Journal, April 1751: Volume 59

Journal, April 1751

Tuesday, April 2. Present:—Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane.

Trade.

Venice.

The merchants attending as desired by the preceding minute, their lordships had some discourse with them on the subject of the Duke of Bedford's letter and the papers inclosed in it, and ordered the draught of a letter to his Grace in answer thereto to be prepared.

Trade.

Cadiz.

The draught of a letter to the Duke of Bedford upon the subject of Mr. Consul Colebrooke's letters having been transcribed pursuant to the minutes of Saturday last, was laid before the Board and signed.

New York.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon the state of New York having been transcribed pursuant to the minutes of Saturday last, was laid before the Board and signed.

The draught of a letter to the Duke of Bedford inclosing an extract and copies of letters received from Mr. Clinton, Governor of New York, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of Saturday last, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Pennsylvania.

Mr. Paris, sollicitor for the Proprietors of Pennsylvania attending, acquainted their lordships, as there are now six Acts passed in that province under their consideration upon which he presumed they would shortly report, he desired to be heard in support of one of them, viz.: An Act for barring estates tail, if the Board had any objection thereto, whereupon their lordships agreed to hear what Mr. Paris has to offer in favour of the said Act on Wednesday the 17th instant.

Wednesday, April 3. Present:—Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane, Mr. Townshend.

Trade.

Venice.

The draught of a letter to the Duke of Bedford having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of yesterday, was agreed to and signed.

Plantations General.

Ordered that the Secretary do write circular letters to such of the Governors of his Majesty's plantations as have neglected to transmit the publick papers of their respective provinces, requiring them to send over all such as have been omitted and to transmit them constantly for the future, pursuant to their instructions on that head.

Tuesday, April 16. Present:—Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane.

Trade.

Africa.

Read a letter from Mr. Hollier, Secretary to the Committee of Merchants trading to Africa, dated the 18th of March, 1750, inclosing the instructions prepared by the said Committee for the officers sent out this year to the Coast of Africa for the Board's approbation.

South Carolina.

Read a letter from Mr. Glen, Governor of South Carolina, to the Board, dated the 2nd of October, 1750, relating to the present state of the affairs of the Indians bordering upon that province.

Ordered that the said letter be copied to be transmitted to his Grace the Duke of Bedford and that the draught of a letter inclosing, the same be prepared.

Wednesday, April 17. Present:—Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane.

Pennsylvania.

Read Mr. Lamb's report upon six Acts passed at Pennsylvania in January, 1749–50, dated the 6th of February, 1750.

Their lordshps taking the said Acts into their consideration, and Mr. Paris, agent for the said province of Pennsylvania, attending, pursuant to the minutes of the 2nd instant, their lordships had some discourse with him upon the subject of the Act for barring estates tail, and being withdrawn, the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon the said Acts was ordered to be prepared.

Friday, April 19. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane.

Pennsylvania.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon six Acts passed in Pennsylvania in 1749 having been prepared pursuant to the last day's minutes, was laid before the Board, agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Nova Scotia.

Mr. Henry Blommart, merchant, owner of the Beaufort transport hired to transport settlers to Nova Scotia, attending, laid before the Board the following paper, viz.:—
The case of Henry Blommart, merchant of London, relative to pay due to him for the hire of his ship the Beaufort transport upon contract for carrying settlers to Nova Scotia.

Their lordships taking the same into consideration, came to a resolution that Mr. Kilby should pay the said Mr. Blommart the hire of the said transport during the time she was retained in the service by Colonel Cornwallis after her arrival according to the terms of the agreement and the Governor's certificate, but were of opinion that the demand of the said Blommart for one or two month's pay for the said ship's return home was a matter entirely under the consideration of the Commissioners of the Navy, it being made upon the foot of the contract entered into with them.

Read a letter from Colonel Cornwallis, Governor of Nova Scotia, dated at Halifax, the 1st of February, 1750–1, advising the Board that he had drawn bills on Mr. Kilby on account of that colony amounting to £7,585 18s. 11d.

Ordered that a copy of the said letter be made and delivered to Mr. Kilby.

Plantations General.

Letter from Mr. Aldworth, Secretary to his Grace the Duke of Bedford, to Mr. Hill, dated the 11th of April, 1751, referring to this Board for their consideration and report:—
Memorial upon and proofs of the right of the Crown of France to the Island of Santa Lucia.
Letter from his Majesty's Commissaries at the Court of France to the Duke of Bedford, dated the 2–13 April, 1751, containing some observations upon the French Commissaries' state of proofs of their memorial relating to the Island of Santa Lucia.

Rhode Island.

Read a letter from Mr. Greene, Governor of Rhode Island, dated at Newport, the 15th of December, 1750, acquainting the Board that there is no mill or other engine for slitting or rolling of iron or any plating forge in that colony.

New Jersey.

