|
Feb. 1.
Council
Chamber,
Whitehall. |
580. Order of Committee of Privy Council. A copy of the charges against Mr. Middleton (v. 13th Nov., 1728) are to be transmitted to him for his answer in writing to this Committee. Signed, Temple Stanyan. Endorsed, Recd. 7th, Read 21st March, 1728/9. 1 p. [C. O. 5, 360. ff. 90, 91v.] |
Feb. 1.
St. James's. |
581. Order of King in Council. Approving report of Committee upon Col. Spotswood's petition, and ordering that no advantage be taken of the invalidity of the petitioner's grants, and that for the better confirmation of such of them as are defective, the Governor do pass new and authentic patents to him or his assigns, and that the remission of quit rents granted to the two new counties in 1723, for seven years be understood to extend to petitioner's two tracts of land which were last taken up in the county of Spotsilvania containing 59,786 acres. But in regard the petitioner did offer to be bound to pay the usual consideration which is required in Virginia, upon taking up lands, H.M. doth further order, that upon the passing the said patents to petitioner or his assigns he or they shall produce or pay the accustomed rights which remain due for the same. Signed and endorsed as preceding. 6 pp. [C. O. 5, 1321. ff. 100–102v., 103v.] |
Feb. 1.
Whitehall. |
582. Order of Committee of Council. Referring following to the Council of Trade and Plantations for their opinion thereupon. Signed, Temple Stanyan. Endorsed, Recd. Read 4th Feb., 1728/9. 1 p. Enclosed,
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582. i. Address of the House of Representatives of the Massachusetts Bay to the King. Nov. 22, 1728. We your Majesty's loyal and dutifull subjects, the Representatives of yor. Province of the Massachusetts Bay in the General Court assembled humbly beg leave to approach yor. Royall Presence and offer the reasons and grounds of our proceedings and conclusions concerning a fixed sallary on the Governor of this Province, which is directed to, by your Majesty's twenty third Instruction to your present Governor here. Nothing lesss than the prosperity or welfare of this yor. most dutifull Province could have pre- vailed with us to have done anything disagreable to Yor. Majesty's Instruction; This Province is under that natural disadvantage, by reason of its distant situation, that it cannot be under yor. Majesty's imediate inspection and care, as Great Britain our happy Mother is ; it is and has been very well known, in this as well as other nations and ages, that Governors at a great distance from the Prince or Seat of Government have great opportunities and sometimes too prevailing inclinations, to oppress the people. And it is almost impossible for the Prince, who is the most carefull Father of his subjects, to have such matters set in a true light. We humbly crave leave therefore to suggest that it is very much for yor. Majesty's interest and very necessary to the tranquility and flourishing of this your Province, that the Governor should be induced by his own interest, as well as duty to yor. Majesty, to consult the interest and welfare of the people, but should we fix a sallary, the Governor's particular interest would be very little affected (while thus settled) by serving or disserving the peoples interest, and we should do more than has ever been done by the wisdom of Great Britain, notwithstanding the Nation, and your subjects in the most distant parts of yor. Dominions, have so intire a confidence in your Majesty and yor. interest and glory, and that of your Royal Posterity, are inseparable from the prosperity and welfare of your people, for we are all yor. inheritance ; Yet the Civil List is settled for yor. Majesty's life only, whereas neither the happiness nor adversity of this Province, affect a Governor's interest, when he has once left us, and the raising and disposing of money from time to time, of our free will and assent, for the defence and support of the Government and protection and preservation of the inhabitants, is the great priviledge, which as Englishmen by Magna Charta and by the Charter granted by King William and Queen Mary of glorious Memory, the General Assembly, (as we humbly conceive) have a right unto. For these reasons the house of Representatives were perswaded they could not in duty to your Majesty, and truthfullness to the people of this Province, settle or fix a sallary, when yor. Majty.'s Instruction for that end was first laid before them, and in this conclusion the House had the concurrence of yor. Majesty's Council here ; and since that, in the course of the Governor's administration, we have had no encouragemt. to do it from any grounds or reasons for such special confidence in him, but the treatment we have met with, in the methods that