Journal, June 1770

Wednesday, June 6. Present:—Mr. Eliot, Mr. Roberts.

The Earl of Hillsborough present.

New Hampshire.

fo. 117.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation affairs upon the subject of the Proclamation issued by the Governor of New Hampshire for ascertaining the rates of gold and silver coins, having been prepared pursuant to order, was approved and ordered to be transcribed.

Nova Scotia.

The persons interested in a petition praying for a grant of certain districts of land in Nova Scotia for carrying on a fishery, which petition is mentioned in the minutes of the 21st ultimo, attended, and were acquainted, that, as the Board never recommended, nor the Council never issued any orders for grants of land in particular spots nor in different tracts, not contiguous each to the other, the only proper method for them to pursue would be to make their application to the Governor and Council of the Colony, who, by being on the spot, could only judge of the propriety of what they requested.

fo. 118.

Quebec.

Their Lordships took into consideration the reference of Sir Jeffery Amherst's petition, mentioned in the preceding minutes, and ordered the draught of a report thereupon to be prepared.

New York.

Read a letter from Lieutenant Governor Colden to the Board, dated April 25th, 1770, transmitting publick papers, vizt.
Duplicate of a letter, No. 9, from Lieutenant Governor Colden to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated February 21st, 1770, containing remarks on Acts lately passed, and on the attempts of a violent party in the Province of New York to disturb the Government.
fo. 119.
Copy of an agreement made between General Gage and Lieutenant Governor Colden for laying out two thousand pounds granted for the use of the troops quartered in the Province of New York.
Journal of the Council in Assembly from November 21st, 1769, to January 27th, 1770.
Printed Journal of the Assembly from November 21st, 1769, to January 27th, 1770.
List of Acts passed in December, 1769, and January, 1770.

Ordered, that such of the said Acts, as have not been already considered and reported upon, be referred to Mr. Jackson for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

fo. 120.

Thursday, June 7. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Greville, Mr. Roberts, Lord Robert Spencer, Mr. Northey.

Quebec.

New Hampshire.

Their [sic] Earl of Hillsborough present, their Lordships read and approved the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon the petition of Sir Jeffery Amherst for a grant of the Jesuits' lands in Canada, and the said draught having been transcribed, was signed;—as was also a report to their Lordships upon the Proclamation issued by Governor Wentworth, for ascertaining the rates of gold and silver coins in the Province of New Hampshire.

South Carolina.

fo. 121.

Jamaica.

fo. 122.

Their Lordships took into consideration two Acts, the one passed in the Province of South Carolina in August, 1769, intituled an Act to incorporate the Society commonly called and known by the name of the Fellowship Society, the other passed in Jamaica in December, 1768, intituled an Act to authorize and enable William Patrick Brown of the Parish of St. John in the County of Middlesex in this Island, Esquire, to settle and dispose of his estate both real and personal in this Island by deed or Will in such manner as he shall think proper, notwithstanding an Act of the Governor, Council and Assembly of this Island, intituled an Act to prevent the inconveniences arising from exorbitant Grants and devises made by white persons to Negroes and the issue of Negroes and to restrain and limit such Grants and devises; and the said Acts having been read, together with Mr. Jackson's reports thereupon, their Lordships agreed to lay them before His Majesty, for His Royal confirmation, and representations to His Majesty thereupon were accordingly prepared, approved and signed.

Jamaica.

Their Lordships, pursuant to His Majesty's commands, signified to them by the Earl of Hillsborough, took into consideration two letters to his Lordship from the Governor of Jamaica, and sundry papers therein referred to, relative to a dispute between the Council and Assembly of that Island, touching the application of the surplus of the Duties and Taxes arising by the Revenue Act of 1728, and, after some time spent therein, it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to His Majesty in Council thereupon should be prepared.

fo. 123.

New York.

Their Lordships then took into consideration six Acts passed in the Colony of New York in the years 1767, 1768 and 1769, together with Mr. Jackson's report thereupon, and the said Acts and report having been read, it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to His Majesty should be prepared, proposing that several of the said Acts may be disallowed.

Read a report of Richard Jackson, Esquire, dated June 5th, 1770, on a Bill passed by the Assembly of New York in April, 1769, to confirm estates claimed by or under Aliens.

Ordered, that the said report do lye by for further consideration at another opportunity.

fo. 124.

Virginia.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation affairs, dated May 25th, 1770, referring to this Board, for their consideration and report, a memorial of Thomas Walpole and others to the King, renewing their application to His Majesty that a grant of a tract of land on the back of Virginia (with an extension of the limits) may be made to them, reserving therein to all persons their just rights to any parts of said land, which may be comprehended within the tract petitioned for.

Nova Scotia, East Florida, Plantations General.

fo. 125.

The Secretary laid before the Board memorials of the agents of Nova Scotia and East Florida, and of the agents for the Surveyors General of Lands for the Northern and Southern districts in America, prepared by them to be presented to the Lords of the Treasury, praying that the sums respectively granted for those services in the last session of Parliament may be issued to them to be applied according to the estimates, and their Lordships approved of the said memorials being presented to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, for their Lordships' directions thereupon.

