Minute Book: March 1699 | British History Online

Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 14, 1698-1699. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1934.

Citation:

'Minute Book: March 1699', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 14, 1698-1699, ed. William A Shaw( London, 1934), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol14/pp63-69 [accessed 23 November 2024].

March 1699



March 1, afternoon. Kensington.	Present: Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Smith, Mr. Pelham.
	[Write] to Sir John Talbot that my Lords desire to speak with him on Friday morning.
	The King comes in.
	Lord Coningsby's memorial for 35,000l. is read: [order for] 12,000l. to be paid forthwith to him out of the loans on the Disbanding Act and my Lords are to speak with him about the method of paying this money to those of the officers of the French Regiments "which first appear."
	The Earl of Ranelagh is to make up the two accounts of the [Danish] General Officers and the Regiments of Guards of the Danish Forces. Refer the memorial to him.
	Refer to the said Earl and Mr. Blathwayt the memorial of the pretensions of the Dutch Guards.
	Mr. Johnston's petition [is read and] referred to the Lords Justices [Ireland].
	Lady Fretchville's petition is read: not granted.
	Lucius Visct. Falkland [is ordered to have] 100l.
	Capt. Lang [his petition is read]. Speak with the Prizes Commissioners to know what money of the Tenths of Prizes is in the hands of them or of the Navy Treasurer for medals, &c.; and see whether Capt. Lang can be rewarded out of that money.
	Capt. Mitchell [his petition is read]. My Lords are to consider him also when Capt. Lang is rewarded. Ibid., p. 79.
March 2, forenoon. Treasury Chambers, Whitehall.	Present: Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Pelham.
	Lord Coningsby [attends]. My Lords discourse [him] about the method of paying the money for disbanding [the] four French Regiments now in Ireland. It's concluded that the officers and soldiers now existent who have arrears due to them for the time from 1689 Sept. to 1692 April and afterwards to May 1693 do in the first place receive the money, due to them severally, upon their personal appearance. And to distinguish these officers and soldiers the muster rolls (when this pay becomes due) are to be compared with the muster rolls last taken.
	The Regiments are those of Galway's Horse and Le Meloniere; Lifford (late Cambon) and Belcastle, all Foot [Regi ments].
	Persons having any assignments from officers or soldiers dead or alive are to make their application here [in London] to make out the justice of their pretensions.
		£	s.	d.
	There is due in net money:
	to Galway's Regiment to 1691 Dec. 31	2261	15	8
	to Le Meloniere's to ditto	7361	16	4¹/8
	to Cambon's, now Lifford's, to ditto	7211	13	4¾
	to Belcastle's, to ditto	6416	12	0⁵/8
		23251	17	6½
	and to the last three Regiments from 1692 May 1 (when called out of Ireland) to May 1 1693 when put under the Earl of Ranelagh's care [of pay]	11561	7	6½
	Total	£34813	5	1
	The pay from 1692, May 1, to 1693, May is to be made by the same rates and with such deductions as the Earl of Ranelagh shall be directed to observe in the pay of these Regiments for the subsequent time.
	Mr. Abbot comes in.
	[Write] a letter to the Exchequer to issue in guineas at 22s. each 12,000l. to Lord Coningsby out of loans on the Disbanding Act as in part of the sum (not exceeding 35,000l.) on his order for disbanding four French Regiments in Ireland.
	[Order for] 76l. 11s. 6d. to Mr. Hume for half fees at the Exchequer on 2,800l. issued to Peter Hume to pay a bill of exchange from Sweden: to be paid out of secret service money. Treasury Minute Book Vol. XI, p. 80.
March 3, forenoon.	Present: Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Smith, Mr. Pelham.
	Sir John Talbot [is] called in. My Lords resolve not to sign any more orders or contracts for selling or conveying any fee farm rents till they are satisfied that there are sufficient rents left in the [hands of the] surviving Trustees to indemnify them [old purchasers] for double conveyed rents and to repair all defective rents conveyed; and till my Lords are fully satisfied that there are also rents enough left to answer all the pensions, stipends and other [fixed County] payments to vicars, curates and others which are to be paid out of the [Crown] land revenue. A copy of this [minute] signed by W[illiam] L[owndes] is to be given to Sir John Talbot.
