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| Aug. 16. |
Col. Codrington acquainted their Lordships that he is to embark to-morrow at Gravesend, in order to repair to his Government of the Leeward Islands, and accordingly took leave. Their Lordships took the New York Acts into consideration and agreed upon the draught of a representation thereupon and of observations to be writ to Lord Bellomont. |
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Letter from Lord Bellomont, July 9th, with papers enclosed, received and read. [Board of Trade. Journal, 13. pp. 153–156; and 97. Nos. 141, 142.] |
| Aug. 19. |
721. Council of Trade and Plantations to Col. Quary. We have lately received your letters of March 6, April 10, and June 5, by all of which we are glad to perceive your confirmation of what Mr. Penn has also writ about his having heartily applied himself to the reformation of the irregularities you complained of. We doubt not by the steps he has already made but he will continue to pursue the same measures, so that His Majesty's service and the good of the Province may henceforwards be effectually carried on without animosity and without any clashings between his authority and yours, and between the jurisdiction of the Courts dependant on either of you; in which occasions it will become your prudence on both sides to act cautiously. As for the matter of your account, upon which you desire us to signify our pleasure (June 5), we refer you to Mr. Secretary [Vernon], who doubtless had His Majesty's order therein, and we cannot therefore think it proper for us to intermeddle in it. We are very hopeful all difficulties of this or any other kind relating to pirates will for the future be in great measure removed by the Act of Parliament past the last session for the more effectual suppression of piracy, in pursuance of which Commissions are now preparing to be sent to His Majesty's Plantations, so that everyone in authority will thereby plainly understand their duty, and we hope the suppression of that race of wicked men will in the end be effectually obtained. So we bid you heartily farewell. Your very loving friends, Phil. Meadows, Abr. Hill, Jon. Pollexfen, Geo. Stepney, M. Prior. [Board of Trade. Proprieties, 26, pp. 310, 311.] |
Aug. 19.
Whitehall. |
722. Council of Trade and Plantations to the Rt. Hon. Mr. Secretary Vernon. Having lately received from the Earl of Bellomont the enclosed extract (See July 9th) of a letter from
the Lieut. Governor of New York relating to a French man-of-war that had touched at New York, we think it for His Majesty's service to communicate the same to you. Signed, Jno. Pollexfen, Abr. Hill, Mat. Prior. [Board of Trade. New York, 54. p. 379; and 44A. No. 47.] |
Aug. 19.
Whitehall. |
723. Council of Trade and Plantations to the Lords Justices. We have considered of the Acts past in several General Assemblies of His Majesty's Province of New York from Oct. 5, 1696—May 16, 1699; and having thereupon had the opinion of His Majesty's Solicitor General in point of law, we humbly crave leave to lay them before your Excellencies, (i.) Several Acts, enumerated, which have already expired or to which we see no objection. (ii.) Acts upon the usefulness whereof we have some doubts and are making a further enquiry, but upon which we conceive your resolution may in the meanwhile be suspended without any inconveniencie, vizt., an Act for preventing vexatious suits; an Act for the indemnifying of all such persons as were excepted out of the General Pardon made by the Act of the General Assembly, 1691; an Act repealing the Act regulating damages done in the time of the late disorders, etc.; an Act for settling the estate of Jacob Milbourn, Esq., decd.; an Act for continuing the Act for encouraging the Post Office. (iii.) Upon the Act for granting 1,500l. to His Excellency Richard, Earl of Bellomont, and 500l. to his Lieut. Governor, we humbly offer our opinion that your Excellencies may be graciously pleased to permit that they may receive the said sums accordingly. (iv.) The Act for restraining and punishing privateers and pirates might have been useful to the end intended, in case no other provision had been made here for the same purpose, yet, finding it inconsistent with the Act past here the last session of Parliament, for the more effectual suppression of piracy, we humbly offer to your Excellencies that it be repealed. (v.) Besides these forementioned Acts there also lies before us an Act for vacating, breaking, and annulling several extravagant grants of land made by Col. Benjamin Fletcher, against the confirmation whereof several objections having been lately offered to us, which we have not yet had the opportunity to examine so thorowly as a matter of such importance deserves, we humbly crave leave for the present to suspend our opinion upon it. Signed, Ph. Meadows, John Pollexfen, Abr. Hill, Geo. Stepney, Mat. Prior. [Board of Trade. New York, 54. pp. 380–385.] |
| Aug. 19. |
724. Minutes of Council of Massachusetts Bay. 20l. ordered to be advanced to Major Converse on the service of the fortification of Cascobay. Advised, that that fortification be 60 foot square and made with stockadoes, and a breastwork cast up within the same, or with logs. |
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Licence granted to Richard Gridley to erect an addition of timber to his house in the street leading to Fort Hill in Boston. [Board of Trade. Massachusetts Bay, 2. pp. 10, 11.] |
| Aug. 19. |
725. Minutes of Council in Assembly of Barbados. Account of money, paid for servants brought into the Island, recommended to the Assembly. |
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The Assembly attending, His Excellency told them that he had at divers meetings recommended several matters to them for the benefit of this Island, of which they had taken no measures, and that he would give them nothing further in charge till they had proceeded upon what was already recommended; to which the Speaker replied that they would forthwith go upon business, and then retired with the House. |
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Upon the petition of the Pirates that surrendered themselves upon His Majesty's Proclamation in the Vine pinck, Capt. Tho. Warren, setting forth that they were reduced to great extremities, ordered that any of them may go for England as is directed by an order of this Board, April 17th, 1700. [Board of Trade. Barbados, 65. p. 531.] |
| Aug. 19. |
726. Journal of Assembly of Barbados. Mr. Colleton was again elected Speaker, the House having sat three times by adjournment since his being formerly chosen. |
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William Heysham was appointed to be of the Committee of Accounts in the place of the Honourable William Wheeler, who is departed from this Island. |
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The House considered the question of the charge of keeping the servants and the doctors' accompt. It was decided that the public should have credit for the labour of the servants as far as is allowed for the doctors' accompts. (And see preceding abstract). |
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George Peers was re-elected Storekeeper of the Magazine. |
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Salaries of the Storekeeper, Clerk and Marshall voted. |
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A Bill, entitled an Additional Act concerning forestallers, was read and referred to a Committee. Alexander Walker was returned a Representative for the parish of St. Peter's. |
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A Committee was appointed for the confirmation of grants. |
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The petition of Joseph Hole for a drawback of 12 pipes of Madera wine, which turned eager within three moneths of being landed, was allowed. [Board of Trade. Barbados, 65. pp. 564–567.] |
| Aug. 19. |
727. Journal of Council of Trade and Plantations. Represensation upon the Acts of the General Assembly of New York, Oct. 5, 1696—May 16th, 1699, signed. |
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Letter to Mr. Secretary Vernon signed, enclosing copy of the extract of the Lieutenant Governor of New York's letter to Lord Bellomont, June 24th (See July 9.). |
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Letter to Col. Quary signed. |
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Mr. Randolph being newly arrived from Bermuda returned their Lordships thanks for their favour in procuring his discharge from his imprisonment there, and said he had many things to offer to this Board for H.M. service relating to the Plantations, which he would do in writing as soon as he could. |
| Aug. 20. |
Mr. Solicitor General's reports upon Acts of the General Assembly of the Massachusets Bay, one prohibiting the exportation of money and bullion, Dec. 15, 1697, and another upon the Acts past there May 25, 1698, read. These Acts were considered. |
