Treasury Books and Papers: March 1731

Calendar of Treasury Books and Papers, Volume 2, 1731-1734. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1898.

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'Treasury Books and Papers: March 1731', in Calendar of Treasury Books and Papers, Volume 2, 1731-1734, (London, 1898) pp. 21-34. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books-papers/vol2/pp21-34 [accessed 28 March 2024]

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March 1731

March 2. 69. An account of the produce of the several Land Taxes for 10 years last past, with the charges of interest and other deductions which have been made thereout, certified by Alexander Chocke; the deductions comprising only interest on loans and circulation of Exchequer bills charged on the said Land Taxes.
Memorandum:—The other deductions out of the several land taxes do not appear at the Receipt of Exchequer. But by the several Acts granting same there is to be allowed by the auditors in passing the Receiver's accounts the following deductions:—2d. per £ to receivers, 3d. per £ to collectors, 1½d. per £ to commissioners' clerks, as also moneys discharged by certificates from the Barons of the Exchequer to reduce the double tax to a single one in cases where Papists take the oaths or their estates come to Protestants. And likewise by the Act for mutiny and desertion the justices of the peace by their warrants are authorised to charge the collectors of the land tax with the payment of 20s. for every deserter apprehended within their respective districts of collection. 2 pages. [Ibid, No. 26.]
March 4. 70. Warrant from the Lords of the Treasury to the Commissioners of Customs recommending John Elliot to be an officer at the Port of Cape Fair, North Carolina, that some care may be had of the trade carrying on there, and directing a consideration of the character or denomination under which such an officer may be most properly deputed, his instructions and salary, reporting same to their Lordships, who are “credibly informed that a considerable trade hath for several years been carried on between the inhabitants of New England and the inhabitants of North Carolina, and that the ships and vessels employed in the said trade frequent a port on the Carolina coast called Cape Fair which, as represented unto us, is the only port on that coast wherein large ships and vessels can enter, and said to be a more commodious port than that of Charleston, in South Carolina.”
[Customs Book XIII. p. 163.]
March 4. 71. Order from same for execution of a warrant from the Duke of Grafton to the Duke of Montagu for the delivery to His Majesty's sergeant trumpeter and to each of the 16 trumpeters and four kettle drummers of the Horse Guards a velvet coat trimmed with gold lace and His Majesty's cipher embroidered with all other particulars as usual, the sergeant trumpeter receiving for his own particular livery the value thereof as usually.
Memorandum:—The particulars of this warrant will come to 1,575l. or thereabouts. 1730–1, February 10. Tho. Drummer. John Halls, Comptroller.
[Lord Chamberlain's Warrant Book I. p. 345.]
March 4.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers.
72. Present:—Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Dodington, Sir Geo. Oxenden.
Order for the issue of 20,000l. to the Paymaster of the Forces out of the supplies anno 1731 upon account of the pay of the troops of Hesse Cassel.
Wm. Godwin, on the recommendation of Mr. Fortescue, appointed tide surveyor in the Port of Cowes loco Richard Fancourt, deceased.
Jacob Bonel is to be paid 10l. by Mr. Lowther out of the King's money in his hand as His Majesty's bounty.
[Treasury Minute Book XXV. p. 1.]
March 9. 73. J. Scrope to the Commissioners of Customs, enclosing an account of the taking of two parcels from John Bandry, one of His Majesty's messengers, who arrived here last Sunday from France, said parcels having been given him by Earl Waldegrave to bring over, one for the Sardinian envoy, the other for the Duchess of Montagu. The envoy has assured the Lords of the Treasury that his parcel is but the habit of an order of knighthood, to which he is promoted. Their Lordships therefore direct both parcels to be delivered to the consignees.
[Letter Book XI. p. 33.]
March 10. 74. Treasury warrant for the execution of a warrant from the Duke of Grafton to the Duke of Montagu, for the provision to the four drummers and four hautboys of the first troop of Horse Guards under Col. Fane, of new liveries, viz. to each a crimson cloth lined with blue serge trimmed with broad and narrow gold arras lace, and the sleeves faced with blue cloth, one pair of crimson cloth breeches, a crimson cloth cloak faced with blue serge and laced round the cape with a narrow gold arras lace, one leather belt stitched and laced with gold, one cordebeck hat trimmed with gold, with a gold band, and one black velvet cap.
