6-7 EDWARD VII., A. 1907 to a matter of so delicate a Nature as this of Religion; And that you will, as far as you can, consistently with your Duty in the Execution of the Laws, & with the Safety of the Country, avoid every Thing that can give the least unnecessary Alarm, or Disgust, to His Majesty's new Subjects. PASSING GOVERNORS' COMMISSIONS.1 AT THE COURT AT ST. JAMES'S the 7th day of October 1763 Present The King's most Excellent Majesty &c &c Upon reading this day at the Board a Report from the Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs dated the 6th of this Instant humbly offering to His Majesty for His Royal Approbation four Draughts of Commissions prepared by the Lords Commiss" for Trade and Plantations for the Honourable James Murray Esq' to be Governor of Quebec, James Grant Esq' to be Governor of East Florida, George Johnstone Esq' to be Governor of West Florida, and Robert Melvill Esq' to be Governor of Grenada, Dominico, St Vincent and Tobago-His Majesty taking the same into Consideration is pleased with the Advice of His Privy Council to approve of the said Draughts of Commissions (which are hereunto annexed) and to order as it is hereby Ordered that the Right Honourable the Earl of Halifax one of His Majestys Principal Secretarys of State do cause Warrants to be prepared for His Majestys Royal Signature in order to pass the said Commissions under the Great Seal of Great Britain. Upon reading this day at the Board a Report from the Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated the 6th of this Instant humbly offering to His Majesty for His Royal Approbation a Draught of a Commission prepared by the Lords Commisss for Trade and Plantations for Montagu Wilmot Esq' to be Captain General and Governor in Chief of His Majestys Province of Nova Scotia in America-His Majesty taking &c ut Antea. ADDITIONAL CLAUSES IN NEW COMMISSIONS.? 4th November 1763 Georgia Present The Kings Most Excellent Majesty &c. &c Whereas there was this day read at the Board a Report of His Order approving an Majestys Attorney General dated the 29th of last Month together with a Draught of an Instrument prepare'd by him revoking such part and so much of the Commission appointing James Wright Esq' Instrument for ex tending the Southern Boundary Line 1 Copied from Privy Council Register. Geo. III., P. 117. 2 Copied from Privy Council Register. Geo. III., p. 139. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 18 The Com" to Wright to be Governor of the Province of Georgia bearing date the 4th day revoking that dated, of May 1761, which doth any way relate to or concern the Limits and 4. May 1761 is dated Bounds of the said Province, and appointing new* Bounds ad Limits 24 January 1761 to the said Province whereby the Southern Boundary Line is extended to the most Southern Stream of a certain River called St Mary— His Majesty taking the same into Consideration, is pleased with the Advice of His Privy Council to approve of the said Draught of an Instrument (which is hereunto annexed) and to Order, as it is Southern boundary hereby Ordered, that the Right Honourable the Earl of Halifax One In the Com" of 20 Jan 1764 quoting that revoked the River Alatamaha is mentioned as the 4th Nor. 1763 New Commicons Lett from the Atty of His Majestys Principal Secretarys of State do cause a Warrant to be prepared for His Majesty's Royal Signature in order to pass the said Instrument under the Great Seal of Great Britain.— Upon reading this day at the Board a Letter from M' Attorney General to the Right Honourable the Earl of Halifax, one of His Gen. for making an Majestys Principal Secretaries of State, praying that an Addition Addition to the Clause relative to Commissions should be made to the Clause in the Commissions for the Governors of Quebec, Grenada, East Florida, and West Florida relative to the granting Lands --It is Ordered by His Majesty in Council that the said Letter and addition (which are hereunto annexed) Be, and they are hereby Referred to the Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs to consider the same and Report their Opinion thereupon to His Majesty at this Board At the Council Chamber Whitehall the 11th day of November 1763By the Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs Your Majesty having been pleased by Your Order in Council of the 4th Instant to referr unto this Committee a Letter from Mr Attorney General to the Right Honourable the Earl of Halifax one for making an Addition to the clause in of Your Majestys Principal Secretarys of State proposing that the the Cominicons for following Addition may be made to the Clause in the Commissions Scotia, Quebec, East (approved by Your Majesty in Council on the 7th of last Month) for Florida, West Florida the Governors of Quebec, Grenada, East Florida, West Florida, and Nova Scotia relative to the Granting Lands-Viz the Gov of Nova and the Grenada's relative to the Granting Lands Instrucons "Which Instructions, or any Articles contained therein, or any “such Order made in Our Privy Council, so far as the same shall "relate to the Granting of Lands, as aforesaid, shall from time to “ time, be published in the Province, and entered of Record, in like manner as the said Grants themselves are hereby directed to be "Entered." The Lords of the Committee in Obedience to Your Majestys said Order of Reference this day took the said Letter and addition into their Consideration, and being of Opinion that the same is proper and necessary, do therefore agree humbly to Report, that it may be adviseable for Your Majesty to cause the said Addition to be inserted in all the aforementioned Commissions accordingly. 