Minute Book: September 1706

Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 20, 1705-1706. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1952.

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'Minute Book: September 1706', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 20, 1705-1706, (London, 1952) pp. 95-100. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol20/pp95-100 [accessed 20 April 2024]

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September 1706

Sept. 3, forenoon.
Whitehall, Treasury Chambers.
Present : ut supra.
The Commissioners of Transports are called in. Their papers are read and the minutes [of my Lord Treasurer's resolutions thereon are endorsed] upon them.
The Principal Commissioners of Prizes are called in. Their papers are read and answers are taken on them [and endorsed ut supra].
Sir Henry Furnese is called in. He prays leave to go into the country for a fortnight or three weeks and [desires] that if 'tis necessary to issue [bills of exchange for] any money for the Forces my Lord Treasurer's directions may be given to-day. My Lord agrees to issue 20,000l. a week to Mr. Brydges upon account of subsistence to the 40,000 men and the 10,000 additional men in Holland. And as to the 20,000l. ordered upon account of subsistence to the 10,210 men in Portugal on Saturday last Sir Henry avers to my Lord that he cannot return it at more than 55d. per piece of Eight.
My Lord then says he must agree to it.
[My Lord directs] 3 months' subsidy to the King of Denmark due the 15th inst. to be now issued : and also 1425l. for the small clothing furnished in Portugal. Ibid., p. 266.
Eodem die, afternoon. Present : ut supra.
The Navy Commissioners and Victualling Commissioners are called in. My Lord Treasurer tells them the occasion of sending for them is to enquire how the accounts of the Navy stand. They say the accounts of Sir Edward Seymour and Lord Orford are despatched and [so are] those of Lord Falkland except for part of King James II's time. They say that there were some scruples in that part of Lord Orford's account as relates to the Victualling which are now answered : so they hope in a very short time those accounts may be passed.
As to Lord Falkland's accounts my Lord Treasurer orders that Mr. Coupland who is employed therein may be writ to to follow the passing thereof.
As to the paper of the double payments by Lord Orford in his time amounting to about 160l. the Commissioners say they think twere better to allow it to his lordship any other way than to pass in his accounts.
My Lord says he hears that the order he has made in the Victualling Office of paying interest [along] with the principal has had a good effect [by enhancing the credit of the Victualling Office] and appeals to the Commissioners [of the Victualling to confirm this or no]. They answer Yes. The Navy Commissioners say they don't know that twill be any advantage to their Office. My Lord Treasurer recommends them the trial of it and says if they find 'tis any prejudice he will be ready to alter this direction now intended.
[My Lord Treasurer directs] 30,000l. to the Treasurer of the Navy for Wages.
The Navy Commissioners are to acquaint my Lord Treasurer if Mr. Coupland doth not attend the passing of Lord Falkland's accounts.
The Navy Commissioners acquaint my Lord that they are disappointed of their supply of hemp by the return of the Russia fleet and that the Admiralty have sent to Mr. Gould about it : that he has informed them that if money be imprested to him he is ready and able to supply it [the hemp] by [way of] commission [but not by way of contract] but they say it will require an imprest of 50,000l. and make the dealers on the [Navy] Course think they shall be postponed by it.
My Lord Treasurer says he thinks 'twill be better that they should try the ordinary way by publication [advertisement] to invite persons to contract in the first place and if that proves ineffectual then [the Navy Commissioners are] to propose in writing what they conceive the best way to procure the said stores of hemp.
Mr. Breton is called in and upon his representing to my Lord Treasurer that if the south head of Dover harbour be not speedily repaired the harbour will be in danger of being destroyed and that the rest of the [Customs] Commissioners have desired him to lay the same before my Lord and to pray my Lord to move the Queen to lend on the credit of the Act of Parliament in that behalf [11 Wm. III c. 5] a sum of 1500l. without interest to be repaid after a loan of 3000l. made thereon by Lord Weymouth and [after] a further debt of 1500l. to the workmen : and that unless this be done speedily the season for applying of it this year will be over :
My Lord says upon his receiving assurances from the Commissioners that what her Majesty shall think fit to lend shall be applied particularly or in the first place to the repair of the south head his Lordship will move the Queen to lend the 1500l. in the manner desired ut supra. Treasury Minute Book XV, pp. 266-8.
