Volume 103: October 1-December 31, 1707

Calendar of Treasury Papers, Volume 3, 1702-1707. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1874.

This free content was digitised by double rekeying. Public Domain.

Citation:

'Volume 103: October 1-December 31, 1707', in Calendar of Treasury Papers, Volume 3, 1702-1707, ed. Joseph Redington( London, 1874), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-papers/vol3/pp538-561 [accessed 28 November 2024].

October 1–December 31, 1707



Oct. 1.	1. An account of money remaining to be received for the years 1702, 1703, 1704, 1705, 1706, and 1707, short of the proportion of 19s a man a month for the service of the victualling. Dated 1 Oct. 1707. 1 page.
Oct. 1.	2. A state of the charge and debt of the sick and wounded office to the 1^st Oct. 1707. 2 pages.
Oct. 2.	3. Representation of the Com^rs of Excise (Scotland) to the L^d High Treasurer. The justices had adjudged that the brewers should have an allowance of 1/8^th on the gauge of all hot worts instead of 1/10^th, and that the barrels which contain 1/6^th more than the 34 gallons English, or 12 gallons present Scotts standard measure, should be the barrel by which they should be charged. They had represented to the justices the loss to the revenue, and that it was contrary to law. Would ask the Lord Advocate's advice how to quash the judgment. Could not get any money from the brewers for ale brewed since the 20^th of July. Had yesterday received their new commission from the Earl of Seafield. Dated 2 Oct. 1707. 2 pages.
Oct. 4.	4. Letter from the Lords of the Treasury of Scotland to the Lord [High Treasurer?] in relation to the subsistence money for the forces and garrisons in Her Majesty's establishment in Scotland. The civil list could not answer any part of it, &c. The crown rents were exhausted by appropriations before the union. They make further suggestions as to this subsistence. It was of great consequence that it should be paid the first week of each month. Dated Edinburgh, Treasury Chamber, 4 Oct. 1707. 1½ pages.
Oct. 7.	5. Letter of J. Brydges, unaddressed, but probably to some one at the Treasury, apologizing for not making his acknowledgments sooner, for continued favours in the despatch of all business. As a small instance of his gratitude asking the acceptance of a “bill” enclosed. Dated 7 Oct. 1707. 1 page, quarto.
Oct. 9.	6. Representation from the Com^rs of Excise (Scotland) to the L^d [High Treasurer?]. They had ordered the payment of the first 2,000l. for the subsistence of the forces, &c. The Earl of Seafield and Lords of the Treasury had stopped the judgment designed to be given by the justices. The standard measures were to be tried in a day or two. Dated 9 Oct. 1707. 2 pages.
Oct. 9.	7 & 8. Report of Sir Christopher Wren to the Lord High Treasurer, on the petition of the Directors of the Royal Hospital for Seamen at Greenwich. There was a duty of 12d. per ton for stone shipped at Portland, except for royal palaces, and for such other public works as Her Majesty should give directions, and to levy the duty better, presentments were made of it at the Queen's Courts for her manor of Portland. The islanders had only 9d. of it for the poor, the other 3d. being paid to the receiver of the land revenue for Dorsetshire. He could not inform his Lordship what title the islanders had to the 9d., or any part of it. All he could find was a pleaded custom for 6d. and a sign manual from King Charles II. for the other 3d. Being for the poor, it had been paid for the stone used at S^t Paul's and other works, except what was for the immediate service of the crown. It was paid for the stone used at Chelsea College; and how far Greenwich Hospital differed from that foundation he could not determine. The Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's were entitled to the 6d. per ton paid to them by a clause in the last grant of the quarries to them; and it went towards the great charges of the ways, pier and crane. He (Sir Chr.) had a warrant (as former surveyors had) empowering him to give licences to quarrymen to work in the quarries. If Her Majesty thought fit to gratify the petitioners in the remission of the duty, he proposed that the Attorney General should settle the right of the 12d. per ton, and the steward of the manor should respit all presentments about the duty. Dated 9 Oct. 1707. The petition referred to. 3 pages.
Oct. 11.	9 & 10. Report of the Com^rs for duties on stamped vellum, parchment and paper, to the Lord High Treasurer, on the petition of the sworn attorneys of the courts of law at Westminster who were threatened with pains and penalties, and many of them under prosecution in the Exchequer, for contravening the stamp duties. They (the Com^rs) were satisfied that it had been a very common practice to defraud the stamp duties throughout England, &c. [It is a very lengthy report]. Dated Stamp Office, Lincoln's Inn, 11 Oct. 1707. Minuted:—“27^th Octob^r 1707. Send this to M^r Attorney & M^r Soll^r Gen^ll for their opinions.’ Also the petition. 4 pages.
Oct. 13.	11. Letter of George Trotter to M^r Lowndes, asking him to acquaint the L^d High Treasurer that M^r Sedgwick, the collector of Whitby, was dead, and asking to be appointed, and that he should not be put by as he was the last time. Dated Custom House, Scarborough, Oct. 13, 1707? 1 page.
Oct. 13.	12. Representation of the Com^rs for the Land Tax for the Palaces of Whitehall, &c. Parliament had charged Her Majesty's family with 30,754l. 8s. 4d. to be raised by the 4s. aid in the year 1705. They had represented that it would be the entire ruin of the greatest part of the family, but they had paid 19,403l. 8s. 3d., and they fell short 11,351l.; praying that their sad estate might be laid before their royal mistress, and for his Lordships compassionate representation of their great distress. Dated Whitehall, 13 Oct. 1707. 1 page.
Oct. 14.	13. Memorial of the Com^rs of Ordnance to the Lord High Treasurer on Lord Galway's and Col. Richards' proposal for augmenting the Spanish train. Lord Galway proposed that there should be a field train of 20 pieces of cannon, ammunition, &c., for the whole army (4,000 horse and foot), as he found the Portuguese had managed that service very ill, and it would be necessary to continue the officers, gunners, &c., at Alicant and Denia. Several sums had been laid out on the fortifications of Gibraltar. Previous to making their estimates they ask directions. Dated 14 Oct. 1707. Minuted:—“To be considerd when the D. of Marlb^o comes over.” 3 pages.
Oct. 14.	14. Memorial of the Com^rs for sick and wounded seamen to the L^d High Treasurer, asking for 4,252l. to enable them to pay bills of exchange. Dated 14 Oct. 1707. 1 page.
Oct. 15.	15. Letter from Lord Sunderland to the Lord High Treasurer, enclosing report of the Com^rs of Revenue, and a certificate (two others being wanting) in favor of Col. Francis Baldwin, formerly a colonel under Lewis XIV. of France. He had been possessed of considerable estate in France, but being a Protestant “had been forced to fly from thence,” and settled at Waterford, where he became an eminent trader, but by losses at sea was reduced. Her Majesty desired he might have a pension in Ireland, or other relief. Dated 15 Oct. 1707. 3 pages.
Oct. 16.	16. Letter of James Steuart, Lord High Advocate (Scotland), unaddressed, in relation to the question between the excise and the brewers. The brewers would not yield, the judgment of the justices being in their favour, and the Com^rs could not comply. He heartily wished the Com^rs might have directions and be allowed “to pass this seventh part to the brewers,” for there was a new question. The 12 gallons Scots measure were rated to 34 gallons English barrel. The English standards were come, and according to the English gallon the 12 gallons Scots made nearly 37 English gallons, and what made the difficulty greater was the English quart did not agree to the English gallon. He had done his best to induce the brewers to pay up their sixth parts, and retain the seventh till the measures were adjusted, but they refused and they had no court there to determine the matter at present. Dated “Ed^r” 16 Oct. 1707. [This letter is entered in the North Britain Book, Vol. I. p. 161. In the same book, p. 158, also is a warrant directing that the duty should be collected according to the standard quart.] 3 pages.
