Journal, December 1744: Volume 52

Journal, December 1744

Tuesday, December 4. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plumer, Sir Charles Gilmour.

Trade.

Austria, etc.

Mr. Porter attending, as desired by the preceding minute, the Board had some discourse with him on the subject of my Lord Harrington and Sir Thomas Robinson's letters, mentioned in the said minute, and after some time spent therein, the Board took the same into consideration and made some progress therein.

Trade.

Plantations General.

Mr. Alderman Baker attending, with Mr. Hammersly, his solicitor, desired copies of some papers relative to the paper currency in several of the provinces on the Continent of America, and particularly in the charter governments of the Massachusetts Bay, and the colonies of Connecticut and Rhode Island, a list of which papers he produced at the Board.

Ordered that the solicitor have liberty to inspect those papers in the office, that relate to the paper currency, and that he may have copies of such as he shall think [fit] for his purpose.

Jamaica.

Read a letter from Mr. Williams, Deputy Secretary of Jamaica, to the Board, dated the 14th of August, 1744, enclosing a list of persons naturalized in that Island, from the 1st of June, 1743, to the 1st of June, 1744.

Trade.

Africa.

Read a letter from Mr. Wood, Secretary to the Customs, dated the 1st inst. (in answer to one wrote him by the Secretary of this Board), transmitting the two following accounts from the Custom House, viz.:—
An account of the value of the goods exported from England to Africa, from Christmas, 1729, to Christmas, 1742, distinguishing each year.
An account of the tonnage of the several ships cleared from Great Britain for Africa, from Christmas, 1729, to Christmas, 1743, distinguishing each year.

Wednesday, December 5. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plumer, Sir Charles Gilmour.

Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plumer, Sir Charles Gilmour.

Jamaica.

Read a letter from Mr. Trelawney, Governor of Jamaica, to the Board, dated the 18th of August last, transmitting some Acts, passed in that Island, between the 28th March and 21st of June last.

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

Connecticut.

New York.

Read a letter from Mr. Horsmanden, dated the 4th October last, at New York, enclosing his opinion upon the merits of the cause between the colony of Connecticut and the Mohegan Indians, heard upon the Commission of Review, mentioned in the minutes of the 18th of July last. (Vide Proprieties. V. No. 9.)

Thursday, December 6. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene, Sir Charles Gilmour.

Antigua.

Col. Martin.

Messrs. Bethel.

Payne, Gordon, Smith, Kirby, Douglass, and others.

Mr. Paris, solicitor for the petitioners, against the Acts, passed in the Island of Antigua, for double taxing Absentees, attending according to appointment the 29th of last month, as also Mr. John Sharpe, in behalf of the said Acts, together with several planters and merchants of London, interested in the said Island, whose names are in the margin; the Board heard what Mr. Paris had to offer on behalf of the said petitioners against the Act, passed at Antigua in June last, for raising a Tax for paying Public Debts and Charges, and particularly applying the said Tax, etc., whereby absentees from the said Island are double taxed: They heard also what Mr. Sharpe had to offer in favour of the said Act, and Mr. Paris's reply. After which the solicitors being withdrawn, their lordships agreed to take the said Act into further consideration to-morrow morning.

Friday, December 7. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene, Sir Charles Gilmour.

Trade.

Africa.

The Board took again into consideration the state of the trade to Africa, etc., mentioned in the minutes of the 24th of October last, and made a further progress therein.

Leeward Islands.

Antigua.

The Board having taken into consideration the Act, passed in Antigua, mentioned in the minutes of yesterday, ordered a representation to his Majesty to be prepared thereupon.

Tuesday, December 11. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene, Sir Charles Gilmour.

Trade.

Africa.

The Board resumed the consideration of the state of the trade to Africa, etc., mentioned in the preceding minutes, and made a further progress therein.

Ordered that the Secretary acquaint Mr. Hayes, Deputy Governor of the Royal African Company, that the Board desires his attendance on Tuesday next [Tuesday 18th instant], and that he would bring with him such other gentlemen of the Court of Assistants, as he shall judge proper, in order to have some further discourse with them on the subject of the said trade.

Wednesday, December 12. Present:— Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Sir Charles Gilmour.

Antigua.

The Board took into consideration the draught of a representation to his Majesty, upon the Act of Antigua, for Double Taxing Absentees from that Island, mentioned in the minutes of the 7th inst., and made some progress therein.

Trade.

Vienna.

Austria.

The Board, having had again under consideration the Lord Harrington's letter, mentioned in the minutes of the 30th of the last month, gave directions for preparing the draught of an answer thereto.

Thursday, December 13. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene, Sir Charles Gilmour.

Trade.

Vienna.

Austria.

The draught of an answer to my Lord Harrington's letter, mentioned in the preceding minute, having been prepared, was laid before the Board, agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Antigua.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the Act of Antigua, mentioned in the minutes of yesterday, having been reconsidered, the same was agreed to, and ordered to be transcribed.

Trade.

Africa.

The Board had again under consideration the state of the trade to Africa, and made a further progress therein.

Friday, December 14. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene, Sir Charles Gilmour.

Trade.

Africa.

Read a letter from Mr. Spence, Secretary to the Royal African Company, dated the 13th inst., acknowledging the receipt of one from the Secretary of this Board to Mr. Hayes, the Deputy Governor, which he communicated to the Court of Assistants; and signifying that the Deputy Governor and some members of the said Court will attend the Board on Tuesday next, as required by the said letter; also enclosing copies of several papers for the Board's information, as to the state of the trade and forts in Africa.

Antigua.

Act.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty on the subject of an Act, passed in Antigua, for Double Taxing Absentees, having been transcribed, as ordered by yesterday's minutes, was laid before the Board, and signed.

Tuesday, December 18. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene, Sir Charles Gilmour.

Trade.

Africa.

Mr. Hayes, Deputy Governor of the Royal African Company, attending, as desired, with Sir Atwel Lake, Mr. Periam and Mr. Boteler of the Court of Assistants, together with Mr. Sparke, their Accountant, the Board, [after] some discourse had with them concerning the state of the trade to Africa, and the condition of the forts there, took the said affair into consideration and made a further progress therein. The following queries were delivered to the said Mr. Sparke, to which he was desired to send an answer for the information of the Board, viz.:—
What number of white men and black there are in the Company's pay as soldiers in the respective forts in Africa ?
What number of recruits have been sent thither ? When sent, and in what ships, from 1730 to 1743 ?
What quantities of stores and ammunition have been sent thither for the use of the said garrisons ? Specifying when sent, and in what vessels, for the same time ?
What quit rents are paid to the princes of Africa, and for what forts ?
How many ships, and what burthen, have been sent out for the same time ?

Wednesday, December 19. Present:—Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene, Sir Charles Gilmour.

Trade.

Africa.

The Board took into consideration the plan of a report upon the state of the African trade, etc., intended to be laid before the Honourable the House of Commons, and made some further progress therein.

Plantations General.

Mr. Paris attending, being concerned for several governments on the Continent of America, moved the Board that he might have copies of some letters and papers in this office, relating to paper currency in his Majesty's Plantations in America; and he was acquainted, that it being a matter of great importance, the Board would consider thereof, and he should have an answer in a few days.

Thursday, December 20. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene, Sir Charles Gilmour.

Trade.

Africa.

The Board took into consideration several papers relating to the African trade, etc., and made a further progress in the plan of a report upon the state thereof.