Introduction

Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 29, 1714-1715. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1957.

'Introduction', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 29, 1714-1715, (London, 1957) pp. v-xxiv. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol29/v-xxiv [accessed 26 April 2024]



The New Reign
On 1 August 1714 George I, Elector of Brunswick, ascended the throne of Great Britain. He was away in Hanover at the time; during his absence he appointed certain Lords Justices to act in his name in addition to the seven Great Officers of the Realm. These Great Officers were: Thomas Tenison, Archbishop of Canterbury; Lord Harcourt, Lord Chancellor; the Duke of Buckingham, Lord President; the Duke of Shrewsbury, Lord Treasurer; the Earl of Dartmouth, Lord Privy Seal; the Earl of Strafford, First Lord of the Admiralty; and Sir Thomas Parker, Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench. Those nominated were: Sir William Dawes, Archbishop of York; the Dukes of Shrewsbury, Somerset, Bolton, Devonshire, Kent, Argyll, Montrose and Roxburgh; the Earls of Pembroke, (fn. 1) Anglesey, Carlisle, Nottingham, Abingdon, Scarborough and Orford; Viscount Townshend; Lord Halifax and Lord Cowper. (Privy Council Register: P.C. 2/85.)
The Duke of Shrewsbury had thus a double title, both by office and by nomination; but the Earl of Oxford, having surrendered his staff of office, was excluded. Viscount Bolingbroke's name was also absent; Lord Townshend replaced him as Secretary of State from September 17. Parliament met on the Sunday of the Queen's demise and such Members as then appeared took the Oath to King George; Mr. Speaker Hanmer was away in the country and, although recalled by a flying packet, was unable to be present until Wednesday, August 4.
On August 5 the Lord Chancellor, on behalf of the Lords Justices, made the Opening Speech, reminding the Commons that, by the Queen's demise, several Branches of the Public Revenue were expired and recommending such Provisions to be made as might be consistent with the Honour and Dignity of the Crown. The Commons, in reply, pledged themselves to maintain the Public Credit and effectually to make good all Funds which had been, or should be, advanced for the Public Service. (‘Journals of the House of Commons’, Vol. XVIII, hereinafter referred to as C.J., pp. 3, 4.)
On August 11 the Committee of Supply of the Whole House recommended that, towards the Supply granted to His Majesty, the same Revenues which were payable to Queen Anne be granted him for his life; except the Revenues of the Duchy of Cornwall, which by Law vested in the Prince as Duke of Cornwall (C.J., p. 7).
The House agreed and it was ordered that a Bill be brought in accordingly. The Bill was introduced next day, read a second time on August 13 and ordered to be engrossed on August 19; it received the Royal Assent on August 21 (C.J., pp. 7, 8, 9, 11) becoming law as Stat. 1 Geo. I, c. 1. It contained a provision for the Treasury to issue 65,022l. 8s. 8d. in respect of arrears due to the Troops of Hanover for their service in the Low Countries in 1712, to be met from the 300,000l. granted in the last Session towards satisfying Army Debts; also for a Reward of 100,000l. for the apprehension of the Pretender should he attempt to land.
The Lottery for 1,400,000l. for the Public Services had failed to attract sufficient subscriptions; it was accordingly recommended that the time for receiving Contributions be prolonged, that the yearly Fund be increased from 105,000l. to 116,573l. 12s. and that the rate of Interest on Blank Tickets be raised from 4 per cent. per annum to 5 per cent. (C.J., p. 9). This Act likewise received the Royal Assent on August 21, becoming 1 Geo. I, c. 2 ‘An Act for rectifying Mistakes in the Names of the Commissioners for the Land Tax … and for raising so much as is wanting to make up the sum of 1,400,000l. intended to be raised by a Lottery…’
The only other Act passed in this the Second Session of the Fourth Parliament of Great Britain was ‘to enable Persons … residing in Great Britain to take the Oaths … in Great Britain, requisite to qualify themselves to continue their respective Places … in Ireland’.
Parliament adjourned August 21 to August 25 and was successively prorogued on August 25, September 21 and October 22 (C.J., p. 12).
The King arrived in England on September 18 and made his formal entry on September 20. The day after his landing he dismissed the Duke of Ormonde and reinstated in his stead the Duke of Marlborough as Captain General, as Colonel of the First Regiment of Foot Guards and as Master of the Ordnance.
The King proceeded to make other changes: Lord Cowper became Lord Chancellor; the Earl of Wharton, Privy Seal; the Earl of Sunderland, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland; the Duke of Devonshire, Steward of the Household; James Stanhope and the Duke of Montrose, Secretaries of State (in lieu of Bromley and the Earl of Mar); the Duke of Somerset, Master of the Horse; the Duke of St. Albans, Captain of the Band of Pensioners; the Duke of Argyll, Commander in Chief in Scotland; William Pulteney, Secretary at War; and Robert Walpole, Paymaster General of the Guards and Garrisons and of the Forces. A new Privy Council was declared under the Earl of Nottingham. All these changes were effected prior to the King's Coronation on October 20.
Shortly afterwards the Treasury was put into Commission under Lord Halifax with Sir Richard Onslow as Chancellor of the Exchequer; the other Members of the Board were Sir William St. Quintin, Edward Wortley Montague and Paul Methuen. The Admiralty was likewise put into Commission under the Earl of Orford; John Aislabie was made Navy Treasurer.
After complaints that the demolition of Dunkirk was not being properly carried out had proved ineffectual, Matthew Prior was replaced in Paris by the Earl of Stair (‘Cobbett's Parliamentary History of England’, Vol. VII, pp. 11–20).
On 5 January 1714–15 Parliament was dissolved and on January 15 the King issued a Proclamation for a new Parliament, the Writs to bear Teste January 17, returnable March 17 (C.J., pp. 14 and 49). The Proclamation alluded to the difficulties under which on his Accession the King had found the Public Affairs of his Kingdom to be and trusted that the fittest Persons ‘to redress the present Disorders’ would be returned to Parliament.
Thus the Whigs were already in the saddle and could claim Royal support.
The New Parliament of 1715
The new Parliament, as might in the circumstances be expected, produced a substantial Whig majority, anxious to give proof of loyalty to the new King and to exact vengeance on the Tory leaders.
The King's Speech thanked his Subjects for their Zeal for the Protestant Succession, regretted that the unparalleled successes of the War had not been attended by a more suitable conclusion and stressed the need for defensive Alliances; the Pretender was still in Lorraine; ‘a great part of our Trade is rendered impracticable; this, if not retrieved, must destroy our Manufactures, and ruin our Navigation. The Public Debts are very great; and surprisingly increased, even since the fatal Cessation of Arms; my first Care was to prevent a further Increase of these Debts by paying off forthwith a great Number of Ships …’
The Commons were asked for such Supplies as were required for the year's Service and for the support of the Public Faith: the Estimates would be laid before them.…
‘The Branches of the Revenue formerly granted for the Support of the Civil Government, are so far encumbered and alienated, that the Produce of the Funds which remain and have been granted to me, will fall much short of what was at first designed, for maintaining the Honour and Dignity of the Crown: and since it is my Happiness … to see a Prince of Wales who may in due time succeed me … and to see him blessed with many Children … this must occasion an Expence to which the Nation has not of many years been accustomed.…’ (C.J., p. 18).
