Journal, March 1753: Volume 61

Journal, March 1753

Thursday, March 1. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Oswald.

Nova Scotia.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following paper received from the Paymaster General's Office, viz.:—
An account of the annual expence of the military establishment of Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from William Bogdani, Esquire, Secretary to the Board of Ordnance, in answer to one from Mr. Hill of the 22nd instant, transmitting the following account, viz.:—
Account of the expence of the persons at present in pay in the province of Nova Scotia so far as the same relates to the Office of Ordnance, distinguishing what part of the said expence is included in the estimates laid before Parliament by the Board of Ordnance and what part thereof is charged to the account of the new settlement.

Georgia.

Read a letter from Mr. Hardinge, Secretary to the Lords of the Treasury, dated this day, desiring that the Board would prepare an estimate of the charges of the civil establishment and contingent expences of the colony of Georgia to be laid before the House of Commons.

Ordered that an estimate be prepared and laid before the Board to-morrow morning.

Friday, March 2. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane, Mr. Townshend, Mr. Oswald.

Georgia.

Read a letter from Mr. West to Mr. Pownall, dated the 2nd of March, 1753, desiring he would acquaint the Board that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had received the King's commands that this Board do lay before the House of Commons an estimate of the charges of the civil establishment of Georgia from Midsummer, 1752, to Midsummer, 1753.

An estimate of the charges of the civil establishment of his Majesty's colony of Georgia and other contingent expences attending the same, from the surrender of the charter to his Majesty by the late Trustees on the 24th of June, 1752, to the 24th of June, 1753, having been prepared pursuant to the preceding minute, was laid before the Board and agreed to, and Mr. Grenville was desired to present the same to the House of Commons pursuant to his Majesty's commands.

Wednesday, March 7. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane, Mr. Townshend, Mr. Oswald.

Jamaica.

Read a letter from Mr. Wood, Secretary to the Commissioners of the Customs, dated the 3rd instant, inclosing:—
An account of the number and tonnage of the vessels annually employed in the trade between Scotland and Jamaica for five years ended the 5th January, 1753.

Pennsylvania.

Read a letter from Mr. West, Secretary to the Lords of the Treasury, dated the 6th of March, 1753, inclosing a report to their lordships from the Commissioners of the Customs in relation to an Act passed in Pennsylvania the 22nd of August, 1752, for regulating and establishing fees.

Pennsylvania.

Their lordships took into consideration twelve Acts passed in the province of Pennsylvania in the years 1750, 1751 and 1752, and ordered the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council thereupon to be prepared and the said report having been accordingly prepared was laid before the Board, agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Thursday, March 8. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Townshend, Mr. Oswald.

Maryland.

Read an Order of Council, dated the 7th instant, signifying his Majesty's approbation of Horatio Sharpe, Esquire, to be Deputy Governor of Maryland in the room of Samuel Ogle, Esquire, deceased, and directing this Board to take care that proper security is given for observing the laws of trade, and that they prepare a draught of instructions given upon the like occasions.

Ordered that the draught of a bond to be entered into for Mr. Sharpe, appointed Governor of Maryland, for his observing the Acts of Trade, be prepared.

Ordered that the draught of instructions relative to the Acts of Trade be prepared for the Right Honourable Lord Baltimore, Proprietor of the said province.

Bermuda.

Read an Order of Council, dated the 7th of March, 1753, approving a representation of this Board proposing Thomas Jones, Esquire, to supply a vacancy in the Council of Bermuda by the death of Nathaniel Bascome, Esquire, and directing the Board to cause a warrant to be prepared for that purpose.

The draught of a warrant having been prepared pursuant to the said Order was agreed to, and a representation to his Majesty thereupon was signed.

Pennsylvania.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon twelve Acts passed in Pennsylvania in 1750, 1751 and 1752, having been transcribed pursuant to the preceding minute, was laid before the Board and signed.

Virginia.

