Journal, July 1723

July 2. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen.

Jamaica.

Letter from Mr. Horace Walpole for papers about the revenue.

Letter from Mr. Horace Walpole, desiring copies of several papers about the revenue of Jamaica, was read. Whereupon ordered that extracts of so much of the said papers, as relate to the revenue, be made and sent accordingly.

Barbados.

Draught of representation on Act to support the honour and dignity of the Government.

Ordered that the draught of a representation be prepared for confirming an Act, passed at Barbadoes. in 1722, entituled, An Act for supporting the honour and dignity of the Government.

July 4. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Pelham.

South Carolina.

Merchants' memorial.

Complaint against Governor Nicholson.

Copy given to Mr. Yonge, the agent.

A memorial from several merchants of Carolina, in relation to the arbitrary behaviour of General Nicholson, Governor of that province, was read; whereupon ordered that a copy thereof be given to Mr. Yonge, agent for the said province.

Newfoundland.

Two petitions of merchants, etc., against Colonel Gledhill.

Directions for writing to Colonel Gledhill.

Their Lordships taking into consideration the two petitions of several merchants of London and Poole, trading to Newfoundland, (mentioned in the Minutes of the 21st of March last), as also the certificate of Mr. Richard Wise, notary public, that the annexed extracts are faithfully taken from the original letters produced to him by Mr. Samuel Baker, merchant, to whom they were addressed from Mr. Peter Signac, merchant in Placentia at Newfoundland, as also the bill of exchange, dated at Maderas the 28th of January, 1720, N.S., drawn by Messrs. Hayward and Rider, and the declaration of Mr. Nicholas Martin, merchant, that Colonel Gledhill, Lieutenant Governor of Placentia in Newfoundland, did there purchase, on his own account, goods and merchandizes from the supercargo of a vessel called the Prosperity, John Brown, master, to the value of £300 sterling, sworn before Mr. James Dunnidge, notary public, 26th March, 1723, which were this day read. Ordered that Mr. Gledhill be acquainted with these complaints against him, and reminded of Colonel Philips's 35th instruction, whereby he is strictly enjoyned not to concern himself in the fishery there, on any pretence whatsoever, on pain of His Majesty's highest displeasure.

Trade.

Letter from Mr. Tigh.

A letter from Mr. Tigh, consul at Elsinore, dated 2nd of January, 1723, N.S., was read, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board, viz:—
Ships passing the Sound.
List of ships passing and repassing the Sound in 1721 and 1722.

Answer to Mr. Tigh.

Whereupon ordered that an answer be made to Mr. Tigh's said letter.

Massachusets.

Letters from Mr. Willard.

A letter from Mr. Willard, dated the 16th of November, 1722, was read, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board, viz:—
Papers referred to.
An account of gunpowder expended at Fort William and Mary, from 28th May, 1721, to ditto, 1722.
An account of ordnance, ammunition and other stores of war, expended at His Majesty's Castle William in New England, from the 10th of June. 1721, to the 16th of June, 1722.
The like account belonging to His Majesty's Castle William, the 16th June, 1722.

Another letter from Mr. Willard, without date, was read, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board, viz:—
Minutes of Council, from 2nd of March. 1721, to 20th August, 1722.
Minutes of Council in Assembly, from 30th May, 1722, to 18th August following.
Several Acts passed 30th May, 1722.
The treasurer's account of the revenue, from 31st of May, 1721, to 31st May, 1722.

Answer to Mr. Willard.

Whereupon ordered that an answer be made to Mr. Willard's said letters.

New Hampshire.

Letter from Colonel Wentworth, Lieutenant Governor.

Answer.

A letter from Colonel Wentworth, Lieutenant Governor of New Hampshire, dated 18th March, 1722–3, was read; whereupon ordered that an answer be made to the said letter.

Nova Scotia.

Letter from Captain Doucet, Lieutenant Governor of Annapolis.

A letter from Captain Doucet, Lieutenant Governor of Annapolis, dated the 24th of November, 1721, desiring their Lordships' recommendation of him to His Majesty, was read, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board, viz:—
Papers therein referred to.
Petition of Captain Doucet, praying his commission may be extended to that of a Lieutenant Governor of the whole province.
Certificate of the officers and inhabitants of the town and garrison of Annapolis Royal in behalf of Captain Doucet.

