Journal, November 1724

November 3. Present:—Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Ashe.

South Carolina.

Letters and papers from General Nicholson.

Two letters from General Nicholson, Governor of South Carolina, dated the 5th August and 5th September, 1724, were read, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board, viz:—
The Treasurer's account, from January 1st, 1723–4, to July 25th, 1724.
Extract of the Journal of Assembly, relating to the qualification of members.
Account of exports of rice, pitch and tar from 25th March to 31st July, 1724.
Proclamation, dated the 1st September, 1724, concerning the old bills outstanding and the arrears of taxes.
Proclamations, dated June the 26th and July 22nd, 1724, about the sailors, Acts of Trade, wills, inventories, etc.
Journal of Council in Assembly, from June 2nd to the 17th, 1724.
Journal of the Commons House of Assembly, from the 6th to the 16th day of June, 1724.
Representation of the Governor and Council, setting forth a state of the province and the disadvantages they lye under in point of trade and non-granting of lands.
Draught of the harbour of Port Royal.

November 10. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer.

New England.

New Hampshire.

Plantations General.

Mr. Armstrong, Colonel Shute, Colonel Armstrong, Mr. Dummer.

Mr. Armstrong to answer complaints in writing.

Mr. Armstrong, late Collector of the Customs in New Hampshire, attending, as he had been desired, as also Colonel Shute, Colonel Armstrong and Mr. Dummer, their Lordships, after some discourse with the said Mr. Armstrong upon the subject matter of his petition, referred to the Board by Mr. Scrope's letter of the 2nd, and mentioned in the Minutes of the 6th of the last month, desired he would put into writing his particular answers to the several complaints made against him by Mr. Husk, Mr. Bolam and Sharpe, sent to the Lords of the Treasury in the Board's letter of the 22nd November, 1722, which he promised to do accordingly.

Jamaica.

Letter to Duke of Bolton about Act concerning the north east part of the Island.

Ordered that the Duke of Bolton be acquainted, that the Board, having determined to take into consideration on Thursday the 19th inst., the Act, passed at Jamaica in 1722, entituled, An Act for settling the North East part of the Island, will be then ready to hear what his Grace may have to offer against the same.

Barbadoes.

Leeward Islands.

Intended settlement of St. Lucia and St. Vincent by Duke of Montague.

An account of the intended settlement of the Islands of St. Lucia and St. Vincent by his Grace the Duke of Montague in the year 1722, was read.

Trade.

Letter from Mr. Barnes.

A letter from Mr. Barnes, dated at Hamburg, the 7th November, 1724, N.S., was read; whereupon ordered that the draught of a letter be prepared for inclosing a copy thereof to the Duke of Newcastle.

November 13. Present:—Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Ashe, Sir John Hobart.

Trade.

Order of Council.

East India accounts.

Letter to Mr. Oxenford for accounts from Inspector General.

Order in Council of the 7th November, 1724, inclosing an account of the exports of the East India Company from September, 1723, to September, 1724, was read; whereupon ordered that Mr. Oxenford, (assistant Inspector General of the Imports and Exports), be acquainted that the Board expect he will let their Lordships have, as soon as possibly may be, the several accounts already desired of him by the secretary's letters of the 19th November and 1st of July last.

New England.

Trade.

Letter from Lord Viscount Townsend.

Petition of shipwrights.

Letter from the Lord Viscount Townsend, dated October 19th, 1924, referring to the Board the petition of the master shipwrights of the River Thames, relating to the building ships in New England, was read.

November 16. Present:—Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer.

Trade.

Letter to Duke of Newcastle upon one from Mr. Barnes.

The draught of a letter to the Duke of Newcastle, ordered to be prepared the 10th inst., for inclosing to his Grace the copy of a letter from Mr. Barnes, mentioned in the Minutes of the same day, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

Barbadoes.

Letter to Mr. Worseley.

The letter to Mr. Worseley, Governor of Barbados, ordered to be prepared the 28th of the last month, was agreed and ordered to be sent.

November 17. Present:—Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer.

Jamaica.

Acts.

Draught of representation.

Their Lordships took into consideration the draught of a representation, (mentioned in the Minutes of the 10th inst.), upon the Jamaica Acts, and made a progress therein.

Letter from Mr. St. Amand for Duke of Bolton about Act concerning the north east part of the Island.

The secretary then laid before the Board a letter he had received from Mr. St. Amand, desiring in behalf of the Duke of Bolton that the hearing, which was appointed to be next Thursday, upon the Act passed at Jamaica in 1722, entituled, An Act for settling the North East part of the Island, might be deferred to some day next week, and the said letter being read, their Lordships were pleased to defer the consideration of the said Act to Thursday sen'night.

Mr. Stevenson summoned.