The Committee of Secrecy and the Impeachment of the Tory Leaders
On 9 April 1715 in pursuance of a Resolution of the House of Commons of March 31, Mr. Secretary Stanhope presented twelve bound volumes, with three other small books, relating to the late Negotiation of Peace and Commerce, and to the Cessation of Arms; it was resolved that the documents be referred to a Committee of Secrecy of 21 Persons (C.J., p. 57).
Lists of names were received on April 11 (C.J., p. 58).
The result was declared on April 13; those chosen were Sir Richard Onslow, Robert Walpole, Spencer Cowper, James Stanhope, Hugh Boscawen, William Pulteney, Nicholas Lechmere, Lord Finch, John Aislabie, Thomas Vernon, the Earl of Hertford, Edward Wortley Montague, Sir David Dalrimple, George Bailie, Sir Joseph Jekyll, Thomas Erle, Richard Hampden, Sir Robert Marsham, Alexander Denton, Thomas Bitt and Lord Coningsby; there was an objection to Jekyll, who had not yet taken the Oath, but he was declared eligible. The Committee were to examine the Books and Papers with power to send for Persons, Papers and Records (C.J., p. 59). Papers relating to the demolition of Dunkirk and an Account of the Proceedings of the South Sea Company, relating to the ‘Assiento’ and South Sea Trade, were also referred to them (C.J., p. 60). Mr. Walpole reported on June 2 that, having examined the Books and Papers, the Committee had matters of importance to lay before the House (C.J., p. 161) and on June 9 that, before reading the Report, he had the Committee's commands to make a Motion to the House; there were in the Report matters of the highest importance but, instead of sending for persons to be examined, the Committee preferred that a Warrant should be issued by Mr. Speaker to apprehend certain persons and that no Member be permitted to go out of the House. After the defeat of a Motion to delay further consideration of the Report until the next day, a part of the Report was then read (C.J., p. 165). The rest of the Report was read the next day, whereupon it was resolved to impeach the Earl of Oxford and Lord Bolingbroke of High Treason (C.J., p. 166). Matthew Prior, having been examined on June 16 before the Committee of Secrecy, was the next day ordered to be kept in close custody and no person permitted to come to him (C.J., p. 177). It was further resolved on June 21 to impeach the Duke of Ormonde and on June 22 to impeach the Earl of Strafford (C.J., pp. 182, 183).
The Articles of Impeachment against the Earl of Oxford were presented by Robert Walpole on behalf of the Committee of Secrecy on July 7 (C.J., pp. 205–216; ‘Parliamentary History’, VII, pp. 74–103): the chief charges in the sixteen Articles were that, without informing the Allies, he had secretly negotiated with France, that he had agreed to a Peace without Spain, that he had favoured France at the expense of the Allies and that in order to secure a majority in the House of Lords he had abused the Constitution and the ancient Prerogatives of the Crown by securing the simultaneous creation of twelve Peers. On July 9 the Commons presented the Impeachment, praying and demanding that the Earl be sequestered from Parliament and committed to safe custody (C.J., p. 220). He was attached accordingly and after a week in custody at home was committed to the Tower.
Six further Articles, dealing with the abortive Expedition to Canada in 1711, with the issue of 13,000l. to John Drummond, with the sending of Matthew Prior to France, with settling public money for the benefit of Mary, the Queen Dowager, with payments to one Patrick Lilesh or Lawless, and with the betrayal of the Catalans, were presented on July 30 (C.J., pp. 244–249; ‘Parliamentary History’ VII., pp. 114–127). Oxford's Answer was put in to the House of Lords and a copy thereof delivered to the House of Commons on September 7 (C.J., p. 301); it was read on September 12; his main Defence was that he had successfully prevented the Union of the two Crowns of France and Spain, the true object of the War, and that the Union of the Crown of Spain with the Empire would have been equally prejudicial to the Alliance; that this Country had been bearing a disproportionate amount of the cost of the War; and that failures in Spain had counter-balanced successes in the Low Countries (C.J., pp. 304–322; ‘Parliamentary History’, VII, pp. 158–211). The Replication of the Commons was read and agreed on September 16 (C.J., p. 324).
The Articles of Impeachment against Lord Bolingbroke and the Duke of Ormonde (C.J., pp. 253–256; 257–258; ‘Parliamentary History’, VII, pp. 129–137; 138–142) were approved on August 6 and August 8 respectively (C.J., pp. 259, 260). Both had escaped to France, Bolingbroke in April and Ormonde in August, when his arrest was imminent. They were accordingly attainted and on September 14 it was ordered by the Lords ‘That the Earl Marshal of England do cause the names of James Duke of Ormonde and Henry Viscount Bolingbroke to be razed out of the Roll of Peers’; this was duly carried out by Le Neve, Norroy King at Arms, on September 17 (‘Parliamentary History’, VII, p. 214).
Articles of Impeachment against the Earl of Strafford were approved on August 31; for negotiating for Peace without consulting the Allies; for spreading dissension between the late Queen and the present King, then Elector of Hanover; for agreeing to a collusive letter from the French Ministers, styling the then Queen as Queen of Great Britain; for not insisting on the restoration of Spain and the West Indies to the House of Austria; and for his part in communicating the Restraining Orders (C.J., pp. 290–294; ‘Parliamentary History’, VII, pp. 143–155). To these Lord Strafford filed his Answer on 17 January 1715–16.
See also Howell's ‘State Trials’, Vol. XV, pp. 993–1006 (Bolingbroke) pp. 1007–1014 (Ormonde); pp. 1014–1044 (Strafford); and pp. 1046–1196 (Oxford).
The ‘15 Rebellion
It was not until 2 August 1715, a year and a day after the Queen's death, that the Earl of Mar, who at a Levee on the previous day had been slighted by the King, started for Scotland; another month was spent in preparations and ‘hunting parties’ (notably that of August 27) and the Standard was raised only on September 6. On September 14 Colonel Hay, brother of Lord Kinnoull, seized Perth and from Braemar Mar marched thither; by the end of September he had an army of between four and five thousand men; against him Argyll had at first only 1,400 men. Soon the whole of Fife, Forfar, Kincardine, Aberdeen, Banff and Moray, as well as Perth and Inverness (which last had been seized by Mackintosh of Borlum) were in Jacobite hands. By October 5 the Mackintoshes joined Mar at Perth. After reinforcements from the Highlands the Jacobite Forces must have exceeded 10,000 men. Mackintosh made a daring attempt on Edinburgh but turned off towards Leith.
In Northumberland, Thomas Forster and the Earl of Derwentwater proclaimed King James III, but failed to capture Newcastle; after a march westwards their Forces withdrew to Hexham, crossed the Border and united with the Jacobites of Southern Scotland under Lords Kenmure, Nithsdale, Carnwath and Wintoun and with Mackintosh's small force; advancing into England by Appleby, Kendal, Kirkby Lonsdale and Lancaster, they finally surrendered ignominiously at Preston. Mackintosh later escaped from Newgate and safely reached France; he took part in the Jacobite rising in 1719, was retaken in Ross-shire in 1727 and died a prisoner in Edinburgh Castle in 1743.
At length Mar left Perth on November 10; Argyll marched out from Stirling to Dunblane on November 12. The next day a battle was joined at Sheriffmuir, in which on both sides the left wings were defeated. Mar retired to Perth, Argyll to Stirling. Meanwhile on November 10 Inverness had fallen to the Whigs under Duncan Forbes of Culloden and Simon Fraser (Lord Lovat). Mar's Highlanders began to return home; the Earl of Seaforth withdrew on December 1, the Marquis of Huntley on December 6; after December 17 Burntisland and all garrisons between Perth and Tay were abandoned. It was in these circumstances that James landed at Peterhead on December 22. His Cause was already lost. After a stay at Fetteresse, the Earl Marischal's Castle, he reached Scone, but before he could be crowned there the decision was taken on 28 January 1715–16 to abandon Perth and to fall back on Aberdeen or even on the Highlands. On February 4 James left Montrose for France; Mar accompanied him; those Jacobite leaders left behind made what terms they could.
