Newfoundland question. Report on the petition. (_Cal._,
Sec.Sec. 362, 850.)

_March 8._

Estimate sent (and probably received on same day) by officers of
ordnance regarding ammunition, etc. for Leeward Is. (_Cal._, Sec. 445.)

_March 10._

Report on Newfoundland petition, made on March 2, read. (_Cal._, _Dom._,
1671, under Mar. 10.)

_April 27._

Petition of Ferdinando Gorges read. (_Cal._, Sec. 512; See _Cal._, _Dom._,
1671, April 27, Slingsby to Williamson.)

_May 22._

Robert Mason's first petition to the Council; divers relations
concerning New England, with observations of the commissioners lately
employed there, read. (_Cal._, Sec. 512.)

_May 26._

"The Earl of Bristol's house in Queen's Street (Lincoln's Inn Fields)
was taken for the Commissioners of Trade and Plantations, and furnished
with rich hangings of the King's. It consisted of seven rooms on a
floor, with a long gallery, gardens, etc. This day we met the Duke of
Buckingham, Earl of Lauderdale, Lord Culpeper, Sir George Carteret, Vice
Chamberlain, and myself, had the oaths given us by the Earl of Sandwich,
our President. It was to advise and counsel his Majesty, to the best of
our abilities, for the well-governing of his Foreign Plantations, etc.,
the form very little differing from that given to the Privy Council. We
then took our places at the Board in the Council Chamber, a very large
room furnished with atlases, maps, charts, globes, etc. Then came the
Lord Keeper, Sir Orlando Bridgeman, Earl of Arlington, Secretary of
State, Lord Ashley, Mr. Treasurer, Sir John Trevor, the other Secretary,
Sir John Duncomb, Lord Allington, Mr. Grey, son to the Lord Grey, Mr.
Henry Broncher, Sir Humphrey Winch, Sir John Finch, Mr. Waller and
Colonel Titus of the Bed chamber, with Mr. Slingsby, Secretary to the
Council, and two clerks of the Council, who had all been sworn some
days before. Being all set, our Patent was read, and then the additional
Patent, in which was recited this new establishment; then, was delivered
to each a copy of the Patent, and of instructions; after which we
proceeded to business.

The first thing we did was to settle the form of a circular letter to
the Governors of all his Majesty's Plantations and Territories in the
West Indies and Islands thereof, to give them notice to whom they should
apply themselves on all occasions, and to render us an account of their
present state and government; but what we most insisted on was, t