Minute Book: July 1698 | British History Online

Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 13, 1697-1698. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1933.

Citation:

'Minute Book: July 1698', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 13, 1697-1698, ed. William A Shaw( London, 1933), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol13/pp98-105 [accessed 23 November 2024].

July 1698



July 1, forenoon Cockpit, Treasury Chambers.	Present: Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Smith, Sir Thomas Littleton.
	The Malt [Lottery] tickets of 10l. each and a 10l. prize beginning No. 49331 [is] produced per Mr. Mitford and being certified per Mr. Crumpton to agree with the book but not being signed per the Teller or his clerk when issued are nevertheless directed by my Lords to be paid in their course.
	The Postmasters [General are] to attend on Tuesday morning about Mr. Mitford's [Exchequer Bills] (in the margin [Malt Lottery] tickets) said to be purloined at the [Post] Office. (Ibid, p. 195.)
July 5. forenoon Cockpit, Treasury Chambers.	Present: Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Smith, Sir Thomas Littleton.
	Mr. Hutcheson, Mr. Tollet and Mr. Clayton [attend] with Mr. Herne about Exchequer Bills.
	[Write] to the Earl of Ranelagh to pay 600l. to my Lord Fairfax for a year's pension due at Xmas last upon the Establishment of the Forces: [to be paid] out of the first money the Earl shall reserve [sic for receive] applicable to that [service]. (Ibid, p. 196.)
July 6, forenoon Cockpit, Treasury Chambers.	Present: Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Stephen Fox.
	Mr. Bell to be paid 80l. due on his order.
	The house of the Mint [at Bristol is ordered] to be restored to the city of Bristol. The report of the charges of the said Mint is to be looked out.
	The Attorney General sends to acquaint my Lords that he is detained by business in Westminster Hall and cannot conveniently attend my Lords about the hearing between the Victuallers and Mr. Green. My Lords order that the Attorney General and the Victuallers attend to-morrow sevennight about the said Green.
	Mr. Marshall to be collector of Carlisle loco Mr. Huddleston, Mr. Moreau to be recommended to the Customs Commissioners for a landwaiter's place London port loco Mr. Boileau. (Ibid, p. 197.)
eodem die, afternoon Cockpit, Treasury Chambers.	Present: the King; all the five Treasury Lords.
	The Earl of Ranelagh [attends and] his [weekly] memorial [for money for the Forces] is read.
	The account of the sums voted and granted in the last session is read.
	Mr. Blathwait comes in.
	The King says he has with Mr. Blathwait prepared an Establishment of Subsistence [for the Forces] which is as low as it can be at present. It is 6700l. a week which is about 350,000l. per an.
	[My Lords] to attend the King on Friday night and prepare an abstract of all the Irish papers. And an abstract to be made of the English papers.
	The state of Lord Griffin's debt [as formerly Treasurer of the Chamber is] to be sent for.
	The King approves the Surveyor [General of Crown Lands'] proposition for raising about 2000l. towards the wall &c. at Windsor.
	A warrant [is ordered] for a new Commission of Excise with blanks [for the names].
	[Write] to the Admiralty, Navy Board and Victuallers to meet my Lords on Friday morning at the Cockpit.
	[Write] to Mr. Hall to be at the Cockpit tomorrow morning.
	[likewise to] Sir William Scawen [to be there] then. (Ibid, p. 197.)
July 7, forenoon Cockpit, Treasury Chambers.	Present: Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Stephen Fox, Sir Thomas Littleton.
	Mr. Briggs and Mr. Whitley [attend]: their commissions to be prepared.
	Mr. Humphreys and the Auditor of Wales [are] to be heard relating to the Alienation accounts on this day fortnight.
	The widow of Mr. Justice Combes [is] to be paid to the day of her husband's death. (Treasury Minute Book X, p. 198).
July 8, forenoon Cockpit, Treasury Chambers.	Present: all the five Treasury Lords; Earl of Orford [Navy Treasurer], Mr. Preistman, Sir Robert Rich; Sir Geo. Rooke, Sir John Houblon, Mr. Kendall [of the Lords of the Admiralty].
