|
| May 2, forenoon. |
Present: ut supra. |
|
[Send] to the Attorney General, Sir Thomas Powys and Sir John Cook and the Solicitor General to be here on Wednesday morning. |
|
Memorandum: [to provide] for money for the four Regiments of Foot and two of Dragoons going to Ireland. Ibid., p. 13. |
|
Eodem die, afternoon. |
Present: ut supra. |
|
The Navy Commissioners are called in. My Lord is pleased [to order] that out of the 5,000l. per week for recalls in such weeks where there shall be an overplus not called for, the said Commissioners may within such weeks respectively apply such overplus to the payment of such [Navy] officers as shall have passed their accounts. |
|
[My Lord directs] 15,000l. on the head of Wear and Tear “to be supplied for payment of bills of exchange by Exchequer Bills.” |
|
The Victualling Commissioners are called in. Mr. Pen's proposal is read. It depends on having a convoy from the Lord High Admiral. The Commissioners will make a presentment concerning this matter. |
|
The Customs Commissioners are called in. Ibid.
|
| May 3, forenoon. |
Present: ut supra. |
|
[My Lord directs the issue to the Navy Treasurer of] 6,000l. on account of subsistence and two-thirds pay for the Marines, on Mr. Whitfeild's memorial: to be supplied by Exchequer Bills. |
|
[My Lord orders that] Mr. Whitfeild's demand of 74,144l. 0s. 5d. for offreckonings, subsistence and clearings [of the Marines] from 24 June 1707 to 24 June 1708 is to be inserted in the scheme [of cash distribution]. Ibid., p. 14. |
| May 4, forenoon. |
Present: ut supra. |
|
The Attorney General, Solicitor General, Sir Thomas Powys and Sir John Cook come in. Mr. Wynn's paper concerning Capt. Wager is read. [My Lord Treasurer directs the Treasury Secretary to] send to Mr. Burchet to ask what accounts at any time have been sent to the Lord High Admiral concerning the prize taken by Capt. Wager. The like letter to be sent to the Commissioners of Trade. |
|
My Lord upon advising with the gentlemen above named does direct a letter to be written to Mr. Baker and Mr. Goslyn to cause an appeal to be interposed against any sentence in Jamaica concerning the capture or condemnation of the galeon taken by Capt. Waager or any of his squadron if there be such a condemnation; and if there be no such condemnation then to proceed to condemnation in the Court of Admiralty here. |
|
The several Receivers General of her Majesty's revenues are to attend to-morrow at five in the afternoon. |
|
[Send to] Mr. Medina to attend to-morrow at twelve. Ibid., p. 15. |
| May 6, forenoon. |
Present: Lord Treasurer, Chancellor of the Exchequer. |
|
The Receivers General of Customs, Excise, Post Office, Stamps and Salt are called in. My Lord admonishes them to take all possible care to keep down any discount upon Exchequer Bills and [in] observing all that the Act relating thereunto directs, and that they do anticipate the money of their receipt by taking in [Exchequer] Bills from any persons before they have money in their hands. |
|
Mr. Hawes from Sir Thomas Littleton is called in. He acquaints my Lord that the 52,931l. ordered for the Yards to clear Christmas quarter 1707 being received in Exchequer Bills of 100l. each cannot conveniently be carried away to that service in regard the sums due to the persons therein concerned are very small; and [therefore] prays leave to apply the same to the course of the Navy and Victualling; and that when small [Exchequer] Bills can be issued for the future payments to the course so much may be taken thereout as will make good the said 52,931l. to the Yards. |
|
My Lord is pleased to agree to what is so proposed. Treasury Minute Book XVII, p. 16. |
| May 7, forenoon. |
Present: ut supra. |
|
The Agents for Taxes are called in. The draft of a letter prepared by them to be sent to all the Receivers (concerning the account to be kept by them of Exchequer Bills) is read, amended and approved. |
|
Send to the Attorney and Solicitor General and Mr. Wynne to be here on Monday morning. Ibid., p. 17. |
| May 9. |
Present: ut supra. |
|
The Attorney and Solicitor General come in. |
|
Secretary Boyle comes in. |
|
Mr. John Wynne is called in. My Lord Treasurer tells him he has been concerned more than he should be in solicitation for the owners and freighters of the Worcester. Wynne says that attending with the Prizes Commissioners when they came here, he fell into conversation with Mr. Bowry and Mr. Meeres who told him they wanted an interest to make application to my Lord on that occasion: he told them a woman named Mrs. Turnor who was born in his country [county] used to come to him and [say] possibly she might do them service: that he told her if she could make an interest possibly she might have a sum of money and that Bowry and Meers had said so to him and that Bowry and Meers entered into a bond for 500l. in case the money were paid in a month: she said she would make some interest to my Lord that the money might be ordered but did not say to him by whom that interest was to be made; that the bond was in Blackburne's name and left with her; that Bowry and Meers