Minute Book: January 1711

Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 25, 1711. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1952.

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Citation:

'Minute Book: January 1711', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 25, 1711, ed. William A Shaw( London, 1952), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol25/pp1-11 [accessed 24 November 2024].

'Minute Book: January 1711', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 25, 1711. Edited by William A Shaw( London, 1952), British History Online, accessed November 24, 2024, https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol25/pp1-11.

"Minute Book: January 1711". Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 25, 1711. Ed. William A Shaw(London, 1952), , British History Online. Web. 24 November 2024. https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol25/pp1-11.

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January 1711

1710–11.
Jan. 1,
forenoon.
Treasury
Chambers,
Whitehall.
Present: Earl Poulett, Mr. Paget, Sir Thomas Mansel, Mr. Benson.
The Attorney General and Solicitor General come in.
The Victualling Commissioners, Excise Commissioners, Mr. Cheyne and Mr. Draper are called in. A Representation signed by Mr. Cheyne and Draper is read touching frauds in the Victualling, with a paper No. 6, another No. 7, relating to the said Representation. Another paper, No. 8, relating to the same is also read and a paper concerning the Portsmouth [struck through] contracts. Treasury Minute Book XVIII, p. 111 [pp. 112–116 inclusive are blank, probably left blank for the entry of the above papers and the proceedings thereon].
Jan. 2. Present: all the five Lords, viz. Earl Poulett, Mr. [Robert Harley], Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. [Henry] Paget, Sir Thomas Mansel, Mr. [Robert] Benson.
Direct the Commissioners of the Victualling to permit Mr. Cheyne and Mr. Draper or one of them in the presence of the proper officer immediately to search their books of contracts for beer and their indents; and the like from time to time as there shall be occasion for their Majesty's service.
[Send word] to the Customs Commissioners not to attend this afternoon.
[My Lords direct the issue of] 13,000l. to Mr. Bridges for subsistence in part of one month for 40,000 men from 23 Dec. 1710 to Jan. 22 inst. [which] is wanted. My Lords will supply this on Friday for enabling the Officers to recruit.
Mr. Bridges will write to Mr. Morrys to have the 100,000l. (advanced for Sir Henry Furnese) in readiness to be sent [back to England in gold] as my Lords shall direct and not otherwise. Ibid., p. 117.
Jan. 3. Present: Earl Poulett, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Paget, Mr. Benson.
[My Lords] ordered a year's pension for the [King's] mathematical boys [of Christ's Hospital]. Ibid., p. 118.
Jan. 4. Present: Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Paget, Sir Thomas Mansel, Mr. Benson.
Mr. Shoreditch presents the draft of a letter to John Cooper, Receiver [General of Taxes] of Northamptonshire; which is [read and] approved.
The Directors of the Bank are called in. They say their Court are willing to take Land Tax tallies for half the sums they have advanced, with such allowance as the [exchange] remitters will take such tallies [at] to make them equal to money. They say the Court of Directors are very willing to serve the public and any proposition they shall receive from my Lords for circulating the non-specie Exchequer Bills shall be laid before the Court.
The Navy Commissioners [are] called in. Write to them to report their opinions what may be fitting to be done upon the Navy Treasurer's office becoming void and what may be proper for [to do upon] making a new Treasurer [of the Navy]. Treasury Minute Book XVIII, p. 119.
Jan. 5,
forenoon.
Present: all the five Lords.
Sir Richard Hoare et al., the remitters [contractors for remittances of exchange for the Forces in Flanders] are called in. My Lords order for them 100,000l. in further part of their advances upon deposited tallies; said sum to be issued out of loans to be made in the name of Mr. Brydges next after what is already struck [on the Land Tax anno 1711]: and [my Lords further order] 50,000l. more to them in Exchequer Bills; all which they are to take as money, and next week my Lords intend to settle the whole account with them.
Sir Theodore Janssen, Mr. Hoar, Mr. Lambert and Mr. Gibbon [are] called in and present a memorial for 26,736l. 5s. 0d. due to them for bills given for [on] Turin 8 Sept. last. My Lords agree that they shall be paid out of Land Tax tallies anno 1711 to be struck [in course] next after the above 100,000l. thereon.
The [Principal] Officers of the Ordnance are called in and their memorial is read representing the great want that Office is in and praying a supply of about 87,000l. for the most pressing services thereof by 20,000l. a week for four weeks and the residue in the fifth week. My Lords say they will consider thereof in a few days and believe they shall be able to make them easy.
