Journal, January 1767

fo. 1.

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

Friday, January 2nd. Present:—Lord Viscount Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Trade, Quarantine.

fo. 2.

Their lordships, pursuant to order, took into further consideration the reference from the Lords of the Committee of Council, of the petitions of the merchants of Liverpool trading to the Italian ports in general, and of the merchants of London trading to the dominions of the King of Sardinia in particular, praying that all ships and vessels arriving from those parts may be no longer obliged to perform Quarantine; and Mr. Prescot and Mr. Godheard Hagen, attending in behalf of the Liverpool petition, with Mr. Matteux and others in behalf of the merchants trading to the dominions of the King of Sardinia, and several other considerable merchants trading to the ports of Italy in general, their lordships heard what they had to offer, and after an examination into the nature of the regulations for health in the several Italian ports, and of the communication and intercourse between them and the Levant and Coast of Barbary, the merchants withdrew; and their lordships, after mature consideration, ordered the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council to be prepared.

Plantations General.

fo. 3.

Read a letter from John Stuart, esquire, Superintendant for Indian Affairs in the Southern District, to the Board, dated November 16th, 1766, relating to the Indian War, in which several of the southern provinces are likely to be involved, and inclosing some papers to which he refers.

Massachusetts.

Read a letter from Francis Bernard, esquire, Governor of Massachusets Bay, dated November 15th, 1766, containing an account of the manufactures set up there since 1734, and the publick encouragements given thereto.

Ordered, that the abovementioned letter from Mr. Stuart, and the papers therein referred to, and also the letter from the Governor of the Massachusets Bay, be copied, to be transmitted to the Earl of Shelburne.

fo. 4.

Read the duplicate of a letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Shelburne, dated November 14th, 1766, relative to proceedings in the general Court in the case of a compensation to the sufferers by the riots at Boston in August 1765, and inclosing several papers relative thereto.

Virginia.

Read two letters from the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, dated the 8th and 10th of November, 1766, inclosing his speech to the Council and Assembly on their meeting, and the Council's address, and giving an account of what had been done in the prosecution of several persons for a riot at Norfolk, mentioned in his former letter.

South Carolina.

Read a letter from the Governor of South Carolina, dated November 14th, 1766, inclosing Naval Office lists of shipping entered and cleared from Charles Town, in Michaelmas quarter ended 10th October, 1766.

fo. 5.

East Florida.

Read two letters from the Governor of East Florida, dated the 4th of October, and 3rd of November, 1766, inclosing accounts of contingent expences incurred there from the 24th of June to the 3rd of October, 1766; and also Naval Office lists of shipping entered and cleared from the 24th of June to the 29th of September, 1766.

Georgia.

Read three letters from the Governor of Georgia, dated the 25th of September, 10th and 20th of October 1766, relating to the state of the silk culture; containing his opinion on Mr. Kennan's proposals, and transmitting the following publick papers.
Minutes of Council from 11th of April to the 16th of June, 1766.
Abstracts of grants registered from the 25th of September, 1765, to 25th of September, 1766.
fo. 6.
Naval Office lists of ships entered and cleared from the 5th of January to the 5th of April, 1766.
Copy of a letter from Mr. Ottolenghe to Governor Wright, dated October 2nd, 1766, containing an account of the silk culture.
Copy of articles of agreement between Governor Wright and Messrs. Ottolenghe and Baillon, April 4th, 1764.

West Florida.

Read two letters from the Governor of West Florida, to the Secretary, inclosing copies of letters (and other papers therein referred to), which have passed between him and the officers having military command there.

Ordered, that the said letters to the Secretary be copied, to be transmitted with the inclosures to the Secretary of State.

fo. 7.

Plantations General.

A letter to the Earl of Shelburne, to accompany the said copies and inclosures, and also the letter from the Superintendant for Indian Affairs, and its inclosures, and that from the Governor of the Massachusets Bay relative to manufactures, was signed.

Nova Scotia, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania.

The Secretary laid before the Board draughts of instructions for the observance of the Laws of Trade, prepared pursuant to order for the Governors of Nova Scotia and New Hampshire; also a draught of instructions for the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania; and the said draughts having been approved, representations to his Majesty thereupon were agreed to and signed.

fo. 8.

Tuesday, January 6th. Present:—Lord Viscount Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert.