Oct. 16.	17. Copy of the opinion of Sir Simon Harcourt, Attorney General, and Sir James Mountague, Solicitor General, about importing brandy, &c. in small casks. Dated Oct. 16 and June 20, 1707. 7 pages.
Oct. 16.	18. Various papers as to the claim by John Forbes, of Culloden, for exemption from duties for certain sugar manufactories at Glasgow, including the opinion of the Attorney General. Dated 16 Oct. 1707. 23 pages and 3 parts.
Oct. 16.	19. Report of M^r H. S^t John and M^r J. Brydges to the Lord High Treasurer, in favour of a proposal of M^r Charles Robinson for furnishing small clothing and accoutrements for the use of the forces employed in Spain and Portugal. The contract was less by 3,350l. than had been paid in ready money for the like species. Dated 16 Oct. 1707. The contract was agreed to. See Minute Book, Vol. 14, p. 117. 3 pages.
Oct. 17.	20. Letter from Col. Daniel Parke to the L^d High Treasurer, “praying a commission as brigadier, and that it may be dated the same day Col. Crowther's was dated, and that he may have Lillingston's regiment, he not coming over to it; also transmitting accounts of imports and exports at Nevis and Antego.” He says that the Duke of Marlborough had promised him the commission, and it was very hard he should be forgot because he was absent, and that he should have injustice done him because he was serving the Queen in the torrid zone. He had endured more fatigue than if he had been anywhere else, had had the plague, pestilence, and bloody flux, and had endured a hurricane which was as dreadful as possible for human nature to have an idea of. He further says: “I must beg leave to put your Lordship in mind of your promise to me (when I had the honour to make your heart glad by telling you the news of the glorious victory of Blenheim), the Dutchess and your Lordship bid me go home and take care of myself, and you would take care of my fortune. I had the honour to hear the same thing told me by the Queen at Windsor.” Dated Nevis, 17 Oct. 1707. The papers for Antigua only are with it. 5 pages (two very large).
Oct. 20.	21. Report of the Attorney General to the Lord High Treasurer giving his opinion that a ship was not seizable by law in Ireland for having imported French goods into any part of Great Britain. Dated 20 Oct. 1707. Three other papers enclosed. 5 pages.
Oct. 20.	22. Resolution of the House of Commons, Ireland, on the petition of Captain Robert Phillips, formerly of Col. Richard Coote's regiment in the late war in Ireland, viz., to recommend him to the Ld Lieutenant for consideration. Dated 20 Oct. 1707. 2 pages.
Oct. 20.	23. Letter of the Earl of Sunderland to the Lord High Treasurer, sending, by the Queen's command, the petition of the widow Woollet for consideration. Dated Whitehall, 20 Oct 1707. The petition and a certificate. Her husband had served 23 years and lost an arm at Valentia d'Alcantara, and fell at the battle of Almanza. 3 pages, quarto.
[About Oct. 21.]	24. Copy of M^r Howe's report on Lieut. Robert Stapleton's petition as to appointing him second major in lieu of the steward of Chelsea Hospital. Minuted:—“21 October 1707. To be read wⁿ Powell's report comes before my Lord.” 1 page.
Oct. 21.	25. Report of H. S^t John and J. Brydges to the Lord Treasurer, relating to the affair of the clothing for the forces in Spain. Dated 21 Oct. 1707. 2½ pages.
Oct. 21.	26. Report of the Com^rs of Customs, London, to the Lord High Treasurer touching several matters in the Articles of Union relating to the customs of Scotland. Dated 21 Oct. 1707. 2 pages.
Oct. 21.	27. Report of the Com^rs of Customs to the Lord High Treasurer on the petition of M^r Godolphin to be authorized to extend the general register already kept by him of all trading ships of England to those directed by the Treaty of Union to be entered in the same; recommending the same as a great check on irregular voyages and illegal trade. Dated 21 Oct 1707. Also the petition. Minuted:—“To be layd before ye Queen. 28^th Octob^r 1707. A warr^t to be prepared w^th a salary of 500^li p[er] ann. for himself and such allowance for clerks and incid^ts as shall be thought reasonable by the Lord Treasurer or Comm^rs of the Treãry for the time being, to be paid out of y^e revenue of cust., to hold during good behaviour.” 2½ pages.
Oct. 22.	28. Representation of the Com^rs of Excise to the Lord High Treasurer touching some clauses to be offered to the Parliament on account of the excise and malt, occasioned by the union with Scotland. Dated 22 Oct. 1707. Also an account of moneys received by the Com^rs of Excise, Edinburgh. 3½ pages.
Oct. 22.	29. “Navy Office, 22 October 1707. An estimate of the debt of Her Majesty's navy as it stood on y^e 30 Sept. 1707.” 2 pages.
Oct. 24.	30. State of the business in relation to the annuities in the office of Henry Pelham, Clerk of the Pells in the receipt of the Exchequer, addressed to the Lord High Treasurer. Docquetted:—“24 Octob^r 1707. A state of the several allowances made to the officers of the Exchequer on acco^t of the annuities, and w^t proporc[i]ons they bear to one another.” 1 page.
Oct. 24.	31. Petition of Samuel Edwin, Esq., Usher of the Receipt of the Exchequer, to the L^d High Treasurer, for his warrant to the auditor to draw orders for necessaries. Dated 24 Oct. 1707. 1 page.
Oct. 24.	32. Copy of letter from M^r W^m Lowndes to M^r Brydges, complaining that fortnightly certificates of receipts and payments for the forces had not been sent, as the L^d Treasurer personally directed, and desiring they should be sent forthwith. An account of the moneys for the forces in Spain also to be supplied. Dated 24 Oct. 1707. 1 page.
Oct. 27.	33. Report of J. Brydges to the Lord [High Treasurer], on the petition of several clothiers for payment out of off-reckonings. Dated 27 Oct. 1707. 3 pages.
Oct. 28.	34. Letter of the Earl of Sunderland to the Envoy of Portugal. The Queen had read the Envoy's two memorials, and was persuaded that it was of the last importance to sustain the war in Portugal. Her Majesty had already sent four regiments beyond those sanctioned by Parliament, and there were three others ready. She had no doubt Parliament would quickly fulfil the conditions of the treaty for the coming year and furnish the means; but the court of Portugal had failed to execute the same treaty. In place of entertaining 13,000 men on the borders of Spain, and 15,000 in Portugal, there were not a third of them in the campaign. As for the misfortune to the horses embarked for Lisbon (which were then in Ireland), the Queen had sent instructions to the Earl of Pembroke such as he (the Envoy) wished, and she would give order to replace at her own charge the horses which should be bought in Ireland. Dated Cockpit, 28 Oct. 1707. (French.) 2 pages, quarto.
Oct. 28.	35. Copy of the “justices' determination about the ale measure, &c. for Scotland. At Edinburgh, Oct. 28, 1707.” 1 page.
[? About Oct. 29.]	36. Petition of Irene, Margaret, Mary, and Alice Cæsar, daughters and heirs of Augustine Cæsar, late of Rochester in the county of Kent, doctor of physic, deceased, to the Lord High Treasurer. The purchase money agreed on for part of Chatham Docks was ordered to be paid them by navy bills. They bore date 19 Sept., but carried no interest, and were not payable for 18 months, and the navy was two years behind in its payments; praying payment of the interest. Minuted:—“29 Oct. 1707. To commence interest at the end of 6 months after the date of the bills according to y^e course of the navy.” 1 page.
