Journal, November 1707: Journal Book L

Journal, November 1707

November 3. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Monckton.

New York.

Act about Bayard, &c. Representation.

Letter to the Earl of Sunderland therewith.

A representation upon an Act past at New York, entituled An Act declaring the illegality of the proceedings against Colonel Bayard and Alderman John Hutchins for pretended high treason, and for reversing and making null and voyd the said judgment and all proceedings thereon [fo. 355; M. fo. 20], together with a letter to the Earl of Sunderland inclosing the same, were signed.

Virginia.

Letter to the Earl of Sunderland with instruction to the President of Virginia.

about devolution of government

A letter to the Earl of Sunderland inclosing an instruction to Edmund Jennings, esquire, President of the Council of Virginia, touching the devolution of government, upon the death or absence of the Governor of the said colony, for her Majesty's royal signature, was signed.

Letter from Mr. Savage about admeasurement of ships.

A letter from Mr. Savage, secretary to the Commissioners of the Customes, of the 31st of the last month, in answer to one writ him the preceeding day relating to the admeasurement of ships in Virginia, was read.

Trade.

Letter from Mr. Savage.

Imports and exports.

Another letter from Mr. Savage, of the same date with the foregoing, signifying that directions have been given for transmitting to this Board the accounts of exports and imports to and from Flanders [fo. 332], required by the secretary's letter to Mr. Lowndes of the 24th of September last, was read.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Harley.

Treaty with Dantzick.

A letter to Mr. Secretary Harley, desiring a copy of the treaty lately concluded between her Majesty and the city of Dantzick, was signed.

Barbadoes.

Papers from Mr. Walters.

The three papers received from Mr. Walters were laid before the Board, and are as follows, viz.:—
Bank of Barbadoes.
Observations upon a paper entituled "The rise, progress and determination of the bank of Barbadoes."
Depositions.
Promoter of the Paper Act.
Depositions of John Holder, William Walker and Alexander Walker, esquires, touching the said Alexander, giving his brother William 200l. for being a promoter of the Paper Act.
Speaker of Assembly's speech on that subject.
Copy of the Speaker of the Assembly of Barbadoes' speech to Colonel Crow, upon laying the resolutions of that house before him against the persons concerned in the Paper Act, which papers were read.

Leeward Islands.

Acts for Governor's house rent.

Mr. Churchill attending [fo. 57, 359], and desiring to know when their lordships would proceed in the consideration of two Acts past in the Leeward Islands, entituled An Act for the payment of the value of 1,000l. currant money annually to his Excellency Daniel Park, esquire, in lieu and satisfaction for the rent of a house for his said Excellency's accomodation during his residence and abode in this island, past the 26th of July, 1706.

An Act for raising the quantity of one hundred thousand pounds of good Muscovado sugar per annum for discharging the rent of a house for the accomodation of his Excellency Daniel Park, esquire, during the continuing of his government as Captain General of these islands, past 4th September, 1706; he was acquainted that they had in their late letter to Colonel Park informed him that they intended to take the said Acts into consideration, and let him know their opinion thereupon.

Jamaica.

Characters of persons recommended by the Governor for counsellors.

Sir Gilbert Heathcote also attending [fo. 351], he was asked the character of William Brodrick and Francis Oldfield, esquires, recommended by Brigadier Handasyd in his letter of the 29th of August last to be members of her Majesty's Council in Jamaica, the which he promised to bring their lordships in writing in a few days.

November 6. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Bishop of London, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Monckton.

Leeward Islands.

Letter to the Earl of Sunderland about house rent for the Governor.

A letter to the Earl of Sunderland upon two Acts pass'd in the Leeward Islands [fo. 357, 360], for house rent for Colonel Park, Governor of the said islands, mentioned in the last minutes, was agreed, and ordered to be transcribed.

Trade.

Letter to Mr. Lowndes.

Naval stores imported.

