Treasury Books and Papers: August 1735

Calendar of Treasury Books and Papers, Volume 3, 1735-1738. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1900.

This free content was digitised by double rekeying. All rights reserved.

'Treasury Books and Papers: August 1735', in Calendar of Treasury Books and Papers, Volume 3, 1735-1738, (London, 1900) pp. 40-47. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books-papers/vol3/pp40-47 [accessed 24 April 2024]

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

August 1735

August 1. 116. The Barons of the Exchequer, Scotland, to the Treasury, forwarding eight accounts [six missing] of money owing to the Crown from any past or present Receivers General or Cashiers of revenues in Scotland, viz.:—
(1) Account of moneys in the hands of Mungo Graeme, of Gorthy, late Receiver General of Customs, Salt Duty and Seizure Money on the 16th July, 1735.
(2) Same of same in the hands of Wm. Murray, deputy to Walter Campbell, deceased, late Receiver General of same.
(3) Same of same in the hands of Wm. Murray on his appointment by the Exchequer Court, Scotland, to act as Receiver General of Customs till His Majesty signify his pleasure otherwise.
(4) Account of moneys in the hands of the Commissioners of Excise and of James Nimmo, their cashier.
(5) Same of same in the hands of the Equivalent Company of the several sums paid over to them by the late Receivers and Paymasters of the interest due to the creditors of the public in Scotland: and for payments made by them since 1733, June 13.
(6) Same of same in the hands of Lord Cathcart, late Receiver General of land rents, &c., Scotland.
(7) Same of same in the hands of Allan Whitefoord present same.
(8) Same of same in the hands of Archibald Douglas, of Cavers, late same, arising from the stock belonging to the Invalids of Scotland before the Union.
Also transmitting an account of the balances in the hands of the present collectors of Customs and Salt Duties at Lady Day, 1735. 3 pages.
Appending:
—(a.) and (b.) Accounts Nos. 1 and 5, supra. 4 pages.
[Treasury Board Papers CCLXXXIX. No. 27.]
August 5.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers.
117. Present: Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir George Oxenden, Earl of Cholmondeley.
The report from the Board of Works of the 4th instant on Lord Vere Beauclerc's petition for repair of his lodgings in Whitehall at an estimate of 162l. read and agreed to.
Same from the Customs Commissioners of the 1st ult. read on the memorial of the merchants and planters trading to Barbados and the Leeward islands, complaining of hardships lately introduced in collecting the 4½ per cent duty; as also Mr. Hor. Walpole's letter from the Hague of 1–12th August, concerning his, opinion thereupon. Agreed that the regulations therein proposed be respectively pursued, and that the said Commissioners be empowered by a Treasury warrant to give orders for putting same in practice.
The judges and other offices payable with them are to have their salaries for last Trinity term.
Order for a warrant for the Earl of Warwick's pension payable to Midsummer last.
Stephen Whatley is to have 50l., royal bounty, out of the King's money in Mr. Lowther's hands.
[Treasury Minute Book XXVII. p. 341.]
August 9. 118. Report to the Treasury from the Customs Commissioners, London, on the memorial of John Rae, late Surveyor General of Customs in the south-west coast of Scotland, praying a commission as riding surveyor in the districts of Carlisle and Whitehaven and along that coast on the English side. Rae represents the great frauds carried on between England and Scotland by relanding tobacco and wines, &c., and by bringing into South Britain French wines, which are entered in Scotland as Port and Spanish; and proposes to stop this by surveying all the county of Cumberland on the English side and the coast between Sark Foot and Kirkcudbright on the Scotch side. Having repeated accounts of great frauds here have appointed him on trial for a year with an assistant. Rae requires the same authority from the Customs Commissioners in Scotland, as he has from same in England. 3 pages.
Appending:
—(a.) Rae's said memorial, with order of reference, dated 1735, June 3. 1 page.
[Treasury Board Papers CCLXXXIX. No. 30.]
Aug. 12.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers.
119. Present: Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Sundon, Earl of Cholmondeley.
The Customs Commissioners' report of the 8th instant on Gould's and Nesbitt's petition for release of the “Bedford” and her cargo, being seized under the Navigation Act, read. On consideration of the case and of Acts passed relating to foreign seamen their Lordships are of opinion that the ship and cargo should be delivered to the petitioners upon their giving security to submit to further determination.
Mr. Paxton's report of July 10 read on Robert Hedley's petition, concerning part of a house in the Savoy, now in the possession of John Pement by intrusion. Mr. Paxton to remove said persons and recover rent from them.