	[Write] to the Prizes Commissioners that some of them attend on Wednesday morning about Mr. Gibbs.
	The Chancellor of the Exchequer comes in.
	[Order for] 20,550l. to be issued to the Earl of Ranelagh for three weeks' subsistence of the Forces from the 6th to the 26th inst.: to be issued by tallies on the Two Millions payable out of the ninth instalment thereof.
	[Order for] 12,913l. 9s. 3d. to be issued to the Ordnance for land services: to be issued by like tallies on the eighth and tenth instalments of the Two Millions.
	[Order for] Mris. Vaughan to have 100l. out of her husband's pension pursuant to the order in Council.
	[Write] to the Customs Commissioners to attend on Friday morning and to bring the papers concerning the owling trade. Ibid., p. 81.
March 7, forenoon.	Present: Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Pelham.
	[Order for] 10,049½ guineas to be received [at the Exchequer] from Mr. Hutcheson at 22s. each; having been so received [by him] upon account of the Customs [before the date of the vote] as per his certificate.
	A letter to be writ [to the Exchequer] for issuing 1,240l. to the Earl of Ranelagh: to be issued out of the purchase money of annuities: and to be for offreckonings of the Forces anno 1697.
	Also 1,379l. 13s. 3d. of the five other [small] branches [of the revenue]: to be for the Forces and to be reserved for such uses as my Lords shall direct.
	[Order for] Mr. Brunskel to have 20l. out of secret service. Ibid., p. 82.
March 8, forenoon.	Present: Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Smith, Mr. Pelham.
	[Order for] 100l. to the Agents [for Taxes]; for incidents: [to be issued] out of Civil List money [in the Exchequer].
	The fifth part (amounting to 3,461l. 19s. 2½d.) of the Messengers [of the Chamber's] bills, as in a list presented by Mr. Vanburgh is to be paid out of the tallies in the hands of the Treasurer of the Chamber. "This by the list signed is found to be 3,662l. 15s. 0d."
	[Ordered that] 400l. of the 1,379l. 13s. 3d. ordered yesterday to the Earl of Ranelagh is to be issued to Lord Coningsby for Col. Hastings according to the said Earl's report. Ibid., p. 83.
eodem die, afternoon. Kensington.	Present: the King, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Smith, Mr. Pelham.
	[Write] to the Directors of the Bank of England that some of them attend my Lords on Friday morning.
	The Earl of Ranelagh and Mr. Blathwayt [attend]. His lordship is to negotiate the tallies for subsistence on the ninth instalment of the Two Millions as cheap as he can.
	"The minutes concerning the house to be given to Sir James Forbes" [? are read].
	Col. Wood's petition is read and ordered.
	John Whitehead [his petition is read: order for] 20s. a week [to be paid] per Henry Baker.
	Mr. Pitt's petition and the Surveyor General's report [thereon] are read. The King thinks it hard for him to pay for the ground he has given away.
	Col. Farrell's petition is read. Sir Christopher Wren is to make an estimate.
	A list to be made of those instrumental in the escape of Charles II [from Worcester fight].
	[Order for] 200l. a week for 15 weeks to the Earl of Berkley's daughter [formerly a Maid of Honour], married to Mr. Chambers, till 3,000l. [marriage portion] be paid.
	[Order for] 200l. [to] Lord Castlehaven.
	[Order for] 50l. [to] Mris. Beauclair. Ibid., p. 84.
March 10, forenoon. Treasury Chambers, Cockpit.	Present: Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Pelham.
	[Order for] 80l. 5s. 0d. to be paid (out of secret service money) to the Treasurer of Christ's Hospital for so much paid to the Capitation [Poll] tax [on the said Hospital].
	[Order for] 20l. to be paid to the widow of Col. Arnolt Cooper.
	[Order for] Mr. Townsend's bill of 114l. 10s. 0d. to be paid out of secret service money.
