Volume 107: May 3-June 29, 1708 | British History Online

Calendar of Treasury Papers, Volume 4, 1708-1714. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1974.

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Citation:

'Volume 107: May 3-June 29, 1708', in Calendar of Treasury Papers, Volume 4, 1708-1714, ed. Joseph Redington( London, 1974), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-papers/vol4/pp35-49 [accessed 28 November 2024].

May 3–June 29, 1708



1708. May 3.	1. Copy of letter of the Com^rs of the Navy as to payment of bills on the old debt of the navy. Dated 3 May 1708. Minuted:—“Read 14^th June 1708. Look out the directions that have been given in this matter formerly, and make a state thereof for my Lord Trea[sure]r.” Lower down is the statement of what had been done thereon. 1 page.
May 4.	2. Letter from M. de Medina to the Lord High Treasurer. Sir Solomon de Medina wrote him by the last mail from Holland that the Duke of Marlborough had promised to recommend him to his Lordship, for the payment in ready money of 9,651l. 3s. 3d. on the advance for bread and bread waggons. The necessity of money at the opening of a campaign was very great, but as he was sensible that ready money was not “so plenty” as it was to be wished, besought his L^p to order him that day part of the sum, and the rest in tallies on the grand mortgage; although he had a good quantity of the tallies by him. Dated 4 May 1708. Minuted:—“5th May 1708. Ordered in tallys on the mortgage.” 1 page.
May 6.	3. Officers of Works to the Lord High Treasurer, recommending the payment of M^r Wise's bill for works at St. James's Park, Kensington, Hampton Court Gardens, and Windsor, directed to be done by her Majesty. Dated 6 May 1708. Minuted:—“3 June 1708. To be paid soon after y^e Queen is gone to Windsor.” Again:—“20^th July 1708. Ordered by 500^l a week.” The bill and a memorial and copy of previous report of the same officers. 4 pages.
May 6.	4. The same to the same. Her Majesty had signified her pleasure concerning works in the ground at Windsor, usually called Mastrike, and the road outside the wall from Windsor Town to Staines Road 25 feet wide. The gravel must be taken from the new canal by making it as much larger as it would afford gravel to make the road. The work to be performed out of hand would amount to a little more than 1,000l. They thought the road should be carried right through, tho' it were laid but one foot thick this year, and it should be raised another year as found necessary. The contract with M^r Wise for digging the gravel was 2½d. per yard, including the setting out the road and forming the canal. The contract with Cap^t Studholme for taking the gravel as it lay beside the canal and spreading it on the road was 1s. 10d. per yard solid; the length of the road being more than two miles. Dated 6 May 1708. Minuted:—“10 May 1708. Read and agreed.” ½ page.
May 6.	5. Agents [for Taxes] to William Lowndes, Esq. M^r Albert, the receiver for Worcestershire, had paid 6,850l., and M^r Hosier, receiver of Salop, had paid 6,000l. They (the agents) conceived the respits might be taken off and that Hosier and Albert might be appointed receivers. Dated 6 May 1708. Minuted:—“Read 8^th May 1708. Ord^rd accord^gly.” ½ page.
May 6.	6. The Earl of Sunderland to the Lord High Treasurer. Enclosed for his Lordship's consideration the petition of M^r Plowman for her Majesty's bounty in commiseration of his age and losses; and in consideration of a stock of provisions of the value of 600l. seized by him at New York at the time of the Revolution for the public service. Dated Whitehall, 6 May 1708. Minuted:—“To be laid before y^e Q. 100^li out of secret ser. money as of Her Ma^ts free guift & royall bounty. Paid 3 Nov^r 1708.” 3 pages.
May 6.	7. Lord Sunderland to the Lord High Treasurer. Sends an extract of a petition of M^r Griffin, praying that some of the money raised out of his father's estate might be ordered for his support during his confinement in the Tower. Her Majesty desires his L^p to give orders thereon. Whitehall, 6 May 1708. The extract. 2 pages, quarto.
April 20 and May 8.	8. Col. Robert Quary to the Lord High Treasurer. Had given his Lordship a short state of the northern provinces relating to their trade and government, and an account of their very ill-conduct in the expedition against Port Royal, the fatal consequences of which would ruin the trade of New England, and would have a very ill effect on the other governments in North America. Port Royal being now so well fortified, and its situation so near to Boston, it would be made the commission port for all the privateers from Canada, Placentia, and from Martinico and Guadaloupe; so that all the coasts along the main, to the capes of Virginia, would find the ill effects of these privateers, if not prevented by H.M. guard ships appointed for Virginia, New York, and New England. Had come thus far on his visiting all the southern governments. M^r Geo. Plater, H.M. Receiver in Petuxen, was lately dead, and his Excellency Col. Seymour had appointed M^r John Rowsby to that office. There was no fund to answer the salary, and the other advantages were so precarious that they were of little value and not able to subsist an officer; but being joined with the naval officer's place some profits might be got out of the fines and forfeitures, but not sufficient. Dated Maryland, 20 April 1708. Also letter from the above Col. John Seymour to the same, announcing the death and appointment above mentioned. Dated Maryland, 8 May 1708. 2 pages.