Oct. 30.	37. Letter of the Paymaster and Commissaries of the Army in Scotland as to a difficulty in the payment of the army in Exchequer notes. Dated “Edin^r, 30^th Octo^r 1707.” Minuted:—“Read to my Lord Treasurer 6^th Nov^r. 4,000^li orderd to be issued to Sir D. Nairn to compleat y^e ord^r in his name for 8,000^li for y^e troops in Scotland.” 1 page, quarto.
Oct. 30.	38. Abstract of papers laid before his Exc[ellenc]ie the Earl of Pembroke, Lord Lieut. of Ireland, relating to the forfeitures as by order of the House of Commons; with the Com^rs memorial thereon to his Excellency. The last dated 30 Oct. 1707. 5¼ pages.
Oct. 30.	39. Letter of the Officers of Ordnance to the Lord High Treasurer, laying before him estimates for land and sea service. Dated 30 Oct 1707. Accompanied by three estimates and a schedule of the debt of the office. 5 pages.
Oct. 30.	40. Representation of the Com^rs of Excise to the L^d [High Treasurer]. The justices had met and adjudged that the brewers for Edinburgh and precincts should forthwith pay 6/7^ths of the officers' charge, and should retain 1/7^th till further order. The brewers and victuallers should have 36 English gallons allowed for a barrel for all that part of Great Britain. Dated Excise Office, Edinburgh, 30 Oct. 1707. 1½ pages.
Oct. 31.	41. “An acco^t of the money voted by Parliam^t for the navy for the year 1707, with what remained to come in; with the debt of two months course and one quarter for the yards.” Dated 31 Oct. 1707. 2 pages.
Oct. 31.	42. “A state of the debts arising in Scotland from the 1st of May 1707 (the day w^ch the union took place) to the 1st of January following.” Dated 31 Oct. 1707. 2 pages.
Oct.	43. Memorial of Captain Gerard Devine to the Lord High Treasurer, for his charges (20l. 6s.) in coming from Antwerp on 9 Oct. 1707, N.S., with letters from the Duke of Marlborough to the Queen. Also the items of the account. 2 pages, quarto.
Nov. 1.	44. Letter from the Lord Lieut. of Ireland to the L^d High Treasurer, sending an address of the House of Lords for a consideration for the service and attendance of their officers and servants during the session; also an address for arrears of former years. Dated Dublin Castle, 1 Nov. 1707. 1 page.
Nov. 3.	45. Proposals for regulating the victualling of the packet boats at Falmouth, made in consequence of the want of despatch of the mails for Portugal. A voyage was seldom performed in less than 30 days. The cost of maintaining another boat would be about 2,000l. per ann., and her first price would be about 2,500l. Dated London, 3 Nov. 1707. Minuted:—“To be considerd to-morrow morning.” 2 pages.
Nov. 3.	46. Memorial of M^r Gregory King to the Lord High Treasurer for payment to himself and clerks for attending the business of the office of Controllers of the Accounts of the Army. Dated 3 Nov. 1707. Minuted:—“Ordđ.” 1 page, quarto.
[After Nov. 3.]	47. Copies of petitions, &c., relating to the affairs of Thomas Byerley, Collector and Receiver General of the province of New York, and arising out of his suspension, reinstatement, and subsequent arrest. The last dated 3 Nov. 1707. 13 pages and 2 halves.
Nov. 3.	48. Articles of agreement between Peter Hume on behalf of Her Majesty of the first part, Thomas Rymer of the second part, and Awnsham Churchill of the third part, for the printing of the sixth volume of leagues and treaties. Dated 3 Nov. 1707. Parts of the signatures torn away. 1 page (brief size).
[? About Nov. 4.]	49. Letter from Dame Barbara Killigrew to the L^d High Treasurer, asking his L^p to bestow 20l. on her as the last favour she would ever presume to ask. If he would give this 20l. she would end the remainder of her life in peace. Minuted:—“20^li out of sec. service. P^d 4 Nov^r 1707.” 1 page, quarto.
Nov. 5.	50. Treasurer of the Chambers' memorial to complete the quarters allowances to Midsummer last, 1707, &c. Dated 5 Nov. 1707. Minuted:—“10 Nov^r 1707. Ordered.” 1 page.
Nov. 6.	51. Copy of report of the Com^rs of Revenue, Ireland, relating to the “forfeiture accounts.” Dated Dublin, 6 Nov. 1707. 1 page.
Nov. 6.	52. Letter of the same to the Lord High Treasurer about running goods out of East India ships. They had given directions about the six ships that had arrived, but the seamen being numerous, and generally assisted by those on board the men-of-war their convoy, they apprehended their (the Com^rs) officers would be overpowered and the goods would be run. Dated Dublin, 6 Nov. 1707. 1 page.
Nov. 6.	53. Letter from the Com^rs of Excise to the Earl of Glasgow, thanking him for his gracious offers of kindness. They should show the Lord Treasurer's letter to the Lord Advocate that he might speak to the justices of the peace. They enclosed copy of report to the Lord High Treasurer, in which the difference between the 34 English gallons and the 36 gallons appointed by the justices was set down at length. M^r Rutherford would not take Exchequer notes. Dated 6 Nov. 1707. The copy referred to is not with it. 1 page.
Nov. 6.	54. Report of the Com^rs of Excise (Scotland) to the Lord [High Treasurer]. The paymaster of the army had refused to receive Exchequer notes, and they had stopped the payment of money into the Excise Office in London. They had received his L^ps warrant relating to English standard measures, and the Attorney General's opinion relating to the sugar manufactories at Glasgow and M^r Forbes' case. Dated Edinburgh, 6 Nov. 1707. 1 page.
Nov. 6.	55. Letter docquetted: “L~re from Com^rs [of Revenue] in Ireland concerning arrears of forfeitures.” Enclosing an abstract of the papers they had laid before the Lord Lieut^t as to their proceedings, &c. Dated Dublin, 6 Nov. 1707. The abstract named. 5 pages.
Nov. 6.	56. Letter of James Steuart unaddressed. He still saw a difficulty in making the 12 Scots gallons 34 English only, as the Act of Union appointed. Dated “Edn^r,” 6 Nov. 1707. 1 small page.
Nov. 7.	57. Report of the Com^rs of Customs to the L^d High Treasurer, on a letter of Mons. Vryberg, Envoy Extraordinary from the States General of the United Provinces, complaining of excessive duties laid upon linen thread and tapes of the manufacture of those provinces. They were of opinion that laying duties on linens so as to encourage the importation of the finer sorts from the Netherlands, was no prejudice to the subjects of those countries, who were already indulged in one particular fabric called “borelaps.” As to what was alleged by M^r Taverner of 900,000 pounds worth of English corn and woollen manufacture imported in a year in one port of Holland, if half of it were corn they could not doubt that the advantages which the subjects of the States General received by the low price thereof on occasion of the bounty allowed here for exporting it, would be a greater advantage than the alteration of the linen duties, &c. They hoped the Envoy would procure an order from their High Mightinesses the States General to the commanders of the men-of-war coming to this kingdom, restraining them from bringing prohibited goods, as great disputes too frequently arose between them and the Custom House officers, occasioning such just complaints as might tend to interrupt that good correspondence which was so desirable to be continued between the subjects of this kingdom and those states. Dated 7 Nov. 1707. 3 pages.
Nov. 8.	58. Letter from W^m Churchill to the [L^d High Treasurer]. Having an invitation to serve in parliament for Ipswich he had obtained leave of his royal highness to quit his employment in the sick and wounded office; transmits proposal for supply of clothing in Spain, &c. Dated 8 Nov. 1707. 2 pages.
Nov. 10.	59. Letter of Sir Jeffrey Jeffreys to the [L^d High Treasurer, objecting to the dismissal of Benjamin Heming, Esq., consul in the island of Madeira, who was about to be superseded by John Milner, Esq., Consul General for all the dominions of the King of Portugal, Madeira excepted. Asking his L^ps favour towards the petition that would be presented to Her Majesty in council thereon. Dated London, 10 Nov. 1707. Minuted:—“He must apply to y^e Sec^ry of State.” 2 pages.
