Journal, September 1724

September 2. Present:—Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Plummer.

Montserrat.

Mr. Gerrish of the Council.

Not desiring to return.

Mr. Gerrish, one of the Council of Montserrat, attending, as he had been desired, their Lordships asked him whether he had any design of returning to that Island again, but as he informed their Lordships, that he had not, the Board acquainted him, they should think of some proper person to recommend in his room.

South Carolina.

Letter from Lord Bishop of London.

Act about salaries of the clergy.

A letter from the Lord Bishop of London, dated the 26th of August, in answer to one from this Board of the 20th, relating to An Act, passed in South Carolina in 1722, for advancing the salaries of the Clergy, was read.

Leeward Islands.

Mr. Smith, secretary, about his deputies.

To bring his answer in writing.

Mr. Smith, secretary to the Leeward Islands, attending, as he had been desired, their Lordships acquainted him with that part of Colonel Hart's letter of the 16th March last, which relates to the incapacity of his deputy at Montserrat, and desired he would give some reason why the Minutes of Council, since he has had that place, have not been so regularly returned, to which he desired their Lordships would give him leave to put his answer in writing, and which he promised to do in two or three days' time.

Nova Scotia.

Colonel Philips with Colonel Gardner.

Letter from the Treasury about the vessel built by Colonel Philips for service of the province.

Draught of answer to Mr. Scrope's letter.

Colonel Philips, Governor of Nova Scotia, attending with Colonel Gardner, their Lordships took into consideration Mr. Scrope's letter of 20th May, mentioned in the Minutes of 30th June, in relation to the sloop, which he had built in Nova Scotia, for the protection of that coast, and after some discourse with Colonel Philips upon this subject, gave some directions for preparing the draught of an answer to Mr. Scrope's letter of the 20th of May last, thereupon.

Virginia.

Letter from Colonel Spotswood.

Letter from him to Deputy Auditor about his lands.

A letter from Colonel Spotswood, late Governor of Virginia, dated the 16th June last, was read; as also a letter from him to the Deputy Auditor of Virginia in relation to the land he possesses there.

September 3. Present:—Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Plummer.

New England.

Nova Scotia.

Mr. Coram, Birkhead, etc.

Proposals about settling a tract of land.

Draught of representation.

The secretary acquainting the Board, that he had received a letter from Mr. Coram, signifying his not being able to come to the Board this day, as he had been desired, and Mr. Birkhead attending, with several gentlemen concerned in the same petition for a tract of land between New England and Nova Scotia, (mentioned in the Minutes of the 20th of the last month), presented to the Board their proposals for settling the said tract, which were read; and their Lordships gave some directions for preparing the draught of a representation upon the Order of Council, referring their petition to this Board, mentioned in the Minutes of the 12th May last.

New England.

Plantations General.

Mr. Armstrong.

State of Woods in New Hampshire.

Mr. Armstrong, Deputy Surveyor of the Woods in America, attending, as he had been desired, presented to the Board an account of the state of His Majesty's Woods in New Hampshire, which was read; and their Lordships after some discourse with him thereupon, resolved to consider further thereof at another opportunity.

Nova Scotia.

Letter to Lords of the Treasury.

Sloop built by Colonel Philips.

A letter to the Lords of the Treasury in relation to a sloop, built by Colonel Philips, Governor of Nova Scotia, for the protection of that coast, ordered yesterday to be prepared, was agreed and signed.

September 15. Present:—Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen.

Trade.

Plantations General.

Letter from Mr. Torriano.

Sugar, tobacco, etc.

Representation.

Their Lordships taking again into consideration the letter from Mr. Torriano, in relation to the proposal for exporting the produce of the plantations from the place of their growth directly to the southward of Cape Finisterre, mentioned in the Minutes of the 11th of the last month; a representation thereupon to His Majesty, was agreed, transcribed and signed.

Trade.

Letter from Mr. Carkesse.

Custom House ledger.

A letter from Mr. Carkesse, secretary to the Honble. the Commissioners of His Majesty's Customs, transmitting the leidger for the year 1720, was read.

September 30. Present:—Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Plummer.

Miscellanies.

Orders concerning the clerks.

The Board observing that several of the Books of Entry in this office were very much in arrear, by neglect of the clerks, their Lordships have thought fit to order, that all the clerks should for the future, attend their duty here every day from 9 a clock in the morning till 2 in the afternoon and as much longer as the Board shall at any time sit.

They shall also attend in the evenings, whenever the secretary shall give them notice for that purpose.

And all the clerks every day, upon their going from the office, shall deliver up to the secretary, or under-secretary, all books and papers in their custody, belonging to the office. [Jour. Dd. fos. 185 and 186.]

It is likewise ordered that the secretary do, at least once a week, give an account to the Board, if any of the clerks have been absent from their duty, and for what time.

Jamaica.

Letter from the Duke of Portland.

A letter from the Duke of Portland, Governor of Jamaica, dated the 13th July, 1724, was read; and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board, viz:—
Papers therein referred to.
Mr. John Stewart and Mr. Jonathan Perrie, their petition concerning the ship Chandois, and the Attorney General's opinion thereupon.
Several papers and the Attorney General of Jamaica's opinion on the case of a French schooner, called the Esperance, condemned for trading there, contrary to the Act of Navigation.
Proceedings of the Court of Vice Admiralty, relating to the schooner Esperance.
Proceedings of the Court of Vice Admiralty relating to the ship Chandois.

Another letter from his Grace.

Another letter from the Duke of Portland, Governor of Jamaica, dated the 15th July, 1724, transmitting the state of Mr. Brown's case, drawn up by the Council of Jamaica, and complaining of the behaviour of the Captains of the men of war, was read, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board, viz:—
Papers therein referred to.
The state of Mr. Brown's case, drawn up by the Council of Jamaica.
The deposition of John Verdon, gent., concerning Mr. Brown.
The deposition of Alexander Forbes, Esq., Provost-Marshall of Jamaica, concerning Mr. Brown.

Antigua.

Acts to be repealed.

Their Lordships then took into consideration an Act, passed at Antigua, in 1721, entituled, An Act to impose a duty on sugar, molasses, rum, cotton and ginger of the produce or manufacture of the French king's Colonies imported into this Island, and agreed that the same should be repealed.