Treasury Books and Papers: October 1739

Calendar of Treasury Books and Papers, Volume 4, 1739-1741. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1901.

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'Treasury Books and Papers: October 1739', in Calendar of Treasury Books and Papers, Volume 4, 1739-1741, (London, 1901) pp. 272-278. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books-papers/vol4/pp272-278 [accessed 12 April 2024]

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October 1739

Oct. 1.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers.
153. Present: Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Sundon, Mr. Winnington, Mr. Earle.
Order for a warrant a Privy Seal for a further 20,000l. to be issued to the Paymaster of the Forces as part of the 200,000l. appropriated by Parliament for extraordinaries of the war.
Write to the proper officers of the Mint to know what moneys are remaining in their hands of the profits arising to the crown from the copper coinage of half-pence and farthings.
Order for the issue to the Treasurer of the Navy of 10,900l. out of the Sinking Fund, anno 1740, for services as in his memorial of the 30th ult.
Mr. Lowe, the gardener's, petition for enlarging the stoves at Hampton Court, read and referred to the Board of Works.
“My Lords finding (upon the Cash Paper) 65,139l. 5s.d. of the Civil List Revenues in the Exchequer not disposed of, order 49,075l. 7s.d. to be issued thereout according to two letters [of direction] for that purpose entred in the Disposition Book.”
The Customs Commissioners' report of the 30th ult. on the petition of Henry Lascells for the re-shipment of Spanish prize tobacco imported from Jamaica to London, for a foreign port without paying duties at London, read and agreed to.
Order for the issue out of the Sinking Fund, anno 1740, of 46,600l. to the Paymasters of Exchequer Bills to supply the deficiency at Michaelmas, 1740, of the land tax, 1738, to discharge the principal on said bills.
[Treasury Minute Book XXVIII. pp. 254–5: Letter Book XIX. p. 549.]
Oct. 1. 154. The Navy Commissioners to the Treasury, dated from the Navy Office, in reply to John Scrope's query in his letter of the 16th instant [sic for ult.] concerning punctual payment of seamen's wages in accordance with the act of 1 Geo. II. The companies of His Majesty's ships which have been ordered on foreign voyages have been regularly paid the 2 months in 6 wages before they proceeded to sea. As the ships at home have been constantly paid a year's wages generally before the eighteen months became due, many of the captains of those ships have forborne to send lists to the Navy Office for payment of two months in 6 wages as the said act directs, thinking it most agreeable to their companies in regard to the punctual payment of the fleet to receive it all at once. When the commanders of the ships abroad have sent lists of such of their companies as have desired to be paid the payments thereon have been duly made. As to the second query concerning the application of moneys issued for wages conformably to said act, the said money has been constantly applied to the payment of ships as before-mentioned, and to such as have been paid off, to men removed to other ships, to dead men's tickets, and to 2 months' advance as the act directs. As to the query relating to the 703,123l. 12s.d. occurring in the account stated to the 10th September last [supra, p. 267] of the residue undisposed of, of the funds anno 1740, said amount is what remained to come in (at the time said account was stated) of the money given by Parliament for seamen's wages. Cannot determine how much of this may be wanted within the present year to pay wages. 2¼ pages.
[Treasury Board Papers CCCIV. No. 8.]
[after
Oct. 1.]
155. [Memorial to the Treasury in the form of a] statement with regard to the proceedings had by the Treasury in the case of Henry Popple, Agent and Paymaster to the Independent Companies at Jamaica, who absconded on the 26 March, 1739, being then indebted to the said Companies and to the Independent Company in the Island of New Providence: and proposing a clause for an act of Parliament for the benefit of said Companies, in case the Treasury are of opinion that unappropriated moneys may not be touched without authority of Parliament: and further stating the amount in the hands of the Master Worker of the Mint arisen from the profits of the copper coinage which are proposed as applicable for the above purpose. 4 pages.
[Ibid CCCIV. No. 9.]
Oct. 3.
whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers.
156. Present: Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Sundon, Mr. Earle.
John James to be surveyor of window lights for Radnorshire and part of Herefordshire, loco Herbert Lewis resigned.
Thomas Ripley's petition for filling up his lease of certain houses in Pall Mall referred to the Surveyor General of Crown Lands.
Order for the issue to Mr. Paxton, out of Civil List Revenues, of 1,500l. on his unsatisfied order for law charges.
