Treasury Books and Papers: March 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: March 1739', in Calendar of Treasury Books and Papers, Volume 4, 1739-1741, (London, 1901) pp. 225-231. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books-papers/vol4/pp225-231 [accessed 23 April 2024]

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March 1739

March 6. 33. Treasury warrant to the Customs Commissioners to observe an Order in Council of the 25 ult. for taking off the embargo from all ships and vessels laden only with coal from Whitehaven, or any other port in Great Britain, for Ireland, said ships being allowed such a number of men to navigate them as are allowed to colliers and coasters.
[Customs Book XIV. p. 421.]
March 6. 34. Nicholas Paxton to [? John Scrope], dated Boswell Court, concerning the nature of Henry Popple's bond for his office of Agent and Paymaster of the 6 Independent Companies at Jamaica. Immediately on Mr. Popple's withdrawing himself Mr. Selwyn sued out an escheat and thereby seized all Mr. Popple's effects to satisfy a debt due from him to the Crown. Of his two sureties “Alured Popple is now at Bermudas, of which place he is Governor, and Samuel Gellibrand is a clerk in the Plantation Office … of circumstances too narrow to satisfy the penalty of his bond.”
Endorsed as under March 20, infra p. 229: and with a note of Paxton's reply of date 1740, March 25. 1½ pages.
[Treasury Board Papers CCCII. No. 32.]
March 8. 35. Memorial to Sir Robert Walpole from Col. William Blakeney, dated Westminster. Is under orders to proceed to America to raise a regiment of foot of 30 companies. Clothing for same has been already provided, part of which will come with Lord Cathcart, “which he apprehends is the reason of leaving out from this establishment the off-reckonings or fund for clothing always inserted in other establishments. For the subsistence money 7437l. 8s. 6d. may be sufficient for him to carry with him in specie, but other charges for provisions, transport, intelligence, &c., will arise which will be uncertain and cannot be depended on “which, as he has heard, was the case under Major General Hill in the year 1711, and that in particular beef, pork and butter cannot be had there after the month of November. That the value of each specie of money ought to be so far ascertained as it may be the same with the specie and value in which the body of the troops under Lord Cathcart is to be paid for preventing all occasions of mutiny on their joyning. That be is credibly informed the men in America have an aversion to listing themselves as soldiers, apprehending that they will be engaged for life, therefore to encourage them to take on it will be necessary that his Majesty's proclamation be issued assuring them that such as desire it shall be discharg'd the service and set down again in their respective provinces after the expedition is over.” 1½ pages.
[Treasury Board Papers CCCII. No. 34.]
March 11. 36. Treasury warrant to the Barons of the Exchequer, Scotland, for preparation of a draft of a warrant for his Majesty's granting and disposing of the fund mentioned below for the benefit of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh: as also a body of instructions to be thereto annexed, containing such rules and directions as should be thought proper for the purpose. All to be laid before his Majesty for his approbation.
Prefixing:—Report to the Treasury from the said Barons, dated 1738, Dec. 5, on the petition of the managers of the said Royal Infirmary. Before the union there was a deduction out of the pay of the forces in Scotland in order to create a fund for giving charity to such subalterns and soldiers as through age or being disabled were incapable of service and as such passed by the name of invalids. This fund seems to have had its rise from the Crown, and to have been subject to such regulations as the Sovereign from time to time should think fit to make concerning it, without any interposition of Parliament. Before the Union, the fund was under the management of the Lords of the Treasury in Scotland and such other persons as were nominated by the Crown. Since the Union it has been under the management [of] and accounted for at the Exchequer Court, Scotland. The several allowances allotted out of the fund to the invalids upon it at the time of the Union have been regularly paid them during their lives, but through length of time, and there being no addition of invalids put upon it since the Union, the whole invalids of the army being since that time otherwise provided for, their number is now so reduced that the allowances payable to those alive for the half year ending at Xmas next do not exceed 7l. 14s. 0d. and the whole fund, capital and interest, at that time will amount to 6344l. Are of opinion this is at his Majesty's disposal for the like charitable uses in Scotland. The Royal Infirmary erected and carried on under the authority of his Majesty's letters patent will if duly encouraged be of great use, and in a particular manner to his Majesty's forces when quartered either in Scotland or in the Northern parts of England.
