|
May 3.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers. |
70. Present: Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Dodington, Lord Sundon, Mr. Winnington.
Order for the issue to the Treasurer of the Navy, out of supplies anno 1737, of 71,800l. 16s. 7d., to answer services as in his memorial of the 28th ult.
The petition to the Duchess of Buckinghamshire read for taking a lease of her late son's estate, reverted to the Crown, with the alum works for 31 years at 1,200l. per an. rent, and 6,000l. fine. Nothing further done therein, in regard the Surveyor General hath a proposal before him for the same rent and 12,000l. fine.
Order for the issue, out of the Civil List Revenues, of 2,090l. 19s. to Mr. Middleton to satisfy the orders in his name.
The Duke of Richmond, for the Extraordinaries of the Stables, is to be inserted in the next week's paper of cash.
The memorial of the Paymaster General of the Forces on the proposal of Sir Joseph Eyles for remitting the subsistence money to Gibraltar and Minorca 1737, April 25, to June 24 read and agreed to as follows, the rates of exchange being certified to be as usual:—16,000 dollars for Minorca, payable at sight in gold, at 55d. per dollar; 24,800 dollars for Gibraltar, payable at sight in gold, at 54½d. per dollar.
[Treasury Minute Book XXVIII. p. 24.] |
| May 6. |
71. Royal sign manual, countersigned by the Lords of the Treasury, to the Clerk of the Signet attending, for preparation of a bill to pass the Privy Seal, authorising the Lords of the Treasury to issue forth Commissions to such persons as they should think fit to be Receivers General for land tax for the various counties and places in the Act of Parliament, for the land tax for 1737.
[Affairs of Taxes IV. p. 195.] |
| May 10. |
72. Petition to the Treasury from John Wickliffe. Represents that Mr. Blaxton's ride as supervisor of the riding-officers for the Western Division of Sussex extends from Shoreham Harbour, East, to Emsworth, West, taking in Chichester, the Island of Selsea, &c. This district round the coast, islands and creeks is more than twice the extent of any other supervisor's district upon the whole coast, and by means of several creeks, &c., the same are very commodious for smuggling. Prays to be established at Chichester as supervisor of the officers for the western part of this ride, and with the like salary to Blaxton's.
Referred to the Customs Commissioners.
[Reference Book X. p. 92.] |
| May 12. |
73. Report to the Treasury from the Commissioners of Taxes on the petition of William Elliot, Receiver General for the County of Cornwall since 1720. 1 page.
Appending:—(a.) Said petition from Elliot to the Treasury. Petitioner entered on his Receivership in 1720, the year of the South Sea Scheme, which soon sunk credit to so low a degree that trust became altogether unsafe. The Board of Taxes enjoined all the Receivers to send up their receipts to London in specie, which he complied with till credit became re-established, at an expense from Exeter alone of 10s. per 100l. the first year and 7s. 6d. per 100l. after. Soon after the re-establishment of credit a great flow of Portugal gold coins came into Cornwall by the packets to Falmouth, which has ever since engrossed all bills of exchange in the county and the Receivers' usual way of disposing of money for bills, by this change in the course of commerce, so totally intercepted that petitioner affirms for years together not a single bill had been offered him in the county, a few at Penzance only excepted payable in Moydores, a specie not current at the Exchequer or Bank, and so not suitable for his purpose. Has been, therefore, obliged at great expense to carry the money of his collection to Plymouth, Dartmouth, and Exeter to negotiate it for returns, and has also thereby lost 600l. by bad bills at Exeter. Petitioner cannot send up the money to London by carrier, even at his own great expense, because almost the whole of it is paid him in Portugal gold coins much lighter than their due standard, and at the price current of 3l. 18s. 6d. per ounce for sale, the loss thereof would be too great for him to bear, as he fatally experienced by sending 300l. value of it to the Bank about two years since, said coin not being current at the Exchequer or Bank of England, nor can it be passed at Exeter without some guineas or silver, which from necessity he is obliged to keep for that purpose. Petitioner's predecessor, Mr. Manaton, constantly enjoyed opportunities to dispose of all his moneys with ease and safety on the spot for good bills of exchange and salt debentures. Prays consideration for his losses.
Together with Treasury order of reference, dated 1736, August 10. 2 pages.
(b.) Statement of Eliot's case and of his losses, as above. 1 page.
(c.) Affidavit dated 1737, May 3, by Thomas Waters, of the Bank of England, of Eliot's loss on a parcel of 300l. 0s. 6d. of noncurrent Portugal money by tale sent to the Bank 1734, May 12. (Loss, 1l. 9s. 2d., besides the carriage.) 1 page.