Viscount Torrington's memorial for 4,068l. 8s. 6d. to be allowed in his account as late Treasurer of the Navy, for rewards and charges in bringing said account to a conclusion, to be transmitted to the Auditors of Imprests to examine and report after inspecting precedents and the practice on this occasion.
Mr. Lowther to pay out of the King's money in his hands 100l. to Joshua Thomas who was sent by Admiral Vernon with the news of taking Fort Chagre; and 30l. 18s. 0d. to John Shepherd, assistant to the messengers of the Treasury for extraordinary services performed by him in 1739 as by his bill thereof.
[Treasury Minute Book XXVIII. p. 256; Letter Book XIX. p. 549.]
Oct. 6. 157. Copy of the statement of opinion by Sir D. Ryder, Attorney General, on a case submitted as follows relating to the duty on rye imported at Newcastle, viz: “At the Grand Quarter Sessions of the Peace, holden for Newcastle upon Tyne, 16 April, 1740, the price of rye amongst other sorts of grain, was agreeable to the act 5 Geo.II., presented by the Grand Jury to be 3s. per bushell, Winchester measure, which is 24s. per quarter, a proper certificate whereof was signed by the Justices of the Peace and sent to Collector of the Customs at Newcastle. At an adjournment of the same General Quarter Sessions, held on the 28 May, 1740, for the same town … the price of rye … was (agreeable to the act, 1 Ja. II.) upon the oaths of two qualify'd persons rated at 4s. 6s. per bushell Winchester measure, which is 36s. per quarter, and a certificate thereof, with an affidavit of the persons who made the rate was also sent to the Collector of the Customs at Newcastle. At another adjournment of the same General Quarter Sessions held on the 11 June, 1740 … for the same town, the price of rye only was upon the oaths of the same two qualifyed persons rated at 5s. 2d. per bushell, Winchester measure, which is 2l. 1s. 4d. per quarter and a certificate” &c., and was sent as above. In the case of rye imported by Mr. Lyddell into Newcastle, according to which of these rates or prices must duty be paid? 8½ pages.
[Treasury Board Papers CCCIV. No. 10.]
Oct. 7. 158. Representation to the Treasury from the Taxes Commissioners, London, dated Office for Taxes. Mr. Whitefoord, Receiver General of Land Tax for North Britain, has this day represented through his agent, Mr. Douglas, the revival of the practice of officers in North Britain taking their subsistence money from private persons for their own lucre, instead of from the said Receiver General, in distinct contravention of the Treasury Order of 1723, June 14. The public is hereby damaged, interest being paid for money while money at the same time lay in the hands of the Receiver for want of remittances.
Endorsed:—1740, Oct. 8. Enforce the former minute. 1 page.
Appending
:—(a) Representation to the Earl of Stair from Robert Jacomb, dated Whitehall Pay Office, 1723, June 14, forwarding (a) (1) infra for enforcement thereof on the spot. 1 page.
Enclosing
: (a) (1) Copy of the Treasury Minute of 1723, June 14, ut infra, p. 275. 1 page.
[Ibid. No 11.]
Oct. 8.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers.
159. Present: Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Sundon, Mr. Earle.
Order for the following issues out of the Civil List revenues:—
£ s. d.
To Mr. Scrope for Secret Service 6,000 0 0
To the Robes for 1740, Xmas quarter 661 2 11¼
Order for a warrant for the Lords Justices to sign for 500l. each to Messrs. Couraud and Stone for their service as Secretaries, and for 300l. more to be distributed to the clerks and servants of the Secretary of State's office for their extraordinary trouble and attendance on the Lords Justices.
William Jenkins (appointed a tidesman on the inferior list, London port, by warrant of the August 15th last on the recommendation of Hanbury Williams, and loco Michael Richards, deceased), is to have the next vacancy of the like office there in regard that vacancy was supplied by another person, Jenkins being out of town and his warrant not pursued. John Shelvocke appointed rolling press printer in the Stamp Office, loco John Doleman, deceased. Two presentments from the Customs Commissioners of the 6th instant read and agreed to as follows, viz.: William Sadler and Thomas Quayfe, junior, to be tidesmen in the inferior list, London port, locis Henry Rutland and James Glover, deceased.
A letter from the Revenue Commissioners, Ireland, of the 26th ult. read, in reply to Mr. Scrope's of the 11th ult., concerning Luke Mercer, commander of the “Revenue” brigantine, “and acquainting my Lords that they will determine nothing about Mr. Mercer until their Lordships' pleasure shall be signified, and that they have writ to Mr. Mercer to send the said vessel home.”