Monday, June 11. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Roberts, Lord Robert Spencer, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Fitzherbert, Lord Greville.

Jamaica.

fo. 126.

New York.

The Earl of Hillsborough present, their Lordships read and approved the draught of a representation to His Majesty on the papers relative to the dispute between the Council and Assembly of Jamaica, touching the appropriation of the surplus of the Revenue; and also the draught of a representation upon several Laws of New York, and it was ordered, that the said draughts should be transcribed.

Newfoundland.

Read a memorial of the merchants of Poole, interested in and trading to the Island of Newfoundland, complaining of some orders and regulations issued and made by Governor Byron respecting the salmon fishery in that Island, and the fees of the Naval Officers.

Their Lordships agreed to take the said memorial into consideration on Friday next, and that Mr. Merry, agent for the memorialist, should have notice to attend.

fo. 127.

Proprieties, Pennsylvania.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council dated May 25th, 1770, referring to this Board, for their consideration and report, a petition of the Proprietaries of the Province of Pennsylvania, complaining that certain lawless persons from the Colony of Connecticut have taken forcible possession of lands in that province, and resist the authority of its Government.

Dominica.

Read an Order of the King in Council, dated June 6th, 1770, approving a report of the Lords of the Committee of Council, relative to the erecting the Island of Dominica into a separate Government, independent of the Grenades, and directing this Board to prepare draughts of a Commission and instructions for such person as His Majesty shall be pleased to appoint Governor of said Island, and likewise the form and device of a new Seal.

fo. 128.

Ordered, that the said order of reference do lye by for further consideration, when the appointment of a Governor for the Island of Dominica shall be notified to this Board.

Bermuda.

The Earl of Hillsborough, by His Majesty's command, laid before the Board copy of a letter to his Lordship from Governor Bruere, dated March 28th, 1770, recommending Henry Tucker, junior, and John Tudor, Esquires, to be Members of the Council in the Bermuda Islands, in the room of Colonel Thomas Gilbert and Samuel Spofford, Esquire, deceased, and it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to His Majesty thereupon should be accordingly prepared.

fo. 129.

Friday, June 15. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Roberts, Lord Robert Spencer, Lord Greville.

Quebec.

The Secretary having acquainted the Board, that Mr. Ross, agent to Sir Jeffery Amherst, had, in his name, applyed for a copy of their Lordships' report on Sir Jeffery Amherst's petition for a grant of the Jesuits' lands in Canada, it was ordered, that the Secretary should send a copy thereof to Sir Jeffery Amherst.

Newfoundland.

fo. 130.

Mr. Merry, agent for the merchants of Poole in the business stated in their memorial, mentioned in the minutes of the 11th, attends, and is informed, that the Board is at all times desirous of giving all possible attention and dispatch to such matters as relate to mercantile interests, and wish therefore, that the memorialists had made their application before Governor Byron's departure; but that the business, to which their memorial relates, must now lye by untill the Governor's return.

Dominica.

fo. 131.

The Earl of Hillsborough having acquainted the Board, that the King had been pleased to appoint Sir William Young, Baronet, to be Captain General and Governor in Chief of the Island of Dominica, their Lordships resumed the consideration of the Order in Council relative to that Island, mentioned in the minutes of the 11th instant, and gave directions for preparing draughts of a Commission and of instructions for the said Governor with all convenient dispatch.

New Hampshire.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation affairs, dated June 11th, 1770, directing this Board to prepare and lay before their Lordships the draught of an additional instruction for the Governor of New Hampshire, to take such measures, with the advice of the Council of that province, as shall be effectual for putting an immediate stop to the operation of a Proclamation issued by him for ascertaining the rate of gold and silver foreign coin current in the said province, and also to recommend to the Assembly to form a Bill (if necessary) to prevent any prejudice to private persons in consequence of said Proclamation.

Ordered, that the draught of an additional instruction conformable thereto be prepared.

fo. 132.

West Florida.

The Secretary laid before the Board a memorial, prepared by the agent for West Florida to be presented to the Treasury, praying that the sum granted by Parliament in the last session for the service of that Colony may be issued to him, and their Lordships approved of its being presented to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury for their directions upon it.

Jamaica.

New York.

Bermuda.

The draughts of representations to His Majesty on the papers relative to the matter in controversy between the Council and Assembly of Jamaica, and upon several New York Laws, having been transcribed, were signed; as was also a representation recommending two persons to supply vacancies in the Council of the Bermuda Islands.

fo. 133.

Virginia.

Their Lordships took into consideration the Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, mentioned in the minutes of the 7th instant, referring the memorial of Thomas Walpole, Esquire, and others, and agreed, that it was a matter of too great importance for them to give an opinion upon, without the advice and assistance of the great officers who are members of the Board.