Whereupon ordered that an answer be made to Captain Doucet's said letter.

South Carolina.

Letter from Mr. Carkesse.

Copy of one from Colonel Rhett about Act concerning a duty of 5 per cent. on goods imported.

A letter from Mr. Carkesse, of the 15th of November, 1722, inclosing copy of a letter from Colonel Rhett, Surveyor and Comptroller of the Customs in Carolina, relating to an Act passed there, laying a duty of 5 per cent. on all goods imported into that province, of the manufacture of Great Britain, was read.

New Jersey.

Letter from Mr. Burnet.

A letter from Mr. Burnet, Governor of New York and New Jersey, dated the 3rd October, 1722, was read, and the papers, therein referred to, laid before the Board, viz:—
Papers referred to.
Six Acts passed in New Jersey in 1722.
New York.
Copy of the conference between the Five Nations of Indians and John Nanfan, Esquire, the 19th July, 1701.

Letter from Mr. Burnet.

Another letter from Mr. Burnet to the secretary, dated the 8th of December, 1722, was read. And the
Naval officer's list.
Naval officer's lists from Lady Day, 1722, to Michaelmas following,

therewith transmitted, were laid before the Board.

Third letter from Mr. Burnet, observations on Acts.

A third letter from Mr. Burnet, of 12th December, 1722, with his observations on several Acts, passed in July and November foregoing, was read. And the papers, therein referred to, were likewise laid before the Board, viz:—
Papers referred to in the said letter.
Minutes of Council, from the 14th day of June, 1722, to the 8th September following.
Fourteen Acts passed in New York in 1722.

Answer.

Ordered that the draught of an answer be prepared to Mr. Burnet's said letters.

New York.

New Jersey.

Acts sent to Mr. West for his opinion.

Further ordered that the public Acts passed in New York in the years 1721 and 1722, as likewise those passed in New Jersey in the years 1719 and 1722, upon which this Board have not had any opinion in point of law, be sent to Mr. West for his opinion thereupon.

New Jersey.

Letter to Mr. Attorney General about alteration in election of assembly men.

Ordered that the Attorney General be reminded of the letters writ him the 14th of June, and 13th of November, 1722, relating to an alteration Mr. Burnet purposes to make in the election of assembly-men in New Jersey.

Bermuda.

Letter from Colonel Hope.

A letter from Colonel Hope, Lieutenant Governor of Bermuda, dated 27th April, 1723, was read; and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board, viz:—
Papers therein referred to.
An account of stores, May the 10th, 1722.
An inventory of stores sent from the office of Ordnance since the year 1700.

Postcript to Colonel Hope.

Whereupon ordered that the draught of a postscript be made to the letter to Colonel Hope, signed the 27th of the last month.

July 5. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen.

Virginia.

Mr. West's report on Act about servants, slaves, convicts.

Representation for repealing it.

Mr. West's report upon an Act, passed at Virginia in 1722, entituled, An Act for the amending the Act concerning servants and slaves, and for the better government of convicts imported, and for the further preventing the clandestine transportation of persons out of this colony, was read; and a representation to their Excellencies the Lords Justices for repealing the same, was agreed, transcribed and signed.

Massachusets.

Letter to Mr. Willard.

A letter to Mr. Willard, secretary to the Massachusets Bay, agreed yesterday, was ordered to be sent.

Barbados.

Representation for confirming Act for support of the government.

Ordered that the draught of a representation be prepared for confirming an Act, passed at Barbadoes in 1722, entituled, An Act for supporting the honour and dignity of the government.

July 9. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Pelham.

New York.

New Jersey.

Letter to Mr. Burnet.

A letter to Mr. Burnet, Governor of New York and New Jersey, agreed the 4th instant, was signed.

Barbados.

Representation for confirming Act for support of government.

A representation to their Excellencies the Lords Justices, for confirming an Act, passed at Barbadoes in 1722, entituled. An Act for supporting the honour and dignity of the government, agreed at the last meeting, was signed.

Montserrat.

Representation for repealing an Act.

