Treasury Minutes: February 1718, 4-28

Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 32, 1718. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1962.

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'Treasury Minutes: February 1718, 4-28', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 32, 1718, (London, 1962) pp. 10-19. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol32/pp10-19 [accessed 19 April 2024]

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February 1718, 4–28

Feb. 4.
Treasury
Chambers,
Whitehall.
Minutes.
Present:
Lord Torrington, Mr. Baillie, Mr. Micklethwaite.
Mr. Lowther to pay the charge of revoking Mr. Mercer's patent as Clerk Engrosser of the Works to Mr. Wadeson, who hath disbursed the same.
To put my Lords in mind when the Attorney General is here of the state of the prosecution of the evidences on the affair of Chelsea College.
Mr. Cracherode to attend at the same time. Treasury Minute Book XXIII, p. 195.
Feb. 4. Entry of petitions, memorials &c. this day read.
Petition of Richard Hughes, Esq., to be Receiver General of the Land Tax anno 1717 for the Counties of Anglesea, Merioneth and Carnarvon. Referred to the Commissioners for Taxes. Delivered to the hands of Mr. Wyat. Register of Papers T 4/20, p. 84.
Feb. 6.
Treasury
Chambers,
Whitehall.
Minutes.
Present:
Lord Torrington, Mr. Wallop, Mr. Baillie, Mr. Micklethwaite.
Mr. Sloper and Sir Mathew Decker to attend to-morrow.
Mr. Bond, one of the Commissioners for Forfeitures, is called in and in the name of the Commission desires my Lords will grant a warrant for their salaries. My Lords acquaint him that as soon as the Attorney General's reports on the memorial of the Vice Treasurer of Ireland relating to money in their hands arisen by the pension granted there to the late Duke of Ormonde and on the petition of Archibald Hutcheson et al. in behalf of himself and other creditors of the late Duke are returned my Lords will direct a warrant accordingly. Write to the Attorney [General] to hasten his reports.
Upon Mr. Sloper's laying before my Lords a memorial for exchanging Land Tax tallies for Four per cent. Annuities with the Treasurer of the Navy their Lordships direct the following minute to be made: viz.
Earl of Lincoln [as Paymaster of the Forces] to pay over to Mr. Aislabie [as Treasurer of the Navy] the sum of 86,216l. 11s.d. in tallies which were struck in the said Earl's name on credit of the Land Tax for the year 1718 without interest, upon the said Mr. Aislabie's transferring to him in lieu thereof a like sum out of the Contributions in his name for Four per cent. Annuities payable in the Bank: which sum when transferred is to be applied by the said Earl for the clearings and offreckonings of his Majesty's Forces to the 24th December 1717 and several other services as expressed in his memorial for that purpose.
Memorandum: a copy of this Minute [is] sent to the Paymaster of the Forces. Treasury Minute Book XXIII, p. 196.
Feb. 7. Entry of petitions, memorials &c. this day read.
Report from the Commissioners of the Customs on the petition of William Bagley for the exportation of bells. Agreed to. (Delivered to the hands of Mr. Bowen.)
Memorial from the Earl of Lincoln relating to the charge from the Transport Office. Referred to Mr. Colby.
Memorial from ditto for exchanging Land Tax tallies [as above] for Four per cent. Annuities. Agreed to. Prepare the usual minute.
Memorial from ditto for their Lordships' directions at what rate of exchange the demands for the Munster and Saxe Gotha Troops shall be satisfied in sterling money: also memorial from Sir Mathew Decker for the same. The Annuities to be issued with the interest accrued upon them to Sir Mathew Decker in consideration of the discompt and he is to allow 10 guilders 12 stivers to the pound sterling for the whole sum therein mentioned.
