Journal, May 1767

fo. 130.

Tuesday, May 5th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Rice, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Trade.

fo. 131.

Their lordships took into further consideration the reference from Mr. Secretary Conway of the papers relative to the herring fishery at Hamburgh, and it was ordered, that copies of the said papers should be transmitted to the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, to be communicated to the Royal Burroughs in Scotland, and also like copies to the Society of the free British Herring Fishery in London, to the end that the Board may receive the opinion of those two chambers as well with respect to the effect which the establishment of the Danish company may have upon the British commerce for herrings, as to the means of obviating the inconveniences supposed to follow from it.

New Jersey.

Their lordships took into consideration an Act passed in the Province of New Jersey in 1766, intituled, an Act appointing Commissioners for supplying the several barracks erected in this colony with furniture, and other necessaries for accommodating the King's troops in, or marching through this colony; and for defraying other incidental charges, together with Sir Mathew Lamb's report thereupon, dated the 2nd instant; and after some time spent therein, it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty, proposing the repeal of the said Act, should be prepared.

fo. 132.

Thursday, May 7th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

East Florida, West Florida.

Their lordships took into consideration several applications for lands in the Colonies of East Florida and West Florida, referred to them by the Lords of a Committee of Council.

East Florida.

fo. 133.

Lord Adam Gordon and several other persons associated for the settlement of lands in East Florida attending, were called in, and a paper offered by them containing reasons for the speedy determination upon the applications for lands in that colony was received, and read, after which it was ordered, that draughts of reports to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon the abovementioned applications should be prepared.

Friday, May 8th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

East Florida, West Florida.

Trade.

fo. 134.

The draughts of reports to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon the applications for lands in East Florida and West Florida having been prepared pursuant to order, were approved, transcribed and signed; as was also a letter to Mr. Secretary Conway upon the application made by the Consul at Elsingore respecting the mode of collecting the allowances which several merchants of Great Britain and Ireland have agreed to be paid him upon their ships trading to the Baltic.

New Jersey.

The draughts of a representation to his Majesty proposing the repeal of an Act passed in the Province of New Jersey in 1766, intituled, an Act appointing Commissioners for supplying the several barracks erected in this colony with furniture and other necessaries for accomodating the King's troops in, or marching through this colony; and for defraing other incidental charges, having been prepared pursuant to order, was approved, transcribed and signed.

fo. 135.

Monday, May 11th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Dyson.

Massachusetts Bay, New Jersey.

Read a letter from the Earl of Shelburne, dated the 11th instant, signifying his Majesty's commands that the Board do lay before the House of Commons the printed journals of the House of Representatives of Massachusets Bay from October to December 1766, and also the notes and proceedings of the Assembly of New Jersey in June 1766.

The said papers having been laid before the Board, Lord Clare was desired to present them to the House pursuant to his Majesty's commands.

fo. 136.

Tuesday, May 12th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert.

Virginia.

Read a letter to the Secretary from Edward Stanley, esquire, Secretary to the Commissioners of the Customs, dated the 6th instant, containing their opinion on an Act passed in Virginia in 1765, for amending the staple of tobacco and for preventing frauds in his Majesty's Customs.

Trade.

Read a letter from Edward Stanley, esquire, to the Secretary, dated the 7th instant, transmitting An account of the exports and imports to and from Spain and England from Christmas 1750 to Christmas 1765, with the quantities and values of the several commodities exported and imported.

fo. 137.

Newfoundland, Quebec.

Read a letter from the Earl of Shelburne to the Board, dated April 28th, 1767, referring several papers respecting the claim of Monsieur Tachet and the heirs of Messieurs Bissot and Joliet to certain lands, posts and privileges in Quebec and Newfoundland, and signifying his Majesty's pleasure, that the Board report their opinion on the validity of the said claim.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit to his Majesty's Attorney and Solicitor General the papers referred to in the Earl of Shelburne's letter, to be considered by them, together with those upon the same subject, ordered to be referred to them on the 16th of April.

Nova Scotia.

fo. 138.

Read a letter from the Earl of Shelburne, dated April 28th, 1767, referring to the Board for their report, a petition of the principal inhabitants of Louisbourg in the Island of Cape Breton, stating several grievances under which they labour, and praying relief.

Plantations General.