The persons who were to attend this afternoon about the frauds in the Victualling Office are put off till Monday afternoon next.
John Cutting to be a surveyor of the Window Tax in the room of his father.
Mr. Hawes gives an account in writing of some demands sent to Mr. Walpole for the service of the Navy when he [Walpole] was Treasurer thereof; and Mr. Paget taking notice that some of them are for money to discharge ships my Lords resolve to consider the same next Monday morning if by that time the Navy Commissioners have returned their report of what they think proper to be done till a new Treasurer of the Navy is appointed; and in regard Mr. Walpole may be concerned in the orders necessary to be given he is to be sent to to be here at that time. Ibid., pp. 120–1.
Jan. 8,
forenoon.
Present: all the five Lords.
The Duke of Marlborough will be here at eleven of the clock tomorrow morning. My Lords direct Mr. Brydges and Mr. Granville to attend then.
The Attorney General's report is read on a petition of the Royal African Company and Mr. Pindar, in behalf of the Company, is called in and acquainted that my Lords will consider this matter next Thursday morning. My Lords direct that the Attorney General attends then.
Sir J. [Isaac] Newton is called in and acquaints my Lords that new Trial Pieces were made upon the Union [with Scotland] for the trial of gold and silver; that the assaymaster finds as well as himself that the said Trial Piece exceeds the standard in fineness. His report is read and my Lords refer it to the Attorney General to consider and report how the matter complained of may be remedied as the law now stands.
[My Lords order the Principal] Officers of the Mint to treat with the East India Company for such quantities of her Majesty's tin from time to time as they [the said Company] shall desire to buy to export to the East Indies; and to acquaint my Lords [as and] how they proceed.
[My Lords order] a copy of Mr. Lowndes's paper to be sent to the Bank and desire them to consider it and to attend my Lords next Wednesday morning.
Mr. Clayton [is to be ordered] to acquaint my Lords what progress he has made in borrowing 4,000l. a week from the Bank for answering interest [for loans] on the General Mortgages and for [meeting] unsatisfied Transport Debentures.
[My Lords order] Mr. Baron Scrope to come to the Treasury about the quarter bill of salaries [pensions, bounties and other Civil List payments] due at Xmas last to the Officers [et al.] in Scotland.
Mr. Brydges' memorial is read for 15,000l. for recruiting the Forces in Flanders, being [for details] of her Majesty's Subject Troops. My Lords order that sum out of loans in the Exchequer on the Land Tax anno 1711: to be issued upon the order for the 40,000 men.
The persons who were to attend this afternoon are put off and to be acquainted that they shall have notice when they are to attend.
The remitters [of exchange for subsistence &c. of the Forces in Flanders are to be desired] to attend next Thursday morning.
Mr. Walpole to attend next Wednesday morning.
Mr. Baker and Mr. Gosselyn [are to be ordered] to give my Lords an account whether there is any money in their hands applicable to the ship Worcester. Ibid., pp. 122–23.
Jan. 9,
forenoon.
Present: all the five Lords.
[Warrants for] 2,400l. for Xmas quarter's salary to the Lords of the Treasury and the Chancellor of the Exchequer are signed.
[A letter of direction is signed for the issue of] 1,000l. upon the order in Mr. Lowndes's name for secret service.
A letter [of direction is signed] for a quarter's salary and incidents to the Secretary and clerks of the Commissioners of Trade.
His Grace the Duke of Marlborough comes in. He desires that 50,000l. may forthwith be sent over for the douceurs, with direction that it be equally divided among all the foreign troops that are in the Low Countries, with assurances that they shall have the rest as soon as it can be provided: the distribution to be according to former precedents. And his Grace desires that the subsistence may be paid up to this [present] time to all the troops in the Queen's pay to enable them to make their recruits the better.
Mr. Bridges (who now comes in) will to-morrow present a demand in writing for the said 50,000l. and subsistence.
His Grace says that his method has always been that no warrant should be offered to him to sign unless it was regulated by what came from the Pay Office [of Mr. Brydges in London], taking it for granted that nothing came from the Pay Office but what was ordered from the Treasury.
As to the douceurs, we pay one half and the Dutch the other half. They do not allow any one article but [save] upon oath and then we pay half; and his Grace says the certificate of Slingelandt will come for these douceurs.
