Volume 159: February 26-March 31, 1713

Calendar of Treasury Papers, Volume 4, 1708-1714. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1974.

'Volume 159: February 26-March 31, 1713', in Calendar of Treasury Papers, Volume 4, 1708-1714, (London, 1974) pp. 466-474. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-papers/vol4/pp466-474 [accessed 13 April 2024]

February 26–March 31, 1713



Feb. 26.	1. Report of Lord Portmore to the Earl of Oxford, on the new establishment proposed by the Board of Ordnance for the garrison of Gibraltar. The works for the fortifications ordered when he was there, as well as those projected by Col. King, were absolutely necessary to be done with the utmost expedition. Dated 26 Feb. 1712/13. Two establishments for Gibraltar, and two for Port Mahon. 6 pages.
Feb. 27.	2. “Copy of the supers depending upon the accompt of the late paymasters in Ireland. Taken from M^r Auditor Harley's booke.” With a memorandum at the end that this list does not include a great number of imprests under the care of particular Com^rs, &c. Dated 27 Feb. 1712. 14½ pages.
Feb. 27.	3. Auditors' (Harley and Bythell's) certificate of the state of imprest accounts and other accounts before them. Dated 27 Feb. 1712. 18 pages.
Feb. 27.	4. An account of the gross and net produce of the duties on gilt and silver wire, and starch, from their respective commencements to 27^th February 1713. 1 page.
Feb.	5. “Extract of letters about the affairs of Gibraltar since the negotiations of peace,” relating principally to the furnishing of the troops with provisions. The last date is in February 1712/13. 8½ pages.
March 2.	6. Report of the Com^rs of Customs to the Lord High Treasurer, respecting certain wine and brandy which came ashore near Pembroke, and was demanded by the Collector there from the gentlemen in whose custody it was, who answered that it belonged to them as lords of the manor, and that there was no duty payable. It having been determined in Westminster Hall that wrecked goods were not liable to duty, they (the Com^rs) directed that if a refusal for joint possession of the goods were given, he (the Collector) should insist upon security being given for the duties in case a claimer should appear within a year and a day. Dated 2 March 1712. Three other papers on the same subject, one being of a little later date. Minuted:—“4 Mar. 1712/13. A l~re to y^e Comm^rs Customes hereupon.” 5 pages.
March 2.	7. Report of the Controllers of the Accounts of the Army (P. Medows and Ja. Bruce) to the Lord High Treasurer, on the memorial of the Lord North and Gray, praying for the discharge of 1,150l. lying a burthen upon the officers of his regiment. A debt of 1,188l. 5s. 2d. had come down, known as the “old debt.” Left it with his L^p to determine what measure should be pursued with it. Dated 2 March 1712. 1 page.
March 2.	8. Com^rs of Ordnance to the Lord High Treasurer. Sending an estimate for land and sea services. They had not lately given in any, but had been allowed 4s. a man a month. Dated Office of Ordnance, 2 March 1712/13. 1 page.
March 2.	9. Com^rs of Transport to M^r Lowndes, in answer to Col. Nevill who complained of the crowding of a transport ship. In time of war on sending men to Spain, Portugal, or on other expeditions, the room allowed never exceeded two tons of shipping to three men, though it was expected they would be on board three, four, or five months (as frequently did happen). And this even in summer time, when the weather was hot, and the holds of the ship filled with provisions, so that there was accommodation for the men only between decks. On the occasion referred to, as it was the winter season, in which the prisoners were to be fetched from Bayonne, and the run looked upon to be short, it was thought one ton to two men was sufficient and they had directions to provide 1,000 tons of shipping for 2,000 men, which directions were exceeded by 70 tons. On hiring shipping into monthly pay, the method was to cause the ships to be measured according to the rule of Shipwrights' Hall, so that every ship's tonnage was exactly known before going to sea. They had appointed two skilful persons, one an elder brother of the Trinity House, and the other a shipwright, who certified the tonnage of each ship on oath, as they did of those that went to “Port Passage.” Instead of 560 men that the ship in question was appointed for, her complement would have been 598. They had received no complaint of the transport masters refusing to take on board the number of men and horses which they were ordered to bring. Dated 2 March 1712. Minuted:—“3 March 1712/13. A copy to S^r W^m Wyndham to send to Nevill.” 3 pages.