	The Navy Commissioners attend: 200,000l. will put the ships out of pay that are to be paid [off] but then there must be weekly money for recalls. The price now demanded for hemp is 26l. per hundredweight which my Lords think very high.
	The Victualling Commissioners come in. Their memorial is read representing that they have had no money this thirteen weeks &c.
	Mr. Papillon acquaints my Lords that 30,000l. is absolutely necessary to be supplied and that, besides, money must be supplied weekly otherwise they shall be obliged to give extraordinary prices for some species of [provisions].
	The Chancellor of the Exchequer thinks twere best to discharge the men intended to be paid off as fast as can be to lessen the charge of the Victualling &c. from thenceforward.
	Mr. Smith observes that if the [Parliamentary] funds produce [the full anticipated amount of] what they are given for [by Parliament] they will not answer the occasions by near 1,600,000l.
	My Lords direct tallies to be struck on the Quarterly Poll for 265,000l.; to wit 250,000l. for discharging quarters [of the Forces] in England from 1696–7 Jan. 1 and 15000l. for such uses as my Lords shall approve.
	[Order for] 500l. to be imprested to Mr. Townsend for the charges of the Commission and Charter for the new East India Company. (Ibid, p. 199.)
eodem die, afternoon Kensington.	Present: the King; all the five Treasury Lords.
	The Earl of Ranelagh and Mr. Blathwait [attend]. The Earl's memorial for distribution of 700,000l. [for the Forces] is read.
	My Lords represent to the King by word of mouth the present state of the Navy in regard of the moneys due for wages, victuals &c. and what is necessary for sinking the growing expense and the necessity there will be for money for the recalls.
	The King says the most necessary things in the Earl of Ranelagh's memorial are the weekly subsistence and 48354l. 2s. 6d. to pay Mr. Hill's bills towards clearing the debts due for bread, forage and other services in Flanders.
	There is no resolution [taken herein] but my Lords will think of it in the best manner they can.
	The Establishment of the [General] Wardrobe is to be sent for.
	The King orders that henceforth all jewels be provided [by the Jewel office] in the same method and by the same [Lord Chamberlain's] warrants [duly countersigned by the Treasury Lords] as [are necessary for deliveries out of the said Jewel office of] the plate [for ambassadors &c].
	The number of messengers [of the Chamber is] to be reduced and a cheque to be put upon their bills [for travelling expenses, &c.].
	The King thinks of 15,000l. a year for the Duke of Gloucester.
	The allowance for the Hawks must be considered.
	The 10 Grooms on the Establishment of the Chamber is to be lessened.
	The King reads the Establishment of the Treasurer of the Chamber's Office.
	The charge of the Removing Wardrobe may be lessened.
	The King marks several articles on that [Chamber Treasurer's] Establishment which my Lords are to alter.
	A list to be made of all servants who have allowances or payments out of several offices [that is out of more than one office].
	The King reads the list of pensions.
	The King thinks [there are] many unnecessary servants on the Household Establishment. He reads it over.
	The King commands my Lords to consider how his [the King's standing expense or Civil List Government] expense may be lessened (p. 200).
July 11. forenoon Kensington	Present: the King; all the five Treasury Lords.
	The King is pleased to discourse with my Lords about settling the expense of the Civil List in [the particular of] the Household and other Offices.
	A regulation to be made of bills to be signed by the Lord Chamberlain.
	The King directs three things (1) to prepare the Establishments with such reducements as his Majesty hath spoken of: (2) to regulate the Lord Chamberlain's bills: (3) that those paid in several Offices be paid only in one Office.
	Examine how the creditors for entertaining the Ambassadors is so extravagant. (Ibid, p. 201).
eodem die, afternoon Cockpit, Treasury Chambers.	Present: all the five Lords.
	The drafts of the Commission and two charters for the two millions [East India Company subscription] to be subscribed are read and approved. {Ibid.)
July 12, forenoon Cockpit, Treasury Chambers.	Present: all the five Lords.
	Mr. Sheppard and other subscribers to the New East India Company [attend]. They object to the covenant to export a twentieth part in manufactures of England of the value they may trade for.
