Minute Book: February 1708

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

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'Minute Book: February 1708', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 22, 1708, (London, 1952) pp. 4-7. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol22/pp4-7 [accessed 24 April 2024]

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February 1708

Feb. 2, forenoon. Present: ut supra.
Mr. Brydges & Sir Henry Furnese are called in. [After discoursing them my Lord] ordered that Mr. Brydges do accept the bills which he acquaints my Lord are drawn by the Marquis das Minas for 16621l. sterling [for value] furnished to him by Mr. Mead for the use of the Portuguese Troops in Spain [and the said Marquis is to hand the accepted bills to the said Mead as vouchers]: and [Brydges] is to write to Mr. Morrice that the said 16621l. is to be reckoned in discharge of so much of the King of Portugal's subsidy as it will extend to, at the rate of 5s. & 6d. per milrei [being the same rate of exchange] as money is now remitted to Portugal; & to take the acquittances accordingly [in that form from Das Minas].
Mr. Brydges presents the draft of a warrant for appointing a Commissary of Stores for Spain & Portugal; with a paper of instructions to be annexed thereto; which being read my Lord says he has no objection. Ibid., p. 158.
Feb. 9, forenoon. Present: ut supra.
Lord Carmarthen & Sir Thomas Littleton are called in. A memorial of Sir Thomas Littleton of this day's date is read with a letter from Mr. Foxal, Secondary of the Counter, relating to the half year's pay due to the Marquess of Carmarthen as a Flag Officer, at Xmas last amounting to 475l.: and Sir Thomas desiring the Lord Treasurer's direction in this matter his Lordship is pleased to consent that Sir Thomas shall pay this bill of 475l., the Marquess consenting that his next pay shall be stopped to make good the money he owes to the Newels.
[Write] to the Directors of the Bank to be here tomorrow morning. Send to Mr. Wilcox to be here tomorrow morning. Ibid., p. 159.
Feb. 10, forenoon. Present: ut supra.
Mr. Brydges is called in & his memorial [of demand of money for the Forces abroad] is read; and thereupon my Lord is pleased to direct that out of the money of the funds of the year 1708 the sum of 25124l. 15. 1¾ be issued to him to answer bills of exchange drawn on him by Mr. Mead in Spain for money expended in fortifications, buying up of horses & other extraordinary charges of the war in Spain: to be as in part of 500000l. for the effectual carrying on the war for recovery of the Spanish monarchy to the House of Austria. [The letter of direction hereon see infra, p. 135 varies from the terms of this minute in both the charge & the appropriation.] Ibid., p. 160.
Feb. 11, forenoon. Present: ut supra.
Mr. Medina is called in, and his contracts for bread & bread waggons for the year 1708 are examined & executed. A letter [of direction for payment] for the advance money thereon is signed. Ibid., p. 161.
Eodem die, afternoon. Present: Lord Treasurer.
John Wilkins [is called in].
The Customs Commissioners are called in, also the merchants who petitioned concerning late orders against [their] employing clerks of the Customs House to pass [their, the petitioners' export] debentures &c and concerning goods carried on board ships after they are cleared.
My Lord will consider the matter as to employing clerks and recommends it to the Commissioners and the merchants to meet & agree upon some expedients for the ease of the merchants. Ibid.
Feb. 13, forenoon. Present: Lord Treasurer, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
[My Lord orders a letter of direction for] 5000l. to the Navy [Treasurer] for bills of exchange.
[Likewise] 20000l. [to same] for wages [of seamen] whereof 10000l. is to be applied to pay what is due to the men cast away with Sir Cloudesly Shovell. Treasury Minute Book XVI, p. 162.
Feb. 16, forenoon. Present: Lord Treasurer.
[Send to] Mr. Brydges to be here tomorrow morning & my Lord will then consider Mr. Moor's memorial.
[My Lord directs] 5604l. 12. 3½ to be issued to Mr. Compton for last Xmas quarter's pensions & bounties payable by him. Ibid., p. 163.
Feb. 17, forenoon. Present: Lord Treasurer.
[My Lord orders a] letter [of direction] for 12214l. 19. 8½ to Mr. Brydges out of Contribution money [for the purchase of annuities] on an order for that sum for defraying the charge of the fortifications and other services of the Garrison of Gibraltar for the year ended 1706 Dec. 23: in accordance with my Lord's directions on Mr. Bridges' memorial of the 21st ult. Ibid., p. 164.
Eodem die, afternoon. Present: Lord Treasurer.
The Customs Commissioners & the tobacco merchants are called in. The Commissioners agree that tobacco may lawfully be sent by neutral ships into France. My Lord is of opinion all proper encouragement be given to trade; and what is desired being not against any law his Lordship will propose it at the Privy Council.
[Write the] Agents for Taxes to attend next Friday morning with a list of the Receivers [General of Taxes for the respective Counties & places] and an account of [their balances & of the promptness or otherwise of] their payments of their proceeds into the Exchequer.
Sir David Nairn is to be spoken to about sending the Acts for this year's Land Tax into Scotland, and as concerning the persons to whom they must be delivered. Ibid.
Feb. 20, forenoon. Present: Lord Treasurer.
[My Lord orders a letter of direction for] 10000l. to Mr. Brydges on the order in his name for additional levy money: to be issued out of money in the Exchequer for the service of the year 1708: and my Lord directs Mr. Brydges to advance to the Officers half of what they shall want for the said levies upon account till they have completed the same & then [to pay] the remainder.
Upon reading a memorial of Mr. Howe for [money for] several sums which Mr. Brydges demands of him for the subsistence of the Battalion of Guards &c in Spain anno 1707 my Lord orders Mr. Howe to satisfy the same (amounting to 11596l. 1. 4) out of the money in his hands for the service of that year. Ibid., p. 165.
Eodem die, afternoon. Present: Lord Treasurer.
The Customs Commissioners are called in about the letter concerning the receiving & subsisting of pressed men [for the Navy].
Write to Mr. Burchet desiring him to be here on Monday morning [for the Admiralty's views hereon]. Ibid., p. 165.
Feb. 23, forenoon. Present: Lord Treasurer.
[Write] Sir Henry Furnese to attend next Friday morning about remitting money to Lisbon or Genoa (crossed through) for the service of the Forces in Spain. Ibid., p. 166.
Feb. 25, forenoon. Present: Lord Treasurer.
Sir John Crew & Mr. Egerton are to be heard next Monday afternoon. Ibid., p. 167.
Feb. 26, forenoon. Present: Lord Treasurer.
Whereas Sir Henry Furnese doth promise to give his bills this day for 50000l. for Barcelona for the service of the Troops in Spain at the rate of 5s. 6d. per milrei my Lord agrees that he shall be paid for the same out of the first money that shall come in on the next funds that shall be granted in Parliament.
The Navy Commissioners are put off till next Monday afternoon.
[My Lord directs that] Sir Thomas Littleton do take up 20000l. on [or by discounting or disposing of] the Land Tax tallies in his hands: whereof [he is to apply] 15000l. for Wages & 5000l. for Wear & Tear which [latter item] is to pay bills of exchange: and upon Sir Thomas his assigning the orders to the persons who advance the money thereupon my Lord will allow 5 per cent interest [or discount] thereon. Ibid., p. 168.