Corporation Miscellanea: Bills of Costs, 1789-1825

Bills of Costs.

1789–1825.

[Written on hand-made foolscap paper.]

The Corporation of Cardiff to John Wood (deceased).

[In this and the following bills it will be understood that such items as refer to matters of ordinary municipal routine are of annual recurrence.]

1789 March 20. An Address to His Majesty for the purpose of Congratulating him on his recovery being resolved upon, Drawing Draft of such Address for your Approbation 13s. 4d.

Fair Copy for your perusal 2s.

Attending you in the Town Hall reading over same 13s. 4d.

The Address being approved, Ingrossing same 5s.

Paid for Parchment 2s.

Affixing Town Seal thereto 10s. 6d.

Clerk's attendance also in the Town Hall and on several of the Burgesses who could not be procured to Sign but at their respective Houses 13s. 4d.

Letter to the Bailiffs of Cowbridge requesting them to get same signed 3s. 6d.

The like to the Portreeve of Avon 3s. 6d.

The like to the Portreeve of Kenfig 3s. 6d.

The like to the Portreeve of Neath 3s. 6d.

The like to the Portreeve of Swansea 3s. 6d.

The like to the Portreeve of Lougher 3s. 6d.

The like to the Portreeve of Lantrissent 3s. 6d.

March 23. [The Common Attorney took this Address to be Signed by the Contributory Boroughs.]

Letter to Sir Herbert Mackworth with Address 3s. 6d.

Packing up parcel, attending Coach Office and paid booking 3s. 6d.

Drawing Advertizement of the Tolls to be Lett 3s. 4d.

Six Copies to be put up in different parts of the Town 6s.

Paid Sticking the same up 1s.

June 8. Letter to Mr. W^m Evans for defrauding the Tolls by J. Evans 3s. 6d.

July 21. Drawing Summons for holding Court of Common Council 2s. 6d.

Attending Bailiffs to get same Signed 6/8.

22. Attending such Court & drawing long and Special Order relative to the Charity School £1 1s.

Oct^r 15. Attending at the Council Chamber but no Court held 6s. 8d.

Dec^r 10. Drawing Rent Roll for the year 1789 (4 Sheets) 13s. 4d.

1790 January 12. Filling up two Certificates of the Bailiffs having taken the Sacrament previous to their qualification at the Quarter Sessions 5s.

Attending the Minister and the Churchwardens with the Witnesses, to get same signed 6s. 8d.

The like for the Serjeants at Mace 11s. 8d.

Paid for 4 Stamps and Parchment 6s.

Paid Clerk of Peace's fees 10s.

Attending the Sessions and paying him 6s. 8d.

June 14. Having received the Sheriffs Precept to Elect a Burgess to sit in Parliament for this and the Contributory Boroughs, Drawing Precept and fair Copy from the Bailiffs of Cardiff to the Bailiffs of Cowbridge informing them that they would proceed to elect a Burgess to sit in Parliament on the 19^th Instant 5s.

[The like to the Portreeves of Lantrissent, Kenfigg, Avon, Neath, Swansea and Lougher respectively; 15s. 6d. each.]

Attending Serjeants at Mace with same and Instructing them 6s. 8d.

Drawing Notice of the Election of such Burgess to be held at the Guildhall on the 19^th 2s. 6d.

Five fair Copies to Stick up in different parts of the Town 5s.

Paid Crier for proclaiming the election 5s.

Drawing and Ingrossing Affidavit of the Bailiffs having received no gratuity or reward in electing the Member. Duty and Oath 12s. 1d.

29. Writing letter to M^r John Bird sen^r requesting him to settle his Account as Water Bailiff 3s. 6d.

1792 Jan^y 28. Drawing Summons for Court of Aldermen on 30^th Instant 2s. 6d.

Attending Bailiffs to get same signed 6s. 8d.

30. Attending Court but no business transacted 6s. 8d.

Feb^y 2. Attending Court registering appointment of Constable of the Castle £1 . 1 . 0.

June 11. Drawing long Address to the King on the late Proclamation, and fair Copy to lay before Court of Common Council 13s. 4d.

Affixing Town Seal 10s. 6d.

Clerk's Attendance in Town Hall & on Burgesses for Signatures 13s. 4d.

Packing up same as a parcel to the Earl of Bute & writing Letter with request for him to present same. Attending Coach Office and paid booking 6s. 8d.

June 22. In Consequence of the Bailiffs having received a Letter from the Earl of Bute saying that the Address was presented, Writing Letters to the Portreeves of the Contributory Boroughs with a copy, 3s. 6d. each Letter, £1 . 4 . 6d.

1793 Jan^y Filling up 2 Certificates of the Bailiffs receiving the Sacrament previous to their Qualification at the Sessions 5s.

