Treasury Books and Papers: October 1738

Calendar of Treasury Books and Papers, Volume 3, 1735-1738. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1900.

This free content was digitised by double rekeying. All rights reserved.

'Treasury Books and Papers: October 1738', in Calendar of Treasury Books and Papers, Volume 3, 1735-1738, (London, 1900) pp. 509-515. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books-papers/vol3/pp509-515 [accessed 18 April 2024]

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

October 1738

Oct. 3. 128. J. Scrope to the Board of Works. “By a state of the payments and expense in your office for nine months, lately laid before the Lords of the Treasury by Mr. Auditor Benson, it appears that the ordinary expense of your office for the said nine months exceeds the sum limited by his late Majesty's instructions 10,800l., and that many extraordinary works have been performed by you in the said time without any sign manual countersigned by the Lords of the Treasury, which is required by the 26th article of your instructions. This their Lordships observing directed me to acquaint you that you should for the future in all things conform yourselves to your instructions, and that if you think it necessary at any time to deviate from them you must first acquaint their Lordships of it by memorial in writing and an estimate of the charge, in order to receive instructions thereon.” [Letter Book XIX. p. 482.]
Oct. 3.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers.
129. Present: Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Sundon, Mr. Winnington.
Orders for the following issues out of the Civil List Funds:—
£ s. d.
For the particulars in the paper of cash not distinguished in the quarterly payments 2,077 16 1
To the Wardrobe, in part of 11,990l. 4s. 7d. for mourning 6,000 0 0
To the Cofferer of the Household, for imprest to purveyors for 1738, Michaelmas quarter 6,000 0 0
John Greenwood is to be a watchman, London port, loco John Evans, deceased.
Robert Obinson, at the recommendation of Lord Monson, is to be surveyor of the duties on houses, co. Lincoln, loco William White, deceased.
“Giles Brown and William Backshall, who pursue a memorial before my Lords relating to discoveries of moneys concealed from the Crown in Ireland, were called in and acquainted that my Lords are of opinion since the subject matter of their memorial concerns Forfeited Estates in Ireland sold to Protestant purchasers by authority of Parliament and to affairs transacted in that kingdom. the same are properly cognisable and under the consideracon and direccons of His Majesty's officers there.”
[Treasury Minute Book XXVIII. p. 97.]
Oct. 3. 130. Warrant under the royal sign manual to William Benson, one of the Auditors of Imprests, to pass the account of the Paymaster of Works of the expense in the Office of Works for nine months ended 1737, September 30, notwithstanding the said expense having exceeded by 22,381l. 5s.d. the sum of 14,400l. yearly, limited for works in said office by the 26th article of the late King's instructions of date 1726, June 20.
Appending:—A state, certified by Edward Bangham, deputy to Auditor William Benson, of the payments and expense in said office of His Majesty's Works and Buildings for three quarters of one year ended as above, according to the account thereof exhibited to Auditor Benson by Dr. Robert Howard, Lord Bishop of Elphin, in the kingdom of Ireland, executor to Hugh Howard, deceased, late Paymaster of said Office of Works.
[King's Warrant Book XXXIII. pp. 117–8.]
Oct. 4. 131. Treasury warrant to the Auditor of the Receipt, the Clerk of the Pells, the Tellers and all other the officers of the Receipt concerned, to take in 100,000l. in three per cent. annuities, in part of 500,000l., as by the Act of last Session (granting two millions for the service of the year 1738) to be raised by annuities or Exchequer bills to be charged on the Sinking Fund.
[Money Book XXXIX. p. 304.]
Oct. 10. 132. Treasury endorsement of a Lord Chamberlain's warrant to the Duke of Montagu for the delivery to Grey Maynard, Yeoman of His Majesty's Removing Wardrobe, of furniture, detailed, for the House of Commons, including a curtain for a passage between the Committee rooms, and items, detailed, for the Committee room, &c.: all at an estimate of 430l.
[Lord Chamberlain's Warrant Book II. pp. 109–10.]
133. Same of same to same for delivery to same of furniture, detailed, for the House of Peers, including inter al. items for the Princess's room, the Lord Great Chamberlain's room, the Chancellor's room, the Bishops' room, the Lord Treasurer's room, the Earl Marshal's room, the Robe room, and Black Rod's room: all at an estimate of 485l. [Ibid. p. 111.]