Commissioners of the Customs' report on the petition of Mr. Perry on the behalf of Mr. Offley and therein enclosed the copy of a report from the Customs Commissioners to the Lords of the Treasury dated 13 March 1716–17; a ditto dated 5 August 1717; the Receiver General of the Customs' state of Mr. Offley's debt and the Solicitor of the Customs' certificate relating to Mr. Offley's debt. The petitioners to have copies of these reports and certificates. (Delivered to the hands of Mr. Bowen.) Register of Papers T 4/20, p. 85.
Feb. 8.
Treasury
Chambers,
Whitehall.
Minutes.
Present
Lord Stanhope, Lord Torrington, Mr. Wallop, Mr. Baillie, Mr. Micklethwaite.
Prepare a warrant for the Collectorship of Dartmouth according to the presentment.
Richard Scrase (Scarse) to be a riding officer on the coast of Kent or Sussex [at] the first vacancy.
[My Lords order the issue to] — Gordon of 80l. [as royal] bounty per [the hands of] Mr. Lowther.
The Auditors of Imprests to certify my Lords what persons have Debentures made out by the late Paymasters of the Forces for sums stated and reported due to them by the Commissioners of Army Debts &c. and who have at the same time supers standing upon their accounts: whereupon my Lords will give Mr. Cracherode orders to direct process to issue against them in the Exchequer Court.
The Auditors [of Imprests] to attend at the reading the state of accounts now before them [to wit in] the first week after the rising of the Parliament.
The Treasurer of the Ordnance (by his deputy Mr. Lansdel) lays before my Lords a memorial for 2,343l. 14s. 6d. for stores of war provided by that Office for the Leeward Islands. Their Lordships are pleased to direct the same out of money in the Exchequer arising by the Duty of Four and a Half per cent. Treasury Minute Book XXIII, p. 197.
Feb. 8,
altered to
9.
Entry of petitions, memorials &c. this day read.
Memorial of the Duke of St. Albans for arrears due to him as Master of the Hawks and on his pension. Ordered out of money in the Exchequer arising by sale of tin.
Memorial of Sir John Areskin. Referred to the Barons of the Exchequer in N[orth] B[rïtain].
Representation [from the] Commissioners of Duties on Hides &c. for Robert Nelson to be Surveyor of Houses in Sussex. Ordered. (Delivered to Mr. Wyat.)
Petition of William Wekett, junr., to be one of the four messengers [of the Exchequer] in the room of his father deceased. My Lords have given this place to Mr. Lowther, but their Lordships will consider the widow and children that are unprovided for when some occasion offers. Register of Papers T 4/20, p. 86.
Feb. 10. Entry of petitions, memorials &c. this day read.
Report from the Board of Ordnance about the necessary stores of powder &c. demanded by Mr. Wheaton for making signals to ships near Scilly. Read. The annexed memorial of Mr. Whiston to be sent back to the Office of Ordnance to be reconsidered.
Report of the Attorney General on the memorial of the Vice Treasurer of Ireland and Archibald Hutcheson in behalf of himself and others creditors of the late Duke of Ormond. Read. Ibid., p. 87.
Feb. 12.
Treasury
Chambers,
Whitehall.
Minutes.
Present:
Lord Torrington, Mr. Baillie, Mr. Micklethwaite.
See how the pension of 5,000l. per an. to the late Duke of Ormonde in Ireland was granted.
My Lords direct the following alterations in the King's warrant to Sir George Warrender for a grant of a Few Duty payable yearly out of the said Sir George's lands at Lochend in Scotland for a term of 21 years, viz. after the words by and with the advice of the Lord Chief Baron and other the Barons of the Exchequer there these following words (and not otherwise) to be omitted in the new draught.
and instead of the name of John Warrender, Esq., the name of John Blair, merchant in Edinburgh, is to be inserted, and instead of the Great Seal insert the Privy Seal. Treasury Minute Book XXIII, p. 198.
Feb. 12. Entry of petitions, memorials &c. this day read.
Petition of William Lowen, Keeper of New Lodge in Windsor Forest. Referred to Mr. Clayton.
