Journal, June 1717: Journal Book S

Journal, June 1717

June 3. Present:—Sir Jacob Astley, Sir Charles Cooke, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Molesworth.

Nova Scotia.

New England.

Settlement, persons summoned.

Several of the persons, who solicit for a settlement in North America, attending, and desiring that General Nicholson, John Anderson esqr. and Mr. Davis, his Majesty's mast-maker at Woolwich, may be summoned to appear at the Board; ordered that the persons last mentioned be acquainted with their lordships desire of speaking with them on Thursday morning next.

Sir B. Lake.

Mr. Dummer.

Conveyances, etc.

Sir Bibye Lake attending, with Mr. Dummer and Mr. Turner, on occasion of Sir Bibye's memorial and petition, mentioned in the minutes of the 30th of last month, relating to some lands claimed by him near Kennebeck river between New England and Nova Scotia, they produced the copies of some conveyances of the said lands from the Indians; but it being observed to them, that it would be necessary to produce what deeds or writings Sir Bibye has to shew the title, which 'tis suggested he has to those lands under the crown; he promised to attend their lordships again in a few days, and bring his other writings relating thereto.

Trade.

Hammond's memorial British Consuls, Alicant.

Their lordships taking into consideration again, the memorial [Entry L 109, Bund. O 167] delivered to them by Mr. Hammond the 17th of last month, in relation to our trade to Spain; ordered that he be desired to let the Board have what he may have to add thereto in writing on Wednesday next; and to inform them whether he knows of any obstructions from the court of Spain, to the establishing British Consuls at Alicant, or elsewhere, and particularly whether the king of Spain has refused or altered the powers in the patents of the said Consuls.

Mr. Franklyn.

Further ordered, that Mr. Franklyn be desired to give the like account in writing at the same time, in relation to consuls in Spain.

June 5. Present:—Sir Jacob Astley, Mr. Chetwynd, Sir Charles Cooke, Mr. Docminique.

Miscellanies.

Mr. Byrd, Mr. Hodskin.

Mr. Chetwynd desiring the Board to admit of Mr. William Byrd to officiate for Mr. William Hodskin, a clerk in this office, whom he proposed to take with him to Spain, and that the said Byrd might supply the first vacancy of a clerk's place in the office; their lordships were pleased to consent thereto.

Trade.

Mr. Frankland memorial, British Consuls.

Bilboa.

Mr. Hammond.

Alicant.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Addison.

Mr. Frankland and Mr. Hammond attending, as desired, the former presented to the Board a memorial relating to the establishing British Consuls in Spain, which was read; and he added in discourse, that the not passing his patent for Consul at Bilboa, &c. was attributed to the opposition made by the Biscayneers at the Court of Spain against it. Mr. Hammond said, he had advice of Consul Herne's patent being passed for Alicant, but that some alterations were made therein from the former. These gentlemen were again desired to hasten what they might have further to offer in writing, concerning any grievances the British merchant lie under in Spain; which they promised accordingly. And the said gentlemen being withdrawn, their lordships gave directions for preparing the draught of a letter to Mr. Secretary Addison, in answer to what he has lately writ to the Board, concerning the appointing of British Consuls in the ports of Spain, as aforesaid.

June 6. Present:—Sir Jacob Astley, Mr. Chetwynd, Sir Charles Cooke, Mr. Molesworth.

Nova Scotia.

New England.

General Nicholson and others settlement.

Coram's memorial.

Nova Scotia.

New England.

General Nicholson.

Colonel Taylor.

