Minute book: July 1695, 16-31 | British History Online

Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 10, 1693-1696. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1935.

'Minute book: July 1695, 16-31', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 10, 1693-1696, (London, 1935) pp. 1393-1397. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol10/pp1393-1397 [accessed 23 April 2024]

July 1695, 16–31



July 16. Afternoon.	Present: All my Lords.
	[Mr. Lowndes is ordered] to see what account Mr. Harbord gave of the money he received from Col. Tippin et al. in the West.
	Aaron Smith [is] to be here to-morrow morning.
	The tenants of [the Powys estates in] Hendon are to be heard this day fortnight.
	[Write] to the tenants of the Lord Preston in Cumberland to send hither a state of their case as soon as possibly they can; and a copy of it is to be transmitted to my Lord Carlisle and Sir Geo. Fletcher; and let them know that an answer to it will be expected, so as the matter may be heard in 14 days after.
	The Excise Commissioners and the Victuallers are to be here on Friday afternoon.
	[My Lords order] a sign manual to be sent [to the King for his signature] for Hen. Baber to have 200l. of his Majesty's bounty, with a letter to Mr. Blathwaite that my Lord Portland wrote for it to the Duke of Shrewsbury, but that not being taken to be a proper [or becoming] signification the Lords Justices have desired it may be done this way.
	[My Lords order the] Queen Dowager's quarter to be paid.
	Mr. Smith to be remembered to-morrow.
	Mr. Deneu and Mr. Firmyn [are called in] about importing silks from Piedmont to be converted into Alamodes per the Lustring Company.
	[Write] to Mr. Scroop How to be here on Friday afternoon next.
	Sir John Houblon and others of the Bank come in. They move about the guineas, complaining of the mischief of the present high rate, that they cannot get any bills to furnish the excha[nges]. A letter is to be sent to the Commissioners of Customs to certify how much bullion hath been entered at the Custom House for exportation since the late Act. They [Houblon et al.] are desired to attend at the Council on Thursday afternoon.
	[Send to] the Commissioners of Hackney Coaches to be here on Friday afternoon.
	[Send to] the Agents [for Taxes] to be here to-morrow morning.
	[Treasury Minute Book VIII. p. 60.]
July 17. Afternoon.	Present: Sir Stephen Fox, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Smith.
	[My Lords sign a letter of direction for] 8,000l. to the Victuallers for bills and [out of same they are] to pay 2,000l. to the Excise Commissioners: [the issue to be] out of Contributions for Reversionary Annuities.
	[My Lords sign a letter of direction for] 2,306l. 18s. 5d. to the Commissioners of Transports.
	Upon reading a petition of John Westcomb, praying a landwaiter's place in London port and a certificate under the hands of several officers of the Customs as to his qualifications, my Lords resolve that he shall have the first vacancy of a landwaiter in London port or be otherwise provided for.
	[Ibid. p. 61.]
July 18. Afternoon.	Present: Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Smith.
	Aaron Smith to have 300l.
	[Ibid. p. 62.]
July 19. Forenoon.	Present: Lord Godolphin, Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Smith. [Write] to the Customs Commissioners to direct their officers to be very watchful in searching for guineas or coined pieces of gold resembling guineas which shall be imported from any foreign parts, and to bring them to the King's warehouse; and that some of the officers of the Mint be sent for immediately from time to time to see whether they be such as were originally coined in the Mint by the authority of his Majesty or his predecessors; and if they find them or any of them to be such as were not coined in the Mint that the said Commissioners take all the care possible to have the importers thereof prosecuted as bringers in of counterfeit moneys and [? to seize] the coin [struck through] certify my Lords thereof.
	[My Lords order] Mr. Granville's payments of his rent for Mote Park to go on as formerly.
	[Ordered] that Mr. Duncomb as much as he can [must] discountenance taking guineas, but if there be a necessity he must not refuse them, as [this might cause the King's subjects] not to bring in the tax; and he must make the collectors think (whatsoever they do this quarter) that guineas will not be taken for the next [instalment] of the tax.
	Dr. Brevall and another prebend of Westminster came about the forfeited estate of Moor, the tripeman, executed for treason. They are told that my Lords did not expect any pretention of this kind, but they must have it decided at law. They desire a respite for 10 days, which is granted if they deliver to Mr. Smith an exact inventory of his goods and of everything now in possession of the bailiff of Westminster: which they promise shall be done by the deputy bailiff.
