1(10 Timehri. 



tigatiou of the Powers of Commanders of Vessels of War within the 

 Ports of these Islands, and that a letter stood on record from the 

 Eight Honourable The Lords Commissioners for Trade and Planta- 

 tions to Mr. Byng dated Whitehall, August 8th, 1740, inclosing the 

 opinion of Mr. Fane, their Oouncil-at-Law, 'That no ships or vessels 

 offending against the several Acts of Trade can be seized by His 

 Majesty's ships of War within the limits of an)' Port within the 

 territories of the respective Governors of His Majesty's Plantations." 

 The present affair (His Excellency said) was of such notoriety that 

 he could not but suppose the gentlemen now sitting with him were all 

 possessed therewith and knew as well of the seizures which the 

 said Captain Nelson had made while lying at anchor in Carlisle 

 Bay as of the subsequent Flagrant impropriety above mentioned ; 

 but that he thought it right to introduce it now before this Board, 

 to anticipate what might ensue from the steps he had taken to 

 counteract proceedings against the vessels in the other Islands, and 

 to acquaint the Board that he intended at a future season 

 to bring the matter more fully on for their advice and 

 opinion, whenever His Excellency shall arrive at the knowledge 

 of the full extent of Captain Nelson's Deportment." 



At a meeting on August 29 : — 



" His Excellency adverted to what stood in the minutes of last 

 meeting relative to Captain Nelson of His Majesty's Ship Boreas, 

 and informed the Board that he had since received the proceedings 

 of the Court of Admiralty of Nevis against the Vessels seized here 

 by Captain Nelson, which, as before related, he had taken from 

 hence without authority. That the Judge at Nevis had thought 

 himself competent to try the Vessels in his Court and that His 

 Excellency's claim to a share of them, upon condemnation, had there- 

 fore by his direction been put in in cue time; but the said Judge 

 had also thought proper to disallow and dismiss such claim of the 

 Governor of Barbados. His Excellency declared that from the 

 motive of supporting and defending the Rights of a Governor, and 

 being tenacious of his own privileges for the sake of his successors, he 

 had appealed from the sentence given in the Admiralty Court of Nevis 

 and had got the Appeal Papers which he took this opportunity 

 of showing to this Board previous to his sending them to England. 

 These papers being voluminous their Honours referred to some of 

 the most particular parts only as pointed out by His Excellency 

 the most remarkable in Captain Nelson's Conduct ; but recom- 

 mended it to him by all means to prosecute such Appeal, thanking 

 His Excellency for the communication." 



In the duplicate volume of the Council Minutes, copied with his 



own hand by Mr. Nathan Lucas — Judge Lucas of Farley Hill, — the 



Antiquary of Old Barbados adds the following interesting foot-note : — 



"When Captain j Nelson seized these vessels in Carlisle Bay, 



he desired the proper Officers to libel them directly as trading 



