Minute Book: March 1704 | British History Online

Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 19, 1704-1705. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1938.

Citation:

'Minute Book: March 1704', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 19, 1704-1705, ed. William A Shaw( London, 1938), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol19/pp13-21 [accessed 24 November 2024].

March 1704



March 1 forenoon.	[No entry of any attendance or of any minute]. Ibid., p. 211.
March 4 forenoon. at my Lord Treasurer's house.	Present : Lord Treasurer. [Ordered that] 9741l. out of the money issued to the Navy Treasurer for Wages be paid over in a gross sum to Mr. Whitfeild for recruit and levy money for 3247 private men at 3l. per man : according to his [Whitfeild's] report of the 24th of Feb. last. Renew the order to the Exchequer that whatsoever rents or fines shall arise by the lands and possessions belonging to the late Hospital in the Savoy be reserved there [in the Exchequer] for the pious uses of the founder. [Order for] 10,000l. to be issued to Mr. Scobell for buying of tin. Make a warrant to the officers of the Exchequer to observe the last Act of Parliament for granting of Annuities : that care must be taken that the name of the true contributor be in the tally, which is best known to the Teller : that a contributor may appoint any other [as the] person to whom the money by the order may be made payable. Ibid., p. 212.
March 6 forenoon. Cockpit, Treasury Chambers.	Present : ut supra. [Order for the issue] to the Navy Treasurer of 60,000l. more for Wages : out of Contributions for Annuities : out of this sum is to be supplied the 5000l. particularly demanded towards the Bounty Money to widows and orphans for the loss of their relations in the late storm. Direct the Navy Commissioners and Navy Treasurer to transmit the certificates of the receipts and payments to this time and for the future, in the respective forms formerly accustomed. Ordered that out of money in the hands of the Treasurer of the Navy for wages there be paid to Mr. Whitfeild 8732l. 14s. 6d. for clearings for the year 1702 : according to his [Whitfeild's] memorial. [The draft of a] letter [of direction] for 25,238l. 1s. 10d. for Machado is read and approved. The Duke of Marlborough comes in. Lord Coningsby and Mr. Blathwaite are called in. Treasury Minute Book XIV, p. 213.
March 7 Cockpit. Treasury Chambers.	Present : Lord Treasurer ; Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Duke of Marlborough comes in. Direct Mr. Brewer to pay into the Exchequer 2672l. 0s. 3¾d. out of the Queen's part of prizes : to be issued to Mr. How for services as follows viz. :
		£	s.	d.
	for clearings of the 13 Companies of the First Regiment of Foot Guards in Holland from 25 Oct. to 24 Dec. 1703 including their offreckonings	1950	4	5
	for Reformed Officers to 24 Dec., 1703	520
	the above two items to be as in part of 264,874l. 10s. 0d. for the Guards, anno 1703.
	for Invalids anno 1703	201	15	10¾
		£2672	0	3¾
	Issue as follows to Mr. Fox on his privy seal for the Portugal service anno 1703 : out of Contributions for Annuities : viz. 312l. in part of levy money for recruits to the [Regiment of the] Earl of Essex ; 912l. [for ditto to] Col. Evance ; 1011l. [for ditto to] Col. Elliot : according to the report of this day from the Comptrollers of Army Accounts and Mr. Blathwait. Issue 23,958l. 6s. 4d. to Mr. Fox out of the like Contributions : on his order for the service of Savoy : and is to answer a bill of exchange [drawn] from Turin by Mr. Hill for 100,000 Crowns taken up by him there and paid to the Duke of Savoy. Issue 2880l. 7s. 6d. to Mr. Fox out of the like Contributions : on his order for 40,000 men for the year 1704 : and is to be for providing waggons for the said 40,000 men. Issue [432l.] to Mr. Fox out of the like Contributions : on his order for the Augmentation Troops anno 1704 : and is for levy money for 144 men to be added to two Regiments of Foot coming to [sic for from] Ireland to be part of the Augmentation Troops. [The above four issues are all] according to Mr. Fox's memorial of the 6th inst. Ibid., p. 214.