In London, Sir William Wyndham and five other Members of Parliament were ordered to be apprehended on September 21; two were secured at once; one was brought up from Worcester but honourably discharged; one escaped; the fifth was Forster, joint leader of the Rising in Northumberland; Wyndham himself escaped from his house in Somerset but later surrendered and was committed to the Tower.
See ‘1715.—The Story of the Rising’, by A. & H. Tayler. Thomas Nelson & Sons, 1936.
The Civil List
As above stated, the first Act of the new Reign granted the King those Revenues previously payable to Queen Anne but, as was shown in the previous volume, these, so far from producing the 700,000l. which had been intended since the time of William III, had been ‘so far encumbered and alienated’ as to be worth some 550,000l. a year only (see Vol. XXVIII of this series, p. viii) and large debts had accumulated. Hence on the Opening of the new Parliament in March 1715–16 the King's Speech drew attention to the inadequacy of the grant made him (see above, p. vii). The House of Commons on 7 May 1715 asked for Sundry Accounts relating to the Civil List to be laid (C.J., p. 75) and this was done accordingly by William Lowndes on May 10 (C.J., pp. 78–114). These Accounts showed that from Christmas 1699 to Christmas 1700 there had been a surplus over the 700,000l. enabling 80,298l. 11s. 10¾d. to be devoted to public uses; the next year showed a gross total of 901,823l. 4s. 5½d. from which was to be deducted 192,400l. in respect of the 3,700l. weekly from the Excise under Stat. 12 [and 13] William III, c. 12, leaving 709,423l. 4s. 5½d.; this figure was, however, exceptional owing to the extraordinary importation of merchandises in expectation of a War. But in Queen Anne's reign the full 700,000l. had never been attained; from Michaelmas 1710 to Michaelmas 1711 the figure was only 513,614l. 15s. 6d. On the other hand, the half year to Ladyday 1715 had produced 328,299l. 5s. 3d. less 17,500l. for the Lottery Fund, or 310,799l. 5s. 3d. net. Charges, abridgements and encumbrances on the Civil List since Stat. 9 William III, c. 23, s. 13, amounted to 275,800l. per annum.
An estimate of the Expenses to be met from the Civil List amounted to 584,436l. 11s. 11d. per annum. (fn. 2) Of this salaries payable at the Exchequer amounted to 80,196l. 14s. 3d. and pensions and annuities likewise payable at the Exchequer to 42,898l. 15s. 4d. The Queen's private pensions, including an allowance of 15,000l. to French Protestants, came to 79,091l. 4s.; Bounty payments from Michaelmas 1712 to Michaelmas 1713 to 8,237l. 1s. 5d. and from Michaelmas 1713 to Michaelmas 1714 to 19,727l. 15s. with, in addition, 7,049l. 8s. 4d. unsatisfied; pensions to the Duke of Marlborough, to the Duke of St. Albans and to Prince Charles of Denmark to 10,000l.; and pensions in Scotland since the Union, including 2,000l. for Charities, to 4,790l. The Irish Pension list amounted to 22,130l. 9s. 11½d. per annum. On the Establishment and Additional Establishments for Scotland in Queen Anne's reign 30,137l. 2s. 4d. was payable and on the King's Establishment from Midsummer 1714, 29,293l. 2s. 4d.
Since the King's accession 49,600l. per annum had been granted in pensions and additional salaries and 21,935l. 16s. 1d. by way of Bounty.
Two balance sheets showing the state of the late Queen's revenue at the time of her death etc. give the following information:
					£	s.	d.
To Cash in the Exchequer on 1 August 1714 (Lottery Money 16,143l. 15s. 7¾d., other money 1,350l. 2s. 2¾d.)					17,493	17	10½
To Receipts 1 August 1714 to 6 May 1715, detailed					126,653	11	7½
					£144,147	9	6
against which
By paid towards the Debts of the Civil Government, detailed					125,150	19	2¾
By Cash in the Exchequer (Lottery Money 16,143l. 15s. 7¾d., other money 2,852l. 14s. 7½d.)					18,996	10	3¼
					£144,147	9	6
To money remaining in the Exchequer as above					18,996	10	3¼
To money estimated to be brought in					43,000	0	0
To value of tin unsold					317,452	0	0
					£379,448	10	3¼
against which
By sums owing to clear the Queen's debts, detailed, including 15,091l. 13s. 4½d. for contingencies by estimation					249,470	17	5
and for loans undischarged upon the Register for tin					96,441	9	7
					£345,912	7	0
There was also a petition for arrears of the 15,000l. allowed the French Protestants and a petition for 42,000l. from the workmen at Blenheim.
On May 24, Mr. Farrer reported from the Committee of Supply recommending ‘That to enable his Majesty to support the Dignity of the Crown and to make an honourable Provision for the Royal Family, there be granted … an additional Revenue of 120,000l. per annum, which together with the net Produce of the Civil List Branches, may make up the clear yearly sum of 700,000l. for the Service of His Majesty's Household and Family, and other his necessary Occasions’. (C.J., p. 135.)
This recommendation was agreed to and read a second time. It formed part of an Act which received the Royal Assent on 21 September 1715 ‘for Enlarging the Fund of the Bank of England’ … [Stat. 1 Geo. I, St. 2, c. 12], further details of which are given below under Ways and Means. Provision was also made in this Act for 77,694l. 1s. 7d. of Unappropriated Monies in the Exchequer before 12 June 1714 to be applied to defray the extraordinary Expenses of the Civil Government from the King's Accession until Michaelmas 1715 (see below, p. xxi). The result of this legislation was to give the King for his Household and Civil Government a fixed yearly sum guaranteed by Parliament instead of a fluctuating Revenue. Thus a further approach was made to the modern system whereby the Sovereign is granted a fixed yearly sum at the beginning of his or her Reign; but the separation of the expenses of the Royal Household from those of the Civil Government was not complete until after the Accession of William IV. (fn. 3) From this extra £120,000, however, an allowance of 100,000l. had to be made to the Prince of Wales. Parliament had made inquiries into previous practice and an Abstract presented by William Lowndes on May 13 showed that in 1678 James II, then Duke of York, had enjoyed a Revenue of 104,404l. 11s. 11½d. but no Establishment could be found for Prince Henry, the eldest son of James I, only a ‘Book of Diet’ (C.J., pp. 118, 119).
On August 30 a message from the King presented by Mr. Secretary Stanhope stated that Letters Patent were in preparation to grant 100,000l. per annum to the Prince of Wales and a jointure of 50,000l. per annum, together with Somerset House, to the Princess of Wales, should she survive her husband; as the King could only provide for the Princess during his own life, he asked Parliament to make the jointure certain for the Princess's life. A Bill was ordered accordingly the same day, read August 31 and committed September 1 and 2 (C.J., pp. 289, 294, 296, 297). On September 3 the Committee were instructed to receive a Clause whereby the Annuity of 100,000l. intended to be settled upon the Prince of Wales might be paid clear of all taxes and charges (C.J., p. 298). The Bill was reported and ordered to be engrossed on September 5, was read a third time and a clause added on September 6, was agreed to by the Lords on September 9 and received the Royal Assent September 21 (C.J., pp. 300, 302, 325).