March 3.	10. Copies of two certificates of S. Godolphin, auditor to the Paymaster-General of Marines (Mostyn), that Vaughan Bonner, Esq., Receiver General of Land Tax for the Lindsey division of the county of Lincoln, had supplied certain sums out of the land tax money for rewards on raising recruits. Dated 3 March 1712 2. pages.
[? About March 3.]	11. Bouer Lagarde to the Lord [High Treasurer]. Begged that his L^p would at least order him the payment of those bills which had been drawn on account of the embarkation of the Imperial troops for Catalonia at her Majesty's costs in the year 1711, and also of the bills drawn in the same year by M^r Petit, Governor of Port Mahon, upon her Majesty's paymaster at Barcelona. Minuted:—“3 Mar. 1712/13. To compt^rs with the other l~res & papers concerning this.” 3 pages.
March 4.	12. Report of the Officers of Works to the Lord High Treasurer, as to the building of barracks in the Savoy for lodging 500 soldiers: also as to stabling at the Horse Guards, and encroachments made; and further as to putting the guard rooms at Whitehall, St. James's and Kensington in repair. Dated 4 March 1712/13. Minuted:—“25 Mar. 1713. Minutes within & łre writ.” 2 pages.
March 4.	13. Report of the Com^rs for Taxes to the Lord High Treasurer, concerning the debt and proposal of M^r Lloyd, late receiver general of taxes for North Wales. Leaving to his L^p to allow further time if he saw fit. Dated 4 March 1712. Minuted:—“Read 15^th May 1713. My Lord will not give any direcc[i]on on this rep^t till he sees what is answerd by the suretys who have had time given them to the end of this term.” The proposal referred to. 2 pages.
March 5.	14. Certificate of Heneage Finch to the Lord High Treasurer, of his examination of the books of the Jewel Office, giving extracts therefrom in relation to the plate delivered to the Governors of the Leeward Islands, since her Majesty's accession. Dated Jewel Office, 5 March 1712. On the back are some memoranda as to plate received by Charles Jones. 1½ pages.
March 5.	15. Representation of the Com^rs of Excise (Scotland) to the Lord High Treasurer, viz.:—that M^r John Forbes of Collodon and his tenants had refused payment of any duty on exciseable liquors arising from his lands in Ferrintosh (otherwise than the yearly tack duty of 400 marks Scots), the said Forbes claiming an exemption therefrom as his private right by virtue of several Acts of Parliament. They had referred the cause to the Court of Exchequer and it was given against them. Prayed his L^ps directions as to whether they should appeal to the House of Lords. Dated Excise Office, Edinburgh, 5 March 1712/13.
March 7.	The two Acts of Parliament referred to and four other papers on the same subject. 15 pages and 2 halves.
March 7.	16. Affidavit of Owen Lloyd, of London, stationer, as to unfair proceedings of the former contractors in obtaining the contract for the supply of parchment to the Com^rs of Stamps. More particularly against M^r Pooley, a Commissioner. Sworn 7 March 1712. Minuted:—“13 Mar. 1712/13. M^r Pooley to have a copy.” 1 page.
March 7.	17. Articles of agreement made between the Lord High Treasurer (Oxford) and Moses Beranger, of London, merchant, respecting the sale at Amsterdam of tin belonging to the Queen, and held by Beranger as security for the repayment of a loan of 100,000l. made to her Majesty. Dated 7 March 1712. 7 pages.
March 7.	18. J. Burchett to the secretaries of the Lord High Treasurer, about examining the accounts of Captain Matthews, in the West Indies, for stores bought for H.M. ship “Chester.” The Com^rs of the Navy considered themselves debarred by a commission granted to Col. Nicholson from stating and adjusting such accounts. Dated Admiralty Office, 7 March 1712/13. Minuted:—“10 Mar. 1712/1713. Not to interfere with the regular course of passing acco^ts.” Copy of letter from the Navy Board thereon. 4 pages.