Memorandum:—This warrant will come to 212l. or thereabouts. 1730–1, March 5. Thos. Dummer. John Halls, Comptroller.
[Lord Chamberlain's Warrant Book I. p. 345]]
March 10.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers.
75. Present:— Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Dodington, Mr. Clayton, Sir William Yonge.
Mr. Lowther is to pay 50l. out of the King's money in his hand to Charles King, late Chamber Keeper to the Treasury Office, as His Majesty's bounty. [Treasury Minute Book XX. p. 2.]
March 11.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers.
76. Present:—Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Clayton, Sir Wm. Yonge.
Order for the issue to the Treasurer of the Chamber of 5,376l. 19s. 11d. which with 269l. 15s. repaid him by Mr. Keen is to clear the expense in that office to 1730, Christmas.
[Ibid. p. 3.]
[After
March 12.]
77. A paper of extracts of various Acts of Parliament relating to transactions between the South Sea Company and the Treasury, 6 Geo. I. to S Geo. I. in the matter of the loan of 1,000,000l. to the Company, from the Exchequer. Together with a statement of the balance for interest on interest remaining due upon account of same; the capital having been repaid in two instalments, 1722, December 5, and 1723, March 25, but the interest having only been paid into the Exchequer, 1730–1. March 12. 3 pages. [Treasury Board Papers CCLXXV. No. 29.]
March 13. 78. Royal sign manual directed to Henry Pelham, Esq. Paymaster-General of Guards, Garrisons, and Land Forces, and countersigned by three Lords of the Treasury directing the issue, out of sums imprested to him for supplies anno 1731, of sums not exceeding 25,000l. to the Duke of Brunswick Lüneburg Wolfenbüttel for one year's subsidy to the said Duke, pursuant to a treaty, dated 1727, November 15.
[King's Warrant Book XXX. p. 152.]
March 14. 79. Warrant under the royal sign manual to the Earl of Scarborough, Master of the Horse, authorising the issue of 286l. to the Underkeepers of His Majesty's Forests, in full of the fees as formerly allowed for stags, hinds, and bucks, killed by His Majesty's staghounds, from His Majesty's accession.
Appending:—An account, distinguished according to the various forests, of the stags, hinds, and bucks hunted and killed by His Majesty's hounds since his accession to 1730, October 13.
[Ibid, pp. 154–6.]
March 16.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers.
80. Present:—Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Dodington, Sir Wm. Yonge.
Order for payment at the Exchequer of a pension of 200l. per annum, to Archibald Earl of Ilay, and Coll. John Middleton, for benefit and maintenance of the children of Lord Forbes, lately deceased. The like for another pension of 200l. per annum, to be paid in like manner to John Earl of Kintore and 100l. per annum, to Lord Mordington in addition to the 100l. now payable to him. All these pensions to commence from Midsummer last, and to continue during His Majesty's pleasure. The necessary warrant or warrants ordered accordingly.
Order for the issue to the Paymaster of the Forces of 38,000l. out of the supplies, anno 1731, and for the preparation of a sign manual authorising him to pay out the like sum, as also a further sum of 33,023l. 17s.d. out of any monies remaining in his hand, to Spencer Earl of Wilmington, late Paymaster of the Forces, upon account and towards clearing all services under his care of payment to 1730, June 24, at which time his account as Paymaster is to be closed; all in accordance with his memorial on this behalf of the 16th instant.
Posthumus Beckford, one of the Deputy King's Waiters in the Port of London, is, at the recommendation of Walter Chetwynd, to be appointed a land-waiter there on a vacancy.
Mr. John Gore is to give his bills on Hamburg for 68,687½ dollars, payable in Copenhagen at 2½ usance, and at 51½ d. per dollar which will amount to 14,739l. 3s. 10d.
Edmund Curll's representation for improving the Revenue of the Stamps, read and referred to the Commissioners for Stamps.
[Treasury Minute Book XXVII. p. 4.]