Sept. 4, forenoon. Present : Lord Treasurer, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
[My Lord Treasurer directs] 2000l. to be issued to the Privy Purse over and above the present weekly payments thereto.
The [Principal] Officers of the Ordnance [attend] and their memorial is read and endorsed [with the minute of my Lord Treasurer's resolution thereon].
[My Lord orders a royal] warrant for granting to Mr. Portman the old pales which were taken down when the wall was built about Hyde Park. Ibid., p. 269.
Eodem die, afternoon. Present : ut supra.
[My Lord Treasurer orders] the first, second and third volumes of Rymer's Foedera to be sent to Dr. [Henry] Godolphin [Provost of Eton] for the use of Eton College.
The Customs Commissioners are called in and the Attorney General's report concerning a demand made by the New East India Company is read. My Lord directs it to be reconsidered when the Attorney General can attend.
Several other of the said Commissioners' reports are read and minutes are endorsed thereon.
The Salt Duty Commissioners are called in and the petition of G. Punshon, Ralph Douglas and Ralph Graham is read representing great frauds that they can discover to have been committed in the Salt Duty and the Customs and those 2 Boards are [have been] made sensible thereof and that the Salt Duty Commissioners promised to lay the matter before my Lord Treasurer and use their endeavours to obtain his [Lordship's] pardon and protection so far as the petitioners have been concerned therein themselves.
Mr. Danvers says he believes Graham can make discovery of divers frauds but that their Board did not promise to use their endeavours to obtain a pardon for all three of them, for Punshon who has been the greatest offender is a man of "subsistence" and he thinks it doubtful whether after they are pardoned Graham might not be wrought upon to withdraw himself or not to give evidence against any other offenders he now pretends he can discover.
The Customs Commissioners say Graham has been with them and discovered several goods that were run out of some East India ships that touched in Ireland.
Mr. Culliford shows my Lord Treasurer a list of them but he says he has heard nothing of the other two petitioners Punshon and Douglas.
Upon the whole my Lord Treasurer doth not think fit to intermeddle in this matter but leaves it to the said respective Commissioners to examine into and to do therein as they shall judge most proper for her Majesty's service with respect to the revenues under their management.
The Salt Commissioners are acquainted that the Attorney General has made a report relating to the Salt Duty [Fond] which was [by Parliament made] applicable to repay loans thereon and other Deficiencies till 1 Aug. 1706 : in which report he states that he is of opinion that the arrears of that Duty grown due before Aug. 1 last (after the Deficiencies provided for by the Act 8-9 Wm. III c. 20 are discharged) will be applicable to the satisfaction of the Deficiencies provided for by an Act of 1 Anne c. 7 : and that therefore [says my Lord Treasurer] they the said Commissioners must take care that the accounts and papers for the same must be kept and made distinct, to wit what [revenue] became due thereon before Aug. 1 last from what has incurred since.
The Commissioners say they will do so.
And my Lord orders that a copy of the Attorney General's report be sent them for their better guidance.
They withdraw.
The Head Searcher and the 5 Patent Undersearchers [of London port are] called in. Their petition is read and their proposal for the better preventing of frauds relating to drawbacks on certificate goods &c. Also some representations [are read] which were made by the Customs Commissioners in the year 1700 concerning the execution of the offices of the said Searchers. And after much interlocutory discourse between the Commissioners and the Searchers before my Lord, his Lordship is pleased to observe that a good deal of what the Commissioners propose will require the help of an Act of Parliament and they will have time to consider of that till the next session. But if there be anything which the Commissioners conceive may be more for the good and security of the revenues than what is yet practised and for which there is already a sufficient authority, my Lord recommends it to them to cause the same to be forthwith put in execution. Ibid., pp. 269-271.
Sept. 11. Present : Lord Treasurer.
Write to the Earl Rivers that whatever money his Lordship supplies to the Dutch Paymasters for the service of their Troops on board at Torbay my Lord Treasurer will cause the same to be replaced.
[My Lord Treasurer directs] 30l. each to Mr. Fletcher and Mrs. Ricaut : as [the Queen's] bounty : to be issued out of Secret Service money.
