Journal, June 1754: Volume 61, Part 2

Journal, June 1754

Wednesday, June 12. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Edgcumbe.

North Carolina.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the draughts of general instructions and of those which relate to the Acts of Trade for Mr. Dobbs, Governor of North Carolina, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of the 24th of May, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Barbados.

Read and Order of Council approving a representation of this Board, proposing Nathanial Weekes, Esquire, to be of the Council of Barbados in the room of John Gollop, Esquire, deceased, and directing the Board to prepare a warrant accordingly.

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

Massachusets.

Read the following letters and papers received from Mr. Shirley, Governor of the Massachusets Bay, viz.:—
Letter from Mr. Shirley to the Board, dated 19th April, 1754, giving a particular account of the tract of land to the westward of Kennebeck River whereon the French have made a settlement.
Copy of Governor Shirley's speech to the Council and House of Representatives of the Massachusets Bay, March 28th, 1754.
Copy of a message from the Council and Representatives of the province of the Massachusets Bay to Governor Shirley in answer to his two speeches.
Extracts from the Letters Patent and citations within referred
to.
Copy of Governor Shirley's speech to the Council and House of Representatives in the province of the Massachusets Bay, April 2nd, 1754.
Copy of the report of a committee of the General Assembly of the province of the Massachusets Bay respecting the revisal of the laws.
Letter from Mr. Shirley to the Board, dated 1st May, 1754, inclosing the two following papers, viz.:—
Abstract of the expeditions and discoveries made by the French to the westward and southward of the Apalachian Mountains in North America, from Father Charlevoix's History of New France.
Extract of a treaty held at Lancaster in Pennsylvania in 1744 with the Indians of the Six Nations.

The Secretary acquainted the Board that his Majesty's Secretary of State had received a like letter from Mr. Shirley and also all the above mentioned papers.

New York.

Read the following letters and papers received from Mr. De Lancey, Lieutenant-Governor of New York, viz.:—
Letter from Mr. De Lancey to the Board, dated the 22nd of April, 1754, relating to Indian affairs and inclosing:—
His speech to the Council and General Assembly of New York, the 9th April, 1754, with the address of the Council of that province.
The Assembly's address to the Lieutenant-Governor of New York, the 12th April, 1754, with his answer.
Copy of the examination of Stephen Coffin touching the proceedings of the French on the River Ohio, dated the 10th of January, 1754.
Extract of a letter from the officer with intelligence of the forces the French propose to send to the Ohio this year, dated at Oswego, the 27th March, 1754.

The Secretary acquainted their lordships that all the papers transmitted with Mr. Delancey's letter, had been likewise transmitted to the Secretary of State.

Read a letter from Mr. De Lancey, Lieutenant-Governor of New York, to Mr. Pownall, dated the 22nd of April, in answer to one from him of the 7th of March.

Thursday, June 13. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Edgcumbe.

North Carolina.

Read a letter from Matthew Rowan, Esquire, President of the Council and Commander in Chief of North Carolina, to the Board, dated March 19th, 1754, relative to the encroachments of the French on the River Ohio.

Ordered that a copy be made of the foregoing letter to be laid before his Majesty and that the draught of a letter to Sir Thomas Robinson inclosing it be prepared.

South Carolina.

Read a memorial of Charles Pinckney, Esquire, one of his Majesty's Council in the province of South Carolina, dated the 1st instant, relating to the designs of the French to build a fort in the Upper Cherokee Nation of Indians.

Barbados.

Read a letter from Mr. Weekes, President of the Council and Commander in Chief at Barbados, to the Board, dated 10th April, 1754, inclosing:—
His letter to Monsieur Bompar, Governor of Martinique, dated 18th March, 1754.

Ordered that a copy be made of Mr. Weekes's letter to the Governor of Martinique to be laid before his Majesty and that the draught of a letter to Sir Thomas Robinson inclosing it be prepared.