have been used to bring us into a stated sallary, hath tended to confirm and abundantly strengthen us in our first determination ; for instead of the Governor's laying our conclusion on that affair before yor. Majesty, and waiting your direction to him, and consulting in the mean time the benefitt and welfare of the people, we were told by him that we were met for that end, and so should continue, till we had finisht it; and when we were desirous to rise that we might consult our constituents; it was denied us, and we have been compelled, to sitt for some months, when the affairs of the Province have not required it, for no other end but to bring us into the settlement of a sallary, which we have often declared we could not do ; and when this method did not prevail, we were removed from the House and Records belonging to the Generall Assembly in Boston, to Salem, a town about twenty miles from Boston, upon a pretence that the people in Boston influenced the representatives against settling a sallary; and altho' since our being at Salem, we have assured him that we acted freely therein, and that the same reasons that prevailed with us at Boston, would go with, and influence us everywhere, yet we are still kept sitting there, to the great disservice of yor. Majesty's interest, and grevious hurt and damage of the Province. And all this has been (as we humbly conceive) without any provocation from the Assembly or people here. Your Majesty's Governor at his first arrival was received with the highest respect and greatest expence by much that ever was on such an occasion, the Assembly took care for his entertainment in a very honourable manner, according to the dignity of his station at a private gentleman's house, till the Province house was prepared for him, and altho' the Province is under great difficulties, by being a barrier to your Majesty's other plantations against the Indian savages, which in a warr brings an excessive charge sometimes of about fifty thousand pounds p. anm., and has left a load of debt on the Province of about two hundred thousand pounds, and how soon a warr may break out again with them, we cannot tell, and now in peace with them, the Province is at the annual charge of many thousands of pounds to preserve it; yet soon after the Governor's arrival the Assembly granted seventeen hundred pounds to him ; fourteen hundred pounds to enable him to manage the publick affairs, and three hundred pounds to defray the charges of transporting his goods and servants here, and informed him that at the usual times, this and succeeding Assemblies would undoubtedly afford a support suitable to the dignity of his person and station ; and since that, upon the first opportunitys in the usual time of the year for the second grant, as soon as the fall of the year was arrived, notwithstanding they had been kept sitting all the while, to the great damage of the Province, they granted sixteen hundred pounds more, and since those grants were passed, we have once and again earnestly desired him to take both the one and the other; these sums are far beyond what has ever been granted to any Governor heretofore, and we doubt not but succeeding Assemblies, according to the ability of the Province, will come into as ample and honourable support from time to time, and should they not, we acknowledge your Majesty will have just reason to shew yor. displeasure with them; but while we continue to grant a support so honourable, (as we humbly conceive) we have since the present Governor's arrival, beyond other Plantations, considering the charge we are otherwise exposed to, and load of debt lying upon us; we hope we shall always enjoy your Majesty's Royal Grace and Favour which this universally loyall people, above all things desire; that the Crown may long flourish on your Royal Head, and continue so in your most illustrious family to the latest posterity is the sincere and hearty prayer of etc. Signed by the Order of the House of Representatives, William Dudley, Speaker. Copy. 6 pp. [C.O. 5, 870. ff. 154, 155–157v., 159v.] |
Feb. 3.
Custom
House. |
583. Account of pitch, tar, rozen and turpentine imported from the Plantations 1721–7. |
|
|
Pitch & tar |
Rozen |
Turpentine |
|
|
lasts |
barrels |
cwt. |
qr. |
lb. |
cwt. |
qr. |
lb. |
|
1722 ... ... |
4197 |
7 |
56 |
2 |
22 |
8,546 |
1 |
7 |
|
1723 ... ... |
5421 |
9 |
53 |
— |
17 |
15,599 |
1 |
12 |
|
1724 ... ... |
6772 |
4 |
56 |
1 |
17 |
23,676 |
2 |
13 |
|
1725 ... ... |
6752 |
8 |
302 |
2 |
25 |
30,084 |
2 |
21 |
|
1726 ... ... |
5556 |
5 |
212 |
3 |
10 |
18,314 |
1 |
18 |
|
1727 ... ... |
2858 |
5 |
123 |
1 |
25 |
27,324 |
3 |
5 |
|
Signed, John Oxenford, Asst. Insp. Gen. Endorsed, Recd. (from Mr. Oxenford) 4th Jan., Read 6th Feb., 1728/9. [C.O. 323, 8. No. 106.] |
Feb. 4.