March 17. 81. Memorial from the Earl of Wilmington to the Lords of the Treasury. Represents that on the reduction of the army in 1729, he was directed by royal warrant of 1729–30, January 24, to pay the bounty money to the men then disbanded out of the pay saved thereby, and to apply remainder of said savings towards satisfying the remainder of the assignments, of the off-reckonings of the said reduced men. Therefore, lays before their Lordship's a state [wanting] of the amount of the savings of the pay of the said reduced men, how much thereof has been paid them, as of His Majesty's royal bounty, what part thereof is applicable towards paying the aforesaid assignments, and of the amount of memorialist's proportion of the sum granted by Parliament to complete what is due on these assignments to 1730, June 24. Hereupon prays a warrant authorising his paying 2,324l. 6s. 1d. part of 5,061l. 9s. 9d. saved by the said disbandment for the bounty money paid to the several regiments of dragoons, footguards and marching regiments of foot in Great Britain, according to the certificates signed by the respective colonels or commanding officers, as also the payment of the remainder of the sum saved as aforesaid, viz. 2,737l. 3s. 8d. towards satisfying the assignments of the said reduced men; and likewise for payment by memorialist of the sum of 5,097l. 19s. 3d. being his proportion of the sums granted by Parliament to make good the deficiency in the savings to discharge the said assignments for the off-reckonings of the disbanded men to the abovesaid date. Pay Office, Horse Guards. 1 page.
Endorsed:
—1731, September 29, “Prepare a warrant.”
[Treasury Board Papers CCLXXV. No. 30.]
March 18. 82. Presentment by the Commissioners of the Salt Duty to the Lords of the Treasury, on the application of many of the late salt officers to the Commissioners of Excise, nearly one half of them being debarred from obtaining employment in the Excise by reason of the age limit of 40 years. Beg that men thus debarred from Excise may be employed in the Customs where possible, some of the men having served ever since the commencement of the salt duty in 1694, and their voluntary superannuation fund being now cut off. Salt Office, London. 2 pages.
Appending:
—Petition to the King from the collector, supervisor, officers, and watchmen, late employed in the salt duties in Northwich collection, Cheshire, on behalf of themselves and all the officers late employed in that duty. Represent their long services and poor subsistence, and low circumstances owing to the excessive dearness of all manner of provisions for some years past, and the epidemical distemper. Pray relief of the royal bounty. 1 sheet (with 26 signatures.)
[Treasury Board Papers CCLXXV. No. 31.]
March 18. 83. J. Scrope to the Commissioners of Customs, transmitting from the Lords of the Treasury, for their consideration, the draft of a bill for laying additional duties on low wines and spirits prepared by the Commissioners of Excise. The Commissioners to attend their Lordships thereupon on Tuesday next. Also requiring an account of the net produce of the old subsidy for three years last past, with deductions thereout for bounty upon corn exported. [Letter Book XIX. p. 34.]
March 18.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers.
84. Present:—Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Clayton, Sir Wm, Yonge.
Ordered that the salary of the office of surveyor of lands and inspector of quit rents in the Province of South Carolina be 100l. per annum. Carolina money and no more, and that the instrument for granting that office to St. John be filled up accordingly.
Order for the preparation of a warrant on the letters patent dormant for issuing 75l. to John Lawton, to reimburse the charge he has been at in purchasing many records and extracts belonging to the late Peter le Neve's collection, which are to be deposited and kept, with other the records belonging to the Crown, in the Treasury of the Exchequer now in the custody of the said Mr. Lawton. The fees thereof to be paid by Mr. Lowther out of the King's money in his hands.
[Treasury Minute Book XXVII. p. 5.]
March 19. 85. Warrant under the royal sign manual to Edward Harley and Thos. Foley, Auditors of Imprests, authorising them to pass and allow in the accounts of the late and present Paymasters General of the Forces, all such sums as shall appear to have been issued by them for the pay of the Hessian forces between 1728, December 25, and 1730, December 24, agreeable to the establishments made for that time, notwithstanding that no muster rolls have been regularly taken of them, pursuant to their several establishments, for the said time; Major General Richard Sutton, appointed Envoy Extraordinary to the Landgrave of Hesse, with instructions to review the said troops from time to time as he should see occasion, having returned two authentic certificates as below “By which it appears that as no commissary had been appointed to muster the said Hessian forces, he did, in lieu and for want of such an officer, in pursuance of his said instructions, take a review of the said Hessian forces, and found them in all respects complete, according to their respective establishments.”