Read the following letters from several of his Majesty's Councillors in the Plantations residing here, viz.:—
South Carolina.
Letter from Charles Pinckney, Esquire, dated the 29th of May, 1754, in answer to one from Mr. Pownall relating to his return to that province.
Letter from Edmund Atkin, Esquire, dated 8th June, 1754, in answer to one from Mr. Pownall relating to his return to that province.
Letter from William Middleton, Esquire, dated the 1st June, 1754, in answer to one from Mr. Pownall relating to his return to that province.
Letter from Edward Fenwicke, Esquire, dated the 3rd June, 1754, in answer to one from Mr. Pownall relating to his return to that province.
Letter from Colonel Vanderdussen, dated the 3rd of June, 1754, in answer to one from Mr. Pownall relating to his return to that province.
Barbados.
Letter from Richard Salter, Esquire, dated 1st June, 1754, in answer to one from Mr. Pownall relating to his return to that Island.
Letter from Abel Dottin, Esquire, dated 4th June, 1754, in answer to one from Mr. Pownall relating to his return to that Island.

South Carolina.

Their lordships took into consideration the draught of a representation upon nine Acts passed in South Carolina, prepared pursuant to the minutes of the 28th of May last, and ordered the Secretary to write to the agent to desire his attendance at the Board to-morrow morning.

New Hampshire.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon a private Act, passed in New Hampshire in 1742, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of the 28th of last month, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Virginia.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon an Act passed in Virginia in 1752, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of the 28th of May, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

New Jersey.

Ordered that the further consideration of two Acts passed in New Jersey in 1747 and 1752, mentioned in the minutes of the 28th of May, be postponed.

Friday, June 14. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Edgcumbe.

South Carolina.

Their lordships took into consideration Mr. Pinckney's memorial relative to the necessity of building a fort in the Cherokee country, mentioned in yesterday's minutes, and Mr. Pinckney attending as desired was called in, and their lordships having heard what he had to offer upon it he withdrew, and the draught of a letter to Sir Thomas Robinson thereupon was ordered to be prepared.

The Secretary having acquainted the Board that Mr. Crokatt, agent for South Carolina, had desired him to move their lordships that the consideration of the Acts passed in that province upon which he was desired to attend this day, might be postponed to some other day, their lordships appointed Wednesday, the 26th instant, for that purpose, and the Secretary was directed to desire Mr. Crokatt's attendance on that day.

North Carolina.

The draught of a letter to Sir Thomas Robinson inclosing the copy of one from Mr. Rowan, President of the Council of North Carolina, having been prepared pursuant to the preceding day's minutes was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Barbados.

The draught of a letter to Sir Thomas Robinson inclosing the copy of one from Mr. Weekes, President of the Council of Barbados, to Monsieur Bompar, Governor of Martinique, having been prepared pursuant to the preceding minute was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

North Carolina.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the draught of general instructions and of those which relate to the Acts of Trade for Mr. Dobbs, Governor of North Carolina, having been transcribed pursuant to the minute of Wednesday last, was signed.

Tuesday, June 18. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Edgcumbe.

The following representations to his Majesty were agreed to and signed, viz.:—
Leeward Islands.
Representation proposing that Harry Webb, Esquire, may be appointed Attorney General of the Leeward Islands in the room of Ashton Warner, Esquire, deceased.
Nevis.
Representation proposing that Joseph Herbert, Esquire, may be appointed Chief Justice of Nevis in the room of John Dasent, Esquire, deceased.
North Carolina.
Representation proposing that Henry McCulloch, Esquire, may be appointed Secretary of North Carolina in the room of Nathaniel Rice, Esquire.
Nova Scotia.
Representation proposing that Colonel Lawrence, President of the Council of Nova Scotia, may be appointed Lieutenant Governor with the salary allowed to the Commander in Chief.
Representation proposing that Jonathan Belcher, Esquire, (fn. 1) may be appointed Chief Justice of Nova Scotia.

South Carolina.

Ordered that the draught of a letter to Sir Thomas Robinson be prepared proposing that Mr. Dougal Campbell may be appointed Clerk of the Crown and of the Common Pleas in South Carolina in the room of James Wedderburn, deceased.

Antigua.

