Minutes of HM Council: 15 August 1739

Att a Councill holden by adjournment at the house of His Excellency the Govr. on the 15th day of August 1739.

Present: His Excellency, Alured Popple, Esq, Govr.
Andrew Auchinleck Esq
Samll Burrows
Coll Francis Jones
Coll Nathl Butterfield
Leonard White Esqr
Nathll Bascome, Esqr
John Harvey Esqr.

A message from the House of Assembly by three members thereof was delivered to His Excellency in Councill in the words following vizt. That their House was mett according to His Excellency's adjournment and desired to know his pleasure therein.

Whereupon His Excellency the Governour sent a message to the House of Assembly that Mr Speaker and the whole House should immediately attend him in Council which message being delivered Mr Speaker and the House accordingly attended to whom His Excellency the Govr delivered his speech in the following words vizt.

The Councill have laid before me a dispute that lately arose between them and you during the consideration of the Small Pox Bill and a message from them with your answer uon the same subject.
That bill finally passed your house the 9th instant and being sent up to the Councill they thought some ammendments necessary they therefore desired a conference with you.
At this conference three of the amendmants proposed by the Councill were agreed to be incerted in the Bill if approv'd by the House and the Bill was sent back to your House that they might be inserted accordingly. But when the bill was returned to the Councill they found other additions besides those agreed to as aforementioned and alterations made therein without any notice given thereof to the Councill notwithstanding the Bill yett lay before them. The Councill therefore thinking their priviledges struck at by this proceeding sent you the message just now mentioned.
In your answer to this message you asserted your right to make alterations in any bills on the matter lying before your house for consideration. This is your undoubted right and I am persuaded the Councill will never interfere had any opposition been made thereto you would have found me zealous as any member of your House to have protected you in your just rights and privileges which I will always assert to the utmost of y power. But this bill passed as it was by your house and only returned to receive the alterations agreed to at the conference coulc never be deem'd a bill under your consideration.
I therefore you will seriously and calmly consider what I have said you will find that no attempt has made upon the priviledges of the Assembly and that the late warmth arose only from a mistake. Let me therefore recommend to you that both may drop together and that unanimity between both Houses may always promote the wellfare of Bermuda.

Adjourned to the afternoon.

Eodem Die. In the afternoon present the same members as in the forenoon. At which time the Council advised and recommended to His Excellency Saml Dickinson at the West Side a sufficient person to be commissioned as Lieutenant to Capt. John Gibbs who commands the West Side Fort. And Mr Charles Conyers as Lieutenant of Southampton Forts under the commande of Capt. Cornelius Hinson, Senr.

It was also desired by the Councill that His Excellency be pleased to remove such man or men now on duty at the Castle or Forts as shall hereafter be known to be negligent of his or their duty there and put inhis or their stead or place such person or persons as to him shall seem most proper for performing Duty at the said Castle and Forts.,br>

This day agreed with Capt David Seers to carry in his sloop to the South Side of Coll. Jones' land and Elbow Bay in Pagetts tribe three gunns and carriages from the Town Bridge and there land them above high water mark for the sum of five pounds allowing to him the use of the horse boat and a sufficient number of people for the purpose aforesaid more than his own vessells crew which consists of four besides himself.

Three members of the House of Assembly attending present to his Excellency the Govrs. speech to them delivered in ye forenoon in the words following vizt.

Bermuda. To his Excellency the Govr.
The answer of the Assembly to his Excellency's speech:
May it please your Excellency
Wee should be most ungratefull indeed not to embrace every opportunity in expressing our sincere and hearty acknowledgement for the great zeal you have constantly shown for the welfare of these Islands.
We do assure your Excellency wee will do our utmost endeavour to avoid warmth whereby mistakes may arise and prevent that happy unanimity that has subsisted so long between both houses so much for the happiness of Bermuda and shall take the speedyeste and most proper methods for that purpose.
August 15th 1739. By the order of the House, Henry Tucker Speaker.

And at the same time delivered the following message vizt.:
That their house desired that this Board would be pleased to appoint a Committee thereof to meet a committee of their House in order to hold a conference. It being asked what such conference related to, it as answered by one of the said members that was on some special matter.

And the Councill now sends the following answer to the aforesaid message in the words following.
The Councill are ready to appoint a committee according to their desire as soon as they are informed waht they are to confer upon.

Adjourned to tomorrow morning.