Warrant Books: May 1707, 1-5 | British History Online

Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 21, 1706-1707. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1952.

'Warrant Books: May 1707, 1-5', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 21, 1706-1707, (London, 1952) pp. 254-267. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol21/pp254-267 [accessed 26 April 2024]

May 1707, 1–5


Reports, Letters and Warrants Relating to the Customs, Excise, Mint, and Weights and Measures in Scotland Consequent upon the Act of Union.

Before May 1 et postea.	A series of papers, reports and warrants, relative to the organisation of the Customs, Excise and Mint in Scotland from and after 1 May 1707 consequent upon the coming into force of the Treaty of Union: all in accordance with the Order of the Queen in Council dated St. James's March 13 referring to the Lord Treasurer the consideration of the standard weights and measures to be sent into Scotland; and likewise of the Court of Exchequer which is to be in Scotland after the Union for deciding questions concerning the revenues of Customs and Excise; and likewise of the officers to be appointed there for the Customs, Excise and Mint respectively and to give the necessary directions therein according to the Act of Union: ut supra p. 208–9.
Relating to the Customs in Scotland.
Customs arrangements in Scotland consequent upon the Union.	Report dated March 22 to Treasurer Godolphin from the Customs Commissioners of England in reply to the letter of March 18 inst. supra p. 209 concerning the appointment of officers for managing the Customs in Scotland and the necessary Instructions for same. We advise the appointment of a separate body of Commissioners to reside at Edinburgh or Leith and that the Duties there be collected by the same laws and rules as in England and that the said Commissioners be obliged to the same methods of management under authority and direction of the Lord Treasurer of England. They should have a Secretary: Surveyor General and a Solicitor all conversant in the laws and practices of the Customs in England. Likewise it were well if the Receiver General were conversant in the methods and practice of the revenue here in order to avoid confusion in the accounts, seeing that the Duties on trade received in Scotland will be applicable to the funds in the Exchequer here.
	Even if the ports and quays in Scotland shall require no new Commission for settling them a Surveyor General should visit them all before the Union to observe what officers are fit to be employed till a due Establishment may be provided after the Union shall take place. There must be a Collector, Comptroller and Surveyor in every head port [which is at present unprovided or] without patent officers and such landwaiters (who are to act as searchers also in the outward business) and tidesmen, as the trade in the respective ports may require. The Instructions to these officers should be same as to the corresponding English officers. In view of the smallness of the revenue the Excise might be put under the same Commission as the Customs (as is done in Ireland for that and all other Duties).
	Prefixing: text of the Order in Council of March 13 ut supra. Out Letters (North Britain) I, pp. 12–13, 51–52.
	Same to same by same dated April 22 in reply to the letter of April 21 inst. supra p. 244. We yesterday waited on the Duke of Queensberry and Lord Seafeild and others at the Duke of Queensberry's lodgings [in London] to consult of the proper methods of collecting and securing the Customs and other Duties [in Scotland] from May 1 next. They proposed a sign manual to the Treasury of Scotland to continue the present officers until further order and that those of best capacity and experience be in the first place appointed for the more considerable ports viz. Leith, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dumfries and Inverness. Likewise that a proclamation be issued from the Court of Exchequer in Scotland signifying the manner both of paying and receiving the Duties until the appointment of Commissioners for managing same.
	The officers should be presently furnished with the Book of Rates and the Acts of Parliament since [the date of the last issue of the said Book] passed relating to the revenues of England; and also with copies of the standing orders, rules, instructions, forms of bonds and all other despatches from hence as now in practice here: and that the several Duties be computed in distinct columns for wine, brandy, tobacco, whalebone and other the principal commodities. Ibid., p. 14.
	Report to Treasurer Godolphin by the Customs Commissioners of England dated April 26 in reply to the letter of April 25 inst. supra p. 248. We enclose an abbreviated draft [missing] form of our own Commission which replaces by general words the enumeration of all the Duties and the reciting of all the Acts. Out Letters (North Britain) I, p. 16.
