Treasury Calendar: September 1696

Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 11, 1696-1697. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1933.

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'Treasury Calendar: September 1696', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 11, 1696-1697, (London, 1933) pp. 52-59. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol11/pp52-59 [accessed 25 April 2024]

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September 1696

Sept. 1,
Monday morning.
Present:—Lord Godolphin, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Smith, Sir Thomas Littleton.
The [Principal] Officers of the Ordnance are called in.
[Send word] to the East India Company to desire some of them to be here to-morrow afternoon about their saltpetre.
Send to the two Mr. Bakers to be here in the afternoon.
[Write] to Mr. Gardner to receive the silver at Norwich.
[Send word] to the Agents [for Taxes] to be here to-morrow afternoon. Ibid., p. 377.
Eodem die, afternoon. Present:—Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Smith, Sir Thomas Littleton.
[My Lords order] Mr. Bernard Grenville to have 50l. upon account of his rent [for Mote Park taken into Windsor Great Park].
Sir William Ashurst and Sir Ri. Levett [attend]. My Lords tell them that the cause about the clipt money in their custody must proceed to judgment [in order] to ascertain the King's title; but that it is not intended that they shall be at charge [or loss] and that they shall have as much money paid them [as the value of the clippings come to].
At length [after discussion] my Lords agreed that the value [of the clippings] be paid in [to the Exchequer] and they are to be reimbursed [the equivalent by money order out of the Exchequer].
[My Lords direct] 20,000l. more out of the funds for the Navy to be issued for such uses as they shall direct.
The tallies and orders for 80,000l. in the Navy Treasurer's hands on the Continued Impositions [are ordered by my Lords] to be applied to the course of the Navy.
The Earl of Montagu [Master of the Great Wardrobe attends and informs my Lords that] he has received tallies already this summer for 12,000l. and 4,000l.
My Lords direct [the issue to him of] 8,000l. more in tallies and orders on the Hereditary and Temporary Excise.
[Send] to the Earl of Ranelagh to hasten his report concerning the loss which the Bank has sustained by the remittances last year.
[Send] to Mr. Knight to be here on Friday morning.
[My Lords? sign a docquet of] a grant to Alexander La Plaigne and Paul Boyer of the forfeited estates late of Lepair Stene and La Bretonière which they bequeathed to alien enemies.
Mr. Nicholas Baker and Mr. Henry Baker attend. My Lords agree that as to all prosecutions civil or criminal (struck through) concerning the revenue or otherwise which shall be directed by my Lords or by the Privy Council or by the Attorney General [same shall] be carried on per Mr. Nicho. Baker and all the money [directed for Crown Law charges shall] be imprested to him; and that Henry Baker be solicitor to attend the Treasury: and when my Lords direct [the prosecution of] any business in Westminster Hall if Mr. Nicho. Baker be not present Mr. Hen. Baker [is] to acquaint the other [Mr. Nicho. Baker] with my Lords' direction. And Mr. Henry Baker is to have the salary [of Treasury Solicitor].
[My Lords direct the Navy Treasurer to pay to the] Commissioners of Sick and Wounded 2,000l., viz., 1,200l. on the head of Wages and 800l. on the head of the Victualling: to be paid out of the money in the [Navy] Treasurer's hands.
[Send] to the officers of the Mint to be here on Thursday morning at 10 o'clock. Ibid., pp. 377–8.
Sept. 3,
morning.
Present:—Lord Godolphin, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Thomas Littleton.
[Write] to the gentlemen of the Bank to be here to-morrow afternoon. Ibid., p. 379.
Sept. 4,
afternoon.
Present:—Lord Godolphin, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Smith, Sir Thomas Littleton.
[My Lords order] the Commissioners of the Victualling to accept the bill from Cadiz from Messrs. Hodges for 1,5895/8 [pieces of Eight] at 60 pence per 8/8 [piece of Eight], amounting to about 400l. My Lords will furnish the money.