May 8.	9. Com^rs of Customs (Scotland) to M^r Lowndes. The Controller of Dumfries had been with them, who said that some merchants pressed mightily to carry back some tobacco to England, which was sent thence before 1 May last. Enclose a declaration from a place near Port Patrick, that David Drummond was seized there on suspicion. 61 French “Lewis d'ores” were found on him. If what he set forth were true, M^r Lowndes could judge the danger that such a practice might produce and remedy it. They had acquainted the Earl of Leven, the general here, with this affair; for tho' this man passed for a fraudulent dealer in trade, he might be a traitor. Further remark as to drawbacks on fish and brandy seized. 30 odd casks were got by the “Herrald” sent out to take up the country fellows, that were to have carted these latter away, by telling them and their wives that the husbands must go for soldiers if all the run goods were not discovered. Though this did not move the men, yet the women ran to the holes and dunghills where the goods were hidden. P.S.—The Earl of Leven had promised to order a serjeant and 20 men to protect the brandy, and to direct an officer and some horse to bring Drummond hither, for it looked as if he had other business in those parts than spending his 61 “pistoles” amongst his old acquaintance. Lord Leven was very hearty in the Queen's business. Dated Edinburgh, 8 May 1708. Copy of the “declaration.” 3½ pages.
May 10.	10. Order in Council made upon a report of the Com^rs of Trade and Plantations founded on the petition of Joshua de Kocherthall, “the Evangelical minister,” in behalf of himself and 41 poor Lutherans who came from the Lower Palatinate in Germany, and who prayed to be transported to H.M. Plantations in America. They were entirely destitute, and had become so by the ravages of the French in the Lower Palatinate. The Com^rs would have proposed that they should be settled at Jamaica or “Antego,” as there were large tracts of land there not taken up or inhabited, and great want of white people; but as the climate of those islands was so much hotter than that part of Germany from whence they came, it was to be feared that it might not be agreeable to their constitutions. The Com^rs therefore proposed that they should be settled upon Hudson River, in the province of New York, where they might be useful to this kingdom, particularly in the production of naval stores, and as a frontier against the French and their Indians. This her Majesty might do by granting them the usual number of acres of land, if her Majesty would confirm the Act passed at New York, 2 Mar. 1698–9, for annulling several extravagant grants made by Col. Fletcher, late Governor of that province; without which there was no land but what was engrossed by the patentees of those extravagant grants. The cheapest way to transport them would be in the man-of-war and transport ship, that should be ordered to go with the Lord Lovelace; otherwise it would cost 10l. a head for the men and women and proportionably for the children. The Com^rs further proposed that they should be supplied with agricultural tools, as well as assistance for the first year, and further that they be made denizens. Her Majesty in Council approved the report and recommended the Lord High Treasurer to provide the means. Dated 10 May 1708. 3 pages.
May 10.	11. Order in Council referring to the Lord High Treasurer an extract of a memorial of John Lord Lovelace, her Majesty's Governor of the Province of New York, relating to stores of war for that province, and to the usual presents for the Indians, for consideration and a report thereon. Dated 10 May 1708. The extract referred to. 2½ pages.
May 11.	12. Ordnance officers to the Lord High Treasurer, for the remission of the taxes on their officers. Dated 11 May 1708. Minuted:—“To be considered w^th the papers for allowing ye taxes to ye Navy officers.” Again:—“3 June 1708. To be don as usual.” 1 page.
May 15	13. “Report of ye Gen^ll Offic^rs on ye mem^l of L^t Gen^ll Harvey,” as to claims for horses and arms for the regiment under his command, the Lieut.-General on his embarkation for Portugal having delivered over the horses of his regiment for the Duke of Ormonde's regiment in Ireland to the value of 6,000l. Dated 15 May 1708. The Minute as to the horses is:—“My Lord thinks if there be such an extra charge it ought to be borne by the reg^t to whom ye horses were đd,” and as to the arms, “This article doth not at all p[er]teyne to my Lord, but applicacon should be made to ye Office of Ordũce.” 3 pages.
May 17.	14. The Earl of Lauderdale [to an officer of the Mint in the Tower ?]. “M^r Borthik,” the assay master, had died and no one could supply his place until her Majesty gave her commission to another. Had named M^r Trumbol as fit for the post. The affair required despatch, as the proclamations for calling in the old money were peremptory, and could not be altered without a new proclamation, which would take time. Draws attention to the payment of the salaries of the officers and servants. The mint there being conformable to that in the Tower, he wished they were uniform in this also. All the directions sent to the mint were either from the Earl of Mar or Loudun, and it was talked that they were no longer secretaries, and so he (the writer), asked to whom he should apply. Dated Haltoun, 17 May 1708. Minuted:—“Read 26 May 1708. Respited for 5 or 6 days to hear from my Lord Marr after his arrival in Scot^d.” Again, “Direct the Exec^r of M^r Stuart to pay in his ballance as the officers of y^e Mint shall call for it.” 3 pages, 8vo.
