Treasury Minutes: August 1717, 2-14 | British History Online

Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 31, 1717. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1960.

Citation:

'Treasury Minutes: August 1717, 2-14', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 31, 1717, ed. William A Shaw, F H Slingsby( London, 1960), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol31/pp39-45 [accessed 24 November 2024].

August 1717, 2–14


		£	s.	d.

Aug. 2. Treasury Chambers, Whitehall.	Present: Lord Stanhope, Lord Torrington, Mr. Wallop, Mr. Baillie, Mr. Micklethwaite. The Customs Commissioners attending according to order are called in. Their presentment relating to the building the Custom House is read. My Lords direct the said Commissioners to inform themselves what estates or interests in possession, reversion or remainder any persons or corporations have in the ground or building of the Custom House or convenient to be laid thereunto; and to receive proposals from them, or such of them as are willing to sell such estates or interests to the Crown; and when they have proceeded as far as they can in such enquiry and [in] receiving such proposals that they report to my Lords their own opinions in relation to the said estates and interests respectively in order to be laid before the Parliament to obtain an Act or Acts for confirming such agreements as shall be thought reasonable to be made concerning the same. State what remains unsatisfied upon former privy seals for sums arising by wood sales and whether any new ones [wood sale grants] have been granted since his Majesty's accession. [Write to the Principal] Officers of the Mint to hasten their report upon the proposals for furnishing the Mint with copper for coining farthings and half pence [which proposals were] referred to them by my Lords. [My Lords order] Mr. John Boyle to have 50l. [as royal] bounty per Mr. Lowther and to be recommended to the Revenue Commissioners in Ireland [for employment] in consideration of services by him performed. Treasury Minute Book XXIII, p. 140.
Aug. 2, Friday.	Entry of petitions, memorials &c. this day read. Petition of Visct. Falkland to his Majesty. Mr. Corbiere to translate this [into French: so that his Majesty can peruse it for himself]. Mr. Turner's letter to Mr. Lowndes about Sir Biby Lake's hearing. My Lords appoint Friday next to determine finally on this affair. Memorandum about light-houses at Greenwich. Enter a caveat that no grant be made, and [that] before any grant be made the [Brethren of] Trinity House [are] to be advised with. Petition of the Earl of Lichfield. Enquire into this. Petition of Keneth Gordon. The Customs Commissioners to examine the character of the present Collector and the qualifications of the petitioner and certify the same to my Lords. Memorial of Sarah and Ann Eaton, pretending to discover high treason. Read and rejected. Petition of John Hartly. My Lords can do nothing in this. Petition of John Earl. Referred to the Customs Commissioners. Petition of John Fulford. Referred to the Customs Commissioners. Petition of Thomas Gage to his Majesty. Read. The Customs Commissioners' report “about enclosure on Tower Hill.” Read. The Customs Commissioners' report about a Dutch ship taken from the Swedes. Read. Mr. Boyle's petition. [My Lords order him] 50l. [to be paid] per Mr. Lowther and [order their secretary to] prepare a letter to recommend him to the Commissioners of the Revenue in Ireland [for employment]. Several accounts and papers from Col. Spotswood about the Quit rents and Duty of 2s. per hogshead on tobacco in Virginia. Mr. Blathwayte to state this account. Register of Papers T 4/20, p. 21.
Aug. 5. Treasury Chambers, Whitehall.	Present: Lord Stanhope, Lord Torrington, Mr. Wallop, Mr. Baillie, Mr. Micklethwaite. Mr. John Miller having declined the office of one of the Directors for taking in subscriptions on Lottery orders upon account of his other business which would hinder his attendance my Lords desire the Directors of the Bank will nominate any other person employed under them to succeed him. Mr. Colt to be one of the Directors [of this Lottery] in the room of his father. His Majesty having been pleased to signify his pleasure that he will allow the sum of 7,500l. to the Earl of Oxford for his house at St. James's my Lords direct Mr. Thomas, agent for the said Earl, to attend them to-morrow morning. Write to the Treasurer of the Navy to lay before my Lords a list of Reversionary Annuities in his hands for the use of the Navy and to certify when they were purchased, upon what Acts and at what rates, how many of them are fallen in and when, and whether the money grown due upon the annuities fallen in hath been received at the Exchequer; and to return an answer on Wednesday morning next. Treasury Minute Book XXIII, p. 141.
Aug. 5, Monday.	Entry of petitions, memorials &c. this day read. Copy of a report relating to the Garrison of Placentia. Read: to be laid before the [Privy] Council. Copy of a report relating to the Garrison of Annapolis Royal. Read: to be laid before the Privy Council. (Delivered to the hands of Mr. Tilson.) Memorial from the [Principal] Officers of the Mint [relative] to the Proposals for furnishing copper [for farthings and halfpence]. The [Principal] Officers of the Mint to attend at 12 o'clock to-morrow. Memorial of George Bridges. Referred to the Surveyor [General] of Woods. Register of Papers T 4/20, p. 22.