The like for Serjeants at Mace 6s. 8d.

4 sacrament Stamps 6s.

April 6. Drawing Summons for Court of Bailiffs and Aldermen on the 8^th instant 2s. 6d.

8. Attending Court and drawing Orders £1 . 1 . 0.

The like of Court of Common Council £1 . 10 . 2.

Writing letter to M^r Thomas Thomas, he having threatened to pull down premises belonging to the Corporation 3s. 6d.

1796 March. A General fast having been Proclaimed on the day of the high Market at Cardiff, Instructions to Postpone the same to the following day 3s. 4d.

Drawing Advertisement for that purpose 6s. 8d.

Attending Printer with One Copy 3s. 4d.

Writing with One Copy to be inserted in the Bristol paper 3s. 6d.

Paid Insertion 14s.

Writing with another Copy to be inserted in the Gloster paper 3s. 6d.

Paid Insertion 13s. 6d.

The Glamorganshire Canal C° being about to Extend their Canal, Attending the Bailiffs thereon, when it was deemed Prudent to go to London and Watch their Proceedings, that the rights of the Corporation might not be invaded by the Introduction of any Clause respecting Harbour dues. Journey to London to Watch them. Attending House of Commons and Lords, out 26 days at 3 . 3 . 0 p^r day, includ^g Expences £15 . 15 . 0.

Coach-hire up and down £3 . 3 . 0.

1798 Nov^r 20. An Address to His Majesty from the Corporation and its Contributory Boroughs having been proposed on Account of the late Brilliant Victories Obtained over the [French] Navy, Attending taking Instructions for Drawing up such Address 13s. 4d.

Clerk's Journey to the several Contributory Boroughs to get same signed by the Portreeves and Burgesses, out 4 days, Horsehire and Expences £5 . 5 . 0.

Packing up same to the Member, Attending Coach Office and paid Booking 3s. 6d.

1800 March. [Another address to the King—occasion not stated.]

Packing up same as a parcel to Lord Bute to get it presented [&] 6s. 8d.

1802 Dec^r 8. Attending at the Glamorganshire Canal Committee Meeting, Demanding Payment of Principal and In^t of Purchase Monies for Land sold them 13s. 4d.

1803 March 30. Drawing an Address from the Corporation and its Contributory Boroughs to his Majesty on his happy discovery of Traiterous conspiracies against his person 13s. 4d.

May 18. Search for Proceedings of Court of Common Council of 4^th May 1794, nine years £2 . 5 . 0.

1802 Sept^r 30. M^r Jno. Purcell having been disfranchised for the purpose of making him admissible Evidence in a Cause respecting Toll: His fees of readmission, Stamps &c. £2 . 3 . 10.

[Then follow Costs in the Court of Great Session, presumably in connection with the abovementioned Cause.]

1803 May 23. Draft Agreement between M^r Jno. Davies the Carpenter, and the Bailiffs Aldermen and Burgesses of Cardiff, for Building Market Places under the Guildhall 13s. 4d. [Among the Corporation records is the original Agreement, with the plan of the new improvements, shewing a series of arches with iron rail gates around the basement of the Guildhall. On one side are two entrances from the street. Within, the basement is divided into unequal halves, the greater being for the sale of corn, and the other for butter. In the latter is a long table.]

Dec^r 17. Attending Perusing Draft Release of Lands from the Corporation to the Proprietors of the Glamorganshire Canal 13s. 4d.

1804 July 26. Drawing Notice to M^r W^m Westmacutt to Quit Lands in the Parish of Landaff. Copy and service 4s. 6d. [These were the Charity School lands near the King's Castle, Canton. Westmacutt remained in possession till 1816.]

May 6. Drawing Order of the Bailiffs of Cardiff to Affix the Assize of Bread 2s. 6d.

6 Copies 6s.

Clerk delivering Same to the different bakers 3s. 4d.

[Several further notices to Corporation tenants to quit, consequent on an exchange of lands with the Marquess of Bute and Earl of Dumfries.]

1808 July. M^r Bailiff Capper having Convicted a M^rs Wrinstone in a Penalty for 20s. for taking a receipt without a Stamp, and M^rs Wrinstone having Employed an Att^y to Prosecute the Bailiffs, Attending taking Instructions for Drawing Case for the Opinⁿ of Counsel thereon 6s. 8d. [Mrs. Wrinstone eventually accepted a tender of damages.]

1809 Nov^r 13. An Address to His Majesty for the purpose of Congratulating him on the late events being resolved upon, Drawing Draft of such Address for your Approbation 13s. 4d.

1812 Nov^r 7. Paid M^r Richard Howell for Mapping and surveying the Canal without the South Gate, the Charity Land & the hayes £4 . 14 . 6.

