Journal, December 1733

December 4. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Sir A. Croft.

Antigua.

Stores of war.

Mr. Yeamans, agent for Antigua, attending, as he had been desired, the Board took again into consideration his memorial, praying for stores of war, for the use of the Island of Antigua, read the 28th of the last month, and he acquainted the Board, that there are 14 forts with cannon mounted on the Island of Antigua, but not provided with shot, without which they will not be able to defend themselves, in case of any rupture with France; and as they are not able to be at the charge of supplying themselves therewith, he hoped the Board would be of opinion that the number and size of shot desired by his said memorial was reasonable.

Mr. Yeamans being withdrawn, and their Lordships, taking this matter into consideration, gave directions for preparing the draught of a representation in favour of his memorial.

Jamaica.

Defeat, rebellious negroes.

A letter from Mr. Burchet, enclosing extracts of some papers, relating to the defeat of a party sent out against the rebellious negroes in Jamaica, as desired by the Secretary's letter of the 28th of the last month, was read.

South Carolina.

Beresford's Act, sent to Mr. Fane.

Memorial from Mr. Beresford against an Act, passed in South Carolina in 1723, for settling the estate of Richard Beresford, Esq., deceased, was read.

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

Jamaica.

Goulding's Act, sent to Mr. Fane.

Ordered that an Act, passed in Jamaica in April, 1733, to entitle John Goulding, senior, of the parish of Yere, planter, and his family, to the rights and privileges of English men born of white ancestors, be sent to Mr. Fane, for his opinion thereupon in point of law, as desired by Mr. Wood.

December 11. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Bladen.

North Carolina.

Laws.

The Secretary laying before the Board a letter he had received from the Attorney General, stating some difficulties with regard to the memorial of Mr. Smith, relating to the laws of North Carolina, (read the 13th of July, 1732), and sent to Mr. Attorney General the 28th of the last month, the same was read, and directions were given for making an answer thereto.

South Carolina.

Ordnance.

A letter from Mr. Lowndes, dated the 3rd instant, informing the Board of the ordance lately sent to South Carolina, lying unregarded there in a ruinous condition, was read, and directions were given for sending a copy thereof to Colonel Johnson, Governor of that province.

Spanish Flota lost.

A letter, ordered to be prepared the 28th of the last month, for enclosing to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, the copies of some depositions, relating to the loss of the Spanish Flota, sent to this office by Colonel Johnson, was signed.

Antigua.

Stores of war.

The representation upon Mr. Yeamans' memorial, desiring stores of war for the use of the Island of Antigua, ordered to be prepared the 4th instant, in favour of the said memorial, was agreed and signed.

Massachusetts.

Governor's salary.

Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, of the 23rd of the last month, directing the Board to prepare an instruction to empower Mr. Belcher, Governor of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, to give his assent to an Act granting him £3000 for his support, was read, and the Secretary laying before the Board the draught of an instruction to the said Mr. Belcher, and a representation thereupon, the same was agreed and signed.

Jamaica.

New Councillor.

The representation ordered to be prepared the 28th of the last month, proposing Thomas Halls, Esq., to be of the Council of Jamaica, in the room of Mr. Moore, deceased, was agreed and signed.

December 12. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Bladen, Sir A. Croft.

Plantations General.

State of the islands.

The Board, taking into further consideration the draught of the general report upon the state of the islands, mentioned in the Minutes of the 15th of the last month, made a progress therein.

St. Christophers.

Audain's Act.

Mr. Fane's report upon an Act, passed at St. Christophers, to enable Andrew and Peter Audain, or the survivor of them, infants under the age of 21 years, with the consent of Isaac Peter Audain, their father, to sell the plantation and lands therein mentioned unto William Pym Burt, Esq., and for securing the monies arising thereby, unto the said Andrew Audain and Peter Audain, Passed in 1722, was read, and directions were given for preparing a representation proposing the confirmation thereof.

Leeward Islands.

Fine and recovery Act.

Mr. Sharpe attending, desired the Board would please to consider the Act of the Leeward Islands, passed in 1705, for the supplying the want of fines and recoveries in these islands, and for making any deed or deeds duly executed and acknowledged before any of Her Majesty's Justices of the Court of Common Pleas, in the kingdom of England or Ireland, or of any of these islands, equivalent to a fine and recovery duly and regularly levyed, etc., and lay the same before His Majesty for confirmation; whereupon ordered that the said Act be sent to Mr. Fane, for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

December 13. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Bladen, Sir A. Croft.

St. Christophers.

Audain's Act.

The representation upon the Act to enable Andrew and Peter Audain to sell a plantation, etc., ordered yesterday to be prepared, was signed.

Barbadoes.

Bermuda.

Leeward Islands.

Mr. Dunbar to be of the Council.

Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, of 23rd November, 1733, referring to the Board the memorial of Mr. Dunbar, Surveyor General of the Customs in Barbadoes, etc., praying to be a Councillor in ordinary in the islands under his inspection, was read; and directions were given for preparing the draught of a representation in favour of his petition.

Plantations General.

State of the islands.

The Board taking into further consideration the draught of the general report upon the state of the islands, mentioned in yesterday's Minutes, made a progress therein.

December 18. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Brudenell.

South Carolina.

Acts, duties on negroes.

Two Orders of the Lords of the Committee of Council, of the 6th instant, referring to this Board the petitions of the merchants of London and Bristol against some Acts of South Carolina, for continuing duties on negroes, issuing of paper money, and protecting debtors; whereupon ordered that Mr. Paxton, solicitor for the merchants of London, Mr. Wood, solicitor for the merchants of Bristol, and Mr. Furie, agent for the province, be directed to attend the Board to-morrow morning.

Plantations General.

Map finished, letter to the Treasury.