Report on the memorial of the Directors of the East India Company about their Stores. The East India Company may make a deposit of the Duties demanded, but that deposit [is] to be applied to the Customs in a month unless relieved by Parliament in the meantime. And the Company may be heard [by counsel with regard] to the opinion of the Attorney General when they please.
Petition of Michael East. My Lords cannot grant a pension, but will move the King in his behalf.
The Auditors of Imprests [their] report on the Earl of Carnarvon's memorial relating to the Canada [Expedition] bills [of exchange]. Prepare a warrant pursuant to the Auditors' report.
Petition of Richard Thompson. Referred to Mr. Cracherode.
A letter from J. Boughton, Secretary to the Commissioners of Customs in Scotland, for leave of absence. Granted for two months.
The Comptrollers of the Accounts of the Army [their] report upon Mr. Missing's demands for victualling the Garrison of Gibraltar. The Paymaster of the Forces to insert [a request for the money for] this in his next [weekly paper of] demand.
Representation of the Commissioners of Stamp Duties relating to the prices of parchment and paper. Prepare the usual warrant.
Petition of Mathew Ducie Morton, Esq. Referred to the Surveyor General [of Crown Lands]. (Delivered to Mr. Wyat.)
Petition of James Dupuis. Referred to the Surveyor General [of Crown Lands]. (Delivered ut supra.)
The Commissioners of Taxes' report on the petition of Richard Hughes's security as Receiver General of the Land Tax anno 1717 for Co. Merioneth &c. Agreed. (Delivered ut supra.) Register of Papers T 4/20, p. 88.
Feb. 13.
Treasury
Chambers,
Whitehall.
Minutes.
Present:
Lord Stanhope, Lord Torrington, Mr. Wallop, Mr. Baillie, Mr. Micklethwaite.
Mr. Aislabie's memorial [as Treasurer of the Navy requesting issues] for the following services is read and agreed to: viz.
£ s. d. £ s. d.
towards paying the Yards for Xmas quarter 1716 and Lady day quarter 1717 in further part of 91,356l.:
on the head of Ordinary
13,077 0 0
on the head of Wear and Tear 22,423 0 0
35,500 0 0
to the head of Wages.
to complete the laying up and paying off several of his Majesty's ships
6,000 0 0
for paying several Flag Officers of his Majesty's Fleet 2,752 5 0
for paying the Chirurgeons and undertakers for the cure and subsisting the seamen set sick on shore from his Majesty's ships at several ports: to the 30th Sept. 1717 4,235 3 6
12,992 8 6
£48,492 8 6
which sum of 48,492l. 8s. 6d. my Lords direct to be satisfied out of money remaining in the hands of the Treasurer of the Navy arisen by sale of Four per cent. Annuities.
Treasury Minute Book XXIII, p. 199.
Feb. 13. Entry of petitions, memorials &c. this day read.
Petition of William Beverton. Referred to the Commissioners of Customs. (Delivered to Mr. P[owys].)
Mr. Brudenel's letter about repairs wanting in the Jewel Office in the Tower. Referred to the Board of Works. (Delivered to Mr. K.)
The Commissioners of the Victualling [their] report upon the petition of Isaac Holford. See what minutes [there are] on the report, a copy of which is annexed. (Delivered to Mr. T.)
[A bill of] payments to Mr. Elphinstone for looking after the Cottonian Library. Dr. Bentley to put in a memorial for this allowance which my Lords will refer to the [Cottonian Library] Trustees. (Delivered to Mr. K.)
The report from the Commissioners of Excise upon the memorial of William Crosse. Read. (Delivered to Mr. P.)
Petition of Peter Jackson. Referred to the Customs Commissioners. (Delivered ut supra.) Register of Papers T 4/20, p. 89.
Feb. 17. Entry of petitions, memorials &c. this day read.
Petition of James Linton, Esq., executor of Nicho[las] Baker, late Receiver General of Taxes for Worcestershire, [praying] for extraordinary allowances. Referred to the Taxes Commissioners. (Delivered to L.)