The Act [Stat. 1 Geo. I, St. 2, c. 22] provided that, if the Princess of Wales should survive her husband, the King might, by Letters Patent, grant her an Annuity of 50,000l; viz. 40,000l. from the Post Office and 10,000l. from the Hereditary Excise; the King might likewise assure her Somerset House.
The last Section of the Act provided that, whereas the King had granted, or intended to grant, to the Prince of Wales the yearly sum of 100,000l. out of the Revenues appointed for the Civil Government, such sum was to be granted without Fees and free from Taxes and might be specially charged on any such Branches of Customs and Excise as were applicable to the Civil List. The Prince's allowance was in fact granted by Letters Patent on 20 October 1715 (Patent Rolls, 2 Geo. I, Part I, No. 25, P.R.O. reference C. 66/3511).
Parliament
Accounts and Estimates
In accordance with a Resolution of 26 March 1715 an Account of Gold and Silver coined was laid before the House on March 31 (C.J., pp. 23, 38), showing:
					£	s.	d.
Gold coined, Ladyday 1713 to Ladyday 1715 at 1l. 1s. 6d. to the guinea					2,113,412	18	3
silver coined in the same time					12,086	18	0
gold remaining to be coined on Ladyday 1715					309,265	17	7
silver ditto					862	19	6
					£2,435,628	13	4
The silver was extracted out of English lead; the gold came in bars or ingots; it was thought that the bars came mostly from Portugal; the rest had been melted into bars by the goldsmiths in London, chiefly from the monies of France and Portugal. (C.J., p. 40.)
The very full figures for the Civil List presented to the House on May 10 are dealt with elsewhere in this Introduction [supra under Civil List].
Navy and South Sea Company
On March 31 Sir James Bateman from the South Sea Company presented an Account of that Company's annual Fund.
					£	s.	d.
The annual Fund on 9,177,967l. 15s. 4d. Capital Stock					550,678	1	0
Management charges					8,000	0	0
					£558,678	1	0
(C.J., p. 40.)
Sir Charles Turner presented certain Navy Estimates on April 1. Extraordinary Repairs of the Navy were estimated at 237,277l. Tallies available amounted to 260,234l. 19s. 9¾d. but the Navy Debt on 31 December 1714 stood at 1,360,275l. 8s. 9d. (C.J., pp. 42–45.)
On April 6 Sir Charles Turner presented an Account of Ships paid off since 8 August 1712; also an Abstract of the Complement of and of the Number of men borne and mustered on His Majesty's Ships in 1714. This showed reductions from a complement of 17,822 (14,704 borne, 13,381 mustered) in January to one of 9,633 (9,043 borne, 8,159 mustered) in December. The averages for the year were: Complement 15,573, borne 13,098, mustered 12,062. (C.J., pp. 50–53.)
On May 2 John Aislabie, the Navy Treasurer, presented an Account of the Monies issued for the Service of the Navy for the Year 1714; and to what Uses applied:
		Granted			Received
		£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
Ordinary (including 35,574l. 3s. 6d. Half-pay to Officers)	General Yards	245,700	0	3	—
					74,089	6	3
Wages	Wages and General	195,000	0	0	557,004	16	8¼
	Marines				57,000	0	0
	Sick and Wounded				—
Wear and Tear	Course	175,500	0	0	105,000	0	0
	Yards				68,968	0	0
	Bills of Exchange				51,314	1	4
Victualling	Course	123,500	0	0	84,247	6	8¾
	Sick and Wounded				—
	Bills of Exchange				48,076	9	3
towards Debts to Seamen's Wages, Yards etc.		300,000	0	0	—
for the Chaplains of the Fleet		3,000	0	0	—
		£1,042,700	0	3	£1,045,700	0	3
Also an Account of South Sea Stock in the hands of the Navy Treasurer in 1714:
					£	s.	d.
Remaining at Christmas 1713					544,000	5	3¾
Received since, the Money formerly borrowed thereon being repaid					500,000	0	0
					£1,044,000	5	3¾
Of this 156,105l. 15s. 6¼d. had been expended for Wages etc. 103,427l. 16s. 11¾d. paid over to the Paymaster of the Guards and Garrisons; 104,466l. 12s. 9¾d. paid the Company towards their Quarter's Interest due Ladyday 1714 and 680,000l. subscribed into the Trustees’ hands for sale, of which but 562,032l. 10s. 11d. had been received back for Naval purposes to Christmas 1714. (C.J., p. 70).
A further Account for the Navy was presented by Sir Charles Turner on May 14. In 1711 the number of men borne was 46,735, in 1712 38,106, in 1713 21,636 and in 1714 13,098. The Charge for Wages at 30s. per man per mensem over the four years had amounted to 2,331,712l. 10s. and for Wear and Tear at 27s. per man per mensem, together with 745,700l. 0s. 3d. for the Ordinary, to 2,844,241l. 5s. 3d.
There was also an Account of what had been certified by the Treasurers of the Navy to be received and of what was voted for the Navy, under the several Heads, for the same four years 1711–1714, totalling 6,000,282l. 1s. 10½d.
The estimated charge of the Anglesea, Warwick, Bedford and Elizabeth fitted for the South Sea Company's Service up to 30 April 1715 was put at 75,533l. 4s. 3d. (C.J., pp. 120, 121.)
An Estimate of the Charge of the Victualling for the four years 1711 to 1714 gave a total of 1,980,958l. 5s. 0¼d. (C.J., p. 139, May 26).
Army: Guards and Garrisons and Forces Abroad
On April 5 William Pulteney, Secretary at War, presented the principal Army Estimates: for the Guards and Garrisons and the Plantations 425,900l. 14s. 6d.; for the Forces in Minorca etc. 130,865l. 8s. 6½d. (C.J., p. 47.)
On April 14 Pulteney presented an Account of Expenses amounting to 70,638l. 4s. 8d. incurred and not provided for by Parliament (the Charge of the seven Battalions which came last from Flanders, from 30 September 1714 to 24 October 1714 and thereafter in reduced strength to 25 March 1715, when they were transferred to the Irish Establishment; the Charge of the three Battalions still in Flanders from 30 September 1714; the Charge of Officers’ servants in Minorca and Gibraltar; Bounty Money payable to disbanded men of seven reduced Regiments; and the Charge of Outpensioners at Chelsea). (C.J., p. 60.)
Petitions from the Protestant Officers of Baron de Borle's late Regiment of Foot and from the Officers of Lieutenant General Hamilton's Regiment of Foot were received on May 5 and Returns presented by the Secretary at War on May 9. (C.J., pp. 73, 77.)
On June 2 William Lowndes presented Abstracts of Sums due to Foreign Troops up to their Separation, amounting in sterling to 118,859l. 3s. 1d. for their Pay and to 123,791l. 15s. 0d. for their Extraordinaries; and of Sums due to Foreign Princes for Subsidies amounting to 68,615l. 2s. 4d.: total 311,266l. 0s. 5d. (C.J., p. 160.)
On July 22 William Pulteney presented an Estimate of the Charge of 3,000 Dragoons and 4,000 Foot per annum; and of Levy Money for the same.
					£	s.	d.
The charge of 3,000 Dragoons for a year					145,236	10	10
The charge of 4,000 Foot for a year					81,601	16	8
					226,838	7	6
The charge of Levy Money for a year					38,916	0	0
					£265,754	7	6
(C.J., p. 235.)