The Secretary laid before the Board a letter he had received from Mr. Eyre, sollicitor, in behalf of Mr. Payne of Antigua, desiring that he may be permitted to withdraw his petition praying that the representation upon the Act of Antigua relative to a private agreement between the said Payne and others may be suspended.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty proposing the confirmation of the said Act, having been prepared, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Jamaica.

Read a letter from Mr. Knowles, Governor of Jamaica, to the Board, dated the 10th April, 1754, inclosing:—
The proceedings of the Grand Court of that Island for February, 1754, The King against John Morse, Esquire.

Ordered that a copy of the said letter and paper be sent to the Attorney General (to whom Mr. Knowles's former letter upon this subject was referred) and that the Secretary do desire his opinion thereupon as soon as possible.

Plantations General.

Read a letter from Sir Thomas Robinson, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, directing the Board to prepare and lay before his Majesty a plan of general concert to be entered into by the American colonies for their mutual defence.

Ordered that the said letter be taken into consideration on Friday next.

Wednesday, June 19. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Edgcumbe.

Georgia.

Read a memorial of Mr. Martyn, agent for Georgia, praying that presents may be sent to the Indians in amity with the colony of Georgia, and inclosing:—
Extracts of letters from Mr. Habersham and the President and Assistants in Georgia to Mr. Martyn, dated June and July, 1752.

Ordered that the draught of a representation to his Majesty thereupon be prepared.

Their lordships took into further consideration the draught of general instructions prepared for a Governor of Georgia and made some progress therein.

South Carolina.

The draught of a letter to Sir Thomas Robinson, proposing that Mr. Dougal Campbell be appointed Clerk of the Crown and Common Pleas in South Carolina, having been prepared pursuant to the preceding minutes, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

The draught of a letter to Sir Thomas Robinson, upon the memorial of Mr. Pinckney relative to the building a fort in the Cherokee country, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of Friday last, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Thursday, June 20. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Edgcumbe.

Virginia.

Their lordships took into consideration an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council referring a petition of the merchants of Bristol and Liverpool trading to Virginia praying the repeal of a clause in an Act, passed there in 1749, for declaring the law concerning executions, etc.; and several merchants and others trading to and interested in this colony attending with Mr. Joshua Sharpe, their sollicitor, they were called in and their lordships having heard what they had to offer they withdrew, and the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council thereupon was ordered to be prepared.

Mr. Randolph, late Attorney General of Virginia. attending without, was called in, and the Earl of Halifax acquainted him that his Majesty having been informed that he had come over here from Virginia without the Governor's leave, contrary to the tenor of his patent, by which he was appointed Attorney General only during his residence in that colony, and being apprehensive that such a precedent might be attended with very bad consequences to his service, had thought proper to direct that it should be signified to him, that his Majesty does consider his office as vacated by such proceeding; whereupon Mr. Randolph said he hoped that if the nature of his case would admit of it, his conduct since he has been here would recommend him to his Majesty's favour, and then he withdrew.

Georgia.

Their lordships took into further consideration the draught of general instructions prepared for a governor of Georgia, and also a draught of instructions relative to the Acts of Trade, and the said draughts having been agreed to, were ordered to be transcribed.

South Carolina.

The draught of a letter to Sir Thomas Robinson, upon Mr. Pinckney's memorial relative to the necessity of building a fort in the Cherokee Country, having been transcribed pursuant to the minutes of the 19th instant, was signed.

Virginia.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council, upon the petition of the House of Burgesses of Virginia relative to the indulgence which they pray may be granted to persons who settle to the westward of the Mountains, having been transcribed pursuant to the minutes of the 30th of May, was signed.

Friday, June 21. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Edgcumbe.

Plantations General.

Their lordships took into consideration the letter from Sir Thomas Robinson, directing the Board to prepare a plan for a general union of the colonies for their mutual defence, mentioned in the minutes of Tuesday last, and ordered the draught of a letter to Sir Thomas Robinson to be prepared, acquainting him that they should enter into and proceed in the consideration of this affair with all the dispatch that the nature and importance of it would admit of.

