Minute Book: December 1707

Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 21, 1706-1707. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1952.

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'Minute Book: December 1707', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 21, 1706-1707, (London, 1952) pp. 53-55. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol21/pp53-55 [accessed 25 April 2024]

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December 1707

December 2. Present: ut supra.
Several of the gentlemen of the two East India Companies are called in. A paper of the Old Company's debts and credits is exhibited. The new Company is unwilling to meddle with the Old Company's debts in India. A paper of the New Company's debts is exhibited [and is considered by my Lord Treasurer].
The New Company will take their paper again and add [a statement of] their credits to [that of] their debts.
My Lord Treasurer refers it to Mr. Lowndes and Mr. Townsend to examine the accounts by which the debts and credits of each Company in India are to be manifested and adjusted and to inquire and [they, Lowndes and Townsend are to] inform themselves as well as they can what debts owing to each Company in India are sperate or desperate and what may be a true valuation thereof and thereupon to report to my Lord.
And the gentlemen of either side do promise to prepare an account out of their (struck through) appoint three of each Company to inspect the books of the other and from thence to prepare an account of the said debts and credits with their respective observations thereupon for the better information of the referees [the said Lowndes and Townsend].
[My Lord directs the issue of] 2000l. on the order for 10,800l. in the name of Sir David Nairne for subsisting the Troops in Scotland. Ibid., p. 134.
December 3. Present: ut supra.
The Customs Commissioners are called in with the Attorney and Solicitor General. The said Attorney and Solicitor advise a writ of error in the case about Prizage Wines. Ibid., p. 135.
December 5. Present: ut supra.
The gentlemen of the Bank are called in. They inform my Lord that their Court of Directors have agreed to advance to Sir Thomas Littleton, Treasurer of the Navy, 50,000l. for the Navy upon a deposit [by him] of the like sum in Malt tallies of last year at 5 per cent. interest [and on condition of] my Lord agreeing that as soon as the Land Tax for 1708 is passed [in Parliament] Sir Thomas Littleton shall be furnished with money or tallies first in course thereupon to repay the said 50,000l. and interest.
My Lord Treasurer is well satisfied with this proposition.
My Lord resolves that 10,399l. 5s. 0d. which the Bank has [still on hand uncashed in the form] of Deficient tallies on the 4s. Aid granted 1 Anne shall be paid out of any public money unappropriated that is come or shall come into the Exchequer.
Send to the Attorney or Solicitor General to be here on Monday morning as they go to the House [of Commons].
[My Lord directs that] the 4500l. for Cotton House is to be paid, the constitution for Dr. Bently being executed.
[Send a] letter to the husband of the Four and a Half per cent. to pay in what money he has in his hands to the Receiver General [of Customs]: and to the said Receiver General to pay same into the Exchequer. Treasury Minute Book XVI, p. 136.
Dec 9, forenoon. Present: Lord Treasurer, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The Commissioners of Transports are called in with Mr. Mason. He promises to make good by this day week the moneys into the [Chatham] Chest (which ought to be there).
Mr. Lake [is] to attend my Lord Treasurer at his house. Ibid., p. 137.
Dec. 16, forenoon. Present: ut supra.
Sir Henry Furnese is called in and presents to my Lord a proposal dated London Dec. 16 for remittances to Portugal as follows:
“Whereas nothing has been remitted for the subsistence of Her Majesty's Forces in Spain or Portugal since the 31st of July last which has occasioned a great fall in the exchange to Lisbon, and as it has been all along my maxim to remit beforehand in order to keep down the exchange and be in a readiness to supply any occasions for her Majesty's service, I have at this time a great sum at Lisbon which stands me in as by the paper hereto annext,” I therefore propose to remit for the subsidies to the King of Portugal and subsistence of the Forces 100,000l. at sight at 5s.d. (which is near the price the bills cost me) and 150,000l. at 30 days at 5s. 6d.