Trade, Quarantine.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon the business of Quarantine, having been prepared pursuant to order, was approved, transcribed and signed.

Georgia.

fo. 9.

The Secretary acquainted the Board that the parties interested for and against the confirmation of an Act, passed with a suspending clause, in the Province of Georgia in 1765, entituled, an Act for the better strengthening and settling this province by compelling the several persons who claim to hold lands within the same under any grant or grants from his Majesty, witnessed by the Governor of South Carolina, to bring or send into this province a number of white persons or negroes in proportion to the lands they claim, etc., etc. had desired him to move their lordships to appoint a day when they may be heard by their counsel upon the said Act.

Ordered, that the said Act be taken into consideration on Thursday, the 22nd instant, and that the Secretary do give notice thereof to the parties interested therein.

Plantations General.

Their lordships took into consideration the state of the several Councils in his Majesty's Colonies in America, and the following representations to his Majesty, recommending persons to supply vacancies, were signed, vizt.,

North Carolina.

fo. 10.

Representation to his Majesty proposing that Samuel Strudwick, esquire, may be appointed one of the Council in North Carolina, in the room of Richard Spaight, deceased.

South Carolina.

Representation to his Majesty proposing that Daniel Moore, esquire, may be appointed of the Council in South Carolina.

East Florida.

Representation to his Majesty proposing that Thomas Wooldridge, esquire, may be appointed one of the Council in East Florida.

Barbados.

Representation to his Majesty proposing that Francis Ford, esquire, may be appointed a member of the Council in the Island of Barbados, in the room of Richard Worsam, esquire, deceased.

St. Christopher's.

Representation to his Majesty proposing that Edward Peters, esquire, may be appointed one of the Council in the Island of St. Christopher's.

fo. 11.

Antigua.

Representation to his Majesty proposing that Oliver Nugent and Josiah Martin, junior, esquires, may be appointed of the Council in the Island of Antigua.

Plantations General.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to such members of his Majesty's Councils in the Plantations respectively, as are now resident here without leave from his Majesty, signifying to them the purport of his Majesty's instructions, by which the seats of members of the Council, continuing absent for two years without his Majesty's leave, are declared void, and that their lordships shall be under the necessity of recommending persons to his Majesty to supply the vacant seats of such as are under this predicament, unless they do forthwith signify their intention of returning to their respective stations.

fo. 12.

Thursday, January 15th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert.

South Carolina.

Georgia.

The Secretary laid before the Board a letter to him from Mr. Garth, agent for South Carolina, and instructed to oppose the confirmation of the Act mentioned in the minutes of the last day's meeting "for better strengthening the Province of Georgia"; signifying the necessity he is under of attending on some business in the country, and praying that the hearing on that Act, appointed for Thursday next, may be put off to a further day.

fo. 13.

Their lordships, on consideration of Mr. Garth's request, did (Mr. Knox, agent for Georgia, being present) agree to postpone the hearing on the said Act, and fixed it for Thursday, the 29th instant, unless the parties should agree between themselves on some other day.

Jamaica, Bermuda.

The Secretary laid before the Board letters to him from Mr. Kennion, a member of his Majesty's Council in Jamaica, and from Mr. Hunt, a member of his Majesty's Council in the Bermuda Islands, both resident here, signifying their intention of returning to their respective stations, the one in three months, the other in six months.

Quebec.

fo. 14.

Read a letter from the Earl of Shelburne, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, dated the 30th of December, 1766, inclosing several papers relative to a claim of Monsieur Rigaud de Vaudreuil and Madame his wife, to a trading post at the Baye de Puants in North America, under a grant from the Governor of Canada in 1759, and signifying his Majesty's commands, that the Board should report their opinion thereupon, and, if they thought the claim well founded, what compensation it might be proper to make the claimants for being kept out of possession.

Their lordships, on mature consideration of the said letter and papers, agreed in their opinion thereupon, and ordered the draught of a report of that opinion to be prepared.

fo. 15.

Nova Scotia.