Appending:—Two certificates as above by Sutton, for the years 1729 and 1730, as follows: “Pursuant, &c. … I have taken a review of the troops of Hesse Cassel, consisting of four regiments of horse of 550 men in each, making 2,200 men, two regiments of dragoons of 908 men each, making 1,816, the whole of horse and dragoons amounting to 4,016; and 13 battalions of foot, consisting of 626 each battalion, making in the whole 8,154, all which I do certify to have found complete and fit for immediate service, according to their respective establishments for the year 1729.” [King's Warrant Book XXX. pp. 177–8.]
March 20. 86. Petition of the inhabitants of the Isle of Thanet and town of Margate [to the Lords of the Treasury] praying that for their ease and the encouragement of the fishery and foreign trade a proper officer may be established at Margate to receive the Customs, to land all foreign goods, and to give the necessary despatches to the hoys, &c. Referred to the Commissioners of Customs. [Reference Book IX. p. 447.]
March 22. 87. Letters patent dormant constituting James St. John, Surveyor General for the admeasuring, surveying, and setting out of lands in South Carolina, and inspector and controller of the quit rents and other rents and revenues in North and South Carolina, with a salary of 100l. per annum in the proclamation money of Carolina. [King's Warrant Book XXX. pp. 179–80.]
March 23. 88. Memorial from Nicholas Paxton to the Lords of the Treasury. The several persons in whom were vested the estate and interest in the Auction Room and Coffee Room formerly part of the Court of Wards, and now fitted up for the footmen attending members of the House of Commons, have executed conveyances thereof to persons in trust for His Majesty. The consideration money amounts to 1,050l. A sum of money was formerly imprested to Mr. Cracherode for that service, but he having laid it out in defraying other expenses relating to His Majesty's affairs, the persons entitled apply to memoralist for payment. Prays 1,200l. to be ordered him upon account to enable him to discharge said consideration money.
Endorsed:—March 25. To be issued to Mr. Paxton. 1 page.
[Treasury Board Papers CCLXXV. No. 32.]
89. Petition of Josiah Colebrooke, from the Fleet, to Sir Robert Walpole and the other Lords of the Treasury, enclosing copy of a petition as below, to the Commissioners of the Customs. Is still detained a close prisoner in the Fleet in the greatest want, with a wife and two children lamenting over him. Is likewise “oppressed by the Tory party for his perfect regard (some say to a fault) for the present party.” Encloses a paper [a.] to show how Sir Humphry Parsons and his party have injured him. 1 sheet.
Appending:
— (a.) Petition dated 1730–1, March 17, of Josiah Colebrooke to the Commissioners of the Customs from the Fleet Prison By petitioner's scheme His Majesty has gained above 50,000l. per annum advantage, that sum having been lost by frauds for seven years before. Can set forth a vast number of ships by which the frauds were committed, as much as 300l. damage having been done in one ship, and the surveyors and landwaiters ignorant of it. Petitioner and the other three husbands concerned with him have lost 100l. per annum each. 1 page.
[Treasury Board Papers CCLXXV. No. 33.]
March 23. 90. J. Scrope to the Secretary at War, transmitting a memorial from the Commissioners of Excise, complaining that great quantities of goods are run upon the coast of Sussex, and that the smugglers are very numerous and their gangs too large to be attempted by the officers of the Revenue, and therefore desiring the despatch thither of a troop of horse or dragoons to assist the officers of the Revenue. [Letter Book XIX. p. 34.]
March 23. 91. Dormant warrant from the Lords of the Treasury to Wm. Lowndes, Esq. one of the auditors of the Land Revenues, authorising the making forth of debentures from time to time upon the receivers of His Majesty's land revenues of the county of Middlesex for paying to the chief bailiff of the Court of Record within the liberty of the Tower of London 50l. per annum to be applied to pay the rent of a house for holding a court there, and to be made use of as a prison, said allowance to commence from 1730, Michaelmas; and also for the same for the further sum of 30l. to be expended and applied in making a house so to be hired a convenient court house and a safe prison by iron work or otherwise.