The Secretary acquainting the Board that the map of the British Empire in America, (to which their Lordships have already subscribed), was now finished by his brother, and was ready to be delivered; and their Lordships being of opinion that it might be of service to send one of the said maps to each government in America, a letter to the Lords of the Treasury upon this subject, was signed.

December 19. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Brudenell.

South Carolina.

Laws.

Mr. Paxton, Mr. Wood and Mr. Furie attending, as they were yesterday directed, their Lordships took into consideration the two orders then read, and appointed this day three weeks for the further consideration of the said laws.

Plantations General.

Laws, manufactures and trade.

The draught of a representation to the House of Lords, pursuant to their address of the 13th of June, 1733, for an account of laws made, manufactures set, and trade carried on in any of the British plantations in America, which may affect the trade, etc., of this kingdom, was considered, and a progress made therein.

St. Christophers.

A new Councillor.

Colonel Bladen informing the Board that Mr. Soulegre, a member of the Council of St. Christophers, had desired to resign his seat at that board, and Colonel Bladen at the same time recommending Mr. Abraham Payne, a person every way qualified to serve His Majesty in that station; ordered that a representation be prepared, recommending him accordingly.

December 20. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Bladen.

South Carolina.

Spanish Flota.

The letter to the Duke of Newcastle, inclosing copies of two affidavits, relating to the loss of the Spanish Flota, ordered to be prepared the 28th of the last month, was agreed and signed. [The letter was signed the 11th inst. v. supra, 157.]

Barbadoes.

Bermuda.

Leeward Islands.

Mr. Dunbar to be a Councillor.

The representation on the memorial of Mr. Dunbar, ordered to be prepared the 13th instant, was agreed.

St. Christophers.

A representation, ordered yesterday to be prepared, recommending Mr. Abraham Payne to be of the Council of St. Christophers, in the room of Mr. Peter Soulegre, who has resigned, was agreed and signed.

Nineteen Orders in Council, or of the Lords of the Committee of the Council, or copies thereof, were read, viz:—

Leeward Islands.

Instructions, etc., approved.

Report of the Committee of Council, of 21st June, 1733, upon the draught of instructions for Mr. Mathew to be Governor of the Leeward Islands, particularly relating to Councillors, and the Governor's additional salary.

Three Orders in Council, approving the foregoing report.

South Carolina.

Colonel Purry's grant.

Copy of an Order in Council, of 19th July, 1733, approving the draught of an instruction to Colonel Johnson, Governor of South Carolina, directing him to grant Colonel Purry a proportional part of the 48,000 acres of land designed, according to the number of Swiss Protestants by him settled there.

New York.

Tract of land.

Copy of an Order in Council, of 19th July, 1733, directing an instruction to be prepared to Colonel Cosby, Governor of New York, pursuant to a representation of this Board, for annexing a tract of land called the Equivalent land, to some other adjacent county in that province.

North Carolina.

Governor's instructions approved.

Copy of an Order in Council, of 2nd of August, 1733, approving the draught of instructions for Gabriel Johnstone, Esq., Governor of North Carolina.

Bahamas.

Independent company.

Copies of two Orders in Council, of 2nd August, 1733, for augmenting the independent company and better fortifying the Bahama Islands.

Surrender, proprietors' right.

Copy of an Order in Council, of 2nd August, 1733, directing the Commissioners of the Treasury to complete a bargain with the proprietors of the Bahama Islands, for the surrender of their right, to the Crown for £6000, and with the lessees to surrender for £2000.

Pennsylvania.

Mr. Gordon, Deputy Governor.

Copies of two Orders in Council, of 2nd August, 1733, approving a new nomination of Patrick Gordon by the heirs of the late William Penn, Esq., deceased, to be Governor of Pennsylvania, and the draught of an instruction to the Governor of Virginia, to administer the oaths to, and take security of the said Gordon, for his observing the Acts of Trade, and obeying instructions relating thereto.

Barbadoes.

A new Councillor.

Copy of an Order in Council, of 2nd August, 1733, approving a report of a Committee of Council upon a representation of this Board, for appointing Mr. Salter a Councillor of Barbadoes, in the room of Mr. Barwick, deceased.

Extract of the Minutes of the Council of Barbadoes, of 21st September, 1731, and 4th January, 1732–3, relating to Mr. Barwick taking upon him the government as president of the Council, and Mr. Dottin doing the same, on the death of Mr. Barwick in 1732–3.

New Hampshire.

Two new Councillors.

Copy of an Order in Council, of 2nd August, 1733, appointing Mr. Sherburn and Mr. Huske members of the Council of New Hampshire, in the room of Mr. Wiberd and Mr. Trot, deceased.

Jamaica.

A new Councillor.

Copy of an Order in Council, of 1st November, 1733, approving a report of the Lords of the Committee of Council upon a representation of this Board for appointing Mr. Gordon a Councillor in Jamaica, in the room of Mr. Stout, who has resigned.

Virginia.

Thirteen Acts confirmed.

Order in Council, of 1st November, 1733, approving several representations of this Board for confirming one private Act, passed in Virginia in 1730, and 12 more private Acts, passed in the same colony in 1732.

Four more confirmed.

Order in Council, of November 29th, 1733, approving 4 representations of this Board for confirming 4 private Acts of Virginia, passed there in 1730.

Lord Fairfar's grant.

Copy of an Order in Council, of 29th November, 1733, directing the appointment of commissioners to determine the bounds of the Lord Fairfax's lands in Virginia.

Plantations General.

Surveyors General to be of the Councils.

Copy of an Order in Council, of the 29th November, 1733, approving the draughts of circular instructions to the several Governors in America, for admitting the Surveyors General of the Customs as Extraordinary Councillors in the respective governments, and to procure them copies of publick papers, relating to the revenues under their inspection.