Journal, August 1726

August 11. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Plummer.

St. Christophers.

Mr. MacDowall and Mr. Sharpe.

Mr. MacDowall's petition, a copy to be sent to Colonel Hart.

Mr. McDowall and Mr. Sharpe, in behalf of Colonel Hart [Journal Dd. fol. 214], attending, as they had been desired, their Lordships took again into consideration Mr. McDowall's petition, mentioned in the Minutes of the 28th of the last month, and after some discourse with these gentlemen thereupon, their Lordships gave directions for sending a copy of the said petition to Colonel Hart for his particular answer thereto.

Antigua.

Mr. Nivine about Act concerning Mr. Murray's lands.

Draught of representation.

Mr. Nivine attending, as he had been desired, their Lordships took into consideration Mr. Fane's report, mentioned in the Minutes of the 27th of the last month, upon an Act, passed in Antego in 1724–5, for selling of certain lands belonging to Andrew Murray, Esquire, and after some discourse with Mr. Nivine thereupon, their Lordships gave directions for preparing the draught of a representation for confirming the said Act.

Massachusets.

Letter from Mr. Willard.

A letter from Mr. Willard, Secretary to the Massachusets Bay, dated the 5th December, 1724, was read, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board, viz:
Papers therein referred to.
Minutes of Council of the Massachusets Bay, from the 3rd March, 1723–4, to 31st August, 1724.
Minutes of the General Assembly, from the 22nd April, 1724, to the 20th June following.
General account of the Treasurer, from the 31st May, 1723, to the 30th May, 1724.
Three Acts, passed at Boston, the 27th May, 1724.

Letters and papers from Mr. Willard.

A second letter from Mr. Willard, dated the 26th of May, 1725, was read, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board, viz:
Minutes of Council, from the 2nd September, 1724, to the 19th February following.
Minutes of Assembly, from the 11th of November, 1724, to the 24th December following.
Eleven Acts, passed in May and November, 1724.

A third letter from Mr. Willard, dated the 6th November, 1725, was read, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board, viz;
Minutes of Council, from the 6th of March, 1724–5, to the 21st August, 1725.
Minutes of Council in Assembly, in May and June, 1725.
The Treasurer's account of receipts and disbursements of the public revenues for the year 1724.
Two Acts, passed in May, 1725.

Acts sent to Mr. Fane.

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

Answer to Mr. Willard's letters.

Ordered that the Secretary do answer Mr. Willard's said letters.

Trade.

Sardinia.

Letter from Duke of Newcastle, edict for new duties on British woollen manufactures.

A letter from the Duke of Newcastle, dated the 27th of last month, inclosing the King of Sardinia's edict for laying new duties upon several species of woollen manufactures made in Great Britain, was read.

A copy sent to merchants.

Whereupon ordered that a copy of the said edict be sent to the merchants trading to Sardinia for their opinion thereupon.

Post Meridiem.

Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Plummer.

The five following copies of Orders in Council, were read.

Barbadoes.

Order in Council repealing an Act.

Copy of an Order in Council of the 5th of July, 1726, for repealing An Act, passed at Barbadoes in 1722, to prevent any vessels etc. from carrying off any Negro, Indian or Mulatto slaves, etc., and directing that Mr. Worseley be instructed to recommend the passing another not lyable to the objections against the present.

Antigua.

Order in Council confirming Mr. Vernon's Act.

Copy of an Order in Council of the 3rd of July, 1726, confirming An Act, passed in Antego in 1724, for cutting off the entail of certain lands etc., belonging to John Vernon.

Pennsylvania.

Order in Council repealing an Act.

Copy of an Order in Council of the 5th of July, 1726, repealing an Act, passed in Pennsylvania in 1723, entituled, An Act directing the process of summons against freeholders.

Jamaica.

Order in Council on several reports about the Revenue Act.

Draught of letter for the King's signature.

Copy of an Order in Council of the 5th of July, 1726, upon several reports relating to the draught of a Bill to be transmitted to the Duke of Portland, and recommended to be passed in Jamaica, for granting a revenue to His Majesty, his heirs and successors, etc., and perpetuating the Acts and Laws thereof, etc., and directing the draught of a letter to be prepared for His Majesty's signature to His Grace thereupon.