May 18.	15. Com^rs of Customs (Scotland) to W^m Lowndes, Esq^re. Had great consolation that three men-of-war were to cruise between the North Ireland and North Scotland, and that the Seaford prize was to attend the mouth of the River Clyde. It troubled them that the Dunbarton man-of-war was taken, and that news had struck a great damp into the Glasgow men and others in the west and south of these parts, which was increased by news from Campletown in the Duke of Argyle's country called Cantire, for a French rogue was on the 10^th inst. at the island of Sana, not far from thence, and had taken a small vessel belonging to that place in her way from Dublin. To quiet these apprehensions they had written to all the ports on the Irish side of the Queen's goodness and the Lord High Admiral's care. Dated Edinburgh, 18 May 1708. 2 pages.
May 20.	16. “Sa: McClellan” (fn. 1) [Provost of Edinburgh] to—. The “city” had the right and privilege of being sheriffs and justices of the peace within their bounds, and had been in the constant possession thereof above 100 years. Some few justices of Mid-Lothian had presumed to hold courts, seize their burgesses and carry them to prison, pretending accumulative jurisdiction with the magistrates since the union of the two kingdoms, notwithstanding their rights and privileges were expressly reserved. He and the other magistrates had been addressed from all corners thereon, and had promised to bring the matter before her Majesty. Draws attention to the want of the duties on French wines, &c. The city would not be able to pay the public taxes. Hoped his Lordship would find out some fund to supply their losses since the Union. If the rights and privileges of the city were lessened, no one would undertake the office of magistrate. Dated Edinburgh, 20 May 1708. Minuted:—“Answered 8^th June 1708.” [See Vol. CXL. No. 17.] 2 pages.
May 21.	17. The Lord Chancellor (Cowper) to the Lord [High Treasurer], asking that M^r Scroop, who was about to return to Scotland, might have his additional or private salary of 500l. per ann. assured to him. M^r Taylor made a difficulty of it. Reminding his Lordship that M^r Scroop quitted a business of considerably above 500l. a year, which was continually increasing. Dated 21 May 1708. 1 page.
May 24.	18. The Lord Lieut. of Ireland (Pembroke) to the Lord High Treasurer. Had sent an account of money disbursed for building the barracks at Dublin, and an estimate for their completion, by Thomas Burgh, Esq., Surveyor General of her Majesty's works in Ireland. Asks for the issue of 12,093l. 14s. 9¼d. for the same. Dated 24 May 1708. Minuted:—“26^th May 1708. A warr^t to be prepared accordingly.” 2 pages, quarto.
May 24.	19. The same to the same. Had referred the petition and papers of Charles Hubblethorne to the Lords Justices. Sends their opinion, and a report of the Auditor General of the Revenues of Ireland. It appeared that Queen Mary in 1694 had granted the petitioner 100l. per ann., and the Lords Justices in 1697 represented the case to his late Majesty, but he (the Lord Lieut.) could not find that anything was done thereon. Dated 24 May 1708. The report of the Lords Justices. Had referred the petition of Charles Hubblethorne to her Majesty's Auditor General, whose report they transmit, by which it appeared the petitioner was entitled to the pension of 200l. per annum and arrears. Dated Dublin Castle, 3 April 1708. [For the report of the Auditor General see Vol. CVI., No. 18.] 2 pages.
May 26.	20. The Lord Lieut. of Ireland to the Lord High Treasurer. Encloses the demands of persons for their trouble and charges in the last Parliament in Ireland (anno 1707). Considering the great business transacted thinks them reasonable. Asks for a warrant for payment out of the revenues in Ireland. Dated 26 May 1708. 1 page, quarto.
[About May 26.]	21. “A distribution of the 200,000^li for the first payment from the East India Company [on 12 May 1708] and 160,000^li for y^e 2^d payment on y^e first Annuity Act” [on 26 May 1708]. 1 large page.
May 27.	22. George Churchill to Major William Churchill at Dorchester. Had received advice of the death of Denzell Onslow, and had spoken to the Prince and the Lord Treasurer not to fill the vacancy caused thereby in the Victualling Office until he had his (the Major's) answer. He adds, “for if you thinke you can secure your election againe, you may have itt if you please.” Dated 27 May 1708. 1 page.
April 23– May 28.	23. Proposals of Sir Henry Furnese to the Lord High Treasurer, as to giving bills to M^r Bridges on Amsterdam and Antwerp, for the supply of H.M. forces in Flanders; and on Genoa and Leghorn for the supply of the King of Spain and forces in Catalonia. Dated 23 Apr. and 28 May 1708. 3 pages, quarto. The first is minuted: “Read and agreed to,” and the last is noticed in the Minute Book, Vol. XIV., p. 204, “And the paym^r is to be directed to take care that whatsoever these crowns make out in Catalonia that the advantage is to be charged for the Queen's benefit.” 3 pages.