The draught of a representation for repealing an Act, passed at Montserrat in 1721–2, entituled, An Act for granting to His Majesty, his heirs and successors certain duties upon impost of dry goods and liquors, etc., and for the payment of £500 annually to his Excellency John Hart, Esquire, Captain General and Governor in Chief of all His Majesty's Leeward Charribbee Islands in America, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

Virginia.

Representation.

Act about quit rents.

The draught of a representation for repealing an Act, passed at Virginia in 1720, entituled, An Act for the better discovery and securing of His Majesty's quit rents, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

Nevis.

Mr. West's report.

Act about estate of Thomas Herbert.

Representation for confirming it.

Mr. West's report upon an Act, passed at Nevis in 1721, entituled, An Act for the settling an estate in fee simple, of the lands and tenements, negroes etc., which were of Thomas Herbert, late of this island, deceased, in his three sons, and for confirming the estate of John Richardson Esquire, and John Smith planter, purchasers of part of the said estate from and under the said John Herbert, was read, and ordered that the draught of a representation to their Excellencies the Lords Justices, be prepared for confirming the said Act.

July 10. Present:—Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen.

South Carolina.

Account of the trade.

Mr. Yonge's account of the trade of South Carolina, with proposals for improving the same, was read.

Mr. Yonge's answer to Rhett.

Mr. Yonge's answer to Mr. Rhett's petition was read.

Merchants' petition against paper money.

A petition of several merchants trading to Carolina, complaining of the increase of paper-money in that province, was read, as likewise a reference from the Lord Carteret upon the same subject.

Merchants and the agent summoned.

Whereupon ordered that the several Carolina merchants, who signed the said petition, as also Mr. Yonge, agent for the province, be acquainted that the Board desire to speak with them on Thursday morning, the 25th instant.

Letter from Mr. Yonge.

A letter from Mr. Yonge to the secretary, dated the 9th of February, 1722–3, was read, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board, viz:—
Papers therein referred to.
Captain Francis Goddard, his affidavit.
List of tryals in the October Sessions, held at Charles City and Port, 1722.
Proceedings against William Rhett.
Proceedings against Adam Steward.
Proceedings against Timothy Bellamy.
Colonel Rhett's case by the Attorney General.
Papers from Mr. Yonge.
Don Antonio Rexidore's petition to General Nicholson, etc., claiming some slaves stolen by Indians and sold in Carolina.
Minutes of Council of 9th November and 18th January, 1721, about the Honourable Benjamin de la Conseillere, Esquire, being appointed His Majesty's Treasurer, and of 10th, 19th and 26th April, 1722, relating to Mr. Rhett's claim in behalf of the Lords Proprietors.
The Honourable Benjamin de la Conseillere, Esquire, His Majesty's Treasurers bond for the discharge of his trust. Copy of lists of vessels and negro slaves, etc., taken by the Spaniards since the peace and carried to St. Augustine.
Captain Daniel Green's commission, bond and oath as naval officer.
Copy of the State oaths taken by the officers, civil and military.
Copy of the claim of Colonel William Rhett, the Lords Proprietors' Receiver, for the produce of all fines, etc., and his petition to General Nicholson thereupon in 1722.
Copy of what General Nicholson proposed to say to the Spaniards sent from St. Augustine, as also what both houses proposed.
Credentials (translated) from the Governor of St. Augustine to Don Francisco Menandes, a Spanish Marquiss, together with a copy of the Governor's letter to General Nicholson, and his answer.
Journal of Assembly of 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th November, 1722.

A letter from General Nicholson, dated the 21st of April, 1723, was read.

A letter from Mr. Yonge, dated the 10th of July, 1723, was read, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board, viz:—
Minutes of Council in Assembly from 6th November, 1722, to 23rd of February, 1722–3, and of Assembly for the same time.
Eleven Acts passed, one in December, 1722, and ten in February, 1722–3.

Letters from General Nicholson.

A letter from General Nicholson, Governor of Carolina, dated the 16th October, 1722, was read, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board, viz:—
Minutes of Council.
Minutes of Council from the 4th of September to the 6th of October, 1722.

Another letter from General Nicholson, dated the 4th of December, 1722, giving an account of the proceedings of the Assembly, was read.

Answer to General Nicholson's letters.

Whereupon ordered that the draught of an answer be prepared to General Nicholson's said letters.

