Journal of the proceedings of His Majesty's Commissioners for promoting the trade of this Kingdom, and for inspecting and improving his plantations in America and elsewhere, from the first of January, 1729/30, to the thirty-first of December, 1730.

G.G.

1729–30.

Journal, January 1730

January 1. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Cary.

Trade.

Gibraltar.

Mr. Toriano.

Free port.

His thoughts.

Mr. Toriano attending, as he had been desired, their Lordships took again into consideration the Order of the Committee of Council, directing the Board to consider what restrictions are proper to be made in a charter for Gibraltar, relating to the trials of treason and a priviledge of a free port, read the 30th of last month, and desired Mr. Toriano would let the Board have his thoughts concerning the making that place a free port, on Wednesday next, which he promised accordingly.

Leeward Islands.

Lord Forbes upon merchants' petition.

Additional salary.

The Lord Forbes, appointed Governor of the Leeward Islands, attending, desired the Board would please to give him an opportunity of being heard, if the merchants were, upon their petition, desiring that no additional salary might be settled on the Governors of the Leeward Islands, referred to the Board by an Order from the Committee of Council, read the 30th of the last month; and the Board acquainted the Lord Forbes that he should have notice, if any hearing should be desired by the merchants.

January 7. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Cary, Sir Thomas Frankland.

Trade.

Gibraltar.

Merchants attend.

Free port.

Sir William Chapman, Mr. Toriano, Mr. Jackson, and some other gentlemen, concerned in the trade to Gibraltar, attending, as they had been desired, their Lordships informed them of that part of the Order of the Committee of Council, mentioned in the Minutes of the last meeting, which relates to the making Gibraltar a free port, and desired they would let the Board have their opinion upon this subject on Wednesday morning next, which they promised accordingly.

Letter from Mr. Beaver.

A letter from Mr. Beaver, of this day's date, upon the same subject, was read.

Trade.

Ireland.

Running of Wool.

Mr. Deverel, attending, presented to the Board a scheme for preventing the running of wool from this kingdom, which was read, and their Lordships resolved to consider further thereof at another opportunity.

New York.

Mr. Morris removed from the Council.

The representation, agreed the 31st of the last month, relating to the suspension of Mr. Morris from the Council of New York, was signed, as also a letter for enclosing the same to the Duke of Newcastle.

North Carolina.

Mr. Burrington appointed Governor.

A letter from the Duke of Newcastle, dated this day, signifying His Majesty's having appointed George Burrington, Esq., Governor of North Carolina, and directing the draught of a commission and instructions to be prepared for him, was read, and instructions were given for preparing the same accordingly.

January 8. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgman, Mr. Cary, Sir Thomas Frankland.

Plantations General.

Bermuda.

Whale Fishery.

Governor's Instructions.

The draught of instructions for His Majesty's Governors in America, ordered to be be prepared the 30th of the last month, for preventing their laying claim to the produce of whales of several kinds, under pretence of their being royal fishes, being agreed, were ordered to be transcribed; but their Lordships, observing that this instruction may possibly interfere with the Governor of Bermuda's 28th, where the profits accruing from the licenses granted for the fishing of whales are given to him in lieu of £100 per annum, part of his salary, ordered that this matter be particularly stated in the report of the Lords of the Committee, with these instructions.

South and North Carolina.

Governors attend about Boundaries.

Colonel Johnson, Governor of South Carolina, and Captain Burrington, of North Carolina, attending, with some other gentlemen of those provinces, acquainted the Board that they had agreed upon a division line between those provinces, and their Lordships desired they would mark the line upon a map, and lay the same before the Board, which they promised accordingly.

Trade.

Italy.

Hardships this trade labours under.

The draught of a representation, directed to be prepared the 18th of the last month, in relation to some hardships our trade labours under at Messina, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

January 9. Present:—Mr. Pelham, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Cary, Sir Thomas Frankland.

Trade.

Italy.