Whitehall. |
584. Lord Townsend to Governor Hunter. Recommends to his favour and protection M. de Chanflour who is already known in Jamaica, and has been recommended to him by the Comte de Broglie, French Ambassador. Signed, Townsend. French. 1¼ pp. [C.O. 137, 58. ff. 111, 111v., and (duplicate) 113, 113v.] |
| [Feb. 4.] |
585. Comte de Broglie to Lord Townshend. Recommending M. de Chanflour as above. French. ½ p. [C.O. 137, 53. f. 115.] |
| Feb. 4. |
586. Mr. Fane to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Report on Act of Jamaica, 1728, for raising a tax on the poll and on trade etc. Though Governor Hunter may be thought guilty of a breach of his 31st Instruction in accepting this present from the Assembly, yet in the light of his 32nd Instruction it may be proper to be confirmed etc. Signed, Fran. Fane. Endorsed, Recd. 4th, Read 20th Feb. 1728/9. 1¾ pp. [C.O. 137, 17. ff. 129, 129v., 130v.] |
| Feb. 5. |
587. Richard Fitzwilliam, Surveyor General of H.M. Customs in the Southern district of America, to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Prays to be restored to the Councils of Virginia, Jamaica and S. Carolina, from which he was omitted by an oversight when they were reconstituted after the demise of his late Majesty, etc. Endorsed, Recd. 5th, Read 6th Feb., 1728/9. 1? pp. [C.O.5, 1321. ff. 94, 94v., 95v.] |
Feb. 6.
Whitehall. |
588. Mr. Popple to Mr. Oxenford. Requests accounts of species and quantities of naval stores imported from all parts etc. Christmas 1722–1727. [C.O. 324, 11. pp. 143, 144.] |
Feb. 6.
Clarges
Street. |
589. Mr,. Dunbar to Mr. Delafaye. Being about to imbark to spend the summer in the woods of Nova Scotia, requests him to represent to the Duke of Newcastle that he may have an order for a guard of 40 soldiers from the garrison of Annapolis Royal to protect him and his deputies from the Indians etc. Continues :—There is a large settlement of French from Nova Scotia at the bottom of the Bay of Fundy, who remain'd there upon the Queen's peace as subjects of England and upon condition that they should take the oath of allegiance which they never have done, and they yet look upon themselves as French and under ye Government of Cannada, and will obstruct the surveys and settlements in those parts. Proposes that a letter be obtained from the French Court to let them know that they will receive no protection from them etc. Continues : My letters from New England tell me that there are six hundred familyes there, mostly from Ireland, who resolve to settle in the new country adjoyning to it, which I believe is scarce reckon'd part of Nova Scotia, and that very many more Protestant familyes from Ireland were expected there this ensuing season ; I have seen in our newspapers a memorial to the Lords Justices setting forth the great inconveniencies of those people leaving that Kingdom, to prevent wch. I humbly presume that if H.M. would declare in ye Gazette that all His Governors abroad should be strictly forbid to grant any lands to any of His Protestant subjects who should transport themselves without lycence, an entire stop would thereby be put to that humour in Ireland etc. Petitions for a few arms and ammunition to be given to a select number of the new adventurers already there, to form them into a militia to defend themselves, and offers to be responsible for such arms etc. Signed, David Dunbar. 3 pp. [C.O. 5, 898. No. 55.] |
Feb. 10.
Whitehall. |
590. Duke of Newcastle to Governor Hunter. The place of Secretary of Jamaica being fallen to Mr. Balaguier, by virtue of a reversionary grant, upon the death of Mr. Congreve, recommends him to his particular favour and protection etc. Signed, Holles Newcastle. Copy, f p. [C.O. 137, 53. f. 116.] |
Feb. 10.
