Journal, February 1778: Volume 85

Journal, February 1778

fo. 32.

Tuesday, February 3rd. Present:—Mr. Jenyns. Mr. Gascoyne, Lord Robert Spencer, Mr. Jolliffe, Mr. Greville, Mr. Eden, Mr. de Grey.

Lord George Germain, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, attends.

Trade.

The draughts of three reports to the Lords of the Privy Council, upon the petitions of Robert Hunter. Richard Morland and Messieurs de Gruchy and Fiott, having been prepared pursuant to order by the minute of the 27th of last month, were approved, transcribed and signed.

fo. 33.

Read an order of the Lords of the Privy Council dated January 28th, 1778, referring to this Board the petition of Isaac Bernal, junior, praying leave to export to Jamaica, on board the ship Lady Juliana, sundry military stores therein specified, for trade on the Mosquito shore.

Their lordships, on consideration of the foregoing petition, were of opinion, that the exportation prayed for should be allowed; and the draught of a report to the Lords of the Privy Council thereupon, having been prepared, was approved, transcribed and signed.

Read an order of the Lords of the Privy Council dated February 2nd, 1778, referring the petition of James Phyn, praying leave to export to the Province of Quebec for trade, sundry military stores therein specified, on board the ships Detroit and Dalling.

Their lordships, upon consideration of the above petition, were of opinion, that the exportation prayed for should be allowed; and the draught of a report to the Lords of the Privy Council thereupon was ordered to be prepared.

fo. 34.

Jamaica.

Their lordships took into their consideration two Acts passed in the Island of Jamaica in December 1776, together with Mr. Jackson's report thereupon; and the Secretary was directed to acquaint Mr. Fuller, agent for the said Island, that the Board, having under consideration the Act respecting Hope Plantation Water, they wish to know if Mr. Fuller has anything to suggest to them relative to the said Act.

Leeward Islands.

Read a letter from Mr. Knox to Mr. Cumberland, dated January 22nd, 1778, transmitting,
Extract of a letter from William Mathew Burt, esquire, Governor of the Leeward Islands, to Lord George Germain, dated Antigua, November 1st, 1777, recommending an alteration in the Constitution of the Government of the Virgin Islands.

Ordered that John Pownall, esquire, agent for the Virgin Islands, be desired to attend the Board on Tuesday next at twelve o'clock.

Senegambia.

fo. 35.

Their lordships, having taken into their consideration the complaints contained in the memorial of the Merchants and Adventurers of London trading to Senegal against Lieutenant Governor McNamara, upon which Counsel were heard on the 16th and 21st of January last, it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty thereupon should be prepared.

fo. 36.

Read a memorial of the Merchants and Adventurers of London trading to Senegal, stating many objections to an Ordiance passed by the Governor and Council of the Province of Senegambia on the 30th of July, 1777, to prevent the sale and delivery of Negroes exported from the said Province etc.; and also an Ordinance passed in July by the said Governor and Council, whereby all vessels going up the River Senegal from Fort Lewis to Galam, are, under certain penalties, to enter their goods at the Custom-house at Fort Lewis etc.; and praying, that the Board will be pleased to move his Majesty for the immediate disallowance of the said Ordinances.

fo. 37.

Their lordships, having considered the memorial beforementioned, together with the Ordinance to prevent the sale and delivery of Negroes, etc. mentioned in the said memorial, and in the minutes of the 9th of December, and 6th of January last, were of opinion, that it was proper the said Ordinance should be recommended to his Majesty for his Royal disallowance; and the draught of a representation thereupon, having been prepared, was approved, transcribed and signed: that with respect to the Ordinance also complained of by the Merchants, whereby vessels going from Fort Lewis to Galam, etc., it appearing by the minutes of the Council for the Province of Senegambia to be only a temporary order, necessary for the information of the Governor and Council, before any effectual regulation can be made in the Galam trade, it was ordered, that the draught of a letter to Governor Clark be prepared, stating the objections set forth by the memorialist against the said order, and directing him to give the Board every necessary information relative to the same.