General Nicholson, Mr. Anderson and Mr. Davis attending, as desired the 3rd instant, together with Mr. Coram and several others, who petition for a settlement in North America, as likewise Col. Taylor, late Lieut. Governor of the Massachusets Bay; Mr. Coram presented to their lordships a memorial in answer to those of Mr. Dummer and Sir Bibye Lake, and the letters from the duchess of Hamilton and Mr. Partridge, relating to the lands between Nova Scotia and the province of Maine in New England, which was read; and Mr. Coram referring himself to General Nicholson and the other gentlemen abovementioned, relating to the retaking and conquest of the said land from the French, and the title which the Crown of Great Britain has to it; General Nicholson said, he had conquered the said land from the French for her late Majesty; that no place had more controverted titles than the land now in dispute, to clear which the Assembly of the Massachusets Bay had lately examined into them; as to the unfair clandestine practices, which Mr. Coram said, were used in obtaining purchases from the Indians by debauching and making them drunk, Col. Taylor said, there had been a general treatment with the Indians by Col. Dudley late Governor of the Massachusets Bay, and to prevent such ill practices for the future, the government of that province allow of no grants, without registering there. Upon the whole, General Nicholson and the other gentlemen present were desired to bring what they had to offer concerning the said lands, to their lordships in writing, as soon as they could.

Papers, with letter to Mr. Solicitor General.

The said gentlemen being withdrawn, ordered that copies of the letter from the duchess of Hamilton, the two memorials from Mr. Dummer, the memorial from Sir Bibye Lake, the letter from Mr. Partridge, all abovementioned, as also of the said memorial now presented by Mr. Coram, together with the printed charter of the Massachusets Bay, be sent to Mr. Solicitor General, for his opinion, upon perusal thereof, whether his Majesty may properly grant the said lands petitioned for by Mr. Coram, and several disbanded officers, soldiers and others.

Newfoundland.

Plantations General.

Letter from Mr. Carkesse, trade with plantations.

A letter from Mr. Carkesse, Secretary to the Commissrs. of the Customs, of the 4th instant, in answer to that writ him the 7th of May, relating to the trade between Newfoundland and his Majesty's other Plantations, was read; and the following papers therewith received, were laid before the Board, vizt.:—
Papers referred to.
Account of goods exported to Newfoundland from the other Plantations, from Midsummer, 1713, to Midsummer, 1714.
Account of goods imported to Newfoundland from the other Plantations, in the years, 1714, and 1715.
Goods exported to Newfoundland from the other Plantations, from Midsummer, 1714, to Midsummer, 1715.
Account of goods exported to Newfoundland from the other Plantations, from Midsummer, 1715, to Midsummer, 1716.

Trade.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Addison, British Consuls, Spain.

The draught of a letter, directed yesterday to be prepared, to Mr. Secretary Addison, relating to the appointment of British Consuls in the ports of Spain, was agreed and signed.

June 17. Present:—Sir Jacob Astley, Sir Charles Cooke, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Molesworth.

New York.

Letter from Mr. Mulford, whale fishery.

A letter from Mr. Samuel Mulford, upon the subject of his petition, referred to this Board by Order of Council, dated the 14th March, 17 14/15, relating to hardships put upon him and others in the whale fishery at New York, was read, together with the said order and petition; and Mr. Mulford attending, was asked how he proved the allegations of his said petition, whereupon he answered, that had he thought it necessary, he could have brought sufficient proof from New York; that it was publickly known Brigadier Hunter, Governor of New York, &c. had sent to seize the whales taken, unless the persons who took them, would pay one twentieth part; however, he promised to bring such proofs as he had here, which the Board desired he would do, as soon as he could.

Carolina.

Letter from lords proprietors.

Indian war.

Agents summoned.

A letter from the lords proprietors of Carolina, of the 4th instant, in answer to one writ them the 15th of May, 1717, relating to the state of that province, with regard to the Indian war, &c. was read; whereupon ordered that Mr. Boon and Mr. Beresford be acquainted that the Board desire to speak with them at ten of the clock on Wednesday morning next.

Trade.

Letter to Mr. Martyn, logwood.

Ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Martyn, Inspector General of the Customs, to desire an account, as soon as conveniently may be, of the logwood imported into this kingdom for the last six years.

Virginia.

Letter from Solicitor General.

Governor's instructions.

Answer to Mr. Solicitor.

