Journal, August 1713

August 6. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Foley, Sir John H. Cotton.

Nevis.

St. Christopher's.

Debentures sign'd.

Their lordships signed 75 debentures for the sufferers at Nevis and St. Christopher's, being number'd from 470 to 544, both inclusive.

Jamaica.

Mr. Rigby.

Act against two offices.

Attorny General's report.

Representation for its repeal.

Mr. Rigby, deputy secretary and provost marshal of Jamaica, attending, in relation to the Act pass'd there the 17th of April, 1711, to prevent any one person from holding two or more offices of profit in that island; Mr. Attorney General's report thereupon was read, and a representation [Q. fo. 73] proposing the repeal thereof, agreed and sign'd.

Trade.

Flanders.

Mr. Dorpere.

Mr. Dorpere attending [fo. 444], as desired the 31st of the last month, about the Flanders trade, he acquainted the Board with Mr. White's indisposition, whereby he was disabled from attending their lordships; that Verviers is the place where the greatest part

Limburg cloth

of the cloth call'd Limburg cloth is made, and is scituate on the side of Liege, upon the river which divides Limburg from Liege; that to the best of his memory, those cloths formerly paid duties when imported into Brabant or Flanders, as all other cloths paid; that he has sent the two queries relating to Limburg and Verviers (mentioned in the minutes of the said 31st of July) to some of his friends in Flanders, and desired information from them, whether Limburg cloths ever paid any or what duty upon importation into the Spanish Flanders; and whether the Dutch had always the conveniency of introducing their cloths into Flanders under the denomination of Limburg cloths.

Jamaica.

Aylmer and March.

Act against two offices.

Merchants’ certificate in its favour.

Then Mr. Aylmer and Mr. March attending [fo. 441], in reference to the foremention'd Act of Jamaica to prevent any one person from holding two or more offices of profit in that island, they presented to the Board a certificate from several planters and merchants concern'd in the trade of Jamacia of their opinion, that the said Act is for the general good of that island.

August 11. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Foley.

Jamacia.

Letter from Major General Handasyd.

A letter from Major-General Handasyd, dated the 6th instant [fo. 443], in answer to that writ him by the secretary the 31st of last month, relating to the Act past in Jamaica the 17th of April, 1711, to prevent any one person from holding two or more offices of profit there, was read.

Leeward Islands.

Debentures sign'd.

Then their lordships sign'd one hundred and eleven debentures for the sufferers at Nevis and St. Christopher's, from number 545 to number 593, and from number 595 to number 656, all inclusive.

Trade.

Letter from Lord Bolingbrocke. Address of House of Commons.

Fishery.

A letter from the Lord Viscount Bolingbroke, of the 10th instant [Q. fo. 90], referring to the Board an address from the House of Commons of the 25th of June last, to her Majesty, relating to the fishery of Great Britain, was read, and a progress made in the consideration thereof.

Mr. Clement to put his proposals thereupon in writing.

Mr. John Clement attending the Board, he acquainted their lordships that he had some proposals to offer in relation to the said fishery. Whereupon he was directed to put them into writing, in order to his laying the same before the Board, which he promised to do accordingly.

New York.

Attorn'y General's reports about quit rents, fishery and escheats.

Letter to Col. Hunter with copies.

Three reports from Mr. Attorny General, dated the 30th of July last, in answer to the letter writ him the 28th of the same month [fo. 442], relating to her Majesty's quit rents at New York, and the proceeding there relating to the taking royal fish, and to an escheat, were read; whereupon the draught of a letter wherewith to transmit copies of the said reports to Colonel Hunter, Governor of that province, was agreed, and ordered to be transcrib'd.

August 12. Present:—Lord Viscount Bolingbroke, Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Foley.

Trade.

Lord Viscount Bolingbroke.

Memorial to King of Spain.

His answers.

The Lord Viscount Bolingbroke communicated to the Board the copy of a memorial on the part of her Majesty, presented to the King of Spain by the Lord Lexington, upon the affairs of commerce, with the answers made on the part of the King of Spain,

Draught of a Treaty of Commerce.

Sir William Hodges and Mr. Mead summon'd.

together with the draught of a treaty drawn from the said papers, which were severally read. And their lordships resolv'd to take the same into further consideration to-morrow morning. Ordered [fo. 450] that Sir William Hodges, Mr. John Mead, and Mr. James Dollif be desired to attend the Board at the same time.

August 13. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Foley.

Trade.

Sir Wm. Hodges and Mr. Mead, about Articles of Commerce with Spain.