Ordered, that Mr. Dowding, agent to the memorialists, be acquainted with the steps which have been taken by the Board, respecting the two Ordinances of which they complain.

Trade.

Mr. Berkenhout, whose memorial respecting a discovery for dyeing cotton in grain is mentioned in the minutes of the 27th of May and 3rd of June, attended, and exhibited before the Board several specimens of grain colours dyed upon the Manchester Cotton Velvets.

fo. 38.

Tuesday, February 10th. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Jolliffe, Mr. Greville, Mr. Eden, Mr. de Grey.

Lord George Germain, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, attends.

Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands.

fo. 39.

Their lordships resumed the consideration of Governor Burt's letter of November 1st, mentioned in the last minutes, relative to a plan for altering the Constitution of the Virgin Islands; and Mr. Pownall, agent for the said Islands, attending pursuant to order, was called in and acquainted by the Board with the purport of the said letter, upon which Mr. Pownall, after some conversation, replied that having received no instructions from his constituents upon the subject contained in the said letter, he had at present nothing to offer to the Board thereupon. Mr. Pownall being withdrawn, it was ordered, that the draught of a letter to Governor Burt, upon the subject of his letter before mentioned, should be prepared.

Jamaica.

Read a memorial of Stephen Fuller, esquire, agent for the Island of Jamaica, setting forth, that he had been informed by order of their Lordships that an Act passed in the said Island in December 1776, respecting Hope Plantation Water was now under their consideration; and praying that the Board will suspend further proceedings on the said Act, which is of the highest consequence to the inhabitants of the town of Kingston, until he can receive the instructions of his constituents concerning the same; and also that he may have copies of Mr. Jackson's report upon the said Act, and of any memorial which may have been presented against it.

fo. 40.

Resolved, that this Board will suspend any further proceedings on the Act before mentioned, until Mr. Fuller shall receive instructions from his constituents thereupon.

Ordered, that copies of such papers as Mr. Fuller shall require relative to the said Act, be prepared for him.

fo. 41.

Read a memorial of Stephen Fuller, esquire, agent for the Island of Jamaica, stating many observations relative to the duties on slaves in that Island, particularly, the "Extract of a letter from the Committee of Correspondence, dated May 5th, 1777, so far as the said letter relates to the determination of this Board, on their recommending the disallowance of the additional duty Bill of the year 1774; the minute of the Assembly of the Island of "Jamaica of the 19th of December, 1775, on the same subject; and an Account of Negroes imported from Africa into the said Island and duty on them, and exported thence and drawback on them yearly from the 22nd of September, 1702, to 1775," and praying their lordships that this paper may be placed amongst the Records in their office.

Barbados.

Grenada.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared, proposing that Joseph Keeling, esquire, may be appointed of the Council for the Island of Barbados, in the room of Gedney Clark, esquire, deceased: also that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared, proposing that James Campbell, esquire, may be appointed of the Council for the Island of Grenada, the latter of which draughts, having been prepared accordingly, was approved, transcribed and signed.

Plantations General.

fo. 42.

The Secretary acquainted the Board that he had received a message from Lord North, desiring copies of the estimates of the expence of the civil establishments of Nova Scotia, Georgia, East and West Florida, Saint John's, and Senegambia, may be prepared and transmitted to him.

Resolved, that the Board will, at their next meeting, take the several estimates abovementioned into their consideration.

Nova Scotia.

fo. 43.

Their lordships resumed the consideration of Sir Herbert Mackworth, Baronet, and his associates, praying for a grant of the Isle Madame or Richmond Island, mentioned in the minutes of the 16th of December and 6th of January last; and the Secretary having reported to the Board, that pursuant to order, he had conversed with the Governor of Nova Scotia upon the subject of the said grant, and that he had nothing in particular to offer to the Board against it, their lordships agreed to take up the further consideration of the said memorial on some future day.