	They say it will defeat the subscription. They submit to a covenant that from Michaelmas 1698 one tenth part of the goods they shall actually send for India shall be in goods of the growth, product or manufacture of this kingdom.
	They object against the covenant for furnishing the proportion of 500 tons of saltpetre at 45l. per ton in time of war and 38l. 10s. 0d. in time of peace. They say this will discourage the subscriptions. They submit to a covenant that from Michaelmas 1700 they will furnish the said proportion yearly, the King paying for the same the prime cost with the freight, Duties and other charges to be ascertained from time to time by the oath of three or more of the Directors.
	My Lords consent to an extra allowance to encourage the subscriptions to the first million viz.:
	20s. per 100l. on the money subscribed 14–16 July 1698
	15s. " " " 18–19 " "
	10s. " " " 20–21 " "
	5s. " " " 22–23 " "
	2s. " " " to the end of the first month.
	Sir Henry Furnese, Sir Theodore Janssen, Samuell Sheppard, Gilbert Heathcott, James Bateman, Edward Allen, Joseph Martin, Thomas Vernon to be the Receivers of the subscription money or any five or more of them. Mr. Tailor is to take a bond of them in 200,000l. with condition to pay the money, by them to be received, upon tallies in course according to the Act or (in default of tallies) into the Exchequer and to give such account as the Act requires; and from time to time to observe the orders of my Lords for the better performance of their trust; and to give my Lords weekly an account of their receipts, payments and doings. (Treasury Minute Book X, p. 202).
July 12, afternoon Cockpit, Treasury Chambers.	Present: Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Stephen Fox, Sir Thomas Littleton, Mr. Pelham.
	[Order for] 50l. to be paid to Henry Killigrew out of Secret Service.
	Lady Ann Laton [is to have] 100l. per a warrant.
	Mr. Baker, Mr. Herne, Mr. Clayton and Mr. Everard [attend]. They present a report of the discovery of those that counterfeited Exchequer Bills. Johnson and Wiseman to be sent for up by habeas corpus.
	Desire the Attorney and Solicitor General to attend the Privy Council at 9 a clock tomorrow at Kensington with the drafts of the Commission and two charters relating to the two millions [East India Company subscription] to be advanced, the business requiring dispatch.
	Mr. Phillip Howard to have 10l. (Ibid., p. 203).
July 13, forenoon Kensington.	Present: all the five Treasury Lords.
	The Duchess of Cleveland comes in and desires the letter [of direction to the Auditor of the Receipt] may be signed upon the warrant for half a year upon her pension.
	The King comes in.
	The Earl of Ranelagh and Mr. Blathwayt attend. The Earl's [weekly] memorial [for money for the Forces] is read. The 16624l. 18s. 4d. in that memorial is to be provided.
	Memorandum: to bring next time his Lordship's memorial for distribution of 700,000l.
	The King directs my Lords to meet to-morrow with the Earl of Ranelagh and settle matters concerning his payments and particularly a sum of about 48,000l. on Mr. Hill's bills.
	[Write] to desire Sir John Talbot to come to the Treasury on Friday morning and Mr. Williams to attend then. (Ibid., p. 204).
July 14, forenoon Cockpit, Treasury Chambers.	Present: all the five Lords.
	[Write] to the Attorney General and the Victuallers to attend this day sevennight about Mr. Greene.
	[Write] Col. Vaughan [to attend] on Wednesday morning.
	Order for the issue to the Earl of Ranelagh of 5000l. out of the loans in the Exchequer on the Poll money, as in part of 10543l. 18s. 10d. for half pay to the disbanded officers to clear them to June 24 last.
	[Likewise for] the issue to the said Earl of 8312l. 9s. 2d. for a week's subsistence from July 17–24 inst; out of the like loans.
	[Order for] 10,000l. to the Victuallers out of the like loans whereof 6000l. [to be for the Victualling] course and 4000l. for imprests.
	[Order for] 1500l. for the Transports; out of the like loans.
	[Order for] 500l. to the Navy Treasurer; out of the like loans; towards repairing Dover pier: to be paid over (by a bill of imprest) to the Commissioners for building the said pier.
