Journal, August 1735: Volume 44

Journal, August 1735

Wednesday, August 6th. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Plummer.

New York.

Act laying duties on negroes and European goods, to be altered.

A report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon an Act, passed at New York in 1732, to repeal the Act and to cancel the bills of credit therein mentioned, and to grant unto his Majesty several duties for supporting his government in the Colony of New York until September 1st, 1737, laying a duty on the importation of negroes and European goods; and inclosing the draught of an instruction to Colonel Cosby to pass another Act, not liable to the same objections, agreed the 30th of the last month, was signed [fo. 160].

Leeward Islands.

Secretary reprimanded.

The letter to Mr. Smith, secretary of the Leeward Islands, ordered to be prepared the 30th of the last month, was agreed to, and ordered to be sent [fo. 164].

Trade and Plantations General.

Swedish, Russian and Plantation iron.

Mr. Banister (Mr. Crawley's chief workman) attending, as he had been desired, acquainted the Board that the last two or three years there had been two or three thousand ton of Russia iron imported per annum, some of it from Narva, but most from Siberia, very ordinary, chiefly used for nails; that there is one sort of it called government iron, marked with a spread eagle, the thinner it is rolled the tougher it is, chiefly used for rods and hoops; Russia iron is generally brittle, the best of it is Coltshire, and sold from £11 to £13 per ton, but not fit for ships, nor in any one thing to be depended on [fo. 169, 187].

He thinks plantation iron as good as Swedish, which is fifty per cent. better than Russia, and has made bars from plantation pigg iron as good as any, and that he saw about 25 ton of Maryland iron worked, which proved as tough and well made as Swedish.

If we had wood enough, we could make it here as much as wanted but as that is scarce and land carriage of the piggs etc., back and forward to and from the forges, he judges it best to encourage the importation of bar iron rather than piggs and sows; for plantation iron will make good steel, and that the Baltimore piggs are as good for any use as any can be had; that they will afford two-thirds of forged iron, and therefore, if the importation of bars is not encouraged, the planters will fall into iron manufactures.

He says Spanish iron is very soft when cold, and brittle when hot, never used in anchors, and but little of it imported into this kingdom.

English iron is commonly made into nails and to fix brewers' coppers etc., because it bears fire long.

Plantation iron not being for these uses, will not interfere with our forges.

He computes about twenty slitting mills in England, and proposes to prohibit the slitting of Russia iron here, and to prevent any more slitting mills in the plantations.

He says Swedish iron is sold here from £13 to £17 per ton.

English iron is all soft and not above five or six thousand tons per annum made of it.

German steel.

German steel, he says, is sold here for Forty shillings per cwt., and in the plantations for thirty one shilings, by reason of the drawbacks; he says the government would save one third, by having their guns made in the plantations.

Their lordships resolved to consider further thereof at another opportunity [fo. 187].

Bahamas.

Letter to the Governor.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Fitzwilliams, Governor of the Bahama Islands, ordered to be prepared the 30th ult., was agreed to [fo. 166, 167, 181].

Bermuda.

Letter to the Governor.

The draught of a letter to Captain Pitt, Governor of Bermuda, ordered the 31st ult., was likewise agreed to [fo. 170, 181].

Plantations General.

Commissioners of Customs desired to send all packets directed to this office to the office.

Ordered that a letter be prepared to the Commissioners of the Customs, to desire that any packets or letters brought to their warehouse, and directed to this office, may be immediately sent hither or notice thereof [fo. 183].

Leeward Islands.

Montserrat.

Impost of gunpowder on shipping.

The draught of an instruction to Mr. Matthew, Governor of the Leeward Islands, empowering him to assent to an Act in the Island of Montserrat, for laying an impost of gunpowder on the tonnage of shipping trading to and from that island, ordered to be prepared the 30th ult., was agreed to; and a report thereon ordered to be prepared [fo. 164, 182].

Thursday, August 7th. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Plummer.

South Carolina.

Hearing on Acts about courts of law and the chief justice.