Read a letter from Mr. Dinwiddie, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, to the Board, dated at Williamsburg, the 10th of December, 1752, relating to the present state of that province with respect to the French and Indians and transmitting the following papers, viz.:—
Account of his Majesty's revenue of quit rents, etc., in Virginia for the year 1751.
Account of his Majesty's revenue of 2s. per hogshead in Virginia between the 25th of April and the 25th of October, 1752.
Journal from the Ohio to the Twightwees, and back, in June, 1752.
Copy of a letter from the Twightwees to Lieutenant Governor Dinwiddie, dated June 21st, 1752.
Copy of a letter from the Piets and Windaws to Lieutenant Governor Dinwiddie.
Sketch of goods suitable as a present for the Indians.
Account of the French forts, etc., from a deserter.
Treaty with the Indians at Logs Town, 1752.
Naval office lists of ships entered and cleared in the different districts of Virginia from Lady Day, 1752, to Michaelmas following.

Ordered that extracts be made of so much of Mr. Dinwiddie's letter as relates to the hostilities committed by the French and Indians, and the forts built by the French on the back of the English settlements, as also copies of the papers transmitted relative to these points to be laid before his Majesty, and that the draught of a letter thereupon to the Earl of Holdernesse be prepared.

Ordered that an extract be made of so much of the said letter as relates to ordnance for the use of any forts which may be built upon the Ohio and at the back of our settlements be made to be laid before his Majesty in Council, and that the draught of a representation thereupon be prepared.

Ordered that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared proposing that one thousand pounds be appropriated out of the revenue of 2s. per hogshead upon tobacco in Virginia to be applied for purchasing presents for the Twightwees nation of Indians and their allies.

Read a letter from Mr. Dinwiddie, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, to Mr. Hill, dated the 10th December, 1752, acknowledging the receipt of his letter of the 15th of April last with four Acts of Parliament.

Friday, March 9. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Townshend, Mr. Oswald.

Barbados.

Read a letter from Mr. Grenville, Governor of Barbados, to the Board, dated the 20th of October, 1752, acknowledging the receipt of his Majesty's instructions relative to his future correspondence with this Board only in matters relative to his government and to the revisal of the laws, and promising a punctual compliance therewith.

Read a letter from Mr. Grenville, Governor of Barbados, to the Board, dated the 14th of December, 1752, transmitting the following papers, viz.:—
Observations upon the general instructions given to the Governor of Barbados.
Observations upon the instructions for trade given to the Governor of Barbados.
Minutes of Council from the 5th of August to the 7th November, 1752.
Minutes of general Assembly from the 7th of July to the 6th November, 1752.

Ordered that an extract be made of so much of the said letter as relates to the French continuing to settle the Neutral Islands to be laid before his Majesty and that the draught of a letter to the Earl of Holdernesse therewith be prepared.

Barbados.

Ordered that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared proposing that a new Commission for trying pirates should be passed for the Island of Barbados.

Leeward Islands.

Read a petition of Benjamin King, Esquire, to the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, praying to have the depositions of Messrs. Warner, etc., delivered to him.

Resolved that the petition be taken into further consideration on Tuesday next.

Plantations General.

Read several copies of Orders in Council the titles of which are as follows, viz.:—
South Carolina.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 25th of January, 1753, approving a report from this Board together with a warrant prepared by them directing the Governor of South Carolina to swear and admit William Wragg, Esquire, to his Majesty's Council in the said province.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 25th of January, 1753, approving a report from this Board together with a warrant prepared by them directing the Governor of South Carolina to swear and admit George Saxby, Esquire, to be of his Majesty's Council in the said province.
Barbados.
Copy of Order in Council, dated the 7th of February, 1753, approving a report from this Board together with a warrant prepared by them containing his Majesty's permission to Abel Dottin, Esquire, one of his Majesty's Council in the Island of Barbados, to continue in England for the space of twelve months longer.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 7th of February, 1753, approving a report from this Board together with a warrant prepared by them containing his Majesty's permission to Richard Salter, Esquire, one of his Majesty's Council in the Island of Barbados, to continue in England for the space of twelve months longer.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 7th of February, 1753, approving a report from this Board together with a warrant prepared by them containing his Majesty's permission to John Gybbon, Esquire, one of his Majesty's Council in the Island of Barbados, to continue in England for the space of twelve months longer.
Jamaica.
Copy of an Order of Council, dated the 7th of February, 1753, approving a representation of this Board proposing the confirmation of two Acts passed in the Island of Jamaica in November, 1750, and December, 1751.
Leeward Islands.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 7th of February, 1753, approving a representation of this Board together with the draught of a Commission prepared by them for George Thomas, Esquire, to be Governor of his Majesty's Leeward Carribee Islands.
North Carolina.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 7th of February, 1753, approving a representation of this Board together with the draught of a Commission prepared by them for Arthur Dobbs, Esquire, to be Governor of his Majesty's province of North Carolina.
New York.
Copy of an Order in Council, dated the 7th of February, 1753, approving a report from this Board together with a warrant prepared by them directing the Governor of New York to swear and admit William Smith, Esquire, to be of his Majesty's Council in the said province.