Several letters and papers received from the Governors and other officers of the Crown in the colonies were laid before the Board and read, the titles of which are as follows, vizt.,
Letter from William Gerard de Brahm, esquire, Surveyor General of the Southern District of America, to the Board, dated January 20th, 1767, transmitting,
The third section of a map of East Florida from the sea coast to, and including St. John's River.
Quebec.
fo. 139.
Letter from Guy Carleton, esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, to the Board, dated January 17th, 1767, transmitting five papers relative to the claims of Messrs. Cugnet and Tachet in behalf of themselves and others, to tracts of land on the Labrador Coast, and containing remarks on the fisheries in those parts.
North Carolina.
Letter from William Tryon, esquire, Governor of North Carolina, to the Board, dated January 30th, 1767, containing an account of the manufacturers set up and carried on in that province since 1734, and the publick encouragements given thereto.
Letter from William Tryon, esquire, Governor of North Carolina, to the Board, dated January 31st, 1767, containing his observations on several Acts lately passed there.
fo. 140.
Letter from William Tryon, esquire, Governor of North Carolina, to the Board, dated February 2nd, 1767, relative to the saw mills and timber of that province.
Georgia.
Letter from James Wright esquire, Governor of Georgia, to the Board, dated February 12th, 1767, relative to the present state of the province, and transmitting,
Accounts of the produce and application of the aids granted to his Majesty by Acts of Assembly, passed the 29th day of February, 1764, and the 25th of March, 1765, for the support of government for those years.
Abstracts of grants of land registered from the 25th of September, 1765, to the 25th of September, 1766.
Naval Office lists of ships and vessels entered and cleared in the Port of Savannah, between the 5th April and 10th October, 1766.
fo. 141.
East Florida.
Letter from James Grant, esquire, Governor of East Florida, to the Secretary, dated February 13th, 1767, relative to Mr. Rolle, and inclosing,
Duplicate of a letter from James Grant, esquire, Governor of East Florida, to Lachlin Macleane, esquire, dated February 13th, 1767, relative to the conduct of Denys Rolle, esquire.
Letter from James Grant, esquire, Governor of East Florida, to the Board, dated February 21st, 1767, transmitting,
Naval Office lists of ships and vessels which have cleared and entered in the Port of St. Augustine, from the 29th of September to 25th December, 1766.
Duplicate (No. 1) of a letter from James Grant, esquire, Governor of East Florida, to the Earl of Shelburne, dated February 22nd, 1767, relative to the state of Indian affairs.
fo. 142.
Duplicate (No. 2) of a letter from James Grant, esquire, Governor of East Florida, to the Earl of Shelburne, dated February 22nd, 1767, signifying the satisfaction he has in finding that his conduct has met with his Majesty's approbation.
West Florida.
Letter from George Johnstone, esquire, Governor of West Florida, to the Secretary, dated October 21st, 1766, inclosing a draught on the agent for that province.
Letter from George Johnstone, esquire, Governor of West Florida, to the Secretary, dated November 10th, 1766, relative to presents to Indians, and inclosing a bill of parcels and receipt.
Letter from Governor Johnstone to the Secretary, dated November 22nd, 1766, transmitting,
fo. 143.
Copy of Governor Johnstone's speech to the Council and Assembly.
Copies of the Council and Assembly's addresses to the Governor, with his answers to them.
Application of the Council and Assembly to the Governor requesting him to transmit their memorial.
A joint representation of the Council and Assembly of West Florida on the state of that province.
Letter from Montford Brown, esquire, Lieutenant Governor of West Florida, to the Secretary, dated January 12th, 1767, containing a schedule of the papers delivered to him by Governor Johnstone.
fo. 144.
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Brown to the Board, dated January 25th, 1767, containing an account of the manufactures set up and carried on in that province since 1734, and of the publick encouragements given thereto.
Jamaica.
Letter from Roger Hope Elletson, esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica, to the Board, dated December 31st, 1766, acknowledging the receipt of the Board's letter of the 25th of June last, with an additional instruction respecting the privileges allowed to the members of the Council and Assembly of that island, and containing an account of the proceedings of the Assembly in their last session.
Printed copies of the Lieutenant Governor's speech to the Council and Assembly; of their answers; and his replies.
Copy of the Lieutenant Governor's speech to the Council and Assembly at the close of their session.
fo. 145.
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Elletson to the Board, dated January 4th, 1767, respecting Mr. Douglas, late Collector of the Customs in Jamaica, who was suspended from his office for mal-administration; committed, and upon an hearing before the Chief Justice, released.
Copy of minutes of Council containing the proceedings in the case of Mr. Douglas.
Copy of heads of reasons given by Thomas Beach, esquire, Chief Justice of Jamaica, for discharging Mr. Douglas out of custody, upon the return of a Habeas Corpus the 17th day of December, 1766.
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Elletson to the Board, dated January the 5th, 1767, recommending Samuel Williams Haughton, esquire, to be of the Council for Jamaica.
fo. 146.
Letter from Lieutenant Governor Elletson to the Board, dated March the 14th, 1767, transmitting,
Minutes of Council from the 17th of September, 1765, to the 22nd of December, 1766.
Journal of the Council in Assembly from the 24th of June to the 14th of December, 1766.
Minutes of the Assembly from June to December 1766.
Twenty four Acts passed from June to September 1766.
Three Acts passed from November to December 1766.
Leeward Islands.
Letter from James Verchild, esquire, Commander in Chief of the Leeward Islands, to the Board, dated February 7th, 1767, informing their lordships of his having received from the Secretary of State the King's Order in Council relative to the correspondence of governors.
fo. 147.
Duplicate of a letter from James Verchild, esquire, Commander in Chief of the Leeward Islands, to the Earl of Shelburne, dated February 7th, 1767, acknowledging the receipt of a letter from his Lordship; of one from the Duke of Richmond; and of one from his Lordship's office to Arthur Freeman, esquire.
Grenada.
Letter from Robert Melvill, esquire, Governor of Grenada, etc., to the Board, dated January 26th, 1767, transmitting copies of several letters and papers sent by him to the Earl of Shelburne.
Copy of a letter from Governor Melvill, dated January 13th, 1767, to the Earl of Shelburne, relating to the measures pursued in order to forward the taking out of grants of land.
fo. 148.
Proclamation requiring the purchasers of lands and lessees to take out their grants and pass their leases within six weeks.
Dockett register of lands granted in the Islands of Dominica, Saint Vincent, and Tobago.
Copy of a letter from Governor Melvill to the Earl of Shelburne, dated January 14th, 1767, transmitting several lists from the Custom Houses and Naval Offices within his government.
Copy of a letter from Governor Melvill to the Earl of Shelburne, dated January 15th, 1767, relative to legislative business within his government.
Lists of Acts, etc., sent to the Earl of Shelburne with Governor Melvill's letter of the 15th of January, 1767.
fo. 149.
Copy of a letter from Governor Melvill to the Earl of Shelburne, dated January 16th, 1767, relating to illicit trade, and the Maroon slaves.

