Minutes of HM Council: 2 October 1739

Att a Council holden at the house of His Excellency the Govnr on Tuesday the 2nd day of October 1739.

Present:
His Excellency Alured Popple Esq Govnr
Andrew Auchinleck
Coll. Francis Jones
Coll. John Butterfield
Leonard WhiteEsqr
Saml BurrowsEsqr
Wme. Riddell Esqr

No business then offering the Councillors adjourned to the afternoon.

Edom Die In the Afternoon (Present)
His Excellency Alured Popple Esq Govnr
Andrew Auchinleck
Coll. Francis Jones
Coll. John Butterfield
Leonard White Esqr
Samll Burrows Esqr
William Riddell Esqr
Nath Bascome Esqr
John Harvey Esqr

Captain Saml. Trott of Hamilton Tribe presented to his Excellency in Councill a petition which was read in the words following.
Bermuda
To His Excellency Alured Popple Govr and Commander in Chief of the said Islands.
The humble petition of Samll Trott of Hamilton Tribe Gent
Sheweth that your petitioner being a freeholder of the said Tribe was nominated as a person to be chosen as a representative for the same and would have been actually chosen one of the representatives thereof but your petitioner sheweth that the persons now returned to serve as members in the ensuing Assembly took illegal courses therein contrary to the laws of Great Britain and these Islands and thereby defeated your petitioner of his just rights for which cause your petitioner hath petitioned the Honourable House of Assembly to be heard as to the said members election now controverted by your petitioner.
Therefore your petitioner humbly prays your Excellency would suspend the qualification of the persons returned for the said Tribe until your petitioner's right is properly determined.
And your petitioner shall ever pray
Samll. Trott

Soon after which severall representatives lately elected and returned to serve as Assembly-men for these Islands pursuant to the writts of Election lately issued for that purpose being mett in St Georges three of the said Representatives waited on his Excellency in Councill and acquainted him thereof, desiring at the same time to know his pleasure.

His Excellency answered that he would soon send an answer whereupon his Excellency signed a Dedimus directed to the Honourable Andrew Auchlinleck Esqr, Coll. Francis Jones, members of council for qualifying of all and every of the representatives returned as aforesaid except those returned for Hamilton Tribe.

Whereupon they withdrew in order to proceed on such qualification.

A message from the House of Assembly is now presented to his Excellency the Govnr. in Councill by three members thereof acquainting him that their House had made choice of a Speaker, whereupon his Excellency returned for answer by the same member that he directed that the House present him for approbation.

The house thereupon immediately attended and acquainted his Excellency the Govr that they had chosen Capt Henry Tucker their Speaker which choice his Excellency approved of and spoke to the Councill and Assembly in the words following vizt.

Gentlemen of the Councill, Mr Speaker, and Gentlemen of the Assembly.

I have for some time past been in daily expectation of receiving orders from his Majestie relating to the rupture between Great Britain and Spain but altho I have not yett received them I think it my duty to call you togther and to propose some things wherein I imagine the safety of these Islands is concerned particularly in relation to such forts as guard the entrance into the Castle and this Harbour.

Since your last meeting I have inspected both and having considered the situation and consequences of each of them I shall lay before you my opinion relating thereto.

During the last sitting of Assembly it was thought necessary that the merlons belonging to Smith's Fort should be rebuilt and I had given directions accordingly but having since reviewed that place, I am of opinion a small battery of seven guns placed upon the little head will be of infinite more consequence from it situation because its not only in a greater protection to the Entrance to this Harbour but is a safeguard to the south east and of Daviss Island where any number of men may be landed without its being possible to give them any disturbance from Smith's Fort.

For these reasons, I have already mounted three guns on the little head and am desirous of erecting a battery there which will be effected at an easier expense then the repairing of the merlons at Smith's Fort from whence I propose to move four guns to the Little Head to compleat the Battery of Seven and in this case the aforementioned merlons will only be required to be new-faced.

As to the Castle the upper platform is become so very ruinous that is unsafe to give the guns mounted thereon and will require a large expense to be rebuilt strong enough to be of any service but as the height of the platform renders it of little service except as a look-out and as nature has almost completed a much more serviceable battery on the samll island where the Old Castle formerly stood, i am of opinion that four of the guns from this platform should be moved thither which with the two already there will compleat a serviceable battery of six guns and be attended with a very small expense.

Although his Majesty has invested me with full powers to do with the advice of the Councill what I have now mentioned not doubting but the Genl. Assembly of these Islands will cheerfully pass such Acts as may be requisited for carrying on a work wherein their common security and benefit are so much concerned yett I have chosen first to mention to you what I think essentially wanting that you may as near as may judge of the expense before it is incurred.

As I flatter myself you cannot think I have any view in the expence I am sorry to be obliged to propose to you that the General good and safety of these Islands on that I am any way concerned but in seeing the work faithfully performed I hope you will as cheerfully enable me to do it as I shall the forwarding this or anything else that I may have power to do for your advantage.

It may not be improper to remind you that at the last meeting some acts at that time thought of consequence were not pass'd whatever may be events of your deliberation upon these subjects let me desire that you will reflect that you are mett to serve your country and that calmness in your debates and unanimity in your determinations are the only effectuall means to bring about that good end.

John Lewis Esq having made a breach of an order of his Excellency in Councill of the 16th August last the Councill advised his Excellency to order the sd Lewis to appear before him tomorrow morning to shew reasons why he had not observed the said order.

Adjourned to tomorrow morning.