Jamaica. |
591. Governor Hunter to Mr. Popple. Acknowledges letter of 20th Nov. etc. Will observe what he writes as to recommending Councillors. Continues: We expect the arrival of Collo. Lilly every day. The Assembly have already allowed him as an addition to his salary five shillings pr. Diem. and I shall do him what further service is in my power. Our Assembly is now sitting and they have passed several of the most material bills, such as the additional duty and deficiency laws and one for the further encourageing the settlement of Port Antonio and are now preparing one for the further strengthening of the Island against any attempts that shall be made by a foreign enemy. This is in consequence of what I recommended to them in obedience to H.M. commands etc. (v. Sept. 15, 1728.) Upon reciept of those orders I immediately review'd the several regiments of Militia in the adjacent parts and gave directions for the repairing such of the fortifycations as were thought of most importance and necessary, for which service the Assembly have appropriated out of the additional duty bill £2000 and am in hopes they will finish the rest of the business I recommended to them with that harmony and dispatch they have promised by their Address. I am informed that some of H.M. ships are to sail about a month hence. By them I shall transmit to their Lordships such Acts as I have assented to and other publick papers. P.S.—Feb. 15. Since what is abovewritten, the Assembly have passed several bills and gone through the most necessary business for the country's service, and I hope to H.M. satisfaction. So soon as the Acts passed and the Minutes of the Council and Assembly can be got transcribed I shall take particular care to have them transmitted to their Lordships, and have at the Assembly's desire prorogued them to the 25th day of March next. Signed, Ro. Hunter. Endorsed, Recd. 3rd, Read 21st May, 1729. 3 pp. [C. O. 137, 18. ff. 9–l0v.] |
Feb. 11.
Whitehall. |
592. Council of Trade and Plantations to Governor Burnet. We should sooner have acknowledged the receipt of your letters of 30th Sept., 26th Oct. and 27th Nov. last, with respect to the disputes between you and the Assembly of the Massachusets Bay, in relation to the settlement of your salary, and to their being adjourn'd to Salem ; but that we waited to see whether any person would appear in behalf of the Assembly ; and as the Assembly have lately transmitted an Address to H.M. relating to these matters, which has been referr'd to our consideration, whereupon they have desir'd to be heard by their Council, your Agent will be allow'd the same liberty, in your behalf; and so soon as we shall have heard what can be offer'd on both sides, concerning the points in dispute, we shall report our opinion thereupon at large to H.M. In the mean-time, we very much approve of your prudence, and integrity in declining to accept of money from the Assembly upon any terms different from those enjoyn'd you by yor. Instructions ; So we bid you heartily farewell, and are, Your very loving friends and humble servts. etc. [C. O. 5, 916. ff. 181, 182.] |
| [Feb. 11.] |
593. Petition of Merchants trading to Virginia to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Pray for repeal of Act of Virginia, 1705, declaring how long judgments, bonds etc. shall be in force etc., and ascertaining the damage upon protested bills of exchange etc. It is a law very detrimental to trade, as it limits actions on judgments, bonds and merchants' accounts, without any saving, " and is unjust in other respects etc. The act which stands next to it in the book printed by your Lordships' direction, answers ail the just purposes of limitation." Signed, Micajah Perry, and 8 others. Endorsed, Recd., Read 11th Feb., 1728/9. 1 p. [C. O. 5, 1321. ff. 96, 97v.] |
Feb. 12.
Whitehall. |
594. Council of Trade and Plantations to the King. Mr. Fitzwilliam, Surveyor General of the Customs in the South part of America, having been appointed by his late Majesty, your royal Father, a member of the Councils of Virginia, South Carolina and Jamaica ; but his warrant for this purpose not having been renew'd since your Majesty's happy accession to the Crown, the Governors of those places have not thought themselves impower'd to admit him to a seat in the Councils there ; and therefore we take leave humbly to propose to your Majesty, that his warrant be forthwith renew'd, it being for your Majesty's service, that the Surveyor of your Customs should be a member of every Council in those Governments within his district. [C. O. 324, 11. pp. 144, 145 ; and 5, 1366. pp. 12, 13.] |
Feb. 12.
Poole. |
595. Mayor and Merchants of Poole trading to Newfound- land. Reply to 13th Nov. : Our Masters coming home so very late from Newfoundland, we could not well answer before etc. Contrary to the Act of Wm. III for the encouragement of the trade to Newfoundland etc., many ships from New England, Ireland, Guernsey and Jerzy (who have a great advantage of the merchants here, by the cheapness of their provision and men, and also the craft, tackle and merchandize they carry) fish in the said land and take up stages and fishing rooms etc. Such ships as come from New England decoy and yearly carry into New England great numbers of sailors and fishermen employed there, to the prejudice of the merchants of England, who are obliged for want of such men to give extraordinary wages to such servants as they there employ. By the said Act all oil taken and made by any ship trading from England is to be deemed free, notwithstanding if the owner of several ships send any of his ships abroad to market wth. their fish, vizt. to Spain etc., and the oil taken and made by such ships home to England in any other of their vessels, such oil is by the officers here obliged to pay the duty, this year tho' never known before etc. Signed, Jno. Strong, Mayor and 17 others. Endorsed, Recd. 14th Feb., Read 20th May, 1729. Addressed. Postmark. 2 pp. [C. O. 194, 8. ff. 206–207v.] |
Feb. 13.