Aug. 6. Treasury Chambers, Whitehall.	Present: Lord Stanhope, Lord Torrington, Mr. Wallop, Mr. Baillie, Mr. Micklethwaite. My Lords upon reading the report of the [Principal] Officers of the Mint on the proposal for importing bars of fine copper for coining farthings and halfpence are pleased to direct Sir Isaac Newton to prepare and lay before them proper warrants and Instructions relating to the coinage. Issue 500l. to Sir Isaac Newton upon account for this service. [My Lords order] Mr. Budgell to be Comptroller General and Receiver General in Ireland in the room of William Burgh. Treasury Minute Book XXIII, p. 142.
Aug. 6, Tuesday.	Entry of petitions, memorials &c. this day read. Memorial [from the Principal] Officers [of the] Mint to the proposal for furnishing copper. My Lords agree to the report. Sir Isaac Newton will prepare the necessary warrants. A pound weight to be cut into 23 pence. Memorial [from the] Commissioners for building [fifty new] churches [in London and Westminster. My Lords direct] 11,000l. to be issued to their Treasurer. Mr. London and Mr. Hall, petition to his Majesty. Read. Report from the Usher of the Exchequer upon the petition of Lady Diana Feilding. The Usher to insert this in his bills in order to the payment of this sum. Petition of Margaret and Mary Molley. Read. A King's warrant for a new lease or tack to the University of Glasgow. Cancelled. Memorial of Alexander Abercrombie &c. Agreed to. Petition of Sir James Jefferys. My Lords cannot advise the granting of this petition. A certificate of 5,000l. payable to the D[uke] of Buckingham by her late Majesty's warrant. Prepare a new sign manual. Petition of Mr. James Haldane. Referred to the Barons of the Exchequer in Scotland to consider and prepare a grant if they think proper. Col. Tyrrell's petition. Read. Order of [the Privy] Council referring to the Treasury Lords the petition of John Butts. He hath 30l. per an. upon the Establishment. Petition of Henry Smithson. Referred to the [Principal] Officers of the Mint. The report from the [Principal] Officers of the Mint on Mr. Barrow's bill. Agreed. Order of [the Privy] Council referring to the Treasury Lords the petition of Major Kemp and others. [Referred] to the Com[missioners for Stating] of Army Debts. [Order of Council referring to the Treasury the petition] of Eleanor Conway. She has 20l. per an. on the Establishment. [Order of Council referring to the Treasury Lords the petition] of Col. William Patridge. A copy of the grant of Massachusetts Bay [is] to be produced [to my Lords]. Mr. [Auditor] Jett's report on Mr. Rudge's petition. Read. Petition of five Canada widows. Read. Petition of William Dowley. Read. Mr. Cracherode's report about Dr. Fowles. A warrant [is to be drawn] to the Attorney General to acknowledge satisfaction upon record if not discharged by the Act of Grace. Mr. Cracherode's report about Mary Richardson. The 10l. fine to be remitted if not discharged by the Act of Grace. Petition of Arthur Slingsby. Write to Mr. Blathwaite for the answer he mentions in his report on this petition. Petition of James Alpha. When there is a vacancy of a noontender he may apply again. Report of the [Commissioners for] Sick and Hurt Seamen on the petition of Christopher Clarke. If the petitioner thinks he has a right [he is at liberty] to pursue his remedy at law. Samuel Burton's report on Mr. Forster's petition. [He is ordered] to be paid out of the rents of the Savoy. Mr. Borret's report on the petition of the Attorney General's clerks. A warrant [is ordered] to be prepared. Thomas Bully's petition for employment in the Customs. To be brought in when anything of this kind is vacant. Mr. Powys's report on the petition of Mr. Mathews, the Governor of the Leeward Islands. Prepare a warrant. Register of Papers T 4/20, pp. 23–4.