Mr. Fury, Mr. Sharpe, Mr. Hume, Mr. Fane, Mr. Yonge and Mr. Wright attending, as they had been directed the 31st ult., the order of the Lords of the Committee of March 22nd, 1733/4, read May 16th, 1734, referring to this Board the petition of Robert Wright Esqr., Chief Justice of South Carolina, against An Act passed in that province in February, 1731/2, to prevent any delay of justice that may be occasioned by not drawing the juries, which are to serve at the next ensuing Court of Common Pleas etc., and for the regulating of the several courts therein mentioned, and another order of the said Committee, referring to the Board a second petition of the said Robert Wright, read the 12th February last, against An Act passed in the same province for the better regulating the courts of justice, and for altering the time of holding courts. [fo. 167. Bundle E18. Ibid. 46].

Mr. Hume said that from the first settlement of the province to the year 1719, they had no assistant judges; the people in 1719 chose their own governor and appointed assistant judges till 1721, and Colonel Nicholson being appointed governor by the Crown. continued them, as did Mr. Middleton, who commanded in chief after Governor Nicholson, until Colonel Johnson, the last governor, arrived there in 1730, from which time until Mr. Wright was appointed, all returns were made to the chief justice, and he sat alone, and it continued so sometime after Mr. Wright's arrival; but he not attending the courts by reason of bad weather, the first of the two forementioned Acts was passed, by which Act assistant judges were to be appointed and empowered to act equal with the chief justice, vizt., to hold courts and to adjourn them, until the chief justice comes, and then to vote with him; before this Act the chief justice received all the fees, but this Act has deprived him of several.

That the clause about factors suing in their own names is contrary to the laws of England, and may be inconvenient; because if the factor recovers and becomes insolvent, the principal can have no relief.

He also made some objections to the clauses for excusing the attendance of justices at sessions, and allowing security upon an injunction to be given to a Master in Chancery, instead of depositing the money.

He alledged that this Act was contrary to the 15th and 22nd articles of the Governor's instructions; as to the clauses about holding courts, which are perpetual, and the rest of the Act temporary, for 5 years only; and that it was of an extraordinary nature, and yet had no suspending clause, to prevent its execution until his Majesty's pleasure were known.

Mr. Sharpe in behalf of the Act, said that the petition coming from a single person i.e. the Chief Justice only, came with an ill grace, especially his complaint against the assistant judges having part of the fees.

That in the Chief Justice's Commission in England, there is no notice taken of the puisné judges, and the Governor appointing those judges was consistent with his commission and instructions.

Then he read part of a petition from the people of South Carolina to the Assembly, imputing all those disturbances about these Acts to Mr. Wright's ignorance in the laws, and desiring he might be suspended.

Acts to be repealed and Governor instructed to appoint assistant judges.

Upon the whole their lordships were of opinion that both the forementioned laws should be repealed as being unnecessary, and that the Governor be instructed to nominate the assistant judges, it being an encroachment on the prerogative of the Crown, to do it by an Act of Assembly; and ordered the draught of an instruction to be prepared accordingly, and of a report accompanying the same [fo. 184].

Friday, August 8th. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Plummer.

Bahama and Bermuda.

Letters to the Governors signed.

A letter to Mr. Fitzwilliams, Governor of the Bahama Islands, agreed to the 6th instant, was signed [fo. 176].

A letter to Captain Pitt, Governor of the Bermuda Islands, agreed to the same day, was also signed [fo. 176].

South Carolina.

Mr. Vernezobre wants land for his servants in his own name.

Mr. Vernezobre presented a memorial, desiring the land to be granted to his 17 servants in South Carolina, according to the Governor's instructions for encouraging new comers and settling townships there, may be granted in his name, was read, and he was acquainted that the prayer of his memorial could not be complied with, by reason that the Governor's 43rd instruction directs that every new settler shall have a town lot and 50 acres of land for each person his family shall consist of.

Trade and Plantations General.

Commission and instructions to privateers.

