Journal, February 1766

Thursday, February 6th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Palmerston.

The following letters and papers received by the packet from New York yesterday were read and considered, vizt.,
New Hampshire.
Letter from Benning Wentworth, esquire, Governor of New Hampshire, to the Board, dated November 25th, 1765, congratulating their lordships on their appointment, and respecting the opposition made to the execution of the Stamp Act.
fo. 32.
Letter from Benning Wentworth, esquire, Governor of New Hampshire, dated November 27th, 1765, relative to the grants of land near garrisons, and to the white pine trees and oaks growing in the Province of Quebec.
Letter from Governor Wentworth to the Board, dated December 16th, 1765, relative to the opposition made to the execution of the Stamp Act, and transmitting.
Naval Office lists of ships and vessels entered and cleared between the 10th of October, 1763, and the 10th of October, 1765.
Massachusetts.
Letter from Francis Bernard, esquire, Governor of Massachusets Bay, to the Board, dated November 30th, 1765, containing a further account of the opposition made to the carrying the Stamp Act into execution, and inclosing,
Journals of the House of Representatives of Massachusets Bay from the 4th to the 8th of November, 1765.
Printed speech from Governor Bernard to the General Assembly of Massachusets Bay on November 8th, 1765.
fo. 33.
Printed copy of the journal of the House of Representatives of Massachusets Bay from 25th of September to the 2nd of November, 1765.
New York.
Letter from Cadwallader Colden, esquire, Lieutenant Governor of New York, to the Board, dated December 6th, 1765, relative to the opposition in that province to the execution of the Stamp Act.
Minutes of Council of the 4th, 7th and 9th of September, 1765, relating to the conservation of the publick peace in New York.
Letter from Sir Henry Moore, Governor of New York, to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated December 21st, 1765, containing his sentiments on the consequences of the opposition made in that province to the execution of the Stamp Act.
Letter from Governor Moore to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated December 21st, 1765, relative to the present state of the Council of that province, and proposing Mr. Henry Cruger, senior, to succeed Mr. George Clarke, a councillor now resident in England.
fo. 34.
Minutes of Council in the State Department from the 8th of December, 1764, to November 12th, 1765.
Ditto: in the Department of Lands, etc., from the 6th of February to the 12th of November, 1765.
Lists of grants of lands passed in New York between April 12th, 1765, and October 31st following.
Naval Office lists for 1754.
New Jersey.
Letter from William Franklin, esquire, Governor of New Jersey, to the Board, dated December 18th, 1765, relative to the difficulties they labour under in that province with regard to the Stamp Act, and inclosing,
Minutes of Council relative to the Stamp Act from the 26th to the 30th of November, 1765.
Votes of the Assembly of New Jersey from November 26th, 1765, to the 30th, relative to the Stamp Act, etc.
Virginia.
fo. 35.
Letter from Francis Fauquier, esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, to the Board, dated November 11th, 1765, relative to patents of land lately signed by him, and the execution of the Stamp Act.
Copy of Lieutenant Governor Fauquier's letter to the Naval officers, dated November 7th, 1765, inclosing certificates.
Printed certificate relative to George Mercer, esquire, Distributor of the Stamps.
List of patents for lands granted since April 1765.
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Fauquier to the Board, dated December 7th, 1765, congratulating their lordships on their appointment; promising to observe the directions with respect to grants of lands adjacent to forts; and expressing his hopes that the Stamp Act will in time enforce itself.
South Carolina.
Letter from William Bull, esquire, Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina, to the Board, dated November 3rd, 1765, relative to the opposition made in that province to the execution of the Stamp Act, and inclosing,
fo. 36.
Copy of a letter from the Inspector and Distributor of Stamps for South Carolina, to the Lieutenant Governor, signifying the resignation of their respective posts.
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Bull to the Board, dated November 6th, 1765, congratulating their lordships on their appointment, and promising to transmit accounts of publick occurences and papers.
Georgia.
Letter from James Wright, esquire, Governor of Georgia, to the Board, dated November 9th, 1765, relative to the silk culture; the contingent and Indian expences; the murder of three Creek Indians, and the difficulties he labours under with respect to the Stamp Act.

Massachusetts.