North Carolina, West Florida.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit to the Secretary to the Earl of Shelburne copies of the letters from the Governor of North Carolina and the Lieutenant Governor of West Florida, relative to manufactures; also a copy of a joint representation of the Council and Assembly of West Florida relative to the state of that colony.

Jamaica.

Ordered, that the laws received from the Island of Jamaica be referred to Sir Mathew Lamb, for his opinion in point of law.

fo. 150.

Friday, May 15th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Rice, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Leeward Islands.

A representation to his Majesty, proposing that Anthony Stokes, esquire, may be appointed of the Council of Antigua, in the room of James Brebner, esquire, appointed Chief Justice of the Southern Charibbee Islands, was agreed to, and signed.

Nova Scotia.

Read and considered an Order from the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated May 29th, 1765, referring the petition of Major Otho Hamilton, praying in behalf of himself and his associates for a township of one hundred thousand acres of land in the Province of Nova Scotia.

Ordered, that the draught of a report thereupon to the Lords of the Committee of Council be prepared.

fo. 151.

Their lordships then took into consideration several other applications for lands in Nova Scotia referred to them by the Lords of the Council, and after some time spent therein, it was ordered, that the draught of a report thereupon should be prepared.

Their lordships then took into consideration the petition of the inhabitants of Cape Breton, referred to this Board by Lord Shelburne, and after some time spent therein, it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty should be prepared.

Massachusets Bay.

fo. 152.

