Journal, October 1767

fo. 270.

Monday, October 5th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

The Secretary laid before the Board several letters and papers, received since their lordships' last meeting, vizt.,
Trade.
Letter from Edward Stanley, esquire, Secretary to the Commissioners of his Majesty's Customs, to the Secretary to this Board, dated August 25th, 1767, transmitting a copy of the leidger for the year 1762.
Africa.
Letter from Samuel Poirier, esquire, Secretary to the African Committee, to the Secretary to this Board, dated September 7th, 1767, transmitting a copy of their account for the year 1766, and a list of the said Committee for the ensuing year.
fo. 271.
Trade, Nice.
Two letters from John Buckland, esquire, Vice Consul at Nice, to the Board, dated the 13th of December, 1766, and 17th of June, 1767, relative to the state of the British commerce in those parts.
Lists of ships arrived from Nice and Villa Franca in 1765 and 1766, with the particulars of their cargoes.
List of ships sailed from London to Villa Franca and Nice, with the particulars of their cargoes.
Tripoli.
Letter from Archibald Campbell Fraser, his Majesty's Consul at Tripoli, to the Board, dated August 24th, 1767, transmitting,
A general state of the commerce of Tripoli.
fo. 272.
Some account of the trade carried on by the Tripoline Moors to the inland parts of Africa.
Naples.
Letter from the Consul General and merchants residing at Naples, to the Board, dated August 25th, 1767, containing an account of the present state of the British trade in the kingdoms of the two Sicilies.
Quebec.
Letter from Guy Carleton, esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, to the Board, dated June 14th, 1767, transmitting, Minutes of Council from February 3rd to April 30th, 1767.
Nova Scotia.
fo. 273.
Order of the King in Council, dated April 13th, 1767, dismissing the petition of Sir Charles Saunders and others for a grant of the Island of St. John in the mode proposed by the Earl of Egmont.
Massachusetts.
Duplicate of a letter No. 17, from Francis Bernard, esquire, Governor of Massachusets Bay, to the Earl of Shelburne, dated June 22nd, 1767, relative to the design of the House of Representatives to appoint a separate agent.
Copy of a message from the Council to the House of Representatives on the 20th of June, 1767.
Treasurer's accounts from May 1766 to May 1767.
Proceedings of the Governor and Council from the 10th of December, 1766, to 26th of May, 1767.
Proceedings of the Great and General Court or Assembly of Massachusets Bay from 28th of January to 20th of March, 1767.
Twelve Acts passed in June 1767.
fo. 274.
New York.
Letter from Sir Henry Moore, Governor of New York, to the Board, dated August 23rd, 1767, transmitting,
Journals of the Council and Assembly from May 27th to June 6th, 1767.
Three Acts passed in June 1767.
New York.
Copy of an Order of the King in Council, dated April 13th, 1767, repealing an Act passed in New York in 1766, to furnish the barracks in the Citys of New York and Albany with firewood, etc.
Virginia.
fo. 275.
Duplicate letter No. 7, from Francis Fauquier, esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, to the Earl of Shelburne, dated June 25th, 1767, informing him, that he had made out a patent for John Randolph, esquire, to be Attorney General.
Duplicate of a letter No. 8, from Lieutenant Governor Fauquier to the Earl of Shelburne, dated July 30th, 1767, informing his Lordship of the death of Peter Randolph, esquire, Surveyor General of the Customs, and recommending gentlemen fit to supply vacancies in the Council of that colony,