On July 23 William Pulteney presented an Estimate of the Charge per annum of Four Companies, to complete the Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards to two Battalions; and for Levy Money for the same.
					£	s.	d.
The Charge of Four Companies (196 Men, Officers included) per annum					5,146	10	0
For Levy Money for the same					312	0	0
					£5,458	10	0
(C.J., p. 236.)
Ordnance
On April 1 William Lowndes presented an Estimate of the Charge of the Office of Ordnance for Land Service amounting to 90,797l. 11s. 3d. (C.J., p. 41.) This did not include the Fortifications of Port Mahon, Gibraltar, Annapolis and Placentia. Repairs to the Fortifications of North Britain were estimated at 15,423l. 10s. 3½d. (C.J., p. 41.)
On April 5 Mr. Ash from the Ordnance presented an Estimate of Half Pay for Officers and Chaplains of the Train of Artillery, amounting to 3,075l. 5s. 10d. (C.J., p. 48.)
The Account of the Ordnance for Sea Service for the four years 1711 to 1714 came to 268,482l. 16s. 4d. (C.J., p. 130, May 21.)
Deficiencies
On April 26 William Lowndes presented an Account of the Deficiencies at Michaelmas 1714 of the Yearly Fund of 186,670l. of the Classis Lottery for 2,000,000l. in the year 1711 and of the Yearly Fund of 168,003l. of the Classis Lottery for 1,800,000l. in the year 1712 amounting to 53,322l. and 52,938l. 9s. 8d. respectively. (C.J., p. 65.)
Customs
An Account of Ships passing beyond Seas presented by John Burgoyne, Deputy Register-General of the Customs, on May 30 showed an increase from 3,550 ships in 1710 to 6,614 in 1714. (C.J., p. 147.)
The quantity of Wool imported as presented by Henry Martin, Inspector General of the Customs, on June 2 showed an increase from 3,595 bags in 1709 to 10,169 bags in 1712 but thereafter only 5,143 bags in 1713 and 5,076 in 1714.
The total from Christmas 1708 to Christmas 1714 amounted to 34,374 bags. (C.J., p. 157.)
Accounts of Cochineal imported and of Wines imported were likewise presented. (C.J., pp. 158, 159.)
Other Returns were ‘bound up with the Papers of the Session’ and so lost in the burning of the old House of Commons.
Supply
The following Estimates were approved:
					£	s.	d.
That 10,000 men be allowed for the Sea Service for the year 1715 and that a Sum not exceeding 4l. per man per month be allowed for maintaining the said 10,000 men for 13 months; including the Ordnance for Sea Service					520,000	0	0
That a Sum be granted to make good, for the Service of the Navy, the like Sum which in the Year from Christmas 1714 is to be paid by the Treasurer of the Navy, by quarterly Payments, to the South Sea Company, not exceeding					538,678	1	0
(C.J., p. 45; April 2.)
That there be allowed 9,956 men etc. for Guards and Garrisons … for the Year 1715, over and above the twelve Companies of Invalids and three Independent Companies in North Britain and that, for maintaining Guards and Garrisons in Great Britain, Jersey and Guernsey, and Forces in America, and the twelve Companies of Invalids and three Independent Companies in North Britain for the Year 1715, a Sum be granted not exceeding					425,900	14	6
That, for maintaining the Forces and Garrison in Minorca for the Year 1715, a Sum be granted not exceeding					57,759	14	7
That, for maintaining the Forces and Garrison at Gibraltar for the year 1715, a Sum be granted not exceeding					37,192	14	9½
That, for maintaining the three Regiments in Flanders for the Year 1715, a Sum be granted not exceeding					35,912	19	2
(C.J., p. 57; April 9.)
That, for Half Pay to the Sea Officers for the Year 1715, there be granted a Sum not exceeding					35,574	3	6
That, for the Ordinary of the Navy for the Year 1715 there be granted a Sum not exceeding					197,896	17	5
That, for the Extraordinary Repairs of the Navy, Rebuilding of Ships, and other Extraordinary Works; as also completing the Furniture and Stores of the Ships in Repair, and to be repaired in the Year 1715, there be granted a Sum not exceeding					237,277	0	0
That, for the Charge of the Office of Ordnance for Land Service for the Year 1715, there be granted a Sum not exceeding					90,797	11	3
(C.J., p. 114; May 10.)
That, to enable His Majesty to support the Dignity of the Crown, and to make an Honourable Provision for the Royal Family, there be granted during his life … an Additional Revenue of 120,000l. which, together with the net Produce of the Civil List Branches, may make up the clear yearly Sum of 700,000l.… (See p. xi above.)
(C.J., p. 122; May 16; C.J., p. 135; May 24.)
That, for the Military Officers, and Chaplains who have served in the Train of Artillery in Flanders and Spain, and on several expeditions; which, with what they have on the Establishment in the Office of Ordnance, is to complete their Half Pay for the Year 1715; there be granted a Sum not exceeding					2,832	8	6
That, for the Pay of seven Battalions … brought lately from Flanders, from 29 September 1714 … until 25 March 1715 … a Sum be granted not exceeding					33,525	1	8
That, for the Pay of the three Battalions … now in Flanders, from 29 September 1714 to 25 December 1714, a Sum be granted not exceeding					8,461	13	8
That, for the Charge of Officers’ Servants of the Regiments in Minorca and at Gibraltar, 25 June 1713 to 24 December 1714, a Sum be granted not exceeding					8,183	9	4
That, for Bounty Money to disbanded Men of several Regiments, which were reduced, in order to be transferred to the Establishment of Ireland, a Sum be granted not exceeding					468	0	0
That, for support of the Royal Hospital at Chelsea, and pay of the Outpensioners, for the Year 1715 … a Sum be granted not exceeding					20,000	0	0
That, for supplying the Deficiency of the Fund for the Classis Lottery in the Year 1711, for the Year ending at Michaelmas 1714, a Sum be granted not exceeding					53,322	0	0
That, for supplying the Deficiency of the Fund for the Classis Lottery in the Year 1712, for the Year ending at Michaelmas 1714, a Sum be granted not exceeding					52,938	9	8
(C.J., p. 148; May 31.)
That, for Half Pay for the Year 1715, upon Account to the Officers of the Land Forces and Marines disbanded, being His Majesty's natural born subjects or naturalized, there be granted a Sum not exceeding					123,698	10	0
That, for Half Pay for the Year 1715, to the Officers of Lieutenant General Hamilton's Regiment of Foot, being His Majesty's natural born subjects or naturalized, there be granted a Sum not exceeding					2,591	10	0
That, towards satisfying the Debt due for Subsidies and Arrears, upon Account of the Land Forces, there be granted a Sum not exceeding					250,000	0	0
(C.J., p. 181; June 18.)
That, for the Pay of 3,000 Dragoons, and 4,000 Foot, Commission Officers and Non-Commission Officers included, for one year, and for the charge of Levy Money for the same, there be granted a Sum not exceeding					265,754	7	6
That, for the Charge of Four Companies, to complete the Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards to two Battalions for one year, and for Levy Money for the same, there be granted a Sum not exceeding					5,458	10	0
(C.J., p. 237, 238; July 25.)
That an additional Number of 6,000 Men be allowed for Sea Service for the Half Year from 24 June 1715 [which at 4l. per month for six months amounts to 144,000l. but on the 13 months to the year basis amounts to]					156,000	0	0
(C.J., p. 263; Aug. 11.)