	[Order for] 13l. 10s. 0d. to be paid to Mr. Travers for nine half years' rent (of the bargehouse) and 9s. for nine acquittances: to be paid over to the Receiver of the Archbishop [of Canterbury] for the bargehouse [for so much due] at Michaelmas last.
	[Order for] 36l. to Mr. Bernard Granville for the [Exchequer] fees on his rent [due to him for Mote Park].
	[Order for] a warrant to the Exchequer to receive from the Bank of England tallies on the Salt Duty for the 100,000l. which became due on their fund [for the year] 1696 May 17 to 1697 May 17; and to vacate the same and the counter tallies thereof; because that 100,000l. is [now] to be paid out of the Land tax of 1698 by an appropriation for that purpose. The tallies are to be brought to Mr. Tailor to examine the dates and sums in order to make this warrant. Treasury Minute Book Vol. XI, p. 85.
March 14, forenoon.	Present: Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Smith, Mr. Pelham.
	[Write] letters to the Exchequer and public offices to cause the directions of the Capitation Act to be observed [to wit] in stopping the tax out of pensions, salaries (payable at the Exchequer): "and transmit the copies of the list now given in from the Westminster [Assessment] Commissioners."
	Upon reading a report concerning the Comptrollers of the Mint my Lords say there never was any intention to give them any larger salary than Mr. Hoar had.
	[Write] to the Lords Justices [Ireland] (upon occasion of the letter from them to the Secretary [of State] recommending a grant to Count Dona of his wife's estate) that nothing ought to be done in order to obtaining a grant of lands in Ireland but by a petition to the King whereupon this [the Treasury] Board receives the King's pleasure to refer it to the Government there [Ireland] and by a report [from that Government] thereupon to this Board to be laid by my Lords before the King: and the reason why my Lords do not insist [on this routine] in Count Dona's case is because he desires nothing but his lady's estate.
	[The draft of] a letter to the Navy Board for [their ordering payment of] 2,554l. 18s. 0d. to the Marine Regiments is approved.
	The Chancellor of the Exchequer comes in.
	[Write] to Mr. Story to attend on Friday morning with Mr. Serjeant: and the Excise Commissioners will come again.
	[Send an] order to the King's Remembrancer to receive from Sir John Talbot all the contracts, rates, schedules, books and other writings relating to the sale of fee farm rents; and to take care that they be safely preserved for the King's service. Mention all the tallies and all those things in Mr. Digby's hands.
	Let this order be made to the Deputy Chamberlains and the tally writer. Let a warrant be directed to Sir John Talbot to call to Mr. Digby for these and to deliver them (with those in his own hands) as last [above] directed.
	[Write] to the Prizes Commissioners to attend on Friday morning with Mr. Gibbs. Ibid., p. 86.
March 15, forenoon.	Present: Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Pelham.
	[Write] a letter to Mr. Nicholas to give to the [Assessment] Commissioners for Whitehall for the 3s. Tax, a list of all the salaries and pensions paid by him.
	[Ordered that] 6,785 guineas mentioned in Sir Thomas Cudden's letter of the 11th inst. be received [at the Exchequer] at 22s. each. Ibid., p. 87.
March 17, forenoon.	Present: Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Stephen Fox.
	[Order for] Anne Chetwynd to have 10l. in part of her husband's arrear: to carry her into Ireland.
	The Excise Commissioners and Mr. Story [attend]. He says Mr. Serj[ean]t has finished the vinegar account for three years to 1692 June 24. So there are still two years to be done by him. Mr. Serjeant says they shall be finished in a fortnight or three weeks. Story says the General account [of Excise] for 1689 is with the Auditor and he [Story] is now on the account for 1690.
	The Commissioners say Story was to make up the General account to 1694 midsummer and the General Accountant should take them from thence.
	Mr. Story promises peremptorily that the General account for the two years ended 1691 June 24 shall be finished by June 24 next and that he'll make no failure in his promises.
	The Victuallers [attend]. My Lords say the bills of Admiral Aylmer for 10,000l. shall be paid as soon as my Lords have money applicable to such uses; and for what shall be wanting to their (the Victuallers) agent at Cadiz to carry on the service there my Lords will take care that the bills for the same shall be satisfied.