Ordered, that a letter be writ to Mr. Lowndes, to move my Lord High Treasurer that the Board may have from the Commissioners of the Customes, an account of naval stores imported hither from all parts of Europe from Christmas, 1700, to Christmas, 1701, as also from Christmas, 1703, to this present time, specifying what quantity's of naval stores from the plantations have received certificates of their goodness, in order to the allowance of the præmium, according to the late Act of Parliament pass'd in that behalf.

Trade.

Miscellanies.

Mr. Sleford's proposal.

Their lordships agreed to take Mr. Sleford's proposals [fo. 351, 365] for his being agent to this Board in consideration on Monday next.

Trade.

Letter from Mr. Ince about trade to Denmark, Sweden and Norway.

A letter from Mr. John Ince, secretary to the Eastland Company, of this day's date, signifying that the said company have no other grievances in relation to their trade to Denmark, Sweden and Norway [fo. 355], to complain of, than what are contained in the books of this office.

November 7. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pulteney.

Leeward Islands.

Letter to the Earl of Sunderland.

Acts for the Governor's house rent.

A letter to the Earl of Sunderland relating to two Acts passed at Antego and St. Christopher's [fo. 359; M. fo. 25], for house rent for Colonel Park as agreed at the last meeting, was signed.

Trade.

Reference on petition of Stehn and Dorrien.

A reference from the Earl of Sunderland of the 31st of the last month, upon a petition of Messieurs Stehn and Dorrien [fo. 363], for a pass for the Betty galley of Stade, to trade to the Spanish West Indies and back, was read, and ordered that the said Stehn and Dorrien [fo. 366] have notice to attend the Board on Tuesday morning next.

Trade.

Jamaica.

Merchants about trade with the Spaniards and complaint against Comodore Kerr.

Sir Bartholomew Gracedieu, Mr. Benjamin Way, with Mr. Wood [fo. 351], lately arrived from Jamaica, and several other merchants trading to that island, attending as desired, they were acquainted that Brigadier Handasyd, in his letter of the 19th June last, writes that the Spanish markets are at present clogg'd by the importations of the French and Dutch; and, being asked what they had to propose for the better securing and encouraging our own trade in those parts, they said that the only prejudice to our trade, was the want of convoys from Jamaica to the Spanish coast; that the French, by taking our ships, sell our woollen manufactures to the Spaniards cheaper than we can ourselves; and therefore without the necessary convoys it is impossible that trade can be carried on; that within this year and half they have sent to Jamaica to the value of one hundred and fifty thousand pounds in the manufactures of England, and could send much more if that trade could be protected; that they have lately lost by the fault of Commodore Kerr in four sloops [fo. 373] to the value of above one hundred thousand pounds sterling. And particularly Mr. Wood said that he had applied to Commodore Kerr for one man-of-war to convoy a sloop richly laden to the Spanish coast, which he could not obtain the promiss of till he proffer'd him 600 pistolles; that a day or two after that offer, Commodore Kerr sent Captain Trevor, commander of one of her Majesty's ships of war there, to tell the said Wood that 600 pistolls was too little, and that he ought therefore to give him 2,000 or 1,500, which the merchants not agreeing to, the sloop was sent without convoy, and in her return with about 40,000l. in peices of eight, being chased by two privateers, was overset, and with fifty men in her lost; that upon the arrival of a ship from England richly laden with commodities for the Spanish trade with orders from the Prince to Commodore Kerr for granting her one man-of-war for convoy, and upon the merchants being obliged to unload the said ship into sloops proper for that trade, they could not obtain a convoy till Mr. Wood paid the Commodore 800 pistolls. They added that it was their opinion one man-of-war was sufficient to lye in port for the protection of the harbour; two to cruize between Carthagena and Portobello for the protection of their trade, and the rest to cruize in such stations as should be thought most convenient. Then these gentlemen, being desired to put what they had to offer upon the foregoing heads into writing, they promised to do it, and to present the same to their lordships so soon as Mr. Wood's papers, which are not yet come to town, shal arrive.

Trade.

Merchants' opinion about passes desired by Stehn and Dorrien.