Jamaica. |
596. Mr. Donovan to the Duke of Newcastle. Refers to his dispute with the Assembly as contractor for supplying rum to the Naval Squadron etc. Signed, Tim Donovan. Endorsed, Rd. May 3. 2 pp. Enclosed,
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596. i. Letter from Mr. Donovan to the Assembly of Jamaica Feb. 5, 1729. Signed, T. Donovan. Copy. 2 pp. [C. O. 137, 53. ff. 118, 118v., 119v., 120, 120v.] |
Feb. 13.
Whitehall. |
597. Mr. Popple to Mr. Fane. Encloses, for his opinion in point of law, 2 Acts of Nevis, 1728 (i) for raising a poll tax on negroes etc., and (ii) for providing a house and settling £500 pr. ann. on H.E., and laying a tax upon all sugar and molosses shipped from Nevis etc., and 3 Acts of St. Kitts, 1728, (i) for laying of certain duties upon sugars, molosses and other goods the growth and manufacture of the island to be exported; (ii) for settling £2000 pr. ann. current money upon H.E. during the term therein mentioned etc., and (iii) for supplying a defect in the Act for laying duty upon exports etc. (supra). [C. O. 153, 14. pp. 407–409.] |
Feb. 13.
Whitehall. |
598. Duke of Newcastle to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Encloses following; with copy of Governor Worsley's answer to a similar petition last year, for their report upon the whole. Signed, Holles Newcastle. Endorsed, Recd. 13th, Read 25th Feb., 1728/9. 1 p. Enclosed,
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598. i. Petition of the General Assembly of Barbados to the King. Complaints against Governor Worsley. Duplicate of July 25, 1728. q.v. Endorsed, Recd. 13th Feb., 1728/9. 6½ pp.
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598. ii. Copy of Governor Worsley's letter to D. of N. 13th Sept., 1728. Endorsed as preceding. 21¾ pp. [C. O. 28, 20. ff. 78, 79v.–94v., 96v.] |
Feb. 14.
Whitehall. |
599. Mr. Popple to Mr. Fane. Encloses, for his opinion in point of law, a parcel of 14 acts of the Massachusets Bay passed in 1728. [C. O. 5, 916. pp. 178–181.] |
Feb. 14.
Whitehall. |
600. Council of Trade and Plantations to the King. Submit for confirmation act of Virginia to enable William and Thomas Farrer etc. [C. O. 5, 1366. pp. 13, 14.] |
Feb. 15.
Jamaica. |
601. Governor Hunter to Mr. Stanyan. Repeats gist of part of letter to Mr. Popple, Feb. 10, adding :—All our advices from Cuba say the Spaniards are very busy in repairing their fortifycations and making other warlike preparations. I cannot learn that they have any great strength of ships of war in these parts. They have only two one of seventy and the other of sixty guns on the coast of Cartagena and Portobell, and two at La Vera Cruz and the Havanna, one of sixty and the other of fifty guns and some small craft; this is the best information I can get etc. Signed, Ro. Hunter. Endorsed, Rd. May 3rd. 2 pp. [C. O. 137, 53. ff. 122, 122v., 123v.] |
Feb. 15.