Africa.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following papers received from the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, viz:—
Copies of letters from Richard Miles, esquire, Governor of Cape Coast Castle, to the Committee, dated June 7th. July 10th, and August 10th, 1777.
Copy of a letter from the Committee to the Governor and Council of Cape Coast Castle, dated January 23rd, 1778.
Copy of a memorial of the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, to the Honourable the House of Commons.

fo. 44.

Ordered, that extracts be made of such parts of the letters from Governor Miles, as relate to French vessels trading on the coast of Africa, and that they be transmitted to Lord George Germain, to be by his Lordship communicated to the Lords of the Admiralty for their information; and that the Secretary do require from the African Committee a copy of a letter from Mr. Westgate, mentioned in the aforesaid letter from the Committee, containing several charges against the Governor of Cape Coast Castle.

Senegambia.

Their Lordships read and considered the draught of a representation to his Majesty upon the complaints against Lieutenant Governor McNamara, prepared pursuant to order; and having made some progress therein, deferred the further consideration of it till some future day.

fo. 45.

Read a letter from Mr. Robinson, Secretary to the Lords of the Treasury, to Mr. Cumberland, dated February 7th, 1778, acquainting him for the information of the Board, that the Lords of the Treasury, having under their consideration several complaints against Lieutenant Governor McNamara, exhibited by Mr. Browne on behalf of Samuel Smith, esquire, Contractor for victualling the troops in the Province of Senegambia, and the Lords of the Treasury having been informed, that this Board have made enquiry into the conduct of the said Lieutenant Governor, and heard evidence thereon, they desire that the Lords of Trade will inform them what evidence appeared before their Board, respecting the deficiency of victualling stores, and Mr. McNamara's reply thereto.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to Mr. Robinson, and transmit to him, for the information of the Lords of the Treasury, such parts of the evidence taken on the complaints against Mr. McNamara, as are required in the above letter.

fo. 46.

Read a letter from Mr. Robinson to Mr. Cumberland, dated February 9th, 1778, transmitting, by directions of the Lords of the Treasury, to be laid before this Board for their opinion thereupon,
A memorial of Edward Morse, esquire, Chief Justice of the Province of Senegambia, praying payment of his expences in coming to England upon the business of the said Province.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to Mr. Robinson to acquaint him, for the information of the Lords of the Treasury, with the opinion of this Board upon the said memorial.

Read a petition of Francis McNamara, exhibiting many complaints against John Clark, esquire, Governor, and Edward Morse, esquire, Chief Justice, of the Province of Senegambia, and praying redress against the said Governor and Chief Justice.

fo. 47.

Ordered, that copies of the petition of Mr. Francis McNamara be transmitted to Governor Clark and Mr. Morse respectively, and that they be directed to lose no time in preparing their answers to the charges therein contained.

Massachusetts, New York.

The Secretary acquainted the Board, that in pursuance of the order of the 27th of January last, he had procured from the Council Office, under promise to return them, the following original papers requested by Lord North, and that copies or extracts of the same were prepared, together with copies of the two reports made by the Board to his Majesty, at the time those papers were considered, vizt. representation of the 12th of December, 1764, and representation of the 19th of January, 1765.
Journal of the Assembly of Massachusets Bay, begun the 30th of May, and ended the 15th of June, 1764.
fo. 48.
Printed Book intituled the Rights of the British Colonies asserted and proved by James Otis, esquire.
Copy of the humble address of the General Assembly of New York to the Lieutenant Governor, dated September 11, 1764.
Copy of the answer of the Lieutenant Governor to the address of the General Assembly of New York, dated September 17, 1764.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to Mr. Robinson, and transmit to him, for the information of Lord North, the copies and extracts of the papers before mentioned; and that the original papers received from the Council Office be returned.

Trade.

Read a letter from Wyndham Beawes, esquire, Consul at St. Lucar, to the Board, dated January 12, 1778, transmitting,
fo. 49.
List of ships arrived at St. Lucar from the 1st January to the 31st of December, 1777, with an account of their loading and reloading.