May 31.	24. “Estimate of presents for the Indians to be sent by the Lord Lovelace, Governor of New York.” The estimate is signed by “Tho. Dummer” and dated Great Wardrobe, the 31^th of May 1708. 1 page.
May 31.	25. Com^rs of Sick and Wounded to M^r Lowndes. Had received M^r Lowndes letter and Doctor Morley's memorial in relation to the accounts of M^r Joseph Gyde, their late agent at Jamaica, with the Lord Treasurer's directions, to bring their answer that day. M^r Churchill, who was a commissioner, had been appointed to examine these accounts just before he left the office; but was obliged to quit in order to his election at Ipswich. He had promised to finish his examination and lay it before the Board, but was not expected at home for a week. Ask leave to defer their answer on the memorial. Dated 31 May 1708. 2 pages.
May 31.	26. Report of Sir James Mountague, Solicitor General, to the Lord High Treasurer, on the memorials and papers of Col. John Rice, Captain Obryan, Joseph Knight, Charles O'Hara, and John Asgill, touching the debentures made out to the said Col. Rice, for which he is to account according to the course of the Exchequer, as directed by a late Act of Parliament in that behalf. The report finishes thus:—“I doe humbly conceive that it may be advisable to cause as many of the said debentures, and as much of the produce thereof, as can be mett with in the hands of Coll. Rice, or any of his agents & trustees, to be seised into the Queen's hands as soon as may be, to prevent any further wast and imbezlem^t thereof.” Dated 31 May 1708. Also the papers referred to. Minuted:—“11 June 1708. To be read Monday next in y^e afternoon.” 10 pages.
June 1.	27. “State of the Provost of Glasgow's election as member of Parliament.” June first 1708. The 26^th of May 1708 was appointed for the district of Glasgow, Dunbarton, Renfrew, and Rutherglen, for choosing a Commissioner at Glasgow (the presiding burgh) as member of Parliament, conformably to the Articles of Union. The clerk of the meeting had returned to the Sheriff of Lanerk the name of Robert Rodger, the provost of Glasgow, as duly elected; but Daniel Campbell had laid a project of disappointing the legal election by a sham election of himself, combining with Collin Campbell for that purpose. M^r Campbell's procedure was absolutely null, because by the Acts of Parliament the common clerk of the presiding burgh was the only person empowered to make a return, &c. If M^r Campbell did not desist, it was expected that he would be exemplarily punished. 2½ pages.
June 2.	28. W^m Popple, jun^r, on behalf of the Com^rs of Trade and Plantations, to W^m Lowndes, Esq. The Com^rs found that the petitioner, Captain Richard Long, was appointed to the Rupert prize to make discoveries of gold mines, wrecks, and other treasure on the coast of America. By a contract made with the Treasury (1697) his late Majesty was to receive 10,000l. out of the first profits derived by the petitioner, and for seven years his Majesty was to receive 9/10^ths and the petitioner 1/10^th of the profits, after which his Majesty was to have the whole. But notwithstanding the great charge the King was at in fitting out the “Rupert” prize for that service, the crown received no benefit. The captain suggested that the undertaking failed from apprehension of danger from the “Spanish Barlevent” fleet, then said to be on the coast. Their Lordships found that the allegation of the petitioner, that he laid the first foundation of a commerce with the Indians of Darien, was not well grounded; for the inhabitants of Jamaica, &c. had a commerce with those Indians long before the petitioner's undertaking. The petitioner having lost the journal of his transactions with those Indians, relative to the information received from them of the gold mines at Cany, their Lordships had no other proof than the petitioner's affidavit. As to his disbursements for presents to the Indians, their Lordships were of opinion that nothing further was due to him. Dated 2 June 1708. 2 pages.
April 21– June 2.	29. Proposals of Sir Theodore Janssen to the Lord High Treasurer to give bills for Turin at certain rates. Dated 28 Jan. 1707–8, 21 Apr. and 2 June 1708. 3 pages, quarto.
[About June 3.]	30. Petition of Jonathan Wright, poulterer, to the Lord High Treasurer. Had credited William Killigrew, Esq., with several goods, to the value of 16l., for which he pretended he could not pay, not having received his pension out of the Treasury, and sheltered himself in the verge of the Court; praying the debt might be stopped out of the pension. Minuted:—“3 June 1708. My Lord cannot take cognisance of M^r Killigrew's debt.” 1 page.
June 3.	31. Report of Lord Halifax to the Lord High Treasurer on the petition of M^r Arnold, paymaster of the malt lottery tickets, advising that his salary for himself and clerks should be increased to 400l. per ann. He paid away 200,000l. a year in 14,000 payments. Dated Exchequer, 3 June 1708. Also the petition. Minuted:—“Read 4^th June 1708. Agreed.” 2 pages.
[About June 3.]	32. Petition of the Clothiers of Her Majesty's forces in Flanders, Spain, and Portugal, to the Lord High Treasurer for payment of off-reckonings. Referred to the Hon. James Brydges, Esq., Paymaster-General of H.M. forces, to report thereon. 1 page.