Read the following Orders in Council, viz.:—
Georgia.
Order of Council, dated the 21st instant, approving the draught of a Seal prepared by this Board for his Majesty's colony of Georgia in America, and directing this Board to prepare a warrant for his Majesty's signature, to his chief Engraver of Seals, and to lay the same before his Majesty.
Nova Scotia.
Order of Council, dated the 21st instant, approving a representation of this Board proposing that Jonathan Belcher, Esquire, may be appointed Chief Justice of his Majesty's province of Nova Scotia and directing this Board to cause a warrant to be prepared for that purpose.
Leeward Islands.
Order of Council, dated the 21st instant, approving a representation of this Board proposing that Harry Webb, Esquire, may be appointed Attorney General of the Leeward Islands and directing this Board to cause a warrant to be prepared for that purpose.
North Carolina.
Order of Council, dated the 21st instant, approving a representation of this Board proposing that Henry McCulloch, Esquire, may be appointed Secretary of the province of North Carolina in the room of Nathaniel Rice, Esquire, deceased, and directing this Board to cause a warrant to be prepared for that purpose.
Nevis.
Order of Council, dated the 21st instant, approving a representation of this Board proposing that Joseph Herbert, Esquire, may be appointed Chief Justice of his Majesty's Island of Nevis, and directing this Board to cause a warrant to be prepared for that purpose.

The draughts of warrants having been accordingly prepared were agreed to, and representations to his Majesty thereupon were signed.

Tuesday, June 25. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Oswald.

New York.

Read the following letters and papers received from Mr. Delancey, Lieutenant Governor of New York, viz.:—
Letter from Mr. De Lancey, dated 21st May, 1754, to the Board, relative to the proceedings of the French on the Ohio, and to the boundary line between that province and New Jersey, and inclosing:—
Major Washington's letter to Governor Hamilton, advising him that the French had taken and drove the English from a small fort on the Ohio.
Copy of a speech from the Half King to the Governors of Virginia and Pennsylvania, desiring the English to join them against the French on the Ohio.
Copy of summons from the commander of the French troops on la Belle Riviere to the commander of the British troops at the mouth of Mohongialo.
Copy of a report of a Committee of the Council on the disturbances between the people living on the borders of New York and New Jersey governments and the opinion of the Committee for establishing the partition line between the two provinces.
Copy of Mr. Alexander's reasons for his dissent to the report of the Committee of Council of New York, dated 1st March, 1754, proposing a partition line between New York and New Jersey.
Copy of sundry points upon which the Proprietors of East Jersey desire to confer with the Governor of New York.
Copy of Mr. Kcith's map of East and West Jersey.
Printed votes and proceedings of the General Assembly of New York from the 9th April to the 4th of May, 1754.

Ordered that an extract be made of so much of Mr. De Lancey's letter as relates to the proceedings of the French upon the Ohio, and also copies of the papers therein referred to, to be laid before his Majesty, and the draught of a letter to Sir Thomas Robinson, inclosing the said extract and copies, having been prepared, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

South Carolina.

Read a letter from Sir Thomas Robinson to the Board, dated the 24th inst., signifying his Majesty's approbation of Dougal Campbell, Esquire, to be Clerk of the Crown and Common Pleas in South Carolina in the room of George Wedderburn, deceased.

The draught of a warrant having been accordingly prepared, was agreed to, and a letter to Sir Thomas Robinson inclosing the same was signed.

Virginia.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon the petition of the Ohio Company praying an enlargement of their grant, having been transcribed pursuant to the minutes of the 31st of May, was signed.

Pennsylvania.

Read an Order of Council, dated the 21st instant, approving of Robert Hunter Morris, Esquire, to be Deputy or Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, upon giving security for his observing the Acts of Trade; and directing this Board to lay before his Majesty a draught of such instructions as have been usually given to the said Proprietaries on the like occasions.

The Secretary laid before the Board:—
Proposal of Robert Hunter Morris, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, that Messrs. David and John Barclay be securities for his observance of the Acts of Trade.
Declaration of Thomas and Richard Penn, Esquires, Proprietaries, relative to his Majesty's right to the three counties of Newcastle, Kent and Sussex on Delaware River.

Ordered that the Secretary do transmit the draught of a proper bond filled up with the names of the two persons proposed by Mr. Morris to be securities for his observance of the laws of trade to the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, that their Lordships may give the necessary directions that the proper security be taken in his Majesty's Exchequer.