Ordered that Mr. Stevenson, agent to the Duke of Portland, Governor of Jamaica, have notice to attend at the same time.

November 18. Present:—Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer, Sir John Hobart.

Jamaica.

State of Jamaica Laws.

Act to be confirmed.

Their Lordships, upon considering the present state of the laws of Jamaica, and that it will be improper to let any of them remain probationary, resolved to reconsider those, which they had some time since determined should lye by, and accordingly agreed that the following Act, passed at Jamaica in 1699, entituled, An Act appointing scavengers and regulating wharfage at Port Royal, should be reported for confirmation.

November 19. Present:—Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer, Sir John Hobart.

New England.

Trade.

Petition of shipwrights, to be sent to Mr. West.

Their Lordships, upon reconsidering a letter from the Lord Viscount Townsend of 19th of the last month, referring to the Board the petition of the master shipwrights of the River Thames, relating to the building ships in New England, (mentioned in the Minutes of the 13th inst.), gave directions for sending a copy of the said petition to Mr. West, for his opinion how the law stands with relation to the same.

Leeward Islands.

Letter from Mr. Smith.

A letter from Mr. Smith, secretary to the Leeward Islands, dated this day, was read, inclosing
Papers about his conduct as secretary.
Several papers in relation to Mr. Smith's conduct as secretary to the Leeward Islands.

To be further considered.

Ordered that Mr. Smith be acquainted that the Board intend to take his aforesaid letters and papers into further consideration to-morrow sen'night.

Jamaica.

Act sent to Mr. West.

Ordered that the Act, passed at Jamaica in 1703, entituled, An Act for ascertaining and establishing and more speedy collecting Her Majesty's quit rents, be sent to Mr. West, for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

November 20. Present:—Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Plummer.

Montserrat.

Letter from Duke of Newcastle.

French Minister's complaint.

Negroes deserting.

A letter from the Duke of Newcastle, dated the 16th November, 1724, referring to the Board several papers in relation to some negroes belonging to Mr. Garret in Guadaloupe being detained by Mr. Molineaux in Montserrat, was read, as also the following papers, therein referred to, viz:—
Several papers in relation to 14 negroes having deserted from Guadaloupe to Montserrat, and being detained there.

Papers on that subject sent to Colonel Hart.

Whereupon ordered that the said papers be sent to Colonel Hart, Governor of the Leeward Islands, and that he be desired to send their Lordships an exact account of this matter, as soon as possibly he can.

St. Christophers.

Letter from Duke of Newcastle.

Petitions of Burnet and Brown about late French lands.

A letter from the Duke of Newcastle of the 19th inst., referring to the Board the petitions of John Burnet and Jeremiah Brown, in relation to their right to 40 acres of land in the late French part of St. Christophers, was read, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board, viz:—
The petition of Jeremiah Brown and memorial of John Burnet, in relation to a plantation in the late French part of St. Christophers, in dispute between them.
Burnet and Warner's grant for land in Figg Tree's division in Capisterre Quarter in 1723.
Letter from the Lord Carteret to the Governor of the Leeward Islands, directing him to continue Mr. Gordon, Burnet, and Milliken in their plantations in St. Christophers till His Majesty's further order.
Proceedings in Council, in relation to a dispute between Mr. Brown and Mr. Burnet, about a plantation in the late French lands.
Copy of Mr. Secretary Craggs' letter, 31st December, 1721, for continuing several persons in possession of plantations in the late French lands.

Trade.

Mr. Barnes at Hamburgh.

His setting up manufactures there.

Their Lordships then took into consideration Mr. Barnes's letter, mentioned in the Minutes of the 10th inst., wherein he gives an account of his being at Hamburg, and that he will be necessitated to settle in some foreign part and teach his art of manufacturing wool, cotton, silk and thread, without he receives some encouragement to return home; as likewise the Act passed in the 5th year of King George, entituled, An Act to prevent the inconveniences arising from seducing artificers in the manufactures of Great Britain into foreign parts.

Letter from the Secretary to Mr. Barnes.

And ordered that the secretary acquaint him that, if he shall undertake to instruct any foreign nation in the manufacturing any of the aforesaid commodities, he will incur the penalties inflicted by this Act.

Draught of letter to Duke of Newcastle, about Barnes considered.

Their Lordships also considered the draught of a letter to the Duke of Newcastle upon this subject, which was agreed the 16th inst.; but finding that Mr. Barnes could not properly be included within the meaning of this Act, not having as yet begun to settle any manufacture abroad, their Lordships thought fit to defer the sending of the said letter to the Duke of Newcastle, till Mr. Barnes shall send his answer to the letter the Board this day ordered the secretary to write to him.

November 23. Present:—Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Plummer, Sir John Hobart.