Antigua.

Their lordships took into consideration the petition of the Council and Assembly of the Island of Antigua relative to the disposition of the publick money mentioned in the minutes of the 15th of July, 1752, and after some time spent therein agreed further to consider of it on Friday next.

Nova Scotia.

The Secretary laid before the Board copies and extracts of all such letters and papers as have passed between this Board and the Secretaries of State, and also between this Board and the Governor of Nova Scotia from March, 1748–9, to the present time so far as they relate to the settling of the said colony, and also a distinct account of the several sums of money that have been granted by Parliament for support of the said colony, and how the same have been applyed, with a distinct account of the present establishment of the said colony, as well civil as military, together with a list of the said papers, and the Earl of Halifax was desired to present the papers to the House of Lords, pursuant to their address mentioned in the minutes of the 21st of February.

Tuesday, March 13. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Fane.

Maryland.

Read a letter from Lord Baltimore, Proprietary and Governor of Maryland, dated the 9th instant, desiring the Board will be pleased to accept of William Sharpe and John Sharpe, Esquires, as sureties for Horatio Sharpe, Esquire, whom his Majesty has approved to Lieutenant Governor of that province, for his observing the Acts of Trade and Navigation.

The draught of a bond to be entered into for Horatio Sharpe, Governor of the said province, for his observance of the Laws of Trade having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of the 8th instant, was laid before the Board and ordered to be sent to Mr. Lamb for his opinion whether it be necessary to make any alteration on account of any laws passed since 1748.

Nova Scotia.

Read a memorial of Mr. Gould, late agent to the forty-second Regiment of Foot, praying the Board would be pleased to order an account of the money granted by Parliament in lieu of that stopt at the Pay Office out of the subsistence of the officers and private men at the rate of 4d. a day per man for provisions from 25th August, 1749, to 24th December, 1750, and that the ballance remaining may be paid to him for the use of the said Regiment.

Read a petition of Lieutenant William Martin praying payment of a sum of money due to him on account of services done relative to Nova Scotia.

Ordered that the foregoing memorial and petition be referred to Mr. Kilby, and that he be directed to report a state of the several matters to which they have a reference.

Virginia.

The draught of a letter to Lord Holdernesse with the extract of one lately received from Mr. Dinwiddie, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, having been prepared pursuant to the minute of the 8th instant, was laid before the Board, agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Barbados.

The draught of a letter to the Earl of Holdernesse with the extract of one lately received from Mr. Grenville, Governor of Barbados, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of the 9th instant, was laid before the Board, agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Virginia.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty relative to a present to be given to the Twightwee Indians, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of the 9th instant, was laid before the Board, agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Leeward Islands.

Their lordships pursuant to the minutes of Friday last, took into consideration Mr. King's petition mentioned therein, and came to a resolution that the parties be heard by counsel relative to the prayer of the said petition if the petitioner desire it, and in that case a copy of the petition was ordered to be given to Mr. Wilmot.

New York.

Their lordships took into consideration Mr. Secretary at War's letter relative to the mutineers at Oswego in New York, mentioned in the minutes of the 6th of February, and ordered the draught of a letter to the Secretary at War to be prepared desiring to know in what manner the expence of sending the said mutineers to Halifax to take their tryals is to be defrayed.

Miscellanies.