	Mr. Paschal and Mr. Gibs [attend]. The ship Providence, formerly an English ship, was taken by the French and re-taken by the Hawk by a letter of mart; was sold to Col. Gibson to the King's use who employed her (Gibs being master) to go from Newfoundland to New England for provisions: was forced by stress [of weather] to Plymouth where 67l. 16s. 4d. is due for repairs and wages. In regard she is an old ship of little value my Lords think it best for the King's service that if the King have any title in her the master Henry Gibbs may take the same or such interest as the King has therein in satisfaction of all wages and disbursements thereupon. (In the margin: A copy of this minute given to Mr. Gibbs).
	Mr. Paschall informs my Lords that the Prizes Commissioners continue to pay their own salaries except Mr. Vernon. They are Sir Roger Langley lately dead, Sir Edw. Ayscough, Sir Michaell Cole, Sir Jonathan Jenings, Mr. Parkhurst, Sir Robert Murray and Mr. Paschal. (In the margin: see the Minutes of 1697–8 March 15 when they promised to receive no more).
	[Write] a letter to the Ordnance that my Lords can give no orders to the Custom House for exporting of any goods Customs free, because all the Duties are appropriated.
	[Write] to the Prizes Commissioners to remind them of the direction given 1697–8 March 15 and their promise at that time: and direct them to be careful that they do not presume to pay themselves any salaries contrary thereto.
	[Order for] 500l. for secret service.
	[Write] to Mr. John Dutton Colt to attend this Board with all convenient speed.
	[Write] to the Auditors to lay before my Lords a state of all the accounts [they have in hand] and to be diligent in preparing for declaration all the accounts that are brought in [to them]; my Lords resolving that all effectual means shall be used in prosecuting the accountants that are in default.
	[Write] to Mr. Maryot and Mr. Shales and Mr. Hart to be here on Tuesday morning about mo[ney] said to be chargeable on Mr. Maryot of [the Crown] land revenues in Cos. Lancs., Westmorland and Cumberland. Ibid., pp. 88–9.
March 21, forenoon.	Present: Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Smith, Mr. Pelham.
	[Write] to the Customs Commissioners to permit the apparel and household goods of the Dutch officers upon their embarcation for Holland to pass freely so as they do not export any goods liable to Customs.
	The order for 12,300l. in the name of Francis Cornet [is directed] to be paid [as follows], viz. 4,000l. out of the Civil List money in the Exchequer and the remaining 8,300l. by tallies on the French Additional Duties to wit 8,000l. by 16 tallies of 500l. each to be paid weekly and the remaining 300l. in the 17th week.
	[Write] a letter [to the Exchequer] for issuing 600l. to Mr. Baker upon account of law suits; out of the first money coming in by seizures.
	The case of Count Dona and Mr. William Brown is to be heard by their Counsel on Friday next. Notice to be sent to both parties.
	[Write] a letter to the Customs Commissioners to transmit to them the two papers of the Victualling Commissioners for provisions they send for the service of the squadron in the Straits under Admiral Aylmer; and that my Lords have no objection against the passing the same as usually.
	[Write] a letter to the Revenue Commissioners [Ireland] transmitting to them Mr. Babe's submission, recommending him to be restored and to cause his additional salary of 100l. per an. to be paid from the time of his last payment to the day of his being restored, and from thence his salary and additional salary to be continued. Treasury Minute Book Vol. XI, p. 90.
March 22, forenoon.	Present: Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Smith.
	[Write] to Mr. Rupert Browne to be here on Friday.
	Nicholas Baker to have a warrant for 500l. [for Crown law suits].
	[Write] to the Navy Commissioners to be here on Friday morning about Mr. Fitch. Ibid., p. 91.
March 24, forenoon.	Present: Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Smith.
	The Navy Commissioners [attend]. They'll send Mr. Fitch's decree to W[illiam] L[owndes] to-morrow or this afternoon.
	Mr. Browne to be here on Tuesday morning. Ibid., p. 92.
eodem die, afternoon. Kensington.	Present: The King, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Smith.
	The Earl of Ranelagh presents a memorial which is read.
