Journal, September 1729

September 2. Present:—Mr. Bladen, Mr. Cary.

Antigua.

Securing water for the navy, etc.

A letter from Mr. Burchet, Secretary to the Lords of the Admiralty, of the 28th, in answer to one writ him the 29th of the last month, was read, together with the enclosed copies of a letter from the Assembly of Antigua and of a memorial from Mr. Yeamans, their agent, relating to the commodiousness of English Harbour, and an account of what the said Assembly have done or will do towards perfecting that harbour for the reception of His Majesty's ships imployed in those parts; and the Act of Assembly, passed at Antigua in September, 1725, intituled, An Act to invest certain lands in His Majesty, his heirs and successors, for the use of His Majesty's ships of war, referred to in the said copy of the Assembly's letter, was also read, with Mr. Fane's report thereupon, which was mentioned in the Minutes of the 24th of February, 1726-7: upon consideration of which Act, ordered that Colonel Hart, late Governor of the Leeward Islands, be acquainted that the Board desire to speak with him at eleven of the clock to-morrow morning. In the meantime directions were given for preparing the draught of an additional instruction to the Earl of Londonderry, His Majesty's present Governor of the Leeward Islands, pursuant to Her Majesty's Order in Council of the 18th, mentioned in the Minutes of the 26th of the last month, relating amongst other things to the said harbour.

North Carolina.

A report to the Lords of the Committee of the Privy Council, as agreed at the last meeting, relating to the complaints of the Council of North Carolina against Sir Richard Everard, Deputy Governor of that province, and to Sir Richard's complaint against the said Council, was signed.

Trade.

Spain.

Loss by the Spaniards.

An account of the loss of the brigantine Grape, of Preston, John Nock, master, which was taken by two Spanish privateers in her voyage from London to Oporto in December, 1719; as also the affidavit of Thomas Marsden and John Grear of Liverpool, relating to the loss of the brigantine called the Queen of Sheba, of Preston, Francis Winstanley, master, taken by a Spanish man of war in March, 1718, being laid before the Board, directions were given for preparing a letter, wherewith to transmit copies of the said account and affidavit to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, in order to be laid before Her Majesty.

Virginia.

Letter from Major Gooch, with papers.

A letter from Major Gooch, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, dated the 29th of June last, was read, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before, viz:—
Minutes of Council, from the 1st of April, 1729, to the 12th of June following.
Account of quit rents, from the 25th of April, 1728, to the 25th of April, 1729.
Account of the 2s. per hogshead, from the 25th April, 1728, to the 25th of April, 1729.
Copy of six proclamations published in Virginia in 1728 and 1729.
Imports from the Maderas, etc., from Michaelmas, 1728, to Lady Day, 1729.
Draught of the land in dispute between the Crown and the Lord Fairfax.
Naval officer's lists of imports and exports at Virginia, from Michaelmas, 1728, to Lady Day, 1729, viz: at Rappahannock River, York River, James River, Upper and Lower District, South Potomack and the Eastern Shore.
Scheme for a tobacco law.

Whereupon directions were given for preparing the draught of an answer to Major Gooch's said letter.

September 3. Present:—Mr. Bladen, Mr. Cary, Sir Thomas Frankland.

Trade.

Lasses by the Spaniards.

A letter, directed at the last meeting to be prepared, for transmitting to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle copies of an account and affidavit relating to the losses of the brigantines Grape and Queen of Sheba, both of Preston, in the county Palatine of Lancaster, the one taken by a Spanish man of war in 1718, the other taken by two Spanish privateers in 1719, in order to the said copies being laid before Her Majesty, was signed.

Antigua.

Securing water for the use of the navy.

Colonel Hart, late Governor of the Leeward Islands, attending, as desired, their Lordships had some discourse with him concerning the Act of Antigua, mentioned in yesterday's Minutes, which was passed by him in September, 1725, intituled. An Act to invest certain lands in His Majesty, his heirs and successors, for the use of His Majesty's ships of war; whereupon directions were given for preparing the draught of a representation, wherewith to lay the said Act before Her Majesty for the royal approbation, as also the draught of an additional instruction now agreed by their Lordships, to the Earl of Londonderry, His Majesty's present Governor of the Leeward Islands, pursuant to Her Majesty's Order in Council, of the 18th of the last month, relating to the perfecting of English Harbour in the said island of Antigua, the securing of water, and moderating the price of fuel for the use of His Majesty's ships, and to the maintaining such fortifications as the Assembly have proposed for the securing of the said harbour.

Massachusets.

The undermentioned letters from Mr. Burnet, Governor of His Majesty's provinces of the Massachusets Bay and New Hampshire, were severally read, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board, viz:—

A letter from him, dated the 24th of May, 1729, to the Board.
Votes of the Assembly of the Massachusets Bay, from the 2nd to the 18th of April, 1729.

A letter from him, of the 19th of July, 1729, to the Board.
Votes of the Assembly of the Massachusets Bay, from the 28th of May to the 10th of July, 1729.