Read an order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated February 7th, 1778, referring to this Board the petition of Samuel Wilson, for leave to export gunpowder to the East Indies, for private trade, on board the Company's ships going out this season.

Read an order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated February 5th, 1778, referring to this Board the petition of Messrs. Watson and Rashleigh, praying leave to export to Quebec, sundry military stores therein specified, for the Indian trade, on board the ship St. Lawrence.

Read an order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated February 5th, 1778, referring to this Board the petition of Davis, Strachan and Company, praying leave to export to Canada, on board the ship Canada, sundry military stores therein specified, for trade in that Province.

Trade.

fo. 50.

Their Lordships on consideration of the three foregoing petitions, were of opinion, that the exportation prayed for should be allowed: and the draughts of three reports to the Lords of the Privy Council thereupon having been prepared, were approved, transcribed and signed: as also a report on the petition of James Phyn, prepared pursuant to order by the minute of the 3rd instant.

Read the two following orders of the Lords of the Privy Council, vizt.:—
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated February 7th. 1778. referring to this Board the petition of John Shoolbred, praying leave to export to Quebec, on board the ship Russell, sundry military stores therein specified, for the Indian trade.
fo. 51.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated February 7th. 1778. referring to this Board the petition of John Shoolbred, praying leave to export to the Bay of Chaleur. on board the ship Otter, sundry military stores therein specified, for the Indian trade.

Their lordships, upon consideration of the two last mentioned petitions, were of opinion, that the exportation prayed for should be allowed: and the draughts of two reports to the Lords of the Privy Council thereupon was ordered to be prepared.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following publick papers, vizt.:—
Dominica.
Minutes of his Majesty's Council for the Island of Dominica from the 2nd of April to the 30th of May, 1777.
Minutes of his Majesty's Council for the Island of Dominica from the 28th of July to the 12th September. 1777.
Journal of the Assembly of the Island of Dominica from the 2nd of April to the 31st May, 1777.
Journal of the Assembly of the Island of Dominica from the 28th of July to the 12th September. 1777.
fo. 52.
Return of the state of his Majesty's Council for the Island of Dominica, dated November 26th, 1777.
Seven Acts passed in the Island of Dominica in September, 1777.
Bahamas.
Journal of the Council of the Bahama Islands from the 7th of May, 1776, to the 23rd of April, 1777.
Virgin Islands.
Minutes of the House of Assembly of Tortola from June 5th. 1775, to June 17th, 1776.
Tobago.
Six Acts passed in the Island of Tobago in May, July and September. 1777.
St. Vincent's.
Two Acts passed in the Island of St. Vincent in November 1777.

Ordered, that the Acts abovementioned be sent to Mr. Jackson. for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

fo. 53.

Friday, February 13th. Present:— Mr. Jenyns. Mr. Gascoyne. Mr. de Grey.

Africa.

Read a letter from Mr. Stephens, Secretary to the Lords of the Admiralty, to Mr. Cumberland, dated February 12th, 1778, transmitting copies of reports made by Captain Cotton, Commander of his Majesty's ship Pallas, respecting the state and condition of his Majesty's forts and settlements on the coast of Africa, vizt.:—
State and condition of Tantumquerry Fort, June, 1777.
State and condition of Appolonia Fort, June 1st, 1777.
State and condition of Dixcove's Fort, May 31st, 1777.
State and condition of Commenda Fort, June 4th, 1777.
fo. 54.
State and condition of Seccondee Fort, June, 1777.
State and condition of Winnebah Fort, May 31st, 1777.
State and condition of James Fort, Accra, June 7th, 1777.
State and condition of Annamaboe Fort, June 6th, 1777.
State and condition of Cape Coast Castle, June 1st, 1777.

Nova Scotia.

fo. 55.