Read several letters and papers from the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, the titles of which are as follow, vizt.,
Letter from Lord William Campbell, Governor of Nova Scotia, to the Board, dated December 4th, 1766, relative to a bill for partition of land in Coparcenary, etc.
List of laws passed in Nova Scotia in the session ended the 22nd of November. 1766
Remarks on the bill entitled an Act for partition of lands in Coparcenary, etc.
fo. 16.
Letter from Lord William Campbell, Governor of Nova Scotia, dated December 5th, 1766, relative to his arrival in that province, the state thereof, and the Lieutenant Governor's commercial connections and influence; and recommending Major Gorham as a proper person to be appointed Lieutenant Governor in case of a vacancy.
Lieutenant Governor's affidavit, disclaiming his having any concern in trade.
Address of the Council and House of Assembly in Nova Scotia to his Majesty, respecting the debts incurred in that colony, and proposing a method of discharging them.
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Francklin to the Secretary, dated September 10th, 1766, acknowledging the receipt of his letter, and the Acts of Parliament passed last session, which relate to America.
fo. 17.
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Francklin, to the Board, dated November 22nd, 1766, acknowledging the receipt of letters; and relating to Mr. Morris, the Chief Surveyor of the Province of Nova Scotia, and Acts passed in the last session of Assembly.
Printed form of the return to be made by each township of Nova Scotia.
Report of a survey of the River St. John's and of the coast from thence to Passamaquoddy, made by Mr. Morris.

Ordered, that the Governor's letter of the 5th of December, and that from the Lieutenant Governor, dated the 22nd of November, be copied, together with the inclosures, to be communicated to the Earl of Shelburne.

fo. 18.

Ordered that the bill for the better partition of lands in Coparcenary, etc., be referred to Sir Mathew Lamb for his opinion in point of law, and that the Secretary do transmit with it a copy of the Governor's letter that accompanys it.

Tuesday, January 20th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

New York.

fo. 19.

Read a letter from Sir Henry Moore, baronet, Governor of New York, to the Board, dated November 15th, 1766, relative to the unwillingness of the Assembly to pass any bill, in consequence of the late instruction concerning paper currency, on account of the suspending clause.
Printed copy of the Governor's speech to the Council and Assembly on the 10th of November, 1766.
The address of the Assembly of New York to the Governor, in answer to his speech, November, 13th 1766.
Address of the Council to the Governor, in answer to his speech, November 14th, 1766.

Ordered, that the said letter, with its inclosures, be copied to be communicated to the Earl of Shelburne, and that the Secretary do transmit the same to his Lordship's Secretary, together with the papers mentioned in the minutes of the last day's meeting.

fo. 20.

Quebec.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty on the claim of Monsieur and Madame Vaudreuil having been prepared pursuant to order, was considered and approved, and a fair transcript thereof ordered to be made for signing.

Barbados.

Read a letter from Richard Salter, esquire, one of his Majesty's Council for the Island of Barbados, to the Secretary, dated January 14th, 1767, signifying his intention to wait till a new governor should be appointed, and to go over with him.

Plantations General.

fo. 21.

Read a letter from Charles Lowndes, esquire, Secretary to the Lords of the Treasury, to Mr. Pownall, dated January 20th, 1767, desiring him to move the Board, that their lordships will be pleased to prepare and lay before the House of Commons, the several estimates of the expences attending the Colonies of Georgia, East Florida, West Florida, and Nova Scotia, and Senegambia.

Nova Scotia, Georgia, East Florida, West Florida, Senegambia.

Ordered, that the Secretary do give notice to the agents for the affairs of Nova Scotia, Georgia, East Florida, West Florida and Senegambia, to attend the Board on Thursday next, and that they come prepared to lay before their lordships the present state of their accounts, in respect to the receipt and issue of the money granted by Parliament for the service of the said provinces respectively, and of the ballance thereof remaining in their hands.

fo. 22.

Thursday, January 22nd. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Plantations General, Senegambia, Georgia, Nova Scotia, East Florida, West Florida.

fo. 23.

Their lordships took into consideration the letter from Mr. Lowndes, mentioned in the minutes of Tuesday last, containing his Majesty's directions, signified to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for preparing the estimates for Senegambia, Georgia, Nova Scotia, East Florida, West Florida, and for general surveys; and the agents for the receipt and issue of the money granted by Parliament for the service of the several provinces abovementioned, attending, were respectively called in and examined as to the state of their accounts, and the ballances remaining in their hands, after which the quantum of the respective estimates was settled, and draughts of said estimates ordered to be prepared.