Oct. 10.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers.
134. Present: Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Winnington.
Orders for the following issues out of the Civil List Funds:—
£ s. d.
To the Treasurer of the Chamber, for bills and warrants due 1738, Lady Day, according to his memorial of October 4 last 2,503 17 1
To Mr. Scrope, for His Majesty's Secret Service 11,000 0 0
To the two Secretaries of State, for same 1,500 0 0
The report from the Board of Works of the 19th instant read concerning making a more commodious entrance into the Court of Requests during the time of Parliament through a certain house used as a Coffee House and adjoining the said Court. The said Board are to advise with Mr. Paxton, so as he may enquire about the title of the said house and for what the same may be purchased, and thereupon to report with an estimate.
The report from the Board of Works read about the contents of the ground in the King's garden at Richmond, which are to be kept in fine order. Ordered to be transmitted to Mr. Selwyn for his opinion about the rate to be paid and the terms of the contract for keeping same.
Same from same of the 5th instant read about conforming to the 26th article of their instructions and concerning the buildings now in hand, wherein the said instructions have not been pursued. “My Lords agree to the finishing the buildings now in hand and to the erecting a laboratory for the Duke, taking care that the estimated charges be not exceeded and that the Board be more observant in pursuing their instructions for the future.”
Mr. Sorrell is to be paid 200l. out of arrears of taxes for his charges in pursuing his administration of Samuel Burridge's effects as late Receiver of Devon, subject to being reimbursed with other the charges about this affair, out of the said effects if more than sufficient to answer the debt to the Crown.
Order for a sign manual for 200l., as royal bounty, to Mons. Sailly.
[Treasury Minute Book XXVIII. p. 98; Letter Book XIX. p 484.]
Oct. 10. 135. Warrant under the royal sign manual to William, Earl of Essex, Ranger and Keeper of St. James's Park, to permit Sir Thomas Robinson, possessed of a messuage in Whitehall, part whereof containing 16 feet on the back part of it is situate in said St. James's Park, into which it has a door and some steps enclosed with a rail, to extend the said rail so far as to be equal with those belonging to the house of the Paymaster of the Forces, which are about 35 feet further in the said park: said rails to continue only during royal pleasure.
[King's Warrant Book XXXIII. p. 120.]
136. Royal sign manual to the Clerk of the Signet attending for a bill to pass the Privy Seal to grant and allow out of the moneys arising by fines for writs of covenant and writs of entré, payable in the Alienation Office the sum of 453l. 8s. for the better enabling the Clerk or Keeper of the Hanaper to defray the charges of the Court of Chancery for and towards satisfying and discharging sundry fees, allowances, rewards for services, riding charges to messengers, provisions of necessaries and other contingent charges of the said Court of Chancery: the said sum to be in addition to the yearly sum of 1,346l. 12s., made payable out of the said source to the service of the said Court by a Privy Seal of date 1727, July 11. [Ibid. pp. 123–4.]
Oct. 13. 137. Report to the Treasury from the Commissioners of Trade and Plantations on the petition from Simon Smith for a reward for preparing schemes in 1731 for preventing the running of wool from England and Ireland. Pursuant to the advertisements in the Gazette seven persons attended the Board of Trade with schemes for the above purpose. Amongst them said Smith put in a paper entitled the “Golden Fleece.”. Some parts of Smith's scheme were recommended to Parliament in the reports to Parliament from said Commissioners of 1731–2, February 25 and March 6, and some parts thereof were incorporated in the Act passed in 1732. Recommend Smith as a person deserving some royal bounty.
Endorsed:—12 April 1739. “My Lords order him 200l. reward.” 2 pages. [Treasury Board Papers CCXCIX. No. 7.]
Oct. 15. 138. J. Selwyn to John Scrope concerning the several parcels of ground in His Majesty's royal gardens at Richmond, proposed to be kept in neat order. If His Majesty intends to keep these grounds in the same degree of neatness with his other wardens they deserve in general the same allowance, viz., 15l. per an. per acre. But as the Terrace Walks in the Deer Park are not so much frequented 10l. per acre will suffice for them. 1 page.
Appending:
—A survey, dated 1738, October 5, certified by the Board of Works, to the Treasury, of the ground in His Majesty's Royal Gardens at Richmond which is to be kept in fine order. 1½ pages. [Ibid. No. 8.]