	[Send] to the Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint them my Lords cannot attend the Com[mission] of Greenwich Hospital this afternoon.
	[Treasury Minute Book VIII. p. 63.]
eodem die Afternoon.	Present: ut supra.
	My Lords say the same in effect to Mr. Knight as to [taking guineas for] the Customs as they did this morning to Mr. Duncomb as to the taxes.
	Lady Pool and Mr. Wilkins [appear] per their counsels. Her petition is read and Sir Thomas Powys, her counsel, says that Sir William Pool gave Arnold Brown 1,200l. for the office of collector of Bristol port; he returned his money per Arnold Browne to pay to the Receiver General [of Customs], who [the said Brown] failed, and 1,100l. is due to the Crown. The motives for the petition are loss of his place; and he lost 1,500l. per a servant that robbed him. Mr. Wilkins has obtained a grant and the question now is whether you will give the aid of the Exchequer to a person that sues not for the Crown, but for his own benefit; and there being process against Price and Browne in aid of her she hopes she shall not be prosecuted till the effect of that process can be seen. From the charge of getting the office there has been little profit in it [but rather] loss by means of it; and there being no fraud but the [King's] money actually returned [to the Customs Office], though [it] miscarried, she desires to have this debt discharged, which my Lords have power of, notwithstanding the grant [to Wilkins], there being an instrument signed for that purpose.
	The Attorney and Solicitor General, for Mr. Wilkins, insist that there is no law or equity by which she can demand a discharge of this debt, but they desire it as a favour. Let her pay the debt and she may have what[soever Exchequer] aid my Lords think fit against Brown or Price.
	My Lords [decide that they] will sign an order that there shall be no prosecution against Lady Pool or Mr. Benj. Pool till my Lords give further order upon their seeing what effect the process against Browne or Price will have towards satisfying this debt.
	[A letter of direction is ordered for the issue to the Navy Commissioners of] 74,168l. 18s. 0d. for the course of the Navy; to be advanced to Mr. Doddington out of loans on the Burial Act.
	And for 22,490l. 2s. 6d. for the ordinary [of the Navy] out of loans on the Customs.
	And for 25,000l. for 1694, Christmas quarter, to the Yards; to be by tally on the Coal Act, but they [the Navy Commissioners] are to take care that the Yards be paid with ready money.
	And for 24,146l. 18s. 1d. for the four new ships, to be issued out of loans on the third 4s. Aid.
	And for 5,000l. for the 27 ships, to be issued out of the one third Additional Excise.
	And three fifths of 13,000l. for Sick and Wounded, to be paid out of money now in the [Navy] Treasurer's hands for wages.
	Mr. Fanshaw [attends] with Sir Thomas Powys, his counsel. They desire that M. Sarsfield, daughter and heir of William, be put into possession of the estate of her father, which was seized on the attainder of Patrick, who got into possession in the late times, but had no right.
	My Lords will report this to the King when he comes.
	[Treasury Minute Book VIII. pp. 64–5.]
July 24.	Present: Lord Godolphin, Sir Stephen Fox, Sir William Trumbull.
	The Vice Chamberlain of the Household [is] to have 300l. on his allowance: to be issued out of the Excise.
	[Order for] 900l. to Mr. Lowndes for secret service: to be issued out of the Excise.
	Mr. Charles May [is] to have 50l. for a quarter: out of the Excise. Likewise the Duke and Duchess of Grafton 750l. for a quarter and the Duke of Southampton 375l.
	[Ibid. p. 66.]
July 26.	Present: Lord Godolphin, Sir Stephen Fox, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir William Trumbull.
	My Lords advise the Agents for Taxes to discourage as much as may be the taking of guineas per the Receivers; but if it be not possible to get in the taxes without taking them they must be received as sparingly as may be.
	The same in substance is said to Sir Leonard Robinson.
	When the Earl of Ranelagh is here remember [my Lords of] the 28,000l. owing for victualling soldiers.
	Mr. Twitty and Mr. Burton are told they must forbear as long as possible the taking of guineas.
	[Treasury Minute Book VIII. p. 67.]
July 31.	Present: Sir Stephen Fox, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir William Trumbull.
	[A letter of direction is ordered for the issue of] 1,100l. for secret service [for William Lowndes] and 875l. for the Commissioners of Accounts: to be issued out of the Excise.
	A same for the issue to the Navy Treasurer of 20,000l. for wages to seamen; out of loans on the third 4s. Aid.
	[Send] to Sir S. Evance to know if he has any names to be inserted in the Commission of the [Greenwich] Hospital.
	[Ibid. p. 68.]