[My Lords order the preparation of] a privy seal for taking in loans on [credit of] the Exchequer in general "and melting it."
[My Lords order the issue of] 300l. to the Warden of the Mint for the service of the Mint [to wit] for prosecution of counterfeiters, &c: to be issued out of loans on Low Wines.
[My Lords order] 820l. 2s. 4d. of the moneys of the second 4s. Aid to be issued to the Earl of Ranelagh for a week's subsistence to the Regiments of Major General Stuart, Col. Coot, Major General Erle and Col. Northcott: to be issued out of [the] cash on Exchequer Bills.
The Excise Commissioners [attend]. They offer a presentment concerning arrears in the country. My Lords direct them to prepare the draft of such a letter as they would have [to be sent] to the Justices of Peace concerning the levying of the Duty.
Mr. L[owndes is ordered by my Lords] to write to Mr. Burrard and Mr. Bickerstaff that the Excise Commissioners have acquainted my Lords with their arrears for the Salt Duty and to quicken them in payment of what they owe.
The gentlemen of the Bank come in. My Lord Ranelagh's letter of this day is read concerning adjusting their loss by remittances. They insist upon 66,000l. (altered to 67,000l.) which they claim as a just debt owing to them. Their whole demand for their loss [? and for interest] is 170,000l.
[My Lords order] Mr. Culliford to make [up the Customs] accounts of imports and exports with [the salary of] 500l. a year for himself and 200l. a year for 3 clerks, viz., 100l. a year to his chief clerk and 50l. apiece to the other two.
[My Lords order] a letter to be left at Sir Joseph Herne's house [to the effect] that when he comes to town my Lords desire to speak with him.
[My Lords order] a favourable report to be made [to the King] on the petition from the Commissioners of Transports about their [poorer officers'] taxes.
[My Lords direct] 20,000l. to be issued to the Navy. Treasury Minute Book VIII., p. 380.
Sept. 8,
Tuesday morning.
Present:—Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Smith, Sir Thomas Littleton.
[My Lords direct] 20,000l. more out of the funds for the Navy [for this year] to be put into the [Navy] Treasurer's hands.
[My Lords direct the issue to the Master Worker of the Mint of] 1,000l. for the service of the Mint: to be issued out of loans on Low Wines: out of which sum about 83l. is to be paid to the man that brought his press out of Wales, pursuant to the Act; and 500l. other part of it [is to be] for the Mint in London.
The gentlemen of the Bank come in. They say there is an error in their account made by their Accountant without their direction. They'll be here again in the afternoon.
[My Lords direct the issue to the Earl of Ranleagh of] 80,000l. out of loans to be made by said Earl on the Salt Act on the credit of tallies and orders, to bear interest at 7 per cent.: to be issued on his order for the Forces, viz., 30,000l. for such uses as my Lords shall appoint and 50,000l. for remittances into Flanders [made or to be made] per the Bank of England.
[My Lords order] the Duke of Southampton to have a tally on the Excise for 2,000l. [on his] pension. Ibid., p. 381.
Eodem die, afternoon. Present:—Sir Stephen Fox, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Smith, Sir Thomas Littleton.
The Excise Commissioners are called in. Their presentments are considered.
The [Principal] Officers of the Mint [are called in]. My Lords exhort the Provost [of the Moneyers] to use all despatch in the business of the Country Mints.
[My Lords order] 300l. to Mr. Baker for [Crown Law] prosecutions; out of any disposeable money in the Exchequer.
Mr. Baker [attends and] promises to pass his accounts every term.
[Write] to the Navy Commissioners to cause 8,000l. of the money in the [Navy] Treasurer's hands to be paid to the Victuallers for the service of the Squadron designed to the Straits.
When there is a place vacant of about 50l. a year my Lords are to be put in mind of Mr. John Rawlinson, recommended by the Speaker [of the House of Commons]. Ibid., p. 382.