Nov. 10.	60. Affidavit of M^r W. Bowyer as to the printing of the 5th volume of the “Conventiones, Litteræ,” &c. Sworn 10 Nov. 1707. Minuted:—“Rec^d this aff^t of M^r Cremer 15^th Nov^r 1707, and deliverd to him at y^e same time the bond & articles for the 5th vol. of these Fœdera.” 1 page.
Nov. 10 & 11.	61. Letter of Col. J. Dudley, Governor of Massachusetts and New Hampshire provinces in New England, to the Lord High Treasurer. M^r Jekyll the Collector and M^r Newton the Controller of Customs had arrived by the mast fleet. He had presumed to name M^r Jekyll, who was then employed in the other province as Treasurer of New Hampshire, but in time of peace the office was not worth more than 20l. or 30l. and in war not above 80l., &c. The trade in pitch and tar was greatly advanced, and he had always covered the workmen with good guards; they being always pursued by the Indians in places far distant from our settlements. The accounts of revenue would be sent home by the Deptford, the convoy to the mast fleet. He had only this safe conveyance, and it was but once a year. He prayed that the enclosed defence of his management in the government might be acceptable to his Lordship, and if it did not appear that the address offered to Her Majesty against him was very false and groundless, he would never offer one word more to support himself in Her Majesty's favour. If out of 10,000 freeholders in the province there were 100 that would not address Her Majesty for his continuance he would lose all be had. There were no men, civil or military, in office but the best in the country, and the administration was moderate and acceptable to the people. The assemblies of New Hampshire had addressed Her Majesty for his continuance. Everybody expressed their abhorrence at the allegations against him. He asked it on his knees that these false calumnies might not remove him from his Lordship's favour and that he might be favourably represented to Her Majesty. His allowance was not more than 300l. sterl. per ann., which did not pay for his support, but he was content with that and his own estate if he might have the honor of serving Her Majesty. He prayed he might sustain the service there until his countrymen saw that he had something for his service in England all the last reign and five years in this province, and that he might be succeeded by a person of education and morals, which most men there thought Sir Charles Hobby, who had made all this pursuit against him, wanted. P.S.—He acquainted his L^p in his last of the forces then abroad in the snow, who in their march, after the letters were gone, came upon a troop of 25 Indians, several of them considerable captains, and killed them every man, and in their return closely pursued another troop, so as to get their very clothes and provisions. He doubted not they were starved to death, having 200 miles to go home in the depth of the snow. Soon after their return, at the desire of the assemblies of both provinces, he sent eastward 1,000 men, who ravaged and burnt all the houses about Port Royal to the number of 150, and destroyed all their stock and corn, and returned with about 30 prisoners, bat were not capable to “insult” the fort, it being a regular work of 40 pieces of cannon, and they could bring no cannon nor mortars to bear against it, as Col. Redknap, Her Majesty's engineer, who was then employed, and other officers, informed him. There were some few discontented that Port Royal fort was not taken, and would misrepresent him if possible. Dated Boston, 10 Nov. 1707. The letter is accompanied by— (1.) Colonel Dudley's defence and apology against the most unjust and false representation in an address offered to Her Majesty at Windsor on the 23rd of June last past. His father was one of the three first undertakers that purchased the province of Massachusetts, and after the settlement thereof was governor there until his death, and left his family there, and the colonel for many years during the charter was one of the council and their agent in England in the reign of King Charles II., and since the alteration of the government in the last year of that King was named president of the province, and served in that and other stations until the revolution, when he was made lieut^t governor of the Isle of Wight by King William, under the Lord Cutts, where he served nearly 10 years to the satisfaction of the King and his subjects. In 1701 he was appointed by the King, and soon after by Queen Anne, governor of the Massachusetts and New Hampshire provinces, in New England. He was never in any trade. He was never twice plaintiff or defendant in any court or cause. He was twice complained of, and on both occasions he was acquitted by His Majesty in council and sent away with honor. Had appointed the best men to offices; had not influenced any judgments in the courts, &c.; had contented himself on 500l. per ann., which was but 300l. sterling. In former wars with French and Indians the government had always purchased prisoners at 5l. a head or more, but he had forced the exchange of prisoners without ransom. The French and Indians, in troops like wolves, had made very hard impressions on an open frontier of 200 miles on poor and indefensible villages, but he had met and defeated them many times every summer, and beat them from all places of their planting, so that they could not live within 300 miles of the English settlements, nor had Her Majesty lost one village. Of all which things there were 10,000 freeholders who would give evidence. Several of the hands set to the petition [against him] were forged. To the first article in the petition he replies that the people were in a hurry, but on a full hearing before the King and council he (Col. Dudley) was justified, and employed in several commissions, and when the Massachusetts government was void it was given him. To the second article he answers that the general assembly had voted the charges scandalous and false. The third, fourth, and fifth articles accuse him of supporting the Indians in trading for their benefit and to the destruction of the English. He replies that he had fitted the frontiers with snow shoes, and had kept out in the winter 4 or 500 men to march hundreds of miles into the depth of the country and defeated all their inroads, and in the summer beaten them from their fishing and planting grounds, so that they had not one acre of corn at all their ancient planting places, thereby keeping them in a starving condition, and he had obtained of the assembly to set 100l. each on the rebels' heads, so that their commander “Escambuit,” at Newfoundland, in his letter to Captain Moody, threatened to kill 60 English prisoners if he (Col. Dudley) were not recalled. M^r William Partridge in his evidence gave as a reason why Col. Dudley must needs correspond with the enemy because he knew where to meet them. He (the Col.) confesses that by faithful Indians at Albany, and by agents at Quebec, he had constant secret intelligence of the enemies, and often met them to a day, and always seasonably, so that they were for ever defeated and fled home naked and wounded, for which all the ministers in the country had given public thanks, &c. The seizure of Captain Veitch and his partner's estate, and confiscation thereof to Her Majesty, and the fines of 3,000l. to Her Majesty (which was never done before in these provinces), would acquit him of any partnership with any of them. Col. Dudley then calls attention to the quality and circumstances of his accusers. He (the Col.) had done some unpopular acts, such as totally extirpating piracy, shipping off to Jamaica two companies of near 100 men each, by Her Majesty's commands, who either died there or never since had been permitted to return. He prevailed with the people to send two cargoes of provisions to S^t Christopher's, the people of which island were left by the French to starve. More pitch and tar had been sent home the last year than in many years before. He stood upon it to the last degree that he had for the last 30 years served the crown with all faithfulness, &c., and prayed that he might not lose Her Majesty's favor, nor have his enemies triumph over him. (2.) Letter of the ministers of New England in answer to the charge that the government of Colonel Dudley was not acceptable to them, strongly asserting the contrary. They remark that “Hiram sometime said to Solomon, ‘because the Lord loved Israel he had made him king,’ they might in like manner say because God had a favour to them he had made him governor. Dated Northampton, N. England, Nov. 11, 1707. With seven signatures. (3.) Memorial of the same Colonel. He had been five years employed in a war and troubles with the French and their dependent Indians, and was sensible of their settlements and strength. Port Royal was the head of L'Acadie and Nova Scotia, consisting of a very regular work with 50 pieces of cannon at the mouth of a good harbour. It had in it six regular companies of near 300 men. Its dependants were the town of Port Royal, lately destroyed by the forces sent from New England, the towns of Menis and Secanecte, open villages, together making 500 men more, which was all the strength of that government, and lay not above 60 leagues from the coast of the province of Main, where the English garrisons were. Quebeck upon Canada river was a fortified town, where the French general resided, and had in it a regiment making about 800 regular forces. The forces of Montreal, Troy river, and other French settlements made in the whole about 3,000 men, but so distant and divided to 300 miles at least that they could be no assistance to each other, unless they left the whole country void. These settlements had no shipping but a few fishing boats, and once a year in August, one frigate usually came from Placentia with two store ships for their year's supply. Notwithstanding their small number, by their priests and Jesuits they had gotten the command of the inland Indians, and had debauched the Indians of the province of Main, and by their late trade and discovery of Missasippi river had made a circle round all the English colonies from New England to Virginia, and gave the government of New England great trouble. If they should debauch the five nations of the Maquas, which had for a long time been difficult to keep steady to the English interest, they would bring to the last distress Maryland and Virginia, (which were planted in no posture of defence,) to the loss of the best trade belonging to Her Majesty in all the West Indies. At the issue of every war between the crown of England and the French King, they had always added to their strength and trade in their northern settlements in America, so that every seven years made a conquest of them more difficult, and they would at length, if not prevented, be able to ravage all Her Majesty's governments, and would put them beyond a capacity of carrying on the trade so necessary and beneficial to the kingdom of Great Britain, to whom they had hitherto been so advantageous. If Her Majesty would send early in the year five or six frigates with 2,000 regular men, and two bomb ketches with stores, and let all the governments of New England, New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island be commanded to prepare a just quota of men to assist, one summer would, with the favor of God, reduce all those parts to the English obedience and make room for very good settlements, and the soldiers sent would soon be induced on sight of so good a country to become planters. This would for ever put these provinces in perfect repose and reduce the dependant Indians to a vassalage to the English Government, secure the whole trade of furs, naval stores, the fishery for Spain and elsewhere, entirely in English hands, to the unaccountable profit of the nation, as well as glory to Her Majesty's victorious arms, and the loss to the French would be in all things equal to the English gain [This is undated, but it is probably of about the same period as the other papers.] 9 pages.