East Florida.
Duplicate of a letter No. 5, from James Grant, esquire, Governor of East Florida, to the Earl of Shelburne, dated June 27th, 1767, respecting the settlements made in that province in consequence of the King's grants, and the conduct of Denys Rolle, esquire,
fo. 276.
General account of contingent expences incurred for the service of East Florida from the 25th of June, 1766, to 24th of June, 1767, with several papers relative thereto.
Duplicate of a letter No. 6, from James Grant, esquire, Governor of East Florida, to the Earl of Shelburne, dated July 16th, 1767, containing an account of the establishment of that colony, quit rents and grants of land, and recommending the confirmation of his appointment of Daniel Yeates, esquire, to be Receiver General of the quit rents.
Form of a grant of land in East Florida.
State of the Province of East Florida.
fo. 277.
Letter from James Grant, esquire, Governor of East Florida, to the Board, dated July 18th, 1767, transmitting, Naval Office lists from the 25th of December, 1766, to the 24th of June, 1767.
Bermuda.
Letter from George James Bruere, esquire, Governor of Bermuda, to the Board, dated March 23rd and April 28th, 1767, relative to a draught of a bill for the payment of a salary to an agent, and making provision for the King's troops
Letter from Governor Bruere to the Board, dated April 28th, 1767, desiring directions with respect to the establishment of a searcher at the west end of the island.
fo. 278.
Letter from Governor Bruere to the Board, dated May 9th, 1767, desiring an instruction for the establishment of a port at Crow Lane Harbour for the loading and unloading vessels.
Letter from Governor Bruere to the Board, dated June 24th 1767, transmitting publick papers.
Objections of several of the members of the Council in Bermuda to a bill intituled an Act for raising of money by a tax on the real and personal estates of the inhabitants of these islands for a fund, as well for the payment of a salary to the agent of Bermuda, as for defraying the expence of his Majesty's troops in these islands.
fo. 279.
Minutes of Council in Assembly from the 4th of January, 1767, to the 21st of March inclusive.
Ditto: of Council from the 11th of November, 1766, to the 7th of April, 1767.
Votes and proceedings of the General Assembly from the 5th of January to the 21st of March, 1767.
An Act to prevent the hauling of fish, such as are commonly catched with hook and line, etc.
Grenada.
Letter from Robert Melvill, esquire, Governor of the Southern Carribbee Islands, to the Board, dated July 26th, 1767, giving his reason for deferring his return to Great Britain.
fo. 280.
Letter from Governor Melvill to the Board, dated August 1st, 1767, relative to an assignment in favour of William Young of two leases of lands in the Island of St. Vincent, with five papers on that subject.
West Florida.
Fifteen Acts passed in West Florida the first session of Assembly.
Barbados.
List of the members of the Council in the Island of Barbados, June 1767.
Abstract of all persons born, christened and buried from January 1st to December 31st, 1766.
Treasurer's account of the number of new negroes imported from the 27th of May, 1766, to 27th of May, 1767.
Storekeeper's account of gunpowder collected from the 28th of May, 1766, to May 12th, 1767.
fo. 281.
Minutes of Council from the 27th of May, 1766, to 26th of May, 1767.
Ditto: of the General Assembly from the 29th of April, 1766, to 28th of April, 1767.
Five Acts passed in January, February, May, and June 1767.