March 10 forenoon.	Present : ut supra. Mr. Thompson and Mr. Clayton are called in. Thompson says there was a bill in the Exchequer against Mrs. Presgrave et al to discover where the [Exchequer] Bills in question were ; who answered they knew not. This was in Trinity term last. And in Hilary term last, or soon after, one Raikes agreed with Palmes to discover them. Palmes was to have 1400l. and there should be given to the grandmother [of and] for Presgrave's children 339l. in case they [the Bills] did not exceed 1740l. ; and if there were more Mr. Palmes should have a further proportion. And they agreed the Bills should be deposited in Thompson's hands. Then Raikes met Thompson at the Temple and told him a person unknown to him brought him the Bills and they were opened and delivered to Thompson and they amounted to 1739l. odd shillings and did agree with a letter then examined without any material difference : and they remained in his hands. Mr. Raikes is an attorney at Northallerton and kin to Presgrave's mother. Ordered that Mr. Clayton, Mr. Low and Mr. Floyd do attend on Monday morning. Mr. Clayton is then to bring a certificate that these Bills were formerly paid into the Exchequer and not regularly [re-] issued from thence. Desire the Attorney General to be here then and Mr. Hall of the Excise, about this business : at 9 o'clock. [Ordered that] 2749l. 4s. 5d. out of the Four and a Half per cent. Duty be paid to the Ordnance upon their estimate for stores for the Leeward Islands. Write to Mr. Thrale, husband of the said Duty, to hasten the bringing in of the proceeds thereof into the Exchequer. [Order for] 12,252l. 4s. 10d. to be issued to Mr. Fox : out of Contributions for Annuities : on his order for the Portugal service : and is to complete the Queen's two thirds of the million pieces of Eight for maintaining 13,000 men for one year, to wit for the second two months upon the Treaty. This sum is remitted by Sir Henry Furnese at 6s. 2d. per milrei. Mr. Stratford will furnish at Hamburg 37,500 Rix Dollars bank money of Hamburg to pay one quarter of the subsidy to the King of Denmark due 25 March 1704 old style at the rate of 5s. per Rix Dollar ; and the value thereof is to be paid that day at the Exchequer to Mr. Fox for Mr. Stratford. Ibid., pp. 215-6.
March 11 forenoon. at my Lord Treasurer's house.	Present : [not stated]. Lord Walden and the Comptrollers of the [Accounts of the] Army are to attend next Wednesday morning. Write to Sir Stephen Evance and partners, to Tourton and to Sir Henry Furnese to bring in new propositions on Tuesday morning for supplying the value of 50,000l. at Turin (half at 15 days' sight and half at 30 days' sight) expressing for how many pence (to be paid here in ready money) they will pay 81²/3s[ols.], money of Piedmont, at Turin. Without observing the method [so prescribed] it will be hard to distinguish the best proposal. Send to the Earl of Ranelagh, Mr. Fox and Mr. Sweet to attend on Wednesday norning. [Send to the] Agents for Taxes to attend on Tuesday morning with a list of the Receivers [of Taxes proposed for the respective counties]. Ibid., p. 217.
March 13 forenoon. Cockpit, Treasury Chambers.	Present : Lord Treasurer ; Chancellor of the Exchequer. Send to the Prizes Commissioners for their account. Sir Thomas Frankland and Mr. Dummar [are called in]. Mr. Dummar says he is content with the report of the Postmasters [General] of 29 Feb. last, now read, concerning the pacquet boats for Portugal. Prepare a warrant for the Postmasters General to contract [with him] accordingly. Lord Halifax's report is read about the Exchequer Bills (which upon examination of Mr. Palmes's cash were missing and are since stopped in the hands of Mr. Thompson), there being present Mr. Thompson, Mr. Clayton, Mr. Pelham and the Attorney General. The Lord Treasurer asks Thompson how he came by the Bills. Thompson says Mr. Palmes exhibited a bill in the Attorney General's name against Mrs. Presgrave and others with a list annexed to discover where the Bills were : that the said persons put in their answer last Hilary term disowning that they knew anything of the Bills : that Mrs. Presgrave being interrogated as to one of the said Bills she owned the same and that it was delivered to her by Mr. Raikes, an attorney who was then out of town ; that Mr. Palmes deferred any further demands till Mr. Raikes should come to town : that a meeting was appointed when Raikes came to town, at which Raikes agreed with Mr. Palmes to discover the Bills but 'twas insisted that 5 or 600l. should be given to Mrs. Presgrave for the maintenance of Presgrave's children : Mr. Palmes thought this too much : afterwards 'twas agreed that Mr. Palmes should have 1400l. and the rest go to the support of Presgrave's children and that the Bills should be deposited in Thompson's hands to the end he should see this agreement executed. The Lord [Treasurer] asks when they were delivered to him [Thompson]. He says about three weeks ago. [Asked] why these were not produced before Raikes went out of town [in reply he] says Mr. Palmes desired him to keep them. The Lord [Treasurer] says suppose these Bills appear to be the Queen's. Thompson says he is ready to deliver them if he may have a discharge. The Attorney General asks why Raikes was not made a party to the Bill. Thompson supposes there was some point of honour between Palmes and Raikes. The Attorney General thinks there has been roguery in this matter and advises that a short bill may be brought against all the parties for Mr. Thomson's justification in parting with the Bills. The Lord Treasurer agrees thereto and orders a letter to Mr. Borret enclosing Lord Halifax's report and directing him to attend the Attorney General about drawing the said bill. The Lord Treasurer requires Mr. Thompson in the mean time not to part with any of the said Bills till he be discharged of them by due course of law. He promises to observe this direction and then withdraws. Treasury Minute Book XIV, pp. 218-9.