Mr. Burton, of the Cofferer's office, to attend here on Thursday next.
On a report from the Customs Commissioners of the 9th instant ordered that the said Commissioners in Scotland give Mr. Rae the same authority he has from said. Commissioners here as riding surveyor in districts bordering on Scotland, and to direct their officers to keep a strict correspondence with him. For his service on both the English and the Scotch side Rae to have no more than the 200l. proposed by said Commissioners here, for himself, assistant, and charges.
John Shepherd to be authorised to pay out of the moneys, which came to his hands as administrator, on behalf of the Crown, to Anthony Chion, an alien, 611l. 11s., to answer the particulars in his petition and legal interest on certain items named.
Holland Woolley, at the recommendation of Mr. Richard Lloyd, to be collector at Cardigan, in case Rice Gwyn, the present collector there, be discharged.
Orders for the issue of 9,987l. 11s.d. to the Paymaster of the Works for 1735, Midsummer quarter, for the Works; and of 3,158l. 12s.d. to the Master of the Great Wardrobe for same quarter.
[Treasury Minute Book XXVII. pp. 342–3: Letter Book XIX. p. 383.]
Aug. 12. 120. Treasury warrant to the Customs Commissioners, approving their report as below and requiring the issue of the necessary instructions to the respective officers concerned to carry out the proposed regulations.
Prefixing:—Report dated 1735, July 1, to the Treasury from the Commissioners of Customs, London, on the memorial of the merchants and planters interested in the Barbados and Leeward Islands, complaining of hardships caused by the new regulations for collecting the 4½ per cent. duty there. Relate the history of the said impost or custom of 4½ per cent. and the various instructions for its collection. Propose for the greater ease and quiet of the inhabitants certain differences, detailed, in the allowances under the heads of sugar, rum, limejuice, molasses, ginger, and cotton. 3 pages.
[Customs Book XIV. pp. 123—8; and in abstract in Treasury Board Papers CCLXXXIX. No. 31. 3 pages.]
Aug. 19.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers.
121. Present: Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Dodington, Lord Sundon, Earl of Cholmondeley.
“The Governor and Deputy-Governor of the Bank attending are called in, and their business being to have 3½ per cent. premio allowed them for circulating the Exchequer bills on the Victuallers Act, the clauses in the said Act are read, and my Lords acquaint them that it is their opinion the premio of 3li per cent. for circulating those bills is not to be exceeded; but that they will endeavour in the next Session of Parliament to have these clauses so explained as to enable them to allow the Bank 3l. 10s. per cent. for circulating the said bills for the future.”
Order for the issue of 75,000l. to the Treasurer of the Navy for wages to ships, as by his memorial of the 12th instant.
Same for same of 156,842l. 11s. 3d. to the Paymaster of the forces for two months' subsistence to the Forces to 1735, October 24, and for contingencies, half-pay, and out-pensioners of Chelsea Hospital: as by his memorial of the 11th instant.
The memorial of said Paymaster of the 31st ult. read, enclosing Sir Joseph Eyles's proposal for furnishing subsistence money to Minorca and Gibraltar, 1735, August 25, to October 24, read and agreed to as follows, the rates of exchange being as usual:—viz., 15,000 dollars for Minorca payable at sight in gold at 55d. per dollar; 25,000 dollars for Gibraltar payable at sight in gold at 54½d. per dollar.
Order for the issue to the Treasurer of the Ordnance of 20,000l. for artificers and carrying on the current service of the office, as by a memorial of the 12th instant.
Same for warrants to clear salaries payable at the Exchequer to Midsummer list, including the Gentlemen and Grooms of the Bedchamber.
Mr. Wilkins is to be paid 1,486l. 5s. by Mr. Lowther out of the King's money in his hands for “London Journals” delivered to the Post Office 1734–5, March 16, to June 28 following, including 266l. 13s. 4d. for writing.
Mr. Buckley is to be paid 980l. 14s. by same out of same for sundry charges and disbursements by him made for His Majesty's service.
[Treasury Minute Book XXVII. p. 344.]
Aug. 19. 122. Report to the Treasury from Edward Bangham and Duke Parsons, Deputy-Auditors, on the petition of Samuel Addis, relating to the accounts of Wm. Addis, formerly agent for victualling at Plymouth: as also on the report made to the Treasury thereupon by the Victualling Commissioners. 5 pages.
Appending:
—(a.) Said report of the Victualling Commissioners, dated Victualling Office, 1735, June 4, on Addis's petition as above. 6 pages.