Sept. 10,
morning.
Present:—Sir Stephen Fox, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Smith.
[My Lords direct] Mr. Lowndes to send for Mr. William Knight this afternoon and to adjust with him his account of his receipts and payments for Lottery Pensions and to see whether 13,796l. 17s. 11½d. as alleged by Mr. Burton or what other sum is due to his cash upon that account and to see that it be justly replaced in the Exchequer.
[My Lords order] 20l. to Mrs. Fitzharrys.
Sir Joseph Herne is called in. The King's order of 1st Sept., 1696, concerning the tallies in his hands which were lately intended for the Duke of Savoy is read and then delivered to the said Sir Joseph. He says he has furnished 8,000l. to the President La Tour and has 92,000l. tallies resting in his hands.
Sir Joseph will come again to-morrow morning after he has advised with his counsel about furnishing money for the Forces in Italy upon these tallies. He will give a credit for something to-morrow. He'll endeavour for 10,000l. at the current exchange [on condition of remuneration] per commission.
[Send] to the Attorney General to be here to-morrow morning. Ibid., p. 383.
Sept. 11,
Friday morning.
Present:—Sir Stephen Fox, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Smith.
Sir Joseph Herne [attends and tells my Lords that he] will remit 10,000l. on Tuesday next to the order of my Lord Galway for the Forces in Montserrat [taking his remuneration] by commission as the money shall be drawn or remitted.
[My Lords order the preparation of] a privy seal to discharge the process for the appraised value of Powys House and to declare the King's pleasure that the Lord Keeper or the [Lord] Chancellor for the time being shall have and enjoy that house for the accommodation of "their offices." Ibid., p. 384.
Sept. 15,
Tuesday morning.
Present:—Sir Stephen Fox, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Smith, Sir Thomas Littleton.
Mr. Bertie is to raise money by discount on any tallies in his hands to the value of 5,000l. for payment of bills of exchange. [Send to this effect] a letter to him.
[My Lords order the Auditor of the Receipt] to prepare orders for registering on the Salt Act the sums following [and in the respective order or sequence as set out] in this course, viz.,
to make good the [deficiency on the five sevenths Tonnage Duties to the Bank of England for 17 weeks from 17 May, 1696 to 13 Sept., 1696, 32,692 6 4
to make good the annuities [deficiency due to the Bank of England] out of the two sevenths of the Tonnage Duties to Michaelmas, 1696 20,000 0 0
to make good [the deficiency on the Salt Duty]
to pay the Lottery Pensioners at the same time 120,000 0 0
for principal and interest on the Coal Act in part 140,000 0 0
for the Navy 148,829 10 8
for the Ordnance, for land services 25,274 19
for ditto for sea services 21,775 7 8
£508,572 4
[My Lords order] Hugh Woolridge to be Comptroller of the coinage of tin in the counties of Cornwall and Devon and Keeper of the gaol of Lostwithiel loco Seymour Tredenham; deceased.
[Write] to the Navy Commissioners and the Treasurer of the Navy forthwith to apply the sum of 30,000l. (which Mr. Dorington had order to make some stop upon) to the payment of wages to the seamen going in the Squadron to the Straits. Treasury Minute Book IX., p. 1.
Eodem die, afternoon. Present:—all the five Lords.
Sir Joseph Herne attends and delivers a letter of credit on Isaac and David Vezino for 36,000 dollars payable at Leghorn to Lord Galloway [Galway] on his order, to wit, Seville and Mexico coin. [My Lords direct it] to be sent by this night's post to Mr. Blathwaite [with instructions for him] to speed the same away to my Lord Galloway.
Mr. Sheppard and Mr. Floyer attend [and inform my Lords they] will give a credit for 30,000l. at Antwerp at [the exchange rate of] 9 guilders 6 stivers and [in repayment will] take the tallies for the said sum on the Salt Act, to wit, the first 30,000l. of the 80,000l. [tallies] last struck.