A letter from Mr. Solicitor General, of the 15th instant, to the Secretary, desiring to see the Governor of Virginia's instructions, relating to his power of calling Assemblies, and making laws relating to trade, before Mr. Solicitor General reports upon the Acts before him, relating to the staple of tobacco, and the Indian Trade [fo. 262, 283], was read; whereupon ordered that copies of the clauses of the Earl of Orkney's Commission relating thereto, and the 16th, 100th and 101st articles of his lordships instructions, be accordingly sent him.

June 19. Present:—Sir Jacob Astley, Sir Charles Cooke, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Molesworth.

Carolina.

Mr. Beresford.

Indian war.

Mr. Beresford attending, as he had been desired, the letter from the lords proprietors of Carolina, dated the 4th mentioned in the minutes of the 17th instant, relating to the state of that province, with regard to the Indian war, &c. was communicated to him; whereupon he said, that the last letters he had from Carolina, were of ye 23rd March last, which take notice of some Indians coming to make peace with that government, who sent a person to treat with them, but that the Indian messengers left the said person in the woods, from whence it is supposed the negotiation broke off; that there is a gentleman here in town, who left Carolina in April, and can give their lordships an account of these affairs; whereupon Mr. Beresford was desired to bring him to the Board, and the copies or extracts of the latest letters that give any account of the present state of Carolina, which he promised accordingly.

Jamaica.

Letter from Mr. Secretary Addison.

Peter Diharce, Spanish belandra.

A letter from Mr. Secretary Addison, of the 15th instant, referring to the Board the petition of Don Bernardo de Guardia, and Peter Diharce. concerning a Spanish belandra taken into Jamaica, and condemned there as prize, was read, together with the said petition.

Antigua.

Watkins's act.

Mr. Solicitor General.

An Act passed at Antigua the 29th of March, 1717, entituled, an Act to enable Giles Watkins and Samuel Watkins to alien, grant or devise a Plantation situate, lying and being, in the parish of St. Johns, &c. being laid before the Board; ordered that the same be sent to Mr. Solicitor General, for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

June 21. Present:—Sir Jacob Astley, Mr. Chetwynd, Sir Charles Cooke, Mr. Docminique.

Virginia.

Letter from Colonel Spotswood, Indian trade act.

A letter from Col. Spotswood, Lieut. Govr. of Virginia, to the Secretary of this Board, dated the 16th of April, 1717, relating to the Act for regulation of the Indian Trade [fos. 281, 284] in that colony, was read, and the answer of the Council therein referred to, on the same subject.

Virginia.

Mr. Solicitor General's report, 3 acts.

Representation.

Mr. Solicitor General's report on three Acts passed in Virginia in 1713, and 1714, relating to the staple of tobacco, and about regulating the Indian Trade [fos. 283, 288], was also read, and directions given for preparing the draught of a representation to his Majesty thereupon.

Messrs. Perry and Hyde thereupon.

Mr. Micajah Perry and Mr. Hyde, attending, and desiring their lordships representation upon the forementioned Acts might be dispatched, so that the signification of his Majesty's pleasure thereupon might be transmitted by the man of war ordered for Virginia; they were acquainted it should be done with all convenient speed; and upon discourse with them relating to the effect of the said Act relating to the Indian Trade, Mr. Hyde said, that last winter he sent about two hundred pounds worth of goods to a factor, on the Maryland side of Potomack river, from whom he had an account of a great number of Indians being come down thither, so that he had hopes to sell the said goods to advantage; that by the Virginia Indian Company having that trade to themselves in Virginia, their stock was risen 50 per cent.

Mr. Kennedy, memorial, Indian war.

Mr. Kennedy, lately arrived from Virginia, attending, presented to the Board a memorial relating to the assistance given by Virginia to South Carolina in their war with the Indians, and praying to be relieved, as to what he has suffered on that account, out of the quit-rents in Virginia; which memorial being read, he was acquainted, that it would be proper for him to apply first by petition to his Majesty.

Trade.

Logwood.

An account of logwood, fustick, indico and other materials for dying, which were sent to France, between Christmas, 1712, and Christmas, 1714; as also,

An account of logwood imported to and exported from this kingdom, between Christmas, 1710 and Christmas, 1716, being received from Mr. Martyn, the Inspector General of the Customs office, the same were laid before the Board.