Letter to Mr. Barnes at Hamburgh.

The letter to Mr. Barnes, ordered to be prepared at the last meeting, was agreed and ordered to be sent. As also

Leeward Islands.

Letter to the Governor.

The letter to Colonel Hart, Governor of the Leeward Islands, directed to be prepared at the same time.

November 24. Present:—Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer, Sir John Hobart.

Trade.

Letter from Lord Viscount Townsend.

Memorial from the Danish Envoy.

Lighthouses in Norway.

Merchants trading to Denmark and Norway summoned.

A letter from Lord Townsend of the 23rd inst., inclosing a memorial from the Danish Envoy, in relation to some new duties laid upon all ships, for defraying the expenses of two lighthouses lately erected on the coast of Denmark and Norway, was read; whereupon ordered that the several merchants, trading to those parts, be acquainted that the Board desire to speak with them on Tuesday morning next.

Montserrat.

Mr. Sharpe and Mr. Spooner about Act for additional salary to Colonel Hart.

Letter to Mr. West about a Governor voting as a Councillor.

Mr. Sharpe, Mr. Spooner and Mr. Barker attending, they desired their Lordships would please to consider of, and report their opinion upon the Act, passed at Montserrat in March, 1723–4, entituled, An Act for granting to His Majesty, His heirs and successors, certain duties upon the impost of liquors and upon house rent and mills in this Island for the payment of £500 annually to His Excellency, John Hart, Esq., Captain General and Governor in Chief of all His Majesty's Leeward Charibee Islands in America; and the Board upon reading the same, with Mr. West's report, and Mr. Smith's letter, and the papers, therein referred to, mentioned in the Minutes of the 19th inst., wherein it is represented that upon passing the said Act, there being an equality in the votes of the councillors, Colonel Hart had voted himself as a councillor; ordered that Mr. West be desired to send his opinion in point of law, whether the Governor can vote as a councillor in the passing of Bills, when the Councils sit in their legislative capacity.

November 25. Present:—Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer.

Trade.

Mr. Oxenford to attend about East India accounts.

Ordered that Mr. Oxenford be acquainted that the Board desire to speak with him to-morrow morning, in relation to the several East Indian accounts desired by the secretary's letter of the 19th November, 1723, and of the 1st July last.

Virginia.

Letter to Mr. Attorney and Mr. Solicitor General.

Queries about exorbitant grants.

Ordered that Mr. Attorney and Mr. Solictor General be reminded of the letter to them, with a copy of Major Drysdale's, of the 6th June last, and of several queries and other papers, relating to some exorbitant grants of land in Virginia, made by the late Lieutenant Governor, for their opinion thereupon.

November 26. Present:—Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer, Sir John Hobart.

Jamaica.

Hearing of Mr. St. Amand, for the Duke of Bolton, put off.

The secretary acquainting the Board that Mr. St. Amand had desired, in behalf of the Duke of Bolton, that their Lordships will defer the consideration of the Act, passed at Jamaica in 1722, entituled, An Act for settling the North East part of the Island, for some time further, the Duke not yet being come to Town; ordered that he be acquainted that the Board are willing to defer the consideration of the said Act to this day sen'night.

Trade.

Mr. Oxenford.

Accounts of East Indian goods.

Mr. Oxenford, attending, as he had been desired, their Lordships had some discourse with him, in relation to the several East Indian accounts desired by the secretary's letters of the 19th November, 1723, and 1st July last, and he promised to send their Lordships a state of that matter to-morrow morning.

November 27. Present:—Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Plummer, Sir John Hobart.

Leeward Islands.

Mr. Smith, secretary of the Islands.

Papers concerning his office.

Mr. Smith, secretary to the Leeward Islands, attending, as he had been desired, their Lordships, after some discourse with him, were pleased to defer the consideration of his letter and papers, (mentioned in the Minutes of the 19th inst.), till Tuesday next.

Trade.

Letter from Mr. Oxenford.

East India Accounts.

Letter to Lords of the Treasury.

Letter from Mr. Oxenford, Assistant Inspector General, to the Board, dated the 26th November, 1724, relating to accounts of East India goods imported and re-exported at London, was read; whereupon a letter to the Lords of the Treasury was agreed and signed.

St. Christophers.

Petitions of Burnet and Brown about some late French lands.

Parties summoned.

Their Lordships then took into consideration the letter from the Duke of Newcastle of the 19th inst., referring to the Board the petitions of Mr. John Burnet and Mr. Jeremiah Brown, in relation to their right to forty acres of land in the late French part of St. Christophers, (mentioned in the Minutes of the 20th inst.), and ordered that the several parties, who apply in relation to the said petition, have notice to attend next Wednesday morning, at eleven o'clock.