Report from Mr. Auditor Jett for stay of process against Mrs. Aldworth. Agreed to. (Delivered to Mr. T.) Ibid., p. 90.
Feb. 18.
Treasury
Chambers,
Whitehall.
Minutes.
Present
Lord Stanhope, Lord Torrington, Mr. Baillie, Mr. Micklethwaite.
The following memorial of Mr Sloper for the Earl of Lincoln [for issues for the Forces] is read and agreed to: viz.
£ s. d.
in further part of 57,613l. 14s. 7d. voted for the Forces and Garrisons in Minorca anno 1718.
for two months' subsistence from Feb. 24 inst. to April 24 next to the Forces provided for in this sum
9,248 5 6
for Contingencies for the same time 353 16 0
in further part of 39,382l. 14s.d. voted for Guards and Garrisons in Gibraltar anno 1718.
for the same two months' subsistence to the Forces provided for in this sum
6,396 8 3
for Contingencies for the same 167 2 3
in full of 2,858l. 13s. 10d. voted for Ordnance stores and provisions for the Independent Company in the Bahama Islands.
to answer his Majesty's warrant to Capt. Woodes Rogers for the charge of victualling 100 men for one year, of which the said Independent Company consists
912 10 0
£17,078 2 0
Treasury Minute Book XXIII, p. 200.
Feb. 19. Entry of petitions, memorials, reports &c. this day read.
[The Crown Lands] Surveyor General's report on the petition of Messieurs. Montigny and Aufrere to renew their leases. Agreed to. (Delivered to Mr. T.)
Petition of Martin Bladen, Esq., for a lease of waste ground in Whitehall. Referred to the Surveyor General [of Crown Lands]. (Delivered to L.)
Petition of Philip Stotherd. Referred to the Surveyor General [of Crown Lands]. (Delivered ut supra.)
Petition of John Brougham, Esq., late Receiver General of Taxes for Cumberland and Westmorland, [praying] for extraordinary allowance. Referred to the Taxes Commissioners. (Delivered ut supra.)
Petition of Richard Harcourt, Esq. Referred to Mr. Cracherode. (Delivered ut supra.)
The Surveyor General of Woods, [his] report on trees marked for the King by the under-woodward of New Forest. Mr. Cracherode to defend the King's title and to consult the Attorney General in order thereto. (Deliverd to Mr. T.)
Report from ditto relating to an increase of what was allowed at Lowens Lodge in Windsor Forest. Agreed to. (Delivered ut supra.)
Estimate from ditto [of the expense] of the repairs of Denny Lodge in New Forest. Agreed to. (Delivered ut supra.)
Ditto from ditto [of the cost of repairs of the lodge] of Whitly Ridge. Agreed to. (Delivered ut supra.)
Memorial of ditto relating to repairs proper to be done to the enclosures in New Forest. Agreed to. (Delivered ut supra.)
Petition of Anne Lightfoot. Referred to Mr. Cracherode. (Delivered to L..) Register of Papers T 4/20. p. 91.
Feb. 22. Entry of petitions, memorials, reports &c. this day read.
Petition of William Benson, Esq., for a lease of a piece of ground in Whitehall. My Lords will consider this another time. (Delivered to L.)
Lady Russel's case. Referred to the Attorney General. (Delivered to L.)
Petition of Cha. Medlicot, Esq. Referred to the Attorney General to give his opinion in point of law and afterwards my Lords will refer it to the Lord Warden of the Forest. (Delivered ut supra.)
Certificate of plate delivered out of the Jewel Office to the Duke of Montrose as late Secretary of State. Prepare a privy seal for a discharge of this plate. (Delivered to Mr. P.) Register of Papers T 4/20, p. 92.
Feb. 24.
Treasury
Chambers,
Whitehall.
Minutes.
Present:
Lord Stanhope, Lord Torrington, Mr. Baillie, Mr. Micklethwaite.