Trade.

Plantations General.

Letter to Mr. Harris.

logwood, etc.

Ordered that Mr. Richard Harris be acquainted that their lordships desire he will let them have in writing on Wednesday morning next, what he may have further to offer to what he transmitted to this office in December, 1714, relating to the West India Trade, particularly the cutting of logwood.

June 22. Present:—Mr. Chetwynd, Sir Charles Cooke.

Virginia.

Carolina.

Letter from Colonel Spotswood.

Forces.

Mr. Kennedy.

Letter to lords proprietors.

A letter from Col. Spotswood, Lieut. Govr. of Virginia, to the Board, dated the 30th April last, relating to the unjust proceedings of the government of South Carolina, with regard to the forces sent them from Virginia to their assistance against the Indians, and relating also to Mr. Kennedy's services, who was sent to Carolina, and to the Spanish Governor of St. Augustin, was read; and the copy of a letter from the Spanish Governor, referred to by Col. Spotswood, was laid before the Board; whereupon ordered that the draught of a letter be prepared, wherewith to transmit to the lords proprietors of Carolina, a copy of so much of Col. Spotswood's said letter as relates to that province.

Trade.

Letter from Mr. Secretary Addison.

Minister at Madrid.

Afueros.

Merchants summoned.

A letter from Mr. Secretary Addison, of ye 20th instant, referring to the Board the extract of a letter from his Majesty's minister at Madrid, with a valuation of English goods in Spain, in order to the settlement of a New Afueros, was read; whereupon ordered that Sir Joseph Hodges, Sir William Chapman, Mr. Christopher Hayne, and Mr. Edward Rudge, be acquainted that their lordships desire to speak with them (and any other gentlemen they may think fit to bring with them), at ten of the clock on Thursday morning next.

June 26. Present:—Earl of Suffolk, Sir Jacob Astley, Mr. Chetwynd, Sir Charles Cooke, Mr. Molesworth.

Virginia.

Messrs. Perry and Byrd.

Acts.

Mr. Micajah Perry, Mr. Byrd, and Mr. Hyde attending, and desiring the dispatch of their lordship's report upon the Virginia Acts, relating to the staple of tobacco, and the Indian Trade, the following queries were put to them by the Board, vizt.:—
In relation to the Act for preventing frauds in tobacco payments, &c.
Queries.
It being reasonable to prevent the receiving of trash tobacco in payment abroad, or the transporting of it to England; what remedy could they propose against it, upon the repeal of the said Act?
In relation to the Act for the better regulation of the Indian Trade [fos. 284, 293];
Whether upon the repeal of that Act, it may not be proper, that the Governor propose to the Assembly such regulations in the Indian Trade, as shall be thought necessary, but not to be in force, till his Majesty's pleasure be known: and
Which way can they propose to reimburse the expence which the company may have been at, for the benefit of the publick ?

Answers.

Upon the first query, they said, the present law had not brought the planters to make better tobacco than formerly, which Mr. Perry said, he could shew by what had been sent to him: and Mr. Byrd represented to their lordships, that if an Act formerly passed in Virginia, relating to the quality of tobacco to be paid by the sheriffs in that colony for publick debts, were duly put in execution, it would answer the seeming intent of the present Act.

In answer to the second query, these gentn. said, they thought it very reasonable.

And as to the third, they said, the company had been but at little charge, but what immediately related to their trade, for which, by the great profits they made, it was concluded, the said company were amply recompensed. But as to their charge for the publick service, these gentlemen concurred in opinion that it would be proper, that an inquiry into that matter be recommended to the Assembly of Virginia, and to consider of the reimbursement of the company by a sum to be paid them at once, and not by any imposition on the Indian Trade.

Trade.

Mr. Harris.

Logwood.

Mr. Richard Harris attending, as desired, he acquainted the Board, that he had nothing further to add to what he laid before their lordships, relating to the logwood trade, &c. in 1714; but that one Peartree, who was born at Campechy, and lived not many years since at New York, might probably give their lordships some satisfactory account thereof.