Read a letter from Mr. Robinson to Mr. Cumberland, dated August 21st, 1777, acquainting him, that the Lords of the Treasury agree with the Lords of Trade in their opinion respecting the memorial of James Burrow, esquire, mentioned in the minute of the 7th of August last, and desiring that he will acquaint the Lords of Trade, that if they approve the service on which Mr. Burrow was employed, that the Lords of the Treasury will consent to a sum of money being voted for the same in the next session of Parliament.

Read a memorial of Joseph Bennett, missionary in the Province of Nova Scotia, praying their lordships to recommend the payment of the money he has expended, agreable to an account annexed to the memorial; and that he may be allowed a salary in future, adequate to the trouble attending the faithful discharge of his mission.

Read a letter from Mariot Arbuthnot, esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, dated Halifax, September 12th, 1777, transmitting,
Estimate of the charge of maintaining and supporting the Civil [administration] of his Majesty's Colony of Nova Scotia for the year 1778.
Expences incurred for militia employed in sundry services between the 10th of November, 1776, and 30th of July, 1777.

fo. 56.

Nova Scotia, Georgia, East Florida, West Florida, St. John's Senegambia, Plantations General.

Their lordships in pursuance of their resolution of the 10th instant, took into their consideration the estimates of such sums as will be necessary for the support of the civil establishment of Nova Scotia, Georgia, East Florida, West Florida, and the Island of St. John's in North America, and of the Province of Senegambia in Africa; and also for continuing the service of the general Surveys of his Majesty's Dominions in North America, for the year 1778.

Senegambia.

Mr. Francis McNamara attended, and requested that the Board would hear him, as soon as conveniently might be, in support of the charges against Mr. Morse, Chief Justice of the Province of Senegambia, contained in his memorial mentioned in the minutes of the 10th instant, against the said Mr. Morse and Governor Clark.

fo. 57.

Mr. Francis McNamara was acquainted, that the Board will hear him in support of the memorial beforementioned, so far as it concerns Mr. Morse, on Tuesday, the 3rd of March next, provided Mr. Morse, to whom notice was ordered to be given, can prepare himself for his defence by that time.

Trade.

Read the two following orders of the Lords of the Privy Council, vizt.:—
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated February 7th, 1778, referring to this Board, the petition of David Grant, praying leave to export to Quebec and Montreal, on board the ships Elizabeth, Guadalquavir, and Norwich, sundry military stores therein specified, for the Indian trade.
fo. 58.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated February 7th, 1778, referring to this Board, the petition of Thomas Gowland, praying leave to export to Jamaica, on board the ship Lady Juliana, sundry military stores therein specified, for the defence of vessels belonging to that Island.

Their lordships, upon consideration of the two foregoing petitions, were of opinion, that the exportation prayed for should be allowed; and draughts of reports thereupon to the Lords of the Privy Council having been prepared, were approved, transcribed and signed; as also two reports to the Lords of the Privy Council upon the petitions of John Shoolbred, prepared pursuant to order.

fo. 59.

Tuesday, February 17th. Present:—Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Jolliffe Mr. Greville, Mr. Eden, Mr. de Grey.

Lord George Germain, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, attends.

Senegambia.

Mr. Morse, Chief Justice of the Province of Senegambia, attended, and requested that the Board would allow him to answer the charges exhibited against him by Lieutenant Governor McNamara and Mr. Francis McNamara, by memorial, which if permitted, he would immediately prepare.

fo. 60.

Mr. Morse was acquainted by their lordships, that as it would be difficult for them to judge of the mode most proper for hearing the differences between him and the memorialist, till they were informed of the nature of the answer which he intended to put in, they could not give any decisive answer to his request, further than that the hearing appointed for the 3rd of March should be postponed, until he had presented his memorial, which he was directed to do with all convenient dispatch.

Barbados.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, proposing that Joseph Keeling, esquire, should be appointed of the Council for the Island of Barbados, having been prepared pursuant to order, was approved, transcribed and signed.

Nova Scotia, Georgia, East Florida, West Florida, St. John's, Senegambia.

fo. 61.