Letter from Mr. Yonge about Colonel Rhett's petition.

A letter from Mr. Yonge, agent for Carolina, dated the 2nd of April last, during the Board's report upon Mr. Rhett's petition, referred to their Lordships, was read; and their Lordships agreed to proceed no further in this matter, since Mr. Rhett is dead.

Montserrat.

Representation on Act for £500 per annum to Colonel Hart.

A representation to their excellencies the Lords Justices for repealing an Act, passed at Montserrat in 1721–2, entituled, An Act for granting to His Majesty his heirs and successors, certain duties upon impost of dry goods and liquors, etc. and for the payment of £500 annually to his Excellency John Hart, Esquire, Captain General and Governor in Chief of all His Majesty's Leeward Charribbee Islands in America, agreed yesterday, was signed.

July 17. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Bladen.

Jamaica.

Act about estate of William Bowles, etc., sent to Mr. West.

Ordered that the Act, passed at Jamaica in 1721, entituled, An Act to enable certain trustees to sell the estates and interests of William Bowles and Charles Bowles his son, an infant, for the discharge and payment of debts and purchasing lands in the kingdom of Great Britain to certain uses, be sent to Mr. West, for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

Nevis.

Representation on Act about estate of Thomas Herbert.

The draught of a representation for confirming an Act, passed at Nevis in 1721, entituled, An Act for the settling an estate in fee simple of the lands and tenements negroes etc., which were of Thomas Herbert, late of this island, deceased, in his three sons, and for confirming the estate of John Richardson Esquire and John Smith planter, purchasers of part of the said estate from and under the said John Herbert, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

South Carolina.

Letter to General Nicholson.

The draught of a letter to General Nicholson, Governor of Carolina, ordered to be prepared the 10th instant, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

July 18. Present:—Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Bladen.

South Carolina.

Letter to General Nicholson.

A letter to General Nicholson, Governor of Carolina, agreed yesterday, was signed.

Virginia.

Representation on Act about quit rents.

A representation for repealing an Act, passed in Virginia in 1720, entituled, An Act for the better discovery and securing of His Majesty's quit rents, agreed the 9th instant, was signed.

July 25. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Bladen.

Bermuda.

Mr. Noden for copies of printed laws.

Mr. Noden attending, communicated to the Board a letter he had received from Colonel Hope, Governor of Bermuda, desiring him to move the Board for fifty copies of the printed laws of Bermuda, passed there from 1690 to 1713–14, which was read.

Letter to Colonel Hope.

thereupon.

Whereupon ordered that twenty of the printed volumes be sent to Colonel Hope, and that a letter be writ to him, to acquaint him that their Lordships desire the said books may be distributed to the several offices, and kept there for the use of the islands.

Leeward Islands.

Mr. Travers, debenture.

Mr. Samuel Travers attending, and his power of attorney being examined at the Board, the debenture numbered 461 was delivered to him upon his receipt for the same.

South Carolina.

Merchants, agent, Mr. Bertie and Mr. Shelton about Act concerning paper bills of credit.

Mr. Samuel Wragg, Mr. Samuel Buck, Mr. John Lynch, Mr. David and Mr. Stephen Goden, Mr. Ralph Noden, Mr. Jacob Satur and Mr. Samuel Travers attending, as they had been desired, as also Mr. Yonge, agent for the province of Carolina, the Honourable James Bertie, Esquire, and Mr. Shelton, in relation to an Act, passed there in 1722–3, entituled, An Act for the reprinting the present current paper bills of credit, and for printing the additional sum of £40,000 in bills of credit for paying off the public debts, defraying the contingent charges and other emergencies of the government to the 25th day of September next; a memorial from several merchants, (mentioned in the Minutes of the 24th of May last), as also their petition to the King, both relating to the paper money, (mentioned in the Minutes of the 10th instant), were again read, and Mr. Shelton, in behalf of the several merchants, enlarged upon the several articles of their memorial and petition, and laid before their Lordships several papers in proof thereof, particularly in relation to the several merchants, who signed the petition to General Nicholson against passing the Act, being committed to prison, viz:—
Papers in proof of the merchants' memorial and petition against Act about bills of credit.
Copy of a memorial and petition of several Carolina merchants, etc., to the Governor, Council and Assembly there, concerning bills of credit.
The report and proceedings upon the petition by the Assembly.
Copy of the petition to the Governor and Council from the messenger's house.
Order of the Upper House pursuant to the petition.
Copy of the Order of the Governor and Council, which Mr. Brown, messenger to the Assembly, refused to receive.
The letter to the Governor and Council on the messenger's refusal.
The resolution and answer of the Governor and Council and copy of the Lower House's resolution on the same.
Copy of the petition rejected first.
Vote for rejecting the first petition of submission.
Copy of the 2nd petition rejected and a vote of the House for the same.
Copy of the last petition, upon which the merchants were discharged.
Copy of the discharge of Benjamin Godin.
Copy of an order of the House for raising the fees on this occasion.