[? About March 9.]	19. Report of the Master Worker and Controller of the Mint (Sir Isaac Newton and E. Phelipps) to the Lord High Treasurer on the bills of M^r Robert Weddel for prosecuting coiners: were of opinion the bills should be allowed. Memorial of Craven Peyton, Esq., warden of the Mint, in respect to the same. Referred for the above report. 9 March 1712/13. 2½ pages.
March 9.	20. Lord Dartmouth to the Lord High Treasurer. Sending the petition of Richard Adams [under sentence of death] and desiring to know whether it appeared by any acts in the Treasury that the petitioner's ancestors had performed the services for the Crown which he said they had. Asking for extracts relating thereto. Dated Whitehall, 9 March 1712/13. 1 page, quarto.
March 9.	21. Report of the officers of the Mint upon the memorial of M^r Anstis for raising the price of the tin in Cornwall. Dated Mint Office, 9 Mar. 1712/3. Minuted:—“11 Mar. 1712/1713. Agreed.” 1 page.
March 9.	22. An account of the South Sea Stock now in the hands of Charles Eversfield, Esq., treasurer and paymaster to the office of her Majesty's Ordnance. 9 March 1712/13. Enclosed in a letter to William Lowndes, Esq. 1 page.
March 10.	23. “An acco^t of the South Sea Stock which hath been subscribed in the name of the Hon^ble James Brydges, Esq., for the use of the public, and what transfers have been made thereupon by him, distinguishing those that are absolute from those that are redeemable, and how much still remains in his name unapplyed.” Dated 10 March 1712/13. 3 pages.
[? March 12.]	24. Petition of M^r William Hewer to the Lord High Treasurer, for stay of process, the auditor having no objection thereto, and petitioner having done all that he could to pass the accounts of Samuel Pepys, Esq., as well as his own as treasurer of Tangier. Minuted:—“12 Mar. 1712/1713. Stay the proc. till next Micħs term.” 1 page.
March 12.	25. A precept of the Com^rs for the public accounts to William Lowndes, Esq., one of the secretaries of the Treasury, for an account to be rendered of all surplusages or unappropriated moneys which remained in the Exchequer at Michaelmas 1710, &c. Dated at Essex House in Essex S^t in the Strand, 12 March 1712/13. 1 page.
March 16.	26. “A state of M^r Whitfeild's account of the marine regiments as they stood at the time of his death. This acco^t being made up according to the vouchers in his office. 16^th March 1712.” 2 pages.
March 16.	27. Various memoranda, being totals in columns of expenses of forces in Flanders, war in Spain, &c. Docquetted:—“M^r Brydges remaines of 1712.” The remains seem to have been made up to 16 March 1712/13. 2 pages.
March 17.	28. William Vanbrugh to William Lowndes, Esq. Encloses a state of the account of what was due to her Majesty's servants, payable in the office of the Treasurer of the Chamber for wages and salaries, &c. Dated 17 March 1712/13. The state referred to. 2 pages.
[About March 18.]	29. “Petition and memorial” to the Lord High Treasurer of the inhabitants of Kew within the parish of Kingston-upon-Thames, many of whom were her Majesty's tenants within her manor of Richmond, in Surrey. Had obtained her Majesty's licence to erect a chapel of ease to their parish church on Kew Green. Had, with others, voluntarily subscribed several sums, but they were not sufficient to complete the building, and they had petitioned her Majesty to bestow upon them 80 oaks out of Richmond Park. Her Majesty's surveyor was of opinion that timber of 100l. value (the sum required to complete the building), could not be spared. It might be felled, but the Earl of Rochester feared it might deface the park. Prayed his Lordship to order the timber from that park, or from some of the other parks; or to give them a pecuniary benefaction to complete the chapel. M^r Wilcox, the surveyor's, report, and the copy of her Majesty's warrant or licence. Minuted:—“18 Mar. 1712/1713. My lord to have a copy of the S.M., & he will move the Queen thereupon.” 4½ pages.