Nov. 11.	62. Memorial of Sir Christopher Wren to the L^d High Treasurer, relating to the stone quarries in the island of Portland. The quarries belonging to the crown and affording much larger and finer blocks of stone than any quarries in England, great care had been always taken to preserve them from waste, and the better to prevent abuses by irregular working, as well as to ascertain a duty payable on transporting stone, Sir Chr. Wren as Surveyor General of Works had Her Majesty's warrant (as former surveyors had) to licence and direct the raising and transport of stone from thence, which he had long practised with good success and much to the service of the crown; but some quarrymen of Portland disputed Her Majesty's right, and opened new quarries without leave, &c., and no warning having any effect, he laid the matter before his L^p that the Attorney General might take such course with the offenders as the law would allow. Dated 11 Nov. 1707. 1 page.
Nov. 12.	63. Report of the Com^rs of Trade to the L^d High Treasurer, on M^r Sliford's proposal to be agent to that Board. They preferred to have the opinion of the most experienced merchants in the several trades to information collected by any single person, &c. They were of opinion that the constituting such an officer as was proposed would not be of any use. Dated Whitehall, Nov. 12, 1707. Minuted:—“Read 24^th Dec. 1707. My Lord agrees w^th this report of the Lords Comm^rs of Trade.” 5 pages.
Nov. 13.	64. Report of the Lord Lieut. of Ireland to the Lord High Treasurer, on the petition of Brigadier William Villiers, praying a warrant for the pay of brigadier vacant by the death of Lord Cutts, &c. Dated Dublin Castle, 13 Nov. 1707. 1 page.
Nov. 14.	65. Representation by the Com^rs of Excise to the Lord High Treasurer, concerning the duty on malt, which tends greatly to the “deceit” of Her Majesty's subjects, by vending to them an unwholesome and bad commodity, and to defraud the revenue; showing the practices resorted to by the maltsters in the counties of Hertford, Berks, Cambridge, and other places to defraud the excise officers by treading the corn in the steep, by mixing it in various stages of the steep, by throwing it out of the cisterns or couches in 5 10 15 or 20 hours instead of 50, to spread it on the floors; so that it was scarcely possible for the officers to know what had been gauged. They had prepared divers clauses to be offered to Parliament, and submit the same to his Lordship. Dated 14 Nov. 1707. Minuted:—“1 Xber 1707. Read.” 1 page.
Nov. 17.	66. Letter of the Lord Lieut. of Ireland to the Lord High Treasurer, on the petition of Sir Lambert Blackwell to the Queen, sending a report on the same by the Solicitor General for Ireland. Dated Dublin Castle, 17 Nov. 1707. The report named. The solicitor advises that there was a grant to John Blackwell, Esq., the petitioner's father, of lands in Ireland forfeited by the rebellion of 1641 remaining undisposed of to the yearly value of 1,000l., and that lands in the counties of Dublin and Meath to the value of 319l. 14s. per ann. were found and returned at the expense of petitioner's father as sequestered by the rebellion of 1641; but it seemed to the solicitor that none of these estates were proper to be granted to the petitioner. Minuted:—“Read 21^th June 1708. Make an extract of so much of the Soll^r Gen^lls report as concerns the lands formerly found by M^r Blackwell and send it to the Com^rs of y^e Revenue to certify if those lands now are in the crown, how the profits thereof are answer'd, and to what uses the same are applyd, and to return their rep^t to his Lord^p as soon as conveniently they can.” 5 pages.
Nov. 17.	67. Letter from the Post Masters General to M^r Taylour in relation to the detention of the privy seal for the discharge of the deficiency on account of M^r Dummer's West India contract, and for entering into a new contract with him for that service. M^r Dummer was very pressing for money, &c. Dated Gen^l Post Office, Nov. 17, 1707. Minuted:—“19 Nov. 1707. M^r Dummer. Orderd.” 1 page.
Nov. 18.	68. Letter from Col. Daniel Parke to the Lord High Treasurer. Since the packet sailed he had sent a flag of truce to Martinique with some prisoners taken by a privateer (for he had no man-of-war attending his government). Before the gentleman he sent could get his despatch and the prisoners they were to send him (the Col.), Mons. Du Cass arrived, viz., on the 11^th inst., with 10 men of war (eight of which were from 70 to 86 guns) and several large privateers, all very full of men. They had boats that rowed with 36 oars, and at Martinique they had fitted up several large flat-bottomed boats for landing men. The gentleman and those that belonged to his “flag of truce” had brought him the news. The gentleman told him he saw Mons. Du Cas, and was told there were 18 men of war more expected, and that they designed to attack Barbadoes. Mons. Collett, their intendant at Martinique, went on board a 40-gun ship, and sailed, as he believed, to Tobago, to give an account of the 18 men-of-war. Since he had this news our privateers took four more French prisoners that came out of Martinique before the arrival of Du Cas. They [the privateers?] expected Du Cas, with 30 men-of-war and forces, to attack Barbadoes. He sent the news by the Greenwich to Barbadoes. He had sent to each island in his government to put themselves in the best posture they were able. This being the “windermost,” best, and richest island was most likely to be attacked first. They were in ill condition to receive them (the French). The regiment sent wanted 200 men; the new raised men required arms, &c., but such as were sent for the inhabitants were distributed to them (the soldiers). Col. Lillingston and several of his officers were taking their pleasure in London. He had but one captain there who had seen service, and very few of the lieutenants and ensigns. The recruits sent over were either old men or boys, fit for nothing, some so bad the officers were so ashamed of as to discharge. Being unfit for labour they were begging. He expected the greatest service from the planters, who were few but good men. He was “riteing up the walls at Monk's Hill thrown down by the hurricane.” The good news of the Duke of Savoy being in France made the islanders believe they should hear no more of any French fleets in that part of the world. All his rhetoric could not persuade them to be at that charge until this alarm. He was fortifying a camp and running a line about their town. Though he could not work miracles, he hoped he should do his duty. He had nobody to assist him, and no engineer; all his hope was they would attack Barbadoes first, and lose so many men there that he might deal with them when they came. Dated Antigua, Nov. 18, 1707. 8 pages, quarto.