(b.) Statement of said account of Wm. Addis. 1 sheet.
(c.) Said petition of Samuel Addis to the King, with Treasury order of reference, of date 1735, April 11. 3 pages.
[Treasury Board Papers CCLXXXIX. No. 32.]
Aug. 21.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers.
123. Present: Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Dodington, Lord Sundon, Earl of Cholmondeley.
Sir John Norris is to be paid 1,500l., in consideration of his extraordinary charges in the present expedition to Portugal. Order for a warrant for the Treasurer of the Navy to pay same accordingly.
Captain James Grant is to be paid 30l. out of the King's money in Mr. Lowther's hands.
The report from the Barons of the Exchequer [Scotland] touching a grant to be made to the Earl of Morton of an oyster fishery adjoining his estate, read and agreed to.
The Queen is pleased to pardon Thomas McAdam, a soldier in Col. Hamilton's regiment, for any accession of his in the slaughter of Hugh. Frazer, a proprietor of run goods at Inverness, as by a memorial in that behalf from the Customs Commissioners in Scotland. Said memorial to be transmitted to the Duke of Newcastle or his secretary to obtain a proper warrant for that purpose.
Leave of absence to Edward Berkely, tide surveyor at Portsmouth.
“Mr. Paxton is to take care that Thos. Lowndes, who assaulted Mr. Wrecker at his seat in the Treasury during the King's business there, be prosecuted with the utmost vigour.”
The four messengers of the Receipt of the Exchequer are to be paid 13l. 5s. by the hands of Mr. Lowther for the charges in sending post and dispersing in Scotland the Land Tax Acts of the last Session.
[Treasury Minute Book XXVII. p. 345; Letter Book XIX. p. 384.]
Aug. 21. 124. Treasury warrant to Wm. Lowndes and Charles Shelley, Auditors of the Land Revenues of the Crown, to charge their accounts in future with the payment of 50l. per annum to the Chelsea Water Works Company for purposes as below.
Prefixing:—Representation dated 1735, August 13, to the Treasury from the Governor and Company of Chelsea Water Works, signed by Mr. Cook, secretary thereof. According to their undertaking the company have supplied the Treasury at the Cockpit with water gratis till they were pulled down to be rebuilt. The company's water is laid into the new building, as also into the houses and stables, now to be united to the Treasury Office and possessed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and for these houses and stables the company used to receive 18l. per annum. The new services will require a prodigious quantity of water, which cannot fail being supplied without intermission, in regard the pipes are laid upon the main. The company have exhausted their capital of 40,000l., and are 20,000l. in debt. Pray, therefore, an allowance of 50l. per annum for the above water supply, notwithstanding the former Treasury having been served gratis. 3 pages.
[Treasury Board Papers CCLXXXIX. No. 33.]
Aug. 21. 125. Report to the Treasury from the Commissioners for Taxes on the petition of Robert Clarke, Surveyor of Houses for part of Norfolk, for the appointment of an additional surveyor, on account of the largeness of his division. Enclose thereupon a report (b.). The appointment of a third surveyor in Norfolk might raise the duties there, which have annually decreased from the commencement of the new duties on houses in 1710. Propose to discharge John (sic) Harmer, and employ Humphrey Cony in his place. 2 pages.
Appending:
—(a.) Said petition of Robert Clarke, with order of reference, dated 1735, August 6. 1 sheet. (b.) Report to the Commissioners for Taxes from James Underwood, one of the Surveyors General of House Duties, on the proceedings of the two surveyors of said duties for Norfolkshire. In the first division the Surveyor, Samuel (sic) Harmer, is a fat unwieldy man that seems not able to survey. His books are no more than a copy of the duplicates returned to the Remembrancer's office, which he has from the Receiver, whose sister he married. He could produce no survey book nor anything to show that he ever surveyed more than one town since he has been employed. He contents himself with attending the Justices for Norwich on the bringing in the assessments, and settling the duties there by seeing that the houses inhabited are charged. “I surveyed at his request his next neighbour's house, there having (as I observed) been some personal difference, where I advanced the new duty, 10s. I signed the assessment and left the surcharge with the parish officer. Upon comparing this division for the year 1733 with that of 1726. which was in this surveyor's predecessor's time there's a constant decrease in the duties every year except 1731, amounting in all [to] 190l. 7s. Add to that what was sunk between the year 1715 and 1726 and it will appear that the duties are lessened in this division [by] 612l. 19s. The like I hope is not to be parallel'd in the kingdom. These gradual and constant decreases in these duties are generally owing to the negligence of the officers that do not survey, but depend on their interest more than their own merit. I show'd this surveyor the method of keeping a book to enter his surveys regularly in, and gave him all the instructions I am capable of, and hope he will observe them…P.S.—The duties are not settled in the city of Norwich for 1734, which must be owing to the want of a proper application to the Mayor and Justices.” Robert Clarke, the surveyor in the second division, lives six miles from Norwich, and has some office under the Bishop of Norwich. His division is large, being 56 miles by 25, and there is employment for two surveyors therein. “This surveyor says in his letter that his last year's account is not compleated, occasion'd by a disagreement between the Justices in three Hundreds, that will not meet each other to settle and sign the duplicates.” 3 pages.