					£3,160,223	16	6½
Classifying the above and omitting the provision for the South Sea Company we get:
Navy:
for 10,000 Men for 13 months (April 2)					520,000	0	0
for an additional 6,000 for 6 months (Aug. 11)					156,000	0	0
for Half Pay to Sea Officers (May 10)					35,574	3	6
for the Ordinary of the Navy (May 10)					197,896	17	5
for Extraordinary Repairs of the Navy (May 10)					237,277	0	0
					£1,146,748	0	11
Army:
for the Guards and Garrisons (April 9)					425,900	14	6
for Minorca (April 9)					57,759	14	7
for Gibraltar (April 9)					37,192	14	9½
for Flanders (April 9)					35,912	19	2
for Half Pay of the Land Forces (June 18); on account					123,698	10	0
for Half Pay for Lieutenant General Hamilton's Regiment (June 18)					2,591	10	0
for the 3,000 Dragoons and 4,000 Foot (July 25)					265,754	7	6
for completing the Coldstream Guards (July 25)					5,458	10	0
					£954,269	0	6½
also for Arrears etc.:
for the Pay of the seven Battalions from Flanders to 25 March 1715 (May 31)					33,525	1	8
for the three Battalions in Flanders to 25 December 1714 (May 31)					8,461	13	8
for Officers’ Servants in Minorca and at Gibraltar to 24 December 1714 (May 31)					8,183	9	4
for Bounty Money (May 31)					468	0	0
towards Arrears of Subsidies etc. (June 18)					250,000	0	0
					£300,638	4	8
and additional Money for Chelsea Hospital (May 31)					£20,000	0	0
(Total for the Army and Chelsea 1,274,907l. 5s. 2½d.)
Ordnance:					£	s.	d.
for the Ordnance for Land Services (May 10)					90,797	11	3
for Half Pay for the Officers etc. who served in the Artillery Train (May 31)					2,832	8	6
					£93,629	19	9
The Total for the Navy, Army and Ordnance is therefore 2,515,285l. 5s. 10½d.
Deficiencies:
on the Classis Lottery 1711 (May 31)					53,322	0	0
on the Classis Lottery 1712 (May 31)					52,938	9	8
					106,260	9	8
The Account given in T.30/4 (Treasury Yearly Accounts) for Michaelmas 1714 to Michaelmas 1715 adds the following under Deficiencies:
		£	s.	d.
for the South Sea Company on their Original Fund in full for the Half Year ended Midsummer 1715		275,339	0	8
for the South Sea Company on their Encreased Fund for the Half Year to end Christmas 1715		300,000	0	0
for management for one Year to end Christmas 1715		8,000	0	0
					583,339	0	8
(Stat. 1 Geo. I, St. 2, c. 21, infra, p. xxii (July 21.)
for the Deficiency on the former Act for Hops per Clause in the Bank Act					86,805	0	0
(Stat. 1 Geo. I, St. 2, c. 12, infra, p. xxi (July 21.)
This brings the Item for Deficiencies up to					776,404	10	4
There follow further Statutory Charges; for Loans unsatisfied; for the Commissioners for Army Debts; for the Commissioners of Equivalent; and for the Allowance for prompt payment to Contributors to the 5l. per cent. per annum Perpetual Annuities under Stat. 1 Geo. I, St. 2, c. 19 (infra, p. xxii.)					370,280	5	8½
Bring down from above					2,515,285	5	10½
Thus the total Supply in the Yearly Accounts is given as					£3,661,970	1	11
Against this the Grants in Parliament as given under ‘Ways and Means’ below were estimated to produce 3,541,032l. 4s. 8d. leaving an estimated deficit of 120,937l. 17s. 3d.					£	s.	d.
Land Tax					940,000	0	0
Malt Tax					700,000	0	0
Annuities					1,079,000	0	0
South Sea Company: Additional Stock					822,032	4	8
					3,541,032	4	8
Estimated Deficit					120,937	17	3
					£3,661,970	1	11
Ways and Means
The Land Tax went through smoothly at the existing rate of 2s. in the 1l., to which it had been reduced from 4s. on the conclusion of hostilities. The estimated yield was given in the Act as 1,020,588l. 16s. 6½d. whereof 996,611l. 15s. 11½d. was to be raised in England.
The Committee of Ways and Means made their Recommendation on 5 April 1715; the Resolution was read a Second Time and agreed upon and it was ordered that a Bill be brought in. (C.J., p. 49.)
The Bill was read for the First Time next day. (C.J., p. 50.)
On April 25 the Committee on the Bill was instructed to add a new Clause to meet from this year's Tax the Deficiency on the Land Tax from the previous year and to receive a Credit Clause. (C.J., p. 65.)
On April 29 the Committee of the Whole House gave further consideration to the Bill and amended it. (C.J., p. 68.)
The Bill was further reported on May 2. (C.J., p. 71.)
The engrossed Bill was read the Third Time on May 6 (C.J., p. 74) and carried to the Lords; it received the Royal Assent on May 11 (C.J., p. 115) becoming Stat. 1 Geo. I, St. 2, c. 1. The Clause of Loan was at 4l. per cent.
The Malt Duties were likewise continued as usual; the Committee of Ways and Means made their recommendation on May 12 and the Resolution was read a Second Time; a Bill was ordered to be brought in which was presented accordingly by Mr. Farrer the next day and read the First Time (C.J., pp. 116, 119); it was read a Second Time and committed on May 20 (C.J., p. 126). On May 25 the Committee was instructed to provide for unsatisfied Loans on the previous Year's Act, to receive a Clause of Credit and to provide for relief where Lottery Tickets etc. appeared to be burnt, lost or destroyed etc. (C.J., p. 139.)
On May 30 the Committee reported the Amendments made and a Clause was agreed to be added for continuing the Duty upon Hops. (C.J., p. 147.)
The Ingrossed Bill was read the Third Time on June 2 and ordered to be carried to the Lords (C.J., p. 161). The Lords having accepted the Bill without Amendment, it received the Royal Assent the next day (C.J., p. 163) becoming Stat. 1 Geo. I, St. 2, c. 2; the Clause of Loan in this Act also was at 4l. per cent.
On July 20 the Governor of the Bank of England attended to lay before the House a proposal for the Public Service. The Bank was willing to agree ‘ That, in case the several publick unappropriated Monies, which, from Michaelmas 1715, will yearly come into the Receipt of Exchequer, together with a Sum of about Twentyeight thousand Pounds per annum, be added to the present Funds settled for Exchequer Bills; and such of them as are temporary being made perpetual, redeemable by Parliament; that, after Payment, or reserving sufficient Monies to pay the Interest of Two Pence per centum per diem on all Exchequer Bills, and the Premio of Three Pounds per centum per annum, together with the several Premios of Forty five thousand Pounds, and Eight thousand Pounds, per annum, for making the said Bills Specie; One hundred and twenty thousand Pounds per annum may be taken out by Quarterly Payments, and Fiftyfour thousand Six hundred Pounds per annum by like Quarterly Payments, for the publick Service; both to commence from Michaelmas 1715; and that all Overplusses be applied for or towards making up the Sum of Two hundred and seventy thousand, Nine hundred Ninety-nine Pounds Seven shillings per annum for sinking the Bills: Provided, That, in case any Deficiency shall happen on the Bank's annual Fund of One hundred thousand Pounds, or their Annuity of One hundred and six thousand Five hundred and One Pounds Thirteen shillings and Five Pence, the same be made good, preferable to the sinking any of the said Bills: And in case the several Branches settled for His Majesty's Civil List, with One hundred and twenty thousand Pounds added thereto, shall, upon the Account to be made at the End of One Year, produce more than Seven hundred thousand Pounds, such Overplus may also be appropriated towards the said Sum of Two hundred and seventy thousand Nine hundred Ninety-nine Pounds Seven Shillings per annum, for sinking and cancelling the said Bills: and that Provision may be made, as formerly, that the Bank shall continue a Corporation, with all their Privileges and Powers, till all the Exchequer Bills are cancelled; and that other usual and necessary Clauses be inserted in the Act which may pass on this Occasion’. The Proposal was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. (C.J., p. 231.)