at first proposed to give 500l. or 600l.; that he was not to have any share but they said they would be grateful; that he never named her by any name but Turner but at first he might say he knew a woman [who] had interest; that he did make use of no other names to these people; that this woman never told him who she was to apply to: Mrs. Turner lives in Gerard Street a housekeeper and used to make manteaus; she was his country woman and used to advise with him in matters of law: that he proposed her because she had an acquaintance in great families, had been a servant in Lord Devonshire's; that he did not name any great persons to Meers or Bowry and believes they will swear so: that he never carried messages between them: the bond was not payable unless the money were paid in a month: he does not know that the obligors ever saw her: he is positive he never named any great persons to them and indeed did not know anybody: that Blackburne met him when the bond was signed and he never saw him but once before when Blackburne said he was directed to call on him and Mrs. Turnor. |
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Mr. [Secretary] Boyle has sent for Blackburne but he is not in the way. |
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[Send] to Mrs. Turner and Mr. Blackburne to be here at five o'clock this afternoon. Send to Mr. Meeres to attend then. Ibid., p. 18. |
|
Eodem die, afternoon. |
Present: ut supra. |
|
The Attorney and Solicitor General come in. Secretary Boyle comes in. |
|
Mr. John Blackborne is called in. He says that a woman named Turnor, a manteau maker, is related to Mrs. Ashton a friend of his, and this Turner told him a friend of hers could get this money paid in two months and desired him to draw a bond for 500l. for her: that he drew the same and at her desire it was in his name: she said she was a friend of hers but did not name anybody: said she would not tell but he understood was one she worked for: he offers the copy (as he alleges) of the bond but says she hath the original: he never saw Bowry or Meres till he took the bond: that Mrs. Turner told him he should be paid for the bond but made no agreement. |
|
The copy of the bond is read. |
|
He has been acquainted with Mrs Turnor three or four years by means of Mrs. Ashton: he has known Mr. Wyn five or six years: he had no discourse with Win about this business but at sealing the bond and once afterwards at [his] Blackborne's lodging about Hamond's sealing the bond: all this was within ten days: he never say Bowry but at the executing the bond and just now at the Treasury: owns he received a letter from Bowry which is produced and read: he told Mr. Winn that nothing could be done about the increase of the sum upon account of interest: the next day after the bond was executed Bowry or Meers pulled a paper out of one of their pockets for increasing the sum and said they should give 100l. more if that could be done: he thinks Win told the obligors that Mrs. Turnor could do the service for them: that Mrs. Turnor told him nothing could be done about the increase upon the paper sent by Bowry and thinks 'twas last Thursday morning: he never saw Win but three times on this occasion: that Mrs. Turnor told him he should be gratified but he never had a penny: Win told him two or three days before the execution of the bond that they would meet on the 2nd May for that purpose and gave notes for preparing it: that Win was well acquainted with Mrs. Turnor and brought her to him: Mrs. Turnor came to him this morning and took the bond from him executed by two of the parties and said she was to show it to the party she was concerned for. |
|
My Lord asks who was that. |
|
He answers: I do not know who that is. On Friday last Hammond was to have executed the bond at Richard's Coffee House but did not come: he (Blackburne) understood by the boy of the house that none but Winn had been there: she promised to bring it again: he went and sent to her this afternoon to get it again but she was not at home. |
|
He withdraws. |
|
Sampson Meers is called in. He says this affair has been long afoot, tedious and costly: we were acquainted with Winn by the Prize Office and after several discourses (several of the persons concerned being ruined or reduced) Win said he might probably know some person [who] might be instrumental and after several meetings we agreed to give bond for 500l. and a gentleman was brought to us by him to take the bonds; to pay if the money were received: he never met Blackburn but once at sealing the bond: we met him at the Union Coffee House by the Exchange: we did not know who was the person by whom the money was to be gotten: he [Win] named no person's name but said it was a woman: there was 100l. besides to be given and at last of all 37l. 10s. 0d. for Mr. Winn: after the signing of the bond I overheard the name of Turnor between Blackborne and Winn but that was accidentally: if we had the 11,225l. 5s. 5d. in two months then we were to pay the reward, otherwise the bond was to be void: at first a month was talked of: he says he cannot tell to this hour whether the pretence was an amusement or a reality: he saw Win yesterday who told him he had an order to attend the Lord Treasurer and could not imagine (though he had other business concerning a galeon) but it might be about this: this was at Meers' house about noon: that he (Meers) did not enquire of Win who the person was by whom the interest was to be made and did never hear Bowry ask him any question: he saw Bowry yesterday at Mr. Bowry's house after Win had been with him and asked Bowry concerning the affair and he would tell him nothing. He took in writing what passed then between him and Bowry and last night he gave him an account of it: that when he saw Win under some surprise he went of his own accord to Bowry. |