Plantations General.

Estimates of such sums as will be necessary for supporting the civil establishments of Nova Scotia, Georgia, East Florida, West Florida, and the Island of St. John in North America, and of the Province of Senegambia in Africa; and also for continuing the service of the general Surveys of his Majesty's Dominions in North America for the year 1778, having been prepared and agreed to, Mr. Gascoyne was desired to present them to the House of Commons; and it was ordered, that the Secretary should transmit to the Treasury copies of the said estimates, with a paper signifying the particulars wherein they differ from the estimates for the like services for the last year.

fo. 62.

Tuesday, February 24th. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Gascoyne, Lord Robert Spencer, Mr. Jolliffe, Mr. Greville, Mr. de Grey.

Lord George Germain, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, attends.

Nova Scotia.

fo. 63.

fo. 64.

Their lordships resumed the consideration of the memorial of Sir Herbert Mackworth, Baronet, and his associates, praying for a grant of the Isle de Madame or Richmond Isle, which is mentioned in the several minutes of the Board of the 16th of December, the 6th of January and the 10th of February last; and being informed, that Mr. Lampriere of the Island of Jersey, together with Messieurs Lemessurier and Fiott attended, and were desirous of being heard by the Board, against the memorial abovementioned, on the part of certain Companies of merchants established in the Island of Jersey, for carrying on a fishery at the said Isle de Madame, they were called in, and informed their Lordships, that they were agents for four different Companies at the Island of Jersey, who annually fit out from thence several ships for the purpose of fishing for cod upon the coasts of the said Isle de Madame; that three hundred men upon an average, went out yearly from Jersey upon that fishery; that last season, ten vessels from one hundred and fifty, to three hundred tons burthen were employed therein; that the fish was dried on stages erected, on the said Island, for that purpose, and that the fish when cured, was carried in the said vessels to Bilbao, St. Sebastian, and other ports in the Bay of Biscay, for an early market; that the settlers on the Island assisted the crews of the said vessels in the fishery, and that the said ships took out yearly from Jersey very considerable quantities of provision, for the supply of the said settlers in the winter; that with respect to the number of the said settlers, they could not speak to that particular with sufficient accuracy, neither were they fully acquainted with the quality of the lands in respect to soil etc.; but if their lordships required, they would obtain the information necessary upon both these heads; they were, however, of opinion, that the said lands could not be well suited for raising corn, or for feeding cattle, inasmuch, as the total supply for victualling the settlers in the winter, as before observed, was sent out in the vessels destined for the fishery.

For these considerations they hoped, that their lordships would not advise his Majesty to grant the prayer of the memorial, to the prejudice of a trade already of considerable importance, and which was in a train of still greater increase and improvement.

fo. 65.

Ordered, that Sir Herbert Mackworth, Baronet, be desired to attend the Board on Tuesday next at twelve o'clock in the forenoon, upon the subject of the memorial beforementioned.

Newfoundland.

Read an order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated February 7th, 1778, referring to this Board a report to his Majesty of Thomas Hulse, Overseer, and John Dunn, Clerk to the Mines and Works now carrying at Shoal Bay, in virtue of a grant to John Agnew and his associates, and directing that this Board do forthwith prepare and lay before the Committee of Council, a draught of an additional instruction to the Governor of Newfoundland, directing him to receive the tenth part of all such metals, ores and minerals, as shall be extracted from the said mines, reserved to his Majesty by the said grant, and pay the same to such persons as the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury shall think proper to appoint.

fo. 66.

Ordered, that the draught of an additional instruction to the Governor of Newfoundland, be forthwith prepared, agreable to the directions contained in the order of the Committee of Council beforementioned, and also the draught of a report to the said Committee of Council thereupon.

St. Vincent's.

fo. 67.

