Journal, March 1779: Volume 86

Journal, March 1779

fo. 42.

Tuesday. March 2nd. 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.

Trade.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated February 26th, 1779, referring to this Board the petition of Messieurs Watson and Rashleigh, for leave to export to Montreal, on board the ship London, sundry military stores for trade.

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 having been prepared, was approved, transcribed and signed.

fo. 43.

Their Lordships resumed the consideration of the petition of John Ingram, mentioned in the last minutes; and Mr. Ingram attending pursuant to order, the Board having questioned him as to such matters as they thought proper, directed that a draught of a report to the Lords of the Privy Council, recommending the exportation of the ordnance and stores prayed for in his petition, should be prepared; and the said draught being prepared accordingly, was approved, transcribed and signed.

With respect to the petition of George Mackreth, mentioned in the last minutes, their Lordships were of opinion, as the petitioner had not thought fit to attend, and as the ship appeared to them to be not sufficiently manned to take on board so large a quantity of ordnance and stores as the petition specified, that it would not be adviseable to recommend the exportation prayed for.

fo. 44.

Their Lordships also read an Order of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated March 2nd, 1779, referring to this Board, the petition of Messieurs Bundock, Spratt and Company, praying leave to export from Poole to Guernsey, sundry military stores, on board the shallop Little Tartar, for the use of the Antelope privateer; upon which they directed that the draught of a report to the Lords of the Privy Council, recommending the exportation prayed for, should be prepared; and the said draught having been prepared accordingly, was approved, transcribed and signed.

St. Vincent's.

fo. 45.

Mr. Keane attended on the part of the Assembly of the Island of St. Vincent, and requested that the Board would be pleased to hear the charges which they have to exhibit against Governor Morris, if, as he was informed, that gentleman did not propose speedily to return to England, in obedience to his Majesty's commands for that purpose.

fo. 46.

Lord George Germain having upon the foregoing request, signified to the Board, that by a letter he had received from Governor Morris, dated in December last, that gentleman proposed remaining in his government, until he should have put the island into a proper state of defence; but that there was nothing contained in that letter which could lead his Lordship to suppose Governor Morris intended not to return; on the contrary, that he had expressed his readiness to obey the King's commands by repairing to England, as soon as his purpose abovementioned should be compleated, and that Admiral Barrington could furnish him with a conveyance; their Lordships thereupon acquainted Mr. Keane, that they thought it just to wait St. Vincent's.
Governor Morris's return, in which Mr. Keane expressed his acquiescence.

West Florida.

The Secretary laid before the Board a letter which he had received from James Macpherson, esquire. Secretary of the Province of West Florida, dated March 1st, 1779, stating his opinion upon the subject of the fees taken in that province on the passing of grants of land, which are complained of in the memorial of the merchants, etc., mentioned in the minutes of the 23rd February last; and his suggestions also upon the mode most proper to be taken with respect to the erecting a new Court of Judicature at the Natchez.

fo. 47.

Their Lordships having considered the foregoing letter, and being informed that Mr. Hanney and Mr. Ross attended pursuant to orders, they were called in; and after some conversation with the said gentlemen upon the subject of the several memorials relating to the Province of West Florida, which are mentioned in the minutes of the 23rd of February last, it was ordered, that the draught of a letter to the Governor of the province should be prepared, directing him to observe a strict compliance with the order made by the Governor in Council in West Florida in the year 1765, with respect to fees to be taken upon all grants of lands.

Resolved, that a further consideration of the memorials beforementioned, so far as they relate to the establishing new Courts of law at the Mississippi, be deferred to another meeting.

Quebec.

fo. 48.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, upon the hearing on the memorial of Peter Livius, esquire, Chief Justice of the Province of Quebec, having been prepared and transcribed pursuant to order of the 23rd of February last, was approved and signed.

Friday, March 12th. Present:—Mr. Jenyns. Mr. Gascoyne. Mr. Greville, Mr. Eden, Mr. de Grey.

Newfoundland.

fo. 49.

Lord George Germain, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, attended, and acquainted the Board, that the King had been pleased to appoint Richard Edwards, esquire, to be Governor of Newfoundland, in the room of John Montague, esquire; and that it was his Majesty's commands, that this Board should prepare and lay before his Majesty in Council, a draught of a Commission and instructions for the said Governor.