Sir William Hodges and Mr. John Mead attending, as they had been desired yesterday [fo. 449; Q. fo. 3], and being ask'd several questions upon some of the articles for the Treaty of Commerce with Spain, comunicated to the Board by the Lord Bolingbroke yesterday, they answer'd as follows, vizt.:
Upon the second article, it being ask'd what was the difference between the duties payable at Cadiz or Port St. Mary's and those payable at other places, they said that the duties payable at Cadiz and St. Mary's were much higher than the duties payable in any other port of Spain, the other places having considerable priviledges allow'd them, and therefore their duties are much lower, and that it is not therefore our interest to have the duties payable in all the several ports of Spain upon the same foot, because some of them are so much lower than others that ‘tis not probable the Spaniards will consent to reduce the duties payable in those places that are high to the same foot as those that are low; however, they thought it necessary that the Spanish book of rates be altered, for as it is at present we pay higher duties than any other nation, and therefore shou'd we be obliged to pay all over Spain the same duties as at Cadiz, and in Sevil, it wou'd be very detrimental to our trade.
Upon the 5th article, being asked what they had to offer in relation to merchants paying the duty and excises upon the sale of their goods, which they had paid at entry? They said that the excises ought not to be paid by the merchant, but by the retailer, and that the said excises were much higher than the duties upon entry.
Upon the 6th article, being asked if they knew whether the French have any priviledges not yet revoked that we have not, they said that they did not know it.
Upon the 7th article, being asked what they had to offer in relation to the duty of Millon on fish, and particularly on fish or flesh decay'd? They said that sometimes it happens that they can't have an opportunity to sell their fish or flesh till part of it is decay'd, and therefore they thought it a hardship to pay the said duty of Millon upon such decay'd goods.
Upon the 8th article, being ask'd when a new species of goods not mention'd in the Spanish book of rates is introduced, what ought to be the rule for the payment of the duties in Spain? They said that in that case, the value of the goods ought to be reported by the merchant, and the duty payable upon that value might reasonably be 5 or 6 per cent.; that, if the Custom House officers suspected any fraud in the merchant in his valuation, the merchant shou'd be obliged to leave him the goods at that price, paying him for the said goods, only deducting the duty.

Upon the 9th and 10th articles, which relates to the permission to take on board of English ships gold and silver for freight &c., they said that it has frequently been done, but then the trouble is so great in obtaining permits and other licences from so many different officers, that it is not worth their while to do it.

Upon the 11th article, being ask'd whether we import into Spain wax, hides, copper &c., from Africa? They said that it was constantly done, but they were liable to the pleasure of the Governors of the ports, who made them pay dear for their connivance at their importing of them; and therefore they were of opinion it wou'd be of advantage if a free importation of African goods there could be obtain'd.

Upon the 13th article, the substance of the six rules proposed therein by the Marquis of Bedmar having been communicated to them, they said they had no objection to them.

Upon the 14th article, being asked whether the Hans Towns enjoy the liberty of carrying out of Spain gold and silver for stores of war, provisions &c., they sell there? They said that they had formerly such a priviledge for a small parcel in proportion to the tunnage of their ships, but that they do not know they ever made use of it.

Upon the 15th article, being asked what were the duties upon our goods in the Canary Islands? They said that formerly the duties were 6 per cent., after which 1 per cent. more was added, but then the goods were rated at 10 per cent. less than their value; that King Philip has lately added 9 per cent. more upon the value, which is very grievous to them; and they offer'd that if the duties there could be reduced to 5 per cent. it would be very advantageous to the trade of this kingdom.

Upon the 16th article, being asked whether during the war their ships were furnish'd with passes, they said that then they traded wholy in Spanish ships and under Spanish names, so that they had no debts owing to them in Spain but what were contracted before the war.

Upon the 17th article, being ask'd whether if they were permitted to trade to St. Andera upon such terms as had been formerly agreed with that town, and as shall be consistant with the King's authority, it might not be of advantage to them? They answer'd in the affirmative.

Upon the 18th article, being asked their opinion in relation to the Judges Conservadores, they said that there was no need at all for them, for the Governors of the ports are so powerfull that Judge Conservadores can do nothing without their leave; that formerly they had one at Cadiz, but they kept him but two years, by reason that they found a more immediate dispatch of their business by applying either to the English Consuls, or to her Majesty's Ministers, at the Court of Madrid; they agreed, however, that it might be of service to have a Judge Conservadore in the Canaries, those islands being at a distance from Spain.

Queries to be answer'd in writing.

Then these gentlemen promised to send their lordships a more full answer to these queries in writing on Monday next [Q. fo. 3].