Representation thereupon.

Letter to the Duke of Newcastle signed.

The representation, agreed at the last meeting, relating to some hardships our trade labours under at Messina, was signed, as also a letter, for enclosing the same to His Grace the Duke of Newcastle.

Plantations General.

Nova Scotia.

Instructions to Colonel Phillips and Colonel Dunbar.

Settling Irish families.

The draught of instructions for Colonel Phillips, Governor of Nova Scotia, and for Colonel Dunbar, Surveyor General of the Woods in America, ordered to be prepared the 16th of the last month, for the settling some Irish families between Penobscot and St. Croix, and some Palatine families at or near Canso and Annapolis Royal; their Lordships resolved to consider further thereof on Monday morning next.

Plantations General.

Nova Scotia.

January 12. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Cary, Sir T. Frankland.

Instructions for the Governor and for the Surveyor General.

Mr. Hintz about the charges for transporting Palatine families.

Their Lordships taking again into consideration the draughts of instructions for Colonel Phillips, Governor of Nova Scotia, and for Colonel Dunbar, Surveyor General of the Woods in America, read at the last meeting, made a progress therein.

Letter to the Treasury.

Mr. Hintz attending, acquainted the Board, that the Lords of the Treasury were not willing to pay him the £120 proposed by this Board's representation of, for defraying his charge in transporting several Palatine families from Germany to Nova Scotia, without some signification from this office; whereupon a letter to Mr. Scrope upon this subject was agreed and ordered to be sent.

January 13. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Cary.

Nova Scotia.

Plantations General.

Instructions for Colonel Phillips and Colonel Dunbar considered.

Their Lordships took again into consideration the draught of instructions for Colonel Phillips, Governor of Nova Scotia, and Colonel Dunbar, Surveyor General of His Majesty's Woods in America, mentioned in yesterday's Minutes, and made a progress therein.

St. Christophers.

Negro Act considered.

Mr. Fane's report.

Colonel Hart to attend.

The Secretary acquainting the Board, that Mr. Beake, agent of St. Christophers, had desired their Lordships would please to consider the Act, passed at St. Christophers in January, 1728–9, intituled, An Act for raising a tax on negroes by the poll for and towards the erecting a Court House or Public Hall and other necessary offices in the town of Basse Terre in the Island of St. Christophers, and to oblige the Secretary and other officers to keep their offices there, and give a due attendance; and for repealing an Act made in the tenth year of the reign of His late Majesty, King George the 1st, intituled, An Act for building a Court House and Public Hall, Secretary's and other offices at the town of Old Road in the Island of St. Christophers, and to oblige the Secretary and other officers to keep their respective offices in the said town; their Lordships took the same into consideration, and read Mr. Fane's report thereupon, and gave directions for desiring Colonel Hart to attend the Board upon this subject to-morrow morning.

January 14. Present:—Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgman, Mr. Cary, Sir T. Frankland.

St. Christophers.

He attends.

Act considered.

Colonel Hart attending, as he had been desired, with Mr. Beake, agent for St. Christophers, their Lordships took again into consideration the Act passed in that Island, for raising a tax on negroes, and building a Court House, etc., mentioned in yesterday's Minutes; their Lordships desired Colonel Hart would inform the Board whether he thought the building the Court House and other public offices at Basseterre was more for the advantage of the Island than at Old Road, where they were to have been built, according to the Act repealed by this; to which he said, he was of opinion it would, because the town of Basseterre was now become the most opulent, and the chief place of trade, and therefore he joyned with Mr. Beake in the Island's request that the present Act might be confirmed.

Representation to confirm it.

These gentlemen being withdrawn, a representation for confirming the said Act, was agreed and signed.

Trade.

Gibraltar.

Merchants attend.

Free port.

Sir William Chapman, Mr. Toriano, Mr. Chitty and Mr. Jordan attending, as they had been desired, presented to the Board their memorial, in relation to the making Gibraltar a free port, which was read; and their Lordships resolved to consider further thereof at another opportunity.