The letter to Mr. Burchet, ordered the 22nd ult., about commissions and instructions to be given to privateers or private ships of war, was agreed to, and ordered to be sent [fo. 147, 208].

New Jersey.

Copper are Act to be considered on Wednesday.

A letter from Mr. Partridge, in defence of the Act passed in New Jersey in 1733, laying a duty on copper ore exported to any other of the British plantations, was read.

Ordered that Mr. Partridge, Captain Thomas Smith and Mr. Sharpe be desired to attend thereon on Wednesday next.

Montserrat.

Powder duty to be laid on vessels.

The draught of a representation with an instruction empowering Governor Mathew to pass an Act laying a powder duty on vessels trading to and from Montserrat, was agreed to [fo. 155].

As also the draught of a letter to Mr. Mathew, ordered to be prepared the 30th ult., in answer to his letter [fo. 164, 176, 184].

Wednesday, August 13th. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer.

Plantations General.

Letter to the Commissioners of the Customs about packets to this office lodged in their warehouse.

The letter to the Commissioners of the Customs, ordered to be prepared the 6th instant, desiring that any packets of letters brought to their warehouse, and directed for this office, may be immediately sent hither or notice thereof, was signed [fo. 176, 195].

New Jersey.

Copper ore Act to be repealed and Governor to pass another.

Mr. Partridge's letter, read the last meeting, in defence of the New Jersey Act laying a duty on copper ore exported to other plantations, was again read; and the representation, with an instruction to the Governor to procure a new law to be enacted to the same purpose, except what relates to copper, was agreed to and signed [fo. 159].

Bills of credit to be considered.

Then Mr. Partridge presented a memorial containing his reasons in support of the New Jersey Act for making £40,000 in bills of credit, passed in 1733, which was read, and Mr. Sharpe desiring a copy of it, the same was ordered accordingly, and he was desired to give his answer thereto as soon as possible.

South Carolina.

Two Acts about courts of judicature to be repealed.

The representation, ordered to be prepared the 7th instant, for repealing the 2 Carolina Acts about courts of judicature, was agreed to [fo. 180, 187].

Montserrat.

Powder duty to be laid on vessels and letter to the Governor signed.

Representation with an instruction to Mr. Mathew, Governor of the Leeward Islands, to pass an Act for laying a duty of gunpowder upon ships entering and clearing at Montserrat, agreed to at the last meeting, was signed [fo. 182, 262].

As was also the letter to the same Governor, agreed to at the same time.

Virginia.

Letters from the Governor read.

Then was read the seven following letters from Major Gooch, Lieut-Governor of Virginia, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board, vizt.

Letter from him, dated May 24th, 1734, giving an account of laws made, manufactures set up and trade carried on, in that colony.

Letter from him, dated May 24th, 1735, with 2 petitions to him.
1st. Of several gentlemen for a tract of land on the westward of Pennsylvania.
2nd. Of several inhabitants on the west of Virginia praying a remission of quit rents and taxes.

Letter from him, dated July 13th, 1734, with accounts of
The revenue of 2s. per hogshead on tobacco exported from 25th October, 1733, to 25th April, 1734, and
The revenue of quit rents from the 25th April, 1733, and 25th April, 1734.
List of ships entered and cleared in several ports of Virginia in 1733 and 1734.

Letter from Major Gooch, Governor of Virginia, dated 27th August, 1734, transmitting
Major Gooch's speech to the Council and Assembly on the 22nd of August, 1734, with addresses from the Council and House of Burgesses in answer thereto.
Sir John Randolph's speech, upon his being elected Speaker of the House of Burgesses.

Two letters from him, dated September 14th, 1734, one to the Board, the other to the secretary.

Letter from Major Gooch, dated November 20th, 1734, transmitting
Account of his Majesty's revenue of 2s. per hogshead in Virginia from April 25th, 1734, to the 25th October, 1734.
Certificates relating to the private bills passed in the Assembly of Virginia in 1734.
Minutes of Council, from 17th October, 1733, to the 14th June, 1734.
Minutes of Council in Assembly, from 22nd August to 4th October, 1734.
Journal of the House of Burgesses, from 22nd August to 4th October, 1734.
Thirty one Acts passed October 4th, 1734.