	[Order for] 5000l. to the Navy [Treasurer]; out of the like loans; for bills of exchange and imprest.
	[Order for] 6261l. 9s. 6d. to be issued to the Earl of Ranelagh for subsistence [of the Forces in England]; out of loans to be made by the said Earl on the Poll money.
	An order to Mr. Alexander How, Deputy Master and Worker of the late Mint at Bristol, to deliver to Mr. Yates the house at Bristol lately used for a Mint, with the partitions, floorings and other things thereto belonging except the implements belonging to the King or to the officers of the Mint [at the Tower: the assignment to be] to the use of the corporation of [for] the poor of the said city.
	Mr. Saiers is to have 10l. per week on his assignment from the Duchess of Cleveland. (Ibid., p. 205).
July 15, forenoon Cockpit, Treasury Chambers	Present: Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Smith, Sir Thomas Littleton.
	[No entry of any minute]. (Ibid, p. 206).
eodem die, afternoon Cockpit, Treasury, Chambers.	Present: Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Smith, Sir Thomas Littleton Mr. Pelham.
	[Order for] 500l. to Henry Baker out of the first money coming into the Exchequer for the Civil List.
	The money to be paid immediately to the men that go to the silver mines.
	[Write] to the Agents [for Taxes] to attend on Tuesday morning.
	Dr. Otes is called in. My Lords tell him that pursuant to the King's commands he is to have 500l. to pay his debts and 300l. per an. from midsummer last during his life and his wife's life out of the revenue of the Post Office; and he is to expect no more out of secret service money.
	Ordered that the said pension commence from Lady day last.
	Two lists of [payments amounting to] 3320l. 17s. 7d., and 2094l. 17s. 2d. or 5415l. 19s. 4d. in all is to be forthwith paid [the first total] for the servants that go with the King and [the second total for] others payable in the Treasurer of the Chamber's Office: thereof 3000l. [to be paid] out of money supplied by the executors of Dr. Richards and 2415l. 14s. 9d. by levying tallies upon the Commissioners for the [Two Million] Subscription Money.
	A sign manual [is ordered] for 500l. for the Earl of Oxford.
	The Commissioners for the Sick and Wounded are to attend with Mr. Povey this day fortnight about the vouchers necessary for discharging Mr. Povey's imprests. (Ibid.)
July 18, afternoon Kensington.	Present: all the five Treasury Lords.
	The Earl of Ranelagh and Mr. Blathwait [attend]. The Earl's [weekly] memorial [for money for the Forces] is read. The bills of Mr. Hill for 48354l. 2s. 6d. are [ordered] to be paid out of the funds of this year, being [included] within the sums voted [by Parliament] for the Flanders subsistence.
	The King orders that out of the funds of this year 650,000l. be applied to land service and 750,000l. for sea service and that the payments thereof be made to one service and the other promiscuously or hand in hand having [first] regard to such payments as will prevent a growing charge.
	[Ordered that] Count de Frize's warrants to the 2nd Feb. [last, amounting to] about 2000l. be paid out of [army] Contingencies.
	Monsieur Odyke's contingent warrants of 645l. and 960l. [are ordered] to be paid out of ditto.
	[Ordered that the] 3125l. and interest due to Mr. Stratford be paid as soon as may be.
	[Order for] 250l. to be paid to Monsieur Calliau on his Contingent warrant [warrant on Contingencies].
	The Duke of Gloucester's allowance is to be 15000l. per an. from Lady day last: to be paid to Sir Benjamin Bathurst during pleasure.
	The King recommends it to my Lords to go immediately on the retrenchment of the Civil List.
	The paper concerning the fees on the Household is approved.
	The King will have an undertaking for the meals [of the Household during the time] when he is abroad.
	Examine the Creditor for the entertainment of the French Ambassador.
	[Order for] 600l. a week to be paid to the Privy Purse.
	The Earl of Orford's [in the margin: Oxford] petition to be examined.
	The Earl of Lincoln: [order for to have] 200l.
	A list (delivered in by Sir Stephen Fox) of pensions is to be paid but what hath been already paid is to be deducted.