Mr. Holroide's claim to some houses.

Sir William Chapman then presented to the Board the extract of a letter from Mr. Holroide, a merchant at Gibraltar, containing an account of his claim to some houses and land at that place, which was read.

January 15. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Cary, Sir T. Frankland.

North Carolina.

The Governor's Commission sent away.

The draught of a commission for appointing Captain Burrington Governor of North Carolina, ordered to be prepared the 7th inst., being agreed, a representation thereupon to His Majesty, and a letter, for inclosing the same to His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, were signed.

January 16. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Cary.

Trade.

Spain.

Losses.

Mr. Vincent attending, presented to the Board his petition, setting forth his losses, occasioned by his ships having been taken in 1719 by a Maltese privateer, and sold at Cagliari when that town was in possession of the Spaniards, which was read, and their Lordships gave directions for preparing a letter, to enclose a copy thereof to the Duke of Newcastle.

Antigua.

Chancery Act considered.

Mr. Fane's report.

The Board taking into consideration the Act, passed at Antigua in 1728, to supply the defects of a certain Act of this Island, entituled, An Act for constituting a Court of Chancery in this Island, and for holding Courts of Chancery in the absence of the Commander in Chief of the Leewards Islands from this Island, and for regulating the proceedings in Chancery Causes, and for setting the value of things in question on appeals to His Majesty, when the value shall be doubtful Mr. Fane's report thereupon was read, and their Lordships gave directions that the Lord Forbes, Governor of the Leeward Islands, and Colonel Hart, should be acquainted with the Board's desire of speaking with them thereupon, on Wednesday morning next.

January 21. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgman, Mr. Cary, Sir T. Frankland.

Antigua.

Chancery Act.

Colonel Hart attending, as he had been desired, their Lordships took again into consideration the Act, passed at Antigua, for constituting a Court of Chancery, etc., mentioned in the Minutes of the last meeting, and desired Colonel Hart would give the Board his opinion concerning the said Act, upon which he said, that he thought the same liable to many objections. Their Lordships, after some discourse with Colonel Hart upon this subject, desired he would put his objections in writing, and gave directions for acquainting Mr. Yeamans, agent for Antigua, and some merchants trading there, with the Board's desire for speaking with them upon this subject on Tuesday next.

Plantations General.

Nova Scotia.

Instructions for Colonel Phillips and Colonel Dunbar.

The draught of instructions for Colonel Phillips, Governor of Nova Scotia, and Colonel Dunbar, Surveyor General of His Majesty's Woods in America, mentioned in the Minutes of the 13th inst., were agreed, as also the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee thereupon.

January 22. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Sir O. Bridgman, Mr. Cary.

Carolina.

North and South.

Boundaries.

Colonel Johnson, Governor of South Carolina, and Captain Burrington, Governor of North Carolina, attending, as they had been desired, in relation to the boundaries between those two provinces, mentioned in the Minutes of the 8th inst., their Lordships, after some discourse with them thereupon, agreed upon the following divisional line, viz:—the line to begin at 30 miles south westward of Cape Fear river, and to be run at that parallel distance the whole course of the said river.

These gentlemen being withdrawn, ordered that an article be, for this purpose, inserted in the draughts of their instructions.

Trade.

Spain.

Losses.

The letter, for enclosing to the Duke of Newcastle a copy of Mr. Vincent's petition, setting forth his losses by the Spaniards in 1719, etc., ordered to be prepared the 16th inst., was agreed and signed.

Plantations General.

Nova Scotia.

Settlements.

The report to the Lords of the Committee, with the draughts of instructions for Colonel Phillips, Governor of Nova Scotia, and Colonel Dunbar, Surveyor General of His Majesty's Woods in America, in relation to the settlement of some Irish families, agreed yesterday, was signed.

January 23. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Sir O. Bridgman.