Mr. Yonge.

Proceedings at conference about paper money.

Mr. Yonge, in behalf of the Governor, Council and Assembly in Carolina, laid before the Board a copy of the proceedings at a conference of both Houses there, in relation to the paper-money, which, he said, was all he had to offer on that subject.

Representation on repeal of Act about paper money.

Whereupon ordered that the draught of a representation be prepared for repealing the aforesaid Act about paper money, as also another, therein referred to, entituled, An Act for raising the sum of seventeen thousand two hundred forty eight pounds and six pence on lands and slaves for defraying the charges of the several forts and garrisons, discharging the public debts, and providing for the other emergencies and contingent charges of the government.

South Carolina.

Mr. Yonge and Mr. Buck to attend about complaints against General Nicholson.

Ordered that Mr. Yonge and Mr. Buck be acquainted that the Board desire to speak with them on Tuesday the 16th of August, at 11 o'clock in the morning, in relation to the several complaints against General Nicholson mentioned in the memorial, which was ordered to be delivered to Mr. Yonge the 4th instant for his answer thereto.

Nevis.

Representation about Act concerning the estate of Thomas Herbert and John Richardson.

A representation to their excellencies the Lords Justices, for confirming an Act, passed at Nevis in 1721, entituled, An Act for the settling an estate in fee simple of the lands and tenements, negroes etc. which were of Thomas Herbert, late of this island, deceased, in his three sons, and for confirming the estate of John Richardson, Esquire and John Smith planter, Purchasers of part of the said estate from and under the said John Herbert, agreed the 17th instant, was signed.

July 26. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Bladen.

Bermuda.

Mr. West's report on Acts.

Draught of representation on three of them.

Mr. West's report upon five Bermuda Acts, was read, and the draught of a representation for confirming three of the said Acts, passed in 1722 and 1722–3, viz:—An Act to prevent the destruction of palmetto trees and to prevent fraud in the measure of platt in these islands. An Act for making an addition to the salary of his Excellency John Hope Esquire, Governor of these islands, and An Act to prevent any person or persons in these islands from making having or keeping any net or nets exceeding the length of three fathoms and half in his or their houses or other places whatsoever, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

South Carolina.

Representation repealing acts about paper money.

A representation for repealing two Acts, passed in Carolina concerning paper money, agreed yesterday, was signed.

July 31. Present:—Mr. Bladen, Mr. Plummer.

Bermuda.

Representation on three acts.

A representation for confirming three Acts passed at Bermuda in 1722 and 1722–3, agreed at the last meeting, was signed.

Rhode Island.

Connecticut.

Order of Committee of Council on representation of the Board about boundaries.

An Order of a Committee of Council, directing the Board to enquire whether the provinces of Rhode Island and Connecticut are willing to submit to His Majesty's government, was read; whereupon ordered that the agents of Rhode Island and Connecticut be acquainted that the Board desire to speak with them on Tuesday morning next.

New York.

Reference, petition of Weiser, Palatines.

Weiser summoned.

A reference from Mr. Delafaye of the 23rd instant, of Mr. John Conrad Weiser's petition in behalf of the poor Palatines at New York, praying some tract of land for them to settle upon, was read; whereupon ordered that the said Mr. Weiser be directed to attend at the same time.

Bahamas.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Walpole.

Mr. Fairfax to be secretary.

A letter to Mr. Secretary Walpole, recommending Mr. William Fairfax to be secretary to the Bahama Islands, ordered to be prepared the 28th of the last month, was agreed and signed.