The Duke says the agents for the Colonels take up money at several places (England, Amsterdam, Antwerp), so that some Regiments have been overpaid and some underpaid. The Agents should [he thinks] be regulated in this loose method. His Grace desired Mr. Cartwright to make the stoppages as easy as possible and signed a warrant for it; otherwise there would not have been a man [left] in four or five Regiments.
His Grace says Mr. Cardonnel will come to Mr. Lowndes about preparing the contracts for the bread and bread waggons. There will be occasion for additional contracts for making extraordinary provision of forage for which his Grace thinks my Lords should have the Queen's direction, and his Grace will write this night that the same contract (as last year) will be made for removing the forage.
His Grace says that by the Queen's order he signed a treaty for 2,500 men to recruit the German Forces in Spain before the late misfortune there and somebody should go over with authority to direct Mr. Mead in his payments.
Mr. Bridges reads the draft of a letter to be signed by him importing that Mr. Mead should make such payments as he judges necessary and to pay subsistence only to the effective men and such subsistence [only] to the effective men of the foreign troops in the Queen's pay as shall be pursuant to the treaties for those troops; and to pay only such sums for other services as are absolutely necessary to be supplied at present.
His Grace and my Lords approve the said letter so far as is above expressed, but do not think that Mr. Mead should be under the direction of a foreign General or of a Council of War for his payments. And his Grace thinks Mr. Mead should be very careful not to issue any great sums till it be known here in what state they are there.
Mr. Bridges is [ordered by my Lords] to amend and prepare his letter accordingly.
His Grace withdraws.
[Send word] to the Customs Commissioners not to attend this afternoon.
Mr. Bridges is to make an account of the loss upon the gold already sent from Portugal before direction be sent for bringing [thence] more gold.
Memorandum: to move the Queen (at the next Treasury [meeting] at St. James's) to make an order that for the future no allowance be made to Governors [of Colonies or Plantations] for transporting their goods. Treasury Minute Book XVIII, pp. 124–5.
Jan. 10,
forenoon.
Present: all the five Lords.
Mr. Gold et al. of the Bank are called in. They think that if a provision can be made for 45,000l. a year for three years and a half they will (struck through) it may be proposed to the Court of Directors that the continuance of that allowance be made out of the overplus of their fond till a million of principal [Exchequer] Bills can be paid off, in order to [enable the Bank to] undertake the payment of [struck through) circulation of all the [Exchequer] Bills as Specie Bills. Ibid., p. 126.
Jan. 11. Present: Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Paget, Sir Thomas Mansel, Mr. Benson.
In case Mr. Baldwin Leighton will undertake to defray the whole charge of determining the writ of error in the House of Lords concerning the Fleet Prison my Lords will give him 40l. towards the same.
[Send word] to the [Principal] Officers of the Mint to attend the Attorney General at his best leisure.
Several members of the Africa Company are called in with Sir John Pakington and Mr. Thomas Albert, late Receiver [General of Taxes for Co. Worcester]. The petition of the Company and the Attorney General's report are read concerning an immediate extent (the Attorney General being present). Also a petition of Thomas Albert concerning the same is read.
The Attorney General [says he] attended the Lord Chief Baron to know why he refused the extent. He answered because the bonds were not seized by the first extent, and because the bonds were not in Court. The affidavit upon which the immediate extent issued against the Company, sworn to by Fletcher Albert, is read. The Attorney General takes notice that the affidavit says the bonds were seized, which differs from the record.
Mr. Albert says the bonds were some at Bristol where money was borrowed on them, so they could not be in Court.
The Attorney General says the extent was irregular.
Sir John Packington desires the bonds may be secured.
The Attorney General says there must be a bill brought to have them in Court.
Mr. Armiger says not one bond is in Court, therefore the Sheriff would not return [that] he had seized them whereby he would have been charged.
The words of the [Sheriff's] return are read where these words quae quidem scripta obligatoria are omitted.
Mr. Tourton, the Secondary [in the Queen's Remembrancer's Office] says it [the Sheriff's return] was taken from them by Mr. [Fletcher ?] Albert by a trick before it was finished and Albert and not the Sheriff delivered it into the Exchequer.
Mr. [Fletcher] Albert would have my Lords take security from the [Royal Africa] Company for payment of this money [representing the value of the bonds or towards the debt owing by Thomas Albert] to the Queen.
