an agent or consul at Bilboa.

Ordered, that the draught of a letter to Mr. Secretary Conway, in answer thereto, be prepared.

fo. 10.

The Secretary acquainted the Board, that reports had been received from most of his Majesty's ministers and consuls in foreign states and kingdoms, of the state of the British commerce in each respectively, and it was ordered, that they should be taken into consideration seriatim, as the nature and state of the other important business before the Board would admit.

Morocco.

Read the following papers relative to the state of the British commerce in the dominions of the Emperor of Morocco, vizt.,
Letter from John Christopher Roberts, esquire, to the Secretary, dated November 30th, 1765, transmitting, by Mr. Secretary Conway's direction,
Extract of Major General Irwin's letter to Mr. Secretary Conway, dated Gibraltar, November 4th, 1765, relative to new regulations made by the Emperor of Morocco, in regard to the ports of that empire.
fo. 11.
Trade, Africa.
Letter from Joseph Popham, esquire, to the Board, dated Tetuan, April 28th, 1765, transmitting,
Copy of a letter from Mr. Popham to the Earl of Halifax, dated Tetuan, April 28th, 1765, relative to the state of trade in the dominions of the Emperor of Morocco.
Account of the imports from London to the port of Santa Cruz in South Barbary from January, 1763, to January, 1764.

Ordered, that the said papers be taken into consideration on Thursday next, and that notice be given to the merchants, trading to the dominions of the Emperor of Morocco, to attend on that day.

Trade.

Read a letter from Charles Lowndes, esquire, Secretary to the Lords of the Treasury, to the Secretary to this Board, dated December 16th, 1765, transmitting, for the opinion of their lordships,
Petition of the merchants and traders of the City of Dublin to his Excellency, the Earl of Hertford, relative to the importation and refining sugars in Ireland.
fo. 12.
State of the manufacture of refining sugar in Ireland.
Copy of a letter from the Earl of Hertford to Mr. Secretary Conway, November the 30th, 1765.
Letter from John Christopher Roberts, esquire, December 7th, 1765, transmitting the forementioned papers from the Earl of Hertford to Mr. Lowndes, Secretary to the Treasury.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to the Commissioners of the Customs for an account of the quantity of refined sugars exported to Ireland from Christmas 1740 to Christmas 1765, distinguishing each year, with the amount of the bounty thereupon.

fo. 13.

Thursday, January 16th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jennyns, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Palmerston.

Miscellanies.

Lord Viscount Palmerston, lately appointed a Commissioner for Trade and Plantations, attended and took his seat at the Board.

Trade, Morocco.

fo. 14.

Their lordships took into further consideration the letters and papers relating to the state of the British commerce in the dominions of the Emperor of Morocco, mentioned in the minutes of the 10th instant, and three of the principal merchants trading to those parts attending, they were called in, and, being informed of the privileges granted, and encouragements offered by the Emperor to British merchants trading to the new port of Mogador, they returned thanks to the Board for this communication, observing at the same time, that what had been done by the Emperor, was so far from any encouragement or advantage, that they looked upon it as an act of great oppression, having been obliged at a considerable expence to build a house at this new port, which is not convenient for the British commerce, while their imports at Santa Cruz (which is convenient) were loaded with double duties.

The merchants being withdrawn, the Secretary was ordered to acquaint Mr. Conway's Secretary with the substance of their information on this subject, in a letter, in answer to his of the 30th of November last.

Trade, Ireland.

fo. 15.

Their lordships took into further consideration the papers communicated from the Treasury, relating to the manufacture of refining sugar in Ireland, together with an account of the quantity of refined and Muscavado sugar exported to Ireland from Christmas 1741, to Christmas 1761, taken from the Custom House leidgers; whereupon a letter to the Commissioners of the Customs in Ireland, was prepared, agreed to and signed, desiring an account of the quantities of refined sugars exported from thence, since Christmas 1741; and also an account for the same time of Muscovado sugars imported, and from what places.

Plantations General.

The Secretary laid before the Board the returns made by the governors of his Majesty's colonies in America of the state of the emission and value of bills of credit in the respective governments since 1749; and it was ordered, that a general state thereof should be prepared to be laid before the House of Commons, pursuant to their Address to his Majesty of the fifth of April, 1764.

fo. 16.