Prefixing:—A report dated 1730, August 17, from Auditor Wm. Lowndes to the Lords of the Treasury on a report of the Right Hon. Lord Lonsdale, Constable of the Tower, upon a petition of the Steward of the Court there for a court house and prison to be erected there at the expense of the Crown. Finds that a court house and prison were formerly kept in the Tower, as mentioned in Lord Lonsdale's report, and that the places where the same were kept were converted unto other uses for the service of the Crown. There is no account of the said court house or prison, nor does it appear that the same ever brought in any profit or revenues to the Crown of any kind. Proposes expenditure as above. “As for erecting or building a new court house and prison at the expense of the Crown, the charge thereof not being set forth or mentioned, I cannot certifie your Lordships how far the revenue of Middlesex will bear that expense, which may be estimated communibus annis at about 500l. per annum clear of all charges.”
[Warrants not relating to Money XXIV. pp. 351–2.]
March 23.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers.
92. Present:—Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Clayton, Sir Wm. Yonge.
The Commissioners of Customs and of Excise attended. “Their Lordships discoursed them generally in relation to the Bill intended to be brought into Parliament for new modelling the duties on spirits drawn from corn, and for giving a bounty on the exportation of such spirits, so as our trade may rival the Dutch, who, exporting our corn and drawing back the duty, or having a bounty thereupon, make spirits therefrom and vend same cheaper than we by 20 per cent.”
The memorial of the Paymaster of the Forces for 40,052l. 15s. 2d. for a month's subsistence to guards and garrisons to 1731, April 24, and for 20,000l. on account of the pay of the Hessians, read and ordered out of the supplies, anno 1731.
Like order for the issue to the Paymaster of the Forces, out of the same supplies, of 14,739l. 3s. 10d. to discharge His Majesty's warrant payable to John Gore for bills of exchange for Copenhagen, according to the Paymaster's memorial of the 22nd instant.
[Treasury Minute Book XXVII. p. 6.]
March 24. 93. Petition of John Smith and Win. Leslie, deputy chamberlains of the Exchequer [to the Lords of the Treasury], praying payment of 302l. 11s. due to them, being 2s. per 1,000l. on 3,025,500l. paid into the Exchequer for striking tallies. Referred to the Auditors of Imprests. [Reference Book IX. p. 428.]
94. Same of Sir Charles Turner, one of the four Tellers of the Exchequer, praying repayment of 147l. 10s. for several necessary repairs which upon his entrance into his office he caused to be made to the house which belonged to Lord Wm. Powlett as Teller, deceased. Referred to the Auditor of the Receipt. [Ibid, p. 429.]
1731.
March 25.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers.
95. Present:—Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Dodington, Sir Wm. Yonge, Mr. Clayton.
The report of the Commissioners of the Customs of the 24th instant on Thomas Ellis's memorial read, praying that brandies imported by him from Dunkirk, and for which the Flemish duty has been paid as usual upon such importations, may be released from the seizure they are now under as being French brandies. Their Lordships have it not in their power to give petitioner relief therein.
The Commissioners of Excise attending are called in and discoursed again in relation to the duties on spirits drawn from corn and the bounty to be given thereupon, which by accounts read to their Lordships upon the present foot will amount to 9d. per gallon and 10l. 8s. per tun, or thereabouts. Their Lordships order the Commissioners to prepare heads of a bill, and therein to proportion the bounty for spirits exported suitable only to the bounty allowed for exporting of corn, without regarding the duty on malt as any part thereof, and also to settle the oath on exportation in the manner proposed by them.
Order for the preparation of a warrant for issuing to Mr. Paxton 1,200l. on account of law charges to be applied to defray the charge of fitting up the rooms in the Court of Request for the service of the House of Commons; the money before ordered for this service to Mr. Cracherade being otherwise applied upon his account.
The memorial of the Treasurer of the Navy of this day's date for Lady Day quarter's salary to the Lords of the Admiralty and the Commissioners and other officers of the Navy, read and ordered to be issued out of the supplies for 1731.