[North Britain Book XII. pp. 487–8.]
March 11. 37. Same to Robert Lord Walpole, Auditor of the Receipt, to pay to Joanna Stephens 5,000l. for her disclosing for the use of the public her medicines and method of preparing same for the cure of the stone, in accordance with the Act of Parliament of last sessions.
Prefixing:—Certificate by the Archbishop of Canterbury and 19 others, the major part of the Trustees under said Act, of the said disclosure to their satisfaction by said Stephens, and of their conviction by experiment of the ability, efficacy, and dissolving power of the medicine.
[Money Book XL. pp. 150–1.]
March 11.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers.
38. Present: Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Dodington, Lord Sundon, Mr. Winnington, Mr. Earle.
Order for a warrant for a further loan of 100,000l. on land tax, 1740, at 3%, to rank after 200,000l. already warranted to be taken in.
In reply to Mr. Carkesse's letter of the 6th instant, the Customs Commissioners are to be informed that the measures to be taken about the “St. Jacob,” a Spanish prize (laden with tobacco and arrived at Spithead guarded by Customs Officers) be similar to those lately given about the “St. Joseph” prize.
Order for the issue to the Treasurer of the Ordnance out of public funds anno 1740, of 50,000l. half thereof for sea and half for land service as in the memorial of this day from the officers of Ordnance.
Same for same to the Treasurer of the Navy out of the second 500,000l. on the Sinking Fund for 1739, of 100,187l. 2s.d. towards answering the services specified in his memorials of Feb. 28 last and of this day.
Same for same out of the Civil List revenues of 628l. 12s. 9d. for Richmond Lodge to 1739, Michaelmas, by the hands of John Selwyn.
[Treasury Minute Book XXVIII. p. 199; Customs Book XIV. p. 424.]
March 12. 39. Treasury warrant to the Auditor of the Receipt, to Edward Walpole, Clerk of the Pells, and to all others the officers and ministers of the Receipt concerned. By the act 12 Geo. II. for taking off the duties on woollen and bay yarn imported from Ireland to England, the subsidies on said imports are to cease from 1740, May 1. By an account, made up by order of said act, of the moneys arisen from this source for 7 years to 1738, Xmas, the average annual income of same appears as 7,164l. 14s. 9d. Said sum therefore to be hereby charged annually on the Aggregate Fund from 1740, May 1, to be thereout issued and applied to the satisfaction of the creditors, public or private, having interest or security in the moneys arising by aforesaid duty so removed, the apportionment of said annual sum to be made as follows:—
£ s. d.
To the Old subsidy 2,388 4 11
To the New subsidy 2,388 4 11
To the ⅓ subsidy 796 1
To the 2/3 subsidy 1,592 3
Appending: (a) The Customs Commissioners to the Treasury dated Custom House, London, 1739, Dec. 18. Enclosing—(b).
(b) Said account of the quantity of woollen and bay yarn imported annually from Ireland, 1732–8, and of the total duties thereon: of the medium or average of said duties, and of the appropriations thereof.
[Money Book XL. pp. 145–8.]
March 12. 40. Treasury warrant to William Benson and William Aislabie, Auditors of Imprests, to allow to the Bank of England their cravings and demands, amounting in all to 6,455l. for the work of transferring, receiving, paying and accompting all the different kinds of annuities, lottery certificates, &c., &c., as supra, p. 53–4.
Prefixing:—Report to the Treasury from said Benson and James Thomas, deputy to said Aislabie, on the various items, detailed, in the said demands of the Bank.
[Warrants not relating to Money XXVI. pp. 281–5.]
March 13. 41. J. Scrope to the principal officers of the Ordnance. “Major General Hargrave, Lieut. Govr. of Gibraltar, having represented that the hospital there wants to be repaired and properly furnished, so as in case of an attack the sick and wounded may be removed from the barracks to prevent infection,” conveys his Majesty's pleasure for orders to be given for said service.