Then their lordships asked these gentlemen their opinion about passes being granted to Swedish ships to trade to the Spanish West Indies, as is desired by the abovesaid petition of Messieurs Stehn and Dorrien [fo. 360]. They said that that would be a means infallibly to ruin the trade of Jamaica, for the Swedes being neuters will not, especially if they can obtain also passes from France, be molested by the French, and that therefore they may ingross the Spanish trade in the West Indies; besides that the French may by that means carry on a trade in such neutral ships unmolested between themselves and the Spaniards in America. Besides, this trade between the Swedes and the Spanish West Indies was intirely new and never practised before.

November 10. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Dartmouth, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Monckton.

Miscellanies.

Incidents.

The accounts of the incident charges of this office from Midsummer, 1707, to Michaelmas last, were read before the Board, and are as follows, viz.:—

Letter to Lord Treasurer thereupon.

Whereupon a letter was writ to the Lord High Treasurer to desire his lordship's order for payment thereof.

Maryland.

Letter from Colonel Seymour.

A letter from Colonel Seymour, Governor of Maryland, dated the 16th of August last, was read, and the papers therein referr'd to laid before the Board, and are as follows, viz.:—
Papers of publick proceedings.
Copy of an address to Colonel Seymour from the Quakers in Maryland, relating to the evil designs of Richard Clark against that government.
Copy of an Act past in North Carolina to encourage the settlement of that country.

Maryland.

Carolina.

Draught of representation on the Act passed in Carolina to be prepared.

Whereupon ordered that a representation be prepared for laying the said Act before her Majesty [fo. 367], proposing that her Majesty be pleased to declare the said Act null and void, and to signify her pleasure to the proprietors and Assembly of that province, that they do not permit the said law to be put in execution.

Trade.

Miscellanies.

Sleford's proposal.

Answer to be prepared to Lord Treasurer.

Mr. Lowndes's letter of the 27th of September last [fo. 360, 368], relating to Mr. Sleford's proposals (mentioned in the minutes of the 30th of the last month), together with the said proposal, were again read, and directions given for preparing an answer to my Lord Treasurer thereupon.

November 11. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Herbert, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Monckton.

Trade.

Mr. Stehn about his and Mr. Dorrien's petition.

Letter to the Earl of Sunderland thereupon.

Mr. Stehn attending [fo. 361] according to appointment, and being asked if he had any thing further to offer than what was contained in his petition praying for a pass for the Betty gally (mentioned in the minutes of the 7th instant), he answered that he had nothing more to add to his said petition. Whereupon a letter to the Earl of Sunderland with their lordships' opinion that such passes ought not to be granted, was agreed and signed.

Miscellanies.

Trade.

Draught of letter to the Lord Treasurer upon Mr. Sliford's proposal.

The draught of a letter to the Lord High Treasurer relating to Mr. Sleford's proposal [fo. 365, 368] (mentioned in yesterday's minutes), was agreed, and ordered to be transcribed.

Plantations General.

Proprieties.

Order of the House of Commons requiring the names of the several Governors, &c.

An order of the House of Commons of yesterday's date [fo. 368], directing this Board to lay before that House a list of the names of the Governors and Deputy Governors of the plantations, was read; and directions given for preparing the same accordingly.

Maryland.

Carolina.

Draught of representation on an Act.

The draught of a representation upon an Act past by the Assembly in North Carolina [fo. 365, v. infra], entituled An Act to incourage the settlement of this country, as directed in yesterday's minutes, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

November 12. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Dartmouth, Lord Herbert, Mr. Pulteney.

Maryland.

Carolina.

Representation on an Act.

Letter to Earl of Sunderland.

thereupon.

A representation upon an Act past in North Carolina [v. supra, 372; M. fo. 69], entituled An Act to incourage the settlement of this country (as agreed at the last meeting), together with a letter to the Earl of Sunderland, inclosing the same, were signed.

Plantations General.

Proprieties.

List of all the Governors' names sent to House of Commons.