March 18.	30. Sir David Nairne to M^r. Taylor at the Treasury Chamber. Sends copy of the memorial previously delivered to the Lord High Treasurer, respecting his allowance of 800l. per ann., and asks his assistance to procure a warrant for what was due. Dated 18 March 1712/13. The memorial mentioned. 2½ pages.
March 20.	31. Com^rs of Customs in Scotland to William Lowndes, Esq. Give an account of the state of the cash and ask that they may have the Lord Treasurer's directions as to remitting the same. Dated Custom House, Edinburgh, 20 March 1712–13. Minuted:—“War^t sign'd 31 March 1713.” 2 pages.
March 21.	32. List of stores brought back from Canada and shipped by John Netmaker on board H.M. ship the “Adventure,” Capt. Caleb Wade, commander. Dated London, 21 March 1712/13. 6 pages.
March 23.	33. “A true copy of the acco^t of deficiencys of 1712 and of the acco^t of the provisions made in the preceding session of parl^t and of the paym^ts & remaynes thereof, w^ch acco^t was by mee p^rsented to the Com^rs of acc^ts on 23 March 1712/13. W. L.” 12 pages.
March 23.	34. “An acco^t of all surplusages or unappropriated moneys remaining in the Exchequer at Michaelmas 1710, and the sums paid in there to Michaelmas 1712, for the use of the publique, with the uses to which the same have been issued.” “Copy exa. p[er] M. Frecker 23 March 1712/13.” 2 pages.
March 23.	35. W. Lowndes to —. Sends an account of the savings upon the moneys granted in the last sessions of Parliament. Supposes what was meant by these savings was, the pay and subsidies granted for the foreign troops in the low countries which disobeyed the English General there, about the latter end of May last. Knows not what particular troops disobeyed. Signifies under certain circumstances what the saving would be. Dated 23 March 1712/3. 1 page.
March 24.	36. Representation by the Com^rs of Taxes to the Lord High Treasurer. Had lately mentioned divers ill practices carried on in Cumberland and Westmoreland to the prejudice of the duties on houses. M^r How, one of the officers, had corruptly received an annual allowance under the name of civility money, for conniving at and suffering those ill practices. Were of opinion he ought to be discharged and prosecuted, and that Giles Redman ought also to be discharged for the same reason. Dated 24 March 1712. 1 page.
March 24.	37. Report of the Com^rs of Customs to the Lord High Treasurer, on a memorial of Mons. Bonet, the King of Prussia's minister, relating to Prussian and other foreign ships being permitted to unload part of their cargo in one port, and part in another. The practice was to allow the same. Dated 24 March 1712/13. The memorial referred to. Minuted:—“Read 25 Mar. 1713. Send to him a copy.” 2 pages.
March 24.	38. Com^rs of Ordnance to the Lord High Treasurer. Would not dispose of any of the tallies, &c. in their Treasurer's hands without his L^p'^s particular directions. Had but 3,000l. in cash. Asked his L^p to order as much as he could spare, 104,645l. 2s. 1½d, being due to the office. Dated 24 March 1712/13. 1 page.
March 24.	39. The account of tallies and other effects now remaining in the hands of the Treasurer of her Majesty's Ordnance, above referred to. 1 page.
[Before March 25.]	40. “Estimate of the charge of a present for y^e Dey of Algier.” Dated March 1712–3. 1 page, quarto.
March 25.	41. James Douglas to Captain Armstrong. Would inform him about Major Livingston's company of Indians. Col. Veitch wrote that the severity of the winter had detained the mast fleet hitherto, and that the major had raised a company of Indians for the garrison of Annapolis Royal with great success. Had drawn upon the Lord Treasurer for their pay, &c. Had agreed with the major to allow them only 3l. a man levy money. They were embarked for Annapolis, and would be of very great service. Dated London, 25 March 1713. 3 pages.