[Write] to Mr. Blathwaite that there is no disposeable money for pensions, but there are tallies for the Civil List, and that my Lords desire to know how far it is the King's pleasure that those pensioners be relieved out of those tallies and particularly the necessities of the Duchess of Grafton, the Duke of Southampton, Duke of Northumberland and some others, [their necessities] being very great, to wit, whether my Lords may apply any of those tallies to their support. Ibid., pp. 1–2.
Sept. 16,
Wednesday morning.
Present:—Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Smith, Sir Thomas Littleton.
Several of the Commissioners for the National Land Bank are called in. They give [in writing to my Lords] an account of the execution of the Commission and of their charges.
[Write] to Mr. Browne to be here on Friday morning.
[My Lords direct] the rest of the money in the Exchequer for the Navy to be issued.
[My Lords order the issue of] 160l. to the Earl of Ranelagh for Mr. Jackson's bill; to be paid out of any disposeable money for the war.
[My Lords order] Lady Orkney to have tallies on the Excise for 2,500l.; and to Richard Hoare [the] goldsmith to have 1,000l.; Mr. May to have 1,500l. [all these three payments to be issued] out of secret service. Ibid., p. 3.
Sept. 18,
Friday morning.
Present:—Lord Godolphin, Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Smith, Sir Thomas Littleton.
[Send] to the gentlemen of the Bank to be here on Monday afternoon about the Earl of Ranelagh's report.
[Send] to Sir Joseph Herne at Tunbridge to be here then.
[Send] to the Glass Commissioners [to be here] on Thursday afternoon.
[My Lords order that] the tallies for the Works for 30,966l. [struck] on the Post Office revenue may be discounted at the best rate that can be got not exceeding 10 per cent.; [in order] to carry on the service of the Works.
[My Lords order] 15l. to be advanced to Dr. Otes. Ibid., p. 4.
Sept. 21,
Monday afternoon.
Present:—all the five Lords.
Mr. Robinson [his memorial is considered. My Lords order him] to have 100l. in money out of secret service, and 364l. for 6 months on his ordinary due 29 July, 1696, and 335l. on a bill of [ambassadorial] extraordinaries [to be paid] per tallies on the Excise: and my Lords will speak to the King when he comes over about his arrear [due and unpaid] in the last reign.
Mr. Corbet is called in. My Lords [tell him they] will furnish credit at Cadiz for 10,000l. for the service of the squadron going thither.
Sir Joseph Herne [is called in] with Mr. Sheppard and Mr. Johnson. They [undertake to my Lords that they] will give credit at Cadiz forthwith for 10,000l. at [the exchange rate of] 54d. per piece of Eight.
[Send word] to the Victuallers to attend to-morrow afternoon and to come prepared to give my Lords an account at what rate credit may be had at Cadiz upon [condition of] the payment down of the money here.
Sir Francis Houblon and other gentlemen of the Bank are called in. The Earl of Ranelagh's report of the 17th inst. is read concerning their [the Bank's] loss by the remittances [of subsistence money] to Flanders. They desire a copy thereof, which is ordered [by my Lords and] is delivered [by the Treasury Secretary].
Mr. Neal and Mr. Hall attend. [My Lords order] a letter to be writ to Sir Leonard Robinson to pay forthwith into the Exchequer so much money as he hath received for the tax upon windows and that it be paid in the very species that he received. Ibid., p. 5.
Sept. 22,
Tuesday afternoon.
Present:—all the five Lords.
Mr. Papillon et al, Victuallers [of the Navy attend. My Lords order] 2,800l. to be issued to them out of the money in the Navy Treasurer's hands for bills of exchange drawn on them for the Victualling.
The Commissioners for the Duties on Glass [attend] with Mr. Hawkes.
[My Lords order that] he is to attend the said Commissioners on Friday morning next at their office. The Commissioners will be here again to-morrow morning.
