Minutes of HM Council: 11 August 1739

King George II

Bermuda, At a conference holden at the house of Mr John Slater in St Georges on the 11th day of August 1739 concerning the Negro Bill.

Present: The Honourable:
Samll Burrows
Nath. Bascome
John Harvey Esqrs.
of the Council

of the Assembly:
Major Outerbridge
Mr Thos. Dickinson
James Jauncey Esq
Capt Benj. Harvey
Cornelius Hinson Esq

It is of the opinion of this joynte committee that the said Negro Bill be not amended.
John Slater Clk to the Committee

Mr Stephen Judkins Bill of Charges getting the guns mounted on St Katherines Hill amounting to six pounds twelve shillings and eightpence, passed and allowed by this Board.

After which a Bill instituted "An Act for Raising a Sum of money for the payment of the Publick Debts of the Islands" was concurred by the Council.

Adjourned to the afternnon.

Eodem Die. In the afternoon present, the same members as in the forenoon except Colonel Nathaniel Butterfield

The members of the House now attending this Board present thereto the Resolution of their House which was read in the words following vizt.

Gentlemen of the Council,
The Assembly is under the utmost concern that after the great harmony that has subsisted between both houses there should not at last arise the least occasion for the reflection you have been pleased to throw upon them by your last message they are so far from encroaching upon your privileges that they have only done what is their undoubted right to do, vizt. to alter a bill upon their own table before concurred to or rejected by the Council. They are afraid that should they not insist upon this point it would be giving up at once all the rights and privileges of that part they make of the Legislative power for which reason they have been obliged to come to the following resolution.
By the General Assembly
Resolved that is the undoubted right and privilege of this House to alter any Bill or other matter that lyes upon their table for consideration and that every bill returned by the Council for ammendment id before this House and not before the Council.
Vted and passed the Assembly this eleventh day of August 1739
John Slater, Clerk to the Assembly

George Tucker Dept. Secretary was then directed by the Council to wait on the House of Assembly and desire of them to appoint a committee of their House to meet Andrew Auchinleck, Esq, Col. Francis Jones, Leonard White, and Samll Burrows Esqrs, who are appointed a committee of this Board at the House of Mr John Slater immediately in order to hold a conference concerning the said resolution which being done the committee accordingly withdrew in order to proceed in such conference. Some small time after-ward returned the Committee of this Board from the conference aforsd who made the following return

Bermuda. At a conference of the Committee of both houses holden at the house of Mr John Slater in St Georges on Saturday the 11th day of Augt 1739 in relation to the reslution of the House of Assembly for the attention and amendment of the Bill relating to the small pox, this afternoon presented to the Councill by three members of the siad House of Assembly.

Present: The Honoble
Andrew Auchinleck, Esq
ColFrancis Jones
Leonard White
Samll Burrows
of the Councill

of the Assembly:
Major Jona. Outerbridge
Major Thomas Gilbert
Robt Hutcheson Esq
Mr Robt Brown
John Tucker Esq

Agreed too by their joynt committee that the following proposall be laid before both houses for their consideration.

That a conference held between the two houses by Committee upon any Bill and amendment agreed upon by them that none of the houses can make any alterations in the Bill but what is agreed upon by the said Committee without further conference upon the affair, after the Bill has been before both Houses and that the sd. bill was not return'd to the House for consideration or amendment but to insert the alterations agreed by the joynt Committee if approv'd of.
Samll Smith Clerk of the Committee

A message from the House of Assembly desiring his Excellency to adjourn them to Tuesday next being the 14th inst. His Excellency the Govr, ordered Geo. Tucker Dpt. Sectr. to go and acquaint the House that he adjourned them to Wednesday the fifteenth inst. by ten of the clock in the forenoon adjourned to Wednesday next.