The draught of a Commission appointing Richard Edwards, esquire, to be Governor of Newfoundland, having been prepared accordingly, was approved, and a representation to his Majesty thereupon was signed.

Ordered, that draughts of instructions for Richard Edwards, esquire, be prepared with all convenient dispatch.

Trade.

Read the two following Orders of the Lords of the Privy Council, vizt.,
fo. 50.
Order referring the petition of John Fraser, praying leave to export to Quebec, on board the ship Hope, sundry military stores, for trade in that province.
Order referring the petition of Benjamin Lester, praying leave to export to Newfoundland, sundry military stores, for the use of the fishermen by the different vessels engaged in that trade.

Their lordships, upon consideration of the two foregoing 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 having been prepared, were approved, transcribed and signed.

West Florida.

The Secretary laid before the Board the draught of a letter to Peter Chester, esquire, Governor of West Florida, upon the subject of fees to be taken on all grants of lands in that province, prepared pursuant to order of the 2nd instant, which having been approved, was transcribed and signed.

fo. 51.

Tuesday, March 16th. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Greville, Mr. Eden, Mr. de Grey.

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

Plantations General.

fo. 52.

Read a memorial of his Majesty's subjects, the principal inhabitants of the Mosquito Shore, and the British merchants trading thereto, for themselves and in behalf of all others forming a part of his Majesty's Colony of Jamaica there, setting forth, that by their memorials of the 26th January and 12th February last to Lord George Germain, they have stated the national importance of the settlements on the Mosquito Shore, and the present precarious situation they labour under; but beg leave now to confine themselves in their address to this Board, to the special injury they suffer by what they conceive to be a misconstruction of the Act of the 6th of George the Second, Chapter 52, in denying them the liberty of importing into Great Britain, sugar, rum, etc., by loading them with the foreign duties mentioned in that Act; that they have fully set forth the merits of their case in a memorial to the Lords of the Treasury, which they herewith present to this Board, and pray that their Lordships will introduce it to the Lords of the Treasury, and support it with such effectual recommendation as may procure attention and relief.

fo. 53.

Their Lordships having taken the said memorial into consideration, Mr. White, who attended on behalf of the memorialists, was called in, and acquainted, that it was not within the practice of this Board to introduce to the Treasury, papers which relate to the publick revenue; but if the Lords of the Treasury, after receiving the memorial from Mr. White, should desire to have the opinion of this Board, and should accordingly request the said memorial to be considered by them, they should be ready to give their opinion to the Lords of the Treasury thereupon.

West Florida.

Their Lordships resumed the consideration of the several memorials relating to the establishment of a new Court of law at the Natchez, and having made some progress therein, it was resolved to be further considered at another meeting.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following publick papers, vizt.,
Minutes of Council of West Florida from the 10th of January to the 11th of February, and from 2nd of March to the 25th of April. 1778.
Minutes of the Upper House of Assembly of West Florida from the 6th of June to the 5th of November, 1778.
fo. 54.
Journal of the House of Assembly of West Florida from the 1st of October to the 5th of November. 1778.

Leeward Islands.

Read a letter from William Mathew Burt, esquire, Governor of the Leeward Islands, to the Board, dated December 18th. 1779, transmitting the following publick papers with his observations thereon: and acquainting their lordships, that by the absence of Messieurs Turnbull. Fahie and Leonard, he had been obliged to appoint Mr. Octavius Nibbs to be of the Council for the Virgin Islands; and from the infirmities of Mr. Musgrave, he had likewise appointed Mr. Duberry to be of the Council of Montserrat, both which appointments he hoped would meet with their Lordships' approbation, and that they would recommend the said gentlemen to his Majesty.
Antigua.
Minutes of Council of the Island of Antigua from April 13th to September 24th, 1778.
Two Acts passed in Antigua in September, 1778.
fo. 55.
Montserrat.
Minutes of Council of the Island of Montserrat from the 11th of April to the 30th of September. 1778.
Minutes of the House of Assembly from 18the 18th of April to 1st October, 1778.
One Act passed in the Island of Montserrat in October. 1778.
Nevis.
One Act passed in the Island of Nevis in November, 1778.
St. Christopher's.
Two Acts passed in the Island of St. Christopher in July and October. 1778.
Virgin Islands.
Minutes of the House of Representatives of the Virgin Islands from 21st October, 1777, to 6th August, 1778.