Aug. 7. Treasury Chambers, Whitehall.	Present: Lord Stanhope, Lord Torrington, Mr. Wallop, Mr. Baillie, Mr. Micklethwaite. Mr. Aislabie, Treasurer of the Navy, is called in and upon his laying before my Lords an estimate of sums wanting for naval and victualling services to be supplied before Michaelmas next my Lords order as followeth:
	on the head of Wages. for paying Defalcations due to several persons on ships' books paid in his [period of] Treasurership	10,000	0	0
	for answering Defalcations in Mr. Cæsar's Treasurership [of the Navy]	4,000	0	0
	for Officers who have passed their accounts: [and is as] in part	5,000	0	0
	for Recalling Ships' books paid by Mr. Aislabie in the year 1716 in order to the making them up and closing that year's accounts	10,000	0	0
	for paying the poor pilots the [Navy] bills registered on their Course to 31 Dec. 1716	5,000	0	0
	on the head of Wear and Tear. for complying with bills of exchange that shall be drawn from foreign parts and answering the payment of imprests: in part	3,000	0	0
	on the head of Victualling. for bills of exchange	2,000	0	0
	for Necessary Money to Pursers and the Contingencies of their Office, viz. salaries &c.	2,000	0	0
		—
		£41,000	0	0
	towards which my Lords direct the sums following: out of money raised for Reversionary Annuities	18,917	0	0
	[out of] money come in on 1,000l. tally on Land Tax anno 1715	379	0	5½
	out of loans in the Exchequer on Land Tax anno 1717	13,428	16	11
	to be raised by selling [depositing as security for loan from the Bank or others] tallies on Land Tax [anno 1717 as in] part of 30,188l. 10s. 3¾d. with the interest at 4 per cent. incurred from the date of the tallies; which interest is to be charged on the Treasurer [of the Navy as a debit in the charge side of his account]	8,275	2	7½
		—
		£41,000	0	0
	My Lords again take into consideration the affair of Sir Biby Lake and General Wills (the Attorney General being present) and direct a letter to be sent to the Earl of Carnarvon desiring him to certify what South Sea stock was deposited in his hands to satisfy the assignments of offreckonings from Lord North and Grey to Mr. Peters for 3,475l. and from Brigadier Lepell to ditto [Peters] for 4,640l. or any offreckonings whereof those were part; and who hath received the dividends thereupon. Treasury Minute Book XXIII, pp. 143–4. Disposition Book XXIV, p. 8.
Aug. 7, Wednesday.	Entry of petitions, memorials &c. this day read. Mr. Bambridge's letter to Mr. Lowndes excusing himself from attending at the hearing between General Wills and Sir Biby Lake, affirming that he was obliged to attend the last Seal in Chancery at a solemn hearing appointed for the Duke of Kent and several other of his clients. The Attorney General says there can be no such hearing this day for the Duke of Kent. Petition of Mr. Wilson the clothier. Referred to the Commissioners for Stating the Debts of the Army. Mr. Jett's report on Mr. Stainsforth's petition. My Lords agree to the report. Register of Papers T 4/20, p. 25.
Aug. 9, Friday.	Entry of petitions, memorials &c. this day read. Petition of Edward Green. Read. Memorial of Andrew Trebeck, B.D. My Lords can do nothing in this. Report of the late and present Agents for Taxes on Mr. Richer's petition. When there is any money in the Exchequer for that purpose he shall have his proportion. Mr. Colby's letter to Mr. Lowndes for 4,000l. to be issued to Mr. Hill for Transports. Direct the Treasurer of the Navy to raise 3,000l. out of the 30,000l. tallies in his hands for this service. The Bishop of London's letter for 20l. to Mr. Farquarson. Prepare a warrant. Lord [the Earl of] Dunmore's letter. Ordered accordingly. [The Army accounts] Comptrollers' report on Mr. Moore's petition. [My Lords order a] letter to the Secretary at War to prepare a [royal] warrant, but their Lordships disallow the 200l. for his journey to London. Petition of John Tyrrell. Referred to the Customs Commissioners. Presentment from the Customs Commissioners about smugglers &c. To be laid before the [Privy] Council. Petition of Charles Bromstead. Read. Proposal of Francis Palmer. Referred to the Customs Commissioners. Petition of William Pitt, Keeper of Newgate. Respited. Ibid., p. 26.
Aug. 10. Treasury Chambers, Whitehall.	Present: Lord Stanhope, Mr. Wallop, Mr. Baillie, Mr. Micklethwaite. A memorial from the Treasurer of the Navy is read [for money for the Navy]. My Lords order the sum of 15,000l. to pay off his Majesty's ship Falmouth and the Hind's Company lately removed into the Sheerness: [and is to be issued] out of tallies remaining in his hands on the Land Tax anno 1716. [Write to the] Commissioners of the Navy to take care that the [Navy] Treasurer in his voluntary charge be duly charged with all interest received by him at the Exchequer and with all money arising by the sale of tallies or orders above [and beyond the amount of] the principal [money of the said tallies and orders]. Sir Isaac Newton [is] called in. My Lords agree that the Master of the Mint may agree with Mr. Hind to furnish his Majesty's Mint with copper for coining halfpence and farthings at 18 pence per pound. [My Lords direct] Sir Isaac (Newton) to consider the state of the gold and silver coin of the kingdom and to make his report; and also to propose what method he thinks will most effectually proportion the value of gold and silver [in terms of each other so] that the profit upon melting and exportation of silver may cease and the scarcity [of silver coin may] be hindered. [In the margin in a modern hand: “this report made 21 Sept. 1717 and is printed in Tindal, Continuation of Rapin.” (fn. 1) ] [My Lords order] a warrant to be prepared for 200l. to the Marquis de Rochegude as of his Majesty's royal bounty. [My Lords order] Mr. Wase 100l. [to be paid] by Mr. Lowther; to repay the like sum to the Earl of Sunderland disbursed, by his Majesty's command, to Mr. Wye. [My Lords order] Ralph Bethel 20l. [to be paid] per ditto [by Mr. Lowther]. [My Lords order] a quarter's salary to the Commissioners of Police in Scotland to Lady day. Enforce the letter to Sir Roger Mostyn of the 19th July 1717 about making up his accounts. Treasury Minute Book XXIII, p. 145.