The list of the names of the Governors and Deputy Governors of the plantations, required by the order of the House of Commons [fo. 367] (mentioned in yesterday's minutes), was delivered to Mr. Pulteney, who promised to lay the same before that House.

Trade.

Miscellanies.

Letter to Lord Treasurer about Sliford.

A letter to the Lord High Treasurer upon Mr. Sliford's proposal [fo. 366], as agreed at the last meeting, was signed.

Barbadoes.

Merchants about Col.

Sharp's being in debt.

Mr. Heysham, Mr. Gray, Mr. Beddingfeild and Mr. Lillington attending, they acquainted their lordships that Mr. Sharp, late President of the Councill in Barbadoes, being very much in debt, he ought not to be of the Councill in that island; that the said Sharp had also been a great promoter of the Act for paper credit there. They further added that, whilst he should continue to be a member of Councill, it would occasion an obstruction of justice, by reason no prosecutions could be made against him to oblige him to pay his just debts. Whereupon these gentlemen were desired to put their complaints into writing, and to set forth how and where the course of justice is obstructed in Barbadoes, which they promised to do accordingly.

Maryland.

Mr. Attorney General's report on book of laws under consideration.

Then their lordships entred upon the consideration of Mr. Attorney General's report [fo. 27, 371], upon a book of laws past in Maryland the 3rd of May, 1704 (marked No. 16), and read two of the said laws.

November 13. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Dartmouth, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Monckton.

Plantations General.

Trade.

Order of House of Lords about state of trade.

An order from the House of Lords, dated yesterday, requiring this Board to lay before their lordships an account of the state of the trade of this kingdom since the 27th of November, 1704 [fo. 378], was read; and directions given for preparing a report thereupon accordingly.

Trade.

Letter to Mr. Baker about exportation of wooll.

Ordered that the secretary write to Mr. Henry Baker [fo. 353, 377] to hasten his answer to the letter writ him the 30th of the last month for an account of his proceedings on the coasts of Kent and Sussex for preventing the exportation of wooll, &c.

Trade.

Letter to Turkey Company about woollen manufacture exported.

Ordered that the secretary also write to the Governor of the Turkey Company [fo. 377] for an account of the woollen manufactures exported by the said company from 1702 to this present time.

Further ordered that a letter be likewise writ to Mr. Lowndes, to move the Lord High Treasurer that their lordships may have from the Commissioners of the Customs [fo. 376], the following accounts, viz.:—
An account of corn exported from Christmas, 1703, specifying to what places the said exports were made.
An account of wool imported from Ireland from Midsummer, 1704.
An account of the woollen manufactures exported from Christmas, 1701, with the places to which these exports were made.
An account of bullion and corn entred for exportation from Michaelmas, 1704.
An abstract of exports and imports from Christmas, 1704, and to desire that they may have an account of naval stores, mentioned in the minutes of the 7th instant.

Maryland.

Laws.

Colonel Blakiston to attend.

Their lordships again took into consideration the book of Maryland laws [fo. 369, 372], mentioned in yesterday's minutes, and read fifteen of the said laws. And their lordships taking notice that Mr. Attorney General in his report upon the said laws had made several objections upon that relating to Mr. Nicholas Milbourn, ordered that Mr. Blakiston have notice to attend the Board thereupon on Tuesday morning next.

November 14. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Dartmouth, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pulteney.

Virginia.

Letter from Mr. Savage about admeasurement of ships.

A letter from Mr. Savage, secretary to the Commissioners of the Customes, in answer to one writ him the 22nd of the last month upon a new memorial of the Virginia merchants [fo. 338, 385], against the method proposed of admeasuring ships at the keel, the said ships being always afloat, was read; and directions given for sending a copy of the said letter to the merchants trading to Virginia, for their observations thereupon in writing.

Maryland.

Carolina.

Colonel Blakiston about Act.

Colonel Blakiston attending, and desiring to know what had been done in relation to the Act past in North Carolina, entituled An Act to encourage the settlement of this country [fo. 367], their lordships' report thereupon was communicated to him.

