Journal, February 1724

February 4th. Present:—Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer, Sir John Hobart.

Barbadoes.

Memorial from Mr. Alleyne upon a Private Act.

Sent to Mr. West.

A memorial from Abel Alleyne, Esq., praying for the confirmation of an Act, passed at Barbadoes in 1722, entituled, An Act for enabling Elizabeth Alleyne, widow and relict of Timothy Alleyne, late of the parish of St. James, esquire, deceased, formerly Elizabeth Buttall, one of the daughters and devisees of Charles Buttall, late of the said Island, also deceased, Abel Alleyne, Reynold Alleyne, and John Alleyne, esquires, executors of the last will and testament of the said Timothy Alleyne, and guardians of the bodies and estates of Thomas Alleyne and Mary Alleyne, infants, son and daughter of the said Timothy Alleyne, deceased, to sell and dispose of a moiety or half part of a plantation, slaves and buildings etc., was read; whereupon ordered that the said Act be sent to Mr. West, for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

Bermuda.

Letter from Colonel Hope.

A letter from Colonel Hope, Lieutenant Governor of Bermuda, dated 11th November, 1723, promising a speedy answer to some queries lately sent him, was read, as also
Acts and Minutes therein referred to.
The Minutes of Assembly of the 24th, 25th and 26th September, 1723.
An Act to supply the deficiency of the several funds in these Islands and for the immediate support of the Government and for repairing the fortifications.
An Act for the better security of all such as are lawfully possessed of any negroes or other slaves in these Islands, whereby to secure their lawful rights, interest and property of and to the same.
An Act for prolonging and making some alterations in the Act, entituled, An Act for the attaching the goods or effects of any persons, inhabitants or others not residing in these Islands.
A second additional clause to an Act, entituled, An Act for vessels paying powder money.

Acts sent to Mr. West.

Ordered that the said Acts he sent to Mr. West, for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

Jamaica.

Letter to Mr. Attorney General about state of laws of the Island.

Ordered that a letter be writ to Sir Philip Yorke, His Majesty's Attorney General, to hasten his report upon the state of the laws of Jamaica at the expiration of the Revenue Act in October, 1724, referred to him and the then Attorney General, Mr. Justice Raymond, the 14th of October, 1723.

February 5th. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Plummer.

Trade.

Letter from Lord Viscount Townsend.

Petition of Muscovy Company.

Hemp.

Merchants summoned.

A letter from the Lord Viscount Townsend, of the 4th inst., inclosing a petition from the Muscovia Company, relating to the importation of hemp from the Netherlands, was read; ordered that Sir Randolph Knipe and Mr. Godfrey be acquainted that the Board desire to speak with them thereupon on Thursday, the 13th inst.

February 11th. Present:—Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer, Sir John Hobart.

Barbadoes.

Letter from Mr. Carkesse upon an Act about duty on wines, etc.

Representation thereupon.

A letter from Mr. Carkesse, of 6th February, 1723–4, in answer to one from the Secretary of the 29th of last month, upon An Act of Barbadoes, passed in 1723, for laying a duty on Wines etc. imported this Island; which Act the Commissioners of the Customs judge to be repugnant to the laws of Great Britain, was read; whereupon ordered that the draught of a representation be prepared thereupon.

February 12th. Present:—Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer.

The said representation agreed.

The draught of a representation, ordered yesterday to be prepared, upon an Act, passed in Barbadoes in 1723, entituled, An Act for laying an imposition or duty on Wines and other strong Liquors imported this Island in order to raise money for carrying on the Fortifications, for payment of such persons as are or shall be imployed at the public charge and for such other public uses as are herein appointed, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

February 13th. Present:—Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer.

Trade.

Merchants about Hemp from Holland and Russia.

Sir Nathaniel Gould, Mr. Godfrey, Sir Peter Moyer and Mr. Sperling attending with several other gentlemen concerned in the importation of hemp from Holland and Russia; the Lord Townsend's letter of the 4th, inclosing a representation from the Muscovia Company upon the subject, (mentioned in the Minutes of 5th inst.), was again read; and

Sir Nathaniel Gould.