Read a letter from Mr. Fraser, collector of the Customs at Salem in the western division of New Jersey, dated at Salem, the 2nd of February, 1750–1, inclosing:—
A list of trading vessels that have entered and cleared out of the port of Salem in New Jersey from the 24th of June, 1736, to the 24th of June, 1749.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from Mr. Aldworth, Secretary to his Grace the Duke of Bedford to Mr. Hill, dated 13th instant, inclosing extract of a letter from Mr. Villettes to the Duke of Bedford relating to Messrs. Robert and du Pasquier's Commission for procuring Swiss protestants to be sent to Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from Monsieur du Pasquier to Mr. Hill, dated at Neufchatel, May 12th, 1751, relating to his proceedings in Switzerland.

Ordered that the Secretary do write an answer thereto.

Monday, April 22. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Fane.

Miscellanies.

The Secretary laid before the Board an account of the incidental charges of this office from Midsummer to Michaelmas, 1750, amounting in the whole to £311 11s. 3d., and a letter to the Lords of the Treasury desiring payment thereof and of the salaries due to the Secretary and under officers in the service of this Board for the same time, was agreed to and signed.

Pennsylvania.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon six Acts passed in the Province of Pennsylvania in January, 1749, having been transcribed pursuant to the minutes of Friday last, was laid before the Board and signed.

South Carolina.

The draught of a letter to the Duke of Bedford inclosing the copy of one from Mr. Glen, Governor of South Carolina, relating to the state of Indian affairs, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of Tuesday last, was laid before the Board, agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Rhode Island.

Read a letter from Mr. Aldworth, Secretary to his Grace the Duke of Bedford, to Mr. Hill, dated the 20th instant, inclosing copy of a resolution of the House of Commons that an address be presented to his Majesty that he will be pleased to give directions, that there be laid before the House copies of the representation of sundry inhabitants of Rhode Island to his Majesty relating to bills of credit and the Board's report thereupon to the Lords of the Treasury, dated the 12th of February last.

Ordered that copies of the said representation and report be made as soon as possible.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from Mr. Dick to Mr. Hill, dated at Rotterdam the 16th of April, 1751, acquainting him that he is getting ready a ship to carry 220 or 230 settlers to Nova Scotia and desiring a proper person may be sent over to fix a ventilator therein.

Read a letter from Mr. Johan Peter Meyer to the Board, dated at Altona, the 20th [April], o.s., 1751, relating to some German families desirous of going to Nova Scotia.

Friday, April 23. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane, Mr. Townshend.

Connecticut.

Read a letter from the Governor of Connecticut, dated Windsor, the 31st of December, 1750, in answer to a circular letter from Mr. Hill relating to the boundaries of that colony.

Nova Scotia.

Mr. Kilby, agent for the settlement of Nova Scotia, attending, their lordships took into consideration two papers mentioned in the minutes of the 11th of February last, being inventories of stationery ware and intrenching tools wanted for the service of the settlements in Nova Scotia, and their lordships being of opinion that they were necessary ordered Mr. Kilby to purchase the said stores according to the inventories and send them over by the first opportunity.

Nevis.

Mr. John Sharpe attending, acquainted their lordships with the death of William Pym Burt, Esquire, one of his Majesty's Council in the Island of Nevis, whereupon their lordships ordered the draught of a representation to be prepared proposing that James Brown, Esquire, of the said Island, may be appointed of the Council there in the room of the said William Pym Burt.

Wednesday, April 24. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane, Mr. Townshend.

Nevis.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty proposing that James Brown, Esquire, may be appointed of the Council of Nevis in the room of William Pym Burt, Esquire, deceased, having been prepared pursuant to the preceding day's minutes, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Nova Scotia.

Read the two following letters from Mr. Dick to Mr. Hill, viz.:—
Letter from Mr. Dick, dated at Rotterdam, the 5th of April, N.S., 1751, in answer to one from Mr. Hill, dated the 15th of March, 1750.
Letter from Mr. Dick, dated at Rotterdam, the 13th April, N.S., 1751, containing a state of his further proceedings in the engagement he had entered into with the Board.

Their lordships having taken the said letters into consideration ordered the Secretary to write a letter to Mr. Dick in answer thereto.

Barbados.