Colonel Blakiston about four new counsellors.

He also desired that their lordships would take into consideration what Colonel Seymour, Governor of Maryland, writes in his letter of the 10th of June last, relating to four new counsellors for that province [fo. 324; M. fo. 55], which their lordships promised to do at a convenient opportunity.

Laws under consideration.

Merchants summoned.

Their lordships proceeded in the consideration of the book of Maryland laws [fo. 371, 399], and read eight of the said laws; and there being one ascertaining the gauge of tobacco hogsheads [fo. 385], ordered that the merchants trading to that province have notice to attend the Board thereupon on Friday morning next.

November 17. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Dartmouth, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Monckton.

Plantations General.

Trade.

Letter from Mr. Secretary Harley for account of the state [and] trade of the plantations.

A letter from Mr. Secretary Harley, requiring this Board to lay before the House of Commons an account of the state and trade of the plantations [fo. 374], was read, and the draught of a report being laid before the Board, their lordships took the same into consideration, and made some progress therein.

Jamaica.

Memorial from several merchants against Commodore Kerr.

Several Jamaica merchants attending, they presented to their lordships a memorial complaining of the unwarrantable and irregular proceedings of Commodore Kerr [fo. 362], which is in substance the same as what they offered to the Board in discourse the 7th instant, which memorial was read; and the said merchants further acquainted their lordships that they were in daily expectation of a representation from the whole island, which would be more particular in relation to Commodore Kerr's behaviour than any thing that they yet offered on that subject.

Post Meridiem.

Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Dartmouth, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Monckton.

Plantations General.

Trade.

Report to the House of Commons.

Their lordships proceeded in the consideration of the report to the House of Commons [fo. 373, 375], and made a further progress therein.

November 18. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Dartmouth, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Monckton.

Plantations General.

Trade.

Draught of a report to the House of Commons.

Their lordships again took into consideration the draught of the report to the House of Commons [v. supra] (mentioned in yesterday's minutes), and agreed the same, and ordered it to be transcribed.

November 19. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Dartmouth, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Monckton.

Plantations General.

Trade.

Report to the House of Commons.

The report to the House of Commons, relating to the state and trade of the plantations [fo. 374], was signed, and the Right Honourable the Lord Herbert being desired to ask the Earl of Sunderland if he would please to receive her Majesty's leave for presenting it to the House, his lordship went accordingly, and being returned, acquainted the Board with my Lord Sunderland's answer, that the order coming from Mr. Secretary Harley, it was more proper for him to do it, if needfull.

November 21. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pulteney.

Trade.

Inspector General's account of the value of exports and imports to and from Portugal and Spain.

Doctor Davenant, Inspector General of the Customes, attending [fo. 370, 398], presented to their lordships an account of the value of goods exported and imported to and from Portugal to England from the year 1700 to 1706, with an extract of the said accounts, as also of others from 1698, together with an abstract of the state of the Spanish trade from Christmas, 1698, to Christmas, 1705, and he observed that in this account there were several articles omitted, which did not come under his inspection, viz.:—
The fish from Newfoundland which might amount to about 130,000 per annum.
The exports from Ireland to Portugal, which may be computed at between 50 and three-score thousand pounds per annum.
The cloths for the army in Portugal, and the trade from North Britain to Portugal, which are considerable.

Jamaica.

Order of Committee of the House of Lords for Mr. Wood's account of the loss of four sloops trading from Jamaica.

Answer.

An order of the Lords Committees [v. infra], appointed to consider the petition of several merchants on behalf of themselves and others, traders of the city of London, dated the 20th instant, requiring the Board to lay before their lordships to-morrow morning the account given them by Mr. Wood of the loss of the four sloops trading from Jamaica, was read [v. supra], and a report in answer to the said order was signed accordingly.

Trade.

Memorial from Captain Baker of his proceedings in Kent and Sussex.

Captain Baker attending, presented to their lordships a memorial [fo. 369; M. fo. 383], containing an account of his proceedings upon the coasts of Kent and Sussex since December, 1703, which was read.