My Lord Treasurer is pleased to agree thereto. Ibid., p. 138.
Dec. 17, forenoon. Present: ut supra.
[My Lord Treasurer orders] 200,000l. for the Navy [to be registered] first [in course] on the Land Tax [anno 1708]: and to be reserved for such uses [of the Navy] as his Lordship shall appoint. Ibid., p. 139.
Dec. 18, forenoon. Present: Lord Treasurer.
[My Lord directs] 107,847l. to Sir Thomas Littleton, Treasurer of the Navy: out of loans on the Land Tax anno 1708: and is to pay half a year to the Yards to 1707 Lady day; whereof 68,847l. is to be charged to the head of Wear and Tear and 39,000l. to the head of Ordinary.
Mr. Bridges memorial for 198,741l. 0s. 2d. [for the service of the Forces abroad] is read and ordered. Ibid.
Dec 19, forenoon. Present: Lord Treasurer, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
[Send word] to the Agents for Taxes to be here on Monday morning with Mr. Mason and one of the Commissioners of Transports: and in the meantime Mr. Mason promises to attend the said Agents with his writings concerning the estate which he offers to secure the moneys wherewith he is chargeable to the Crown. Ibid., p. 140.
December 20. [Attendance not entered].
Sir Theodore Jansen's proposal dated London 19 Dec. for remitting to Turin 106,6662/3 Crowns at 57 pence per crown of 82 sols each, money of Piedmont, by his bill on Turin payable on Jan. 23 next “which in regard that my said bill afford at a lower rate.” ... [entry unfinished].—Ibid.
December 22, forenoon. Present: Lord Treasurer, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The Agents for Taxes are called in about the effects of the two Newels. Mr. Lake is called in. He promises to discover all the securities he has or knows of relating to Mr. Mason or the two Newels or either of them, and to make a statement thereof in writing and to attend Mr. Lowndes and the Taxes Agents therewith at Mr. Lowndes's house on Friday morning next.
Then Mr. Lake withdraws and Mr. Mason is called in. He delivers two deeds to the Taxes Agents. He says his other deeds are in Lake's hands and that he doth not owe one penny upon them.
[My Lord Treasurer directs the issue to the Navy Treasurer of] 62,105l. 14s. 9d. for the Victuallers and is for bills of exchange, Short Allowance Money, &c.
[Likewise the issue to same of] 5,000l. for the Navy for bills of exchange.
[Likewise] 50,000l. to Mr. Brydges, to be remitted to Mr. Morrice to be sent to Catalonia for the use of the King of Spain.
[Send word to] Sir Theodore Janssen to be here to-morrow morning. Ibid., p. 141.
Dec. 23, forenoon. Present: ut supra.
Mr. Brydges and Sir Henry Furnese are called in. Sir Henry presents a proposal dated London 23 Dec. for remitting money to Barcelona which is agreed to by my Lord Treasurer as follows: viz. to furnish for the subsistence of her Majesty's Forces in Catalonia and other services bills at 10 days payable in Barcelona for 100,000 Crowns at 57 pence per Crown [in return] for [reimbursement by] present money. Ibid., p. 142.
Dec. 24, forenoon. Present: Lord Treasurer.
The business between Sir John Crew and Mr. Egerton is to be heard on Wednesday come three weeks at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. Notice is to be given accordingly [to the parties concerned].
eodem die afternoon. Present: Lord Treasurer.
Petitions and other papers are read and the minutes of my Lord Treasurer's decisions and] answers are [endorsed] upon them.
The Commissioners of Transports are called in. The letter of the Earl of Sunderland, Secretary of State, is read with two estimates enclosed [missing]. My Lord Treasurer directs the said Commissioners to buy up forthwith as much wheat (not exceeding 2812½ quarters) as they can get shipping for at Portsmouth to go along with Sir John Leake to Lisbon. They say they will take care of this by this night's post. Ibid.