Nov. 19.	69. An account of all moneys annually granted by Parliament for sea service and annually issued for the same since the commencement of the war, viz., for the years 1702 to 1707. The sums were issued up to 19 Nov. 1707. 2 pages.
Nov. 20.	70. Establishment of the Saxon troops and regiments of Bothmar. Dated 20 Nov. 1707. 5 pages.
Nov. 22.	71. Letter of the Lord Lieut. of Ireland (Pembroke), transmitting various reports as to a grant desired by the Earl of Inchiquin of certain slabs of ground to make a key in the neighbourhood of the harbour of Cork, and also as to creating the manor, castle, &c. of Rostollan into a corporation. He was in favour of the request. Dated Dublin Castle, 22 Nov. 1707. 1 page.
Nov. 24.	72. Letter of Lord Cornbury [governor of New York] to the Lord High Treasurer. He was informed that M^r Byerley was refusing to pay any one, and was getting in all the money he could, and that he certainly intended to go off. The Chief Justice complained that he could not get his salary from M^r Byerley, and believed he intended to leave. The writer had ordered the sheriff of New York to arrest him and take good security. It appeared very plainly the books of the revenue were not kept in the custom house nor in his lodgings. M^r Weaver [a previous collector] produced his books every Saturday, the Com^rs did the same, and M^r Byerley also the first time he was there, but now refused. He had not produced his accounts to the deputy auditor, and told everybody over his cups that the [governor] and council had nothing to do with him. There were various other complaints of his refusing to pay salaries, and the governor himself could not get his salary. Complains of abusive language from him. Asks what method he is to take with him. Dated New York, 24 9^br 1707. 2½ pages.
Nov. 25.	73. Letter from Ro. Harley to the Lord High Treasurer, enclosing the petition of M^rs Margaret Annesley, widow, which states that her late husband, Capt. Charles Annesley, deceased, had died at Jamaica, and had spent all his fortune in the King's service, and prays for support. Dated 25 Nov. 1707. 2 pages.
Nov. 25.	74. Letter from the Earl of Pembroke to the Earl of Sunderland as to the petition of Richard Martin, of Byrehall, for new barracks in Eyre, Connaught. He was of opinion the Queen ought not to be at any further charge. Dated Dublin Castle 25 Nov. 1707. Minuted:—“Read 4^th Sep. 1708.” 1 page.
[About Nov. 27.]	75. Memorial of Col. Humphrey Gore, colonel of one of Her Majesty's regiments of foot in Ireland, praying to be repaid his disbursements for completing certain regiments for Portugal. Minuted—“27^th Nov^r 1707. Ref. to Lord Lieut. of Ireland.” 1 page.
Nov. 27.	76. “Presentment of the Comm^rs [for salt] relating to the duties under their management,” touching the allowance for waste on shipment, and containing a good deal about the salt trade. Dated 27 Nov. 1707. 11 pages.
Nov. 27.	77. Memorial of Sir Roger Bradshaigh, colonel of one of the regiments of foot in Ireland, to the Lord High Treasurer for payment of 588l. expended for clothing the troops. Dated 27 Nov. 1707. 1 page.
Nov. 28.	78. “Copy of a paper from y^e coll^r of Whitehaven touching a French privateer w^ch came convoy from France to 2 North Britain ships.” Dated 28 Nov. 1707. 1 page.
Nov. 28.	79. Memorial of the Com^rs of Excise to the Lord High Treasurer, offering some clauses for putting the making of malt upon an equitable and reasonable foundation. Dated 28 Nov. 1707. The clauses referred to. 7½ pages.
Nov. 29.	80. Letter from the Lord Lieutenant (Pembroke) to the Lord High Treasurer, enclosing the petitions of Captain Robert Philips, Captain William Hamilton, and Lieut. William Gunter, recommended by the Irish House of Commons, the first for his wounds, services, &c., and the other two to be restored to half pay for Her Majesty's pleasure. Dated Dublin Castle, 29 Nov. 1707. The first petition is the only one remaining. 2 pages.
Nov. 29.	81. Letter of Messrs. Edward Haistwell and Nathaniel Rous to Col. Lillingston, making propositions to pay his regiment, then in the Leeward Islands. Dated Nov. 29, 1707. Another paper on the same subject. 2½ pages.
Nov.	82. Observations on a paper sent from Scotland in the letter of the 7^th of November, relating to several articles in the Treaty of Union. Two other papers thereon. 4 pages.
? Nov.	83. An account of money due to the executors of John Methuen, Esq., to Capt. James Jeffreys and D^r Robinson. [It is mentioned that D^r Robinson had certified that Capt. James Jeffreys had set out from Leipsic to follow the King of Sweden on 26 Aug. 1707, so that there was not yet a quarter due to him.] 1 page.
Dec. 1.	84. Report of the Com^rs of the Navy to M^r Lowndes on the petition of William Beckford, of London, Esq., as to his claims for slop clothes supplied to the navy. Petitioner and his father had served the crown as slopsellers from about the time of the Restoration to the year 1706, and must have suffered great losses. Petitioner was debtor to the crown 3,418l. 16s. 1d. Dated 1 Dec. 1707. Minuted:—“23 Jan. 1707. My Lord, upon the pet^r paying 1,418 16, and releasing 2,000l. of his old debt, will cause ye whole imprest to be discharged.” 3 pages.
Dec. 2.	85. Report of the Com^rs of Victualling to the Lord High Treasurer on the petition of divers merchants of London, owners of the ships mentioned in the list annexed, as to payment to them of demurrage or other allowance. Dated 2 Dec. 1707. Minuted:—“Read 18^th Dec^r 1707. My Lord is fully satisfyd w^th this rep^t.” The petition and the list. 3½ pages.
Dec. 4.	86. Letter from the Com^rs of Customs in Scotland to M^r Lowndes, signifying the receipt of the Lord Treasurer's directions about the salaries of the Lords of Session, &c., and “bringing a copy of a paper from y^e coll^r of Whitehaven concerning a French privateer w^ch came convoy from France to two North Brittain ships.” Dated 4 Dec. 1707. 1 page.
Dec. 5.	87. Memorandum that Sir Thomas Littleton was debtor for 5,000l. lent by the Bank of England on tallies on 5 Dec. 1707. 8 lines.
Dec. 6.	88. Report of the principal officers of the Mint to the Lord High Treasurer on the petitions of (1) William Cooper and David [? Daniel] Allen, merchants; (2) of Sir Talbot Clerk and partners; and (3) of Thomas Chambers, concerning the coinage of copper halfpence and farthings. The first petition asked to be allowed to coin in the Tower 700 tons of English copper in 10 years, under restrictions. It alleges that the petitioner could export copper money to make up in good measure the Cadiz trade, and that their returns would be in bullion and hides. They (the mint officers) had reported on 1 July 1703 that the coinage of copper halfpence and farthings ought to be of the intrinsic value, as well as that of gold and silver (the charges of coinage deducted), and that, whenever necessary, it should be in small quantities only, to supply the decrease and loss of those already coined, and they were confirmed in their opinion by complaints in Parliament of overstocking upon the coinage of 700 tons by the last patent. The nation was now fully stocked in some places. As to the Cadiz trade, they were told the petitioners would carry 17½ tons to the Spanish plantations. There was no objection to this, under restrictions. (2.) This petition prayed to be allowed to send two tons per week of blanks of malleable copper to be coined till 700 tons were disposed of, and to dispense the same when coined. The petitioners proposed to cut a pound weight into 21 pence, with a remedy of a halfpenny, and reckoned to be allowed for the copper 12d. per pound, for the hammering and cutting it into blanks 6d., for the dispensing 1d., and to pay for coinage 2d. (3.) M^r Chambers prayed for leave to supply the mint with good English malleable copper at the rate of 12^d per pound, and to be paid in halfpence and farthings by tale without any further consideration, which they considered the most advantageous proposal. On the whole the coinage of copper money should be of the intrinsic value and in small quantities. Contracts should be made for the same. He who made the blanks should have no advantage by making them too light or too heavy, and they should be made in the mint, the making of them being part of the coinage, &c. Dated Mint Office, 6 Dec. 1707. The second minute on the back is:—“14^th Apr. 1708. My Lord, upon considering of this report w^th the officers of y^e Mint, doth not thinke there is any occasion for coyning more farthings & halfe pence at present.” The three petitions referred to, “the case of S^r Talbot Clerke, Bart., and partners,” and a draft of part of a similar report to that above described.” 9 pages.
