Minute Book: January 1708

Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 22, 1708. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1952.

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'Minute Book: January 1708', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 22, 1708, (London, 1952) pp. 1-4. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol22/pp1-4 [accessed 15 April 2024]

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January 1708

1707–8. Jan. 2, forenoon. Whitehall, Treasury Chambers. Present: Lord Treasurer [Godolphin], Chancellor of the Exchequer [Henry Boyle].
[My Lord directs] 4000l. to Sir David Nairn: out of Civil List money: upon his order for 10800l. for the Troops in Scotland to Dec 25 last.
Mr. Brydges is called in and his [usual weekly] memorial [for money for the Forces abroad] is read. My Lord says he will consider of it on Monday next and directs him to attend then.
On a memorial from the Transports Commissioners my Lord ordered 5000l. on account for 4000 quarters of wheat to be shipped at Portsmouth to be carried to Spain. This sum is to be issued to Mr. Bridges as part of the 150000l. for the King of Spain.
My Lord directs 1500l. more for the Transports Commissioners for bills of exchange from Lisbon. The Commissioners are to take these sums and see them lodged in the Chest, Mr. Mason attending to give acquittances.
Mr. Reus, the Prince of Hesse's secretary, is to be here [at the Treasury Chambers] next Monday morning.
The Queen Dowager's executors desiring to speak with my Lord Treasurer, his Lordship will be ready to receive them here next Monday week at 11 o'clock in the forenoon. Treasury Minute Book XVI, p. 144.
Jan. 5, forenoon. Present: ut supra.
The Duke of Marlborough comes in. Mr. St. John [Secretary at War] & Mr. Bridges [Paymaster of the Forces Abroad] are called in. Mr. St. John reads a paper for filling up some Regiments in Spain; upon which he receives the Duke's verbal directions. The Duke thinks permission should be obtained for a fit person to go & muster the [British] prisoners that were taken prisoner in Spain and that they will not amount to above 1800 men (besides those dead or deserted), and that 45000l. saved by the pay of two of the youngest Regiments or 2 Regiments that have fewest Officers will suffice for the subsistence of those prisoners.
Mr. St. John will prepare an Establishment [for said prisoners] to be signed by the Queen & countersigned by my Lord Treasurer according to the directions he now receives from the Duke. Ibid., p. 145.
Jan. 6, forenoon. Present: ut supra.
[Send word] to the Navy Commissioners to be here tomorrow at 7 in the afternoon about the business of the hemp merchants.
On Mr. Howe's memorial [for money for the Guards & Garrisons my Lord Treasurer] ordered 18170l. 0. 6.
Mr. Bridges' memorial ut supra is read & in part [is] ordered as in the margins of the memorial. Ibid., p. 146.
Jan. 8. Present: Lord Treasurer.
[My Lord Treasurer directed] 6000l. to Sir Thomas Littleton, [Treasurer of the Navy]: out of loans on Land Tax [anno 1708]: to be applied to the head of Wages and to be paid over to Walter Whitfeild upon account of subsistence to the Marine Regiments under his pay. Treasury Minute Book XVI, p. 147. Disposition Book XIX, p. 90.
Jan. 9, forenoon. Present: Lord Treasurer, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
[My Lord Treasurer directs the issue to the Treasurer of the Navy of] 20000l. for Wages. Vide infra.
The Navy Commissioners are called in. My Lord [Treasurer] will make a report [to the Queen in Council] concerning Mr. Cole [infra, p. 159].
The Commissioners of the Equivalent present an account of their proceedings.
The Duke of Marlborough comes in. Mr. St. John & Mr. Bridges are called in. Mr. Bridges presents several memorials for money for the Forces [abroad], upon which several sums are directed by my Lord Treasurer as per the [marginal notes on the] memorials.
[My Lord directs] 20000l. to Sir Thomas Littleton: out of loans on the Land Tax anno 1708: to be applied to Wages of seamen; [& likewise] 2000l. more to same out of the said loans: [this latter sum] to be paid over by way of interest to Mr. George Archdale, Secretary to Sir John Leake, for defraying the contingencies of the Squadron of her Majesty's ships going to the Mediterranean.
[My Lord directs] one year to be paid for the boys of the Royal Foundation in Christ's Hospital. Treasury Minute Book XVI, p. 148. Disposition Book XIX, p. 91.
Jan. 15. Present: ut supra.
My Lord directs 22916l. 13. 4 on Mr. Bridges' memorial for 2 months' subsidy to Portugal.
[Write] to the Jewel Office to know what letters they have sent of late for [the return of Ambassadorial or other] plate standing out [or not returned into the said Office].
[My Lord directs] 23328l. 2. 3 to Mr. How on his memorial of this day's date [for money for the Guards & Garrisons: to be issued] out of the funds for the year 1708.
[My Lord directs] 50l. to Mrs. Colledge: out of secret service [money].
[My Lord] ordered 313. 5. 9 for the out pensioners of Chelsea Hospital: upon Mr. How's memorial [of this day]. Treasury Minute Book XVI, p. 149.
Jan. 16, forenoon. Present: Lord Treasurer.
[My Lord directs 40000l. for the Office of Ordnance: to wit] 20000l. for land service & 20000l. for sea service of the Ordnance: out of loans on Land Tax or Malt anno 1708. Ibid., p. 150. Disposition Book XIX, p. 95.
Jan. 19, forenoon. Present: Lord Treasurer, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
[My Lord orders a] letter [of direction for] 2800l. for Sir David Nairn: out of Civil List money: to complete the order in his name for 10800l. for the subsistence of the Troops in Scotland to Xmas last.
[My Lord approves a] letter to Mr. Morrice about several matters.
[My Lord approves a] letter to the Earl of Sunderland with an account of the Four & a Half per cent [Duty in Barbados].