Plantations General.

Ordered, that the several laws, received from the Plantations since the Board's last meeting, be referred to Sir Mathew Lamb, for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

Trade, Naples.

Ordered, that a copy be made of the letter received from the Consul General and the merchants of Naples, to be transmitted to the Earl of Shelburne, and that the draught of a letter to his Lordship accompanying the same, be prepared.

fo. 282.

Bermuda.

Ordered, that copies be made of the letters and papers received from the Governor of Bermuda, to be transmitted to the Earl of Shelburne, and that the draught of a letter to his Lordship, accompanying the same be prepared.

Grenada.

Read a memorial of William Young, esquire, First Commissioner for Sale of Lands in the ceded islands, to the Board, praying their lordships' consent and approbation, that the leases of Monsieur Thuret Mondesir, and of Madame Bonami in the Island of St. Vincent may be assigned to him, conformable to agreements already entered into between the parties, for that purpose.

fo. 283.

Their lordships took the said memorial into consideration, together with the 4th Article of his Majesty's instructions to the Commissioners for Sale of Lands, and also Governor Melvill's letter of the 1st of August, and the papers transmitted therewith; and Mr. Young attending, was heard in support of his request.

Ordered, that the Secretary do sign certificates under the seal of office, of their lordships' approbation of Monsieur Mondesir's and Madame Bonami's leases being assigned to Mr. Young, conformable to the agreements between the parties.

Read a memorial of Captain Patrick Wilkie of the 23rd Regiment, praying the Board's approbation of the assignment to him from two French inhabitants of St. Vincent's, of certain small lots of land held by them on lease from his Majesty.

fo. 284.

Captain Wilkie attending, was heard in support of his memorial, but there being no proof of Governor Melvill's having previously given his consent, conformable to the 4th Article of his Majesty's instructions to the Commissioners for Sale of Lands, the further consideration of Captain Wilkie's request was postponed, until such consent of the Governor should be duly notified.

Trade, Denmark.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to the Lord Provost of Edinburgh to remind him of the former letter wrote to him on the 11th of May last, on the subject of the papers relative to the establishment in Denmark of a company for the herring fishery.

fo. 285.

Grenada, Dominica.

It appearing by Governor Melvill's letter of the 26th of July, that he had laid aside his intention of returning to Great Britain, the order made by their lordships on the 17th of July last, upon the reference from Lord Shelburne of several papers, relative to the establishing a separate government in the Island of Dominica, was discharged, and it was agreed to take those papers into consideration on Friday, the 16th instant.

Ordered, that notice thereof be given to the agent for the inhabitants of Dominica, and also to the agent appointed for the affairs of the Southern Carribbee Islands in general.

fo. 286.

Tuesday, October 6th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Plantations General.

Read a letter from the Earl of Shelburne, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, dated October 5th, 1767, referring to this Board, for their consideration and opinion, several papers relative to the state of Indian affairs, and to the establishment of certain posts and colonies in the interior part of the Continent of North America.

fo. 287.

Ordered, that the Secretary do, with all convenient dispatch, collect and lay before the Board all such materials in the papers of this office, as may relate to the several points contained in the Earl of Shelburne's letter.

East Florida.

Mr. Penrice, whose petition for ten thousand acres of land in East Florida, was referred to this Board among many others on the 26th day of June last, attended, and was heard in support of his request.

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

New York.

Their lordships read and considered twenty laws passed in the Province of New York in December 1766, together with Sir Mathew Lamb's report thereupon.

fo. 288.

Wednesday, October 7th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Their lordships read and considered the following laws of the Plantations, together with Sir Mathew Lamb's reports thereupon, vizt.,
Grenada.
Seven laws passed in Grenada in December 1766, and January 1767.
Antigua.
Four laws passed in the Island of Antigua in September 1765, and February 1766.
Montserrat.
One law passed in Montserrat in November 1765.
St. Christopher's.
fo. 289.
Four laws passed in St. Christopher's in July 1765, and in March, April and August 1766.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared, proposing that the law passed in the Island of St. Christopher's in 1766 for constituting a Court of Chancery, may be confirmed.

Tuesday, October 13th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Several orders of reference from the Lords of the Committee of Council were read, the titles of which are as follows, vizt.,
fo. 290.
Trade, Africa.
Order of the Lords of the Council, dated October 9th, 1767, referring to the Board, for their report, the petition of the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, praying the King's licence for exporting thirty hundred weight of wheat flour to Cape Coast Castle on the Coast of Africa, for the support and maintenance of the several forts and garrisons on that coast.
Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantations Affairs, dated August 28th, 1767, referring to the Board, for their consideration and report, a petition of the Master, Wardens and Commonalty of Merchant Venturers of the City of Bristol, praying that a government and legislature may be established at Dominica, independent of any other island.
Grenada.
fo. 291.
Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated October 9th, 1767, referring to the Board, for their consideration and report, a memorial of sundry proprietors of lands in the Island of Grenada, praying that such alterations may be made in the instructions to Governor Melvill, as may relieve them from the grievances, under which they represent themselves to labour.
Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated October 9th, 1767, referring to the Board, for their consideration and report, an address of the King's new subjects in the Island of Grenada, praying to have some share in the administration of the government in that island, and a memorial containing considerations on Grenada, St. Vincent's, Dominica and Tobago.
fo. 292.
Nova Scotia.
Cape Breton.
Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated October 9th, 1767, referring to the Board, for their consideration and report, the memorials of sundry persons praying for grants of land in Cape Breton, in order to make settlements thereupon.