Sir John [Packinton] says these bonds will be all mortgaged if they are not secured. Mr. Harris sent Mr. Armiger word that he had none of the bonds, but they are at Bristol and the Lord knows where. Sir John complains that Albert had deposited goods of 4,000l. value for security of Sir John (who is bound for him) and had by a trick taken them away in the night.
[Thomas] Albert says he has not disposed half of them. Albert desires the supersedeas may be deferred till the [end of the] term [so] that the return may be amended.
Mr. Pindar desires present order for the supersedeas for fear all their trade and factories be entirely lost and a great number of creditors undone.
My Lords are of opinion that Mr. Chancellor [the Chancellor of the Exchequer] do supersede the extent according to the Attorney General's report.
Desire Sir John Pakington to go to the Attorney General, who will advise him about securing the bonds.
Mr. Gibbon et al., remitters, are called in. They will attend Mr. Benson in the afternoon.
Mr. Gold says the Court of Directors [of the Bank of England] have considered the proposal of yesterday from my Lords and they are of opinion to lay it before a General Court and in order to it have appointed a committee to consider of the method and terms necessary to be agreed by my Lords for enabling the Bank to undertake the service for reducing the discount of Exchequer Bills. Treasury Minute Book XVIII, pp. 127–8. [At this point a leaf has been cut out of the Minute Book. But there is no break in the pagination nor in the sequence of the Board meetings. It would appear therefore to have been removed before the volume was put into use.]
Jan. 12,
forenoon.
Present: Mr. Pagett, Sir Thomas Mansell, Mr. Benson.
Mr. Lambert and Mr. Gibbon are called in. They agree with my Lords to give their bills [to go] by this night's post for 110,000l. for such uses of the Forces in Flanders as my Lords have directed (upon Mr. Bridges' memorial of this day's date) at the [exchange] rate of 10 guilders 8 stivers current money for a pound sterling: viz. for 15,000l. thereof to be payable in Antwerp at sight and for 95,000l. residue in Amsterdam "at two usance and an half": [in repayment they the remitters] to be paid in Land Tax tallies anno 1711 which are to be registered after 1,400,000l. [charged or to be charged first in course on the register of loans on the Land Tax anno 1711] with interest from this day at the rate of 6 per cent. Ibid., p. 129.
Jan. 13,
forenoon.
Present: Earl Poulett, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Pagett, Sir Thomas Mansell.
Mr. Whitfeild [Paymaster of the Marines] is called in. He acquaints my Lords that there is an immediate occasion for a sum of 6,334l. 17s. 0d. for the Marines, to wit 2,870l. 2s. 8d. for two thirds pay to such as are going on board, 1,800l. for raising recruits and 1,664l. 14s. 4d. for bills of exchange.
My Lords direct that Mr. Walpole [as Treasurer of the Navy] do forthwith procure the said sum to be advanced upon a deposit of tallies and orders in his hands for the service of the Navy (exclusive of those on the present year's Land Tax) in the best manner he can and that [he] acquaints my Lords as soon as may be with the terms upon which he has procured the same.
Write to Mr. Hawes to accommodate my Lord Carmarthen with 100l. in advance on his Lordship's flag pay due at Xmas last. Ibid., p. 130.
Jan. 15,
forenoon.
Present: Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Pagett, Sir Thomas Mansell, Mr. Benson.
Mr. Milner [is] called in. He acquaints my Lords that there is due to him about 47,000l. upon bills of exchange and proposes to take for payment 12,000l. in Exchequer Bills, 15,000l. in tallies on the Land Tax anno 1711 already struck in Mr. Bridges' name and the rest in tallies on the said Land Tax [ranking on the register thereof] next after what is already directed to be struck thereon.
My Lords [say in reply that they] will consider thereof to-morrow morning. Ibid., p. 131.
Eodem die,
afternoon.
Present: Earl Poulet, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Paget, Mr. Benson.
[My Lords order] the Auditors [of Imprests] to make their report upon the papers relating to the unrated East India goods.
Mr. Gold, the Deputy Governor, and other Directors of the Bank are called in. [My Lords order that] Mr. Bridges is to redeem the tallies and orders by him deposited in the Bank to the amount of 150,000l. principal money; and Mr. How is to redeem the tallies and orders by him deposited in the Bank to the amount of 50,000l. principal money; and Mr. Walpole (with the tallies and orders in his hands on the Land Tax anno 1711) is to redeem the tallies and orders by him deposited in the Bank to the amount of 100,000l. principal money. The said Mr. Bridges, Mr. How and Mr. Walpole are severally to pay the interest due to the Bank and the Gentlemen of the Bank will cause (struck through) they [Bridges, How and Walpole] with Mr. Carbonel are to cause an account to be made up and presented to my Lords of the loss by discounts, which is to be made good [out of public funds to the respective services, viz. the Forces Abroad, the Guards and Garrisons and the Navy] for the moneys [so as above] furnished [or lent by the Bank] for the public service.