Jamaica.

Order in Council upon representation about Revenue Act.

Copy of an Order in Council of the 29th July, 1726, referring to the Lords of the Committee of Council the representation of the Board of Trade upon An Act, passed at Jamaica in March, 1725–6, for granting a revenue to His Majesty, etc., and for reviving and perpetuating the Acts and Laws thereof.

New England.

Plantations General.

Letter from Mr. Cummings, illegal trade with foreign plantations.

A letter from Mr. Cummings, dated the 10th of October, 1724, complaining of illegal trade to foreign plantations, and proposing to have it prohibited, was read.

Second letter from him on same subject.

A second letter from him, dated 22nd December, 1724, complaining of the increase of the trade to foreign plantations to the prejudice of our own productions, and proposing logwood to be restrained to be imported to Great Britain only, was read.

Third letter from him.

Detriments to our Plantation trade.

A third letter from him, dated 23rd June, 1725, with a memorial from the officers of the Customs, setting forth the great detriment the Plantation trade suffers by selling horses to foreign plantations by bills of credit in New England, and by a deficiency in the Act relating to the importation of logwood here, was read.

New England.

Trade.

Plantations General.

Fourth letter from him, illegal trade.

A fourth letter from Mr. Cummings, dated at Boston, the 28th of January, 1725-6, complaining of an illegal trade carried on there with France, Spain and Portugal, and proposing a remedy by advancing the revenue of the Crown, was read.

The Secretary to answer them.

Whereupon ordered that the Secretary make an answer thereto.

Massachusets.

Letter from Mr. Willard with public papers.

A letter from Mr. Willard, Secretary to the Massachusets Bay, dated 3rd of June, 1726, was read, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board, viz:
Minutes of Council, from the 2nd of September, 1725, to 25th February, 1725–6.
Minutes of Council in Assembly, from 3rd November, 1725, to 15th January, 1725–6.
Acts passed in November, 1725.

Acts to be sent to Mr. Fane.

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

Answer to Mr. Willard.

Ordered that the Secretary do answer Mr. Willard's said letter.

August 30. Present:—Mr. Bladen, Mr. Plummer.

Virginia.

Reference on Colonel Spotswood's petition about his lands.

A reference from the Duke of Newcastle, dated the 27th July, 1726, upon Colonel Spotswood's petition relating to his lands in Virginia, was read, and their Lordships resolved to consider further thereof to-morrow sen'night.

New Hampshire.

Order of Council, petition of Mr. Newman.

Boundaries.

Mr. Newman to consult with Mr. Dummer, agent for the Massachusets thereupon.

An Order in Council of the 9th inst. [Journal Dd. fol. 147] referring to the Board the petition of Mr. Newman, agent for New Hampshire, desiring that the boundaries between that Province and the Province of Maine may be settled, was read; whereupon ordered that Mr. Newman and Mr. Dummer, agent for the Massachusets Bay, be directed to consult together and let their Lordships know when they shall be ready to lay before the Board what they shall have to offer upon that subject.

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

Virginia.

Trade.

Tobacco.

Mr. Nichols' Memorial.

Mr. John Nichols attending, presented to the Board a memorial and a scheme for the advancement of the tobacco trade, which was read; and their Lordships resolved to consider thereof at another opportunity.

Barbadoes.

Miscellanies.

Mr. Haggot, a councillor. Letter to Duke of Newcastle about right of the Board to recommend councillors.

Their Lordships observing that Mr. Othniel Haggot was appointed of the Council of Barbadoes, agreed and signed a letter to the Duke of Newcastle to acquaint his Grace, that it has ever been esteemed the right of this Board to recommend persons to supply vacancies in the several councils in the Plantations.

Virginia.

North Carolina.

Representation, boundaries.

A representation, [Journal Dd. fol. 108] recommending to His Majesty the proposals for settling the boundaries between Virginia and North Carolina, signed by Colonel Spotswood, and Mr. Eden, late Lieut. Governors of those provinces (Virginia Bundle P. No. 64), was agreed and signed.