Trade, Africa.

Ordered, that the reference of the petition of the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, be taken into consideration tomorrow morning, and that the Committee have notice to attend.

Grenada.

fo. 293.

Ordered, that the reference of the petition of the merchants of Bristol, relative to the establishment of a separate government for the Island of Dominica, be taken into consideration on Friday next, together with the other petitions and papers relative to that subject, mentioned in the minutes of the 5th instant.

Several papers received from the colonies by the last packet were laid before the Board, the titles of which are as follows; vizt.,
Massachusetts.
Duplicate of a letter No. 18, from Francis Bernard, esquire, Governor of Massachusetts Bay, to the Earl of Shelburne, dated July 27th, 1767, relative to the decrease of the influence of the faction, and containing remarks on an Act lately passed there.
Letter from Andrew Oliver, esquire, Secretary to the Massachusets Bay, to the Secretary to this Board, dated August 29th, 1767, transmitting,
Journal of the House of Representatives from the 27th of May to the 25th of June, 1767.
fo. 294.
North Carolina.
Letter from William Tryon, esquire, Governor of North Carolina, to the Board, dated April 28th, 1767, relative to several deeds containing a surrender of lands acknowledged by Mr. Henry Eustace McCulloh as belonging to himself, his father and their associates.
Leeward Islands.
Letter from James Verchild, esquire, Commander in Chief of the Leeward Islands, dated July 24th, 1767, transmitting, An Act passed in the Island of Montserrat to lay a poll tax upon slaves, etc.

Ordered, that the abovementioned Act be sent to Sir Mathew Lamb, for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

Plantations General.

fo. 295.

Read a letter to the Secretary from Mr. McLean, Secretary to the Earl of Shelburne, inclosing copies of several papers received by the last packet from America, relative to the points contained in the Earl of Shelburne's letter of the 5th instant.

Their lordships took the said letter of reference from the Earl of Shelburne into consideration, and several papers touching the points therein contained, collected by the Secretary pursuant to order, were read.

Wednesday, October 14th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Leeward Islands.

fo. 296.

East Florida.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, proposing the confirmation of the Chancery Act of the Island of St. Christopher's having been prepared pursuant to order, was agreed to, transcribed and signed; as was also a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon Mr. Penrice's petition for a grant of ten thousand acres of land in East Florida.

Bahamas.

Several letters and papers received from the Governor of the Bahama Islands, were laid before the Board, the titles of which are as follows, vizt.,
Letter from Governor Shirley to the Board, dated June 30th, 1767, relative to two Frenchmen belonging to a French sloop, who were convicted of the murder of the captain of the said sloop, and inclosing papers on that subject.
fo. 297.
Letter from Governor Shirley to the Board, dated July 4th, 1767, respecting his having appointed Mr. Thomas Bunch to be of the Council in the room of Mr. Isaac Cox, who has resigned his seat at that Board.
List of the Council for the Bahama Islands.
Letter from Governor Shirley to the Board, dated July 8th, 1767, transmitting,
Journal of the Council and Assembly from the 18th of November, 1766, to 3rd of February, 1767.
Journal of the Lower House of Assembly from the 18th of November, 1766, to the 19th of May, 1767.
Ten Acts passed in December 1766, and January and February 1767.

Ordered, that the Acts be sent to Sir Mathew Lamb, for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

fo. 298.

Ordered, that copies be made of Governor Shirley's letter of the 30th of June, 1767, and of the papers therein referred to, to be transmitted to the Earl of Shelburne, and that the draught of a letter to his Lordship, to accompany the said copies, be prepared.

Trade.

The Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa not attending, the consideration of their petition for leave to export provisions to the Coast of Africa, for the use of the forts, was postponed.

Plantations General.

