their lessees, or tenants, or other persons deriving from or under them, for the planting young trees, and preserving them on their respective lands and proportions, by the Society's renouncing and disclaiming all manner of right thereto; and to desire the said Companies to testify, respectively, their consent and approbation, that each Company should have, and be entitled to the benefit of, the trees, so planted or to be planted; and that the same should be applied and disposed of to the uses and occasions of their own lands and estates only; to the end, that so good and beneficial a design might be forthwith proceeded on, and carried effectually into execution; and it was recommended to the several members of the Society, to further the same with their respective Companies. The Companies afterwards made their returns to the Society, signifying their concurrence in the proposed measure. 26th February.-Alderman Lambert was Governor.

The Society granted £100 for the relief of the poor of Londonderry and Coleraine.

12th June, 1740.-The Society made a resolution, that, for the future, every Treasurer should, within month at furthest after his going out of office, and another being chosen in his room, make up and pass his accounts with the Society; and pay the balance, if any should be remaining due from him thereon, within that time, to the succeeding Treasurer.

3d July.—The Lord Chief Justice Singleton, (late prime Serjeant) undertook to settle all the differences existing in the Corporation of Londonderry, respecting their by-law as to the election of members, and other matters; and he afterwards transmitted to the Society a by-law which he had prepared.

8th August.-The Corporation of Londonderry passed an act of Common Council, repealing the former by-law; and sent a transcript, under their common seal, to the Society, which was accordingly approved and ratified, and a certificate thereof returned to the Corporation.

31st September.-The Corporation shortly afterwards made certain by-laws, in conformity with the directions of the Lord Chief Justice, which they sent to the Society, who approved the same, under their common seal.

14th November.-A school was established by the Society in Coleraine, for teaching poor children, gratis, to read, write, and comprehend accounts; and Mr. Joseph Young was appointed master, with a salary of £20 per annum.

6th January.-A piece of plate of the value of one hundred guineas, was ordered to be presented to the Lord Chief Justice Singleton for his late services on the Society's behalf; but the Society could not, by any means, prevail upon him to accept it, although they made, repeatedly, the most earnest solicitations to him for that purpose, and had procured it to be made, being a silver cup and cover.

29th January.-A letter was sent from the Corporation of Londonderry, signed by the Mayor and twenty-six Aldermen and Burgesses, signifying, that as they were disposed to conform to what they should understand would be agreeable to the Society, they had filled the two places of Aldermen, and two places of Burgesses that remained vacant, in the manner that the Society and the Lord Chief Justice Singleton had been pleased to recommend; and they prayed the Society to renew the payment of the £90. 10s. per annum, which formerly had been allowed by the Society to the Corporation, together with the arrears from the year 1736.

17th March. All the timber on the Society's plantation was ordered to be cut down this season.

4th June, 1741.-The Society agreed to execute a disclaimer to the chief Companies, of all their right to the timber. 4th August. It appears that twelve parts were prepared and sealed by the Society; and an order was given, that the same should be delivered to the respective Companies, who had made returns to the statements transmitted to them by the Society. It does not appear that any application was made

to the Haberdashers' Company, they having sold their proportion. The following is a copy of the instrument :

"The Society of the Governor and Assistants London, of the new Plantation in Ulster, within the realm of Ireland, being sensible, not only of the great decay, but almost total consumption of the timber and woods, formerly standing and growing on the several proportions of land belonging to the respective twelve chief Companies of London, &c. in Ireland; and that there hath been a very great and almost general neglect and disregard, for many years past, to the planting of young trees, either by the said Companies or their tenants, or other persons deriving from or under them, for the raising and providing a further supply and stock of timber, for the uses and occasions of the Plantation; and having cause to believe, that the chief hindrance and discouragement to the planting of young trees, hath arisen and been occasioned by the said Companies or their tenants, or other persons having or claiming a right to the said lands, being apprehensive that such young trees, if planted, when they should grow to and become timber, might be claimed by the said Society, and disposed of by them in such manner as they shall think fit, to the prejudice of those by whose care and labour such trees shall have been planted and preserved; in order, therefore, to the removing such distrusts, apprehensions, or discouragements, and giving all possible encouragement to so useful and beneficial a work, as the planting of trees on the said lands, which will manifestly conduce not only to the good of the Plantation in particular, but to the benefit of the said kingdom in general, as well as to shew the strict regard the Society have to justice and equity; and in pursuance of, and for the perfecting their said good intentions therein, conformably to a representation lately made by the said Society to the said Companies, and their several returns, testifying their consent and approval thereof; the said Society do hereby declare and agree, that all young trees or saplings, which

of

have been planted within the space of fifteen years, and are now growing, or that shall hereafter be planted and grow, on any the said lands or proportions of the said respective Companies as aforesaid, shall not at any time or times hereafter be claimed by the said Society or their successors, either when the same shall be, or become timber, or otherwise, nor shall be disposed of by them, to or for the benefit of any of the estates or proportions of any other of the said Companies, their tenants, or other persons, deriving or claiming any estate or interest under them; nor be taken or assigned by the said Society, to or for any other use or uses whatsoever; but the same shall and may, from time to time, and at all times hereafter, be cut down, had, and taken, by the said respective Companies, and their several grantees or assigns only; so as the same be applied and disposed of, in the first place, for and towards the building and reparations, or other necessary use or uses of their respective estates, holden or derived from the said Society, any exceptions or reservations contained in any grants or conveyances heretofore made by the said Society to the said respective Companies, or any of them, in respect to timber, &c. notwithstanding. In testimony whereof, the said Society have caused their common seal to be hereunto affixed, the 4th day of August, in the year of our Lord, 1741."

17th November.-The Chief Justice Singleton, being inflexibly determined not to accept the present of plate intended for him, it was given to the city of London, for the use of the Mayor for the time being, with an appropriate inscription.

14th January.—The Committee proposed, that the Quay at Coleraine should be entirely enclosed, at the charge of the Society, for the benefit of the traders and inhabitants. All goods and merchandize imported, to be free from any duties or impositions for quayage or otherwise.

28th January.-A most important report was made, relative to the market-house, freedom from tolls, and various other

matters in Coleraine. In which report are contained the following words: " And we are of opinion, that in case the said intended market-house, &c. shall be built and completed, at the charge and contribution of this Society, the said Corporation shall be obliged to maintain and keep the same, from time to time, in good and sufficient repair; and as sheds or stalls may be proper to be in and erected, chiefly for the vending and exposing to sale, flesh provisions, we recommend such to be provided, as are used and found convenient in divers market towns in this kingdom, viz. moveable ones, which may be taken down and replaced on every market day; and ought to be taken care of and preserved by those to whose use and benefit they shall be appropriated. And it is our opinion, that no new or additional fee, toll, or duty whatsoever, shall be exacted, demanded, or taken of any person or persons resorting to, and vending their goods and commodities at the said market, either for the use of the said market-house, or such stalls, sheds, or other conveniences, to be provided as aforesaid; it being the chief view and intent of this Society, to promote thereby the good and benefit of the said town, and the inhabitants thereof."

2d February. The Society granted £700, and thirty-five tons of timber, for building a market-house at Coleraino. The plan was designed by Mr. Dance, the architect.

9th February.-Appointment of Mr. William Bedell, secretary assistant.

18th February. It was ordered, that the treasurer should give security, by bond, for £1000, or transfer stock.

July.-Inquiry was directed to be made, whether the Society had the power of making general benevolent contributions.

23d September, 1742.-An additional £10 a year was granted to Londonderry school-master; but provided, that the Corporation made a like additional advance, to be continued so long only as theirs did.