[Letter Book IX. p. 529.]
March 13.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers.
42. Present: Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Dodington, Lord Sundon, Mr. Winnington, Mr. Earle.
Order for the issue out of funds anno 1740, of 212,219l. 10s.d. to the Paymaster of the Forces to answer services as in his memorial of the 12th instant.
Same for a warrant for a privy seal for 50,000l. to the Paymaster of the Forces as part of 200,000l. directed by Parliament for the enabling his Majesty effectually to carry on a war.
A state of the real facts relating to Mr. Popple's debt to the six Independent Companies at Jamaica to be laid before their Lordships “so that in case the merchants whose bills on Mr. Popple are unpaid shall be advised to petition the House, the facts so stated may be used on that occasion.”
Order for a warrant for a further loan of 100,000l. on land tax, 1740, at 3%, to rank after 300,000l. thereon.
John Duckett to be landwaiter at Bridgwater loco John Hill deceased, at the recommendation of Mr. Dodington.
[Treasury Minute Book XXVIII. p. 200.]
March 18. 43. Warrant under the royal sign manual, countersigned by the Lords of the Treasury, to Henry Pelham to pay to John Yeamans, his Majesty's agent for the Island of Antigua, 2,000l. by way of imprest and upon account to enable the Government of the said Island to build barracks and a hospital, and to make cisterns and to provide all other conveniences necessary for 624 men.
Appending:—Copy of an order of the King in Council of date 1739, Dec. 27, at St. James's, made on a report dated 1739, Nov. 28, from the Committee of the Council for Plantation Affairs, said report being in answer to an order in Council of 1738–9, January 11, referring to the said Committee the petition of the Council and the General Assembly of Antigua. Said petition sets forth the distressed condition of that Island, particularly with regard to the late conspiracy of their negroes, and that there were but 5 companies of the regiment in the Leeward Islands quartered in the said Island of Antigua, each of which companies consists of only 31 men, a force too small to protect them from any future attempt of the negroes, who number 24,000 whereas the whites are not more than 3,000. Petitioners therefore prayed a grant of additional men, and offered to give an additional allowance of subsistence to the soldiers, old and new, and provide barracks, &c., but withal prayed assistance towards the completion of the latter in view of the distressed condition of the Island: all which said propositions of the Island, detailed at length by way of report from the said Lords Committees, being hereby approved of by his Majesty in Council.
[King's Warrant Book XXXIII. pp. 476–9.]
March 19. 44. J. Scrope to Mr. Savary, Receiver of the tax of 6d. per £. “The Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury taking notice that no certificates of receipts and payments on the tax of six pence per pound, &c., have been transmitted to this office since the death of Mr. Barton, who was Receiver thereof, and used to transmit the same at the end of every month,” therefore require him to transmit certificates in the same manner, the first to contain the whole of the receipts and payments to Feb. 29 last, and the subsequent certificates monthly.
[Letter Book XIX. p. 529.]
March 20. 45. Treasury warrant to Nicholas Paxton to pay to George Crowle 250l., to be by him applied to meet in full all rewards and expenses for apprehending and convicting that notorious offender, Richard Turpin.
Prefixing:—Said Paxton's report to the Treasury, dated 1739, Dec. 20, on the petition of Thomas Creasy, George Goodyear, George Dawson, Richard Grassby, Carey Gill, James Smith, and Edward Saward for said reward: and giving an account of said various rewards, of the proceedings against Turpin and of the expenses incurred therein.
[Money Book XL. pp. 156–9.]
March 20. 46. Chr. Tilson, in the absence of the Secretaries to the Treasury, to Mr. Paxton. “On reading this day to my Lords (who called for your letter to Mr. Scrope of the 6th instant relating to Mr. Henry Popple's security as Paymaster of the six Independent Companies of foot in Jamaica), their Lordships observed and made it a question whether the King might not be let into the benefit of extent sued out against Mr. Popple by Mr. Selwyn towards satisfying Mr. Popple's debt to the said Companies, in regard Mr. Popple himself is chargeable in the Exchequer as an accomptant with respect to the said companies, but not so chargeable with respect to his debt to Mr. Selwyn, being a servant only entrusted by him under security.” Requests a statement of opinion for the Treasury against their Lordships' next meeting.