Oct. 17. 139. Treasury warrant to the Office of Works, approving of works now carrying on as follows:—(1) Repairs at the Duke of Newcastle's office at the Cockpit, the tower, staircase and walls being found in a decayed and dangerous condition, and only separated from the Duke of Dorset's by a timber partition. (2) An arch of brick work intended to receive the main which brings the water from Hyde Park. “The reason of making an arch in Hyde Park and St. James's Park was occasioned by the water having at several times been cut off from coming to His Majesty's palace at St. James's, upon consideration of which we could find no other way of effectually bringing the water to St. James's but by making the said arch to remove the main into.” (3) “His Royal Highness the Duke having an elaboratory under the lodgings at St. James's, which he finds very inconvenient and we think very dangerous, he therefore desires one may be made in a more convenient place and fitter for his service.”
Prefixing:— Memorial to the Treasury from the Office of Works, Whitehall, promising conformity in future to the 26th article of their instructions, in accordance with J. Scrope's letter of the 3rd instant, and praying for repairs and works, as above.
[Lord Chamberlain's Warrant Book II. pp. 112–3.)
Oct. 17.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers.
140. Present: Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Winnington, Mr. Earle.
Orders for the following issues out of the Civil List Revenues:—
£ s. d.
To the Great Wardrobe, to complete 11,990l. 14s. 7d. for mourning on the funeral of the late Queen 5,990 14 7
To John Selwyn, senr., for the further discharge of her late Majesty's debts and accounts 5,404 18
To Francis Manning, by the hands of Mr. Steuart, half a year's pension to Michaelmas last 200 0 0
Mr. Selwyn's letter concerning the allowance for keeping Richmond Gardens read and agreed to.
Their Lordships approve of Robert Daniel to be Mr. Archer's deputy as Comptroller of Customs in the port of Sunderland, instead of Thomas Alcock, and at the same allowances. Ralph Stephens, at the recommendation of Sir William Middleton, to be a tidesman at Newcastle, loco James Wallis, deceased.
The memorial of the Paymaster of the Forces, enclosing Sir Joseph Eyles's proposal for remitting the subsistence money to Gibraltar and Minorca read and agreed to as follows, the rates of exchange being certified to be as usual, viz.:—19,600 dollars for Minorca, payable in gold at sight, at 55d. per dollar; 18,700 dollars for Gibraltar, payable in gold at sight, at 54½d. per dollar.
[Treasury Minute Book XXVIII. p. 99.]
Oct. 17. 141. The Commissioners of Excise, London, to John Scrope, transmitting (a.) infra for the Treasury's consideration, as of great consequence to the Excise revenue.
Appending:—(a.) G. Blenkinsop, supervisor of Excise at Bath, to the said Commissioners, dated Bath, 1738. October 14. Several prosecutions have been had against the unruly colliers in Kingswood Forest for illicit selling of ale and cider. On an attempt to levy the fines by distress the savage crew resisted by firearms and other instruments of defence. “And they swear they'l neither pay fines nor duty, which gives occasion to the persons now under survey to say they will pay no duty if the others are not taken a course with…. There are now in the Forrest not less than 1,000 men, women and boys in armes, destroying all before them; that the officers and myself have been hindered for three or four days from executing our offices. These savage people are so vile as to stop every person they meet in the roads thro' the Forrest and other adjacent places, and either take their money, beat the persons or strip off their cloaths, so in my humble opinion nothing will reduce such vile wretches to a subjection to the laws but a military force.” 1 page.
[Treasury Board Papers CCXCIX. No. 9.]
Oct. 18. 142. Treasury endorsement of a Lord Chamberlain's warrant to the Duke of Montagu for the delivery to Gray Maynard. Yeoman of the Removing Wardrobe, of furniture, detailed, for His Majesty's service at Kensington and St. James's, including inter al. items for Lady Anne Hamilton, Lady Bell Finch, Mr. Schutz, and for Baron Steinberg's apartment, “two footstools covered with black cloth for the Duke and Princess Mary to kneel upon to receive the Sacrament,” and napkins for the French chapel: all at an estimate of 1,157l. [Lord Chamberlain's Warrant Book II. pp. 114–5.]
Oct. 24. 143. Treasury warrant to the Auditor of the Receipt, &c., to take in at the Receipt 200,000l. in three per cent. annuities, in part of 500,000l., as by the Act of last Session to be raised by annuities or Exchequer bills as the Lords of the Treasury should judge advisable, and to be charged on the Sinking Fund.
