Minute Book: October 1712 | British History Online

Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 26, 1712. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1954.

Citation:

'Minute Book: October 1712', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 26, 1712, (London, 1954) pp. 75-83. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol26/pp75-83 [accessed 12 May 2024].

October 1712



Oct. 1.	Present. ut supra.
	The Attorney General and Solicitor General come in.
	Lord Chief Baron Smith and Baron Scroop come in. They will meet at the Lord Chief Baron's lodgings this afternoon to settle the draft of the privy seal concerning allowances in Scotland.
	The Customs Commissioners are called in. Mr. Downing [is] called in. He desires to be excused from the approving or keeping the securities at the Custom House, but at length submitted to have such order as my Lord shall please to make in that behalf [on condition of] having a suitable allowance for the same.
	The Commissioners for the Salt Duties are called in. Treasury Minute Book XIX, p. 284.
Oct. 2.	Present Lord Treasurer.
	Mr. Daniel Arthur having this day given his letter of credit on Sir Francis Arthur of Madrid for any sum not exceeding 2,000l. sterling payable to Mr. Manuel Manasses Gilligan, whom her Majesty is sending to Spain about some particular affairs, my Lord Treasurer agrees on her Majesty's behalf that the said Mr. Arthur shall be paid for what shall be supplied to the said Mr. Gilligan on the said letter of credit not exceeding the said 2,000l. upon the said Gilligan's drawing bills at the current rate of exchange on my Lord payable at three days' sight to the said Mr. Daniel Arthur or order according to the tenor of the said bills.
	Copy of the said Mr. Daniel Arthur's letter of credit abovementioned.
	Sir Francis Arthur:
	Sir. This is to desire you to pay to Mr. Manuel Manasses Gilligan what he will desire from time to time as far as the value of 2,000l. sterling in all, according to the current course of exchange with you; and take his first, second and third bills of exchange for the value of what you'll pay him [he drawing same] on the Most Honourable the Earl of Oxford and Mortimer, Lord High Treasurer of Great Britain, at three days' sight in my favour: and you'll oblige, Sir, your most humble Servant,
	(Signed) DANIEL ARTHUR.
	London 2 October 1712.
	Ibid., p. 285.
Oct. 6.	Present: [attendance not stated].
	By my Lord Treasurer's order signified from his Lordship's house.
	[Send to the Exchequer a direction] letter for issuing to Mr. Howe, Paymaster of Guards and Garrisons, as follows out of the Lottery money in the Exchequer:
		£	s.	d.
	in part of 468,830l. 15s. 10d. for Guards and Garrisons anno 1712.
	for 33 days' subsistence from Sept. 22 last to Oct. 24 inst. for the Troops and Regiments in Great Britain	28,857	16	8
	for six months' subsistence from June 25 last to Dec. 21 next for the Company at Bermudas	330	14	2
	in part of 23,400l. for Garrisons anno 1712.
	for the same 33 days' subsistence for the Garrisons in North Britain	419	0	1
	in part of 7,500l. for Contingencies anno 1712.
	to satisfy her Majesty's warrant to Major General Braddock for his services and extraordinary charges in going to Portsmouth and Plymouth to disband the Regiments of the Marquis de Montandre and Brigadier Windsor	174	0	0
	to satisfy her Majesty's warrant for the Contingent disbursements of the Secretary at War's Office for the half year to June 24 last	415	45	6
		£30,197	6	5
	Ibid., p. 286.
Oct. 14.	Present: Chancellor of the Exchequer.
	Mr. Brydges and Sir John Lambert [are] called in.
	Sir John's proposal is read for remittances for the Forces in Flanders, as also one from Mr. James Milner: and Sir John Lambert's proposal dated Oct. 11 inst. appearing to be most for her Majesty's service is agreed to as follows, viz. to give his bills for Holland or Antwerp for 50,000l., half thereof at one month's date and half at two months' date, bills on Amsterdam, at 5 guilders 14 stuyvers current money per pound sterling: "your Lordship paying me for the same in [ready] money on the delivery of my bills."
	The Chancellor of the Exchequer orders that Mr. Brydges do send the bills for 25,000l. by this night's post and [those] for the other 25,000l. this day sevennight.