Nov^r 25. Paid M^r David Thomas ropemaker for Pitch Wood and Hauling away the remains of An Ox burnt as unwholesome Meat in Cardiff 3s. 6d.

1813 Jan^y Postage of letters to the secretary to the society for the relief of the Suffering Russians 1s. 8d.

Oct^r 25. Paid M^r Edward Thomas of the Custom house for postages of Letters he received on the subject of Pilots being appointed £1 . 1 . 0.

1814 Feb^y 9. Paid Thomas Morgan Carpenter for putting up Vagrants Boards 1s. 9d.

April. Postage printed Letter with Copy Address of the Meeting of Gentlemen at the Thatched House Tavern, London, as to the Propriety of making peace with Bonaparte 10d.

The Corporation of Cardiff To N. Wood.

1824 February. Precept for a Court of Common Council to elect a Capital Burgess in the room of M^r John Bradley, and other business 6s. 8d.

Attending Constable therewith 6s. 8d.

Attending Court £1 . 1 . 0.

June 29^th Attending Court of Pie Powder £1 . 1 .0.

Sept^r 29^th Attending in the Town hall and Castle, receiving returns and swearing in Officers &c. £1 . 1 .0.

Nov^r 30^th Attending Court of Pie Powder £1 . 1 . 0.

The Corporation of Cardiff To the Executrix of the late M^r Brown.

1818 June 15. Attending drawing Receipt on the back of Precept for an Election 13s. 4d.

16. Drawing precept to the Bailiffs & Portreeves of the different Boroughs 6s. 8d.

22^nd Attending in the Town Hall this day as Town Clerk, on the Election £5. 5. 0.

Clerk's attending as Poll Clerk £2. 2. 0.

23^rd Letter to Agents for Poll Books 5s.

Attend^g taking Instr^ons for Indentures 13s. 4d.

Parchment and Duty £3. 18. 0.

29^th Drawing Pie Powder Court List, & fair Copy £1. 1. 0.

Attending Crying Fair &c. &c. &c. £1. 1. 0.

Sep^r 16. Attending Pie Powder Court £1. 1. 0.

Oct^r 20^th Attend^g all the Forenoon Examining Vagrants &c. 13s. 4d.

Nov^r 30^th Attending Pie Powder Court &c. £1. 1. 0.

1819 Jan[uar]y 4. Attend[ing]g Meeting on addressing the Regent on the death of the Queen, entering proceedings &c. £1. 1. 0.

April 5. Paid Printer for 100 Warrants to apprehend Bastardy 12s.

The Corporation of Cardiff to Nicholl Wood Town Clerk.

1815 June 5. Postage letter from M^r Whitlock Nicholl of Lanblethian saying Stamp Inspector would call in a few days to inspect the Corporation Books 4d.

8. Attending taking down the Examination of Elias Flanders, deserter from the Seventy Seventh regiment of Foot 1s.

Commitment 2s. 6d.

Filling up Descriptive return 2s.

Writing Secretary at War reporting him 5s.

Attending M^r Thomas Morgan, Commons Attorney, in order to ascertain the rights of the Corporation on the Wharf at Cardiff 13s. 4d.

19. Taking down the Examination of Francis Brook as to the Desertion of Thomas Rodgment from the Navy 1s.

Commitment 2s. 6d.

Writing Secretary at War reporting him, he having Confessed that he was a Deserter from the Forty third Regiment of Foot 5s.

Writing letter to M^r Gascoyne, the regulating Captain at Swansea, requesting he would send for Rodgment to the Impress Service according to the Instructions received from the Admiralty 5s.

Postage from Captain Gascoyne in answer, saying that if Rodgment was sent to Neath he would send a Party to receive him 7d.

July 1. Writing another letter to the Secretary at War with further Particulars 5s.

Drawing Statement of Charitable donations to the use of the Poor Inhabitants of the Town of Cardiff, Eight Sheets £2. 13. 4.

Taking down the Examination of William Edmund, Serjeant in the Glamorgan Militia, of the desertion of William Thomas from that regiment 1s.

Commitment 2s. 6d.

1816 April 3. Having received a Penalty of Five Pounds under 31^st Geo. III., Writing letter to the Treasurer of Greenwich hospital to know what to do with it 5s.

May. Drawing Draft Address to the Prince Regent on the Marriage of Princess Charlotte to Prince Leopold £1. 1. 0.

Journey to Cowbridge to lay same before William Nicholl Esquire, the Barrister. Horsehire and Expences £2 . 2. 0.

Paid Postage to Peter Taylor Walker Esquire, Constable of Cardiff Castle, in London, to get presented 1s. 10d.

Drawing Notice to different persons to remove goods from the Corporation Property on the Wharf 3s. 4d.

Sixteen copies 16s.

June 14. Writing letter to Lord James Stuart requesting he would present the Corporation address to the Prince Regent 5s.