Dec. 6.	89. The opinion of the Attorney General (Sir Simon Harcourt) as to an account to be taken of foreign goods imported into ports of North Britain. Dated 6 Dec. 1707. 1 page.
Dec. 10.	90. Memorial of J. Howe to the [Lord High Treasurer], asking for a warrant to the Auditor of Imprests for allowing certain sums in his account of the guards, garrisons, &c.; also for the Royal Hospital. Dated 10 Dec. 1707. 1 page.
Dec. 11.	91. Letter from the Com^rs of Excise in Scotland to the [Lord High Treasurer], signifying that they had paid the last 4,000l. paid into the Excise Office, London, on their account with the help of some Exchequer bills, which they promised to exchange as cash came to hand. As regards the ale measure, they found that 12 gallons Scots exceeded the English barrel by one English gallon and one quart. Dated Edinburgh, 11 Dec. 1707. 1 page.
Dec. 12.	92. Letter from D. Luis da Cunha to [ ] as to 24,000 sets of clothing to be provided by Arthur Stert, an English merchant residing at Lisbon, at a cost beyond 60,000l. His Excellency was aware of the low price put upon the exchange for Lisbon, so that the correspondents of Arthur Stert dare not undertake the business. The clothes would not be provided in time, and they must be had elsewhere. This would not suit his master or the English manufacturers, and a better market would be found. If his Excellency would accept letters of exchange at the ordinary rate it would much oblige his master and encourage exports from England. Dated December 12/23 1707. [French.] Minuted:—“Answerd 19^th Dec^r 1707.” 2 pages.
Dec. 13.	93. Copy of letter from M^r Thomas Byerley to the Com^rs of Trade and Plantations, stating the difficulties and hindrances he met with in the discharge of his duties as collector and receiver general of the province of New York. He had been suspended by the governor and restored by the Lord High Treasurer, but the books, papers, and recognizances were detained by M^r Fauconier, who acted as commissioner during his suspension, and who had not adjusted his accounts, and the balance must be the first item in his (M^r Byerley's) account. He had represented this to the governor without success. That gentleman being naval officer and chief manager of affairs, they were carried on by him and others contrary to Her Majesty's interest, and whatever was contrary to their own was spurned. He had been threatened to be murdered, to be pulled out of the custom house, &c., and this, though complained of, had gone unpunished. He had given 2,500l. security, yet the governor had by the sheriff arrested him, and he had to give 2,000l. security to appear before the governor and the council under pretence that he had embezzled the Queen's money, &c. Asking, if complaints were made against him by Lord Cornbury, for time to justify himself. Dated New York, 13 Dec. 1707. 2½ pages.
Dec. 13.	94. An account (signed by D^r David Gregory) of the new regulation of Her Majesty's mint at Edinburgh laid before the Lord High Treasurer. After comparison of the constitution of the mint in Scotland with that at the Tower, and with the Queen's instructions, the Doctor and the other officers added three new clerks during the re-coinage to the Queen's clerk, who was there before, to wit, one for the master, one for the warden, and one for the counter warden. All these four clerks were well instructed in the methods of rating and standarding, and the forms of book-keeping used in the mint of the Tower by the clerk sent by Her Majesty. The great difficulty was in the melting, it being made there with pit coal. In this D^r Gregory made several experiments according to directions from Sir Isaac Newton, and at last such rules of “allaying” were found out and agreed on as by experience were found to make the silver of standard fineness. D^r Gregory continued at Edinburgh until 21 Nov., when the methods of the mint at the Tower being well understood he left. Dated London, 13 Dec. 1707. 1 page.
Dec. 15.	95. Report of William Blathwayt [auditor general of H.M. Plantations in America, to the Lord High Treasurer], on the petition of John Salkeld, clerk, who had assisted in the reduction of the French part of the island of S^t Christopher's, and had obtained from Col^l Codrington, then governor, a grant of part of those lands, but was a sufferer by the burning of his houses and sugar canes the last year by the French, and suffered greatly at Nevis, where he was taken prisoner; praying a confirmation of the grant; recommending that the grant should be confirmed during the present war with France, as intended by Col. Codrington. Dated 15 Dec. 1707. Minuted:—“24 Xbr 1707. Grant^d for 3 years if y^e present war so long continues.” The petition and the copy of the grant by the colonel. 4 pages (one double).
Dec. 16.	96. Report of the Com^rs of Customs, Edinburgh, to the Lord High Treasurer on the petition of M^r Wallace and others, of Glasgow, concerned in the ship Industry, of Leith, seized at an obscure place in the isle of Bute with French brandy, &c. Sir John Shaw, of Greenock, a gentleman of resolution and good interest, had accepted a commission for seizing vessels coming from France with design to run their goods, and through his endeavours the ship had been seized. Dated 16 Dec. 1707. The petition referred to. 5½ pages.
[About Dec. 16.]	97. Petition of Peircy Kirke, Esq., housekeeper of Her Majesty's palace of Whitehall, to the Lord High Treasurer for the extension of a lease to 31 years, “according to the custom of the Exchequer,” of a parcel of ground adjoining the bowling green in Whitehall, containing 46 feet in front and 18 in depth to the outside walls of the palace, on which he had erected a house, and that a little piece of ground and an old shed of which he had had the use might be included. Referred 16 Dec. 1707 to the Surveyor General. 1 page.
Dec. 17.	98. Estimate of the quantity of wheat for 15,000 foot and of barley for 6,000 horse in Catalonia for three months or 90 days, together with the charge thereof. Dated 17 Dec. 1707. There is a minute on the back that it was read on 24 Dec., and that wheat was to be provided as far as they could find shipping for it to be ready to sail with Sir John Leake, but not the barley, as it was as dear by the estimate as the wheat. 2 pages.
Dec. 19.	99. Letter of D. Luis da Cunha commencing “My Lord.” His intention was by no means to ask for any part of the subsidies to pay for the clothing in question, not having any orders from the King his master to take that step, and still less to interfere with the contract. The Chevalier Fornes had all the merit imaginable for that business. The exchange was in a pitiable state, being 15 per cent. difference in the intrinsic value of money, which he wished in some manner to prevent, and for which he asked assistance of his Excellency, in case he would accept his letter for the money destined in payment for the clothing. He wished that the manufactures should be taken from England, where they had received so much help, and that the nation should profit therefrom, but it should not be to the manifest ruin of Portugal [French.] Dated London, 19 Dec. 1707. 2 pages.