March 14 forenoon. Cockpit. Treasury Chambers.	Present : Lord Treasurer ; Chancellor of the Exchequer. Those that were to be here this afternoon are to attend to-morrow. [Write to Mr. [Richard] Hill [Envoy Extraordinary to the Duke of Savoy] that my Lord Treasurer directed me [Lowndes] to own receipt of his last and that my Lord is about making a perfect regulation for the constant payment of the subsidy to the Duke of Savoy, of which he will have account by the next post. Ibid., p. 220.
March 15 forenoon.	Present : ut supra. The Duke of Marlborough comes in : also Mr. How, the Earl of Ranelagh, Mr. Pauncefoot, Mr. Cardonel and Mr. Sweet. The Earl of Ranelagh says Mr. Sweet may go away for Holland in 24 hours and that he hath made good his accounts by his vouchers exactly except about 3l. odd. [Order for the issue to Mr. How of] 13,617l. 19s. 3½d. [for Guards and Garrisons and clearings to Lord Lucas's Regiment] : upon the said How's memorial of this day : out of Contributions for Annuities. [Order for the issue of] 30,000l. to Mr. Fox. [My Lord Treasurer ordered] Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Cardonel and Mr. Lowndes to meet and adjust the article in the representation of the Comptrollers of the Army Accounts relating to the musters. Ibid., p. 221.
March 17 forenoon.	Present : ut supra. My Lord approves the proposal of Sir Hen. Furnese as follows, it being ½d. in the Crown better than those of Evance and partners and Tourton and partners. The proposal of Sir Henry Furnese. that he will remit for her Majesty's service 50,000l. to be paid to the Duke of Savoy as followeth viz. 25,000l. at 15 days' sight and 25,000l. at 30 days' sight at 55½ pence for 81²/3s. [sols] Piedmont money. London, 14th March, 1703-4. Send to Mr. Hill the letter from Count Maffei to the Lord Treasurer dated 23 March, 1704, new style, and observe that my Lord Treasurer takes it [that] in case the payments are duly complied with the Duke is to receive but 80s. (fn. 1) [sols or pence of money of Piedmont] at Turin for every Crown and that so much as has been received by the Duke above the 80s. ought to be reckoned in diminution of the 36,666²/3 [Crowns or écus de Savoie] computed due by advance on the 3rd Feb. last : and that my Lord hath this day made an agreement with Sir Henry Furnese for the value of 50,000l. Send a copy of the agreement. And my Lord Treasurer desires that when this account is so adjusted it be sent to his Lordship [Count Maffei]. The Duke of Marlborough comes in. Ordered [that there be issued] 26,313l. 18s. 10d. to Mr. How on his memorial of this day. My Lord Treasurer taking notice of the great inconveniences arising as well to her Majesty as to the Officers and soldiers by the present method of paying the Army under the heads of subsistence, offreckonings and clearings, whereby great disputes arise between those that are to pay and those that are to receive, and the accounts are perplexed and delayed, does direct Mr. How, Mr. Fox, Mr. Blathwait and Mr. Cardonnel to meet and consider for some more proper method for the future payment of their Majesty's Forces which may obviate the present irregularities and inconveniences and save the public treasure ; and to report to his Lordship thereon. Issue 10,000l. to Mr. Fox for the Portugal service of this year in further part of the subs[istence] of 150,000l. per an. Issue 25,000l. (or as much less as the privy seal will bear) to Mr. Fox for the Duke of Savoy. Ibid., pp. 222-3.
March 18 forenoon at my Lord Treasurer's house in St. James's Park	Present : [attendance not stated]. My Lord will allow Col. Matthews [Sir William Matthew] for his transportation [to the Leeward Caribbee Islands as Captain General and Governor in Chief thereof] as hath been usual : but will move for an order of Council to obviate all such allowances for the future. Draw up a state of these [Transportation] allowances and the inconveniences thereof and what increased salaries there are in all the Plantations : and lay same before the [Privy] Council. [My Lord Treasurer orders] Sir William Whitlock to be paid as far as Mr. Cowper [is paid]. Treasury Minute Book XIV, p. 224.