Acts sent to Mr. Fane.

Ordered that all the public Acts be sent to Mr. Fane for his opinion thereon in point of law.

Answer to the Governor's letters.

And that an answer to the said letters be prepared.

Thursday, August 14th. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer.

Trade.

Russia iron.

Ordered that Mr. Holden have notice to attend the Board on Wednesday next upon the subject of Russia iron [fo. 173, 195].

South Carolina.

Report to repeal two Acts about courts of law signed.

Letter from Mr. Wright, with a copy of his father's appointment to be chief justice of South Carolina, was read, and the report, agreed to yesterday, for repealing the two Carolina Acts about courts of judicature, was signed.

Jamaica.

Letters and papers from the President.

A letter from Major Ayscough, President and Commander in Chief at Jamaica, dated May the 15th, 1735, was read, and the papers, referred to therein, were laid before the Board, and are as follows [fo. 189, 193].
Address of the President, Council and Assembly of Jamaica to his Majesty, praying for cannon and small arms for their defence.
Representation of the President, Council and Assembly of Jamaica to this Board, relating to the products, manufactures, trade and defence of that island.
Reasons in justification of Major Ayscough's passing the Act for martial law in Jamaica.
Five Acts passed in Jamaica May 3rd, 1735.

Ordered that a letter be prepared to the Duke of Newcastle, to inclose the address to his Majesty, and a copy of the representation to this Board, in order to be laid before his Majesty.

Ordered that the five Acts be sent to Mr. Fane for his opinion thereupon in point of law, as soon as conveniently may be [fo. 274].

And a copy of the clause for preventing the officers of his Majesty's forces there from enlisting recruits in that island, with the Council's opinion upon it, to the Secretary at War, to know if consistent with the king's instructions to the said officers.

Ordered that an answer be prepared to Mr. Ayscough's above letter [fo. 194].

New York.

Several letters from the Governor read.

Five letters from Colonel Cosby, Governor of New York, were read, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board, and are as follows [fo. 210].

Letter from him, dated December 6th, 1734, complaining of Colonel Morris, Mr. Alexander and others as malcontents in New York and New Jersey.

Letter from him, dated December 7th, 1734, recommending some gentlemen to supply vacancies in the Council of New York and giving a state of the case in relation to the Mohawk Indians' land.
Report of a Committee of the Council at New York in February, 1733/4, relating to a contentious letter found in Mr. Alexander's house in New York.
Letter from Mr. Harrison to the Mayor, Aldermen etc., of New York, relating to the divisions in that province in 1733/4.
Several printed papers, containing reflections on the Governor and magistrates at New York in 1734.
Draught of an Act to lay a duty on tea, and two draughts of an Act for appointing agents for the Province of New York.
Attested copy of a charter granted to the City of New York by Colonel Montgomery in 1731.

Letter from him, dated June 10th, 1735, with his remarks on nineteen Acts passed in New York in 1734, and transmitting Copy of the exceptions against the constituting a Court of Chancery in New York.
Account of the quit rents at New York, from Michaelmas, 1733, to Michaelmas, 1734.
Minutes of Council, beginning December 7th, 1733, and ending April 5th, 1735.

New York and New Jersey.

Two new councillors for New York and one for New Jersey.

Ordered that a representation be prepared for two new councillors at New York in the room of Mr. Alexander and Mr. Rip Van Dam, and one for New Jersey in the room of Mr. Morris [fo. 202, 203].

Letter from Colonel Cosby, dated June 19th, 1735, recommending two gentlemen to be of the Council of New York in the room of two others, whom he desires to have removed.

Letter from him, dated June 19th, 1735, transmitting Five Acts passed in New York in 1734.

Acts sent to Mr. Fane.

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

Friday, August 15th. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Plummer.