Read two letters from the Earl of Shelburne, dated the 15th instant, inclosing addresses to his Majesty from both Houses of Parliament for copies of all reports and proceedings on the Indemnity Act of Massachusets Bay, and signifying his Majesty's commands, that the Board should prepare and transmit to him copies of such as appertain to this office.

The said copies having been prepared, a letter to Lord Shelburne inclosing them was signed.

Georgia.

fo. 153.

Ordered, that the Act passed in the Colony of Georgia in March 1765, intituled, 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 to hold agreable to his Majesty's royal instructions for granting lands, and to cultivate and improve the same, and for the better ascertaining the said several tracts of lands by regulating the surveys and marking the lines thereof, and recording the several plots in the Surveyor General's office, also for registering and docqueting such grants in the other proper offices in this province, be taken into consideration on Tuesday next, and that notice thereof be given to the agents of Georgia and South Carolina, and also that their lordships will be ready on that day at 11 oclock in the forenoon to hear what they may have to offer upon it by counsel.

Massachusetts.

Read the following letters and papers received from the Governor of the Massachusets Bay, vizt.,
fo. 154.
Duplicate of a letter from Francis Bernard, esquire, Governor of Massachusets Bay, to the Earl of Shelburne, dated December 22nd, 1766, relative to the causes and effects of the civil divisions of that province.
Extracts from the Boston newspapers.
Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives of Massachusets Bay in 1761, 1762, 1763 and 1764.
Duplicate of a letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Shelburne, dated December 24th, 1766, relating to the proceedings of the Assembly with regard to making compensation to the sufferers in the late disturbances, and the provision made by the Governor and Council for his Majesty's troops.
Duplicate of a letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Shelburne, dated January 24th, 1767, relative to the machinations of the fraction against the government.
fo. 155.
Duplicate of a letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Shelburne, dated February 7th and 14th, with a postscript dated the 18th, 1767, relative to the proceedings of the Assembly with respect to the Lieutenant Governor, and the provision made for the King's troops, and transmitting several papers upon the same subject.

Tuesday, May 19th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Georgia.

fo. 156.

Their lordships took into consideration the Georgia Act for better strengthening the province, etc., mentioned in the minutes of the 15th instant, and Mr. Garth, agent for the grantees of the lands whose interests are to be affected thereby, attending, with Mr. Dunning, his counsel, in support of the objections to the Act, and Mr. Knox also attending, as agent for the Government of Georgia in support of it, they were respectively heard in what they had to offer upon it, and being withdrawn, it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the said Act should be prepared.

Virginia.

fo. 157.

The Secretary acquainted the Board that the parties interested in an Act passed in the Colony of Virginia in June 1765, intituled an Act to vest certain lands therein mentioned in James Hubard, and settling other lands and slaves in lieu thereof, had desired him to move their lordships to report for the confirmation of the said Act, no person appearing to object thereto, and it having passed through all the necessary forms.

Their lordships took the said Act into consideration, together with Sir Mathew Lamb's report thereupon, and it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty thereupon should be prepared.

Thursday, May 21st. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Georgia, fo. 158.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the Georgia Act for better strengthening the province, etc., having been prepared pursuant to order, was laid before the Board and considered.

The following draughts of representations and reports having been prepared pursuant to order, were approved and ordered to be transcribed, vizt.

Nova Scotia.

Draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the petition to this Board of the inhabitants of Louisbourg.

Virginia.

Draught of a representation to his Majesty proposing the confirmation of a private Act of Virginia relative to the estate of James Hubard.

Nova Scotia.

fo. 159.

Draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon the petition of Major Otho Hamilton and his associates for a grant of a township in Nova Scotia.

Draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon several applications for lands in the Province of Nova Scotia.

Friday, May 22nd. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rice, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Robinson.

Georgia.

fo. 160.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty on the Act of the Province of Georgia for better strengthening the province, etc., was taken into further consideration and being agreed to it was ordered, that it should be transcribed.

Virginia.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty on a private Act of Virginia relative to the estate of James Hubard, having been transcribed pursuant to order, was signed.

Quebec.

fo. 161.