	Representation of the same date to same from same concerning the interpretation of Article 4 of the Treaty of Union. The said Article provides for full freedom and intercourse of trade for all subjects of the United Kingdom to and from any port or place within the said Kingdom and the Dominions and Plantations thereto belonging.
	We are of opinion that this is to be understood only of a legal and regular trade that is to say that all the subjects of Scotland be at liberty to trade in any part of the world where and as the English now do and may, and that the Scotch ships and seamen enjoy the like privilege in all such trade as the English now do or may: and that the goods of either part of Great Britain may be carried to the other reciprocally by land or coastwise without payment of any Duty or toll.
	But it is not intended to be construed to admit any illegal trade through Scotland or such as is prohibited to England either on account of navigation, origin of goods or drawbacks.
	Herein we are under great difficulties what directions to give to the officers on the borders or on the coasts, in regard that it was lately thought expedient by the House of Commons to order a bill to explain and enforce the present laws relating to this matter. But the said Bill not passing we desire the advice of learned Counsel what directions to give concerning any foreign goods brought from Scotland, after the Union takes place, as supposed to be imported there before the 1st May next [and which may happen to be under a different Duty in England from the pre-Union Duty in Scotland; or which by English law may prove to be prohibited goods or uncustomable goods]. Ibid., pp. 16–17.
	William Lowndes, dated April 29, to the Attorney and Solicitor General for their opinion on the following paper of Queries arising out of the above Representation. Please advise what directions are proper to be given thereon by the Lord Treasurer.
	(1) Whether tobacco or any other foreign goods exported from England by certificate in order to obtain a debenture for a drawback may be brought back hither from Scotland after May 1 next without being liable to seizure.
	(2) Whether any other goods of foreign growth viz. of Asia, Africa and America which cannot now be imported into England save in English shipping direct from place of growth can, for such part of them as are in Scotland before May 1 next be imported into England without being liable to seizure.
	(3) Whether any goods of the growth, product or manufacture of France, or any other goods which are prohibited to be brought into England may (being now in Scotland) be brought thence into England after May 1 next without being liable to seizure.
	(4) Whether any Customable goods whatsoever now in Scotland may be brought thence after May 1 into England without being liable to the payment of the English Duties which they will be subject to if imported to Scotland after that date.
	(5) What certificates are necessary to come with such goods of their having paid the Duties in Scotland or whether it be not necessary that they should produce a certificate of their having paid the full Duty in Scotland at the time of their importation thither. Out Letters (North Britain) I, pp. 17–18.
	Report, dated May 5, to the Lord Treasurer by Sir Simon Harcourt, Attorney General and Sir Ja. Montague, Solicitor General on the above queries. We have consulted thereon with Serjeant Powis, Serjeant Jekyll, Serjeant Hooper, Serjeant Parker, Mr. Conyers and Mr. Eyre. As to the first three queries we are all agreed as follows:
	(1) That if tobacco or any other foreign goods exported from England by certificate before 1 May 1707 in order to obtain a debenture for a drawback be brought back hither from Scotland after that date they will be liable to seizure notwithstanding the Act of Union.
	(2) Goods of foreign growth restrained in the importation thereof as by the Navigation Laws, if imported into Scotland according to the laws of that kingdom before 1 May 1707, may be at any time after that date imported from thence into England without being liable to seizure.
	(3) Goods of France or goods under an absolute prohibition, if in Scotland before 1 May 1707, cannot after that date be brought thence into England without being liable to seizure.
	(4) As to the 4th question as to Customable goods now in Scotland paying English Duties after May 1 we humbly conceive this question is to be considered in different respects viz. as to Aliens, English and Scotchmen.
	(a) If belonging to an alien before 1 May 1707 the goods are to be considered without any regard to the Act of Union and will remain liable to English Duty.
	(b) If belonging to an Englishman before that date, the importation thereof through Scotland into England is a manifest fraud and will not exempt them from payment of English Duty.