Their Lordships order that the scheme agreed on for the ensuing lottery, which is as follows, be printed by way of news in some of the weekly papers:—
£
80,000 tickets at 10l. each - - 800,000
2 tickets of 10,000l. each 20,000
4 tickets of 5,000l. each 20,000
2 tickets of 3,000l. each 6,000
5 tickets of 2,000l. each 10,000
14 tickets of 1,000l. each 14,000
21 tickets of 500l. each 10,500
237 tickets of 100l. each 23,700
7,715 tickets of 20l. each 154,300
first drawn ticket 500
Last drawn ticket 1,000
8,000 benefits 260,000
72,000 blanks at 7l. 10s. each 540,000
80,000 800,000
[Treasury Minute Book XXVII pp. 7–8.]
March 25. 96. An establishment of pensions by the King, countersigned by the Lords of the Treasury, and payable by Walter Chetwynde, Esq. entitled “an establishment of certain annual pensions or bounties which our royal pleasure is, shall commence from the 25th day of December 1730, and be from thenceforth paid by quarterly payments during our pleasure … and we do hereby declare that our former establishments bearing date the 31st day of October 1727, and all warrants under our royal sign manual making or authorising other annual pensions or bounties to be added thereunto shall cease …. our warrant bearing date the 11th day of December 1727, allowing 8,591l. 10s. per annum to the French Protestants only excepted.” Given at St. James's, 1731, March 25.
The list of recipients of bounties is arranged alphabetically, and includes 288 names or items, succeeded by 40 other items of pensions of a more public nature, the total of the whole establishment being 39,215l. 14s. 4d. per annum. Among the items is the following “Vaudois churches 500l. which said yearly sum is to be as well for those which are in the valleys as for those which are dispersed in the counties of Wartemburg and Darmstadt, the same to be received by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and our almoner for the time being, and John Chetwynde, Esq. or such persons as they or any two of them shall nominate and appoint, to be distributed for the benefit aid and assistance of the said churches in such manner as they in their discretion shall think fit.”
Appending:—A memorandum as follows: —
£ s. d.
Established as above - 39,215 15 4
More subsequent list— French pensioners - - - 7,382 0 0
46,597 15 4
[King's Warrant Book XXX. p. 164–71.]
March 25. 97. A similar list, similarly countersigned, of pensions payable by Mr. Blagny's hands to the French Protestant refugees, from same date, same to annul previous establishment, dated 1727, October 31. Given ut supra.
The list of recipients names is, as above, arranged alphabetically, and contains 140 names, with a yearly total of 7,382l. and concludes with the following directions, “the said Jacob de la Motte Blagny shall between each quarterly payment to be made to him produce a certificate signed by three at least of the principal refugees residing in London of the alterations made in the aforegoing establishment by the death of any the persons therein named, and that so much shall be abated from time to time out of the next and every quarterly payment thereafter to be made to the said Jacob de la Motte Blagny as ought to be saved upon the said establishment from the day of such the decease of any the persons therein named.” Blagny or other paymaster, to deliver over the acquittances for payments made by him, to the Auditors of the Imprests. The establishment to be entered in the respective offices of the said Auditors of the Imprests before any payments in pursuance thereof. [Ibid, pp. 172–7.]
[March 25 after.] 98. A list of ships and vessels entered inwards at the Port of New Providence between the 25th day of December, 1730, and the 25th day of March, 1731, with the particular quantity and quality of the loading of each vessel. Certified by Charles Molloy, Naval officer. 1 sheet.
A similar list of ships and vessels cleared outwards at the same port for the same quarter. Certified as above. 1 sheet.
[Treasury Board Papers CCLXXV. No. 34.]
99. A statement of money due from His late Majesty to two grooms and four helpers belonging to His Majesty's stud to 1727, June 11 (total, 286l. 6s. 5d.), together with an abstract of the bills delivered by the Honourable Colonel Negus for medicines applied by Thomas Uvedale, apothecary to His late Majesty's servants at the stud (total 1721–7, 135l. 6s. 4d.).
Docqueted:—“Mr. Smith, late King's stud arrears.” 2pages.
[Treasury Board Papers CCLXXV. No. 35.]
[March 25 after.] 100. (a) Payments made on account of military contingencies [Ireland] in one year, from 1730, Lady Day, to 1731, Lady Day (total of payments, 3,639l. 16s.d. against an established allowance of 3,000l.). 4 pages.
(b.) Same on account of concordatums [Ireland] in the same year (total of payments, 7,661l. 9s.d. against an established allowance of 5,000l.). 4 pages.
