Minutes of HM Council: 10 August 1739

At a council holden at the house of His Excellency the Governor on Friday the 10th day of August 1739.

Present: His Excellency Alured Popple, Governor
and the same members as yesterday

This day the Committee appointed to audit the Secrys Powder Account returned the same to the Board audited accordingly whereupon the said Secretary was sworn to the said account and he accordingly discharged thereof.,br>

This day several Members of the Board (or any three of tem) were appointed a committee to inspect such of the laws of Great Britain as they shall think proper to be put into force in these Islands and to make a report of such inspection the first Tuesday in next month.

Three members of the4 House of Assembly this morning attending this Board present thereto two bills the one intituled "An Act to prevwent the spreading of the samll pox which may at any time hereafter be brot into these Islands".

And the other "An Act for the raising a sum of maoney for payment of the publick debts of these Islands" for the concurrence of the Council.

The latter return'd to the House not concurr'd to by the Council the former being very long, ordered to lodge with the Board for consideration.

This Act intituled "An act for the better security of all such as are lawfully possessed of any Negro or other slaves in these Islands whereby to secure their lawfull rights; interest and property of in and to the same" laid before the Board the 7th day of Sept. last for the concurrence thereof and then ordered to lodge with this Board for further consideration; being this day called for and read, and still ordered to continue with the Board.

The severall members of this Board this day did desire of his Excellency the Governor that he would be pleased to use his interest in getting the Stocking Act repealed for the following reasons vizt. The whoever should at any time or are agrieved by or at the Stocking Act or finding their Negro or other slaves from his or their service they may apply him or themselves to the Common Law for remedy.

The Governors proposalls for the Secretary Clks of the Council and Assembly to give in security for their due performance of such places and trusts, yesterday laid before the house for their approbation was by three members of the House returned to this Board this day, approved by the Assembly.

Upon reading the Act relating to the smallpox (this day presented to this Board for concurrence) Mr George Tucker Deputy Secrty was ordered to waite on the house and desire they would appoint a committee of their house to meet a committee of this Board (to be appointed) at the house of Mr John Slater forthwith in order to have a conference concerning the said Act.

Committee of this Board appointed for this occasion are as follows:
Col. Nath Butterfield
Nathl Bascome Esqr
John Harvey Esqr

Three members of the house attending this Board delivered the following message vizt. that their house had appointed a committee thereof according to the desire of this Board, and would have been more expeditious therein but that their house was very busy at the time they received the message, and at the same time presented to the Council for their concurrence a Bill intituled "An act for raising a sum of money for the payment of the Publick Debts of these Islands".

Adjourned to tomorrow morning.