(d.) Certificate by Pet. Burrell and seven others, “that now and for many years past the importation of Portugal gold coin hath been so great in Cornwall that very little specie of any other kind is to be met with there, and do likewise believe that great part are given in payment for bills on London by the merchants' agents in that county, in order to comply with their principals' directions and to save them the expense of land carriage, which is 3/8 per cent.” 1 page. [Treasury Board Papers CCXCV. No. 21.] |
May 12.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers. |
74. Present: Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Dodington, Lord Sundon, Mr. Winnington.
“The unsatisfyed warrants to clear salaries and pensions, payable at the Exchequer to Christmas last, are to be paid, so let the proper letter be written for that purpose.”
Order for the issue to the Treasurer of the Ordnance of 30,000l., out of funds anno 1737, for artificers and other demands of the office of Ordnance, according to a memorial of the 4th instant.
A report from the Board of Works read of date April 26 last on the memorial of Mr. Hales, for removing some sheds erected in the Court Yard, Whitehall. No order given, as the Board of Works are of opinion said sheds are not an obstruction.
Order for the issue to the Cofferer of the Household of 3,000l., part of 1737, Lady Day quarter, for the Household.
[Treasury Minute Book XXVIII. p. 25.] |
| May 19. |
75. Letters of Attorney by Henry Pelham, Paymaster General of the Forces, appointing Charles Monson of Gray's Inn his Attorney for the execution of the said office, with full power to receive money, give acquittances, and apply and pay same according to establishments and directions given by the King, the Lord High Treasurer, or the Lords of the Treasury, &c., &c.
[King's Warrant Book XXXII. p. 350.] |
May 19.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers. |
76. Present: Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Dodington, Mr. Winnigton.
A letter of the 17th instant read from the Acting Commissioners for land tax at Windsor for the Board of Works to take care that the assessment on the engine keeper there for his salary, payable by the Office of Works, may be paid to the town as usual, and not elsewhere. Said letter to be transmitted to the Board of Works for them to take order thereupon, as the Act of Parliament in that case directs.
The Surveyor General's report about the dispute between the Earl of Pembroke and the Countess of Portland about the terrace at Whitehall, to be considered this day fortnight.
The Surveyor General of Crown Lands being present read a letter from the Duchess of Buckingham to himself, in which she allows Prissick, who has offered for the lease of the Duke's estate and alum works, to be a trustee for herself. Prissick, was called in, and acquainted that the fine is to be 12,000l., whereof 1,000l. to be immediately paid by way of caution, and 5,000l. at any time before the lease passes, and the remaining 6,000l. at or before —. The rent is to be 1,200l., and he is advised to hasten his memorial to my Lords for this purpose that it may be referred to said Surveyor General, and proceeded on in the usual method for obtaining an Exchequer lease of the premises for 31 years.
[Treasury Minute Book XXVIII. p. 26; Letter Book XIX. p. 440.] |
| May 20. |
77. Treasury warrant dormant to the Auditor of the Receipt, to make and pass debentures from time to time for paying to the Prince of Wales 10,000l. per an. from Lady Day last, same being that portion of the 50,000l. per annum granted to the Prince, which not being charged on either Customs or Excise revenue is payable at the Receipt of the Exchequer out of the 120,000l. per an. settled upon His Majesty during his life, out of the Aggregate Fund for the uses of the Civil Government.
[Money Book XXXIX. p. 25.] |
| May 24. |
78. John Pitt, Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Bermudas to the Treasury, dated from Bermuda, transmitting (a.) and (b.) infra. 1 page.
Appending:—(a.) Duplicate of George Tucker's powder money account to 1736, June 18, ut supra p. 305, under 1737, March 26. 6 pages.
(b.) Account of the Liquor Tax on said Islands 1735, to 1737, April 4, as rendered by Col. Nathaniel Butterfield, Treasurer of said tax. 8½ pages. [Treasury Board Papers CCXCV. No. 23.] |
| May 27. |
79. Treasury warrant to the Warden and Comptroller of the Mint to sign bills for the gold and silver that shall be imported to the Mint, for coinage, to the importers thereof, the office of Master and Worker of the Mint being vacant by the death of John Conduitt: all in order that there may be no stop or delay in the course or progress of the Mint.
[Warrants not relating to Money XXV. p. 460.] |
| May 31. |
80. Royal warrants to the Treasury, authorising and commanding the payment foam time to time, out of any of the moneys in the Receipt of the Exchequer, of 3,000l. per an. to the Duke of Newcastle, and 3,000l. per an. to Lord Harrington for Secret Service, without account imprest or other charge.
[King's Warrant Book XXXII. p. 371.] |