March 25.	42. State of the Royal Gardens and plantations under the care of M^r Wise at Lady day 1713, viz., at Hampton Court, Kensington, and Windsor. 3 pages.
[After March 25.]	43. Report of a committee on the petition of William Paterson, Esq., as to his claims on the African and Indian company of Scotland. Amongst other things, for the support he gave to the Darien expedition. Were of opinion that 18,241l. 10s. 10¾d. ought to be made good to him. 7 pages.
March 26.	44. Report of the Com^rs of Customs, Dublin, to the Lord High Treasurer, on the petition of Lewis Chaigneau, merchant, who had been allowed to land certain sugar, the casks being leaky, under a penalty of 500l. to export the same. When examined they contained nothing but water, the molasses having been sold to a distiller. Were of opinion that the full penalty of 500l. should be paid. 250l. had been deposited, and unless the other 250l. were paid they would compel him to pay it. Dated Custom House, Dublin, 26 March 1713. Minuted:—“22 May 1713. The law is to take its course. My Lord will not interpose in his favour.” 2 pages.
March 27.	45. Report of E. Harley (Auditor) to the Lord High Treasurer on the petition of Captain Clark, connected with his claims on the Com^rs for sick and wounded for transport of prisoners between England and France. Dated 27 March 1713. The petition referred to and 4 other papers. 7 pages or parts of pages.
March 28.	46. Receipt given by C. Scarborough to M^rs Lowman for certain plate of his late Royal Highness [Prince George of Denmark.] Dated S^t James, 28 March 1713. 1 page.
March 30.	47. Memorial of Henry Portman to the Lord High Treasurer. Praying payment of 200l. for watering the ring in Hyde Park, and 200l. for hay for the deer and the keepers' wages. Also representing that the ring and way from the gate were so very bad that several coaches had been overturned, of which he was ashamed. Dated 30 March 1713. 1 page.
March 30.	48. Report of M^r W^m Borrett to the Lord High Treasurer on the facts represented by Thomas Boddely, respecting claims of John Greenwood and John Bouch, who had been witnesses in government prosecutions. The latter was against the Lord Hinchingbrook, Sir Mark Cole, Thomas Fanshaw, Thomas Sydenham, John Reading, Robert Baird, Robert Squibb and Hugh Jones for a riot and assault on the witness. Her Majesty granted a noli prosequi in favour of Lord Hinchingbrook, Thomas Fanshaw, and Thomas Sydenham. Bouch had received 30l. and Greenwood 20l. Did not believe that Bouch might have received 100 guineas not to appear against the rioters. Bouch denied that he knew anything of Boddely, or gave any directions for writing the letter; this was denied by Greenwood who further said that M^r Lowther told Greenwood he was to pay him (M^r Borrett) a hundred and odd pounds for soliciting these prosecutions. M^r Lowther denied this; but said that being solicited he paid the fees demanded at each office, viz., Treasury, 1l. 5s. (at the rate of 6d. in the pound according to the table of fees hung up in the office); the Auditor of the Receipt, 17s. 6d.; Clerk of the Pells, 11s. 6d.; the Tellers, 1l. 10s. He (M^r Borrett) took the letter to be false and scandalous. Dated 30 March 1713. The letter referred to and another letter with initial “G. J.” on the same subject, dated 15 May. 3½ pages, decayed.
March 31.	49. Debt of the office of Her Majesty's ordnance to the 31st of March 1713. 1 page.
[? About March 31.]	50. Memorial of Peirce Griffyth, agent for Sick and Wounded seamen at Port Mahon, to the Lord High Treasurer, praying immediate payment of the bills, or that the hospital be broken up and the seamen ordered on board, since otherwise they must inevitably perish in his custody. Minuted:—“31 March 1713. To Comm^rs Sick & Wounded.” 1 page, quarto.
[? Before April 1.]	51. Proposals made by John Warner, “Mathemat,” living in Stone Court, Fetter Lane, London, to the House of Commons, for raising a fund by a tax on metals towards carrying on the present war or discharging the debts of these kingdoms in case of a peace. A duplicate of the above, with a trifling addition. 2 pages.