The Secretary laid before the Board an extract of a private letter to him from Governor Bernard, referred to in the Governor's letter to the Board.

fo. 37.

Plantations General.

Ordered, that two sets of copies and extracts be made of such and so much of the abovementioned letters and papers, as relate to the opposition given to the execution of the Stamp Act in the several colonies, and to the proceedings of the several legislatures thereupon, to be transmitted to his Majesty's Secretaries of State.

New York.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to George Clarke, esquire, one of his Majesty's Council for the Province of New York, now residing in England, desiring to be informed whether he has any intention of returning to that province.

Senegambia.

The draught of general instructions for the Governor of Senegambia, having been transcribed, was laid before the Board, and a representation to his Majesty thereupon, prepared pursuant to order, was signed.

fo. 38.

Friday, February 7th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Fitzherbert.

Plantations General.

One set of copies and extracts of such parts of the letters and papers mentioned in the minutes of yesterday, as relate to the opposition given in the American colonies to the execution of the Stamp Act, having been prepared, a letter to Mr. Secretary Conway, inclosing the said copies and extracts, was signed; and it was ordered, that the other set should be transmitted to the office of his Grace the Duke of Grafton, as soon as possible.

Trade, Ireland.

fo. 39.

Their lordships took into further consideration the papers communicated from the Treasury relative to the state of the manufactures of refining sugar in Ireland, and the Earl of Dartmouth presented to the Board several other papers upon the same subject, delivered to him by his Majesty's Ministers, which having been also read and considered, it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty should be prepared.

Tuesday, February 11th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Rice, Mr. Fitzherbert.

The following letters and papers, received this day by the Grenville packet, were read and considered, vizt.,
Proprieties, Rhode Island.
Letter from Samuel Ward, esquire, Governor of Rhode Island, to the Board, dated 19th of November, 1765, congratulating their lordships on their appointment, and representing the inconveniences that have arisen to that colony on account of the several late Acts of Parliament.
fo. 40.
South Carolina.
Letter from William Bull, esquire, Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina, to the Board, dated December 17th, 1765, relative to the Stamp Act; surveys of land; the cultivation of hemp, and the importation of negroes.
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Bull, dated December 19th, 1765, transmitting,
Printed votes and resolutions of the House of Assembly of South Carolina, November 29th, 1765, respecting the grievances they labour under from several late Acts of Parliament.
Journal of the Commons House of Assembly of South Carolina from the 1st of January, 1765, to the 25th of October following.
Ditto: from January 8th to August 9th, 1765.
Ditto: from October 28th to November 29th, 1765.
Georgia.
Letter from James Wright, esquire, Governor of Georgia, to the Board, dated December 2nd, 1765, relative to the Stamp Act, and the settlement of townships proposed by persons from Ireland and Pennsylvania.
fo. 41.
Minutes of the proceedings of the Governor in Council from the 2nd of July to September 3rd, 1765.
Minute of a Council held at Savannah, October 31st, 1765, relative to the Stamp Act.
Ditto: November 12th, 1765.
Ditto: November 22nd, 1765.
East Florida.
Letter from James Grant, esquire, Governor of East Florida, to the Board, dated December 9th, 1765, relative to a pilot; Indian treaty and presents; Chief Justice; Council, and the execution of the Stamp Act.
Letter from Governor Grant to the Board, dated December 9th, 1765, transmitting,
Naval Office lists of vessels entered and cleared from August 14th to November 14th, 1765.
Letter from Governor Grant to the Board, dated December 9th, 1765, containing an account of a treaty concluded with the Creek Nation.
fo. 42.
Journal of a congress held at Picolata in East Florida by Governor Grant and Mr. Stuart with the several chiefs and warriors of the Creek Nation, on the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th of November, 1765.
Treaty between the King and the Upper and Lower Creek Indians, concluded at Picolata in East Florida on November 18th, 1765.

Plantations General.

Ordered, that two sets of copies and extracts be made of such and so much of the abovementioned letters and papers, as relate to the opposition given to the execution of the Stamp Act in the colonies, to be transmitted to his Majesty's Secretaries of State.

fo. 43.

Read a letter from Charles Lowndes, esquire, Secretary to the Treasury, dated February 1st, 1766, to Mr. Pownall, signifying the King's commands, that their lordships should lay before the House of Commons estimates of the expences of the civil establishments of Georgia, East and West Florida, Nova Scotia, Senegambia, and of the surveys in North America.