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

Trade.

Read the three following Orders of the Lords of the Privy Council, vizt.,
fo. 56.
Order dated the 10th March, 1778. referring the petition of Francis Minoch, praying leave to export to Oporto, on board the ship Nostra Senhora de Socorro St. Antonio e Almas, sundry ordnance and stores, for the use of a Portugueze ship building there.
Order dated 10th March. 1779, referring the petition of Davis, Strachan and Company, praying leave to export to Canada, on board the ship Canada, sundry military stores, for trade in that province.
Order dated 10th March, 1779, referring the petition of Phillip Sansom, praying leave to export to New York, on board the ship Cornelia, sundry ordnance and stores, for the purpose of arming privateers.

Their Lordships, upon 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, was approved, transcribed and signed.

fo. 57.

Tuesday, March 23rd. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Greville, Mr. Eden, Mr. de Grey.

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

St. Vincent's.

Read a letter from Mr. de Grey to Mr. Cumberland, dated —transmitting, by direction of Lord George Germain, the following papers, vizt.,
fo. 58.
Letter from Valentine Morris, esquire, Governor of the Island of St. Vincent, to Lord George Germain, dated November 12th, 1778, acknowledging the receipt of his Lordship's letters of the 5th and 7th of August; and acquainting his Lordship, that he should prepare himself to obey his Majesty's commands to him to repair to England, and to satisfy the Lords of Trade in all such matters as related to his conduct in his government; in this letter he transmits the following papers received from Mr. Crooke, Speaker of the Assembly.
Seven affidavits of Duncan Campbell and Michael Keane, Luke Roch Phillips, Levi Porter, John Connor, Christopher Sunlay, David Drew, Robert Paul.
Attested office copies of certain papers marked A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H, mentioned in certain affidavits of Duncan Campbell and Michael Keane, esquires.
Letter from Governor Morris to Lord George Germain, dated St. Vincent, December 1st, 1778, informing his Lordship of the precarious state of the island, and the steps he had taken for its defence.
Letter from Governor Morris to Lord George Germain, dated St. Vincent's, December 18th, 1778, acquainting his Lordship of the attack made by Admiral Barrington on the Island of St. Lucia.
fo. 59.
Letter from Governor Morris to William Knox, esquire, dated December 29th, 1778, transmitting a printed Gazette of St. Vincent's of the 26th of December, 1778.
Letter from Governor Morris to Lord George Germain, dated St. Vincent's, December 29th, 1778, acquainting his Lordship, that he had issued his Majesty's proclamation to embody the strength of the island, and of the conduct of the Assembly thereupon; in this letter the following papers were transmitted.
Extracts from the minutes of Council of the 9th and 12th of November, and 17th and 22nd of December, 1778.
Extracts of the minutes of Assembly. 22nd December, 1778. assent to Governor Morris by that body. [See folio 126.]
Extracts of certain minutes of the Council. December 23rd, 1778.
Copy. The General to the gentlemen of the Assembly. December 24th, 1778.
fo. 60.
Copy of a letter from Governor Morris to the Clerk of the Assembly, requesting copies of the minutes of the Assembly, 22nd December, 1778.
Copy of a letter from Gilbert Hilcock, esquire, Clerk of the Assembly, to Governor Morris, in answer to the above, December 23rd, 1778.
Copy of a message to the Governor from the Assembly, December 24th, 1778.
Copy of a letter in answer to one of Governor Morris from the Clerk of the Assembly, saying that he could not deliver copies of the minutes of that House, December 28th, 1778.
Copy of a letter (fn. 1) from William Crooke, esquire, late Speaker to the late Assembly, requiring copies of the minutes of that House, December 28th, 1778.
Copy of a letter from William Crooke, esquire, Speaker to the late Assembly, to Governor Morris, refusing copies of the minutes of the late Assembly. December 28th. 1778.
fo. 61.
Copy of the minutes of the Council, containing its answer to the Governor's demand of their advice and opinion in several matters, particularly of the resolution of the Assembly on the 22nd December, 1778.
Copy of a letter to Governor Morris from Lieutenant Colonel Gurley and Major Haffey of the Northern Regiment of Militia, refusing to hold a court martial on persons who had neglected and refused to do duty on the present alarm, December 28th, 1778.
Proclamation for assembling, arming and mustering the inhabitants of St. Vincent's. December 13th, 1778.
Letter from Governor Morris to Lord George Germain, dated St. Vincent's. January 1st, 2nd and 3rd, 1779, acquainting his Lordship with the state of the island, and transmitting.
Copy of a letter from Admiral Barrington, dated St. Lucia. January 2nd, 1779.