Several merchants and dealers in copper attending my Lords pursuant to their advertisement in the ‘Daily Courant’ &c. wherein their Lordships give notice that if any persons will furnish the Mint with the best British copper equal in goodness to that furnished for farthings and half pence in King Charles II. 's time and at the same price as the copper now furnished, they shall have encouragement suitable to their proposals and performance.
My Lords repeat the substance of the said advertisement to them and direct them to attend with their several proposals on Thursday morning next.
The Master Worker of the Mint, the Assay Master and the King's Clerk [of the Mint are] to attend at the same time.
Mr. Morris, the copper miller, to attend [at the same time]. Treasury Minute Book XXIII, p. 201.
Feb. 24. Entry of petitions, memorials, reports &c. this day read.
Petition of Cha. Mason, Esq. [Referred] to the Lords of the Admiralty for their opinion if [whether or not] this land belongs to the Crown and if so whether it is advisable for his Majesty to make a grant thereof to the petitioner. (Delivered to L.)
Petition of Anthony Lechmere, Esq. See what hath been done in this affair. (Delivered ut supra.)
Petition of Theodosia Maitland. Referred to the Comptrollers of Army Accounts. (Delivered ut supra.)
Petition of Thomas Elder. Search the Minutes of the Treasury to find out what orders and directions have been given in relation to the Office of Sick and Wounded. (Delivered ut supra.)
The Taxes Commissioners' report on the petition of James Linton for [allowance for his] extraordinary charges. [Referred] to the Attorney and Solicitor General. (Delivered ut supra.) Register of Papers T 4/20, p. 93.
Feb. 25. Entry of petitions, memorials, reports &c. this day read.
Sir Isaac Newton's account of the quantity of tin remaining unsold with an accompt of the salaries of officers. Prepare a commission according to the alteration made within [the said paper]. (Delivered to Mr. T.)
Memorial of Mr. Ruperta Howe, Ranger of Alice Holt Forest. Agreed. (Delivered ut supra.)
The Comptrollers of Army Accounts their report on the memorial of Joseph Shaw, Esq. Referred to the Commissioners for Stating the Army Debts. (Delivered ut supra.)
Petition of the late Agents of the tin contract in Cornwall. Referred to the Auditors of Imprests. (Delivered ut supra.)
Mr. Auditor Harley's report on Major Webb's accompt of Gibraltar. Send an attested copy of this report to the Commissioners of the Army [Debts] Accounts. (Delivered ut supra.)
Petition of Michael Broughton, accountant for Miles Grainger, late Receiver of the [Crown] Land Revenue of North Wales and Chester. Referred to Auditor Godolphin. (Delivered ut supra.) Ibid., p. 94.
Feb. 28.
Treasury
Chambers,
Whitehall.
Minutes.
Present:
Lord Torrington, Mr. Wallop, Mr. Baillie, Mr. Micklethwaite.
A memorial from the East India Company is read that their provisions exported [for their settlements] may be shipped Duty free and praying to be heard thereupon by their Counsel. My Lords will appoint a day when the House is up: but as to the deposit [of Customs on their imports] my Lords cannot alter their Resolution unless the Company be relieved by Parliament.
My Lords resolve that they will not prefer any [struck through] persons to offices in the Customs until they have reports from the Commissioners that they are qualified to serve therein.
My Lords order and direct that the commissions for the officers in the several Lotteries lately subscribed for Annuities be superseded: as also the Commission for making forth orders for Lottery tickets: and that the salaries and allowances to the said several officers be paid to Lady day next and no further.
Sir Isaac Newton and Mr. Essington and partners are called in. Mr. Essington's proposal is read.
Sir Isaac objects against the manner of assaying proposed by them and gives their Lordships an account of the method now used in the Mint.
Lord Stanhope acquaints them that Sir Isaac Newton shall deliver over to them a small quantity of farthings which shall be assayed in such manner as shall be agreed upon; and if the proposers will furnish the Mint with copper which upon the assay shall prove to be as good as that now furnished, and at a lower price than that now brought into the Mint, their Lordships will give Sir Isaac Newton directions to contract with them accordingly.