Read a letter from the Earl of Shelburne, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, dated the 21st instant, inclosing a list of papers relative to Quebec, which the House of Lords have addressed his Majesty to give directions may be laid before that House, and signifying his Majesty's pleasure, that copies should be made of such as appertain to this office, and transmitted to his Lordship.

Ordered, that the said copies be prepared with all convenient dispatch.

New Hampshire.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated the 19th instant, referring to the Board a petition of the Society for the propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts to his Majesty, respecting several grants made by the Governor of New Hampshire, and desiring their lordships to consider and report their opinion thereupon, together with what measures they think most effectual to secure to the petitioners the said grants.

Their lordships took the said reference into consideration, and made some progress therein.

fo. 162.

New Jersey, New York.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated April 2nd, 1767, referring to the Board, for their report, the petition of the agent of New Jersey to the King, proposing alterations to be made in the annexed list of Commissioners for settling the boundary line between the Provinces of New York and New Jersey.

Ordered, that the said reference be taken into consideration on Tuesday next, and that notice be given to the agents for New York and New Jersey to attend.

Quebec.

fo. 163.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated 11th instant, referring to the Board, for their report, a memorial of Mr. Anthony Merry of London, merchant, in behalf of himself and others, relative to the injuries they have sustained by being prevented from establishing a trade with the Indians at the King's posts of Tadoussac and Chegotimi.

Ordered, that the said reference be taken into consideration on Tuesday next, and that the Secretary do write to Governor Murray, desiring the favour of his attendance at the Board on that day.

New Jersey.

Their lordships took into consideration several laws passed in the Colony of New Jersey in 1766, and made some progress therein.

Read the following copies of Orders in Council, vizt.,
Nova Scotia.
fo. 164.
Copy of an Order of his Majesty in Council, dated December 3rd, 1766, for preventing coal mines being opened in the Island of Cap Breton.
Massachusetts.
Copy of an Order of the King in Council, dated May 13th, 1767, repealing the Act passed in the Massachusets Bay in December 1766, for granting compensation to the sufferers, and of free and general pardon, etc., and directing that the Governor do forthwith require the Assembly to pass an Act for compensating the sufferers, unmixed with any other matter, in case such compensation shall not have been already made.

fo. 165.

Tuesday, May 26th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Georgia.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the Act of Georgia for better strengthening the Province, etc., having been transcribed pursuant to order, was signed.

Quebec.

The Secretary laid before the Board copies of papers relative to Quebec, ordered to be prepared on the 22nd instant, and a letter to Lord Shelburne, inclosing them, was signed.

Quebec.

fo. 166.

Their lordships took into consideration the reference of Mr. Merry's petition, mentioned in the minutes of the 22nd instant, and Governor Murray attending was called in, and laid before the Board a state of the King's posts of domain in Canada and the proceedings of government there, in respect thereto, after which, Mr. Merry having been heard in support of his petition, it was ordered, that the draught of a report thereupon to the Lords of the Committee of Council should be prepared.

New Jersey, New York.

fo. 167.

Their lordships then took into consideration the reference of the petition of the agent for New Jersey, praying for an alteration in the names of the Commissioners to be appointed for running the boundary line between that province and New York, and the agents of both provinces attending pursuant to order, they were called in, and their lordships having agreed to several of the alterations proposed, it was ordered, that the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council of such alterations should be prepared.

Nova Scotia.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, upon the petition of the inhabitants of Louisbourg, having been prepared pursuant to order, was approved and ordered to be transcribed; as were also two reports to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon the applications of Major Otho Hamilton and others for lands in Nova Scotia.

fo. 168.

Thursday, May 28th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert.

Trade.

Read a report of the Society of the free British Fishery upon the paper transmitted to them on the 11th instant, relative to the herring trade at Hamburgh, and the establishment of a Danish company for the herring fishery at Altona.

Quebec, Nova Scotia, Virginia, New York.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated the 23rd of May, referring to this Board several applications for lands in the Provinces of Quebec, Nova Scotia, New York and Virginia.

fo. 169.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the petition of the inhabitants of Louisbourg, having been transcribed pursuant to order, was signed; as was also a letter to Lord Shelburne inclosing it, and desiring him to lay it before his Majesty.

Nova Scotia.

The draught of two reports to the Lords of the Committee of Council, upon several applications for lands in Nova Scotia, having been transcribed pursuant to order, were signed.