June 5.	33. Com^rs of Customs (Edinburgh) to William Lowndes, Esq. Sending the establishment or particulars of the Custom House officers from 1 May 1707 to 1 August following. They were generally at their posts, were very poor, and many had been dismissed, and these were the most impatient. Mention arrival of vessels, &c. Send a certificate of a French privateer given to a master of a small vessel, that the L^d High Treasurer might see how obliging the French King's subjects pretended to be to these people, and that they still style North Britain “le royaume d'Ecosse.” Dated Edinburgh, 5 June 1708. Also the establishment and the certificate referred to. 9 pages and 2 parts.
June 7.	34. Report of the Com^rs for Sick and Wounded to the Lord High Treasurer on the memorial of D^r Morley, laying before his Lordship “a narrative of the whole matter.” The report is on the management of the sick and wounded seamen at Jamaica by M^r Hugh Gain, who was appointed by Admiral Bembow in Feb. 1701–2, and superseded by the Com^rs in June 1704, M^r Joseph Gyde being appointed to succeed him on the recommendation of D^r Morley. M^r Gyde on his voyage out was taken prisoner into France, and came back to England. He, however, arrived in Jamaica in June 1705. M^r Gain, having passed his accounts to the satisfaction of the Com^rs, was again sent out to supersede M^r Gyde, who did not give satisfaction to the Com^rs, and had been by them dismissed. [Gain proposed to subsist the sick men at 12d. a man per diem, and Gyde complained that he could not save himself harmless under 2s. a day, Jamaica money.] D^r Morley's expectation to have the Madeira wine charged to the contingencies was altogether new to them (the Com^rs), nor was it ever demanded by Gyde or by Gain, it being the proper drink of the country, and what her Majesty allowed the well seamen, &c. Dated 7 June 1708. The memorial referred to, and an account. 8 pages.
June 8.	35. Memorial of the Com^rs of Prizes to the Lord High Treasurer. Proceedings had been taken against M^r Arnold Browne, the late agent for prizes at Jamaica, who was cast in the sum of 6,499l. 9s. 5d. due to her Majesty, and was imprisoned there for that amount. His effects had been conveyed away, but the Com^rs did not discover from the letters of M^r Alexander Hamilton, their agent, that the securities had been prosecuted, and they had given directions for the same; praying his Lordship's directions to be given to the Governor for effectual prosecution to be carried out. Dated 8 June 1708. Minuted:—“Write to Gov^r Handasyde for his assistance & care in the recov[er]y of ye m^o due frō A. Browne.” “The Com^rs are to send my Lord a copy of ye security. L~re writ 17th June 1708.” 1 page.
June 8.	36. Memorial of Joseph Knight, of London, Esq., for himself and M^r Charles O'Hara, to the Lord High Treasurer, praying to be heard by counsel before his Lordship upon their claims to certain waste lands and woods in Ireland, which they allege they bought for 1,811l. 5s., but which the Solicitor General in Ireland had recommended should be seized into her Majesty's hands, on the supposition that they only held the lands as trustees for Col. John Rice. Dated 8 June 1708. Minuted:—“To be read when y^e rep^t is laid before my Lord.” 1 page.
[? About June 8.]	37. Michael Studholm to the Lord High Treasurer. Had not ready money to proceed with the new road round the House Park at Windsor. It would require 100l. a week, and 1,400l. were due to him for disbursements in the late reign. Asks for part of the arrears. Minuted:—“Read 8^th June 1708. 400^li to be paid to him by advance, to enable him to go on w^th this service.” 1 page.
June 9.	38. Report of J. Baker and others to the Lord High Treasurer upon a reference directing them to inform themselves upon what grounds the report of Sir Edw^d Northey and others mentioned by the committee of the House of Commons, was made, and what was the real damage sustained by the owners and freighters of the ship, Worcester, seized and condemned in Scotland, and what they conceived should be allowed in respect thereof. They were of opinion that the damage to the owners and freighters was 16,225l. 5s. 5½d., and that 11,225l. 5s. 5½d. were due to them as a balance. Dated 9 June 1708. With the report is an account of the details of the cargo, and two other papers. 10½ large pages and 4 smaller.
June 9.	39. Memorial of the Com^rs of Ordnance to the Lord High Treasurer, stating the debt of their office, asking for money to pay the artificers and to subsist the trains abroad. They had received 33,500l. in tallies on the land tax and 28,692l. in tallies on low wines, but had not been able to dispose of them. They had but 1,000l. in money, and there were bills of exchange for 7,000l. on them from Spain, &c. Dated 9 June 1708. Minuted:—“Out of 20,000^li E. Ind^a Comp^a on 12^th July 1708 44,404 4 4.” 1 page.
June 11.	40. Earl of Sunderland to the Lord High Treasurer. Transmits the memorial of Simon Clement, whose proposal of importing pitch and tar seemed to be so advantageous that her Majesty wished the Lord High Treasurer to take it into consideration. Dated 11 June 1708. The memorial referred to. 2 pages.