Read an order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated February 7th, 1778, directing this Board, forthwith to prepare the draught of an additional instruction to the Governor of the Island of St. Vincent, strictly commanding him to abstain from passing any grants of lands in his Majesty's disposal within the said Island, unless the same shall be passed with the advice and consent of the Council for the said Island, and according to the clear and manifest intention of his Majesty's Commission to the said Governor; and also directing this Board, to lay all such papers and documents as they have received, in relation to the grants made by Governor Morris, under the circumstances mentioned in the report of this Board of the 9th of December last, before his Majesty's Law Officers, for their opinion, whether the said grants are essential in law to alienate the lands, so disposed of from his Majesty, his heirs and successors, and to report the same to the Committee.

Ordered, that the draught of an additional instruction to Governor Morris, conformable to the directions in the abovementioned order, be prepared, together with the draught of a report to the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs there upon; and that the Secretary do write to his Majesty's Attorney and Solicitor General upon the question directed by the said order.

fo. 68.

Read an order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated February 7th, 1778, directing this Board to prepare a draught of an additional instruction to the Governor of the Island of St. Vincent's, for erecting a new Parish in that Island, and for an augmentation of four new Members of the Assembly, conformable to what is proposed in the representation of this Board to his Majesty, of the 25th February, 1777, and to lay the same before the said Committee.

The Secretary having acquainted the Board, that there were several papers expected from the Secretary of State's Office respecting the subject mentioned in the foregoing order, the Board postponed the consideration of the same till those papers shall have been read.

Dominica.

fo. 69.

Read an order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated February 7th, 1778, referring to this Board, for their consideration and report, the petition of the free Negroes, Mulattos and Mustees, inhabitants of the Island of Dominica, against an Act passed in the said Island in September, 1774, for regulating the manumission of slaves, etc.

Read an order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated February 7th, 1778, referring to this Board the petition of Bruno Largarite, a free Mulatto of the Island of Dominica, against an Act passed in that Island in September, 1774, for regulating the manumission of slaves etc., which the Committee of Council desire this Board to reconsider, and report their opinion thereupon, together with the petition of the free Negroes etc., mentioned in the order immediately foregoing.

fo. 70.

Read a petition of Bruno Largarite, a free Mulatto late of the Island of Dominica, to the Board, setting forth, that at the time when his former petition was before the Board, certain papers very material towards proving the hardships he suffered, under an Act of that Island, having been unjustly detained from him, he had preferred a new petition to the Lords of the Council, which he finds is referred to this Board; and praying, that the Board will order such papers to be delivered up to him, and will receive the same, and such other proofs as he shall have to offer, when their lordships shall think fit to reconsider the Act of which he complains.

Resolved, that the Board will take the foregoing orders of Council and petitions, respecting the Act of the Island of Dominica, therein mentioned, into their consideration on some future day.

fo. 71.

Read a letter from Thomas Shirley, esquire, Governor of the Island of Dominica, to the Board, dated November 26th, 1777, transmitting sundry publick papers, which are mentioned in the minutes of the 10th of February last.

Leeward Islands.

Read a letter from William Mathew Burt, esquire, to the Board, dated Antigua, November 30th. 1777. acknowledging the receipt of the Board's letter of the 7th of August last; acquainting their lordships with his intention of going to Tortola, in March or April, before which time he hopes to have his Majesty's directions, how to act. with respect to that Island; and transmitting the following publick papers, vizt.:—
Antigua.
Minutes of Council of the Island of Antigua, from April the 24th to September 18th, 1777, inclusive.
Nevis.
Minutes of Council of the Island of Nevis, from April 8th to September 26th, 1777.
Montserrat.
fo. 72.
Minutes of Council for the Island of Montserrat, from October 1st, 1776 to April 1st, 1777.
Minutes of Council for the Island of Montserrat, from April 1st, 1777 to October 1st, 1777.
Minutes of Assembly of the Island of Montserrat, from the 1st of April to the 1st of October, 1777.
Virgin Islands.
Minutes of Council of Tortola, from July 5th to the 30th of September, 1777.
Minutes of the Assembly of Tortola, from July 14th to August 2nd, 1777.
St. Christopher's.
One Act passed in the Island of St. Christopher, passed in October 1777, supplementary to an Act for raising and settling the sum of one thousand pounds currency on his Excellency Governor Burt.

