of a dated November 7, erected a Council of Trade) estaCreation blished a "Council of Foreign Plantations," to sit in Council of the Star Chamber at Westminster, and altogether Foreign Planta- distinct from the Privy Council. This Patent sets tions, by Charles II, forth that the King, having provided for the general state and condition of trade, navigation, and foreign commerce of his several kingdoms, &c., is also mindful of his Colonies and foreign Plantations, which were settled and carried on by authority of commissions, &c., of his predecessors, and, thereupon, appoints a Standing Council, giving them full power to take into their consideration the present and future state and condition of the several foreign Plantations. The instructions to the said Council are as follows:They are commanded— 1. "To inform themselves of the state and condition of all foreign Plantations; by what commissions they are and have been governed and disposed of; to procure copies of commissions and grants, to be transcribed and registered in a book. 2. "To forthwith write letters to all the Governors, &c., of the English Plantations, informing them of the creation of a General Council of Trade, wherein their concernments are mingled and provided for with the rest of the King's dominions, and especially to inform them of this particular Council, which is applied only to the inspection and conduct of foreign Plantations. 3. "To require the Governors, &c., to send an account of their affairs and constitution of their laws and Government. 4. "To order and settle a continual correspondence, so as to be able, as often as required, to give to the King an account of the Government of each Colony and of their complaints. 5. "To use prudential means for rendering those dominions useful to England, and England helpful to them, and for bringing the several Colonies and Plantations within themselves into a more certain and uniform way of civil government, and for better ordering and distributing public justice among them. 6. "To inquire diligently into the several governments and councils of the Colonies, Plantations, and distant dominions belonging to other princes and States, and to examine by what conduct and policies they govern or benefit them. If such councils be good and practicable, to be Colonies. applied to our own 7. "To call to their assistance from time to time, as occasion may require, experienced persons, whether merchants, planters, seamen, artificers, &c. 8. "To inquire into the strict execution of the late Act of Parliament for Encouraging and Increasing of Shipping and Navigation. 9. "To inquire touching emigration, and how noxious and unprofitable persons may be transplanted to the general advantage of the public and commodity of our foreign Plantations. 10. "To take care to propagate the Gospel; to send strict orders and instructions for regulating and reforming the debaucheries of planters and servants; to consider how the natives, or such as have been Union of the Councils of Planta purchased from other parts to be servants or slaves, may be best invited to the Christian faith. 11. Lastly: "To advise, order, settle, and dispose of all matters relating to the good government of the foreign Plantations, according to their best skill; and, in all cases in which they shall judge further powers to be necessary, to address themselves to the King or Privy Council for further directions." It is with reference to this Council that we find the following entry in Evelyn's Diary under date of February 28, 1671:-"The Treasurer acquainted me that His Majesty was graciously pleased to nominate me one of the Council of Foreign Plantations, and to give me a salary of £500 per annum to encourage me.' In 1672, by patent 24 Car. II., the business of the two Councils of Trade and of Plantations were tions and united, by erecting a board, called the "Council of of Trade. Trade and Plantations." The Earl of Shaftesbury was appointed President, and Lord Culpepper VicePresident of this Council. The patent, dated Sept., 1672, sets forth that the King's dominions had been considerably increased of late years by the accession of many great Colonies and Plantations in America and elsewhere, and that the customs and revenues, as well as the trade and wealth of the King's subjects at home and abroad, had much increased by mutual traffic and commerce between the King's dominions and Colonies and Plantations, as also by their several foreign and domestic trades respectively, and, there * See also subsequent entry of May 26, 1671. fore, for the improvement, encouragement, and protection of the same, erects a Select Council to take care of the welfare of the said Colonies and Plantations and of the trade and navigation of the King's dominions, domestic and foreign, and of his said Colonies already belonging, or that might come into the King's hands, wheresoever situate (except Tangier). Any five of the Council to be a quorum, whereof the President or Vice-President to be one, except in particular cases, when certain others, particularly named, being present, or one of them with four others might be a quorum in the absence of the President and Vice-President, to act according to the authorities contained in the commission and instructions therewith sent, or according to other authorities and instructions which, from time to time, might be sent to them, under the King's signet or signmanual, and to certify the results of their resolutions or any propositions submitted to them by the King for consideration and determination. Every member of the Council to be sworn before being admitted according to the oath recited in the patent (except the Privy Councillors who had been sworn). The salary to the President was £800, to the Vice-President £600, and to nine other members £500 each per annum. Evelyn appears to have been also a member of this Council, from the following entry in his Diary of September 1, 1672:- Now, our Council of Plantations met at Lord Shaftesbury's (Chancellor of the Exchequer) to read and reform the draught of our new patent, joining the Council of Trade to our political capacities." In 1677, by patent 26 Car. II., and bearing date December 21, the above commission of 24 Car. II. was revoked, and their papers, &c., directed to be delivered up to the clerk of the Privy Council. An interval of twenty years now occurred, during which it may be presumed that the functions of the Committee of Council appointed by the first-cited order of July 4, 1660, were resumed with reference to such colonial affairs as came within the scope of their authority. In 1695, by patent dated December 16, William III. revived the Council of Trade and Plantations, and appointed Commissioners, whose authority was afterwards, from time to time, renewed. The Commission issued under this last-mentioned patent of 7 Wm. III., was for promoting the trade of the kingdom generally, and inspecting the Plantations in America and elsewhere; and for this latter purpose the Council were directed to take under their care all records, grants, and papers remaining in the Plantation Office, or thereto belonging; to inform themselves of the present condition of the Colonies, as well with regard to the administration of the Government and justice in those places, as in relation to the commerce thereof; to look into the usual instructions given to Governors of Plantations, and to see if anything might be added or omitted; to take account yearly of the administration of the Governors, to con |