Ordered, that draughts of estimates be prepared, pursuant to his Majesty's commands.

Thursday, February 13th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert.

Trade, Ireland.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the papers communicated from the Treasury, relative to the state of the sugar refinery in Ireland, having been prepared pursuant to order, was agreed to, transcribed and signed; as was also a letter to Mr. Secretary Conway inclosing it, and desiring him to lay it before his Majesty.

fo. 44.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit a copy of the abovementioned representation to the Secretary to the Lords of the Treasury, to be laid before that Board.

Plantations General.

One set of copies and extracts of such parts of the letters and papers, mentioned in the minutes of Tuesday last, as relate to the opposition given in the American colonies to the Stamp Act, having been prepared, a letter to Mr. Secretary Conway therewith was signed; and it was ordered, that the other set should be transmitted to the office of his Grace the Duke of Grafton, as soon as possible.

Nova Scotia.

Georgia.

Their lordships took into consideration the draughts of estimates for the support of the civil establishments of the colonies of Nova Scotia and Georgia, the one for the year 1766, the other from Midsummer 1765 to Midsummer 1766, and made some progress therein.

fo. 45.

Plantations General.

The Secretary laid before the Board an account (fn. 1) (prepared pursuant to order) of the tender and amount of the bills of credit which have been created and issued in the several British colonies in America, as well those under Proprietors and Charters, as under his Majesty's immediate Commission and government since January 1749; distinguishing the amount of the same in each colony and plantation, and the respective times when such bills were issued, with the amount of the said bills in money of Great Britain, both at the time when such bills were issued, and at the time of preparing the said account, and also the times fixed for the calling in, sinking and discharging such bills, and the funds appropriated for that purpose.

Mr. Dyson was desired to present the said account to the House of Commons, pursuant to his Majesty's commands.

fo. 46.

South Carolina.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit a copy of the Board's representation to his Majesty on the memorial of Mr. Boone, late Governor of South Carolina, to the Secretary to the Lords of the Treasury, to be communicated to that Board.

Friday, February 14th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Palmerston.

Nova Scotia.

Georgia.

Their lordships made a further progress in the consideration of the estimates of what will be requisite for the support of the civil establishments in the colonies of Nova Scotia and Georgia, and the estimate for Nova Scotia having been settled, it was ordered to be transcribed.

fo. 47.

Georgia.

In considering what may be proper to be granted by Parliament for the further encouragement of the culture and produce of raw silk in Georgia, the state of that culture was examined, and Mr. Kennan, some time since arrived from that province, (and who had been engaged in this culture), attended, and their lordships had some discourse with him upon the state and progress thereof.

Plantations General.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon several applications for lands in the American colonies, having been transcribed pursuant to order, was signed.

fo. 48.

Tuesday, February 18th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Palmerston.

Georgia.

Their lordships took into further consideration the draught of an estimate for the support of the civil establishment of Georgia from Midsummer 1765 to Midsummer 1766, and the said estimate having been agreed to, it was ordered that it should be transcribed.

Their lordships, upon further consideration of the state of the silk culture in Georgia, agreed that the praemiums upon the balls or cocoons of silk should be reduced to 1s. 6d. per pound, and it was ordered, that the draught of a letter to the Governor, containing directions on this head, should be prepared.

fo. 49.

East Florida.

West Florida.

fo. 50.

The draughts of estimates of what will be necessary for the support of the establishments in East Florida and West Florida from Midsummer 1765 to Midsummer 1766, were then taken into consideration, and two letters to the Secretary, the one from Mr. Hannay, lately appointed Provost Marshall, the other from Mr. McPherson, lately appointed Vendue Master in West Florida, requesting that provision may be made in the estimate for salaries to their respective offices, were read, and it was thereupon agreed, that as it appears that provision has been made in the estimates for Nova Scotia and Georgia for a salary to the office of Provost Marshall in those colonies, it might be reasonable to allow £100 per annum to the Provost Marshall of West Florida, and the same was accordingly placed on the estimate; but it not appearing that any salary of any kind had ever been given in any of the colonies to the office of Vendue Master, their lordships did not think fit to make any allowance for that office in West Florida.