	And the letters [of direction to the Exchequer] for issuing the moneys to Mr. Brydges for Sir John Lambert's satisfaction [are ordered] to be written accordingly. Ibid., p. 287.
Oct. 17.	Present: Lord Treasurer, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
	The Agents for Taxes [are] called in. Their papers are considered and minutes [are] taken thereon [and are endorsed thereon].
	My Lord upon reading the Attorney General's report upon the affair between the African Company and Mr. Albert, does resolve to hear both sides on Tuesday: and the Attorney General and Solicitor General are to be here at that time.
	Mr. Hewit, Surveyor of Woods Trent North, is called in. My Lord acquaints him that he has received complaints of waste committed by the felling of great numbers of timber trees in Sherwood Forest. Mr. Hewit says he has felled none there but dead and decayed trees, which he has done by virtue of a warrant dated in Oct. last. My Lord directs him to give an account of the number of trees he has felled and whether there be any [Navy] timber trees amongst them; also an estimate as near as possible of the value of the whole, and to be as particular as he can in his return to my Lord on this subject.
	[My Lord directs the Exchequer to] issue to the Treasurer of the Navy as follows:
				£
	on the head of Wages.
	for paying the Portsmouth and Strombelo ships			18,000
	for paying the Companies of ships lost and taken			20,000
	on the head of Wear and Tear.
	for the new Course on this head			10,000
				£48,800
	Sir William Wyndham [the Secretary at War] being called in, his memorial for making a further reduction from the Troops in Great Britain, to take place from the 25th Oct. instant (the commencement of the next muster) is read. My Lord approves thereof and Sir William will obtain the necessary orders from her Majesty for making the said reducement accordingly.
	Sir William moves my Lord about making a new contract for foraging the Troops in North Britain. My Lord observes that when this charge was first brought on the public it was said it would continue but as for one year. Look out the report in the [Treasury] Office on Mr. Cochran's last proposals for supplying this forage and [thereupon] my Lord (when Sir William next attends) will consider the same.
	Mr. Brydges [is] called in and presents the following memorials:
	(1) a memorial dated the 17th inst. for 2,037l. 1s. 11d. for Lieut. Gen. Rosse's pay, forage money and other appointments to the 22nd Dec. next, which he [Rosse] desires to receive here.
	My Lord orders 1,460l. for his personal pay; but the same is to be issued on account of subsistence to the Regiment till the pay of all the General Officers in Flanders shall be stated according to the Establishment and equal provision be made for them.
	(2) a memorial dated the 30th September last on the petition of the Officers en second of Magney's [Col. Magny's] and Sarland's [Col. Sarlande's] Dragoons reduced in Portugal; to wit for their pay from 22 Nov. 1711: as also another memorial dated the 14th inst. for instructions as to subsisting the non-commissioned Officers and soldiers of [Nicholas] Sankey's and [James] Jones's Regiments lately disbanded in Portugal and now at Gibraltar; and the paying of the commissioned Officers belonging to the disbanded Regiments.
	My Lord orders these memorials to be sent to the Earl of Portmore to peruse and give my Lord his thoughts there upon when he comes to the Treasury.
	(3) a memorial dated the 24th September for 12,887l. 12s. 0d. to march the Portugal Troops in Catalonia through Spain to their own country; being one month's pay.
	[My Lord hereon orders that] Mr. Brydges is to make a demand for this on the head of Spain: and my Lord will consider on [of] remitting the same on Tuesday next; and thinks it should be paid to the hands of the Portuguese General in Catalonia: and thereupon the Queen, for those Troops, [is] to be at no further charge whatsoever.
	(4) a memorial dated 17th Oct. about subsisting disbanded Officers to the day of their being disbanded, or otherwise to know when their half pay is to commence.
	My Lord [hereon] says that as the Parliament provided full pay to the Regiments disbanded only to Lady day last it may be proper that a demand for pay from that time to the days of disbanding may be laid before the House at their next meeting.
	(5) a memorial dated Sept. 30 last for paying Mr. Chetwynd's bills of exchange from Genoa amounting to 61,717l. 4s. 1d. according to a list annexed [missing].