	Secretary Vernon [is ordered to have] 1500l. for attending the Lords Justices for [the intervals of the King's absences during the last] three years.
	[Order for] 500 guineas to be paid to Monsieur Germain "which the King owes him."
	[Order for] 200l. per an. addition to Mris. Tillotson [her pension].
	Mr. Harvey [his petition is read and] granted.
	Sir Robert Rich [his petition is read and] referred to the Surveyor [General of Crown Lands].
	Firebrace and Sheppard [their paper is read]. If there was such a bargain it must be complied with.
	[Order for] 3000l. to Lord Jersey. (Treasury Minute Book X, p. 207).
July 19, forenoon Cockpit, Treasury Chambers.	Present: Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Smith.
	The King's answers upon the three schedules of petitions are read and agreed [by my Lords] to be as his Majesty directed.
	The list of Receivers for the Poll money is read and settled.
	The Customs Commission to be renewed with Sir William St. Quintin to be added to it.
	A letter [of direction is to be sent to the Auditor of the Receipt] for 125l. to the Treasurer of the Chamber [for the King's alms] for the poor for midsummer quarter to be paid [distributed] by the Lord Almoner.
	[Order for the issue to the Navy Treasurer of] 13870l. lent on [the Duty on] coals: to be applied to wages: also for the 6873l. 9s. received for [?the like] Duty before June 24 [last] to go to wages.
	[Order for the issue to same of] 10,000l. out of loans on the Poll: to be applied to the Victualling; whereof 6000l. to be for the [Victualling] course and 4000l. for imprests.
	One week's subsistence 8312l. 9s. 2d. [for the Forces England is directed to be issued] to the Earl of Ranelagh according to his last memorial: out of loans on the Poll.
	Monsieur Lalohe to have 150l. out of loans on the Poll.
	[Order for] 300l. out of the Hackney Coaches money to Col. Farringdon in part of his arrears. (Ibid, p. 208.)
July 28, forenoon Cockpit, Treasury Chambers.	Present: Sir Stephen Fox, Sir Thomas Littleton, Mr. Pelham.
	[Order for] 29005l. 15s. 0d. out of loans on the 3s. Aid to be issued to the Earl of Ranelagh for disbanding.
	The Victuallers to accept the bills [of exchange drawn for victuals, &c.] for the ships Pool and Betty cruising off Lisbon; and my Lords will take care they shall be paid.
	[Order for] 2800l. to the Earl of Jersey going as Ambassador to France, 1500l. thereof for equipage and 1300l. for 3 months' ordinary entertainment: to be paid out of the two million [subscription]. An arrear of 2,200l. due to his lordship on his ordinary as [lately] Plenipotentiary for the Peace is to be paid in like manner.
	A warrant to be sent to the King [for signature] for 3000l. which said Earl is to receive by the King's order as of the King's bounty: to be paid out of the Four and a Half per cent. Duty.
	An order to the Customs Commissioners to send an officer to the [house of the] Earl of Jersey to visit his goods going for France.
	[Order for the issue to the Navy Treasurer of] 9710l. out of loans on [the Duties on] coals: to be for wages in part of 250,000l. appropriated [to that head].
	[Order for the issue to same of] 10,000l. out of loans on the third quarterly Poll: to be for the Victuallers whereof 6000l. for the [Victualling] course and 4000l. for imprests.
	[Order for] 511l. 4s. 7½d. due to several sheriffs for overpayments [in their sheriffs' accounts] as per list: to be satisfied by tallies on the two million [East India Company subscription].
	[The following draft royal warrants are] read and approved to be sent [abroad] to Mr. Blathwaite [to obtain the King's signature to same] viz.
	1. for 200l. a year addition to [the pension of] Lady Tillotson.
	2. for renewing the Commission of the Customs with Sir William St. Quintin in it.
	3. for allowing 1116l. 6s. 6½d. paid by former Chief Governors of Ireland.
	4. for Monsieur Puissar, for a grant in Ireland.
	The Attorney General comes in. Notice will be sent him when he is to attend about the business of Nicho. Green. (Ibid, p. 209.)