(c.) Same in the Treasury Office, Dublin, on account of barracks in the same year (total of payments, 18,286l. 15s.d. against an established allowance of 13,336l. 10s. 0d.). all certified by Luke Gardiner, Deputy Receiver General. 5pages.
[Ibid, No. 36.]
March 26. 101. A state of the several accompts of the receivers of the public taxes, behind and undeclared within the division of Mr,. Auditor Godolphin to the year 1730 inclusive. Certified by George Wright, Deputy Auditor. 2 pages. [Ibid, No. 37.]
March 27. 102. John Lord Balmerino and Cupar [to John Scrope ?]. The Barons of the Exchequer have recommended writer's petition to the Lords of the Treasury. The late Queen designed him a greater favour. Has reason to think Sir Robert Walpole will promove the expediting of this, and begs his correspondent to give it despatch. Dated Leith, 1731, March 27. 1 page.
Appending:
—(a.) Report of the Barons of the Exchequer, Scotland, dated Edinburgh, 1730–1, February 19, to the Lords of the Treasury, on the representation of John Lord Balmerino and Cupar as below. It appears by the declaration of Mr. James Elphinston, a senator of the College of Justice, son of the said lord, and by a report of Sir James Stewart and Mr. William Carmichaell, late Advocate and Solicitor General for Scotland, that Queen Anne subscribed a warrant, 1708, March 6, to pass the Privy Seal of Scotland, granting to the said Lord the byegone casualties of ward, non-entry, &c. of the lands and oyrs lying within the lordships of Balmerino and Cupar for two 19 years, and dis-charging him and his heirs of the blench duties payable for the lordship of Cupar and Balmerino, extending to 24l. 14s. 6d. sterling per annum for the same period of two 19 years, from 1706, July. Said warrant was not allowed by the Court to pass the Seal, being conceived not regular, and is now missing. Supposing the grant had passed the Seal, it could extend to discharge only the blench duties to the death of Queen Anne, amounting to 197l. 16s. from which time to July 1730, the yearly blench duties to which the said land is chargeable, come to 395l. 12s. His Majesty may discharge this of his mere grace. 1 page.
(b.)Balmerino's representation concerning the remission of the yearly blench duty of 101 pounds Scots on the lordship of Balmerino, and 204 pounds Scots on the lordship of Cupar, in all equal to 25l. 8s. 4d. sterling, and concerning remission of arrears of same from 1706 as has been done by His Majesty's predecessors in consideration of the good services of his family, which he prays, being under prosecution in the Exchequer Court, Scotland.
Minuted:—With order of reference dated 1730, May 6, to the Barons of the Exchequer, Scotland. 2 pages.
(c.) A duplicate of the representation of Lord Balmerino, and of the report of the Barons of the Exchequer thereupon as above. 3 pages. [Treasury Board Papers CCLXXV. No. 38.]
March 29. 103. Report of the Commissioners of Customs to the Lords of the Treasury, on. two memorials of Mr. Chitty, merchant of London, complaining of oppression from the Commissioners and their officers.
Minuted:—With minutes Verbatim as under dated 1731, June 15, and August 17 infra. 12 pages.
Appending:
—(a.) First memorial of Joseph Chitty, of London, merchant, to the Lords of the Treasury. 2 pages.
(b.) Chitty's second memorial to same. 6 pages.
(c.) Copy of affidavits by Joseph Chitty, William Clarke, and John Barnwell, all of 1730, April 3, and copy of a memorial of Wm. Clarke's, desiring allowance of the usual privilege of portage by the jerquer, the above affidavits going to show that Clarke's wrong entry was by mistake and not for fraud. 2 pages.
(d.) Printed form of a shipmaster's oath at entering inwards or outwards. 1 page.
(e.) Copy of a minute of the Commissioners of Customs, dated 1730, April 2, certified by Charles Carkesse, Secretary to the Customs, allowing stay of prosecution against Clarke for wrong entry. 1 page.
(f.) Same of same, of date 1729, October 9, certified by same, directing the seizure of two or three frails of Chitty's Lexia raisins from Malaga. 1 page.