“My Lords being made acquainted by a representation from the Commissioners for Taxes dated the 7th instant, that the practice is again revived by the Paymasters of the regiments quartered in Scotland of taking up money for their own lucre from private persons there for the subsistence of the said regiments, instead of applying for the same to the Receiver General there, by which means the said Receiver's payments into the Exchequer are much retarded, and the public injured by paying interest here for the money lying in the hands of the said Receiver there for want of remittances: their Lordships have recourse to a minute taken the 14th of June, 1723, touching this affair, and upon reading same do declare their opinion that this injury to the public … must be redressed, and do therefore order as it was by the former minute ordered ‘that the Paymaster of the Forces or his deputy do let the Colonels of all the troops now or hereafter in Scotland and their Agents or Paymasters know that it is His Majesty's express pleasure they do take their subsistence out of the public money from time to time in the hands of the said Receiver and give bills for the same on the Paymaster of the Forces here: and that the said Paymaster or his Deputy after His Majesty's pleasure be made known as aforesaid do reject all bills drawn for subsistence that are not made payable to the said Receiver or his order unless it shall sufficiently appear that the said Receiver was not in cash to supply the same, and in case the Colonels, their Agents, Paymasters or others concerned do neglect or slight this affair which so much imports the public service, the said Paymaster or his Deputy is to represent the same to my Lords.’ Transmit a copy of the aforegoing minute to the said Paymaster General for him to take such measures with the Colonels of the said regiments or their Paymasters as may render this service effectual.”
Mr. Walker, the lamp-lighter for the Houses of Parliament, is to be paid 218l. 15s. 0d. on the report of the Board of Works of August 12 last for the lamps lighted last session.
Order for the issue to the Treasurer of the Navy, out of money in the Exchequer of the Sinking Fund for the service of 1740, of 15,000l. to be sent to Messrs. Calwell, Lawton and Carleton, merchants at Cork, Ireland, in Portugal money to pay for beef, pork and butter for the service of the Navy as by his memorial of the 17th [sic for 7th?] instant and to be placed to the head of Victualling.
[Treasury Minute Book XXVIII. pp. 257–9; Letter Book XIX. p. 549.]
Oct. 14. 160. J. Scrope to the Customs Commissioners to give orders for sending the baggage of the Countess of Yarmouth, and of his Excellency Baron Steinberg (which is arrived on board the ships which attended his Majesty from Holland) to their respective houses in St. James's, to be opened and examined there. So also for the remainder of their baggage which is expected soon by way of Hamburg.
[Customs Book XV. p. 18.]
Oct. 15. 161. Treasury warrant to the Surveyor-General of Crown Lands for a particular of lands, &c., at Chatham, of which William Horsmandon Turner prays a lease.
Prefixing:—Report to the Treasury from said Surveyor-General on said Turner's petition. Said lands were resumed by the Crown under the Act 7 Anne, for fortifying Portsmouth, Chatham, and Harwich, the premises at Chatham and Gillingham, amongst the rest, having been purchased of divers persons for 16,734l. 16s. 4d. But as the plan of the intended fortifications was not carried out, a grant of the same was made by Exchequer lease of 8 Aug., 3 Geo. I. to Sarles Goatley at a rental of 330l. per an., under a proviso for the resumption of same if ever it should be thought fit to fortify those places. The premises consist of 116 small tenements in Chatham in very bad repair, inhabited chiefly by fishermen, labourers, and other poor people, and worth about 4l. per an. one with another, and about 198a. 2r. of land in Chatham, Gillingham and Brompton, worth together about 12s. 6d. per acre, besides a rent of 8l. per an. payable by the officers of the Navy for a piece of ground formerly enclosed in the King's yards. The total rental is therefore about 600l. per an. “This includes the whole of the estate purchased for fortifying Chatham except a piece of ground containing 2a. 1r. 9p. 64y. where Chatham Mill and part of the Millpool were formerly situate, which is now demolished and the ground is in possession of the Officers of the Ordnance for the public service.” As the rents were unpaid and the covenants disregarded the premises were resumed in 1725 and granted to Sir Edmond Bacon, of Gillingham, who has paid as little regard to either as the former lessee, several million bricks having been made and sold on them annually by one James Hicks, a sub-tenant, without any other authority than verbal leave as he says from the said Bacon.