Memorial from the Turkey Company.

Their exports.

A memorial from the Turkey Company [fo. 370], containing an account of their exportations of woollen manufactures, tin and lead, from the year 1702 to the year 1706, was read.

Letter from the Earl of Sunderland upon Sir William Hodges' petition for four passes for Spanish ships.

A letter from the Earl of Sunderland of the 18th instant, referring to the Board a petition of Sir William Hodges [fo. 384] for four passes, viz.:—One for a ship from Cadiz to London and back, two for two ships from Cadiz to the Spanish West Indies and back, and one for the whale fishery, was read; and Sir William Hodges attending, he was acquainted that the Board were very busy in preparing reports for the House of Lords, and he was therefore desired to call here again on Friday next, which he promised to do accordingly.

Trade.

Draught of report to the House of Lords.

Their lordships then took into consideration the draught of a report to the House of Lords [fo. 369], and made a progress therein.

November 22. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Dartmouth, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Monckton.

Trade.

Plantations General.

Report to the House of Lords.

Their lordships again took into consideration the report to the House of Lords [fo. 369, 379], and made a progress therein.

November 24. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Dartmouth, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Monckton.

Plantations General.

Trade.

Letter from Mr. Savage desiring a copy of the general report to the House of Commons, and of that relating to Newfoundland.

A letter from Mr. Savage, secretary to the Commissioners of the Customes, desiring a copy of the report of this Board to the House of Commons, delivered in the 19th instant; as also a copy of another report from this Board to the House of Commons, relating to the trade and fishery of Newfoundland, was read, and directions given for writing an answer thereunto.

Plantations General.

Trade.

Draught of report to the House of Lords.

Then their lordships proceeded in the consideration of the draught of a report to the House of Lords [fo. 378, 380], and made a further progress therein.

November 25. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Dartmouth, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Monckton.

Trade.

Letter from the Earl of Sunderland referring a petition of the Royal African Company to the Board.

Mr. Pinder, Deputy Governor [fo. 382], with several members of the Royal African Company attending, presented to their lordships a letter from the Earl of Sunderland of the 20th instant, referring to this Board a petition of the said company to her Majesty, relating to hardships they lye under in referrence to their trade, which was read; whereupon these gentlemen were acquainted that, so soon as their lordships should have finished a report to the House of Lords, which is now in hand, they would consider the said petition, and then demand of the said company such papers as shal be found necessary for examining the allegations of the said petition.

Plantations General.

Trade.

Draught of report to House of Lords.

The draught of a report to the House of Lords [fo. 379, 382], was agreed, and order'd to be transcribed.

November 27. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Dartmouth, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Monckton.

Trade.

Imports and exports to and from several parts.

An account of imports and exports to and from Flanders, and of linen imported from Holland, Germany, East country, Russia, and Sweden, between the 25th day of December, 1698, and 25th day of December, 1706, as also the estimate of their first cost, or sworn values.

Italian trade.

Naval stores imported.

A state of the Italian trade for seven years.

Plantations General.

Report to House of Lords.

An account shewing the quantities of hemp, pitch, tar, rozin, turpentine, masts, yards and bolsprits, imported between the 25th day of December, 1700, to the 25th day of December, 1706, being received from Doctor Davenant, Inspector General of her Majesty's Customes, was laid before the Board, and read; and thereupon ordered that an extract of the said account of naval stores so far as relates to the plantations, be added to the report to the House of Lords [fo. 380], which was done accordingly, and the said report signed.

Trade.

Letter to the secretary of the Royal African Company for several accounts.

Ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. John Perry, secretary to the Royal African Company [fo. 380, 383], for the several accounts following, viz.:—
Account of the ten per cent. paid by separate traders from June, 1698, to Michaelmas, 1707, and how the same has been expended.
Account of the charge of the forts and castles during the foresaid time, and of the company's settlements in Africa.
Account of the value of the company's joint stock in 1698.
Account of what has since been called in.
Account of what dividends have been made during the aforesaid time.
Account of the value of the present stock.
Account of the debts owing by the company.
Account of the exports and imports from 1698 to Michaelmas, 1707.
Account of the number of ships fitted out for the same time.
Account of the number of negroes furnished by the company to the several plantations during the said time, and at what rates, with the condition on which such negroes have been sold.
An account of the woollen manufactures the company have exported since June, 1698.