Sir Nathaniel Gould, in behalf of the Muscovy Company, acquainted their Lordships that he conceived hemp of the growth of Muscovy should be only brought from thence in English ships, as intended by the Act of Navigation, passed in the 12th year of King Charles the 2nd; that for the space of twenty years after the passing the said Act, the trade was carried on in the aforesaid manner; that some time after, hemp of the growth of Muscovy was attempted to be imported from Holland: that there was a tryal at law begun upon this occasion, which was never determined, by reason of some doubts raised upon the words of the Act; since which the importation of hemp from the Netherlands has daily increased; and that in proportion to the increase of the importation from Holland and Flanders, the fewer British ships would be imployed, which will be a great discouragement of the British navigation.

Their Lordships then desired to know if any gentlemen present had anything to object to what Sir Nathaniel Gould had said, or anything further to offer upon the subject of the aforesaid representation, but nobody objecting to what had been said, their Lordships resolved to consider further thereof at another opportunity; in the meantime.

Letter to Inspector General.

Account of Hemp imported.

Ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Balam, Inspector General of the Imports and Exports, for an account of hemp imported from 1717 to 1723 inclusive, and from what countries.

Barbadoes.

Representation on Act.

Duty on wines, etc.

The representation for repealing an Act, passed in Barbadoes in 1723, for laying a duty on wines etc. imported this Island, etc., agreed yesterday, was signed.

February 14th. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Sir John Hobart.

Rhode Island.

Letter from Mr. Partridge with one from that Government.

Bounds with

Connecticut.

A letter from Mr. Partridge, of the 10th of February, 1723–4, inclosing one from the Government of Rhode Island, signifying their unwillingness to be annexed to the Government of New Hampshire, and desiring to be heard by counsel relating to the bounds between that Island and Connecticut, was read; and their Lordships resolved to consider thereof when they should receive the answer of Connecticut.

Trade.

Memorial from Mr. Barnes.

Spinning Cotton.

Mr. Barnes summoned.

A memorial from Mr. Barnes, in relation to spinning wool and cotton, was read; whereupon ordered that Mr. Barnes be acquainted that the Board desire to speak with him on Thursday morning next.

Virginia.

Letter from Mr. Leheup.

Act about staple of Tobacco.

A letter from Mr. Leheup, agent for Virginia, desiring the confirmation of a Virginia Act, for the better improving the staple of Tobacco, was read; and their Lordships resolved to consider further thereof at another opportunity.

February 18th. Present:—Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Plummer, Sir John Hobart.

Trade.

Letter to Mr. Carkesse.

Sugars exported.

Ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Carkesse, secretary to the Commissioners of the Customs, for an account of sugars exported from this kingdom to all parts, from Christmas, 1719, to Christmas, 1723.

February 20th. Present:—Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer, Sir John Hobart.

Jamaica.

Letter from Duke of Portland.

A letter from the Duke of Portland, Governor of Jamaica, to the Board, dated the 7th December, 1723, was read.

Trade.

Mr. Barnes.

Spinning cotton.

Mr. Barnes, attending, as he had been desired, their Lordships after some discourse with him in relation to his memorial, (mentioned in the Minutes of 14th inst.), deferred the consideration thereof to another opportunity.

Leeward Islands.

Letter from Colonel Hart.

Two letters from Colonel Hart to the Board, dated at St. Christophers, the 8th of June, 1723, were read; as likewise
Minutes of Council, etc.
Minutes of Council and messages of the Assembly in April and May, 1723, upon the repeal of the Act for the support of His Excellency John Hart, Esq.

Letter to Mr. West.

Ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. West, to desire he would hasten his report upon the St. Christophers Acts, sent to him the 8th of January last.

Acts of St. Christophers and Montserrat.