Carolina.

Boon and Beresford, extracts of letters, Indians war.

Mr. Boon and Mr. Beresford also attending, communicated to the Board the extracts of several letters from Carolina, relating to the state of that province, with regard to the Indian war, &c.

June 27. Present:—Sir Charles Cooke, Mr. Docminique.

Trade.

Spanish merchants,

Spanish merchants, new tariff.

Mr. Haynes, Mr. Rudge, and Mr. Pitts attending, as desired, their lordships communicated to them the copy of an account of the present and new valuations of English goods in Spain for settling a new tariff there, which was referred to the Board by Mr. Secretary Addison's letter of the 20th mentioned in the minutes of the 22nd instant; whereupon these gentlemen said, they could not well make a judgment thereof, the account being so short, and seemingly calculated for Cadiz only, besides several other particulars unexplained; that they had reason to think these new valuations were made by persons more dependent on Spain than Great Britain, Mr. Charles Russell and Mr. White being papists naturalized, in Spain. That the number of Irish papists so naturalized, who trade and reside at Cadiz, is about thirteen to nine English who are protestants, the former being looked upon in Spain as subjects of that crown. And Mr. Pitts said, he had advice that the latter had chosen Mr. Francis Trowbridge as one for making the said valuations, but that he was not permitted to act. The said gentlemen added that the Spaniards lowering or advancing their duties on goods, was not of so much importance to Great Britain, as that the British subjects should be upon as good a foot at least as the nation most favoured, or the natives of Spain, according to our treaties. For if the duties on our goods should be lessened, and the duties on French goods or those of any other nation made lower than the proportion we pay, it would soon turn the trade from us to those who should enjoy such favour.

Jamaica.

Letter from Mr. Secretary Addison.

Colonel Lawes, Governor.

Commission

Col. Lawes, with Mr. William Cokburne attending, presented to the Board a letter from Mr. Secretary Addison signifying that his Majesty had appointed the said Col. Lawes, Governor of Jamaica, and requiring the Board to cause a commission and instructions to be prepared as usual; the said letter was read, and directions given for preparing the draught of a commission accordingly.

Carolina.

Virginia.

Letter to lords proprietors.

Assistance from Virginia.

The draught of a letter to the lords proprietors of Carolina, for inclosing to them an extract of Col. Spotswood's letter of the 30th of April last, relating to the unjust proceedings of the government of that province, on account of the assistance sent them from Virginia against the Indians, was agreed and signed.

June 28. Present:—Earl of Suffolk, Sir Jacob Astley, Mr. Chetwynd, Sir Charles Cooke, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Molesworth.

Virginia.

Indian company's memorial against the act.

A memorial from the Virginia Indian Company, in answer to the petition and other papers against the Act passed in that colony, for the better regulation of the Indian Trade, was read.

Representation, Acts.

The draught of a representation directed the 21st instant, to be prepared upon the Acts passed in Virginia in 1713, and 1714, relating to the prevention of frauds in tobacco payments, and better improving the staple of tobacco, as also to the better regulation of the Indian Trade, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

Trade.

Spain.

New book of rates.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Addison.

Their lordships taking again into consideration the account of the valuations of English goods in Spain, in order to the making a new book of rates there, as mentioned in yesterday's minutes, directions were given for preparing an answer to Mr. Secretary Addison's letter of the 20th instant, upon that subject.

June 29. Present:—Sir Jacob Astley, Mr. Chetwynd, Sir Charles Cooke, Mr. Docminique.

Virginia.

Representation.

Acts.

A representation upon the Acts passed in Virginia in 1713, and 1714, relating to the preventing of frauds in tobacco payments and better improving the staple of tobacco, as also to the better regulation of the Indian trade [fos. 288, 324] was signed.

Trade.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Addison.

Spain.

New book of rates.

The draught of a letter, directed yesterday to be prepared in answer to that from Mr. Secretary Addison of the 20th instant, relating to the valuations of English goods in Spain, in order to the making a new book of rates there, was agreed and signed.