Committee on Trade and Plantations

Manuscript volumes containing copies of the minutes of the 'Committee of Council appointed for the consideration of all matters relating to Trade and Foreign Plantations', 3 Mar 1823-6 Feb 1827. Each volume contains an index of contents. It appears from the watermarks that the volumes were written later than 1826, possibly under the direction of William Huskisson, President of the Board of Trade.

In 1784, a new Committee of Council on Trade and Plantations was created by an Order in Council (Privy Council). Its functions were mainly consultative. As the Industrial Revolution gathered momentum, the department's work became mainly executive, and from 1840 a succession of statutes gave it power to regulate industry and commerce. It officially became the Board of Trade in 1861, though the title was in common use for a long time beforehand.

Five volumes.

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It was bought by Herbert Somerton Foxwell from Bailey Brothers in 1906, as an addition to the Goldsmith's Library of Economic Literature, initially collected by Foxwell and presented by the Goldsmith's Company to the University of London in 1903.

Collection level description.

Manuscript folios. Bound in vellum by John Smith, 'Accompt-Book Manufacturer and Book Binder to His Majesty's Stationery Office'. Volumes are watermarked 1824, 1826, 1824, 1826 and -- respectively. Fly leaves have 1829 watermark.

Compiled by Sarah Smith as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

This manuscript was thought by Herbert Somerton Foxwell to have come from the collection of William Huskisson (1770-1830), President of the Board of Trade from 1823-1827.

University of London MS 78 comprises a report by and earlier incarnation of the Committee on Trade and Plantations, 1703.

The Public Record Office, London, holds a set of the Minutes of the Committee on Trade and Plantations, 1784-1850 (Ref: B.T.5).