Jamaica.

Governor summoned.

Ordered that Mr. Cunningham, Governor of Jamaica, and Mr. Williams be desired to attend the Board on Wednesday next.

Massachusets.

Treasury supplied according to instructions.

Letter from Mr. Belcher, Governor of New England, dated November 13th, 1733, signifying that the Assembly have supplied the Treasury according to his instructions, have granted £3000 to the late Governor Burnet's orphans, and taken care of Frederick's Fort at Pemaquid.
Land bank scheme considered.
A paper about a land bank to be erected at Boston.
Votes of the House of Representatives, relating to supplying the Treasury with public money, the security of Frederick's Fort etc.

Ordered that Mr. Wilks, agent for the Massachusets, be wrote to for the scheme, sent to him from New England, for erecting a bank at Boston, mentioned in Mr. Belcher's foregoing letter.

Ordered that a state of the case, relating to the said scheme, be prepared and sent to the Attorney General for his opinion thereupon, and if upon the whole it appear improper, what may be done to prevent its taking place [fo. 197].

Wednesday, August 20th. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Brudenell.

Georgia.

Stores of war wanting.

Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, dated August 4th, 1735, referring to this Board the petition of the trustees for establishing the Colony of Georgia, praying for stores of war for their defence, was read; ordered that Mr. Martyn, their secretary, be desired to attend the Board to-morrow morning [fo. 268].

Trade.

Plantations General.

Jamaica.

Logwood at Campeachy.

The Board resuming the consideration of what Mr. Ayscough writes in his letter of the 15th of May last, read the 14th instant, in relation to the cutting of logwood in the Bay of Campeachy; and Mr. Cunningham and Mr. Williams attending, as they had been desired, they acquainted the Board that the South Sea Company had agreed to take logwood of the Spaniards in return for their negroes; had settled a factory at Campeachy for that purpose, and carry negroes thither for sale, which had encouraged the Spaniards to drive out the English logwood cutters settled there before; the Board desired these gentlemen to get what further information they could, and to attend the Board again next Friday [fo. 195].

Jamaica.

Stores of war wanting.

An order of the Lords of the Committee of Council of the 14th instant, referring to this Board an address of the President, Council and Assembly of Jamaica to his Majesty, praying that a supply of warlike stores may be sent for the defence of that island, wasread, and orders given for drawing a report thereupon [fo. 102].

Rebellious negroes.

Acts sent to Mr. Fane, and Governor's letters to be answered.

A letter from Mr. Ayscough, President of the Council of Jamaica, of the 22nd of June last, with a deposition relating to the rebellious negroes there, and inclosing ten Acts passed there in 1735; the Acts were ordered to be sent to Mr. Fane for his opinion thereon in point of law, and that the receipt of this letter be acknowledged in the letter to Mr. Ayscough, ordered to be prepared the 14th instant [fo. 189, 207].

Jamaica.

Plantations General.

Trade.

Logwood at Campeachy farmed.

Ordered that Mr. Smith, secretary to the South Sea Company, be desired to attend the Board on Friday morning next, and to bring with him any contract that may be between the Company and any private persons for farming the logwood trade [fo. 194, 198].

Miscellanies.

Packets for this office stopped at the Custom House.

Letter from the Commissioners of the Customs, promising notice shall be sent to this office of any packets brought to their warehouse, directed for this Board, was read [fo. 183].

Trade.

Russia iron.

Mr. Holden, attending, as he had been desired the 14th instant, on the subject of Russia iron, he said that Russia iron was for most uses as good as Swedish, and that it was drawn of the same sizes, and supposed 3 or 4000 tons of it might be imported per annum.

He said he had talked with Sir Jacob Ackworth about it, who was of the same opinion as to its goodness, and that we had it in return for our woollen manufactures, but yet he thought we ought to encourage the manufacturing of plantation iron, and that a difference ought to be made in the duties between Russia and Swedish iron, because the Russians now take off our woollen manufactures, and have given over taking such from Prussia; and that he did not propose to lessen the duties on Russia iron, but to raise that of Swedish; that the greatest part of the Russia iron is brought from the Empress's own works at Olonitz etc., about 700 miles on sledges, and that none was brought from Narva [fo. 201].