Speak with Mr. Massinger about Mrs. Wilkins.
[My Lord Treasurer directs] 3000l. to be issued on the order in Mr. Tailor's name for [building at] Woodstock.
[Likewise that] the first second and third volumes of Rymers "Foedera" be delivered to Sir David Nearn for Mr. [Robert] Sanderson. Treasury Minute Book XV, p. 272.
Sept. 16, forenoon.
Windsor Castle.
Present : Lord Treasurer.
[My Lord Treasurer directs] 1530l. to Mr. Fox [as late Paymaster General of the Forces Abroad] upon the proper [relative] order in this behalf, being for 36 days' pay of the late Earl of Donegal's Regiment on the Portugal Establishment from the 18th Sept. to the 24th Oct. 1704 [to wit] from the time the said Regiment was taken off the Irish Establishment until it was placed upon that of Portugal pursuant to her Majesty's warrant of 8 June last : to be issued out of money remaining in the Exchequer of the arrears of the 4s. Aid anno 1704.
[Likewise] 622l. to said Fox : out of the like money : and is to complete the sum allowed to Col. Macartney for levy money for the Regiment of Foot raised by him in Scotland in the year 1704, to make the same up to 3l. a man pursuant to a like warrant signed by her Majesty.
[Likewise my Lord directs] to the Elector Palatine a moiety of a demand of 42,500 florins to complete her Majesty's share of 40,000 crowns for the expenses of his Highness's journey to Vienna in the year 1704 [1703 see infra p. 99] : to be issued to Mr. Brydges [Paymaster of the Forces Abroad] on the order in his name for extraordinaries of the war not provided for by Parliament : to be issued out of money in the Exchequer [arising] from quit rents in Virginia.
Write to Mr. Morice an answer to his last two letters etc.
[My Lord directs] 621l. 5s. 8d. to be issued to Mr. Brydges : out of Annuity [Contributions] money : upon the order for extraordinaries : and is to be applied to satisfy so much furnished by John Powell, a Collector of Excise at Plymouth, for the use of the Forces under the command of the Earl of Rivers, to wit 125l. 15s. 6d., 445l. and 50l. 10s. 2d.
[My Lord orders a] letter [of direction for the issue of] 3910l. 11s. 2d. for Baron [Ezekiel] Spanheim [Ambassador Extraordinary from Prussia] and several others : to be issued out of the Civil List. Ibid., p. 273.
Sept. 18, forenoon.
Windsor Castle.
Present : Lord Treasurer.
Ordered : that a [royal] warrant be prepared for establishing 3 gamekeepers, to wit 2 at Richmond and one at Hampton Court, at the salary of 30l. per an. each and 10l. a piece for a livery : to commence from Michaelmas 1706 and to be paid by the Treasurer of the Chamber in such manner as the salaries and liveries for the three gamekeepers for Bucks and Berks are paid.
Some papers [of petitions and reports] are read and minutes taken [and endorsed] thereon.
[My Lord directs the] issue of 4137l. 14s. 4d. to Mr. Brydges on the order in his name for Extraordinaries of the Forces not provided for [by Parliament] : and is intended to be on account of pay to the Forces under the Earl Rivers to repay the like sum taken up for that purpose to wit 2115l. 4s. 4d. taken up from John Powell, collector of Excise at Plymouth and 2022l. 10s. 0d. taken up from Richard Score collector of Customs at Exeter.
[Likewise the] issue of 3247l. 10s. 0d. out of Civil List money for the following : on the proper [relative] warrants and orders in the respective behalf viz. :
£ s. d.
to the Duke and Duchess of Grafton 750 0 0
to the Duke of Southampton 750 0 0
to Mr. Paul Methuen 955 0 0
to Mr. Hume for printing Rymer's fourth volume 792 10 0
£3247 10 0
[Likewise the] issue of 2000l. to William Lowndes : on the order in his name for Secret Service.