Nova Scotia.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit to Mr. Lowndes, to be laid before the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, the abstract states of what sums remain unpaid on account of Indian services in Nova Scotia, during the administration of Lieutenant Governor Belcher and Governor Wilmot, which states were received with Lieutenant Governor Francklin's letter of September 3rd, 1766, and that he do likewise transmit at the same time extracts of so much of the said letter, and of one from Mr. Green as relate to these demands.

fo. 24.

Quebec.

Their lordships took into further consideration the representation on the claim of Monsieur and Madame Vaudreuil to the Post de la Baye in North America.

Trade, Spain.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to the Secretary to the Commissioners of his Majesty's Customs, to desire he will move the said Commissioners, that the following account be prepared and transmitted to their lordships as soon as conveniently may be, vizt.,
An account of the exports and imports to and from Spain from Christmas 1750 to Christmas 1765, distinguishing each year, and the quantity and value of the several commodities exported and imported.

fo. 25.

Friday, January 23rd. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Robinson.

Plantations General.

Their lordships took into consideration an order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated the 8th of July, 1766, referring to the Board a memorial of Sir William Johnson, baronet, Superintendant for Indian Affairs, setting forth his services, and praying a consideration thereof in several requests stated in the said memorial.

Their lordships, upon consideration of the said memorial and order of reference, agreed in their opinion thereupon, and ordered the draught of a report of that opinion to be prepared.

fo. 26.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following estimates, prepared pursuant to order, vizt.,
Senegambia.
Estimate of the expence of supporting and maintaining the civil establishment of the Government of Senegambia, for 1767.
Nova Scotia.
Estimate of the expence of supporting the civil establishment of Nova Scotia, for 1767.
Georgia.
Estimate of the civil establishment of the Colony of Georgia and other incidental expences from June 1766 to June 1767.
East Florida.
Estimate of the civil establishment of the Province of East Florida from the 24th of June, 1766, to 24th of June, 1767.
West Florida.
Estimate of the civil establishment of the Province of West Florida from June 1766 to June 1767.
Plantations General.
Estimate of the expence attending general surveys in North America for the year 1767.

fo. 27.

The said estimates having been agreed to, fair transcripts were ordered to be made, to be laid before Parliament, and also copies thereof to be transmitted to the Treasury.

Quebec.

A representation to his Majesty upon the claims of Monsieur and Madame Vaudreuil was signed; as was also a letter to the Earl of Shelburne inclosing it, and desiring him him to lay it before his Majesty.

Nova Scotia.

fo. 28.

Their lordships took into consideration a minute of this Board on the 15th of May, 1766, on reading a letter to Mr. Pownall from Mr. Lowndes, Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, dated the 18th of April, 1766, signifying that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had received his Majesty's commands, that this Board should prepare and lay before Parliament in this Session, an account of what appears to be due to Mr. Gerrish, Commissary for Indian Affairs in Nova Scotia, on account of that service in the year 1760.

Ordered, that an account of the said service, specifying the balance due to Mr. Gerrish, and allowed by the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, be prepared, to be laid before Parliament.

Tuesday, January 27th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Nova Scotia.

fo. 29.

The Secretary laid before the Board an account prepared pursuant to order, specifying the ballance due to Mr. Guerrish, late Commissary for Indian Affairs in Nova Scotia, for services incurred in 1760, and the said account having been approved, it was ordered, that the Secretary should transmit a copy of it to the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, together with copies of the estimates, ordered to be transmitted to the Treasury by the minutes of Friday last.

Trade, Africa.

Read a letter to the Secretary from Philip Stephens, esquire, Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, dated January 20th, 1767, inclosing the returns, made by the captain of his Majesty's ship Phoenix, of the state and condition of the several forts on the Coast of Africa.

fo. 30.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, for such accounts of the state and progress of the fort building at Cape Appollonia, as have been received since those communicated to the Board in July last.

Barbados.

Read a letter from George Walker, esquire, a member of his Majesty's Council in Barbados, to the Secretary, dated 24th January, 1767, stating his having been appointed agent for that island, and praying their lordships' indulgence, that he may continue some time longer in England.

Proprieties, Rhode Island.