A paper [proposal] of the Directors for enabling the Bank to undertake the answering [circulating and paying in specie on presentation] all Exchequer Bills is read paragraph by paragraph and the minutes [of my Lords' conclusions thereupon] are [endorsed] upon it. Send a copy thereof to the Directors.
My Lords recommend it to these Gentlemen to give this affair the greatest despatch that is possible.
Make a list of all the vacant places [? in the Customs]. Ibid., p. 131.
Jan. 17,
forenoon.
Present all the five Lords.
[My Lords direct the issue out of Civil List moneys of] 650l. to Mr. Lowndes on the [unsatisfied] order in his name for secret service.
[My Lords sign a] letter [of direction] for 2,492l. 13s. 8d. to the Earl of Peterborough and others.
Sir Peter King, Mr. Weston, Mr. Cox and Mr. Clayton are called in. Upon hearing what Sir Peter offers in relation to the purchase of Mr. Weston's estate towards clearing the debt which he owes to the Crown my Lords direct the Agents [for Taxes] to attend the Attorney General with a state of the matter in order to have a bill prepared as Sir Peter desires. It is promised in behalf of the sureties that so much more shall be immediately paid into the Exchequer as with Sir P. King's purchase money will discharge the whole [of Weston's] debt on the Land Tax and that on the Window Tax shall be discharged by Michaelmas next: (minute struck through: see the fresh entry below).
[My Lords order] Mr. Brydges to send my Lords an account by to-morrow morning how far Mr. Sweet has complied with the directions of sending [to my Lords] every fortnight his accounts of receipts and payments.
An account [is] to be laid before my Lords to-morrow morning of what deposited tallies remain unredeemed [in the hands of the Bank or of other creditors who have lent money on security thereof] and what Land Tax tallies of the year 1711 are in the hands of the Paymasters [of the services concerned, to wit the Forces Abroad, the Guards and Garrisons, the Navy and the Ordnance, being issued to them as for the use of the said Forces and applicable] towards [the redeeming] the same.
[My Lords order a] warrant for Mr. Morgan to have the place he is presented for.
[My Lords order] Mr. Jezrael Jones to attend my Lords to-morrow morning with an account of the charge that her Majesty has been at in relation to Ambassadors &c. from Morocco since he has been concerned with them.
Upon reading a memorial from Mr. Brydges in behalf of the Regiments of Windsor, Hotham, Montandre and Ilay my Lords direct (for the reasons mentioned in the said memorial) that 6,774l. 1s. 0d. be issued for them out of loans in the Exchequer on the present year's Land Tax.
Sir Peter King [is] called in with Mr. Weston, Mr. Vernon, Mr. Cox and the Agents for Taxes. Sir Peter insisting for an Act of Parliament for confirmation of his title before he pays the purchase money for that part of Mr. Weston's estate which he has agreed for, my Lords direct the Agents for Taxes to attend the Attorney General with a state of the case in order to prepare the draft of a bill for that purpose if he thinks it necessary. Mr. Vernon for himself and the rest of the sureties doth faithfully promise my Lords forthwith to pay into the Exchequer so much as with Sir Peter King's purchase money will fully discharge Mr. Weston's debt on the Land Tax and will give further security for answering what he owes on the Window Tax by Michaelmas next if my Lords shall be pleased so far to indulge them, they not being able to raise that money sooner.
My Lords conceiving what is proposed will not be any loss to the public in regard the Exchequer process is not likely to bring it in sooner do agree thereunto and will stay process accordingly. Treasury Minute Book XVIII, pp. 132–3.
Jan. 18,
forenoon.
Present: Earl Poulett, Mr. Pagett, Sir Thomas Mansell, Mr. Benson.
Mr. Whitfeild is called in.
[My Lords order] Lord Balmerino to be General of the Mint at Edinburgh.
[My Lords sign a letter of direction for] 900l. to be issued to Mr. Brydges upon the order for the 40,000 men upon account of subsistence.
[My Lords order] the letters and [minutes or] directions relating to the [poor] Palatines to be looked out [and got together] for my Lord Poulett.
