Journal, December 1729

December 2. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Cary, Sir T. Frankland.

New England.

A letter from Mr. Coram, dated the 28th of the last month, in relation to the King's title to the lands between the rivers of Kennebeck and St. Croix, was read.

Governor appointed.

A letter from the Lord Viscount Townshend, of the 28th of November last, signifying His Majesty's having appointed Jonathan Belcher, Esquire, Governor of the Massachusets Bay and New Hampshire, and requiring the draughts of commissions and instructions to be prepared for him, was read; whereupon ordered that draughts of commissions and instructions be prepared accordingly.

Leeward Islands.

Lord Forbes appointed Governor.

A letter from the Lord Viscount Townshend, of the 22nd of November last, signifying His Majesty's having appointed the Lord Forbes Governor of the Leeward Islands, and requiring draughts of a commission and instructions to be prepared, was read; whereupon ordered that draughts of a commission and instructions be prepared accordingly.

South Carolina.

Colonel Johnson appointed Governor.

A letter from the Lord Viscount Townshend, of the 22nd of November last, signifying His Majesty's having appointed Robert Johnson, Esquire, to be Governor of South Carolina, and requiring draughts of a commission and instructions to be prepared for him, was read; whereupon ordered that draughts of a commission and instructions be prepared accordingly.

Plantations General.

6d. per month, Greenwich Hospital.

An Order in Council, of the 19th of November, 1729, inclosing printed copies of instructions from the Commissioners to the Deputy Receivers in America of the 6d. per month for Greenwich Hospital out of seamen's wages, and directing this Board to prepare draughts of instructions for all His Majesty's Governors in America, and to annex to each draught one of the said printed copies of instructions, was read; whereupon ordered that the draughts of instructions be accordingly prepared to all His Majesty's Governors in America.

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

Leeward Islands.

Lord Forbes's commission.

The draught of a commission, ordered yesterday to be prepared for the Lord Forbes, appointed Governor of the Leeward Islands, being agreed, a representation thereupon to His Majesty was signed, as also a letter for inclosing the same to the Lord Townshend.

Nova Scotia.

Irish families.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee, relating to the settlements proposed to be made in and near Nova Scotia, mentioned in the Minutes of the 27th of the last month, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed; and their Lordships gave directions for preparing the draught of a letter, for inclosing a copy thereof to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, in answer to the letter from him upon this subject, mentioned in the Minutes of the 25th of the last month.

December 4. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Cary, Sir Thomas Frankland.

Nova Scotia.

Irish families.

The report to the Lords of the Committee, relating to the settlements proposed to be made in and near Nova Scotia, agreed yesterday, was signed: as also the letter to the Duke of Newcastle upon the same subject.

Jamaica.

Representations.

Port Antonio.

The draught of a representation upon five Acts of Jamaica, in relation to Port Antonio, directed to be prepared the 26th of the last month, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed; as also the draught of a representation to the Lords of the Committee upon the same subject.

Trade.

Ireland.

Running of Wool.

An Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated the 26th of November, 1729, referring to this Board two petitions, one from Tiverton, the other from Exeter, complaining of the decay of their trade in the woollen manufactures by the running of wool from Ireland to France, was read; whereupon ordered that Mr. Russell and some of the persons concerned in the said petitions be desired to attend the Board on Wednesday next.

Plantations General.

The draught of instructions, directed yesterday to be prepared, to the several Governors in America in relation to the collecting the 6d. per month from seamen's wages for Greenwich Hospital, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed; as also the draught of a representation for laying the same before His Majesty.

December 9. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Cary.

Jamaica.

Representation, Port Antonio, signed.

The representation upon five Acts of Jamaica, in relation to Port Antonio, agreed at the last meeting, was signed; as also a letter for inclosing the same to the Duke of Newcastle.

A report to the Lords of the Committee upon the same subject was likewise signed.

New York.

Mr. Morris suspended the Council.

Mr. Peirce, Mr. Norris and some other gentlemen attending, desired the Board would please to take into consideration some papers, which they were informed were referred to this office, relating to the suspension of Mr. Morris from the Council of New York; and their Lordships appointed to-morrow sennight for this, and gave directions for summoning Mr. Drummond, agent for the province, to attend at the same time.

Plantations General.

The circular letters to all the Governors, with queries in relation to the state of their Governments, directed to be prepared the 15th of July last, were agreed and ordered to be sent.

South Carolina.

Governor's commission.

The draught of a commission for Colonel Johnson, appointed Governor of South Carolina, ordered to be prepared at the last meeting, being agreed, a representation thereupon to His Majestywas signed, as also a letter for inclosing the same to the Lord Townshend.

Plantations General.

New England.

Masts.