Georgia.

Number of people there and at St. Augustine.

Mr. Oglethorpe, attending, acquainted the Board that last year they had about 397 freemen, besides servants, and about 100 of them able to bear arms in Georgia; that they had now about 2000, of which about 800 were able to bear arms, and that the Spaniards had about 400 effective men at St. Augustine.

Thursday, August 21st. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Brudenell.

New England.

Land bank at Boston.

Mr. Wilks attending, as he had been desired the 15th instant, with a scheme for erecting a land bank at Boston;

Ordered that the said scheme, with a state of a case relating thereto, be sent to Mr. Attorney General for his opinion thereupon [fo. 92, 206].

Governor's salary.

Governor Belcher to receive £3000 for a year's salary.

Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council of the 15th instant, referring to this Board a memorial of Jonathan Belcher, junior, praying his father may be permitted to give his assent to a bill passed there in June last, granting £3000 for his support, being read; the Board not agreeing to the prayer of the petition in the manner therein proposed, ordered that a report be prepared, setting forth the Board's opinion in what manner Governor Belcher ought to receive his salary [fo. 201].

Letters from Governor Belcher.

Then were read the following letters from Governor Belcher vizt., Letter from Governor Belcher to the Board, dated the 8th of May, 1734, 2nd ditto 9th May, 1734, 3rd ditto 11th June, 1734, with copy of a bill for granting Governor Belcher £3000 for his support, and Journal of the Assembly, from 29th May to June 8th, 1734.

4th letter from him, dated July 2nd, 1734, 5th ditto, August July 12th, 1734, with Journal of Assembly to the 4th July, 1734.

6th letter from him, dated August the 9th, 1734, 7th ditto, dated October 1st, 1734, 8th ditto, November 6th, 1734, 9th ditto, November 12th, 1734.

Resolved to proceed in considering the rest of Governor Belcher's letters to-morrow morning.

Jamaica.

Logwood cutters driven from Campeachy.

Mr. Cunningham, Governor of Jamaica, attending, acquainted the Board that there are now no English at Campeachy, those formerly there being all carried away by the Spaniards, but that there are about 200 English settled at the Honduras [fo. 195, 199].

Plantations General.

South Sea Company farm out the logwood trade at Campeachy.

That the South Sea Company had farmed out to some private gentlemen the liberty of supplying the Spaniards at Campeachy with negroes, who are paid for them in logwood.

Friday, August 22nd. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Brudenell.

Plantations General.

Secretary of the South Sea Company says the farm at Campeachy will soon end.

Mr. Smith, secretary to the South Sea Company, attending, their lordships reassumed the consideration of the logwood trade at Campeachy, and Mr. Smith acquainted the Board that the Company did grant private persons to trade in negroes to such places, as are not sufficient to maintain a factory, but that all the licences for trading to Campeachy must finish in a few months, because the King of Spain disputes the licencing, though not the settling a factory, at any place where the King of Spain has any royal officers. Their lordships desired that, if any thing new be done in this affair, they may be acquainted therewith; Mr. Smith promised to inform the Court of Directors with their lordships' desire [fo. 198].

New England.

Letters from Governor Belcher read.

Then their lordships proceeded to take into consideration Mr. Belcher's letters and papers, as resolved at the last meeting and read the eight following vizt.

1st letter from Mr. Belcher, Governor of New England, dated December 3rd, 1734, 2nd letter from him, dated December 9th, 1734, 3rd, dated December 14th, 1734, 4th, dated December 31st, 1734, 5th, dated January 9th, 1734/5, 6th, dated January 9th, 1734/5, 7th, dated June 5th, 1735, 8th, dated June 9th, 1735.

Engineer to go from Nova Scotia to assist in New England.