[Money Book XXXIX. p. 304.]
144. Same to same to draw orders for paying to the South Sea Company or their chief Cashier 1,092,088l. 2s. 7d. for the annuity or yearly fund, payable to said Company after the rate of four per cent. per an. for the year 1738, Michaelmas, to 1739, Michaelmas, on the capital sum of 27,302,203l. 5s. 6d., being the present total of their original and increased capital after abating 4,000,000l. part thereof sold to the Bank of England and 6,500,000l. other part thereof paid off and redeemed by Parliament; and the further sum of 15,858l. 9s.d. for their proportional charges of management on the capital sum as above.
Appending:—A computation and adjustment of the whole principal money and of the annuities thereupon, and also of the allowances for management, which from Michaelmas, 1738, are to be paid respectively to the South Sea Company and to the Bank of England claiming under them. [Ibid. pp. 320–3.]
Oct. 24.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers.
145. Present: Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Winnington, Mr. Earle.
Order for the issue, out of public supplies anno 1738, of 30,000l. for land services.
Same for the following issues out of the Civil List Funds:—
£ s. d.
To the Master of the Horse 4,000 0 0
To the Earl Waldegrave 1,300 0 0
To the Earl of Cholmondeley 300 0 0
To Mr. Lowther 2,600 0 0
To Nicholas Paxton 2,000 0 0
To the Clerks of the Council 350 0 0
To Mr. Walker 233 3 3
To the Skyrin 80 0 0
Same for the issue to the Paymaster of the Works of 600l., whereof 400l. to be imprested to Mr. Milward, Gardener at Kensington, and 200l. to Mr. Lowe, Gardener at Hampton Court, upon their allowances for keeping the said respective gardens.
Mr. Blenkinsop's letter, dated Bath 14th instant, read concerning the unruliness of the colliers in Kingswood Forest, Gloucestershire. Their Lordships take the matter contained therein to be of great consequence to the revenue, and direct the Excise Commissioners to consider what soldiers may be necessary to assist the civil officers, where to be quartered and under what instructions.
Mrs. Bridgman's memorial read, to be satisfied various accounts for works, &c., in which her late husband, Charles Bridgman, was concerned. As the said works and accounts fall under different examinations she is to exhibit them severally, so as each may be referred to the proper office to consider and report.
Order for Mr. Lowther to pay, out of the King's money in his hands, 1,600l. to Mr. Walthoe upon account of printing and other disbursements for His Majesty's service.
[Treasury Minute Book XXVIII. p. 100; Letter Book XIX. p. 484.]
Oct. 25. 146. Charles Carkesse to John Scrope from the Custom House, London. Enclosing (a.) infra and desiring Treasury directions in accordance with the report of the Customs Commissioners of March 30 on the memorial of the Duke of Dorset, Constable of Dover Castle, concerning the state of the prison there. 1 page.
Appending:
—(a.) Philemon Phillips, Commander of the Customs sloop at Deal, to the Customs Commissioners, London, dated from Sandwich. Has taken steps to engage help for the apprehending of the smugglers who fled out of Kent last year, but are since returned. On applying at Dover for writs was told that there was then neither gaol nor gaolkeeper there, and therefore to no purpose to grant warrants. Encloses (b.), and prays that something may be done upon it to put the gaol in repair, otherwise the smugglers will go on with impunity, for as things stand at present there is no gaol in the county nor in the Cinque Ports. 1½ pages.
(b.) Robert Wellard, Register of Dover Castle, to Captain Philemon Phillips, dated Dover, October 21, 1738, concerning the writs of Capias from the Exchequer against David Puttee, junior, and John Pattison, directed to the Constable of Dover Castle for writs to be made out thereon. “Having lately heard great complaints made by the Marshal of Dover Castle that all the prison rooms in the said Castle do now lay open, there having very lately several of the walls of the said rooms fallen in, to such a degree that the said officer hath refused to serve any warrants issued by the Constable of the said Castle or to attend at the said prison to receive any prisoners…” has made enquiry and finds things even worse than as represented. There is no officer attending at the said prison to receive prisoners, nor any one close room to put a man in sufficient to detain him for half an hour. 2 pages.
[Treasury Board Papers CCXCIX. No. 11.]