[Treasury Board Papers CCLXXXIX. No. 34.]
Aug. 22. 126. The Duke of Dorset, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, to the Treasury, conveying the Queen's pleasure for preparation of the proper instrument for granting to Dr. Thos. Rundle, Bishop of Derry, the rents, issues, and profits of said bishopric accruing during the vacancy of the see from the death of Dr. Henry Downes to dateof Dr. Rundle's letters patent. 1 page.
[Treasury Board Papers CCLXXXIX. No. 35.]
Aug. 26. 127. Account of debts due to the King in money and bonds by the several late collectors of the old duty on Scotch salt on the 24th June, 1735, with the bonds then due and how many thereof are in process. Certified by Anth. Norman, Assistant Comptroller General, Salt Office, Edinburgh. 1 page. [Ibid. No. 37.]
Aug. 28. 128. Treasury warrant for the execution of a Lord Chamberlain's warrant for the delivery to Thos. Cokayne, lately appointed Secretary to the Order of the Bath, of robes, detailed, for that office, viz., a mantle and surcoat of white satin, lined with crimson sarcenet, with three imperial crowns embroidered on blue taffeta and placed on the right shoulder and tied on the left with blue ribbon, a robe string of white silk, with crimson and gold tassels, a girdle covered with white Mantua silk, and a crimson satin bonnet. All to cost 28l. or thereabouts.
[Lord Chamberlain's Warrant Book II. pp. 34–5.]
Aug. 28.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers.
129. Present: Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Sundon, Earl of Cholmondeley.
The petition of Robert Sparke, tide surveyor, Dartmouth, for an increase of salary referred to the Customs Commissioners, their Lordships being inclined to augment same from 40l. to 50l., in case said Commissioners have no objection.
The Postmaster General's report of the 3rd June last read concerning dividing the post stage between Carlisle and Dumfries by making Annan a post town dependent on Carlisle, and allowing the Postmaster at Annan a moiety of the salary of the same at Dumfries. Agreed to.
Order for a warrant for issuing to Ann Kirk, widow of — Kirk, dogkeeper to Prince George of Denmark —out of the money of the late Queen in the Exchequer, in full of all pretensions and demands.
Same for a sign manual for the usual bounty of 400l. to Charles Hatton.
Mr. Lowther is to pay Arthur Onslow 45l. out of the King's money in his hands for nine days' allowance for his table money at 5l. per day, as Speaker of the House of Commons from the 14th January last inclusive (the day he was chosen) to the 23rd of the same month exclusive the day his warrant for paying said allowance is said to commence.
[Treasury Minute Book XXVII. p. 346.]
Aug. 30. 130. Representation to the Treasury from the Commissioners for Taxes, dated Office for Taxes. In furtherance of their previous memorial of 1735, June 3, supra p. 27, have made out an account from their office books of all the sums of money recovered and paid into the Exchequer on in supers set by the several Receivers of land taxes, house duties, marriages, &c., on their accounts, which were standing out at the time of the accession of His late Majesty. The total is 9,005l. 2s.d. “But as no roll of in supers hath been transmitted to us since that time, and that we have no knowledge of the state of His Majesty's land revenue, neither who are Receivers thereof, what arrears are in their hands, or what in supers have been set by them in passing their accounts, as well as on the land taxes since the year 1713, we cannot give your Lordships any account thereof, but humbly presume, when we shall be furnished with the necessary accounts from the several offices, other very considerable sums may also be recovered upon those branches of His Majesty's revenue.”
Minuted as under September 11, infra p. 50. 1 page.
Appending:
—(a.) An account of the several sums of money paid into the Exchequer from 1714, April 15, on the supers set by Receivers on certain aids and taxes detailed. 1 page.
[Treasury Board Papers CCLXXXIX. No. 39.]