(g.) Same of same, of date 1725, October 12, certified by same, concerning the seizure as above, and ordering the prosecution of the said raisins at the King's charge in order to ascertain the duties. 1 page.
(h.) A statement of Mr. Joseph Chitty's charges occasioned by the Surveyors of the Customs seizing the raisins mentioned in the above informations against him. 1¼ pages.
[Ibid, No. 39.]
March 31. 104. Warrant under the Royal sign manual [to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland], for the issue of the necessary directions to the Commissioners of the Revenue to take a lease of the lighthouse on the Tower of Hook, in the mouth of the harbour of Waterford in Wexford, in trust for the King and his heirs for 21 years from 1727, September 29, at the annual rent of 120l. with a covenant to renew at any time within the said term, the rent to be paid by the Collector of Customs at Waterford, the said lighthouse being an ancient and known lighthouse, and having been demised by Henry Loftus, deceased, by indenture of date 1706–7, February 6, to John Kent, late Collector of the district of Waterford, for 21 years, which term expired 1727, September 29, and the son, Nicholas Loftus, now pressing for a renewal, otherwise “he must be obliged to let the said light out and to convert the said tower to other uses.” [Irish Book VIII. pp. 391–3.]
March 31. 105. Warrant under the Royal sign manual to Henry Pelham, Paymaster General of the Forces, and to Spencer, Earl of Wilmington, late Paymaster General of same, authorising Pelham to pay to Wilmington 33,023l. 7s.d. and 38,000l. to be applied by the latter towards clearing and paying all services under his care of payment to 1730, June 24.
Appending:— Wilmington's memorial. 73,843l. 15s.d. is still wanting to complete all services agreed to be under his care of payment; of which 40,819l. 17s. 6d. is expected to be remitted from Ireland for the pay of certain regiments serving abroad upon the establishment of that kingdom, but the remittances from thence not being to be had in due time.
[King's Warrant Book XXX, pp. 181–3.]
March 31. 106. Same to the Barons of the Exchequer, Scotland, authorising them to give warrant to the Receiver General and Cashier of the Customs, or to the Commissioners of Excise revenues to pay 1,000l. to Hugh Earl of Loudoun, for his charge and expenses as Royal Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church to be held in Scotland this summer. [North Britain Book X. p. 74.]
107. Same to same, authorising the issue of their warrant to the Receiver General and Paymaster of the Revenues in Scotland, for payment of 1,000l. to such person or persons as shall be nominated and appointed by the General Assembly of the Church which is to be held this summer, as of the royal bounty for the sixth year to be distributed and disposed to stop the growth and increase of popery by giving encouragement to itinerant preachers and catechists to go into the Highlands and Islands; the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland having represented that popery and ignorance increase and prevail there, and that one of the principal causes thereof is the large extent of the parishes in those parts, whereby the ministers thereof find themselves unable to visit their parishioners in their several bounds as they might. Provided that an account of the distribution of the said sum be annually exhibited by the General Assembly to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury or the Barons of the Exchequer, Scotland. [Ibid, pp. 74–5.]
March 31. 108.Royal sign manual to the Barons of the Exchequer. Scotland, authorising payment to Alexander Maitland, Treasurer of Edinburgh town, of 100 guineas for a plate to be run for on the sands at Leith, at such time and according to such rules and articles as shall be agreed on by the Provost and Town Council of that city. [North Britain Book X. pp. 75–6.]
March 31. 109. Charles Delafaye to John Scrope. Conveying the Duke of Newcastle's requests to the Lords of the Treasury for a further gratification of 50l. to one Mahomet, a Tripoline merchant, to enable him to return to France and continue his solicition there, said Mahomet having embarked with considerable effects on board an English ship bound from Tripoli to Candia at the time when the French were at war with the Government of Tripoli, and having been made prize by a French man-of-war. “This being a breach of our Treaty with France Mr. Walpole got an order for their being restored him, but what was offered being, as he pretended, short of what he lost, he would not accept it, and came over hither near a twelvemonth ago to apply to the King for His Majesty's protection, and has had 50l. of His Majesty's bounty. His stomach is now come to him, and he is willing to take what he can get from the French, but is run in debt here, and has no money left to carry him over.” Whitehall, March 31. 2 pages.
[Treasury Board Papers CCLXXV. No. 41.]