June 11.	41. Report of the Com^rs of the Navy to M^r Lowndes on the petition of M^r John Meesters, and on several papers claiming 1,094l. 2s. 8d. due to him as executor of his father, William Meesters, Esq., deceased, alleging that his father bought machine vessels, stink ships, &c. The Com^rs found that the services out of which the claim arose had not any relation to the Navy, &c., and therefore left it to his Lordship's consideration. Dated 11 June 1708. 4 pages.
[? About June 11.]	42. Memorial of several colonels whose regiments were reduced in Spain in Feb. 1706 to the Duke of Marlborough, Captain General of H.M. forces, &c. The regiments had been at great charge in raising their companies, and suffered great losses by desertion, not being allowed anything for great numbers of men to whom they gave extraordinary levy money, &c. The colonels pray an order for preventing “the respit of the commission, non-commission officers, and drums,” and that the regiments might be allowed on certain musters or upon certificates sworn before the justices. Minuted:—“11 June 1708. My Lord will speak w^th Gen^ll Erle about y^e last part of this mem^ll.” 1 page.
June 12.	43. Report of the Com^rs of Customs to the Lord High Treasurer on the memorial of M^r Walter Stuart, merchant, as to certain “lustrings” and alamodes imported from Scotland. Adhering to their former report. Dated 12 June 1708. The memorial referred to. Minuted:—“Approved.” 2 pages.
June 14.	44. William Borrett to William Lowndes, Esq. Relates the methods he had taken in performing the service commanded by the Lord High Treasurer, in relation to informations and popular actions. Constantly in term time he searched all the minutes and orders of the several courts in Westminster Hall; and in the vacations searched the offices of the Courts of Queen's Bench and Common Pleas to see what writs were sued out in popular actions and upon penal laws. As to matters within his enquiry, he found in the Court of Exchequer such orders made, and the money due for her Majesty's part regularly paid into the Exchequer. But as to the actions and proceedings in the Courts of Queen's Bench and Common Pleas, he had not found such regular proceedings, few of them being carried further than suing out the writ, and this he believed arose from the parties making it up. He constantly also searched the sheriffs' offices, and when money was levied in execution, took care to see the sheriff answered her Majesty's part. Calls his Lordship's attention to the writ of distringas ad computandum against accountants, which was become very insignificant, also to the prevention of the ill practices of attorneys in popular actions and informations on penal statutes. Dated 14 June 1708. 1 page.
June 15.	45. William Lowndes, Esq., to M^r Brydges. Transmits a letter and account sent by M^r Chetwynd, the latter made up by the “general of the finances to the Duke of Savoy” for the expenses of the last campaign, for M^r Brydge's examination and observations. Dated 15 June 1708. Accompanied by the account of provisions and other expenses made in the army in the year 1707 for the expedition to Toulon, as well as an account of the money the Queen had to pay. (French.) 5½ pages.
June 15.	46. The same to M^r Solicitor General. Transmits a letter from the Earl of Sunderland, H.M. Principal Secretary of State, with extract from a petition of Col. Leighton, praying that M^r Borrett might have directions to proceed in the affair relating to the place of Warden of the Fleet [prison] at her Majesty's charge for consideration and advice, as to what the charge might amount to and why the crown should bear the same. Dated 15 June 1708. The letter and extract. Minuted:—“4 Sep^r 1708 M^r Borret to prosecute the discovery of these incumbrances at her Ma^ts charge, and to acq^t my Lord from time to time w^th his proceedings & the charge thereof.” With this further memorandum: “The rep^t sent inclosed in the łre to Mr. Borret & entered at large in the Lre Book.” [See Letter Book, Vol. XII., pp. 461–463. The proceedings referred to were for the recovery of the office of Warden of the Fleet into her Majesty's hands, the costs of which the Solicitor General believed would not be under 300l.] 3 pages.
June 15.	47. Thomas Byde to the Lord [High Treasurer], sending by order of the General Officers an account of the proceedings of the Com^rs appointed to inspect and regulate the clothing of the army, contained in two reports, the recommendations of which the General Officers conceive should be complied with. Dated Horse Guards, Whitehall, 15 June 1708. The reports referred to. 8 pages, 2 halves.
June 16.	48. Report of the Com^rs of Excise to the Lord High Treasurer. Certify that informations as to excise were generally cognizable before them in London and within the “Bills of Mortality,” and before the justices of the peace in other parts of the kingdom, &c. Docquetted:—“Report concerning informations prosecuted in the Courts at Westm^r & how the same have been attended by the Soll^r.” Dated 16 June 1708. 1 page.
June 16.	49. Report of Henry Stevens, Deputy Remembrancer of the Exchequer, to the Lord High Treasurer, as to the securities for M^r Gyde, late agent at Jamaica of the Com^rs of Sick and Wounded. Dated 16 June 1708. The letter of reference and a letter from the Com^rs for Sick and Wounded. Minuted:—“18 June 1708. Let him give security for y^e 1000^li in y^e Excheq^r and then the bills will be paid.” 3 pages.