[Letter Book XIX. p. 530.]
March 22. 47. The Duke of Devonshire, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, to the Treasury, dated Dublin Castle, forwarding report (a) infra, relating to the levy money for raising 5 men to be speedily added to each troop in the several regiments of Horse and Dragoons in Ireland, and for the 4 men more to be added to the said troops from Dec. 31 next. The expense for the 5 men will be 13,176l. 10s., whereas the net sum to be issued by the Treasury for the purpose amounts only to 9,518l. 11s.d. The cost of raising the 4 men will be 10,541l. 4s., the net sum to be issued by the Treasury for the purpose being only 5,061l. 18s. 3d. To render the schemes effectual the 9 men should be all placed on the establishment from the 25th of this instant: and 5 of the said men should be allowed on the muster rolls as complete from that time to June 30 next, and the 4 men should be allowed as complete on the muster rolls from the 25th instant to Dec. 31 next, inclusive. The annual establishment of the 9 men to each troop will be 15,768l. Desires the royal letter for making this augmentation above described, and for ordering same to issue out of his Majesty's revenue at large in Ireland. 3 pages.
Appending
:—(a) Report to said Duke from the Board of General Officers, Ireland, dated 1739–40, March 20, concerning the amounts of said levy moneys as above. 2½ pages.
Enclosing
: (a) (1) An estimate of accoutrements and horse furniture for a troop. 1 page.
(a) (2) Same of the expense of raising, mounting and accoutreing a troop, and his charge on the establishment. 1 page.
(a) (3) Same of the levy money, clothing, arms, and accoutrements of 120 men to be speedily added to the several troops as above. 1 page.
(a) (4) Same of same of 96 men to be added as above, on the 81 Dec., 1740. 1 page.
(a) (5) State of the whole expense, as above, for the 5 men and the 4 men for each troop, separately, and of the money wanted from the Treasury to meet same. 1 page.
(a) (6) Certificate by Deputy Muster Master General, Ireland, of the annual expense upon the establishment of Ireland (total 15,768l.) of the said additional men to each troop: dated 1739–40, March 13. 2 pages.
[Treasury Board Papers CCCII. No. 40.]
March 22. 48. Warrant under the royal sign manual dated at St. James's and countersigned by the Lords of the Treasury, authorising the establishment for the regiment of John, Earl of Crawford, as incorporating the six Highland Independent Companies therein, same to commence from 1739, Oct. 25, and similarly the further establishment of four Independent Companies of Invalids to commence from 1739, Nov. 13.
Together: Said two establishments respectively detailed, and like royal warrant to the Paymaster General of the Forces for the deduction of 12d. in the £, and one day's pay yearly on said establishments. 4 pages.
[Ibid. No. 42.]
1740.
[After
March 25.]
49. Statement certified by Luke Gardiner, Deputy Receiver General, Ireland, of payments made in the Treasury Office, Dublin, on account of Barracks in one year to 1740, Lady day (total payments 18,237l. 15s.d. as against an established allowance of 13,336l. 10s. 0d.) 4 pages.
[Treasury Board Papers CCCII. No. 44.]
March 26. 50. Treasury warrant to the Auditor of the Receipt for the issue of 105l. to John Lawton for 1740, Lady day quarter, for himself and three clerks for sorting, digesting, methodizing, and reducing to order the records and writings in the Exchequer Court.
Appending:—Lawton's certificate, dated 1739–40, March 24, of the work done during the said quarter. “Mr. Smart has been sorting Star Chamber Records, Mr. Stewart has been sorting various records of several kings' reigns. Mr. Whiston and Mr. Farley have been methodizing the books of the Court of Wards and Liveries, and Mr. Strachey has been sorting Star Chamber Records.”
[Money Book XL. p. 75.]