March 20 forenoon. Cockpit, Treasury Chambers.	Present : Lord Treasurer ; Chancellor of the Exchequer. Issue 10,000l. more to Mr. Scobel for tin. [Write] to the Commissioners of Excise that one or two of their number be here to-morrow morning. [Send] to the Agents for Taxes to be here to-morrow morning about appointing Receivers [General for the respective Counties and places for the 4s. Aid]. Advance to my Lord Clarendon 375l. for a quarter to be due at Lady day 1705. Ordered that 3,000l. in tallies and orders (the last upon the Coal Act, anno 1703) be applied to satisfy a warrant to Machado for furnishing the Augmentation Troops : and that Mr. Fox do allow him [Machado] the interest [arising on said orders] from this day and release to the Queen the interest due from the date of the order to the present. Order for 500l. to Mr. Lowndes for secret service. Ibid., p. 225.
March 21 forenoon.	Present : ut supra. [Order for] 10,000l. for the Victuallers for Short Allowance &c. [Order for] 8000l. for the Ordinary of the Navy. Ibid., p. 226.
March 22 forenoon.	Present : ut supra. Desire Mr. Clark to come on Friday morning about the Marine [Regiments] Establishment. Ibid., p. 227.
March 24 forenoon.	Present : ut supra. The Comptrollers of the [Accounts of the] Army are called in. They are to prepare the draft of a warrant for Col. Evance and Col. Elliot and send it hither and return their report. Sir Jeffery Jefferys and Mr. Thrale are called in. The Articles are settled and upon executing the same my Lord Treasurer orders Mr. Thrale to pay the money in his hands to Sir Jeffery Jefferys [for the four Companies in New York]. Direct Mr. Bridges to attend on Monday. Ibid., p. 228.
1704. March 25 at my Lord Treasurer's house in St. James's. Saturday forenoon.	Present : [attendance not stated]. Memorandum : to view the Establishment of the Prize Office. [Order for the issue to] Col. Phillip Howard of 100l. : out of secret service money. [Order for the issue to the Navy Treasurer of] 50,000l. for Wages. Desire the Surveyor General [of Crown Lands] and Mr. Manley to attend on Tuesday week in the morning about Lord Granville's representation relating to the Stannaries. Send to the Prizes Commissioners Mr. Popple's letter transmitting a copy of a letter to be signed by her Majesty to the Governors of the Plantations [to require them] to be assisting in the recovering of the Queen's share of prizes : and desire them [the Prizes Commissioners] to prepare the draft of such a letter to be offered to the Queen [for her signature] as they shall think requisite. Ibid., p. 229.
March 27 forenoon. Cockpit, Treasury Chambers.	Present : Lord Treasurer ; Chancellor of the Exchequer. [Order for the issue to Mr. Lowndes of] 1000l. for secret service. My Lord Treasurer will to-morrow morning receive proposals for remitting 100,000l. to Amsterdam whereof 20,000l. at sight, 40,000l. at 30 days after date, 40,000l. at 60 days after date ; [in return] for ready money to be paid on delivery of the bills. Send notice to all those that have been concerned in remittances [to submit their tenders for this service]. The Duke of Marlborough comes in. Sir Joseph Tredenham, Mr. Blathwayt, Mr. Cardonel, Mr. Pauncefoot and Mr. Cartwright are called in. [The business and method of the Office of the Comptrollers of the Army Accounts is discussed and it is agreed that] Mr. Blathwait is to prepare new Instructions for the Comptrollers of Army Accounts according to the papers and minutes now given him. [My Lord Treasurer] ordered [the issue of] 12,713l. 11s. 6d. upon Mr. Foxe's memorial : to be issued out of Civil List money [sic] : to clear the 40,000 men in Flanders to 24 Dec. 1703. Ibid., p. 230.