[Crown Lease Book V. pp. 389–91.]
Oct. 24.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers.
162. Present: Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Sundon, Mr. Winnington, Mr. Earle.
“The King having appointed George Treby to be one of the Lords Commissioners of his Treasury in the room of George Dodington Esq., the commission for that purpose was this day opened and read and is as follows.” … [being entered in full].
Orders for the following issues out of moneys remaining in the Exchequer of the Sinking Fund for the service of 1740:—
£ s. d.
To the Treasurer of the Ordnance for land and sea services 30,000l. each for services as in his memorial of the 13th instant 60,000 0 0
To the Paymaster of the Forces to carry on the subsistence to 1740, Dec. 24, as by same of the 20th instant 166,275 0 0
To the Treasurer of the Navy for Wear and Tear and Wages as by same of the 22nd instant 10,000 0 0
To the Paymaster of Marines as by same of the 21 st instant 1,620 0 0
The proposal of Messrs. Burrell and Bristow for remittances to Minorca and Gibraltar, 1740, Oct. 25 to Dec. 24, read and agreed to as follows, the rates of exchange being certified by the Paymaster of the Forces to be as usual, viz.:—
25,500 dollars for Gibraltar payable in gold at sight at 54½d. per dollar.
25,000 dollars for Minorca payable in gold at sight at 55d. per dollar.
[Treasury Minute Book XXVIII. pp. 260–2.]
Oct. 28.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers.
163. Present: Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Winnington, Mr. Earle.
Mr. Carkesse's letter to Mr. Scrope of the 16th instant read concerning a small Spanish privateer found adrift at sea without anybody on board and brought into Rye by William Macham, a fisherman. The Customs Commissioners to give information to the King's Proctor at Doctors Commons for him to assert the King's right, if any, thereto, and to take care of disposing thereof to the best advantage.
A letter of the 27th instant, signed A. Carlton read, concerning a considerable sum of money to which the King is entitled by the death of Mary King, a natural daughter of Col. King, formerly member for Queenborough. Mr. Paxton to examine carefully into the affair and report.
Mr. Carkesse's letter of the 24th instant, read with an enclosure to the Customs Commissioners from the Collector and Comptroller of Sunderland giving an account of 5 vessels which about 3 weeks since landed at Dunkirk from Ireland, laden with Irish wool. To be sent to Mr. Burchett to be laid before the Admiralty Lords with the Treasury's recommendation for a cruiser to be stationed in those seas to prevent said illegal trade.
Order for a warrant for authorising the Paymaster of the Forces to pay the following out of moneys in his hands that may be applied to those purposes, viz.:—
£ s. d.
To answer other bills of exchange from Gen. Oglethorpe in America on Herman Varelst payable to Thomas Jones 200 0 0
To George Wright, Commissary for the late encampments, on account of provisions, hay, straw, wood, &c. 4,000 0 0
“My Lords on consideration of the memorial now read from the Auditor of the Receipt of Exchequer and the Trustees of the Million Bank relating to an order to which the said Trustees are entitled being for an annuity of 14l. per an. purchased on an Act 9 Will. III. in reversion of the life of Francis [sic for Frances] Lloyd then supposed in being but lately appearing to be dead before the purchase made, find good and sufficient cause to consent and agree that the said reversionary annuity should continue to be paid to the Bank who have had the receipt thereof from Michaelmas 1701 without any stoppage or abatement whatsoever other than 28l. for 2 years' annuity to conform to another act of the 11th and 12th of the said King whereby the nominees of such annuities were to be taken as dead in case certificates of their lives were not produced within two years after the annuities became payable. Ordered therefore that a warrant be prepared for confirming the said annuity to the Million Bank accordingly.”
[Treasury Minute Book XXVIII. pp. 263–4; Letter Book XIX. p. 551; Customs Book XV. p. 18.]
Oct. 28. 164. Memorial to the Treasury from Herman Verelst for 200l., the value of bills drawn on him by General Oglethorpe from America, to the order of Thomas Jones, for sundries on account of the Cherokee and other Indians engaged in His Majesty's service against the Spaniards in the siege of Augustine: said bills falling due the 11th of next month.
Endorsed: 28 Oct., 1740. To be issued without deduction. Acquaint Mr. Verelst that my Lords will not pay any more bills of this kind, and that he signify their Lordships' pleasure to General Oglethorpe. 1 page.
[Treasury Board Papers CCCIV. No. 16.]