June 17.	50. “17 June 1708. 6. An Estimate of the charge of armes and other stores deliver'd to the R^t Hon^ble the Lord Lovelace, Governor of New York, as a present from her Ma^ty to the 5 Indian Nations.” 1 page.
17 & 18 June.	51. Geo. Dodington to the Lord High Treasurer, on behalf of M^r Corbet and himself, asking that their salaries of 400l. per ann. each, might be allowed for duties discharged in connection with the Treasurership of the Navy. Dated 17 June 1708. Minuted:—“Agreed to.” Also certificate relating thereto. Dated 18 June 1708. 2 pages, quarto.
[About 19 June.]	52. Notes and memoranda as to grants to the Duke of Leeds, showing claims by him amounting to 1,048l. 6s. 8d. Minuted:—“Read to y^e Queen 19^th June 1708. As the rent of 40^l a year is answer'd to Her Ma^ty from Queen Dowager's death (in case it be answer'd) it shall be given to his grace. And as to his fee farm Rents, they are to be reprized if reprisals can be found.” The 40l. per ann. referred to was a reserved rent issuing from the Forest of Whichwood. The fee farm rents were (1) from Softly coal mines, in the bishopric of Durham, and (2) the Soke of Somersham, in the co. of Huntingdon. 3 pages.
June 19.	53. Com^rs of Customs (Scotland) to M^r Lowndes. M^r Lowndes would see what a noise a couple of French privateers had made on the West coast. Hoped the frigates would meet with them. Their station should be from the north of Ireland to the north of Scotland, and as far into the S^t George's Channel as the Isle of Man. They should send ashore for intelligence there, at Port Patrick, and at Cambletown (in Cantire). Believed the French had intelligence from the land. That side of the country was inflamed, for the merchants of Glasgow had not the least account of the cruising frigates at any of the western ports, and there was no little noise there (Edinburgh), that for a long time the men-of-war under Captain Bois, for the east side, had not been heard of; notwithstanding that off Aberdeen, Montrose, &c., there was no passing for small vessels; the Dunkirkers or other French swarming along that shore. A letter of mart man of Leith had brought in a ship of above 100 tons laden with French wines. She would pay a good round sum. Dated Edinburgh, 19 June 1708. There is a postscript written by A. Rigby at 10 at night, which says that the cruisers had returned from the northward, and brought a “Martinico man,” reported to be worth 10,000l., &c. She was met with off Zetland “agoing north about to Dunkirk.” 2 pages.
[About June 19.]	54. Petition of Lewis and Anthony Driver, sons of Robert Driver, deceased, to the Lord High Treasurer, praying for relief, their father having been very serviceable in discovering timber trees in the forest of Rockingham, valued at about 5,000l., of which the crown would have been defrauded but for his care. Certificate containing particulars of the trees, and copy of the Surveyor General's report thereon. Dated 26 August 1704. Minuted:—“Read to y^e Q. 19^th June 1708. Their circumstances are to be examined into, and then my Lord is to order them a reward for their father's services.” There is a note that they were in the utmost necessity; signed S. Compton. 5 pages.
[About June 19.]	55. “Province of the Massachusetts Bay. An Act for the better providing and furnishing of masts for her Ma^ts Royal Navy.” An examined copy. 2 pages.
June 20.	56. Col. J. Dudley to the L^d High Treasurer, proposing the building of a ship of war for her Majesty to convoy the mast ships home, and to bring an equal load with the best of them. This business of building would employ and keep the inhabitants more strictly to their dependence. He (the Col.) had obtained a law in New Hampshire from the last Assembly, and the Assembly of this province was sitting, and he supposed would do the same, which would for ever make her Majesty's officers safe and steady, and no man would run the hazard of so great penalties as were provided. There was nothing left undone to make her Majesty's subjects easy and safe from the enemy, both by sea and land, and everybody saw it, tho' for want of officers and regular forces, he could do nothing against regular fortifications at Port Royal and Quebec, but it might be easily done with a force from home. Dated Boston, 20 June 1708. 1½ pages, quarto.
June 20.	57. Benjamin Bennett to the Lord High Treasurer. Had sent the whole proceedings, both at law and equity, relating to the house his predecessor, Col. Day, built on a piece of waste ground in the town of S^t George's, Bermuda. The reason he had not transmitted them to the Council Office was that he concluded it was Col. Day's business. Hoped Sir Tho^s Day had not reflected on him in his petition in relation to this prosecution. Should be glad to hear her Majesty had granted to Col. Day her title to the house and ground. Dated Bermuda, 20 June 1708. The proceedings referred to, certified as correct copies on 12 June 1708. 16½ pages.