March 28 forenoon.	Present : ut supra. My Lord Treasurer opens and considers the proposals of Sir Stephen Evance and partners, Mr. Tourton and partners, and Sir Henry Furnese respectively, for remitting 100,000l. to Amsterdam as above and approves that of Sir Henry Furnese, being apparently the best, viz. 20,000l. at sight at 10 guilders 10½ stivers ; 40,000l. at 30 days' sight at 10 guilders 11 stivers ; 40,000l. at 60 days' sight at 10 guilders 12 stivers. Sir Theodore Jansen and Mr. Santigny and Sir Stephen Evance will this night give bills to Mr. Fox for the value of 1000l. payable at 30 days' sight at Lisbon at the rate of 6s. 1½d. per milrei. [My Lord orders the] issue of 10,000l. to Mr. Fox : out of Civil List money : to be lent to the King of Spain. [My Lord reads] Mr. How's memorial of the 27th inst. and agrees to the proposals therein viz. as follows : Having pursuant to your Lordship's directions discoursed several merchants of the most known credit trading to Jamaica and the Leeward Islands and received their proposals for the return [the forwarding by bills of exchange] of the subsistence necessary to be sent to the Regiments commanded by Col. Handasyde, Levesay and Whetham, the following proposals are by very much the most advantageous I can hear of viz. : Sir Gilbert Heathcote agrees on payment of the money to him here to give bills on his correspondents at Jamaica at the rate of 115l. for each 100l. sterling : payable at 1000l. per month after sight. Mr. Joseph Martyn on the like payment agrees to give bills on his correspondents in the Leeward Islands at the rate of 130l. for each 100l. sterling payable at 10 days after sight. Ibid., p. 231.
March 29 forenoon.	Present : ut supra. Petitions are read and [my Lord Treasurer's] answers [are minuted and endorsed] on them. Ibid., p. 232.
March 29 afternoon. at my Lord Treasurer's house.	Present : Lord Treasurer. A memorial of Mr. Fox is read and [my Lord] thereupon directed [sums as follow] to be issued to him.
		£	s.	d.
	upon his order for the Portugal service, anno 1704, in part of 35,293l. 2s. 4½d. contained in the said memorial	22576	15	7½
	upon his order for the 40,000 men, anno 1704, for [the value of] 37,500 Rix dollars, Bank money of Hamburg, which Mr. Stratford has undertaken to pay to the King of Denmark for the quarter's subsidy ended 25th March instant old style ; out of loans on Malt	9375
	upon his order for the Augmentation Troops of 10,000 men, anno 1704, being intended to be advanced to Col. McCartney on account of subsistence for the Regiment of Foot which he is raising	1000
	more upon his order for the Portugal service, anno 1704, viz. 537l. for Col. Mordaunt and 639l. for Sir Charles Hara for raising recruits to replace the men drawn out of their Regiments for Portugal : which sums are to be placed to the accounts of the Regiments who had the men : [to be issued] out of Contributions for Annuities	1176
		£34127	15	7½
	[Write a] letter to the Customs Commissioners to give order to their officers at Newcastle and Sunderland to signify to the Prince's [Admiralty] Council from time to time when any convoy stays in those places after 50 sail of colliers are ready and the reason of such stay. [My Lord orders a] warrant to the Auditor of the Receipt to cause an account to be made and transmitted to my Lord of all the moneys that have been collected for taxes on pensions and salaries payable at the Exchequer by detine there upon the orders or debentures. Send the rolls of the arrears of taxes to the Agents [for Taxes] and direct them to prosecute all accountants that have not passed their accounts, and to use their utmost endeavours to recover the money due on the accounts that are passed. Treasury Minute Book XIV, p. 232.
March 31 forenoon. Cockpit, Treasury Chambers.	Present : Lord Treasurer ; Chancellor of the Exchequer. [Order for the issue of] 10,000l. to Mr. Scobell for buying tin. [Order for the issue to the Paymaster of the Ordnance of] 18,941l. 2s. 2½d. for land services of the Ordnance : to be issued out of loans on Malt : and 20,000l. for sea services of same : out of ditto. [The draft of a] letter [of direction] for a quarter's salary to the seven Commissioners of Accounts is read and approved. [Send to the] Victuallers to attend [my Lord Treasurer] next Monday morning. The Duke of Marlborough comes in. The Comptrollers [of the Accounts of the Army] Mr. Blathwait and Mr. Cardonal are called in. The draft of the new Instructions for the Comptrollers is read. [It is agreed that] Mr. Blathwaite is to alter the third article about the clothing. The rest is approved. [My Lord directs the following] issue out of loans on the Malt Act that are or shall be made :
		£	s.	d.
	for the subsistence of the Subject Troops part of the 40,000 men and full pay of the Foreign Forces, forming the residue of same, to wit from 25 April to 22 May next	53869	11	5
	out of ditto : for subsistence of the English Regiments part of 10,000 [Augmentation] men and full pay of the Foreign residue of the same : to wit for same time	10669	14	6
		£64539	5	11
	Ibid., p. 233.