Their lordships then took into consideration the plan proposed by this Board, for the management and direction of Indian affairs in his Majesty's colonies in America, together with the reports made thereupon by the Superintendants for Indian Affairs, and by the governors of his Majesty's several colonies on the continent of North America, and agreed, that it would be advisable in the present state and situation of American affairs to postpone any representation thereupon.

Friday, January 17th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Palmerston.

South Carolina.

fo. 17.

The Secretary laid before the Board a memorial presented to the Lords of the Treasury by Mr. Boone, late Governor of South Carolina, stating the salary withheld from him from the Provincial Treasury there, and desiring such salary may be made good to him out of the revenue of quit rents, which memorial had been communicated to Mr. Pownall by Mr. Lowndes, Secretary to the Treasury Board, pursuant to an order of that Board.

Their lordships took the said memorial into consideration, and Mr. Boone attending, they had some conversation with him upon this subject, after which it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty should be prepared, proposing an additional instruction to the present governor to recommend to the Assembly in his Majesty's name to make good the salary so unreasonably withheld.

Trade, Bilboa.

fo. 18.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Secretary Conway, containing the Board's opinion on the application for another agent or consul at Bilboa, having been prepared pursuant to order, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Plantations General.

Their lordships then took into consideration the several applications for lands in America, as well those referred from the Council, as those made immediately to this Board by letters and petitions; and after some time spent therein, ordered the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council thereupon to be prepared.

Tuesday, January 21st. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Palmerston.

New York.

fo. 19.

Read a letter from Sir Henry Moore, baronet, Governor of New York, dated the 21st of November, 1765, giving an account of the state of confusion in which he found that province on his arrival, occasioned by the opposition to the Stamp Act, and inclosing minutes of what passed in Council there from the 23rd of October to the 13th of November, 1765, on occasion of the riots and disturbances which had prevailed on this account.

The Earl of Dartmouth having acquainted the Board, that his Majesty's Secretary of State had received the same account from the Governor of New York, their lordships did not think it necessary to send him copys of this letter and paper.

South Carolina.

fo. 20.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the memorial presented to the Treasury by Mr. Boone, late Governor of South Carolina, respecting his salary, having been prepared, was, after some consideration agreed to, and ordered to be transcribed.

Read a memorial of Charles Garth, esquire, agent for South Carolina, praying the Board's interposition for obtaining some regulation that may secure the coasting trade of that province from being molested by the captains of his Majesty's ships of war for not complying with the regulations of the Act of Navigation.

Their lordships took the said memorial into consideration together with a letter from the Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina on the same subject, dated September the 8th, 1765, and agreed to consider thereof on Friday next.

fo. 21.

Thursday, January 23rd. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Fitzherbert.

Virginia.

Read two letters from the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, the one dated the 3rd, the other the 5th of November, 1765, containing an account of the opposition given in that colony to the Stamp Act.

Ordered, that the said letters be copied together with Colonel Mercer's declaration of not acting in the office of Distributor of Stamps, which declaration is referred to in Mr. Fauquier's letter of the 3rd of November, and that the draught of a letter to Mr. Secretary Conway be prepared to accompany the said copies.

Senegambia.

fo. 22.

Their lordships then took into consideration a draught of general instructions for the Governor of Senegambia, prepared pursuant to order and made some progress therein.

Friday, January 24th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Rice, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Palmerston.

Senegambia.

Their lordships took into further consideration the draught of instructions for the Governor of Senegambia, and, after some time spent therein, the said was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed, and the draught of a representation to his Majesty thereupon to be prepared.

Virginia.

fo. 23.

South Carolina.

A letter to Mr. Secretary Conway, inclosing copys of the letters from the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia and of the paper therein referred to, relative to the opposition given in that colony to the execution of the Stamp Act, was signed; as was also a representation to his Majesty upon the memorial of Mr. Boone, late Governor of South Carolina.

Plantations General.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon several applications for lands in America, having been prepared pursuant to order, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Nova Scotia.