Their lordships made a further progress in the consideration of the several matters contained in Lord Shelburne's letter of reference of the 5th instant.

fo. 299.

Thursday, October 15th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Plantations General.

Their lordships made a further progress in the consideration of the several matter contained in Lord Shelburne's letter of reference of the 5th instant.

fo. 300.

Friday, October 16th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Grenada.

fo. 301.

Their lordships took into consideration the Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, referring the petition of sundry Proprietors of land in the Island of Grenada, setting forth that the constitutional authority of the legislature there is improperly restrained by several articles of his Majesty's instructions; and Mr. Alderman Trecothick, one of the petitioners, who attended upon the subject matter of the said memorial, being called upon to make good the allegations of the said petition, acquainted their lordships, that, not being apprized till yesterday of their lordships' intentions to take up the consideration of this petition, he had not sufficient recollection of the subject matter of it; that he apprehended it arose from a difference in opinion between the Governor and Assembly, as to the construction of some articles relative to the granting and disposal of publick money; that he believed the dispute was dropped, and therefore prayed the petition might not for the present be proceeded upon.

fo. 302.

fo. 303.

Their lordships then took into consideration the address to the Earl of Shelburne from the French inhabitants of Grenada, praying to be admitted to a share in the civil government of that island, in the several offices of Judicature, Council and Assembly; and Monsieur Laurens, who appeared in support of the said address, stated to their lordships the several particulars requested by the said inhabitants, and more particularly the disadvantages they laboured under from not having magistrates to decide upon matters of property, who were conversant in the laws and customs of France, by which such decisions were to be guided; Mr. Campbell, lately arrived from Grenada, was then heard in answer to Monsieur Laurens, who alleged that such of the said inhabitants, who were Protestants, and would qualify according to the laws and constitution, were intitled to every privilege enjoyed by natural born subjects; that the said inhabitants were allowed, without any distinction or restriction to serve on juries, and that, as property there was now to be decided by the laws of England, it would be improper to admit the said inhabitants to act as judges; to which Monsieur Laurens said in reply, that, as most cases that came in question before the Courts had reference to contracts of marriage and settlements in consequence thereof before the conquest of the island, such cases were necessarily to be decided by the French law, and that consequently himself had been frequently called in to explain and state the law in such cases; another gentleman stated his opinion of the danger of admitting Roman Catholicks to a share in the government.

fo. 304.

The merchants and proprietors of lands there (many of the most considerable of which were present) being asked their opinion, said, that they thought it would be right policy to content the new subjects in any thing that was reasonable; but that this was so much a question of State and Government, that they did not presume to give any opinion upon it.

fo. 305.

Their lordships then took into consideration the memorial of the merchants, traders and inhabitants of the Island of Dominica, praying for the establishment of a separate government in that island independent of Grenada; also the memorials of the merchants of London, Bristol and Liverpool, proprietors of land in, and trading to the said island, upon the same subject, and the said memorials having been read, Mr. Maitland, agent for the Grenada Islands, said, that he had no instructions from his constituents there upon the subject, but that there had been transmitted to him a paper, addressed to Governor Melvill, purporting to be a petition of the principal inhabitants of Dominica, setting forth the inconvenience that would attend the separating the government of that island from the Grenadas; it appearing that the said paper, purporting to be a petition, had not been transmitted by any authority, was only a copy, and without any names subscribed thereto, their lordships did not think fit to receive the same, but Mr. Maitland was allowed to read it.

fo. 306.

Mr. Maitland then desired to give his opinion as a merchant that the grievances complained of in the several memorials ought to be redressed, and that there ought to be a separate Council and Assembly, and separate Courts of Justice for Dominica, which he apprehended was all that was wanted, and might be done without having a separate governor, which would unnecessarily bring a charge upon the proprietors of lands and owners of property there.