	My Lord says Mr. Chetwynd's negotiations are under the examination of the Inspectors [into the war in Spain] and till he [my Lord] sees their final report he cannot enter into a consideration of their [the two Chetwynds'] bills.
	(6) a memorial dated the 10th inst. wherein he [Brydges] represents that the sums which he receives from Ireland to repay moneys advanced to Regiments transferred thither will fall short of the sum intended, because the Treasurer there [in Ireland] intends to stop the poundage, Hospital [deduction] and Pells' fees; the warrant for making those remittances mentioning nothing to the contrary.
	My Lord orders a warrant to be prepared so as those remittances may come to the hands of Mr. Brydges clear of all charges [and deductions] whatsoever.
	The Chancellor of the Exchequer acquainting my Lord that the Comptrollers of Army Accounts have matters under their consideration about reducing the expense and regulating abuses as well of Chelsea College and outpensioners as of the Companies of Invalids, my Lord Treasurer orders that Mr. How's reports now before him relating to the said Hospital and outpensioners and the pay of the Officers doing duty with the Invalid Companies in the Tower be sent to the Comptrollers [of Army Accounts] for their perusal and consideration and also a petition of Cornelius Wheeler complaining of Capt. Hyde's illtreating of him, who commands one of the said Companies.
	The [Army Accounts'] Comptrollers' report about an arrear of subsistence to 1711 Dec. 23 due to Col. Dormer's Regiment on the Establishment of Spain and amounting to 1,730l. 15s. 1½d. was read.
	My Lord thinks that as this demand is not singular but that all the Regiments taken prisoners have like arrears, the accounts should be stated for the whole and laid before the House. Treasury Minute Book XIX, pp. 288–9.
Oct. 21.	Present: Lord Treasurer.
	Mr. Cæsar [Treasurer of the Navy is] called in.
	[On his memorials my Lord Treasurer directs issues to him as follows: viz.]
				£
	more for [wages to] pay off lost ships			10,000
	for the new Course of the Victualling for October			20,000
	for necessary money and short beer money			2,000
	[Write] to the Navy Board to cause 240l. 10s. 0d. for the Duke of Leeds' qrt. [quarter's salary as a Flag Officer] to be paid out of money in the [Navy] Treasurer's hands [under the head] of Wages.
	[My Lord] ordered that Mr. Cæsar receive from the South Sea Company the sum of 24,696l. 19s. 6d. for the dividend due at Mid-summer last [on the Navy part of the public stock subscribed into the said Company] "and pay the same back to the Company in part of the Quarter's fond due at Michaelmas 1712."
	And write to the Company to know what is due to the other [public] Offices [Army, Ordnance and Transport] for their shares of the dividends to M[idsummer last].
	The Gentlemen of the Africa Company, Mr. Albert and the Commissioners of Taxes are called in. The proposal of several Gentlemen to become bound for the Africa Company is read and the Attorney General's report of Oct. 1712.
	The Attorney General thinks the Company should make over their estate abroad to secure the Queen.
	Albert says he has discovered to the sheriff above 200 hogsheads of sugar belonging to the Company and he [the Sheriff] will not seize the same; and the like by several other effects of the Company.
	The Attorney General says he [Albert] can have no more than the principal and interest due on the extent. It is about 5,000l.
	Mr. Armiger says the same.
	Albert says he is advised that the Queen having another demand she shall have the full benefit of the penalties of the bond.
	The Solicitor General says the creditor in case of a mortgage might go to the penalty for a further debt but not in case of a bond.
	Albert says there is 2,000l. in money and goods seized at Bristol.
	The Company disclaims that.
	It is all for the 5,000l. odd hundred pounds.
	Albert says they have 205 hogsheads of sugar and 10 more discovered, but the Sheriff will not seize them.
	This is also for the pr[incipal] and interest due on the bonds for the 8,000l.
	He says they have seized the equity on some bonds pawned for money.
	The Attorney General says he [? Albert] cannot seize those bonds but redeem them.
	Mr. Albert gives in a list of all the bonds in his [Albert's] name, mortgaged or not mortgaged, amounting to 22,675l. 9s. 8d.
	[My Lord decides that] the parties or their attorneys are to meet together and to state all the facts in writing: and if either party has any new proposal to make it is to be put in writing and they to attend the Attorney General and Solicitor General therewith with all speed; who will report thereupon to my Lord.