Read a letter from Mr. Grenville, Governor of Barbados, dated February the 26th, 1750–1, containing an account of his proceedings in the execution of the orders for the evacuation of the Islands of Santa Lucia, St. Vincent's, Dominica and Tobago, and transmitting the following papers:—
Copy of Governor Grenville's letter to Commodore Holborne, dated December 17th, 1750.
Copy of Governor Grenville's letter to Monsieur de Bompar, dated December 17th, 1750.
Copy of Governor Grenville's commission to Commodore Holburne, dated December 17th, 1750.
Copy of Governor Grenville's proclamation for the evacuation of Santa Lucia, St. Vincent's, Dominica and Tobago.
Copy of Commodore Holburne's letter to Governor Grenville, dated January 12th, 1750–1.
Copy of Commodore Holburne's instructions to Captain Bladwell of his Majesty's ship Rose, dated 7th January, 1750–1.
Copy of Commodore Holburne's commission to Lieutenant David Meredith of his Majesty's ship Tavistock, dated 7th of January, 1750–1.
Copy of Monsieur de Bompar's letter to Governor Grenville, dated January 18th, 1751.
Copy of Monsieur de Bompar's proclamation for the evacuation of Santa Lucia, St. Vincent's, Dominica and Tobago, dated Martinique, 5th January, 1751.
Copy of Monsieur de Bompar's instructions to Monsieur le Comte de Roquefeuil of his Most Christian Majesty's ship L' Aquilon, dated 15th January, 1751.
Copy of Monsieur de Bompar's commission to Lieutenant Monsieur de Courserac, dated à la Martinique, le 18me Janvier, 1751.
Copy of Commodore Holburne's letter to Governor Grenville, dated 11th February, 1750.
Copy of an address of the Governor, Council and Assembly of Barbados to his Majesty.
List of the honourable the members of his Majesty's Council of Barbados, certified the 19th of February, 1750–1.
The storekeeper's return, from the 23rd of February, 1749, to the 23rd of August, 1750.
Mr. Bedford's deposition relating to a French settlement at Darien, sworn the 10th of December, 1750, certified by the Deputy Secretary.
Minutes of Council from the 12th of July, 1750, to the 23rd of January following.
Minutes of the General Assembly from the 24th of April, 1750, to the 28th November, 1750.
Two Acts passed at Barbados the 3rd and 17th December, 1750.

Ordered that the said letter and papers therewith transmitted relative to the evacuation of the Islands be copied to be transmitted to his Grace the Duke of Bedford and that the draught of a letter to his Grace therewith be prepared.

Ordered that the said Acts be sent to Mr. Lamb for his opinion thereon in point of law as soon as conveniently may be.

Thursday, April 25. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Townshend.

Jamaica.

Their lordships took into consideration a letter from Mr. Trelawney, Governor of Jamaica, mentioned in the minutes of the 22nd of February last, relating to the proposal made to him by Mr. Price of that Island for draining and improving two morasses or lagunes; and Mr. John Sharpe attending, acquainted the Board that since he last attended their lordships upon this affair he had received instructions to apply to their lordships in support of the proposal and humbly moved their lordships to make a report to his Majesty in favour thereof.

Their lordships having heard what Mr. Sharpe had to offer upon this occasion, ordered the draught of a representation to his Majesty thereupon to be prepared.

Monday, April 29. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane.

Rhode Island.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following Order of the honourable House of Commons:—
Order of the honourable the House of Commons, dated the 26th April, 1751, for copies of two papers relating to paper currency in Rhode Island.

Ordered that copies of the said papers be forthwith made.

Barbados.

The draught of a letter to his Grace the Duke of Bedford with the copy of one from Mr. Grenville, Governor of Barbados, relating to the evacuation of the Neutral Islands, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of the 24th instant, was laid before the Board, agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Trade.

Tunis.

Read a letter from the Duke of Bedford, dated the 24th April, 1751, referring to the consideration of this Board:—
Copy of a letter from the Bey of Tunis to his Majesty, dated the middle of January, 1750, containing a proposal for a cession to his Majesty of the Island of Tabarka lying upon that coast.
Extract of a letter from Mr. Consul Gordon to his Grace the Duke of Bedford, dated Tunis, 17th January, 1750–1, relating to the Bey's proposal for a cession of Tabarka.
Extract of a letter from Commodore Keppel to Mr. Clevland dated Mahon, 7th February, 1750, relating to the Island of Tabarka.

Tuesday, April 30. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from Mr. Dick, merchant at Rotterdam, to Mr. Hill, dated the 4th May, 1751, N.S., acquainting him for the information of the Board that the ship mentioned in his last is ready to sail and that he is preparing another with all possible dispatch.

Read a letter from Mr. Dick to Mr. Hill, dated Rotterdam, the 7th of May, 1751, relating to his proceedings in procuring his full complement of persons to be sent to Nova Scotia this year; ordered that the Secretary do write an answer thereto.

New Hampshire.

Read a letter from Mr. Wentworth, Governor of New Hampshire, dated at Portsmouth, 20th July, 1750, relating to his having suspended the payment of a fine imposed upon John Mitchell of that province by a sentence of the superior court of judicature there, and transmitting:—
Copy of the proceedings of the superior court of judicature at Portsmouth in New Hampshire, in August, 1749, against William Blair and Thomas Mitchell of Londonderry in that province.

Read a letter from Mr. Wentworth, Governor of New Hampshire, to the Secretary, dated at Portsmouth, the 9th of December, 1750, relating to the Assembly's refusal to comply with the king's instructions relating to the number of the Assembly, and transmitting:—
His certificate, dated the 10th January, 1750–1, that there is not any mill or engine for slitting or rolling of iron nor ever was within that province.

Ordered that the first mentioned letter and paper be copied and also an extract of that part of the second letter, which relates to the Assembly's refusal to pay obedience to his Majesty's instructions, to be sent to the Duke of Bedford and that the draught of a letter to his Grace therewith be prepared.

Jamaica.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the proposal of Mr. Price for draining two lagunes or morasses in the Island of Jamaica having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of Thursday last, was laid before the Board, agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.