[Send word to the] Excise Commissioners in North Britain to exchange, for the Commissioners of the Equivalent, such Exchequer Bills as they [the Equivalent Commissioners] shall send [thither] from time to time when any of the public money is in the hands of them or their Cashier.
[Send a] letter to the Customs Commissioners for a state of the revenue in the Plantations under their management.
My Lord directs 20000l. to Sir Thomas Littleton, Treasurer of the Navy: for the head of Wages: out of loans on Land Tax or Malt anno 1708. Treasury Minute Book XVI, p. 151.
Jan. 21, forenoon. Present: ut supra.
[Send word to] Lord Bulkeley to attend this day week in the morning [and to] the Surveyor [General of Crown Lands] to be here then.
[Send] to Mr. Baker to be here on Friday morning about his report concerning the Dragoons for guarding the coast.
My Lord will consider the Attorney General's report about the East India Company's demand relating to the allowance of 4½ per cent which the Customs Commissioners [will not allow but insist to] deduct out of their [the said Company's] debentures. Ibid., p. 152.
Jan. 23, forenoon. Present: ut supra.
[Send a] letter to Mr. Brydges & Mr. St. John referring to their consideration a memorial of Dr. Lecaan transmitted to my Lord Treasurer by the Earl of Sunderland.
[Send a] letter to the Victualling Commissioners re-referring [to them] the matter concerning the dispute between the owners of ships hired for Jamaica & Lisbon & the said Commissioners for an allowance for demurrage &c.
On Tuesday afternoon next my Lord Treasurer will hear the East India Company with the Customs Commissioners & the Attorney General concerning the discount of 4½ per cent. [Send word] to the Customs Commissioners to attend accordingly.
[Send to the Principal] Officers of the Ordnance to attend next Tuesday morning about a train [of artillery] and Officers to attend it in Spain: and they are to bring with them the estimate upon which the sums for their Office in this present year have been voted. Ibid., p. 153.
Jan. 26, forenoon. Present: ut supra.
[My Lord orders] warrants to be prepared for what is due to Mr. Portman for Hyde Park. Ibid., p. 154.
Jan. 27, forenoon. Present: Lord Treasurer.
[My Lord directs] 150,000l. to be issued to Mr. John Howe on his order for 511734l. 8. 6 for Guards, Garrisons & Land Forces anno 1708 under his pay: out of loans to be made by said Howe, half on credit of the Land Tax anno 1708 & half on the credit of Duties on malt, mum &c anno 1708: the orders for the said loans to be drawn without interest & to be reserved in said Howe's hands for such particular services of the said Forces as my Lord Treasurer shall appoint from time to time.
The hearing of Lord Bulkley & the Surveyor [General of Crown Lands] is put off: and when the Surveyor General has considered what persons are proper to attend, my Lord Treasurer will appoint another day & cause due notice to be given accordingly.
[Send] to the Commissioners of Transports to attend tomorrow morning.
Mr. Brydges is called in & his [usual weekly money demand] memorial is read. [And my Lord] ordered 13500l. to him out of any money in the Exchequer of the funds anno 1708: of this said sum 6000l. is in part of the order for 500,000l. for the service of Spain, Portugal & other uses; & 7500l. is to be paid over to Sir Theodore Janssen for the value of 103579 livres of Piedmont at the rate of 57 pence per Crown of 82 sols, advanced on his letters of credit to Mr. Chetwind, Envoy in Savoy, for service relating to the transportation of Troops from Italy to Barcelona: to be as in part of the order for 586671l. 12. 6 for maintaining her Majesty's established Forces in Spain & Portugal anno 1708: and is to be applied for levy money upon account for the Regiments broke at Almanza to enable 'em to proceed to the raising of their recruits & upon account of subsistence for the recruits so raised: at 500l. each Regiment. Treasury Minute Book XVI, p. 155. Disposition Book XIX, p. 99.
Jan. 27, afternoon. Present: Lord Treasurer.
The Customs Commissioners are called in: their papers are read and [my Lord's directions &] answers [are margined or endorsed] upon them. [Some short hand notes in the margin]. Treasury Minute Book XVI, p. 156.
Jan. 28, forenoon. Present: Lord Treasurer, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Sir Theodore Janssen is called in and presents to my Lord a proposal for remitting 1066662/3 Crowns to Turin, which is considered & agreed to by my Lord as follows viz: to give bills for Turin dated the 23rd inst. at 60 days for 1066662/3 Crowns at 58 pence per Crown of 82 sols each, money of Piedmont. “This proposal is one penny per Crown higher than the last bargain, the exchanges for Italy being of late risen above 2 per cent by reason of the remises made from hence & from Holland for Barcelona by way of Genoa which hath rendered bills for that place [Italy] very scarce.”
The Lord Treasurer orders payment for the said bills to be made out of loans to be made by Sir Theodore himself on credit of the Land Tax anno 1708.
[Send a] letter to the Transports Commissioners to consign the corn they are sending to Spain, to Mr. Mead, Deputy Paymaster & Mr. Vincent, Commissary of Stores or to the Deputy Paymaster & the Commissary there for the time being & to send the invoice of the corn & of the prime cost & other charges thereof to James Brydges, Paymaster of the Forces Abroad; & the like to the Deputy Paymaster & Commissary in Spain, to the end due care may be taken of the disposal of the said Court [sic for corn] and of her Majesty's reimbursement by the Troops who receive the same.
[Write the] Treasurer of the Navy to dispose of [or raise money on] 30000l. of the tallies in his hands on the Land Tax [anno 1708] & to apply 20000l. thereof for wages of seamen & 10000l. for Flag Officers. Ibid., p. 157.