In considering the estimate for East Florida, their lordships had reference to the application for a salary made to the Treasury by the Naval Officer of that colony, mentioned in the minutes of the 10th of October last, but their lordships did not think fit to make any provision in the estimate for such salary.

Ordered, that the estimates for East and West Florida be taken into further consideration tomorrow morning, and that notice be given to the agents to attend with a state of the ballance remaining in their hands of the former grants of Parliament for those colonies.

Ordered, that Mr. McPherson, Secretary to the Colony of West Florida, be desired to attend the Board tomorrow morning.

fo. 51.

Pennsylvania.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated February 11th, 1766, referring to the Board, for their examination and report, thirty one Acts passed in Pennsylvania in 1763, 1764, and 1765.

It appearing that the Acts referred to by the above-mentioned order were presented in Council on the 15th of December last, so that a small part of the term, within which the Crown has a power of negative, remains expired, it was ordered, that the said Acts should be forthwith sent to Sir Mathew Lamb for his immediate consideration and report thereupon with all possible dispatch.

fo. 52.

Wednesday, February 19th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert.

East Florida, West Florida.

Their lordships took into further consideration the draughts of the estimates for the civil establishments in East Florida and West Florida, and the agents appointed here for the affairs of those colonies attended, and delivered in states of the ballance now remaining in their hands of the former grants of Parliament for those colonies respectively.

fo. 53.

Mr. McPherson, Secretary to the Colony of West Florida, attended, and having nothing to propose, with respect to the civil establishment of that colony, further than what he requests in his letter to the Secretary read yesterday, the estimate for that colony, and also the estimate for East Florida, were agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Tuesday, February 25th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert.

Plantations General.

fo. 54.

Read a letter from his Grace the Duke of Grafton, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, to the Board, dated February 20th, 1766, inclosing an Address of the House of Lords to the King of the 14th 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 war, and signifying his Majesty's commands to this Board to prepare and lay the said states before the House of Lords.

It appearing that the states called for by the House of Lords were the same as those called for by the House of Commons in a late Address to his Majesty, mentioned in the minutes of the 27th of last month, the like return, mutatis mutandis, made to that House thereupon, was prepared, and the report having been signed, the Earl of Dartmouth was desired to present it to the House of Lords, pursuant to his Majesty's commands.

South Carolina.

fo. 55.

Read an Order of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated February 22nd, 1766, directing this Board to prepare and lay before the Committee the draught of an additional instruction to the Governor of South Carolina, directing him to recommend to the Assembly to make provision for making good to the late Governor the salary usually allowed to his predecessors and refused to him.

The draught of an additional instruction having been prepared, pursuant to the said order, it was approved, and a report of the Lords of the Committee of Council thereupon was signed.

Grenada.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated February 15th, 1766, directing this Board to prepare the draught of an additional instruction for the Governor of Grenada and the other Southern Charibbee Islands, requiring him to constitute an assembly for the said Island of Grenada.

The draught of an additional instruction having been prepared pursuant to the said order, it was approved, and ordered, that the draught of a report thereupon should be prepared.

fo. 56.

Trade, Leghorn.

Their lordships took into consideration the state of the silk manufacture in this kingdom, and two letters from Mr. Dick, the British Consul at Leghorn, relative to the state of our commerce in those parts of this branch of it, and also to the state of the manufacture of silk, were read.

Georgia.

The draught of a letter to the Governor of Georgia, containing directions in respect to the premium allowed upon the culture of raw silk in that colony, having been prepared pursuant to order, was approved and ordered to be transcribed.

Newfoundland.

fo. 57.

Read a memorial of Monsieur Philibot, one of his Majesty's new subjects in the Province of Quebec, stating his possession of a fishing post on the Coast of Labradore, and setting forth the loss he has sustained by having been dispossessed of the said post, in consequence of certain regulations made by the Governor of Newfoundland in respect to the fishing on that coast.