|
He withdraws. |
|
Mr. Bowry is called in again at his own desire [struck through]. He says Meres and he were together when Wyn spoke of the great persons and that Meres could hear it better than himself (Bowry) being deaf, and they had discourse of it afterwards and of the probability of getting the money. |
|
Mr. Meers is called in again. He says he does not remember any names named and cannot charge Mr. Win with naming any particular persons. |
|
Mr. Bowry asks him why they two were to enquire who Mrs. Farnham had access to. |
|
Meers answers that Bowry told him he had sent to enquire of Mrs. Farnham (and to the best of his remembrance it was somewhere about St. James's) to know whether Mrs. Farnham was in my Lord Treasurer's family. |
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Meers says he heard no persons named. |
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Bowry says Win named the persons on the 21 April, the Duchess of Marlborough &c. as in his information; and that Meers was present. |
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Meers says they were not lockt up; perhaps he might be downstairs when the great persons were named. |
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Mr. Meers withdraws and then desired to be called in again and says he will tell the truth and now owns that Wyn told them that their case was shewne to the Duchess of Marlborough, my Lord Treasurer present and that his Lordship said [struck through] had seen it and that there would be no more allowed than 11,225l. according to the report: and thereupon the Duchess said her daughter might take the 500l. but he cannot remember exactly where it was said and that thereupon he entered into the bond. |
|
He withdraws. |
|
Mr. Wynn is called in again and says Mrs. Turnor pretended she had an interest but he don't remember she named anybody: he says his wife is dangerously ill; having nearly lost their only child: upon consideration whereof he is discharged for this night but he promises to attend to-morrow with sureties to appear and answer any information or indictment in the Queen's Bench. |
|
[Desire some of the Directors of] the Bank to be here to-morrow morning. Ibid., pp. 18–21. |
| May 9, forenoon. |
Present: Lord Treasurer. |
|
The Gentlemen of the Bank are called in. My Lord [Treasurer tells them he] will order the several Receivers to return their money into the Bank in order to be paid into the Exchequer: and these Gentlemen advise [i.e. desire] my Lord that Exchequer Bills may be taken by the Receiver [General] of Customs and the Cashier of Excise and other Receivers of the revenue as in satisfaction of bills of exchange. |
|
Sir John Cope and Mr. Brydges, recommended by the Bank, are to be continued in the Commission of the Equivalent. |
|
[My Lord] ordered [issues as follows] out of Exchequer Bills to be made forth under the Act [7 Anne c. 30] for enlarging the capital stock of the Bank of England:— |
|
£ |
s. |
d. |
|
to Thomas Micklethwaite, the Treasurer of the Transport Service, whereof 2,000l. is to pay bills of exchange from Harwich for supplying the recruits going to Holland and 5,500l. to pay the unsatisfied bills of exchange for corn sent to Barcelona, the loans on malt on which the said bills have been directed to be satisfied not having extended to pay the same |
7,500 |
0 |
0 |
|
to Sir Thomas Littleton, Treasurer of the Navy, to be paid over to the Commissioners for Sick and Wounded, to wit 7,060l. to pay the marshals for subsistence of prisoners and 4,000l. to pay tradesmen for furnishing Hospitals and other necessaries, and 3,000l. to pay bills of exchange and 2,000l. towards office salaries and contingencies: whereof 9,636l. to be placed to the head of wages and 6,424l. to be placed to the head of Victualling |
16,060 |
0 |
0 |
|
to Mr. Brydges [Paymaster of the Forces Abroad] for uses mentioned in his memorial this day read to my Lord |
148,314 |
16 |
6 |
|
to John Howe [Paymaster of Guards and Garrisons] for uses contained in his memorial for Guards and Garrisons |
54,335 |
5 |
2¼ |
|
to same in part of 32,986l. 8s. 1d. for extraordinary charges of last year paid or to be paid by him |
28,190 |
0 |
3¾ |
|
£254,500 |
0 |
0 |
|
Treasury Minute Book XVII, p. 22. Disposition Book XIX, p. 287. |
| May 16, forenoon. |
Present: Lord Treasurer, Chancellor of the Exchequer. |