A letter from him, of the 19th of July, 1729, to the Secretary.

And their Lordships agreed to take the said letters and papers into further consideration at another opportunity.

September 16. Present:—Mr. Bladen, Mr. Cary.

Antigua.

Securing water for the use of the navy.

Leeward Islands.

Etc.

The draught of a representation, directed the 3rd instant to be prepared, for laying before His Majesty, for the royal approbation, an Act, passed in Antigua in September, 1725, intituled, An Act to vest certain lands in His Majesty, his heirs and successors, for the use of His Majesty's ships of war, as also the draught of an additional instruction to the Earl of Londonderry, Governor of the Leeward Islands, relating to the perfecting of English Harbour in the said island of Antigua, etc., was agreed, with the proper alterations of style in both, since His Majesty's late happy arrival in this kingdom from his foreign dominions, and the said draughts of an instruction and representation were ordered to be transcribed.

Newfoundland.

Justices of the Peace.

A letter from the Lord Vere Beauclerk, Commodore of the Convoy at Newfoundland, dated at St. John's, the 18th of the last month, relating to the appointment of some Justices of Peace and constables for the government of such people as remain there in the winter, to the great plenty of fish taken this year and the want of ships to fetch it away, was read.

September 17. Present:—Mr. Bladen, Mr. Cary.

Trade.

Newfoundland.

French Cod fishery.

The extract of a letter from France, lately communicated to the Board by Mr. Stephen Godin, relating to the proceedings of some merchants of Rouen, in order to make a settlement on a small island near the north point of Gaspet in Newfoundland, and establish a cod fishery there, being read, directions were given for desiring to speak with Mr. Godin thereupon.

September 23. Present:—Mr. Bladen, Mr. Cary, Sir Thomas Frankland.

Antigua.

Securing water, etc., for the use of the navy.

Leeward Islands.

The representation for confirming an Act, passed at Antigua in 1725, to vest certain lands in his Majesty, his heirs and successors, for the use of His Majesty's ships of war, as also the draught of the additional instruction to the Governor of the Leeward Islands about perfecting the English Harbour in Antigua, agreed the 16th instant, was signed.

The five undermentioned copies of Orders in Council were read.

Virginia.

Slave Act repealed.

Order in Council, of the 18th August, 1729, for repealing an Act passed in Virginia in 1728, for laying a duty on slaves imported, and for appointing a treasurer.

Saint Christophers.

Act, 4½ per cent.

Order in Council, of the 18th August, 1729, for confirming an Act passed at St. Christophers in June, 1727, to subject all goods and commodities of the growth and produce of the late French part of that island to the payment of the duty of 4½ per cent.

Leeward Islands.

Additional salary.

Order in Council, of 18th August, 1729, directing several Acts of the Leeward Islands for granting additional salaries to the Earl of Londonderry, etc., to lye by, and ordering the said Earl to get laws passed for the more regular collecting the said duties.

Barbados.

Order in Council.

Act, support of Government, to be in force.

Order in Council, of the 18th of August, 1729, declaring an Act passed in Barbadoes in 1722–3 for supporting the honour and dignity of the Government to be still in force.

Order in Council.

Lord Micklethwaite's petition to be recommended to the Assembly.

Order in Council, of the 18th of August, 1729, directing the Governor of Barbadoes to recommend the Lord Micklethwaite to the Assembly for the payment of what shall appear due to him from the public of that island.

Massachusetts.

The Board taking again into consideration the three letters from Mr. Burnet, Governor of the Massachusets Bay, and the papers therein referred to, mentioned in the Minutes of the 3rd instant, gave directions for preparing the draught of a letter to the Duke of Newcastle thereupon.

Trade.

Newfoundland.

French settlement.

The Secretary then acquainted the Board that he had spoke with Mr. Godin, according to their Lordships' order of the 7th instant, in relation to the extract of a letter then communicated to the Board by him, concerning the proceedings of some merchants of Rouen, in order to make a settlement on a small island near the north point of Gaspet in Newfoundland for the establishing a cod fishery there, and that Mr. Godin would discourse with a friend of his upon this subject, and that he would give the Board what further information he could get upon this subject.

Miscellanies.

A letter from Mr. Scrope, Secretary to the Treasury, dated the 16th of August last, relating to the payment of the arrears of the sum of £39 13s. 11d. due to the post officer for letters and packets delivered before His late Majesty's demise, was read; whereupon ordered that the said sum be inserted in this quarter's incidents.

September 30. Present:—Mr. Bladen, Mr. Cary.

Miscellanies.

The Secretary laid before the Board the accounts of petty expences and incidental charges of this office, from Midsummer, 1729, to Michaelmas last, amounting to £230 19s. 2½d., viz:—

And a letter to the Lords of the Treasury, desiring payment thereof, as likewise of one quarter's salary due to the Secretary and other officers for the same time, was signed.

Massachusets.

Assembly's behaviour.

The draught of a letter to the Duke of Newcastle, directed to be prepared at the last meeting, in relation to the behaviour of the Assembly of the Massachusets Bay, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.