Upon this occasion the following papers relative to Monsieur Philibot's case, were read and considered, vizt.,
Letter from J. C. Roberts, esquire, to the Secretary, dated February 17th, 1766, transmitting, by General Conway's direction, two papers relative to the case of Captain Philibot, who complains of having been deprived by Governor Pallisser's regulations, of an extensive fishery on the Coast of Labrador, granted to him by Governor Murray.
The case of Captain Philibot.
Copy of Commander Pallisser's answer to Philibot's case, 21st December, 1765.
Quebec.
Letter from James Murray, esquire, Governor of the Province of Quebec, to the Board, dated October 28th, 1765, recommending Mr. Philibot to their lordships' favour.

fo. 58.

Miscellanies.

The Secretary laid before the Board an account of the petty expences and incidental charges of this office from the 5th of July to the 10th of October, 1765, amounting in the whole to five hundred and sixty three pounds, sixteen shillings and six pence, and a letter to the Lords of the Treasury, desiring payment thereof, and of the salaries due to the Secretary and other officers in the service of this Board, was signed.

Thursday, February 27th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Fitzherbert.

Senegambia.

The Secretary laid before the Board the general instructions for the Governor of Senegambia, signed by his Majesty, and the Governor attending they were delivered to him, and he took his leave.

fo. 59.

Trade.

The Committee of the Weavers' Company attended and prayed to know the result of their lordships' consideration of the case of the silk manufacturers of this kingdom, and were informed, that it did appear evidently to the Board that their case deserved consideration, and that the present state of the manufacture required relief; but as the matter had been already before Parliament, and the Weavers had declared their intention to bring it again before Parliament this sessions, their lordships did not think it proper for them to suggest what the nature and extent of that relief should be, leaving it to the wisdom of Parliament to make such regulations as should be found most adviseable.

Senegambia.

fo. 60.

Plantations General.

Their lordships took into consideration an estimate of what will be necessary for the support of the civil establishment of Senegambia on the Coast of Africa, and also an estimate of what will be necessary for carrying on the general survey of America on the plan approved, and the said estimates having been agreed to, were ordered to be transcribed.

Georgia, Grenada.

The draught of a letter to the Governor of Georgia containing directions in respect to the premium on the culture of raw silk, having been transcribed pursuant to order, was signed; as was also a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council, with the draught of an additional instruction to the Governor of Grenada, directing him to constitute an Assembly for that island.

Friday, February 28th. Present:—Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Palmerston.

Nova Scotia.

fo. 61.

fo. 62.

Read a letter from Charles Lowndes, esquire, Secretary to the Treasury, to Mr. Pownall, dated February 15th, 1766, signifying that the Chancellor of the Exchequer has received the King's commands, that this Board should lay before the House of Commons an account of expences incurred for the service of Nova Scotia in 1750, 1751, 1752, 1762 and 1763, and not provided for by Parliament.

The memorial of the agent for Nova Scotia, upon which the said letter appears to have been founded, having been read and considered, it was ordered, that the agent should prepare an account of the bills drawn by the Governor of Nova Scotia for the expences incurred in the years 1762 and 1763, over and above the grants of Parliament for those years, distinguishing what part of the said bills have been paid, and what remains due; also an account of the state of the demands of the widow of Captain How, distinguishing what part of the said demand has been paid, and what remains due; and also an account of the amount of the goods delivered by the contractor for the supply of the Indian commerce, distinguishing what part of his demand has been paid, and what remains due.

Read a letter from Charles Lowndes, esquire, Secretary to the Lords of the Treasury, to the Secretary, dated February 19th, 1766, transmitting, by the directions of that Board, for their lordships' opinion.
The petition of Benjamin Gerrish, late Commissary of Indian Commerce in the Province of Nova Scotia, for payment of six hundred and ninety one pounds, eight shillings, being the ballance of his account as audited by orders of Governor Wilmot.

fo. 63.

Mr. Gerrish attended, and the facts relative to his appointment to be Commissary for the Indian trade, the nature of his allowance for that service, and the audit of his accounts by a committee of the Council, having been verified by the original Commission and instructions to him, and by an attested copy of the report of the committee, which original papers were produced by Mr. Gerrish, it was ordered, that the Secretary should signify the same to the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, and acquaint him that it is the opinion of this Board that, if Mr. Gerrish's demands shall, upon an examination of his accounts, appear to be just, the payment of it may be provided for by inserting it in the account of Nova Scotia expences incurred on account of the Indian commerce, which account the Board is now preparing to lay before Parliament.

Footnotes