Letter to Mr. Lowndes for account of imports and exports by separate traders to Africa.

Further ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Lowndes, to move the Lord High Treasurer for an account from the Commissioners of the Customes of exports and imports [fo. 382, 386], by separate traders to Africa, from 1698 to Michaelmas, 1707.

November 28. Present:—Earl of Stamford, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Monckton.

Bermuda.

Letter from the Lord Treasurer to Colonel Bennet about a house built by Mr. Day.

A letter from Mr. Thomas Day, inclosing a letter from my Lord Treasurer to Captain Bennet, Governor of Bermuda, directing him to make enquiry relating to a house built by Mr. Samuel Day, late Lieutenant Governor of that island upon some of the Crown lands in that island, and desiring that the said letter might be sent by their lordships' direction to Captain Bennet, was read; whereupon ordered that the secretary write to Captain Bennet accordingly.

Trade.

Reference on the petition of Sir William Hodges.

The letter from the Earl of Sunderland, mentioned in the minutes of the 21st instant [fo. 377], referring to the Board the petition of Sir William Hodges, was again read, and Sir William Hodges attending at the same time, and being asked several questions in relation to the ships mentioned in the said petition, he said that those two designed from Cadiz to the Spanish West Indies, were only intended for the Honduras and no where else; that this would be no detriment to the Jamaica trade, the Jamaica merchants sending no ships thither; that the commodities he intended to bring from thence were indigo, hydes, parsaparilla, and other things of that nature, which would be afterwards imported into England in return of our woollen manufacture sent to Cadiz by the way of Gibraltar, and the ship intended for the whale fishery was to go to Finland for that purpose. Sir William Hodges being retired, ordered that the Jamaica merchants [fo. 390], have notice to attend the Board on Tuesday morning next, in order to enquire of them whether a trade carried on from Cadiz to the Honduras will anyway be prejudicial to the Jamaica trade.

Virginia and Maryland.

Merchants at the Board about the Act relating to gage of tobacco hogsheads,

Mr. Perry, Mr. Hide, Mr. Milner and other Virginia and Maryland merchants attending, and being asked whether they had anything to offer upon an Act passed in Maryland the 3rd of October, 1704, entituled An Act ascertaining the gage of tobacco hoggsheads [fo. 372], they said that they had several objections thereunto, but particularly against an Act pass'd there in March last upon the same subject, but being acquainted that their lordships had not yet received the last of the said Acts, they promised to bring their lordships in writing their objections to the first of the said Acts in a few days [fo. 394].

and the admeasurement of ships.

Then being asked what they had to offer upon Mr. Savage's letter of the 12th instant [fo. 371], relating to the admeasurement of ships, which was sent them some days ago, they said that they agreed with the method therein proposed for the admeasurement of ships, excepting only that they insisted upon the ships being measured from inside to inside, and not from out to out. Whereupon ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Savage, desiring to know the reason why the Commissioners of her Majesty's Customes [fo. 389] propose that the ships be measured from outside to outside.

Trade.

Separate traders to Africa.

These gentlemen being further asked what benefit or disadvantage they find in the plantations by allowing seperate traders to the coast of Africa [fo. 383, 387], they said that the separate traders had furnished to the plantations above 800 negroes annually, since the passing the late Act, and that the company had sent none to Virginia or Maryland since, nor for seaven years before, that the said negroes (such as are merchantable) are sold from 25 to 26 a head; that the separate traders have paid to the company considerably more by the ten per cent. than the said company have laid out upon their forts and fortifications; and that the said seperate traders have no protection from the said forts, but on the contrary have received all the discouragement imaginable from the company's factors there.