Aug. [? 10]. Treasury Chambers, Whitehall.	Present: Lord Stanhope, Mr. Wallop, Mr. Baillie, Mr. Micklethwaite. The Distributors of the 15,000l. bounty to the French Protestants [are ordered] to send to my Lords an exact list of the persons to whom they have made a distribution of the said bounty for seven years past, distinguishing the same yearly, together with their Christian and Sir names and the sums paid to them respectively and whether for themselves or in trust for others. See whether the French pensioners now paid by Mr. La Motte Blagny or any of them were inserted in Mr. Compton's or Mr. Nicholas's lists of pensions payable by them. Ibid., p. 146.
Aug. 12. Treasury Chambers, Whitehall.	Present: ut supra. Mr. Oakeley (deputy to Mr. Auditor Harley) attending with the state of Brigadier Petit's account and the report of the Commissioners for Stating the Army Debts, the said state and report are read and upon considering the same my Lords direct the Auditor or his Deputy to prepare a sign manual pursuant to an Act of Parliament for making the allowances stated in the abovementioned account. Write to Mr. Clayton to stop any payment upon Lord Forrester's pension of 200l. per an. (payable by him) till further order from my Lords. Ibid., p. 147.
Aug. 12, Monday.	Entry of petitions, memorials &c. this day read. Petition of Frances Corry. My Lords don't think it reasonable to move the King on her behalf. Petition of Simon Sloper, gent. He may apply when there is any money in the Exchequer [applicable]. Mr. Patterson's petition. Referred to the Secretary at War. Petition of Sir Biby Lake, bart. Query: if there be any return from Lord Carnarvon upon the last letter sent to him. Memorial of John Rayner, Esq. Refer that part of his memorial for a new privy seal to the Lords Commissioners for Trade. Petition of William John, Undersheriff of Exeter. Referred to the Clerk of the Pipe to examine and report. Answer from the Commissioners for Army Debts about eight Invalid Companies. Read. The Earl of Lincoln's memorial about payment of the Contingencies of [the Forces in] Minorca. Referred to the Secretary at War. The Auditor's report on Mr. King's petition. Prepare a warrant to the [King's] Remembrancer to deliver up the bonds. Register of Papers T 4/20, p. 27.
Aug. —. Treasury Chambers, Whitehall.	Present: Lord Stanhope, Lord Torrington, Mr. Wallop, Mr. Baillie, Mr. Micklethwaite. The Treasurer of the Navy to dispose of 15,000l. Land Tax tallies anno 1716, remaining in his hands, to pay off his Majesty's ship Falmouth and the Hind's Company removed into the Sheerness. [This minute appears to be a repetition of the first minute of Aug. 10, supra, p. 43, but the entry of the attendance is different. The letter of direction issued in accordance with this minute has had its date altered to August 9.] Treasury Minute Book XXIII, p. 148. Disposition Book XXIV, p. 9.
Aug. 14. Wednesday.	Entry of petitions, memorials &c. this day read. The memorial of William Wallis relating to Mr. Hill. Shew this proposition (which to their Lordships seems reasonable) to Mr. Hill. The King's warrant for coining copper money. To be written fair for his Majesty's sign manual. The report from the Customs Commissioners in Scotland on Mrs. Helen Cowan's petition. Agreed. Petition of Dame Mary Mordington. Read and rejected. Lord Sunderland's letter enclosing a copy of the opinions of the Attorney and Solicitor General and Mr. Cracherode about the prosecutions against the Auditors of Imprests. A warrant for a noli prosequi [is ordered] to be prepared for his Majesty's signature. Lord Cadogan's memorial as Governor of the Isle of Wight. Referred to the Surveyor General of [Crown] Lands. Lord Cadogan's memorial as Master of the Robes. Ordered. Sir David Dalrymple's letter about the forfeited estates in Scotland. [Referred] to the Commissioners for Forfeitures to consider and report their opinions with all speed. The case and representation of Col. Don Joseph Marti. Referred to the Commissioners for Stating and Determining the Army Debts. Register of Papers T 4/20, p. 28.