11th Nov. 1763— The Lords of the Committee, in Obedience to Your Majestys said Order of Reference, this day took the said Representation and npon Draughts of Draughts of Instructions in their Consideration, and finding that the Instrucons for the Govt of Quebec, East Said Draughts of General Instructions contain all those Articles Florida, West Florida usually given to the Governors of Your Majesty's American Colonies and Islands respectively, which are necessary for, and applicable to these New Governments, together with such others as appear to tend to promote the Settlement and Improvement of them, And that the *The boundaries here described agree with those given in Wright's Commission of 24 Jany 1764. and the Grenada's. 6-7 EDWARD VII., A. 1907 Draughts of Instructions for the observance of the Acts of Parliament for the encouragement and Regulation of Trade and Navigation are exactly comformable to the Instructions given to the Governors of Your Majestys other American Colonies and Plantations.-Their Lordships do therefore agree humbly to lay the said Draughts of Instructions before Your Majesty for Your Royal Approbation. AT THE COURT AT ST. JAMES'S the 14th day of Novemr 1763 Present The King's most Excellent Majesty &c &c. Upon reading at the Board a Report from the Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs dated the 11th of this Instant upon considering a Letter from M Attorney General to the Right Honourable the Earl of Halifax One of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State proposing that the following Addition may be made to the Clause in the Commissions (approved by His Majesty in Council on the 7th of last Month) for Order for making an the Governors of Quebec, Grenada, East Florida, West Florida and Nova Scotia relative to the granting Lands-Viz' Commissions Addition to the Clause in the new Gov Commicons relative to the Granting Lands App "Which Instructions, or any Articles &c-" And the Lords of the Committee being of opinion that the said Addition is proper and necessary to be made in the said Commissions, His Majesty this day took the same into Consideration, and was pleased with the Advice of His Privy Council to approve thereof and to order as it is hereby Ordered, that the Right Honourable the Earl of Halifax one of His Majesty's Principal Secretarys of State, do cause the said Addition to be inserted in all the aforementioned Commissions accordingly— COMMISSION OF CAPTAIN-GENERAL & GOVERNOR IN CHIEF OF THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC.1 Commission to be Captain General and the Province GEORGE THE THIRD by the grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and so forth; To our Trusty and well beloved James Murray Esquire, Greeting. We, reposing especial trust and Confidence in the prudence, Courage Governor in chief of and loyalty of you the said James Murray, of our especial grace, Certain Knowledge and meer motion, have thought fit to Constitute and appoint, and by these presents, do Constitute and appoint you, the said James Murray to be our Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over our Province of Quebec in America. Boundaries of the Bounded on the Labrador Coast by the River Saint John, and from thence by a line drawn from the head of that River through the lake Saint John to the south end of Lake Nepissin, from whence the said line Crossing the River Saint Lawrence and the lake Champlain in Forty five Degrees of Northern Latitude, passes along the high act according to the lands which Divide the Rivers that empty themselves into the said powers and directions River Saint Lawrence from those which fall into the sea, and also of this Commission & according to the along the north Coast of the Bay des Chaleurs and the Coast of the Gulfts of Saint Laurence to Cape Rosieres, and from thence, Crossing The Governor is to Kings Instructions 1 Copied from the Register of Commissions in the office of the Secretary of State, Canada. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 18 the Governor the mouth of the River Saint Lawrence by the west end of the Island of Anticosty terminates at the aforesaid River Saint John. Together with all the Rights members, and appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging. And we, do hereby require and Command you to do and execute all things in due manner that shall belong to your said Command and the Trust we have reposed in you, according to the several powers and Directions granted or appointed You by this present Commission and the instructions and authorities herewith given unto you, Or by such other powers instructions or authorities as shall at any time hereafter be granted or appointed under our Signet and Sign Manual, or by our Order in our Privy Council, and according to such reasonable laws and statutes as shall hereafter be made and agreed upon by you with the advice and Consent of the Council and Assembly of our said Province under your Government, in such manner and form as is herein after expressed. And our will and pleasure is that You the said James Murray do Oaths to be taken by after the publication of these our Letters patent, and after the appointment of our Council for our said province in such manner and form as prescribed in the instructions which you will herewith receive, in the first place take the oaths appointed to be taken by an act passed in the first Year of the Reign of King George the First Those appointed by Intitled (an act for the further security of His Majesty's Person and 1. Geo. 1. Declaration against popery Stat 25 Car: 2d Government, and the succession of the Crown, in the Heirs of the late Princess Sophia, being protestants, and for extinguishing the hopes of the pretended Prince of Wales, and his open and secret abettors) as also that you make and subscribe the Declaration mentioned in an act of Parliament made in the twenty fifth Year of the Reign of King Charles the Second Intitled (an act for preventing Damages which may happen from Popish rescuants) and likewise that you take