Whitehall. |
602. Corrected drafts of letter from the Duke of Newcastle to Governor Hunter, sent 17th Feb. (q.v.). In these drafts the reinforcements are mentioned, vizt. 8 large men of war and 2000 land forces. 9 pp. [C. O. 137, 47. Nos. 3–5.] |
| Feb. 16. |
603. Thomas Lowndes to Mr. Popple. Hearing that the Lords Commissioners for Trade, are teazed by Pretenders to merit in bringing about the purchase of Carolina, I transmit a copy of the reasons which last year I drew, and which were approved of by the Speaker of the House of Commons and 16 other Members, when the demand was made for the purchase money in Parliament. The proposal of attacking Fort Augustine and obstructing from Port Royal in South Carolina the Spanish navigation was first made by me, to a person of great figure in the administration, in May next will be three years and was then liked. What service I have since done in obviating any difficulty that might happen, and in removing obstructions that arose whilst the bargain for Carolina was negociating a noble Lord of your board etc. will I doubt not readily vouch for. And I have ample testimony of the pains I have since taken to keep matters between the Crown and the Proprietors from being inflamed. Col. Lilly was too candid a gentleman not to own publickly the assistance I gave him in drawing his map of Carolina ; I having the most authentic manuscript map of that country and of Port Royal in particular. For as for poor Governour Rogers his is only an unnatural fiction, for there can be no such place as he represents Port Royal to be ; till the nature of water is altered and the globe new moulded. Encloses copy of letter from Govr. Craven, a gentleman of known honour etc. Continues :—It is my humble opinion that the Spaniards make their clamorous memns. about the little Fort upon Allatamaha River to conceal their intentions of getting from us by Treaty the territory we have upon the Gulf of Mexico. For the Bay of Apalachia is most certainly ours. And it is highly probable there is a good harbour, either at the entrance of the River de Guitare, or the River Flint. And the country is esteemed very fertile and the Indians that did inhabit it are either chased away or killed. Of what use it may be to the Spanish Nation to have such a concession or of what prejudice to us to grant it, the Lords Commrs. for Trade are the best judges. P.S.—There is I hear a great disposition in the richer Palatins and Germans about Leige to go to South Carolina. So a good revenue may be made immediately to the King by quitt-rents. Signed, Tho. Lowndes. Endorsed, Recd. 16th Feb., Read 16th July, 1729. 1¾ pp. Enclosed,
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603. i. Governor Craven to Tho. Lowndes, May 4, 1726. There is water enough at Port Royal for any ships to come over the barr etc. It may be very easily fortifyed at a small expence to secure the trade from any damage from enemys. The timber near it is as good as in any part of the Continent, the land very fertile and proper for flax, hemp or grain, and great plenty of good cattle and fish etc. Signed, Cha. Craven. Endorsed, Recd. 16th Feb., 1728/9. Copy. 1 p.
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603. ii. Some reasons to shew the absolute necessity for the Crown's buying the propriety of the Carolinas as also the advantagiousness of that purchase to the Publick. v. covering letter. Signed, Tho. Lowndes. 3 pp. [C. O. 5, 361. ff. 1, 1v., 2v., 3, 4v.–6v.]
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Feb. 17.
Whitehall. |
604. Duke of Newcastle to Governor Hunter. Sir, His Majesty etc., hath fresh intelligence that the Court of Spain have a design, as soon as the galleons are arrived at Cadiz, where they may probably be by this time, to make an attempt upon Jamaica with a strong squadron, on board which are to be some land forces, and a considerable number of Militia from the island of Cuba ; that the Spanish men of war in the several ports of Galicia and Biscay were to sail from thence to Cadiz, to joyn those now in that port, which are designed for that expedition, and that it is said the descent is to be made upon the northern coast of Jamaica, which they look upon to be the weakest part of the island. Your Excy. will therefore in concert with Commadore St. Lo, to whom I also write by the King's order, take the necessary measures for the defence of a Colony of so great importance to the Trade and Navigation of H.M. Dominions. And it is H.M. pleasure that you should take great care to give as little alarm as possible, and particularly that the Spaniards may not take a pretence from anything you shall do, to detain the ships of the South Sea Company, or seize any of the effects of H.M. subjects in the West Indies. As the force your Excy. has, may not, in H.M.'s opinion be sufficient for yor. defence, the King is considering what further reinforcement it may be proper to send you, but of this you will take no notice to anybody but Commadore St. Lo (v. Feb. 15). The King has that confidence in yor. Excy's skill and abilities, as well as in your zeal for his service, that H.M. is persuaded you will omit nothing that you shall judge to be necessary for the security of the Island under your Government. Signed, Holles Newcastle. 2? pp. [C. O. 137, 47. No.2; and 137, 53. ff. 124, 124v.] |
Feb. 17.