	[Order for] 140,000l. to be issued to the Earl of Ranelagh out of the loans in the Exchequer [on the Disbanding Act]: to be for the disbanding and such other services designed by Parliament as shall be directed [by my Lords]: and after the issuing of the said 140,000l. there is to be further issued to him out of those loans the sum of 8,201l. 12s. 0d. for two weeks' subsistence to the 9th April next (at 4,100l. 16s. 0d. a week) for the Troops which by the King's Proclamation are to be kept up.
	Upon a certificate from Mr. Blathwayt that the Scotch Regiment is ready to embark for Ireland at Bideford, Chester and Bristol and is detained by stress [of weather] my Lords are to take care with Lord Coningsby that they have credit for subsistence till the wind and weather will permit them to sail.
	Bring Serjeant Ryley's memorial on Wednesday for Cranborne Park.
	[Order for the] Cofferer to pay 500l. out of the weekly money to Mr. Frampton for the race horses.
	[Order for] 1,000l. for secret service. Ibid., p. 93.
March 31, forenoon. Treasury Chambers, Cockpit.	Present: Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Smith.
	A letter for Mr. Fitche's interest is read and approved.
	The Excise Commissioners [attend]. My Lords are of opinion that the Acts for the duties on brandies "want an explanation so that those be paid on the Annuity Act for 6d. per gallon for 99 years; on the Deficiency Act for 2s. per gallon till 1 Aug. 1708; on the Lottery Act for 2s. per gallon for 16 years and on the Bank Act for 6d. per gallon, no more than three-fifths and proportionately for double brandies."
	Sir Edward Seymour [attends]. He offers an account of Mr. Anthony Stephens whereby Sir Edward's balance of his whole Navy account is 29l. 15s. 9d.
	The Chancellor of the Exchequer comes in.
	Sir Edward Seymour informs my Lords that the account is proceeding in as fast as may be.
	A copy of the Establishment for the Marine Regiments is to be sent to the Attorney and Solicitor General "to consider the same with the disbanding [Act]" and to give my Lords their opinion whether they be included therein.
	Mr. Clayton informs my Lords of an ill practice in not endorsing the [Exchequer] Bills in the Exchequer to save the interest [to the King] whilst the Bill is in the public Receipt.
	Write to Mr. Wootton, Mr. Jones and Mr. Presgrave to be here to-morrow morning.
	The Victuallers [attend]. My Lords here [tell them they] have given directions to them to furnish credits at Alicante, Leghorn and Naples for victualling the Squadron in the Straits and upon return of the bills [drawn by their agents for same] care will be taken for payment thereof.
	[Order for the] 5,225l. 19s. 1½d. (remaining in the Exchequer for the balance of the Earl of Orford's victualling account) to be issued to [the said Earl as] Treasurer of the Navy, for the Victualling service: out of which 1,334l. 14s. 4d. due to the said Earl on bills of exchange is to be satisfied.
	[Order for] 5,000l. of the loans in the Exchequer on the Disbanding Act to be issued to the Navy Treasurer; to be paid over to the Victuallers for the Victualling course.
	Likewise 10,000l. out of the same loans is to be issued to the Navy Treasurer for imprests, bills of exchange and contingencies.
	Another letter [is to be written to the said Treasurer] to apply 10,000l. (part in Coal tallies and part in money arisen by such tallies) to paying the officers of ships discharged whose accounts are passed.
	[Order for] 1,844l. 14s. 0d. to the Earl of Manchester for extraordinaries and 4,739l. 14s. 6d. to the Earl of Jersey for ordinary and extraordinaries.
	My Lords will appoint [direct] the Revenue Commissioners Ireland to examine and state the revenues of the officers and soldiers [who are] to be disbanded in Ireland [and are] not paid by the former warrant.
	[Order for] a sign manual to be prepared for paying 400l. to Brigadier Hastings upon a certificate of Sir John Jacob, the present Colonel, that at least so much is due.
	A letter to Mr. Blathwait for [his paying] 460l. for widows is approved.
	Write to the Agents [for Taxes] to be here to-morrow morning. Ibid., pp. 94–5.