The Secretary laid before the Board an account of the incidental charges of this office, from the 10th of October, 1752, to the 5th of January, 1753, amounting to three hundred, ninety-three pounds, two shillings, 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.

Wednesday, March 14. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane.

Virginia.

The draught of a letter to Lord Holdernesse, with the extracts of one and copies of several papers lately received from Mr. Dinwiddie, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, having been transcribed pursuant to the preceding day's minutes, was laid before the Board and signed.

Barbados.

The draught of a letter to Lord Holdernesse with the extract of one lately received from Mr. Grenville, Governor of Barbados, having been transcribed pursuant to the preceding day's minutes, was laid before the Board and signed.

Virginia.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty with the extract of a letter from Mr. Dinwiddie, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, relative to the want of ordnance for forts to be built upon the Ohio having been prepared pursuant to the minute of the 8th instant, was laid before the Board, agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

New York.

The draught of a letter to the Secretary at War relative to the mutineers at Oswego, having been prepared pursuant to the preceding day's minutes, was laid before the Board, agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Thursday, March 15. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Townshend.

Nova Scotia.

Their lordships took into consideration the letters received from Mr. Hopson, Governor of Nova Scotia, since his arrival there, and ordered the draught of a letter in answer thereto to be prepared.

Friday, March 16. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin.

Virginia.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty relative to a present to the Twightwee Indians having been transcribed pursuant to the minutes of the 13th instant, was signed.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, with the extract of one from the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia relative to the want of ordnance for some forts intended to be built upon the Ohio, having been transcribed pursuant to the minutes of the 14th instant, was signed.

New York.

The draught of a letter to the Secretary at War relative to the mutineers at Oswego having been prepared pursuant to the said minutes, was signed.

Leeward Islands.

Their lordships pursuant to the minutes of the 9th instant, took into consideration the petition of the Council and Assembly of Antigua, praying a revocation of the instruction relative to the disposition of publick money, and Mr. Thomas, Governor of the Leeward Islands, attending was called in, and after some conversation with him thereupon their lordships came to a resolution that the same instruction which was given to Mr. Mathew, late Governor of the Leeward Islands, relative to this matter should stand part of the draught of the instructions now prepared for Mr. Thomas, and the Board recommended it to Mr. Thomas to use his utmost endeavours to induce the Assembly to comply with it.

Read a letter from Mr. John Sharpe to Mr. Pownall, dated the instant, containing his observations upon the 54, 55 and 56 articles of Mr. Mathew's instructions relative to appeals.

Ordered that the 54, 55 and 56 articles of Mr. Mathew's instructions relative to appeals together with Mr. Sharpe's observations upon them be transmitted to his Majesty's Attorney and Sollicitor General for their opinion thereupon.

Tuesday, March 20. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville.

There being but two commissioners present, the consideration of the petition for a grant for opening a trade with the Indians of Newfoundland was postponed till to-morrow, when the Secretary was directed to order the parties to attend.

Wednesday, March 21. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin.

Newfoundland.

Their lordships took into consideration the petition for a grant for opening a trade with the Indians in Newfoundland, and several of the petitioners attending, they were called in, and after having heard what they had to offer they were desired to take the opinion of counsel how far the making such an establishment as they proposed for carrying on the said trade might be considered with the Act for encouraging the Trade to Newfoundland; and then they withdrew.

Friday, March 23. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin.

Trade.

Africa.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following paper received from the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, viz.:—
Copy of a letter, dated the 23rd September, 1752, from Thomas Melvill, Esquire, Governor of Cape Coast Castle, etc., to the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, acquainting them with his having concluded a treaty with the Fantees.

Ordered that an extract be made of so much of the said letter as relates to the treaty with the Fantees to be transmitted to the Earl of Holdernesse and that the draught of a letter to his Lordship thereupon be prepared.

Wednesday, March 28. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Fane, Mr. Townshend, Mr. Oswald.

South Carolina.