Sir George Colebrook, Sir James Cockburn and two other considerable proprietors of lands there, said, that all they wanted was separate independent Courts of Justice and legislature, and if that could be had without a separate governor, they desired for themselves to retract the opinion stated in the memorials they had signed, of the necessity of such separate governor, and could not give their consent to any tax being levied on their property for such separate government; being asked if they had any other objection to a separate governor besides the expence, they said they had not.

fo. 307.

fo. 308.

One other gentleman said he was of a different opinion, and alleged, that the having a separate Governor would be a great means of preventing illicit trade. Mr. Campbell then read a paper of his own observations on the impropriety of having a separate governor, and containing suggestions that this application was made in order to obtain the government for a particular person, and alleging that the persons who signed the memorial transmitted from the island, were many of them persons of no consideration or property; Mr. Campbell having been admonished of the irregularity of the suggestions thrown out by him, Mr. Shaw, who appeared as agent in support of the memorial transmitted from the island, laid before their lordships the evidence of his authority to act in behalf of the persons who signed the said memorial, and offered to prove the contrary of what was suggested by Mr. Campbell of many of the petitioners being of no property or consideration; but their lordships not thinking it necessary or regular, upon the ground of Mr. Campbell's suggestions, to go into such an examination, he then proceeded to state the ways and means by which taxes might be laid for the support of a separate independent establishment of government in that island, and delivered in a paper containing calculations of the great increase in the value of the trade and produce of that island; by which means the expence of government might be defrayed, and other observations in support of the prayer of the petition.

fo. 309.

The several parties having been heard in what they had to offer, they were ordered to withdraw.

Bahamas.

The draught of a letter to the Earl of Shelburne, accompanying the copy of a letter from the Governor of the Bahama Islands, and copies of papers referred to therein, having been prepared pursuant to order, was approved, transcribed and signed.

Tuesday, October 20th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Virginia.

fo. 310.

The Secretary having acquainted the Board that the parties interested in two private Acts passed in Virginia in December 1766, had desired him to move their lordships to report the same to his Majesty for his royal confirmation, the said Acts, together with Sir Mathew Lamb's report thereupon, were read and considered, vizt.,
An Act to empower Nathaniel Lyttleton Savage, gentleman, to sell and dispose of certain intailed lands, and for settling other lands and slaves to the same uses.
An Act to dock the intail of certain lands whereof Robert Beverly, esquire, is seized, and for settling other lands of greater value to the same uses.

fo. 311.

The said acts not appearing liable to any objection, and having passed through all the necessary forms prescribed by his Majesty's instructions, it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty should be prepared, proposing they may be confirmed.

East Florida.

Mr. Russell, agent for Mr. Purnell, whose petition for ten thousand acres of land in East Florida was referred to this Board in June last, attended, and moved their lordships to report thereupon; Mr. Russell having been examined as to the ability and intention of the petitioner, it was ordered, that the draught of a report should be prepared, recommending that the request of the petitioner should be granted.

Bahamas.

fo. 312.

Read a letter from the Earl of Shelburne to the Board, dated October 17th, 1767, notifying the appointment of Thomas Shirley, esquire, to be Governor of the Bahama Islands in the room of Lieutenant General Shirley, and signifying his Majesty's pleasure, that draughts of a Commission and instructions be prepared for him.

Ordered, that the draught of a Commission appointing Thomas Shirley, esquire, Governor of the Bahamas, in the room of William Shirley, esquire, be prepared.

Trade, Denmark.

fo. 313.

Read a letter from the Lord Provost of Edinburgh to the Secretary, dated October 15th, 1767, in answer to his letter of the 6th, relating to the Danish herring fishery, and inclosing,
Letter from the Trustees for Improvement of Manufactories and Fisheries in Scotland to the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, dated August 1767, containing their sentiments on the company established at Altona for carrying on the herring fishery.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit to the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, for the information of that Board, an extract of so much of the letter from the Trustees for Fisheries and Manufactories as relates to the arrears of the bounties given by Parliament for the encouragment of the herring fishery.

fo. 314.

Wednesday, October 21st. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Roberts Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Plantations General.