Their Lordships then took into consideration the draught of a report upon an Order of the Lords of the Committee, of the 31st of July, and read the 7th of August last, referring to this Board the copy of a letter from the Lords of the Admiralty to the Duke of Newcastle, and of letters to Mr. Dunbar, Surveyor of the Woods in America, relating to the difficulties in preserving trees fit for masts from the inhabitants of the country; but the Board, upon inspecting the Act for better preservation of His Majesty's woods in America, and for the encouragement of the importation of naral stores from thence, and to encourage the importation of masts, yards and bowsprights from that part of Great Britain called Scotland, do find that the grievances complained of, in relation to the woods, are redressed as far as the parliament had thought proper, and therefore the Board agreed to defer making any report upon this matter.

Barbadoes.

Santa Lucia.

Proceedings of the French.

The Secretary then laid before the Board the copy of a letter to Mr. Wood, dated at Barbadoes, the 1st of July last, in relation to the proceedings of the French at Santa Lucia, which being read, ordered that Mr. Wood be desired to attend the Board on Thursday morning next.

December 10. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Bladen, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Cary, Sir Thomas Frankland.

Trade.

Ireland.

Mr. Russel attending, as he had been desired, with Mr. Edwards, their Lordships took again into consideration the Order of the Committee of Council about the running of wool from Ireland to France, mentioned in the Minutes of the 4th instant, and desiring these gentlemen to give the Board an account of what they knew concerning this matter. Mr. Russel informed the Board, that for about three years last past a greater quantity of wool had been run from Ireland to France than had been known before: that it was done in a very open manner, none of the officers daring to concern themselves in the seizure thereof: that this had raised the price of wool in Ireland from four to nine shillings per stone, and that it was now rather dearer there than in this kingdom: that the French at present had the wool from thence near 20 per cent. cheaper than we could, there being a duty of nineteen pence half penny per stone payable at the exportation thereof to this kingdom, and that of consequence the French could afford manufactures made thereof so much the cheaper: that at present they sent their manufactures to Marseilles from whence they stocked the markets in the Straights, to the great prejudice of our trade there: but that without wool from this kingdom or Ireland, the French could not make up their manufactures, their wool being too short and of too coarse a nature. The Board then asked these gentlemen, what methods they thought would be most effectual to prevent this evil for the future; but they desired some time to consider thereof, and promised to let the Board have their opinion in writing upon this matter, as soon as conveniently may be.

In the meantime ordered that a copy of the aforesaid petition from Exeter be sent to these gentlemen for their information.

December 11. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Bladen, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Cary.

New England.

The draughts of commissions for Mr. Belcher, appointed Governor of the Massachusets Bay and New Hampshire, ordered to be prepared the 2nd instant, being agreed, a representation thereupon to His Majesty was signed, as also a letter for inclosing the same to the Lord Viscount Townshend.

Newfoundland.

Colonel Gledhill's memorial.

Colonel Gledhill, Lieutenant Governor of Placentia in Newfoundland, attending, he presented to the Board a memorial desiring to have an opportunity of justifying himself at the Board against the several complaints laid to his charge, and a petition from several merchants of London, Bristol, Dartmouth and Whitehaven upon the same subject, which were both read. And their Lordships acquainted him that they would take the same into consideration at the return of Lord Vere, the Commodore of this year's convoy, and in the meantime ordered that Colonel Gledhill should have copies of all the complaints which have been made against him.

Barbados.

Santa Lucia.

Proceedings of the French.

Mr. Wood attending, as he had been desired, their Lordships took again into consideration the copy of a letter from Barbadoes to Mr. Wood, mentioned in the Minutes of the 9th instant, in relation to the proceedings of the French at Santa Lucia, and Mr. Wood acquainting the Board that Mr. Freelove, who wrote the said letter, was now in England, their Lordships desired he would attend on Wednesday next.

Mr. Wood then presented to the Board the extract of a letter from Mr. Forbes, dated at Barbadoes the 4th July, 1728, upon the same subject, which was read, and their Lordships resolved to consider further thereof at another opportunity. In the meantime ordered that a letter be wrote to Mr. Burchet, Secretary to the Lords of the Admiralty, to know whether Captain Davers has sent any account of the present state of Santa Lucia and St. Vincent's to that office.

December 16. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Cary, Sir T. Frankland.

Trade.

Sicily.

Hardships in this trade.

Mr. Jackson, Mr. Heames and several other merchants trading to Sicily attending, presented to the Board a representation relating to some hardships the trade to Sicily at present labours under, which was read; as also a letter from the Lord Townshend, referring to the Board a copy of a letter from Mr. Chamberlaine, consul at Messina, upon this subject. A letter from the said consul to this Board was likewise read. And their Lordships resolved to consider further of this matter at another opportunity.

Nova Scotia.

Instructions.

Irish families.

An Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated the 8th, upon a report of this Board of the 4th of December, 1729, relating to the settlements to be made between Penobscot and St. Croix, and at Annapolis and Canso in Nova Scotia, approving the same, and directing draughts of instructions to be prepared thereupon to the Governor and Surveyor of the Woods, was read, and directions given for preparing the draughts of instructions accordingly.

North Carolina.

Papers considered.

Their Lordships then took again into consideration the North Carolina papers, in answer to a complaint against the Governor and relating to grants of land there, referred to in the Duke of Newcastle's letter of the 12th, and entered in the Minutes of the 26th of the last month, and agreed to reconsider the same, agreeable to their report to the Lords of the Committee of the 2nd of September last, when a Governor shall be appointed for North Carolina.

Newfoundland.

Magistrates.

Their Lordships likewise agreed to reconsider the several Newfoundland papers, relating to the appointment of magistrates there, referred to in the same letter from the Duke of Newcastle, and entered in the same Minutes, when Lord Vere, Commodore of the Newfoundland squadron, and Captain Osburn shall return home.

South and North Carolina.

Ordered that a letter be wrote to Mr. Scrope for a copy of the surrender of Carolina from the lords proprietors, and of such other papers, relating to the said province, as may be necessary for the Board's perusal.

December 17. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Cary, Sir T. Frankland.

Barbados.

Santa Lucia.

Saint Vincent.

Proceedings of the French.

Mr. Wood attending, as he had been desired, with Mr. Freelove, their Lordships took again into consideration the copy of a letter from Mr. Freelove to Mr. Wood, read the 9th instant, and the copy of another from Mr. Forbes, read the 11th instant, in relation to the proceedings of the French at Santa Lucia and St. Vincent's: and their Lordships asking Mr. Freelove, whether what he had wrote to Mr. Wood was from his own knowledge or from the information which he had had from other people, he acquainted the Board, that Mr. Carlton, a lieutenant on board Captain Davers', who is now on the Barbadoes station, had informed him that there was now at Santa Lucia about 3,000 French inhabitants, and that their numbers were daily increasing: that the French were likewise settling the island of St. Vincent's, where they had lately denied some English vessels from Montserrat the liberty of getting wood and water. Their Lordships then gave directions for preparing the draught of a letter to the Duke of Newcastle upon this subject.

New York.

Mr. Morris's suspension.

Mr. Peirce and Mr. Norris attending, according to appointment, in behalf of Mr. Morris, one of the Council of New York, but lately suspended by Colonel Montgomerie, as also Mr. Drummond, agent to, and Mr. Leheup in behalf of, Colonel Montgomerie, their Lordships took into consideration and read the following papers upon that subject.

A letter from the Duke of Newcastle of the 6th of November, 1729.
Copy of a letter from Mr. Lewis Morris, junior, to the Duke of Newcastle.

A letter from Colonel Montgomerie, dated the 20th of June, 1729.
Mr. Lewis Morris, junior's, protest against the manner of signing warrants in Council for disposing of the public revenue.
The Council's answer to and disapprobation of the said protest.
Mr. Morris's vindication of his protest.
The Council's resolves on the said vindication.
Extract of the Minutes of Council of 10th of April and 12th of June, 1729, relating to the issuing of warrants for disposing of the public revenue.

Letter from Lewis Morris, junior, Esquire, dated at New York the 19th of July, 1729.
Representation of the Committee of Council to the Governor against the Assembly of New York, of 30th of August, 1728.
Reasons given by Lewis Morris, junior, for his protest, upon which he was suspended the Council, and the Minute of Council for his suspension.
Protest of Lewis Morris, junior, against drawing of warrants for the disposition of the public money without advice of the Council, and the Minute of Council upon it.
Reasons against the Governor's sitting and acting as a Councillor in the passing of laws.
Printed paper published by Brigadier Hunter in 1713.
Examinations taken by the Committee of Council in November, 1727.
Some reasons offered to the Governor for not laying before the Council the Minutes of the Committee.
Minutes of Council, of the 12th of October, 1728, for payment of officers' salaries.
Two speeches of the Chief Justice to the Assembly.
Resolves and votes of the Assembly of New York, of the 7th of October, 1726, 25th of November, 1727, and of the 30th of July and 10th of August, 1728.

Their Lordships then resolved to consider further of this matter to-morrow morning.

December 18. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Cary, Sir Thomas Frankland.

Trade.

Sicily.

The Board taking again into consideration the letter from Lord Townshend, and the other papers, relating to some hardships our trade labours under in Sicily, mentioned in the Minutes of the 16th instant, their Lordships gave directions for preparing the draught of a representation thereupon.

New England.

Sir Bibye Lake's claim to lands.