The Committee recommended the next day:
That the Bank of England's Proposition be accepted, viz.: for providing a Fund out of which would be paid the additional 120,000l. for the Civil List; and for a further yearly Sum of 54,600l. to be a Fund for raising a Sum not exceeding 910,000l for the Public Service; that, for answering the Sum of 28,000l. per annum mentioned in the Proposition, the Duty on Hops should be continued beyond 1 August 1715; subject to redemption by Parliament;
That such of the Duties and Revenues for raising the General Fund to be established, as had been temporary, should be made perpetual; subject also to redemption by Parliament;
That if the Revenues granted for the Civil List, including the additional 120,000l., should produce more than the yearly Sum of 700,000l., then the Overplus should be made part of the General Fund to be established and be so appropriated until all the Exchequer Bills were paid off, or the said General Fund redeemed by Parliament; and that afterwards such Overplus … be not issued without Authority of Parliament;
That any Sum, not exceeding 77,694l. 1s. 7d., of public unappropriated Monies, which came into the Exchequer before 12 June 1714, should be applied towards Extraordinary Expenses of the Civil Government from the King's Accession to Michaelmas 1715;
That the said Sum of 910,000l. for public Uses should be raised by a perpetual Annuity at 6l. per cent. per annum redeemable by Parliament.
That so much of 180,000l. which had been borrowed on the former Act for the Duty on Hops, as was deficient … should be satisfied from the 910,000l. to be raised as aforesaid. (C.J. p. 233.)
A Bill was ordered to be introduced accordingly, and was presented by Mr. Farrer on July 29 (C.J., p. 242) and read a Second Time and committed next day (C.J., p. 244). On August 3 the Committee was instructed to provide for the Debt incurred to the workmen at Blenheim (C.J., p. 252). The Bill was ordered to be engrossed on August 4 (C.J., p. 253) was passed with a small Amendment on August 8 (C.J., p. 260) and received the Royal Assent on August 20 (as already mentioned under Civil List above).
The Act, Stat. I Geo. I, St. 2, c. 12, ‘for Enlarging the Fund … of the Bank of England relating to Exchequer Bills …', refers to several Acts passed in the previous Reign whereby Exchequer Bills were to be issued bearing Interest at 2d. per cent. per diem, the Bank to receive an Allowance of 3l. per cent. per annum for circulating the same; the said Interest and Allowance were secured by certain Funds from the Two-third Subsidy, from the Duties and Additional Duties on Coffee etc. and from the Half Subsidy; the Overplus was to be used to pay off the Principal Sum. On 11 July 1715 the amount of Exchequer Bills outstanding amounted to 4,561,025l. The Bank had submitted a Proposition that they would find the Additional 120,000l. yearly required for the Civil List and a yearly sum of 54,600l. to enable 910,000l. to be raised for the Public Service; for this and for their existing liabilities they would need an Augmented General Fund. It was therefore enacted that the proceeds of the Two-third Subsidy, the Duties and Additional Duties on Coffee etc. and the Half Subsidy should all be part of the General Fund for the Uses of the Act. To this were added the Duties on Wines and Merchandizes of Stat. 6 Anne [c. 48], the Additional Duties on French Goods of Stat. 7 William III [c. 20] and the Plantation Duties of Stat. 25, Chas. II [c. 7.] The Duty on Hops of Stat. 9 Anne [c. 13] was continued for ever. The Surplus Monies of the Annuity Acts Stat. 4 [& 5] Anne [c. 18] Stat. 5 Anne [6 Anne, c. 2] and Stat. 6 Anne [c. 39] were likewise appropriated for the uses of the Act: the One-third Subsidy of Stat. 4 [& 5] Anne [c. 18] the Duties of Excise of Stat. 4 [& 5] Anne [c. 18], the Duties on Low Wines of Stat. 5 Anne [6 Anne, c. 2], the Duties on Hawkers and Pedlars of Stat. 5 Anne [6 Anne, c. 2], the Duties on Vellum etc. of Stat. 5 Anne [6 Anne, c. 2] and the Duties of Excise 4 William & Mary [c. 3] being likewise made perpetual. The Overplus of the FiveSevenths Excise and of the Two-Sevenths Excise [5 William and Mary, c. 7] and all unappropriated Public Monies were likewise appropriated. The several Subsidies etc. were to be one ‘Aggregate Fund’ for the purposes of the Act.
The net Receipts were to be paid into the Exchequer: the allowance of 3l. per cent, per annum would then be paid the Bank weekly; the 2d. per cent. per diem was to be paid out by way of imprest to such person or persons as might be intrusted by the Treasury in that behalf; after satisfying the said Allowances, then the 45,000l. and 8,000l. per annum were to be paid to the Bank as previously, then the 120,000l. for the Civil List, then the 54,600l. to be set apart to answer the perpetual Annuities at 6l. per cent. per an.; any Deficiencies were to be met out of the ‘Aggregate Fund’. The yearly sum of 270,999l. 7s. 0d. or so much thereof as the remainder of the ‘Aggregate Fund’ should from time to time produce, would then be appropriated towards paying off the Principal of the Exchequer Fund.
The Overplus of any year was to go to the Public Use as Parliament might dispose; Parliament was likewise to make good any deficiency. Any Overplus of the 700,000l. for the Civil List was to be part of the General Fund and all grants of such Overplus would require Parliamentary Authority; any Deficiency therein would be made good out of the next Aid. The Sum of 77,694l. 1s. 7d. in the Exchequer before 12 June 1714 was to be applied to defray the Civil List until Michaelmas 1715 (see above, p. xi).
The Bank was to continue a Corporation until all the said Exchequer Bills were discharged or cancelled. The General Fund might be redeemed without redeeming the original Fund of 100,000l. or the existing Annuity of 106,501l. 13s. 5d. per annum. After redemption of the said Fund and Annuity and of the Fund established under this Act, then and only then the Corporation was to cease. Any deficiency on the Hop Act was to be made good from the 910,000l. Finally, there was a provision that claims for work at Blenheim to 1 June 1712 were to be met from the 500,000l. raised by the Civil List Lottery of 1713.
The Act [Stat. 1 Geo. I, St. 2, c. 19] ‘for raising 910,000l. for Public Services, by Sale of Annuities, after the Rate of Five Pounds per centum per annum Redeemable by Parliament; And to Authorize a Treaty concerning Private Rights [to Exemption from Customs and Excise] claimed by the Proprietors of the Sugar Houses of Scotland’ also had its origin in the Report of the Committee of Ways and Means of July 21 (C.J., p. 233); the Bill was presented August 10 (C.J., p. 262) read a Second Time and committed August 11 (C.J., p. 263), considered several days in committee and reported August 24 (when the Clause relating to Sugar Houses in Scotland was added) (C.J., p. 283); it was then ordered, with Amendments, to be engrossed and, after insertion of a further Amendment to provide for Allowances to the Cashier and the Accountant General who should receive the Contributions, was passed on August 26 and received the Royal Assent on August 30 (C.J., pp. 285, 289).