Massachusetts.

New Hampshire.

Alterations.

Instructions.

A memorial from Mr. Belcher, appointed Governor of the Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire, proposing some alterations to be made in the draughts of his instructions, was read, as also

Additional Salary.

The copy of a letter from the Duke of Newcastle to Mr. Burnet, the late Governor of those provinces, signifying Her Majesty's pleasure concerning the appointment of his salary; and their Lordships, taking the said draughts of instructions into consideration, made a progress therein.

Instructions.

Wearing the Jack.

Ordered that a copy of the 51st Article of the instructions for the Massachusetts Bay be sent to Mr. Burchet, and that he be desired to move the Lords of the Admiralty that this Board may be informed, whether there is any objection to the Governor's wearing the Jack, thereby described, when he goes upon the water in his own barge.

January 27. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgman, Mr. Cary, Sir T. Frankland.

Antigua.

Chancery Act.

Mr. Morice, Mr. Harris, Mr. Douglas, and several other merchants attending, as they had been desired, which trade to Antigua, as also Mr. Yeamans, agent for that Island; their Lordships took again into consideration the Act, passed at Antigua in 1728, for constituting a Court of Chancery, etc., mentioned in the Minutes of the 21st inst., and desired these gentlemen would let the Board know, whether they had any objection thereto, whereupon Mr. Morice acquainted the Board, in behalf of the merchants, that they had met upon this subject, had carefully examined the Act, and that they thought it was both useful and necessary, to prevent the delay of justice, and desired their Lordships would please to represent the same as such to His Majesty.

These gentlemen being withdrawn, their Lordships resolved to consider further thereof at another opportunity.

Massachusetts.

Instructions.

Their Lordships then took into consideration the draught of Mr. Belcher's instructions for the Massachusetts Bay, mentioned in the Minutes of the last meeting, and made a progress therein.

Queries.

Ordered that the following queries be sent to Mr. Belcher, for his answer thereto, viz:—

What number of bills are now circulating in the provinces of the Massachusets Bay? and to what value?

What is the fund established for repaying them?

Has that fund ever been broken into?

For what services were they raised?

To what use have they since been applied.?

How long will it be before the present bills can be discharged.?

Is there at present any necessity for a paper currency?

If any, for what value?

And what is the reason for such necessity?

What fund can be preposed to prevent their being at discount?

January 28. Present:—Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Cary.

South Carolina.

Two letters from Colonel Johnson, appointed Governor of South Carolina, with several observations, in relation to that province, were read, with the copy of an Act therein referred to, passed there in March, 1695–6, to ascertain the prices of land, the forms of conveyances and the manner of recovering of rents for lands, and the prices of the several commodities the same may be paid in; and their Lordships agreed to consider further thereof to-morrow morning.

January 29. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgman, Mr. Cary, Sir T. Frankland.

South Carolina.

Colonel Johnson's letters.

Their Lordships took again into consideration the letters from Colonel Johnson, appointed Governor of South Carolina, mentioned in yesterday's Minutes, and made a progress therein.

Letter to Duke of Newcastle.

Ordered that a letter be prepared to the Duke of Newcastle upon that part of Colonel Johnson's letter of the . . . . . . . . , which relates to the want of stores of war.

North Carolina.

New seal.

Ordered that the draught of a representation be prepared for proposing a great seal for North Carolina.

January 30. Present:—Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgman, Mr. Cary, Sir T. Frankland.

Trade.

Gibraltar.

Charter.

Mr. Attorney and Mr. Solicitor General attending, as they had been desired, the Board took again into consideration the draught of a charter of incorporation for Gibraltar, referred to the Board by an Order of the Committee of Council, read the 30th of the last month, as also the said Order, and the memorial from the merchants, read the 14th inst., upon the same subject: and after some discourse with them thereupon, their Lordships agreed upon some alterations to be made therein, and gave directions for preparing the draught of a report thereupon.