Their Lordships then resolved to consider further of the draught of a representation upon the Acts passed at St. Christophers and Montserrat since His Majesty's accession to the Crown, to the year 1722 inclusive, ordered to be prepared the 9th of January last.

February 21st. Present:—Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer, Sir John Hobart.

Leeward Islands.

Letter to Mr. Nivine.

Commission for trying pirates.

Ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Nivine, in relation to the late General Hamilton's, (Governor of the Leeward Islands), commission for trying pirates.

Trade.

Letter from Mr. Chapman about prosecution for enticing manufacturers.

A letter from Mr. Chapman, of Froome in Somersetshire, relating to a prosecution against Edward Coward of that town, for enticing artificers in the woollen manufactory to go to Padua was read, as also
Information thereupon.
A copy of the information of John Smith against the said Edward Coward.

Letter to Lord Carteret.

Ordered that the draught of a letter be prepared for inclosing copies thereof to the Lord Carteret.

Letter to Mr. Chapman.

Ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Chapman to acquaint him that copies of his letter, and the aforesaid information have been sent to the Lord Carteret.

February 26th. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer.

Trade.

Letter from Mr. Chapman.

Enticing away manufacturers.

Their Lordships took into consideration the letter from Mr. Chapman, and the information of John Smith, therein enclosed, mentioned in the Minutes of the 21st inst., and resolved to consider further thereof at another opportunity.

February 27th. Present:— Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Plummer.

Nova Scotia.

Letter from Lord Carteret.

Colonel Philips's memorial.

State of the Province.

A letter from the Lord Carteret of the 26th inst., referring to the further consideration of this Board several points contained in a late memorial from Colonel Philips, Governor of Nova Scotia, about the state of that province, was read.

Barbadoes.

Letter from Mr. Worsley.

A letter from Mr. Worsley, Governor of Barbadoes, to the Board, dated the 11th January, 1723-4, was read; and the papers, thereing referred to, were laid before the Board, and were as follows, viz.:—
Papers therein referred to.
Minutes of Council, from the 8th August, 1723, to the 26th November following, inclusive.
Minutes of the Court of Chancery, from the 13th of October, 1723, to the 7th December following.
Copy of the address of the grand jury to His Majesty.
Copy of the address of the grand jury to Mr. Worsley.
Copy of the depositions of Henry Hunt, master, and Thomas Blackston, mate, of the Delight Galley, relating to their being taken by the pirates.
Copy of the depositions of four Portuguese, relating to themselves and others being taken by the pirates.
An Act to raise a levy on the inhabitants of this Island, and to establish a method to supply the want of cash for the payment of the public debts, passed in 1723.

Act sent to Mr. West.
Whereupon ordered that the said Act be sent to Mr. West, for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

February 28th. Present:— Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer.

Trade.

Letter from Lord Viscount Townsend.

Petition of Muscovy Company.

A letter from the Lord Viscount Townsend, of the 4th inst., enclosing a petition from the Muscovia Company, mentioned in the Minutes of the 5th inst., was again read; and their Lordships ordered the draught of a representation to be prepared thereupon.

Letter to Lord Carteret.

Woollen manufacture at Venice by English artificers.

The draught of a letter to the Lord Carteret, directed to be prepared the 18th inst., inclosing copies of the Board's letter to Mr. Walpole of 14th November, 1723, as also of a letter from Mr. Chapman, and of an information, mentioned in the Minutes of the 21st inst., relating to a woollen manufacture established in the Venetian territories by English artificers, seduced from hence for that purpose, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed

Letter to Mr. Chapman.

As also the draught of a letter to Mr. Chapman, directed to be prepared at the same time.

Nova Scotia.

Letter from Lord Carteret.

Colonel Philips's memorial.

Colonel Philips summoned.

Their Lordships took into further consideration the Lord Carteret's letter upon the late memorial of Colonel Philips, mentioned in yesterday's Minutes, and ordered that the said Colonel Philips, Governor of Nova Scotia, be acquainted that the Board desire to speak with him on Tuesday morning next.