Jamaica. |
605. Governor Hunter to the Duke of Newcastle. I wrote to Mr. Stanyan two days ago etc. This morning I recieved advice that two ships of forty guns were arrived at the Havanna from Old Spain loaded with iron work and other utensils for the building ships, which they are doing at the Havanna and Campechea, and that they talk much of warr in those parts ; The Spaniards are building a strong fort of forty guns at the river Chragra fourteen leagues to the leeward of Portobell and are repairing their fortifycations on that coast. Old Admiral Conejo on board the Catalan of sixty guns and another ship of that bigness were upon the coast of Portobell and had taken a Dutch ship and an English vessel as prize etc. Signed, Ro. Hunter. Endorsed, Rd. May 3. 1 p. [C. O. 137, 53. ff. 126, 127v.] |
Feb. 18.
Whitehall. |
606. Mr. Popple to Mr. Fane. Encloses, for his opinion in point of law on Friday morning next, two acts of Virginia passed 1705, (i) declaring how long judgments, bonds etc., shall be in force ; and (ii) for limitation of actions, etc. " which are in the printed volume of Virginia laws." [C. O. 5, 1366. pp. 14, 15.] |
| [Feb. 20.] |
607. Thomas Truman to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Petitioner having received a memorial of loss and damage (£734 11s. sterl.) sustained by Alexandra Woodrop of Philadelphia by the capture of the brigantine Two Friends, June, 1720, by a Spanish privateer, in her voyage from St. Christopher to Philadelphia, prays the Board to lay the case before H.M., in order to obtain satisfaction from the King of Spain etc. Endorsed, Recd., Read 20th Feb., 1728/9. 1 p. Enclosed,
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607. i. Invoice of above goods etc. 1 p.
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607. ii. Deposition of Alexandra Woodrop, late of St. Christophers but now of Philadelphia, relating to above etc. 1 p. [C. O. 388, 28. t. 62.] |
Feb. 25
Whitehall. |
608. Council of Trade and Plantations to the Lords Com- missioners of the Treasury. Enclose letter shewing that there is due to the Postman for letters deliver'd to this office from Christmas 1726 to 10th June 1727 £39 13s. 11d. We have likewise been apply'd to by the widow of Samuel Clarke, late our Doorkeeper, who us'd to disburse the money for our incidental services (and who has left his wife and several children unprovided for) for the payment of the annex'd account of money laid out by him etc. amounting to £231 18s. 4 ½d. These two cases being very singular and deserving compassion, we cou'd not avoid laying them before your Lordps., having no fund for the payment of them, and not thinking ourselves authoriz'd to charge them even to our future incidents without your directions etc. Upon Mr. Clarke's decease, according to your Lordships' desire (15th July, 1724), we have sank the employment which he possess'd, and shall apply his salary to the payment of our Porter, whereby the incidents of our office will for the future be eas'd of that annual charge. [C. O. 389, 37. pp. 298, 299.] |
Feb. 25.
Whitehall. |
609. Mr. Popple to Mr. Attorney and Mr. Solicitor General. Encloses, for their opinion in point of law as soon as possibly may be, Acts of Jamaica passed in 1728, (i) for granting a revenue to H.M. etc., for the support of the Government, and for reviving and perpetuating the Acts etc., and (ii) to oblige the inhabitants to provide themselves with a sufficient number of white people. Encloses for their better information, the draught of a bill for raising a revenue formerly prepared here to be passed into a law in Jamaica, and a copy of the Instruction given to Governor Hunter for his direction in that matter. [C. O. 138, 17. pp. 260, 261.] |
| Feb. 28. |
610. Order of the House of Commons, that the Com- missioners for Trade and Plantations do lay before this House, the complaints of several merchants touching their losses sustained in the West Indies, in order to be laid before the Congress at Soissons. Signed, E. Stables, Cl. Dom. Com. Endorsed, Recd. 1st, Read 4th March, 1728/29 ½ p. [C. O. 388, 28. t. 63.] |
Feb. 28.
Virginia,
Wmsburgh. |
611. Lt. Gov. Gooch to the Duke of Newcastle. Supports address against prohibition of stripped tobacco. v. No. 641, i. Signed, William Gooch. Endorsed, R. May 19th. 3 large pp. Torn. [C. O. 5, 1337. ff. 130–131v.] |
| Feb. 28. |
612. Mr. Fane to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Has no objection to 2 acts of Nevis and 3 of St. Kitts, 1728. (v. No. 598.) Signed, Fran. Fane. Endorsed, Recd. 28th Feb., Read 21st March, 1729. 2 pp. [C. O. 152, 17. ff. 3, 3v, 4v.] |