And a draught of a representation proposing that Major Mascarine, engineer at Nova Scotia, may be directed to repair to New England, and to superintend the works intended to be carried on at Castle William, at Boston, was agreed to [fo. 202].

Tuesday, August 26th. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer.

Massachusets.

Report in favour of the Governor's salary Act signed.

A representation upon the petition of Mr. Belcher, praying that his father may be permitted to give his assent to a bill passed in the Massachusets Bay in June last, for granting him £3000 for his support, ordered the 21st instant, was signed [fo. 197, 241].

Trade.

Sweden.

The draught of a representation, relating to high duties and prohibitions laid on our manufactures in Sweden, and proposing to encourage the importation of bar iron from our own plantations, was agreed to [fo. 195, 203].

New Jersey.

Four new councillors.

The draught of a representation proposing John Schuyler, Thomas Farmer, John Rodman and Richard Smith Esqrs., to be councillors for New Jersey in the room of Peter Baird, John Johnson, John Parker and James Smith Eqrs., deceased, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed;

New England.

Boston Castle to be repaired.

As was also the representation, ordered to be prepared at the last meeting, proposing Major Mascarine to superintend the repairs at Castle William at Boston in New England [fo. 200, 203].

Wednesday, August 27th. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Plummer.

Jamaica.

Representation for stores of war.

A representation, proposing a supply of stores of war to be sent to Jamaica, for the better defence of that island, ordered to be prepared the 20th instant, was agreed and signed [fo. 194].

Trade.

Plantations.

Sweden Iron.

A representation, relating to high duties and prohibitions laid on our manufactures in Sweden, and for encouraging the importation of bar iron from our own plantations, agreed to yesterday, was signed [fo. 201, 212];

New England.

Boston Castle.

As was also the representation, proposing Major Mascarine to be sent from Nova Scotia to superintend the new works designed at Castle William in New England [fo. 202].

New York.

New Jersey.

New councillors proposed.

The draught of a representation, ordered to be prepared the 14th instant, for recommending two new councillors for New York in the room of Mr. Rip Van Dam and Mr. Alexander; and one for New Jersey in the room of Mr. Morris, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed [fo. 190].

South Carolina.

Governor's letters read.

Then were read the following thirteen letters from Colonel Johnson, late Governor of South Carolina, deceased, vizt.

First letter from him, dated 28th September, 1732, second dated, 28th September, 1732, to the secretary, third letter from Colonel Johnson, dated 3rd November, 1732, fourth letter from him, dated 21st November, 1732, fifth ditto, dated 15th December, 1732, sixth ditto, dated 15th December, 1732, seventh ditto, dated 8th January, 1732/3, eighth ditto, dated 29th January, 1732/3, ninth ditto, dated……, tenth ditto, dated 31st January, 1732/3, eleventh ditto, dated 10th February, 1732/3, twelth ditto, dated 28th March, 1733, thirteenth ditto, dated 30th March, 1733; and directions were given concerning some of them as noted in the abstract book.

Thursday, August 28th. Present:—Earl of Fitzwalter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer.

New York.

New Jersey.

New councillors represented.

The representation, agreed yesterday, for recommending John Moore and Paul Richards Esqrs., to be members of the council in New York in the room of Rip Van Dam and James Alexander Esqrs., who have misbehaved themselves; and also recommending Robert Lettice Hooper and Joseph Warrell Esqrs., to be councillors in New Jersey in the room of Lewis Morris and the aforesaid James Alexander Esqrs., who have likewise misbehaved themselves in that province, was signed [fo. 202, 203].

South Carolina.

Eight letters from the Governor read.

Eight letters from Colonel Johnson, late Governor of South Carolina, were read, vizt.

First letter from him, dated April 2nd, 1733, second letter from him, dated April 6th, 1733, third letter from him, dated May 3rd, 1733, fourth letter from him, dated May 24th, 1733, fifth letter from him, dated August 7th, 1734, sixth postscript, dated August 18th, 1734; and two of those read yesterday were read over again.