[Send word] to the Commissioners of Customs and Commissioners of Excise to be here to-morrow afternoon. Ibid., p. 6.
Sept. 23,
Wednesday morning.
Present:—Lord Godolphin, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Smith, Sir Thomas Littleton.
[Write] to Mr. Newton to bring in "his report which concerns the Receivers."
[Send word] to the Commissioners of Glass that they prefer Mr. Carter [to some employment under them] as soon as there is a vacancy.
[Send word] to Mr. Baborr (Baber) and Mr. Hen. Baker to be here in the afternoon. Ibid., p. 7.
Eodem die, afternoon. Present:—all the five Lords.
The Customs Commissioners are called in. My Lords tell them that they cannot but be sensible that in the next Sessions of Parliament (which now draws nigh) all possible help will be necessary for the supply of [deficiencies on] the last year's funds and [for] next year's expense and that they [the said Commissioners] are therefore desired to employ their thoughts in considering whether or no there may not be greater Duties upon some sorts of merchandise than now are, or new ones added: and [as an ensample my Lords] mention the late Duty &c. on sugar and [my Lords direct] that when they have considered these matters they will attend my Lords with their answer thereunto.
My Lords further acquaint them that frequent and earnest solicitations have been made to my Lords (and they believe the like to the Customs Commissioners) for persons to be appointed officers in ports where their abode has been, which my Lords think inconvenient and prejudicial to his Majesty's service: and that if the Customs Commissioners are of that mind they will propose some rule that none shall be appointed an office in the port where he has been resident any considerable time or within such [and such] a distance or in such [and such] particular offices as they shall think proper.
The Excise Commissioners come in and lay a presentment before my Lords of the great arrears standing out in the country for Excise. My Lords tell them the inconveniences and hardship of requiring these arrears from the country at this time when the soldiers are not in a condition to discharge their quarters.
My Lords further acquaint the Commissioners that the occasion of sending for them was to put them in mind of the approaching Session of Parliament and to recommend it to them as they had done to others to apply their thoughts whether there might be any new or additional Excises &c., and to let my Lords have their answer as soon as they could.
Sir Stephen Evance [is called in and] acquaints my Lords that there is a parcel of gold of the Africa Company and others of about 10,000l. value which they desire liberty of coining, they paying the charge of coinage.
My Lords desire him to attend the [Privy] Council to-morrow morning with a proposal in writing from the parties concerned.
Mr. Neal comes in and desires leave to offer [tender] for Sir John Freind's share in the brewhouse. My Lords gave no positive answer but think it necessary that an inquisition be immediately taken for seizing the whole into the King's hands in regard he [the King] has not been answered his weekly dividends &c. Treasury Minute Book IX., p. 7.
Sept. 25.
morning.
Present:—Lord Godolphin, Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Smith, Sir Thomas Littleton.
When the [Principal] Officers of Ordnance come my Lords will speak with them about the tallies for the East India Company.
[My Lords order] 10,000l. to be issued to the Navy to be paid over for a credit of 10,000l. which Mr. Johnson and Co. will give to Cadiz for the Navy at [the exchange rate of] 54 pence per piece of Eight "and they to run the risk of the bills."
[My Lords order] a state to be made of what is due to the King from my Lord Preston's estate and of all the pretensions thereupon. Ibid., p. 8.
Sept. 29,
Tuesday morning.
Present:—Sir Stephen Fox, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Smith, Sir Thomas Littleton.
Sir Cloudesley Shovell [attends. My Lords order] 1,000l. to be issued to him for contingents. [They further order] 3,000l. to be applied to the payment of bills accepted from Cadiz and 2,000l. to be remitted to Cadiz at the current exchange: and 10,000l. more for wages to the squadron going to the Mediterranean.
[My Lords direct] 20,000l. more to be issued at the Exchequer to the Navy: out of loans on the Continued Impositions. Ibid., p. 9.