Read a letter from Mr. Glen, Governor of South Carolina, to the Board, dated the 16th of December, 1752, containing an account of his proceedings in his government in consequence of the late hurricane and transmitting the following papers, viz.:—
A printed Gazette containing the Governor's speech, dated 27th September, 1752.
A printed Gazette containing the address of the Assembly to Governor Glen, dated October 9th, 1752.
An Act for prohibiting and preventing the exportation of corn, pease and small rice from this province for the term therein mentioned. Passed 7th October, 1752.
An Act for altering and amending the sixth and seventh paragraphs of the Act intituled An Act for the better strengthening this province by granting to his Majesty certain taxes and impositions on the purchasers of negroes, etc.
An address of the Governor, Council and Assembly of South Carolina to his Majesty relating to the present state of the fortifications in that province. Dated the 7th of October, 1752.
Copy of Count Seckendorf's testimonial of the ability of Monsieur de Brahme, a skilfull engineer, a settler in Georgia, who has examined the state of the fortifications in South Carolina.
Monsieur de Brahme's report about the fortifications in South Carolina to Governor Glen, dated the 24th November, 1752.

Resolved that the above-mentioned addresses of the Governor, Council and Assembly be transmitted to the Earl of Holdernesse to be laid before his Majesty together with an extract of so much of Mr. Glen's letter and copies of the papers therewith transmitted as relate to the fortifying of Charles Town, and that the draught of a letter to his Lordship be prepared.

Read a letter from Mr. Glen, Governor of South Carolina, to the Board, dated the 16th of December, 1752, relating to Indian affairs.

Read a letter from Mr. Crokatt, agent for South Carolina, to Mr. Pownall, dated 27th March, 1753, inclosing the three following papers, viz.:—
Copy of a report of George Hunter, master gunner of Craven's Bastion, dated September 22nd, 1752.
Copy of a report of the situation of Fort Johnson since the late violent hurricane, dated September 25th, 1752.
Copy of the state and condition of Broughton's Battery since the late violent hurricane, dated the 27th September, 1752.

Ordered that copies of the said papers be transmitted to the Earl of Holdernesse with those referred to in Mr. Glen's letter.

Trade.

Africa.

The draught of a letter to Lord Holdernesse with the extract of one from Mr. Melvill to the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of Friday last, was laid before the Board, agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Leeward Islands.

Their lordships took into consideration the draught of general instructions prepared for Mr. Thomas, Governor of the Leeward Islands, and ordered the Secretary to transmit a copy of the article which relates to the observance of the treaty of neutrality between England and France in 1686 to the Attorney and Sollicitor General for their opinion whether the said treaty is at present of any force or validity.

Ordered that the Secretary do transmit a copy of that article which relates to the office of Receiver General of the Admiralty Dues to the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and desire to know whether there is any such officer at present appointed in the Plantations, or what instructions it may be proper to give the Governor relative to this affair.

Thursday, March 29. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Townshend, Mr. Oswald.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from Colonel Hopson, Governor of Nova Scotia, to the Board, dated at Halifax, the 4th of January, 1753, relative to some complaints made by the inhabitants of Halifax against the justices of the inferior courts.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Hopson, Governor of Nova Scotia, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of the 15th instant, was laid before the Board, agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Georgia.

Read the memorial of Benjamin Martyn, agent for the province of Georgia, with extracts of letters from Mr. Habersham and the Assistants, dated 26th June, 7th, 28th and 30th July, 1752, relative to the necessity of sending presents for the Indians bordering upon that province.

Trade.

Africa.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following papers received from the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, viz.:—
Copy of a letter dated 30th of October, 1752, from Thomas Melvill, Esquire, Governor of Cape Coast Castle, etc., to the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, relative to the treaty he has concluded with the Fantee nation.

Friday, March 30. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Townshend, Mr. Oswald.

South Carolina.

The draught of a letter to the Earl of Holdernesse with the extract of a letter and copies of several papers received from Mr. Glen, Governor of South Carolina, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of the 28th instant, was laid before the Board, agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Georgia.

The Secretary laid before the Board a memorial of Mr. Gray, styling himself agent for the province of Georgia.

Mr. Gray attending, was called in and after having been asked several questions relative to the authority by which he acted as agent for the province, and by whose orders or instructions he presented the above-mentioned memorial, he was ordered to withdraw and to attend again on Wednesday next, the 4th of April.