Their lordships made a further progress in the consideration of the subject matter of the Earl of Shelburne's letter of the 5th instant.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to the principal merchants and others concerned in the trade to and interested in North America, to desire their attendance at the Board on Tuesday next, on the subject of the abovementioned letter of reference.

fo. 315.

Grenada, Dominica.

Their lordships took into consideration the several memorials and other papers relative to the establishment of a separate government for the Island of Dominica, and made some progress therein.

Friday, October 23rd. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Robinson.

Bahamas.

fo. 316.

The draught of a Commission for Thomas Shirley, esquire, to be Governor of the Bahama Islands, in the room of William Shirley, esquire, having been prepared pursuant to order, was approved, and a representation to his Majesty thereupon was signed.

East Florida, Virginia.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon Mr. Purnell's petition for a grant of lands in East Florida, having been prepared pursuant to order, was agreed to, transcribed and signed; as was also a representation to his Majesty, proposing the confirmation of two private Acts of Virginia, relative to the estates of Nathaniel Lyttelton Savage, gentleman, and Robert Beverly esquire.

Trade, Africa.

fo. 317.

Read a letter from Mr. Poirier, Secretary to the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, to Mr. Pownall, dated the 22nd instant, containing the apology of the Committee for not waiting on the Board last week.

Several of the Committee attend, and upon discourse with them touching the subject matter of their petition to his Majesty for leave to export grain to the Coast of Africa, it was ordered, that the draught of a report should be prepared.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following references of petitions for grants of land in America, vizt.,
Nova Scotia, Cape Breton.
Order of the King in Council, dated August 26th, 1767, referring to the Board, for their report, several memorials of persons praying for lots of land in the Island of Cape Breton.
fo. 318.
Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated October 9th, 1767, referring to the Board, for their report, the petition of Hannah Horsey for a grant of ten thousand acres of land in Nova Scotia.
Georgia.
Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated October 9th, 1767, referring to the Board, for their report, the petition of Lieutenant John Pigott for a grant of five thousand acres of land in Georgia.
East Florida.
Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated October 9th, 1767, referring to the Board, for their report, the petition of Robert Johnston and Thomas Ridout Johnston, merchants, for a grant of ten thousand acres of land to each in East Florida.
fo. 319.
Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated October 9th, 1767, referring to the Board, for their report, the petition of Baker Hill, gentleman, for a grant of five thousand acres of land in East Florida.
West Florida.
Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated October 9th, 1767, referring to the Board, for their report, the petition of Edward Mease, merchant, for a grant of six thousand acres of land in West Florida.
New York.
Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated August 24th, 1767, referring to the Board the memorial of Charles de Frudenberg, esquire, praying for a grant of 30,000 acres of land in Cumberland Bay.

Ordered, that the said references do lye by until the parties interested therein do appear before the Board, personally or by agent, to support their applications.

fo. 320.

Tuesday, October 27th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Fitzherbert.

Plantations General.

fo. 321.

Several principal merchants of London trading to North America, and others interested therein, attending upon the subject matter of the Earl of Shelburne's reference of the 5th instant, their lordships had discourse with them upon several points relative thereto, and they having severally desired time and opportunity to consult together upon a matter, which appeared to them of so great importance, their lordships complied with their request, and agreed to postpone the further consideration of this matter, until they should report the result of their deliberations thereupon.

fo. 321.

Trade, Africa.

The draught of a report upon the petition of the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, praying leave to export grain and pulse to the Coast of Africa, for the use of the forts, having been prepared pursuant to order, was approved, transcribed and signed.

Thursday, October 29th. Present:—Lord Clare, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Robinson.

North Carolina.

fo. 322.

Mr. Elwin, private secretary to Governor Tryon, lately arrived from North Carolina, attended, and delivered a letter from the Governor recommending Mr. Elwin to the protection of the Board.

Grenada.

Mr. Maitland, agent for the Grenades, attended, and moved the Board to lay before his Majesty, for his royal confirmation, an Act passed there in January last for quieting possessions.

Mr. Maitland being withdrawn, a representation to his Majesty on the said Act was prepared, approved and signed.