June 21.	58. “A state of my Lord Raby's demands as envoy and afterwards as Ambassador Extra^ry to the King of Prussia.” Drawn up and signed by Christopher Tilson on 21 June 1708. He says, “Since the Excheq^r is so little able at present to supply money for demands of this nature, I do most humbly propose that what your Lorđp shall please to order, be paid my Lord Raby out of leases to be made by himselfe on Tyn.” Minuted:—“21^th June 1708. My Lord agrees the extra^rys shall be paid in manner proposed, but not to exceed the regulac[i]on. My Lord has warr^ts before him for the ordinary entertainm^ts of all the forreigne ministers, and dos not enter into the considerac[i]on of Lord Raby's demands on that head.” 1 large page.
June 21.	59. J. W. Southerland (Countess Dowager of Sutherland) to the Lord [High Treasurer]. Makes a claim to a debt of 60l. per ann., amounting to above 400l., for her jointure, house, and lands, “commonly called S^t Ann's yeards,” lying adjacent to the Abbey of Holyrood House, of which she had been in possession since A.D. 1655. The debt had been acknowledged, but was still unpaid, the “tacksmen pretending they had no money.” Asks his Lordship effectually to plead the cause of the widowand poor “orphants,” as she was then old and “had use for her own,” and had many grandchildren that had no portions, and were orphans. Dated “Abbay, 21^st June 1708.” Accompanied by a certificate. 2 pages.
June 22.	60. Com^rs of Customs (Edinburgh) to the Hon^ble William Lowndes, Esq. Rejoiced at the method adopted for the collector at Leith to keep an account of convoys and cruisers, so that they (the Com^rs) might now take cognizance of what her Majesty's captains were doing in their stations and in the ports they touched at; for it had long been a matter of great lament that the commanders had been superior to all observation but that of the Admiralty. It would be for the [good of the] service if the like instructions were lodged with the collector of Port Glasgow, and that the Lord High Admiral would condescend to give them leave to write their thoughts to him about securing the trade of that country (as well as to the Lord High Treasurer), and to order the commanders of the men-of-war, when they came into Leith Road, to commune with them to that end, and to be diligent as they ranged along the coast in sending ashore their barges for intelligence. They (the Com^rs) would take care to furnish every collector or principal officer with what might be necessary, and direct them to be prepared with what could be learnt within their district; for the French were become so familiar, both on the west and east coast, that they not only molested the small craft along the shore and big ships in the offing, but often (as the Com^rs suspected) brought and carried intelligence from and to the enemy. The necessity for having a strict eye on their actions had been the more in their (the Com^rs) minds since the coming in of Captain Bois, commander of the Bonadventure man-of-war, who was very rude to the collector. They would not have complained thus fully (“seamen being naturally ruff”) but that they found the Captain continued boisterous. Dated Edinburgh, 22 June 1708. Minuted:—“28 June 1708. Not to write to the Admiralty, but to my Lord Trea[sure]r, who will represent an extract of what concernes the Adm^ty (excl. of w^t concernes their writing) to be sent to M^r Burchett.” 2 pages.
June 22.	61. R. Walpole to M^r Lowndes. Encloses a state of the case of the French officers who served the Duke of Savoy in Piedmont, to be laid before the Lord High Treasurer. Dated 22 June 1708. The enclosure is not now with it. 1 page, quarto.
June 25.	62. Draft of a commission appointing General Erle to be commander-in-chief of the forces that accompany the fleet. Dated 25 June 1708. 3 pages.
June 25.	63. Articles of agreement as to printing the 7^th volume of Rymer's Fœdera. Signed John Anstis, T. Rymer, and A. Churchill. Dated 25 June 1708. (Seals torn away.) Minuted:—“Read 18^th Sep^r 1710. My Lords do agree to this, but speak w^th M^r Anstis before the warr^t be signed.” 1 large page.
June 28.	64. Affidavit of William Bowyer in relation to the printing of the sixth volume of Rymer's Fœdera. Sworn 28 June 1708. 1 page.
June 29.	65. Sir Sa. M^cClellan to the Lord High Treasurer. Hopes the judges will be of the same mind as the Solicitor General, as to the duty of a mark per pack and tun of all goods imported into the city. Also sets forth the right of the magistrates of the city to be justices of the peace within the bounds and liberties thereof, which was claimed also by the justices of the county of Midlothian. Dated Edinburgh, 29 June 1708. 2 pages.
June 29.	66. Lord Sunderland to the Lord High Treasurer, enclosing petition of the Lady Mowat and the Lord Lieut. of Ireland's report thereon for his orders. Dated 29 June 1708. The report referred to. The Lord Lieut. had referred the petition to the Lords Justices, who had again referred it to the Auditor General. The report of the latter the Lord Lieut. transmitted, with a recommendation of a pension of 100l. a year to Lady Mowat, in consideration of the circumstances in which her mother left her. The letter of the Lords Justices. The report of the Auditor General and the petition are not now enclosed. Minuted:—“4^th Sept. 1708. My Lord will speak with my Lord L^t about this. A w^t during pl.” 3 pages, quarto.
June 29.	67. The King of Spain's account stated from the issues made at the receipt of the Exchequer to James Brydges, Esq., paymaster of Her Majesty's forces, for the years 1706, 1707, and 1708. Dated 29 June 1708. 8 pages.