	Mr. Brydges and Auditor Mainwaring are called in.
	The Auditor's report concerning Mr. Brydges' account [of money for the Forces Abroad anno] 1707 is read. Mr. Watkins's power to enquire into the extraordinaries of the Foreign Troops is [by my Lord ordered] to have retrospect as well to what was before the date of his commission as afterwards: and the draft of a privy seal is presented relating to that account.
	[My Lord directs the payment to Mr. Brydges of] 25,000l. to complete 50,000l. to Sir John Lambert for his bills to [drawn on] Holland.
	[Likewise] 3,000l. to Mr. Lowndes for her Majesty's secret service.
	[Likewise for the] issue [to Mr. Brydges of] 12,887l. 12s. 0d. as part of the sum [granted by Parliament] for Spain, [being] for a month's allowance to the Portuguese Troops serving in Catalonia [and is] to be paid to the Count d'Attalaia, their General, to defray the charge of their marching through Spain to their own country, being the whole expense her Majesty will be at for the said Troops upon any account whatsoever.
	Mr. Brydges' memorial dated the 22nd Oct. 1712 is read for 95l. 13s. 4d. to satisfy the pay of Lieut. Charge, a Second Officer in Stanwix's Regiment.
	My Lord [hereupon declares that he] will not consider the case of any of those Officers in part; and forbids the exhibiting of memorials for particular payments when the cases are general.
	Another [memorial from Mr. Brydges] dated Sept. 24 last for 283l. 5s. 6d. for subsistence to Col. Staunton of Carroll's [Sir Daniel O'Carrol's Regiment] to 22 Dec. last [is read and] ordered to be sent to the Commissioners for Stating the Debts of the Army.
	Another [like memorial] dated the 21st inst. for stay of process against Mr. Brydges for his accounts [is read]. Write to the Auditors [of Imprests] to certify in what forwardness Mr. Brydges is with his accounts and to report what is fit to be done therein. Treasury Minute Book XIX, pp. 290–1.
Oct. 22.	Present: Lord Treasurer, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
	The Customs Commissioners are called in. Their papers are read and minutes [are taken] upon them [and are endorsed thereon].
	Memorandum: to speak to the Secretary at War that the men be put together that are to go from Port Passage [in Guipuzcoa, Spain] to Ireland and that those be put in the other ships who are to come for England [see infra, p. 467].
	General Web is called in. Ibid., p. 292.
Oct. 23.	Present: ut supra.
	Stay the process against Mr. Bridges till the end of Hilary term.
	[Send word] to the Commissioners of Tin to be here ... Ibid., p. 293.
Oct. 28.	Present: ut supra.
	Memorandum: to make a list of the heads upon which my Lord is to discourse with my Lord Portmore when he comes here.
	Mr. Brydges and the Comptrollers of Army Accounts are called in. The report [of the said Comptrollers] concerning Mr. Netmaker is read. See the minute [which was taken thereon and is endorsed] upon it.
	[Write] to the Comptrollers of the Army Accounts (struck through) Secretary at War to send [to my Lord Treasurer] a copy of the Regulations concerning the clothing.
	Several other papers of Mr. Brydges are read and the minutes [taken thereupon] are [endorsed] upon them.
	Mr. Hawes is called in [and my Lord Treasurer] ordered 44,312l. [to be issued to the Navy Treasurer] upon his memorial for the [services of the] Navy.
	[Write] to the Navy Board to certify to my Lord what persons accountable for stores are behind in their accounts and how far.
	The like for the Victuallers.
	The like for the Ordnance.
	The like for other Offices where stores are charged upon any persons accountable for the same.
	Mr. Brydges comes in. His memorial of the 28th inst. is read about paying the Palatine Troops that have been in garrison all the campaign: and is [by my Lord ordered] to be considered again when the Duke of Ormonde comes.
	His [Brydges'] memorial of the 24th inst. is read for 283l. 5s. 6d. for Lieut. Col. Stoughton's subsistence to the 22 Dec. 1711 and [is by my Lord ordered] to be brought in again when the Earl of Portmore is here.