Dec. 20.	100. Letter from Lord Cornbury to the Lord High Treasurer, sending papers as to M^r Byerley's errors in his accounts. He could not prevail with M^r Byerley to state his accounts with the deputy auditor, though he had called upon him several times to do it. What his meaning was he could not tell; he would do nothing but what he pleased. He (Lord Cornbury) begged that M^r Byerley might be commanded to state his accounts every quarter, or it would be impossible to transmit them. Nothing less than the Lord Treasurer's commands would do with him. Dated New York, 20 10^ber 1707. Four other papers. 5 pages or parts of pages.
Dec. 22.	101. Letter of Lord Sunderland to the Lord High Treasurer, sending two estimates, one by M^r Chetwynd, envoy at Turin, the other by the Com^rs of Transports, which had already been laid before the Queen. Dated Whitehall, 22 Dec. 1707. The estimates are wanting. Minuted:—“Com^rs Transports to attend this afternoon.” 1 page, quarto.
Dec. 22.	102. Letter from Com^rs of Ordnance to the Lord High Treasurer, laying before him an account of all money sent to Spain, as well as what was paid on foreign bills drawn for the service there since the taking of Barcelona. Dated 22 Dec. 1707. The account referred to. 2 pages.
Dec. 22.	103. Report of the Attorney General (Harcourt) to the Lord High Treasurer on the report of the Agents for Taxes relating to prosecutions against the collectors and inhabitants of several parishes in the county of Surrey by reason of supers set on them for the duties on houses, in the accounts of Nuthall and Child, late receivers general of the county. His opinion was that there was not sufficient evidence to prosecute the receivers for the receipts of Lucas, a surveyor of the duties, and that process should issue against the collectors and the several parishes, and the stop thereto should be taken off. Dated 22 Dec. 1707. The report and eight other papers. Minuted:—“Read 23^th Jan^ry 1707–8. Enq[uir]e if Lucas be now employd in the customes, & whether he be in circumstances to answer this debt or any p[er]t thereof. And my Lord orders a w^t for stop of process against the coll^rs & inhabitants till further order.” 13 pages.
[About Dec. 22.]	104. “M^r Gregory King's [report] relating to ye funerall of Sir Cloudesley Shovell.” The funerals of such great commanders at sea or land as had been buried publicly at the charge of the government since the Restoration (exclusive of several of the royal family) were only three, viz., (1) the Duke of Albemarle, buried in Westminster Abbey from Somerset House, a^o 1670; (2) the Earl of Sandwich, Admiral of the Fleet, who perished at sea in the second Dutch war, a^o 1672, brought from Greenwich to the painted chamber Somerset House (sic) by water, and buried from thence in Westminster Abbey; and (3) S^r Edw. Spragge, an Admiral of the Fleet, lost in the same second Dutch war, a^o 1672, buried from the paynted chamber at Westm^r in Westm^r Abbey. The expense of the first estimated at 8,000l. or 10,000l., the second 2,000l. or 2,000l. Of the third various expences in the great wardrobe are given. [Sir Cloudesley Shovel was buried 22 Dec. 1707.] 1¼ pages.
[About Dec. 23.]	105. Report of M^r S. Travers, Surveyor General, to the Lord High Treasurer, on the affidavit of Humphrey Roberts. The surveyor was informed that Lord Bulkeley had a salary of 40 marks per ann., as constable of the Castle of Beaumaris, and that he had taken much lead and timber from the castle, and used it for building on his own estate, and had carried away vast quantities of the best hewn stones for his own use, whereby the castle was impaired. The Lord Bulkeley hoped such an one as the deponent would not be believed against a person of honor, and said he would send affidavits &c., that would set the matter in a very different light, but he (the surveyor) had heard nothing from him since. M^r Owen Hughes, M.P. for Beaumaris, appeared very much alarmed at a report of his house being built of some of the materials, but averred that it was built 60 years ago by one M^r Dean, when a parliament garrison was in the castle, and offered to prove that not one stone of the castle had been used for the additions, and at the Restoration, when that garrison was withdrawn, Robert Lord Bulkeley was constable, who was succeeded by his son, Richard Lord Bulkeley, whom the present lord succeeded, and if any person made use of the materials it must have been by their order or privity in breach of the trust reposed in them, but the present constable had done the main damage. All the accounts agreed that great quantities of stone, lead, and timber had been taken away, and that a good part of them was visible to everybody in several buildings lately erected by his Lordship, and the truth of the affidavit could not be controverted. Dated 5 Dec. 1707. The affidavit referred to. A schedule of documents, together with the documents themselves, the first being the memorial of Richard Lord Viscount Bulkeley to the Lord High Treasurer, in reply to the above report, saying that the charges were false. The castle was begun to be built in the time of Edw. II., but never finished; the only apartment which within memory had been fit for use was finished at the expense of the Lord Bulkeley's great grandfather, who adhering to the crown in the civil wars was made a prisoner in the same apartment. If the castle had been a place of defence at all it would have been his interest to support it for his own safety. His ancestors for hundreds of years had been constables there with a fee of 40 marks per ann. The fee had always been considered honorary and not intended for the repair of the castle. Was informed that by an order in council after the Restoration all the castles in North Wales were ordered to be demolished. The castles of Flint, “Ruthland,” Conway, Carnarvon, and all the others of North Wales, were more ruinous than this castle, and the materials had been frequently converted to private uses; admits that he had converted some part of the loose stones to finish a building. He had also removed the lead to the amount of several tons to prevent the castle falling down, but it was laid up in a cellar. The last document of the set is a replication or answer to the above memorial. It would be proved that the castle was finished and made a place of defence, and that in the year 1660 it was in good repair, garrisoned with above 100 men, with a square within the inner wall sufficient to muster a regiment. The present Lord Bulkeley's grandfather in 1674 had built a ship, and had taken the guns from the castle to put on board thereof for his own use. The replication also controverts many assertions in the memorial referred to. On the back of one of the papers is this minute:—“23 Dec^r 1707. This to be shewn to M^r Surveyo^r-Gen^ll, and my lord intends to appoint a day to hear this matter.” 27 pages or parts of pages.
Dec. 24.	106. Report of the Attorney General (Harcourt) to the Lord High Treasurer. He had perused the draught of the intended privy seal for discharging M^r Dummer from his contract with the Postmaster General, and had no objection thereto. Dated 24 Dec. 1707. The draught referred to. 8 pages.
Dec. 25.	107. Abstract of the receipts and payments of Her Majesty's customs, new and additional impositions from 25 Dec. 1706 to 25 Dec. 1707. Also an account of bonds for the same time. 3 pages.
Dec. 26.	108. Memorial of Sir Thomas Littleton to the Lord [High Treasurer] for paying over to the bank 5,000l. land tax tallies, and for allowance of 102l. 14s. 9d. paid for interest. Dated 26 Dec. 1707. Minuted:—“Read 30^th Dec. 1707. Orderd accordingly.” 1 page.
Dec. 29.	109. Memorial on behalf of the Duke of Newcastle (signed P. Walter) to the Lord High Treasurer for permission to kill any number not exceeding 15 brace of red deer, in addition to the 15 brace annually for which he had already Her Majesty's grant. Dated 29 Dec. 1707. ½ page.
Dec. 30.	110. Deed of assignment by Dalby Thomas, “of S^t Clement's parish, in Witch S^t, London,” lieut. of H.M. fire-ship Hawk, as security for payment of 10l. 10s. to Samuel Brent, of Plymouth, mercer, out of his pay. Dated 30 Dec. 1707. 1 page (brief size).
[About Dec. 31.]	111. Memorial of Col. Thomas Allnut to the Lord High Treasurer, praying that he might be enabled to provide new clothing for his regiment, his last clothing having been taken by L^d Galway for his “Catalan” battalion. Referred 31 Dec. 1707. 1 page.
[About Dec.]	112. Memorial of the officers of the forces in Scotland to the Lord High Treasurer for payment of their arrears preceding the 24^th of Dec. 1707. 1 page.