South five gun battery. 35 pofts and caps with framing, at 3s. Clay in the break water 5600 Filling, wheeling, &c. earth in 9 new platforms, oak plank three inch, at 31. 10s. A new ftair S. d. Sum total, including incidents, brought over 1621 5 3 Deduct 162 2 Total of the expence for one year, according to the preceding eftimates £. 57,122 2 81 Private bufinefs. January 21, 1777. January 22. Eftimates of invalids, officers' widows, &c. prefented. January 29. A petition from the committee of the company of merchants trading to Africa, being offered to be presented to the House; Lord North, by his Majefty's command, acquainted the Ld. Northe Houfe, that his Majefty, having been informed of the contents of the petition, recommends it to the confideration of the House. Then the petition was brought up, and read; fetting forth, "That the petitioners have laid before the House an account of the money granted for the year 1775, examined and paffed by the Curfitor Baron of the Exchequer, as required by an act of 23 George II. intitled, "An Act for extending and improving the trade to Africa ;" and that they have invefted the money granted in 1776 for the support and maintenance of the forts and fettlements on the faid coaft; and that, the faid forts and fettlements having been delivered to the petitioners in a very bad ftate by the Royal African Company, and the fums annually granted by Parliament being nearly expended in the civil and military establishments, leaving very little for the repairs of the faid forts, feveral of them ftill remain in a very ruinous condition; and that the Houfe in the year 1772, granted the fum of 2400l. to finish the repairs of Cape Coaft Caftle; but, in the progrefs of the work, the walls of the fort were found in fo very decayed a state, and fo many defects difcovered, that the petitioners have been unavoidably led into the expence of a much larger fum, and the repairs of the faid fort ftill remain unfinished, nor can the petitioners proceed therein until the House fhall enable them; and that, at the end of December 1775, the officers and fervants in Africa had advanced for the public fervice about 7000l. more than the petitioners have been enabled to repay them; and that the faid officers, have further advanced about 1200l. to the inhabitants of Lagoe and Mumford, two principal trading towns on the coaft of Africa, in order to preferve the commerce of thofe towns to the British nation, which advance the faid officers pray may be repaid them; and that the expence of freight and infurance on the goods and ftores fent to Africa this year will amount to near 1000l. extraordinary; and that the petitioners, being fenfible of the great regard fhewn by the Houfe for the British forts and fetVOL. VI. X tlements 1 Earl Nu gent. Mr. A. Bacon. Mr. Vyner. Mr. Gaf goyne. tlements on the coaft of Africa, therefore pray the House to take the premises into confideration, and grant fuch fum for the neceffary fupport and maintenance of the faid forts and fettlements, for repaying the officers and fervants the several fums of money advanced by them, and likewise for the repairs ftill wanted, as fhall feem meet." Ordered, that the faid petition do lie upon the table. Earl Nugent obferved, that the present ftate of the African Company called for particular attention; that regular demands were made every year in parliament, for grants to defray the civil eftablishment; befides particular ones, for the repairs of fortifications, &c. that certainly it was an object worthy of enquiry, to know how the money granted was expended; yet he could not recommend fuch an enquiry to parliament, in the prefent ftate of public affairs, when he recollected what happened on a former occafion. In the year 1775, the fame doubts exifted; a committee was appointed, and employed a great part of that feffion, it was a tedious affair, and answered very little purpose. He could not, therefore, think of proceeding in the fame manner now, particularly, as it might be fuppofed that matters of much greater confequence would call for the attention of parliament. On thefe general grounds he moved, "That an humble address be prefented to his Majefty, that he will be pleased to give directions, that the Board of trade may enquire into the present ftate, &c. of the African company. Mr. A. Bacon. was of the fame opinion, and that it was neceffary that the grant fhould precede any inquiry in that House. Mr. Vyner faid he well remembered the time alluded to by the noble Lord, and the Hon. Gentleman. He recollected feveral curious particulars of the company, fending out bricks or ftones to erect the fortifications; yet, by the accounts, he was forry to find, as well as by the petition, that the ftones or bricks were fo rotten, that inftead of repairing the fortifications of Cape Coaft caftle, they were in fo ruinous a condition, that they must be pulled down, and rebuilt from the very foundation. Mr. Gafcoyne fpoke against the conduct of the African company; and concluded that the grants of Parliament anfwered no one fubftantial purpose, but that of establishing a monopoly. The addrefs was agreed to; and the petition ordered to lie upon the table. Fanuary |