the oath usually taken by our Governors in other Colonies for the due execution of the Office & Trust of our Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over our said province, and for the due & impartial administration of justice; and further that you take the oath required to be taken by Governors of the Plantations to do their utmost that the several laws relating to Trade and Plantations. Oath to observe the be duly observed which said oaths and Declarations our Council of laws relating to Trade and Plantations. our said Province, or any three of the members thereof, have hereby full power and authority, and are hereby required to tender and administer to You. Oath of Office : All which being duly performed you shall yourself administer to each of the members of our said Council, and to the Lieutenant the Counsellors & Governors of Montreal & Trois Riviéres the said Oaths, mentioned Lieut Governors Oaths to be taken by of Montreal & Trois Rivieres in the said Act Intitled (an act for the further Security of His Majesty's person & Government and the succession of the Crown in the Heirs of the late Princess Sophia, being protestants, and for extinguishing the hopes of the pretended Prince of Wales, and his open and secret abettors) and also Cause them to make and subscribe the aforementioned Declaration, and also shall administer unto them the usual Oaths, for the due execution of their places and trust. And We do further give and grant unto you the said James Power to administer Murray full power and authority from time to time, and at any time or to authorize others hereafter by Yourself, or by any other to be authorized by you in this person in the Province behalf, to administer and give the Oaths mentioned in the said act the Oaths appointed (for the further security of His Majesty's Person and Government. by Stat 1. Geo: I. and the succession of the Crown in the Heirs of the late Princess Sophia being Protestants, and for extinguishing the hopes of the to administer to any Power to keep & use the publick seal holders 6-7 EDWARD VII., A. 1907 pretended Prince of Wales and his open and secret abettors) to all and every such person and persons as you shall think fit, who shall at any time or times pass into our said Province or shall be resident or abiding there. And we do hereby authorize and Impower you to keep and use the Publick seal, which will herewith be delivered to you, or shall be hereafter sent to you, for sealing all things whatsoever that shall pass the Great seal of our said Province. And we, do hereby give and grant unto you the said James Murray full power and authority with the advice and Consent of our Power to call an assembly of the Free- said Council to be appointed as aforesaid, so soon as the Situation and circumstances of our said Province under your Government will admit thereof, and when & as often as need shall require, to summon and call General Assemblies of the Freeholders and Planters within your Government, in such manner as you in your Direction shall judge most proper, or according to such further powers, Instructions, and authorities as shall be at any time hereafter granted or appointed you under our Signet and Sign Manual, or by our Order in Our Privy Council. The Members of such assembly shall take the Oaths appointed by Stat: 1 Geo: I; and the declaration against popery And our will and pleasure is, That the persons thereupon duly Elected by the Major Part of the Freeholders of the respective parishes, or precincts, and so returned, shall before their sitting take the oath mentioned in the said act intitled (an act for the Further security of his Majesty's person & Government and the succession of the Crown in the Heirs of the late princess Sophia being protestants, and for extinguishing the hopes of the pretended Prince of Wales and his open and secret abettors) as also make and subscribe the forementioned declaration: Which oaths & declaration you shall Commissionate fit persons under the publick seal of that our province, to tender and administer unto them and untill the same shall be so taken and subscribed, no person shall be Capable of sitting though Elected. And we do hereby declare that the persons so Elected & Qualified power to make Laws shall be called the Assembly of that our province of Quebec; and that you the said James Murray, by & with the advice and Consent of our said Council and Assembly, or the major part of them, shall have full power & authority, to make, Constitute or Ordain, Laws Statutes & ordinances for the publick peace, Welfare, & good Government of our said province, and of the people and Inhabitants thereof, and such others as shall resort thereunto and for the benefit not repugnant to the of us our heirs & successors which said Laws Statutes and OrdiLaws of Great Britain nances are not to be repugnant, but as near as may be agreeable, to the laws & Statutes of this our Kingdom of Great Britain. Provided that all such Laws Statutes and Ordinances of what The Laws so made to nature or Duration soever they shall be within three months or sooner after the making thereof, Transmitted to us, under our seal of our said province for our approbation or disallowance of the same, as also duplicates thereof by the next Conveyance.- be transmitted to England within three months And in Case any, or all of the said Laws Statutes and Ordinances not before Confirmed by us, shall at any time be disallowed and not approved, and so signified by us, our Heirs, and Successors, under our, or their Signet and sign Manual, or by order of our, or their privy Council, unto you the said James Murray or to the Commander in Chief of our said Province for the time being; Then such and so many of the said Laws, Statutes, and Ordinances, as shall be so disallowed, and not approved, shall from thence forth cease determine |