	His [Brydges'] memorial of the 24th inst. is read [praying my Lord] to clear interest with the Bank and to renew the minutes for their deposits [deposits of collateral with the Bank].
	My Lord orders that an account be laid before him of the sums which became payable to any of the Treasurers or Paymasters of the public offices for the dividend at Midsummer last upon any the [public] stock in the South Sea Company which they [such Officers] are possessed of for the use of the public.
	[My Lord directs the Exchequer to] issue [to Mr. Brydges] on his memorial as follows:
		£	s.	d.
	in part of the sum [granted by Parliament] for [the Forces in] Spain.
	for Mr. Milner for his bills of exchange for 59,813 pieces of Eight payable in Barcelona 15 Nov. next at the rate of 53½ pence sterling	3,333	6	8
	for Sir John Lambert on Col. Nevell's bill for the [British] prisoners in Spain [to wit for so much] taken up on Sir John's letter of credit for a sum not exceeding 30,000l.	7,500	0	0
	in part of the sum [granted by Parliament] for [the Forces in] Flanders.
	for subsistence to the Earl of Stair's Regiment	800	0	0
	the like to the Earl of Orkney	1,200	0	0
	to answer the deductions for the widows of Officers killed in the service	1,791	18	0
	in part of the sum [granted by Parliament] to make good Deficiencies anno 1711.
	for recruits; and to be paid into the Exchequer on [Taxes] Receivers' accounts [to make good so much paid by them in the country for recruits and coat and conduct money]	1,026	18	6
		£25,652	3	2
	Write to the Secretary at War to take care that the charge of carrying clothing to the Troops abroad be defrayed by the persons entitled to the offreckonings and be not made a demand on the public. Send to him the report from the Comptrollers [of Army Accounts] on this matter.
	[My Lord Treasurer directs the] issue to the Navy [Treasurer] of 44,312l. for services as follows: viz.
				£
	on the head of Wages.
	for the Companies &c. of the 12 ships lost and taken			10,000
	to pay pilots, bounties to widows &c. for six months to 1712 Midsummer			9,900
	on the head of Wear and Tear.
	to the Yards to clear Midsummer and Michaelmas quarters 1711			24,412
				£44,312
	Write to the Navy Commissioners to make forth a bill for allowing to the [Navy] Treasurer 526l. 0s. 5d. for the interest paid to Sir James Bateman and others for a loan of 50,000l. on South Sea Stock from 22 July 1712 to 24 Sept. following, "the computation [thereof] being [to be] first examined."
	[My Lord Treasurer orders that the] report from the Secretary at War and the Comptrollers [of Army Accounts] about supernumerary men to the four Regiments at Gibraltar be read when the Earl of Portmore comes here [to the Treasury].
	Also the Secretary at War's report relating to Invalids discharged from Flanders service, to be considered when the Comptrollers [of Army Accounts] are here. Treasury Minute Book XIX, pp. 204–5.
Oct. 30.	Present. Lord Treasurer, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
	[Write] to the Commissioners of the Salt Office to send an account of all arrears standing out and in what hands; and a state of their prosecutions for recovery thereof.
	Memorandum: to speak with Sir William Windham [Secretary at War] next time he comes here, about the forage in Scotland. Ibid., p. 296.
Oct. 30 [sic ? afternoon].	Present ut supra.
	A memorial from the Board of Ordnance of yesterday's date is read wherein they certify the method of their Office in relation to the accompting for Ordnance stores. My Lord is of opinion that such stores as have been delivered to any Forces (other than those of her Majesty) ought to be charged to the accompts of the Princes or States whose Forces received them, unless they were delivered pursuant to any treaty obliging her Majesty to furnish the same.
	Write to the Auditors of Imprests to know when any accompts of stores [delivered] in kind belonging to the Navy or Ordnance were passed in the Exchequer and who ought to pass such accompts. Ibid., p. 297.
Oct. 31.	Present: ut supra.
	The Commissioners for Taxes are called in. Their papers are read and minutes [are taken] upon them [and are endorsed thereon].
	[Write] to the Commissioners of the Leather Duties (altered to Customs) in England to send my Lord an account what quantities of leather have been imported from Scotland since the commencement of the present leather Duties and whether the same be stamped or not. Ibid., p. 298.