Read a letter from Samuel Ward, esquire, Governor of Rhode Island, to the Board, dated November 10th, 1766, signifying that he had laid their lordships' letter relative to manufactures set up in that colony, etc., before the General Assembly, and promising, when they have made their report, to transmit it.

fo. 31.

Georgia, South Carolina.

The parties interested for and against the Act for the strengthening, etc., the Province of Georgia, having signified to the Board that they had left it to their respective counsel to fix on a day for attending the Board on that subject, the consideration of the said Act, appointed for Thursday next, was postponed.

Quebec.

Their lordships took into consideration several ordinances made and published, and draughts of ordinances prepared and transmitted by the late President and Council of Quebec, subsequent to the Governor's leaving the province, and made some progress therein.

fo. 32.

Thursday, January 29th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

The Secretary laid before the Board several letters and papers received by the West Indian packets, the titles of which are as follows, and the said letters and papers were read, vizt.,
New York.
Letter from Sir Henry Moore, baronet, Governor of New York, to the Board, dated December 10th, 1766, transmitting a petition to the House of Commons, signed by a great number of the merchants of the City of New York, relative to the trade and commerce of North America, as it stands regulated by the Acts of the 4th and 6th years of his present Majesty's reign.
fo. 33.
South Carolina.
Letter from Lord Charles Greville Montagu, Governor of South Carolina, dated December 8th, 1766, transmitting,
List of exports from the Port of Charles Town from the year 1747.
Return of the militia and regular troops in South Carolina.
Georgia.
Letter from James Wright, esquire, Governor of Georgia, to the Board, dated November 18th, 1766, containing an account of the manufactures set up and carried on in that province since the year 1734.
East Florida.
Letter from James Grant, esquire, Governor of East Florida, dated November 25th, 1766, acknowledging the receipt of their lordships' letter of 11th of July last, relative to Sir Mathew Lamb's opinion on several Commissions issued by him.
fo. 34.
Letter from James Grant, esquire, Governor of East Florida, dated November 27th, 1766, transmitting,
Duplicate of his letter for the Earl of Shelburne, dated November 27th, 1766, relative to the Bermudian settlers being prevented from executing their plan on account of the sickness that hath generally prevailed in America; the death of Mr. Grover, Chief Justice, and his appointment of Mr. Drayton to supply the vacancy.
Letter from Governor Grant, dated November 25th, 1766, informing the Board, that no manufactures have been set up in East Florida.
West Florida.
fo. 35.
Letter from George Johnstone, esquire, Governor of West Florida, to the Secretary, dated October 22nd, 1766, complaining of the attempt of Lieutenant Governor Browne to take upon him the government, and inclosing several papers relative thereto.
Letter from Governor Johnstone to the Secretary, dated October 22nd, 1766, relative to depredations committed by the Creek and Choctaw Indians, and the internal state of the province; also inclosing several papers respecting the proceedings of the Council, etc.
Letter from Governor Johnstone to the Secretary, dated October 23rd, 1766, containing several proposals for the improvement of the commerce of the Province of West Florida.
Plantations General.
fo. 36.
Letter from John Stuart, esquire, Superintendant of Indian Affairs in the Southern District of North America, to the Board, dated December 2nd, 1766, containing an account of such matters as have occurred in the different nations since his letter of the 16th of November, and inclosing several papers relative to his proceedings.
Letter from William Gerard de Brahm, esquire, Surveyor General for the Southern District of America, to the Board, dated October 1st, 1766, transmitting,
The second section of the map from the sea coast to St. John's River, and a special chart of Muskito Inlet.

New York.

fo. 37.

Their lordships agreed in opinion that the petition of the merchants of New York to the House of Commons, should be forthwith transmitted to the Earl of Shelburne to be laid before his Majesty for his Majesty's directions thereupon, and a letter to his Lordship inclosing it, and also a copy of Sir Henry Moore's letter that accompanyed it, was signed.

Plantations General.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit to Mr. McLean, to be laid before the Earl of Shelburne, copies of the letters to this Board, from the Governors of East Florida, West Florida and Georgia, and also copies of the letter and papers from Mr. Stuart, Superintendant for Indian Affairs.

Quebec.

Their lordships took into further consideration the ordinances of Quebec, passed and transmitted by the late President of the Council there, and having gone through the same, the draught of a representation to his Majesty thereupon, was ordered to be prepared.