fo. 62.

Leewards Islands, Virgin Islands.

Printed Gazette of St. Vincent's of the 19th December, 1778.

Ordered. that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared, recommending that Robert Hunter, esquire, may be appointed of the Council for the Virgin Islands.

Thursday, March 25th. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Greville, Mr. de Grey.

Georgia.

fo. 63.

Lord George Germain, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, attended, and signified his Majesty's commands, that this Board should prepare and lay before his Majesty in Council, a draught of an additional instruction to Sir James Wright, baronet, Governor of his Majesty's Province of Georgia, empowering him to nominate the Lieutenant Governor, the Chief Justice, and ten other persons to be of the Council of that province; and the said draught having been prepared accordingly, was approved, and a representation to his Majesty thereupon was signed.

West Florida.

Pursuant to the resolution of the 16th instant, their Lordships again took into consideration the memorials relating to the establishment of Courts of inferior Jurisdiction at the Natchez; and it was ordered, that the draught of a letter to Governor Chester upon that subject should be prepared.

fo. 64.

Monday, March 29th. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. de Grey.

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

Quebec.

fo. 65.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of his Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council for Plantation Affairs, dated March 27th, 1779, directing that this Board do forthwith prepare and lay before the Lords of the Committee, the draught of two additional instructions to Frederick Haldimand, esquire, Governor of his Majesty's Province of Quebec, conformable to what is proposed in the representation of this Board of the 2nd of March last, relative to the amoval of Peter Livius, esquire, from the office of Chief Justice of the said province; the one enjoining and requiring the said Governor to comply with his Majesty's royal will and pleasure signified in the seventh article of his Majesty's general instructions; and the other explaining the second article of his Majesty's general instructions, respecting the trusts, powers and privileges intended to be reposed and vested in his Majesty's Council for the said province.

Their Lordships having taken the said Order into their consideration, and the draughts of two additional instructions to the Governor of Quebec, having been prepared agreable to the directions in the said Order contained, they were approved, and a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs thereupon was signed.

fo. 66.

Tuesday, March 30th. Present:—Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Gascoyne, Mr. Greville, Mr. de Grey.

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

Trade.

Read the two following Orders of the Lords of the Privy Council, dated 24th of March, 1779, vizt.,
Order referring the petition of Robert Sinclair, praying leave to export to Cork, sundry military stores, on board the ship Concord.
Order referring the petition of Jefferies. Randall and Street, praying leave to export to Newfoundland from Poole, sundry military stores, on board the different vessels fitting out there, for the use of the fishermen.

fo. 67.

Their Lordships, upon consideration of the two foregoing 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, having been prepared, was approved, transcribed and signed.

Virgin Islands, West Florida.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, recommending Robert Hunter, esquire, to be of the Council for the Virgin Islands, having been prepared pursuant to order, was approved, transcribed and signed; as was also a letter to Peter Chester, esquire, Governor of the Province of West Florida, prepared pursuant to the minute of the 25th instant, directing the mode to be pursued for establishing Courts of inferior Judicature at the Natchez.

fo. 68.

Quebec.

Read a memorial of Le Compt Duprée. James Hughes, esquire, and others, coheirs of the late Francis Brouague, esquire, of Quebec, praying to be put in possession of certain lands on the Coast of Labrador, of which they were disposed by General Murray in the year 1760.