Read a memorial of the agent for the affairs of Nova Scotia, praying their lordships' approbation of the payments made by him to the Governor, Chief Justice, and late midwife of that province, on account of their respective additional salary and pension, conformable to the distribution of the money annually granted by Parliament for the service of that province as approved by this Board.

fo. 24.

Upon consideration of the said memorial, their lordships approved the payments made by the said agent to the services stated in his memorial, as conformable to the distribution of the annual grants of Parliament approved of by this Board.

South Carolina.

Their lordships took into further consideration the memorial of the agent for South Carolina, respecting the inconveniences to which the coasting trade of that province is liable to be subjected, from an enforcement of the provisions of the Act of Navigation, and proposing a remedy for the same.

Their lordships were of opinion, that the state of the coasting trade of South Carolina, in respect to the inconveniences apprehended, was deserving of consideration; but that, as the propriety of what is proposed as a remedy does depend upon the effect it will have upon the revenue, it is a matter proper for the decision of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury.

fo. 25.

Trade, Portugal.

Their lordships took into further consideration the several papers relative to the grievances under which the British commerce in Portugal now labours, and the Clerk of the Reports was ordered to prepare an abstract thereof, stating the several heads of grievance and complaint, the observations of the Court of Portugal thereon, and the answers and replies of the British ministers and traders thereto.

Monday, January 27th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Dyson, Lord Palmerston.

Virginia.

fo. 26.

Read a letter from Francis Fauquier, esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, dated November 8th, 1766, containing a further account of the state of that colony in respect to the opposition to the execution of the Stamp Act, and expressing his hopes that the heats and prejudice of the people in respect to it, may subside.

Ordered, that a copy of the said letter be made and transmitted to Mr. Secretary Conway, pursuant to his letter of the 25th of December last.

Plantations General.

Read a letter from Mr. Secretary Conway dated this day, inclosing an Address of the House of Commons to his Majesty of the 22nd instant, for a state of the annual expence of the establishments in the American colonies, and of the debts incurred by the said colonies, and what remained undischarged at the close of the last war, and signifying his Majesty's commands, that his Board should prepare and lay the said states before the House.

Ordered, that states of the several matters abovementioned be prepared from such materials as the records in this office can supply.

fo. 27.

Read a letter from Richard Stonehewer, esquire, Secretary to the Duke of Grafton, to Mr. Pownall, dated this day, inclosing the copy of an Address of the House of Lords to his Majesty, desiring that a list of the civil and military officers employed in America may be laid before that House; also inclosing the copy of a list of the civil officers prepared in the office of Mr. Secretary Conway, which list his Grace desires may be corrected, and, where it is defective, rendered perfect, according to the best information the records of this office will supply.

Ordered, that the Secretary do compare the said list with such entries and records of officers and offices as are in this office, and, having rendered the same perfect in every part where it may appear defective, that he do return such list, so amended, to Mr. Stonehewer.

fo. 28.

Wednesday, January 29th. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Palmerston.

Plantations General.

The Secretary laid before the Board a state of the annual expence of the establishments of the American colonies, and also a state of the debts incurred by the said colonies, and what part thereof remain undischarged, and it appearing necessary, from the defective state of the materials, to make a special report to the House of Commons thereupon, such report was accordingly prepared, and having been approved, and the said states annexed thereto, it was signed, and Mr. Dyson was desired to present the same to the House.

fo. 29.

Thursday, January 30th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Dyson, Lord Palmerston.

New Jersey.

Read a letter from William Franklyn, esquire, Governor of New Jersey, dated November 13th, 1765, giving an account of what has passed in that colony respecting the Stamp Act, and inclosing minutes of the proceedings of the Council thereupon.

The said letter and minutes of Council inclosed having been copied, a letter to Mr. Secretary Conway inclosing these copies was signed; and it was ordered, that other copies of the said letter and minutes should be transmitted to the Duke of Grafton.

Bermuda.

fo. 30.

Their lordships took into further consideration an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated September 17th, 1765, referring to this Board 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, which order is mentioned in the minutes of the 6th of December last, and several of the original papers referred to therein, a list of which is annexed to the order, were read.

Friday, January 31st. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Palmerston.

Bermuda.

fo. 31.

Their lordships made a further progress in the consideration of the Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, referring to this Board 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, which order is mentioned in the minutes of yesterday.