|
[My Lord directed the issue to William Lowndes of] 750l. for secret service. Treasury Minute Book XVII, p. 23. |
| May 18. |
Present: ut supra. |
|
[Send] to Mr. Gilbt Steward to be here on Friday morning. |
|
[My Lord directs the issue to Mr. Brydges, Paymaster of the Forces Abroad, of] 10,000l. out of tallies on Land Tax, 10,000l. out of tallies on malt and so much out of Exchequer Bills as will carry on the Duke of Savoy's subsidy to June 1709 and as will pay the second quarter upon his [the said Duke's] extraordinary sum. |
|
Desire some of the [Directors of the] Bank to be here on Friday at 11 o'clock. Ibid., p. 24. |
| May 20. |
Present: ut supra. |
|
[My Lord] ordered for the Ordnance 40,000l. in Exchequer Bills whereof 20,000l. for land service and 20,000l. for sea service. |
|
[My Lord directed issues to Sir Thomas Littleton, the Navy Treasurer], of 15,000l. towards paying debentures for salt [on the exportation from Scotland of fish and flesh cured with foreign salt imported before 1 May 1707] and 15,000l. towards paying for fish salt [to pay for such salt so imported and still remaining in the hands of Scotsmen there]: to be issued in Exchequer Bills. Likewise 50,000l. in the like Bills: to be for wages and 8,000l. in like Bills, for Wear and Tear and to be applied to pay bills of exchange. Ibid., p. 25. |
| May 25. |
Present: ut supra. |
|
The Attorney and Solicitor General come in. The report from the Salt Commissioners is read on the petition of Geo Campbel et al. with the papers relating to it. Refer the papers to the Attorney and Solicitor General as to the point of law. |
|
The officers of the Exchequer are called in. Ibid., p. 26. |
|
Eodem die, afternoon. |
Present: ut supra. |
|
The Customs Commissioners are called in. Ibid.
|
| May 26. |
Present: ut supra. |
|
[Send word] to the Gentlemen of the Bank to be here to-morrow morning. |
|
[My Lord directs the issue of] 116,313l. 14s. 6¼d. to Mr. Brydges, Paymaster of the Forces Abroad, on his memorial of this day: to be paid out of Exchequer Bills. |
|
[My Lord orders that] the loans on the Malt Act anno 1709 are to be open till 450,000l. be completed and the remaining 200,000l. is to be struck in tallies [on the said fund]: out of which the 254,000 Crowns are to be satisfied to the Landgrave of Hesse Cassel out of the extraordinaries provided in the last session for an arrear in the last war. |
|
[My Lord directs] 37,498l. 10s. 7¾d. on the General Mortgage to be issued to Mr. Bridges for extraordinaries, being intended for offreckonings, and he is to take care when the tallies are struck and orders signed that they be not delivered out by him till they can be delivered without danger of making a discount upon that fund. |
|
His [the said Brydges'] memorial for 51,274l. 3s. 11½d. [is directed by my Lord] to be satisfied (except the three articles noted in it to be respited) when my Lord considers the distribution of the tallies which are to be struck on the Land Tax and Malt [anno 1709]. Ibid., p. 27. |
| May 28. |
Present: ut supra. |
|
My Lord orders Mr. Borret to attend the administrators of the Prince of Denmark as there shall be occasion. |
|
Lord Coningsby comes in. |
|
The report concerning the brewers of Dublin is read. [My Lord orders] a warrant to be prepared accordingly. |
|
The Earl of Wharton's letter is read together with an address [of the House of Commons in Ireland] concerning Benjamin Parry, Register [of all public deeds, conveyances and wills in Ireland, to wit for an allowance of 500l. per an. to be annexed to that office for eleven years]. Her Majesty would give a favourable answer, having had so good a character [of him] but the precedent may be inconvenient. There are three [Registry] Acts in England—no charge to the Crown—and may be more, and there is one in Scotland without charge to the Crown: and there being an Explanatory Bill for amending the Act for the Register in Ireland it is natural to hope that provision may be made in that Bill to defray the charge: and in case that provision should fail her Majesty will be disposed at any proper time (when it may not have an inconvenience by making a precedent to burden their revenue) to hearken to the Lord Lieutenant's recommendation in favour of Mr. Parry. |
|
The papers concerning the rewards to the clerks and officers of the two Houses [of Parliament] in Ireland [are read]. My Lord Treasurer thinks this matter grows big and clamorous and therefore he agrees to what his Excellency [the Lord Lieutenant] advises as to those belonging to the House of Lords as to the sums and distribution; and would be glad if a Regulation could be made for the clerks and officers of the House of Commons without making such allowances to be the subject of a clause in a money bill. Ibid., p. 28. |
| May 30. |
Present: Lord Treasurer. |
|
The Excise Commissioners are called in. Their reports are read and the answers [and decisions of my Lord thereupon are minuted] upon them. |
|
Mr. Baker and Mr. Goslin are called in. The papers concerning prizes are read and the answers are [minuted] upon them. Ibid., p. 29. |