Wednesday, June 26. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Edgcumbe.

Nova Scotia.

The Secretary laid before the Board a memorial prepared by Mr. Kilby, agent for Nova Scotia, to be presented to the Lords of the Treasury, praying that the sum of three thousand, nine hundred and fifty five pounds may be issued to him for the service of that colony, and their lordships approved thereof, and directed Mr. Kilby to present it to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury for their Lordships' directions upon it.

South Carolina.

Their lordships took into consideration the draught of a representation to his Majesty upon nine Acts passed in South Carolina in the years 1738, 1740, 1744, 1750, 1751 and 1752, prepared pursuant to their minutes of the 28th of May, and Mr. Crokatt, agent for the province, attending was called in, and their lordships after hearing what he had to offer upon the said Acts, agreed that the Act for laying buoys and erecting beacons, etc., near the bar of the harbour of George Town, Wingaw, etc., should lye by for further consideration, and the draught of the representation upon the other eight Acts was ordered to be transcribed.

Georgia.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon Mr. Martyn's memorial relative to the necessity of presents for the Indians bordering upon Georgia, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of the 19th instant, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Virginia.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon the memorial of the merchants, relative to a clause in an Act of Virginia for declaring the law concerning executions, etc., having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of the 20th instant, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Jamaica.

Read the following letters from Mr. Knowles, Governor of Jamaica, viz.:—
Letter from Mr. Knowles, Governor of Jamaica, to the Board, dated the 12th March, 1754, giving account of an insurrection of the wild negroes in Crawford Town in February last.
Letter from Mr. Knowles, Governor of Jamaica, to the Board, dated the 18th April, 1754, relative to the conduct of Mr. Fuller upon the proceedings against Mr. Morse and desiring directions thereupon.

Ordered that a copy of Mr. Knowles's letter relating to the insurrection in the Negro Town be made, to be laid before his Majesty, and that the draught of a letter to Sir Thomas Robinson inclosing it be prepared.

Ordered that the Secretary do transmit a copy of the said letter to his Majesty's Secretary at War.

Read a report of the Attorney General, dated the … instant, upon the proceedings against Mr. Morse, one of the assistant judges of the Island of Jamaica.

Trade.

Africa.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following paper received from the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, viz.:—
Copies of sundry letters from Thomas Melvil, Esquire, Governor of Cape Coast Castle, Christopher Whytell, Esquire, Governor, and John Apperley, Esquire, Chief Engineer of Annamaboe, and the Council at James Fort to the Committee of the Company of Merchants.

Thursday, June 27. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Edgcumbe.

Jamaica.

Their lordships took into consideration the several letters and papers received from Mr. Knowles, Governor of Jamaica, since the Board's last letter to him.

Ordered that the Secretary do transmit a copy of Mr. Knowles's letter, dated the 9th of November, 1753, relative to the discovery made of Mr. Hume, the Deputy Receiver General, having embezzled twenty thousand pounds of the publick, as also copies of the papers inclosed in the said letter to the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, for their Lordships' directions upon this affair.

South Carolina.

Their lordships being informed that Mr. Pinckney, one of the Council of South Carolina, attended without, he was called in, and presented to the Board the following paper, which was read, viz.:—
A further representation of Mr. Pinckney relating to the designs of the French to build a fort in the Upper Cherokee Nation of Indians.

Mr. Pinckney being withdrawn their lordships agreed to take the said representation into consideration the first opportunity.

Virginia.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following paper received from Mr. Randolph, one of the Assembly of Virginia, viz.:—
The address of the burgesses of Virginia to his Majesty, 1754.

Ordered that the draught of a letter to Sir Thomas Robinson, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, be prepared inclosing the said address, and desiring he would lay it before his Majesty.

Georgia.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon Mr. Martyn's memorial relative to presents for the Indians bordering upon Georgia, having been transcribed pursuant to the preceding minutes, was signed.

Virginia.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon the petition of Virginia merchants, relative to a clause in an Act of Virginia, having been transcribed pursuant to the preceding minutes, was signed.