[My Lords sign a] letter [of direction] for what is due to the Earl Rivers as Constable of the Tower.
[Likewise a letter of direction for] 3,000l. to be issued to the Robes [out of Civil List funds].
Renew the letters to the Customs Commissioners for their report on the petition of the inhabitants of Rochester; and to the Commissioners of the Victualling about their contracts. Ibid., p. 134.
Jan. 19,
forenoon.
Present: all the five Lords.
Mr. Hoar is called in with the rest of the remitters [contractors for exchange remittances for the troops in the Low Countries]. My Lords desire them to make a proposal for remitting 50,000l. to Flanders by this night's post. [In reply they] the remitters propose to give their bills for [on] Amsterdam at two usance and an half at the rate of 10 guilders 7 stivers current money [of Amsterdam] to a pound sterling and [by way of repayment they agree] to be paid one half in Exchequer Bills and the other half out of the Land Tax tallies now directed to be struck in the name of Mr. Brydges and to be registered [on the register of loans on the said Land Tax] next after 160,000l.
My Lords agree to the said proposal and direct [order a letter of direction for the issue to the said Brydges of] the said 50,000l. upon account of subsistence.
My Lords order 150,000l. to be now levied in tallies on the Land Tax anno 1711 in the name of Mr. Brydges for such uses as my Lords shall direct except as to the 25,000l. which he is to assign to the remitters as above.
[My Lords direct] 4,000l. to be issued to Mr. Walpole as Treasurer of the Navy: out of loans in the Exchequer on this year's Land Tax: to be applied to the head of Wages and out of it 100l. to be paid to the Marquess of Carmarthen on account of what is due to him on his flag pay to Xmas last.
[My Lords order the] Auditors of Imprests to attend to-morrow morning with their report concerning the Duties on unrated East India goods.
Henry Janes of the city of Wells [is] to be distributor of stamped paper at Wells and Thomas Herskett [is] to be distributor [of same] at Taunton in Somersetshire. Ibid., p. 135.
Jan. 20,
forenoon.
Present: all the five Lords.
[My Lords direct] 1,250l. to be issued to Mr. Brydges on the order in his name for the 40,000 men; being for a particular service.
Mr. Hawes [is] called in. He acquaints my Lords that pursuant to the directions given him the 13th inst. he has procured 4,000l. to be advanced by Robert Nightingale in Exchequer Bills on a deposit of 4,500l. in tallies and orders on the twelfth 4s. Aid [the Land Tax anno 1709] for three months at an interest of 6 per cent. per an. and to be repaid at the end thereof in specie.
My Lords direct that the said 4,000l. be paid over to Walter Whitfeild, Esq., Paymaster of the Marines, for two thirds pay and recruit money for the said Marines and to be placed to the head of Wages [of seamen in the accounts of the Navy] anno 1709. Ibid., p. 136.
Jan. 25,
forenoon.
Present: all the five Lords.
[My Lords order] Mr. Millar to be an Agent [for Taxes] in the place of Mr. Barker.
Sir Richard Hoar and Mr. Sheppard are called in [in behalf of the remitters of exchange to Flanders]. My Lords direct [the issue to them] of 162,000l. [by way of repayment for their bills of exchange and as] upon account of their remittances: viz. 80,000l. by tallies (struck through).
[My Lords direct the] issue to Mr. Bridges of 32,000l. in Exchequer Bills for the service of the Forces [Abroad].
Mr. Bridges is [ordered by my Lords] to redeem the tallies and orders deposited by him with the [abovesaid] remitters, amounting to 162,000l.
[My Lords direct the] issue to Mr. Bridges of 50,000l. (struck through) 10,000l. in Exchequer Bills towards enable him to satisfy bills of exchange (struck through) satisfaction of bills of exchange from Portugal.
[Likewise the] issue to him of 8,304l. more in Exchequer Bills towards satisfaction of bills of exchange from Portugal and Spain.
Mr. Bridges is [ordered by my Lords] to redeem the tallies and orders by him deposited in the hands of Sir Henry Furnese and Mr. Milner.
[My Lords direct] 42,000l. to be issued in Exchequer Bills to the Treasurer of the Navy in part of 83,268l. 19s. 9d. for the services following, viz. 8,000l. for bills of exchange [drawn] on the Navy [Treasurer]; 18,029l. for paying Deptford and Woolwich Yard [wages] for Michaelmas quarter anno 1709; 5,600l. for paying the pilots three months to 30 Sept. 1709; 12,139l. 19s. 9d. for bills of exchange on the Victualling; 20,000l. for paying ships which are ordered to be laid up; 10,000l. for paying ships off to the end of June 1708.