Mr. Turner attending, in behalf of Sir Bibye Lake, who claims some land to the eastward of Kennebeck in New England, desired the Board would please to give directions that what he claims may be excepted out of that tract, whereon Colonel Dunbar is instructed to settle the Palatines and Irish families. The Board taking this matter into consideration, desired Mr. Turner would lay before them on Tuesday sennight an account of the situation and quantity of land claimed by Sir Bibye, and ordered that the papers in this office in relation thereto be then laid before the Board.

New York.

Mr. Morris's suspension.

The Board then took again into consideration the papers, read yesterday, in relation to Mr. Lewis Morris being suspended from the Council of New York, and gave directions for preparing the draught of a representation thereupon. The Secretary then laid before the Board a letter, which he had received from Mr. Sharpe, one of the extraordinary clerks of the Council, signifying the desire of the Lords of the Committee that the Board should attend their Lordships this evening at the Cockpit, which was read, and the Board agreed to attend accordingly.

December 30. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Cary, Sir T. Frankland.

New Hampshire.

Governor's commission.

Mr. Belcher, Governor of New Hampshire, attending, acquainted the Board that he apprehended he was only appointed Governor of part of the province by virtue of the following words in his commission, and therefore prayed they might be altered, viz: "Governor and Commander-in-Chief of all that part of our province of New Hampshire within our dominion of New England in America, lying and extending itself from three miles northward of Merrimack River, or any part thereof, unto the province of Maine, with the south part of the Isle of Shoals, during our will and pleasure.

The Board, taking this matter into consideration, agreed and signed a letter to the Duke of Newcastle thereupon.

Miscellanies.

The Secretary then laid before the Board the copy of a Minute of the Treasury Board, whereby the arrears of incidents due to the late Mr. Samuel Clarke are allowed to be inserted in the incidental accounts of this office, and their Lordships gave directions for inserting one hundred pounds, part thereof, in the next account according to the said Minute.

Barbados.

Santa Lucia, etc.

Letter from Mr. Burchet.

Proceedings of the French.

A letter from Mr. Burchet, dated the 18th instant, inclosing extracts of two letters from Captain Davers sent to the Admiralty Office, in relation to the state of Santa Lucia and St. Vincent's and to the proceedings of the French there, was read; and the draught of a letter to the Duke of Newcastle upon the same subject, directed to be prepared the 17th instant, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

Plantations General.

An Order of the Committee of Council of 18th December, 1729, directing the Board to prepare additional instructions to all the Governors in America, not to claim for the future any Royal fish, but to leave all fishing free, was read; and their Lordships gave directions for preparing the draughts of instructions accordingly.

Massachusets.

An Order in Council, dated the 2nd of December, 1729, directing the Board to transmit their proposition to the Assembly of the Massachusets Bay for settling £1000 sterling per annum on their Governor, was read; and directions were accordingly given for delivering to Mr. Wilks a copy of the said proposition, signed by the Secretary.

Leeward Islands.

Additional salary.

An Order of the Committee of Council, dated the 18th of December, 1729, directing the Board to consider what is reasonable for each island to give as additional salary to their Governor, was read, and the Board resolved to consider further thereof at another opportunity.

Trade.

Gibraltar.

Charter.

An Order of the Committee of Council, of 18th December, 1729, directing the Board to consider what restrictions are proper to be made in a charter for Gibraltar, relating to tryals of treason, and the privilege of a free port, was read; whereupon ordered that Mr. Attorney and Solicitor General be acquainted with the Board's desire of speaking with them some morning upon this subject.

Ordered that the several merchants, who attended the Board formerly upon this subject, be desired to attend again to-morrow sennight.

Ordered that Mr. Toriano be desired to attend the Board upon this subject on Thursday next.

Plantations General.

A representation with additional instructions to the several Governors in America in relation to the collecting the 6d. per month from seamen's wages for Greenwich Hospital, agreed the 4th instant, was signed.

December 31. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir Thomas Frankland.

Barbados.

Santa Lucia.

Proceedings of the French.

The letter to the Duke of Newcastle, in relation to the proceedings of the French at Santa Lucia, St. Vincent's and Dominica, agreed yesterday, was signed.

New England.

Claim to lands.

A memorial from Sir Bibye Lake and others, relating to their lands in New England, which they desire may be excepted out of that tract, whereon Colonel Dunbar is instructed to settle the Palatines and Irish families, was read; and their Lordships agreed that these lands did not interfere with the tract proposed to be settled by Colonel Dunbar.

New York.

Suspension of Mr. Morris.

The draught of a representation, directed to be prepared the 18th instant, relating to the suspension of Mr. Morris from the Council of New York, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

Miscellanies.

The Secretary then laid before the Board the accounts of petty expences and incidental charges for the service of this office between Michaelmas, 1729, and Christmas following, amounting to £341 12s. 8d.

And a letter to the Lords of the Treasury, desiring payment thereof, as also of one quarter's salary due to the Secretary and other officers at Christmas day last, was agreed and signed.