The Act recites Stat. 1 Geo. I, St. 2, c. 12 above, creating the General or Aggregate Fund which inter alia was to provide yearly from Michaelmas 1715 the sum of 54,600l. for the purpose of raising 910,000l. for the Public Service by means of Perpetual Annuities at 6l. per cent. per annum, redeemable by Parliament; 45,500l. was to be the Yearly Fund for paying the Annuities at 5l. per cent. per annum, to take place at Michaelmas 1715; 8l. per cent. per annum was to be allowed for prompt payment and no Contributions were to be received after 19 September 1715. Allowances to the Cashier of 500l. for receiving the Contributions and of 250l. per annum for administering the Annuities and of 200l. per annum to the Accountant General were also sanctioned by the Act.
The South Sea Company likewise received an enlargement of its Capital Stock by Stat. 1 Geo. I, St. 2, c. 21. Mr. Farrer reported on 30 July 1715 from the Committee of Ways and Means recommending acceptance of a Proposition from the Company offering that 822,032l. 4s. 8d. might be added to the Capital Stock, for the Public Service (C.J., p. 243). The Bill was presented August 12, read a Second Time and committed August 15. (C.J., pp. 267, 268). It was then considered in Committee of the Whole House and on September 7 the Committee was empowered to receive a Clause for raising a Sum not exceeding 169,000l. by the Sale of Annuities, at the rate of 5l. per cent, per annum redeemable by Parliament, to be charged on a Fund of 9,100l. being the remainder of a Yearly Sum of 54,600l. payable out of the Aggregate or General Fund of the Bank of England (as provided by Stat. 1. Geo I, St. 2, c. 12 supra). The Committee was further empowered to receive an Appropriation Clause (C.J., p. 301). The next day the Bill was reported, further amended and ordered to be engrossed; it was passed on September 9 as An Act for Enlarging the Capital Stock … of the South Sea Company; and for Supplying thereby 822,032l. 4s. 8d. to Publick Uses, … by Sale of Annuities; upon divers Encouragements therein mentioned.… (C.J., p. 302).
The Lords agreed on September 16 and the Royal Assent was accorded on September 21 (C.J., pp. 323,325).
Stat. 1 Geo. I, St. 2, c. 23 made Provision for the Ministers of the 50 New Churches in and about London and Westminster …; and for Rebuilding … St. Mary Woollnoth.…
Mr. Farrer reported from the Committee of Ways and Means on August 27 recommending continuance for another year, to 27 September 1725 inclusive, the Duty on Coals etc. brought to London in aid of other Provisions towards the Maintenance of the Ministers of the New Churches. A Bill was ordered accordingly and the Gentlemen preparing the Bill were empowered to add a Clause appointing Commissioners to put the Acts relating to these Duties in execution, etc. The Bill was presented August 30, read August 31, committed September 1 and 2, reported and ordered to be ingrossed September 3, passed September 5, and agreed to by the Lords September 9; it received the Royal Assent on September 21. (C.J., pp. 285, 288, 289, 296, 297, 298, 299, 303, 325.)
Other Matters
The seven Commissioners for Army Debts were chosen on 1 September 1715 (C.J., p. 295) and an Act was passed appointing them, 1 Geo. I, St. 2, c. 24.
There was a disastrous fire in Thames Street which destroyed many dutiable articles; a Private Act was passed for their relief (No. 27 of the Private Acts, 1 Geo. I, St. 2).
The Act 1 Geo. I, St. 2, c. 27 was passed ‘for Taking and Stating the Debts due and growing due to Scotland by way of Equivalent in the terms of the Union; and for Relief of the Creditors of the Publick in Scotland, and the Commissioners of the Equivalent’.
By Stat. 1 Geo. I, St. 2, c. 37 the King was enabled to grant the Regalities … in North Wales and South Wales and County of Chester to … the Prince of Wales and the said Prince to make Leases of Lands, Parcel of his Duchy of Cornwall.
Stat. 1 Geo. I, St. 2, c. 43 was an Act to continue the Coinage Duties; and to charge the Duties on Senna as a Medicinal Drug; and for the Appropriating several Supplies.…
By this Act the Coinage Duty was continued for seven years from 1 March 1715–16. Senna was to be charged with Customs Duty as a medicinal drug and not exempted as a drug used in the dyeing trade.
Stat. 1 Geo. I, St. 2, c. 46 was ‘An Act to Prevent the Mischiefs by Manufacturing Leaves or other things to Resemble Tobacco, and the Abuses in Making and Mixing of Snuff’.
Persons had been selling walnut-tree leaves, hop leaves, sycamore leaves etc. as tobacco and had been colouring snuff with ‘okers’, ‘umber’ etc. and mixing woods and dust therewith.
Stat. 1 Geo. I, St. 2, c. 50 was ‘An Act for Appointing Commissioners to Enquire of the Estates of certain Traytors, and of Popish Recusants, and of Estates given to Superstitious Uses, in Order to Raise Money out of them severally for the Use of the Publick.
All castles, honours, lordships, manors, lands etc. of persons since 24 June 1715 attainted or before 24 June 1718 to be attainted of High Treason committed before 1 June 1716 were to be forfeited to the King for the use of the Public. Thirteen Commissioners were appointed to ascertain etc. these estates.
Parliament adjourned on 21 September 1715 until October 6 when it was ordered by the House of Commons ‘That Mr. Speaker's Speech, upon his presenting the Money Bills to His Majesty, which passed the Royal Assent on the Twenty-first September last, be entered upon the Journals of this House’ (C.J., p. 327).
The Speech testified to the Zeal of the Commons for their King and Country. This had led them into Inquiries which had drawn the Session to unusual length. But they could not see without the utmost indignation the Glories of the late Queen's reign tarnished by a treacherous Cessation of Arms; the Faith of Treaties violated; that ancient Probity, for which the Nation had been renowned, exposed to Scorn; and the Trade of the Kingdom given up, by insidious and precarious Treaties of Commerce; such was the condition of the Kingdom on the King's Accession; the Commons had applied themselves to vindicate the Honour of the British Nation by detecting the authors of these pernicious Counsels in order to bring them to Justice; to obstruct the Commons in their Inquiries the Enemies to the Nation's Peace, despairing of any success in the Representative Body of the Kingdom, had fomented Tumults at home and spirited the Pretender to an Invasion from abroad; this had given the Commons fresh opportunities of shewing their Affection and Fidelity by their unanimous concurrence in granting Supplies and passing Laws.… The Revenues set apart for the uses of the Civil Government which they found entangled with Mortgages and anticipations, they had now put into the same state in which they were granted to King William III, thereby enabling the King to make ample provision for the Prince of Wales and for the Princess should she survive her husband.
The House then adjourned till October 20 and thereafter to November 5 and November 21 (when it was announced that the King had ordered the apprehension of three Members, Sir Coplestone Warwick Bampfylde, Sir William Carew, and Sir John Bland), thereafter to December 14 (for which a special Proclamation was issued) and so to 9 January 1715–16.
The ‘Treasury Yearly Accounts’ and the ‘Declared Accounts’ have been abstracted as in former years. Allusion has already been made to the former on p. xviii above. The ‘Wardrobe’ Account (p. cxcvii) includes two special items, in English, the expenses of Queen Anne's funeral and those of the new King's Coronation.