[Likewise the] issue of 2004l. 10s. 0d. to Mr. Brydges [Paymaster of the Forces Abroad] on the order in his name for Extraordinaries of the War not provided for by Parliament : to be issued out of the 3000l. remaining in the Exchequer of Virginia quit rents : and is intended to be paid over to the Elector Palatine in further part of a demand of 20,000 crowns as her Majesty's moiety of the charge of his journey to Vienna in 1703, whereof 3000 Crowns has been formerly paid ; this present payment being for 8500 Crowns more at 10 guilders 12 stivers : it being certified that the Dutch have paid 20,000 Crowns already [see supra p. 98]. Ibid., p. 274.
Sept. 23, forenoon. Present : Lord Treasurer.
Lord Halifax [Auditor of the Receipt] represents to my Lord Treasurer that part of the old White house in Stephens Court belonging to the Lord Fitz Hardinge as one of the four Tellers of the Receipt of the Exchequer hath already fallen on some of his rooms and done him damage and that he is like to be further endamaged thereby.
My Lord Treasurer directs Sir Christopher Wren to view it and report what is fit to be done therein.
Lord Halifax also desires 6 volumes of the first part and 6 of the second part of Rymer's 'Foedera' (his lordship having already had 6 of the third part) which is ordered accordingly.
[My Lord Treasurer directs] 3000l. to the Cofferer of the Household on account of midsummer quarter to the servants who attend her Majesty at Newmarket &c.
[Likewise] 2142l. 9s. 3¼d. to the Treasurer of the Chamber for the same quarter to such servants payable in the Office of the Chamber as are appointed to attend her Majesty at Newmarket and for such other services of that Office as are mentioned in a memorial of the said Treasurer's deputy.
[Likewise] 625l. to Edward Nicholas to satisfy several warrants signed by my Lord Treasurer in that behalf.
[Likewise] 20,901l. 19s. 9¼d. to Mr. Howe [Paymaster General of Guards and Garrisons] in further part of 264,874l. 10s. 0d. for Guards and Garrisons anno 1706 : to be issued out of Contributions for Annuities anno 1706 and to be for services as follows viz. :
£ s. d.
for 61 days' clearings for the Troops and Regiments in England from 24 June last to 24 August last 8000 15 1
for pay for the same time for several Garrisons and for 61 days to June 24 last for the Garrison of Guernsey 2414 0
for Contingencies, including pensions on the head [of Contingencies] to Sept. 29 inst. 1947 5
for 33 days' subsistence for the Troops and Regiments in England from the 22nd inst. to Oct. 24 next 8539 19 0
£20901 19
[Likewise] 8632l. 15s. 8d. to the said Howe as in further part 87,125l. 10s. 0d. for 5000 men in sea service anno 1706 to be issued out of the same fund and is for services following viz. :
£ s. d.
for clearings for Brigadier Mordaunt's Regiment from 25th April last to 24 August last 1638 7 2
for 61 days' clearings for the Regiments of Lieut. Gen. Erle and Lord Paston and for Col. Whetham's additional Companies from June 24 last to August 24 last 1690 1 0
for 33 days' subsistence for the said Regiments and Companies from 22 Sept. inst. to 24 Oct. next 4210 16 8
for clearings of Col. Livesay's Regiment from 1 Jan. 1705-6 to 24 August 1707 1133 10 10
[sic] £8632 15 8
[Likewise] 682l. 8s. 4d. to the said Howe as in further part of 5000l. for Invalids anno 1706 : to be issued out of the same fund : and is for 61 days' pay for the Invalids from 25 June last to 24 August last.
[Likewise] the following 3 sums to the said Howe out of money granted for the service of the year 1705 viz. :
106l. to satisfy a royal warrant for taking off respits on Capt. Lyndall's and Capt. Wentworth's Companies in Brigadier Handaside's Regiment to wit between 5 Sept. and 23 Dec. 1705.
222l. 18s. 0d. to satisfy a like warrant for removing several respits on Lord Paston's Regiment between 25 Oct. and 23 Dec. 1705
both the above items being on the order for the 5000 men for sea service anno 1705.
44l. 16s. 0d. to satisfy a like warrant for removing a respit on Lieut. Henley of the Company at Barbados from 25 Dec. [1704] to 24 June 1705 : and is on the order for Guards and Garrisons anno 1705, Treasury Minute Book XV, p. 276.