Postage of his Lordships answer 10d.

Paid for Tin box for the Corporation papers £1. 11. 6. [This is still in the Town Clerk's safe.]

Postage letter from the Fish Society at Hereford respecting the Supplying of that City with Salmon 8d.

July 8. Taking down examination respecting David Eustance, a Deserter from the Eighty Second regiment of Foot 1s.

Commitment 2s. 6d.

13. Taking down the Examination of William Greenwood as to the desertion of Thomas Williams and Evan Davies from the Fifty fifth Regiment of Foot 1s.

Commitment 2s. 6d.

Taking down the Examination of John Michael as to the desertion of Thomas Jones from the fifty fifth Regiment of foot 1s.

Commitment 2s. 6d.

Notice to M^r Westmacutt to quit fields near Canton 5s.

1817 Feb^y 7. Postage letters from M^r Walker enclosing Draft Address to the Prince Regent congratulating his royal Highness on his happy escape from the Attack made on his Royal Person 3s. 4d.

March 13. Postage letter from M^r Walker enclosing letter from Lord Sidmouth saying the Address had been Presented to the Prince Regent 3s. 4d.

Copy Address to be inserted in the Courier 13s. 4d.

Copy Address for the Cambrian 13s. 4d.

May 13. Taking down the Examination of William Vaughan as to the desertion of Evan Jenkin from the Glamorgan Militia 1s.

Commitment 2s. 6d.

The like Charges as to James Granlam 10s. 6d.

26. The like as to Herbert Evans, a Deserter from the Seventh Dragoon Guards 10s. 6d.

July 8. Paid for Book to enter the names of the freemen 8s. 6d.

Taking down the Examination of William Lewis as to the desertion of George Wilson from the thirty sixth regiment of foot 1s.

Commitment 2s. 6d.

Aug^t 2. Taking down the Examination of George Boyd as to the desertion of John Williams from the Grenadier Regiment of Guards 1s.

Commitment 2s. 6d.

Sept^r 1. The like Charges as to the desertion of Thomas Evan from the thirty eighth regiment of foot 12s. 6d.

Dec[embe]r 7. Making four requisites to the Constables of the four Wards to summon all Innkeepers and all alehouse keepers to bring their measures to the Town hall to be examined 8s.

Making Notice to establish the Quartern Loaf, and Copy 2s.

Summons to bring up Paupers who were removed and who returned without Certificates, to shew cause why they so returned 2s.

1818 June 29. Drawing Pie Powder Court List, and fair Copy £1. 1. 0.

Attending Crying fair and so forth £1. 1. 0.

Sept^r 16. Attending Pie Powder Court £1. 1. 0.

Nov^r 30. Attending Pie Powder Court £1. 1. 0.

1819 Jan^y 23. Drawing and Ingrossing five appointments of Special Constables, Parchment & 13s. 4d.

[Pie Powder Courts this year as before. Officers sworn in the Castle this year as before.]

1820 Feb^y 7. Attending with the Bailiffs at the Town hall Proclaiming King George the fourth 5l. 5s.

Drawing Notice to the Loyal Inhabitants of the Town to attend the following day in order to take and subscribe the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy 6s. 8d.

[1821. Pie Powder Courts as before.]

March 15. Attending Messieurs Charles and Richards the whole Morning looking over Corporation Books from 1710 to 1741 respecting the admission of Aldermen 13s. 4d.

Copy four Orders of Corporation Meetings held in 1708 and 1710; 3s. 4d.

[Officers sworn in the Castle this year as before.]

Dec^r Drawing Schedule of Charters, Books and Deeds belonging to the Corporation, fifty six folios £2. 16. 0.

Fair Copy 14s.

1822 March 17. Writing long letter to the Secretary of State with the nature of the Town Court 6s. 8d.

1823 April 27. Making Draft Schedule of Deeds belonging to the Corporation; it took more than a fortnights time, the deeds being so intermixed, irregular and very difficult to find the dates, the former Schedule not being full enough £5. 5. 0.

June 20. Two fair Copies, fourteen pages closely written on Draft Paper £2. 6. 8.

Drawing Pie Powder Court List, and fair Copy £1. 1. 0.

Attending Court of Pie Powder.

29. Attending at the Town hall and Castle swearing in Officers £1. 1. 0.

1824 June 29. Attending Court of Pie Powder £1. 1. 0.

Sept^r 29. Attending in the Town Hall and Castle receiving returns and swearing in officers £1. 1. 0.

1825 July 20. Attending at the Castle swearing in John Homfray Esquire as Alderman of Cardiff £1. 1. 0.

Sep^t 19. Attending Court of Pie Powder £1. 1. 0.

[The latest entry of Sacrament Certificates occurs in the last Account, under date 2nd November 1816.]