Write to the Customs Commissioners in Scotland to know what the Duty on Scotch linen exported hath amounted to [realised] yearly.
[My Lords direct the] issue of 3,303l. 14s. 11½d. to Mr. Bridges in Exchequer Bills to discharge Exchequer fees settled by Parliament [due on Exchequer issues made to him as Paymaster of the Forces Abroad]. Treasury Minute Book XVIII, p. 137.
Jan. 26,
forenoon.
Present: all the five Lords.
The report concerning Mr. Ward, contractor for canvas [for the Navy] is read and approved. My Lords will order accordingly. Ibid., p. 138.
Jan. 29,
forenoon.
Present: Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Thomas Mansell, Mr. Benson.
Sir Theodore Janssen and other remitters [of exchange are] called in. Sir Theodore acquaints my Lords that he and the rest concerned with him in the remittances for Italy and Spain are in great distress for want of what is due to them on bills of exchange.
My Lords say they will order them 100,000l. out of tallies on the Malt Act as soon as [that Act is] passed [which tallies are] to lie as a deposit only till they can be redeemed by money [which is] to come in on the Lottery.
My Lords desire the [abovesaid] remitters to consider at what rate they will give their bills for Holland by to-morrow night's post for about 60,000l. for subsistence of the Troops in Flanders: to be paid 30,000l. thereof out of the first tallies that can be struck on the Malt Act and the rest by a deposit of tallies to be redeemed out of the Lottery money. They say they will consider of it and adjust it with Mr. Benson to-morrow morning.
Mr. Howe [Paymaster of Guards and Garrisons, is] called in. He presents a memorial for two months' subsistence [of the Guards and Garrisons] amounting to about 67,000l. My Lords direct that his agent Mr. Meryll do attend Mr. Benson to-morrow morning with a list of what tallies are in Mr. Howe's hands and [they do] intend to direct him to dispose of 33,000l. of those that can most easily be parted with towards the uses contained in his said memorial.
Mr. Whitfield [Paymaster of Marines is] called [in] and says he is in great want of about 17,000l. for the subsistence &c. of the Marines. My Lords direct that Mr. Hawes do attend their Lordships on Wednesday morning with a list of the tallies resting in the hands of the Treasurer of the Navy and [they similarly] intend to direct the disposing of so many of the best of them as will raise the said sum.
The Duke of Marlborough will be here on Wednesday morning.
[Write] the Attorney General to be here at 12 o'clock on Wednesday. Ibid., p. 139.
Jan. 31,
forenoon.
Present: all the five Lords.
His Grace the Duke of Marlborough comes on. He desires an advance, as [is] usual, of two months' remittances [of subsistence] for the Army. [By direction of their Lordships] Mr. Bridges will take care to insert it in his demands for the growing subsistence.
His Grace says he always orders Mr. Cardonal to offer no warrants to him for payments but what are grounded upon what comes from the Pay Office [under Mr. Bridges] and he always takes it that what comes from thence is pursuant to the directions of the Treasury and that Mr. Bridges do [does] take care it be so.
His Grace says it will be necessary to pay the contractors [for forage and bread &c.] what is due to them as well as the advance money [on their respective contracts] for [the forthcoming campaign in] 1711.
Insert the clause again in the [said bread and forage contractors'] contract for [requiring their] exporting corn from England.
His Grace leaves a paper [of estimate and demand] for the extra charge and demand of the General Officers and desires that they may be satisfied.
His Grace proposes that the two Battalions of my Lord Orkney may have each a Lieut. Colonel and a Major. [My Lords assure him that] Mr. Granvile will provide for this in the Establishment [for the Forces anno 1711].
The petition of the Captains of some Regiments that suffered most in the seige of Ayre [Aire] is read. His Grace says they would [desire to] have 30l. a Company, but he leaves it to my Lords. It will come to 360l. a Regiment. [My Lords] refer this petition to Mr. Granville and Mr. Bridges.
A memorial of the Dragoons is read against [their] paying so much for their forage as they have paid. [My Lords] refer it to the same [referees as above].
Col. Pocock's memorial [is also read and my Lords order it] to be referred to the same. Ibid., p. 140.