My Lords direct the Master of the Mint to contract with the petitioners for five tons of copper at the same price now given; an assay of which is to be compared with a like assay of the copper now coining: and the difference between both to be stated and laid before my Lords.
Mr. Wood and Mr. Jones may furnish the like quantity, viz. five tons each, at the same price and the same conditions.
Attached to the page of the Minute Book which contains the above Minutes is an original letter to the Treasury Lords dated London 8 March and signed by G. Clerke, Hen. Robinson and Tho. Chambers:
Your Lordships have given us liberty to send in five tons of copper for the coynage and referred us to Sir Isaac Newton for the conditions, which he hath delivered to us.
Upon consideration thereof we do not conceive that the conditions are such as will retrieve the credit which British copper hath lost by the coynage being hitherto supplyed and managed by those who were not artists in the refining and working of British copper, which we have attained by great expense and a long practis where with the officers of the Mint are not acquainted.
And if your Lordships had accepted our proposals wee would have given a clear demonstration whereby you should have been sattisfyed with the proof that all the blankes refined and wrought by us should have been of equal fineness with the specimen which we delivered, which specimen we know to be of equal goodness with those coyned in King Charles' reign.
And therefore we do not think it convenient to send in any fillets upon the terms proposed, which wee thought ourselves obliged to acquaint your Lordships that the coynadge may not be under any disappointment by an expectation of receiving copper from us.
Treasury Minute Book XXIII, p. 202.
Feb. 28. Entry of petitions, memorials, reports &c. this day read.
Petition of John Conduitt, Esq., with the reports of the Auditors [of Imprests] and the Comptrollers of Army Accompts. To be sent to the Victualling Commissioners. (Delivered to Mr. T.)
Letter [from the] Commissioners for Building [50 new] Churches, about their Treasurer, Mr. Leacroft. Stop Mr. Robinson's warrant till further order from their [the Treasury] Lordships. (Delivered to L.)
Petition of Thomas Williams and William Richardson. Referred to the Commissioners of Salt Duties. (Delivered ut supra.)
Petition of Ralph Hender. Referred to same. (Delivered ut supra.)
Petition of Peter Swymmer. Referred to same. (Delivered ut supra.)
Letter from Mr. Craggs, Secretary at War, about Captain Kempthorne. Send this to Mr. Walpole, Auditor [of the Plantations] for his opinion how Capt. Kempthorne may be duly discharged of this money and the same be placed to account of the proper person. (Delivered ut supra.)
Letter from Mr. Wooley, Secretary to the East India Company. My Lords will appoint a day when the Parliament is up. (Delivered ut supra.)
Report of the Commissioners of Hackney Coaches on the petition of Seymour Stillingfleet. To be read when Lord Stanhope is present. (Delivered to Mr. P.)
Letter from Mr. Burchett about Mr. Lynn. Read.
Letter from R. R. about frauds. [Referred to the] Customs Commissioners. (Delivered ut supra.)
[Petition from the] Mayor &c. of Lyme Regis. To be considered when my Lord Stanhope is here.
Petition of A. Anderson. To be considered when my Lord Stanhope is here: when there is money of King William's arrears [in the Exchequer].
Petition of Henry Harcourt for allowances. Referred to the Auditor [of Imprests] who has this account before him. (Delivered to Mr. T.)
Memorial of Thomas Moore, Esq. [Referred] to the Commissioners of Stamp Duties. (Delivered ut supra.)
Petition of Thomas Hootton. These places are disposed of. (Delivered to L.)
Report of the Commissioners of Duties on Salt for John Foulks to be admitted their doorkeeper in the room of William Mines, deceased. My Lords being satisfied in Barkley's ability insist that their warrant be complied with. (Delivered to Mr. P.)
Letter from S. W. about [the] revenues [of] Excise. Read. (Delivered ut supra.) Register of Papers T 4/20, p. 95.