Ordered, that the above Act be sent to Mr. Jackson, for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

Senegambia.

fo. 73.

Read a petition of Francis McNamara, setting forth, that on the 10th February instant, he had presented a petition complaining of Governor Clarke and Mr. Morse, the latter of whom, he is informed, is preparing to leave the Kingdom, and therefore praying, that the Board will order the said Mr. Morse not to depart the Kingdom until their lordships have heard the petition in support of the charges contained in the petition of the 10th instant.

Read a petition of Thomas Sharpless, late of the Province of Senegambia, merchant, exhibiting various complaints against John Clarke, esquire, Governor, and Edward Morse, esquire, Chief Justice, of the said Province, and praying, that the said Governor may be ordered to answer for the injuries done to the petitioner, and that the said Chief Justice, who is now in England, may be called upon by the Board to answer his conduct toward the petitioner.

fo. 74.

Ordered, that copies of the two foregoing petitions be transmitted to Governor Clarke and Mr. Morse respectively; and that they be directed to prepare their answers thereto, without delay.

Trade.

Read an order of the Lords of the Committee of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council, dated February 7th, 1778, referring to this Board, for their consideration and report, an account of sundry goods of the growth, product and manufactures of this Kingdom; as also of the goods and merchandize exported from the Port of London, for account of the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, between the 29th of September, 1776, and the 29th of September, 1777.

Read an address of Benjamin Lacam, esquire, to the Board, dated Bengal, May 23rd, 1777, transmitting,
A plan of New Harbour, Bengal, distant from the sea 26 miles.

fo. 75.

Read an order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated February 18th, 1778, referring to this Board, the petition of John Strettle, praying leave to export to Canada, on board the ship Hector, sundry military stores therein mentioned, for the Indian trade.

Their lordships, upon consideration of the foregoing petition, were of opinion, that the exportation prayed for should be allowed; and the draught of a report to the Lords of the Privy Council thereupon, having been prepared, was approved, transcribed and signed.

Read an order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated February 18th, 1778, referring to this Board, the petition of Peter Perchard, praying leave to export to the Island of Guernsey, on board the ship Sukey, sundry military stores therein specified, for arming three vessels fitting out for Newfoundland and Africa.

fo. 76.

Their lordships, upon consideration of the foregoing petition, were of opinion, that it would be proper to question the petitioner in respect to the objects of the voyage proposed, before they recommended the exportation prayed for; and it was ordered, that he should attend the Board, on Tuesday next.

Read the following orders of the Lords of the Privy Council, vizt.:
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated February 18th, 1778, referring to this Board, the petition of Messrs. Murray, Sansom and Company, for leave to export certain military stores therein specified to Canada, for trade, on board the ship New Adventure.
fo. 77.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated February 18th, 1778, referring to this Board the petition of John Fraser, praying leave to export certain military stores to Canada, for trade, on board the ships Hector and Susannah.
Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated February 20th, 1778, referring to this Board, the petition of Messieurs Isaac and Benjamin Lester, praying leave to export from Poole to Newfoundland, certain military stores therein specified, on board the different vessels going out this season, for the use of the fishermen.

Senegambia

Their lordships, upon consideration of the three foregoing petitions, were of opinion, that the exportation therein prayed for should be allowed: and the draughts of three reports to the Lords of the Privy Council thereupon was ordered to be prepared.

Miscellanies.

fo. 78.

Mr. Gascoyne acquainted the Board, that having applied to Lord North for permission to charge ten pounds per quarter upon the incidental accounts of the Office, for the use of Mr. Palmer, in addition to the allowance granted to him by the minutes of the 16th of December last, his Lordship had signified his approbation thereof, and it was ordered to be charged accordingly.