	(c) If belonging really and bona fide to a Scotchman before and at the Treaty of Union we are of different opinions. Serjeant Powis, the Solicitor General, Serjeant Hooper, Serjeant Parker and Mr. Eyre incline to the opinion that they must be liable to English Duty in being brought from Scotland to England, notwithstanding the Act of Union; the 6th Article of the Union expressly providing that after the Union all parts of the kingdom should be under the same Regulations of trade and liable to the same Customs on import and export, and there being no Article which repeals or suspends the laws relating to the Customs or gives the Scotch any greater privilege than the English. And they think this the more reasonable because such Scotchmen may dispose of such goods in Scotland or abroad.
	The Attorney General, Serjeant Jekyll and Mr. Conyers incline to think that the 6th Article of the Union is to be understood of Customs and Duties on import and export after May 1, not of removing goods from one part of Great Britain to another. They conceive also that the full freedom and intercourse of trade mentioned in the 4th Article of the Treaty entitles the Scotch to bring such customable goods, of which they were lawfully possessed before 1 May 1707, into England without paying any Duty, in like manner as any Englishman may freely carry such goods from one part of England to another; and that a different construction would make the Scotch under a worse condition than the English; for if the English Duties are payable the whole Duty will have to be paid, there being no Article to warrant splitting the English Duty and taking so much thereof only as (when added to the Duty paid in Scotland) will equal the English Duty. And though by this construction the Scotch be at an advantage, the 4th Article of the Treaty seems to entitle them to it and 'tis no more than happens in England on laying a new Duty.
	But we all agree that this is a question of great difficulty and proper to be put into some method of legal determination which may be by seizure or information.
	(5) As to the last question we conceive the statute of 3 Hy. VII, c. 3 does not extend to this case to make any certificate necessary to come with such customable goods as were in Scotland before 1 May 1707 and imported into England after that date. But all such goods carried coastwise after that date are within the provision of the Act of Frauds [14 Car. II, c. 11] and must be carried by a sufferance or warrant and the master of every ship or vessel carrying such goods must take out a coquet and enter into such bond as that last named Act directs. Out Letters (North Britain) I, pp. 18–20.
	Warrant dated May 6 by Treasurer Godolphin to the Customs Commissioners of England to govern themselves in the matter of the abovesaid queries by the above opinion of the Attorney and Solicitor General. Ibid., p. 21.
	Presentment dated May 5 by the Customs Commissioners to Treasurer Godolphin. In accordance with the instructions of Mr. Lowndes's letters of April 25 and 29 last supra pp. 248, 253 we have chosen Commissioners and officers for the Customs in Scotland and present same to you as follows:
	as Commissioners with 300l. per an. salary each, Hugh Mason, Collector of Hull port, Lionel Norman, Collector of Berwick port, James Clough, Collector of Whitehaven port.
	as Secretary to the Commissioners, Charles Carkesse, one of the Clerks in the Secretary's Office, London, being a person of known ability and experience in the Customs: with 200l. per an. salary and 100l. per an. for clerks.
	as Accomptant General, John Pope, Collector of Rochester port, who was formerly bred in the Comptroller General's Office, London: with 200l. per an. salary and 100l. per an. for clerks.
	as Comptroller General, John Crookshank, who is a very able accomptant: with 200l. per an. salary and 100l. per an. for clerks.
	as Solicitor, Charles Eyre who has been bred a clerk in the Exchequer Court and is well recommended : with 150l. per an. Salary and 50l. per an. For clerks.
	as Receiver General, Charles Graydon who has served for 7 years under Mr. Ferne, Customs Cashier in England and has a very good character for his sobriety, honesty and diligence: with 300l. per an. for himself. He will need 4 clerk by reason of the several appropriated branches of the Customs revenue which must must be kept distinct. We have not yet had the opportunity of speaking with some of these persons to know whether they are willing to accept same. Out Letter (North Britain) l. pp. 21–22.
	Same dated May 23 by same to same proposing Lionel Norman as Secretary to the Commission instead of being a commissioner; and Jessop Boughton as Accomptant General, he being bred in London port and very skilful in computing the Duties and being another of the persons lately sent from hence and now in Scotland. Ibid, p. 22.
	Royal warrant dated May 23 to the Attorney or Scolicitor General for a great seal to appoint Sir Alexander Rigby, James Isaacson, Lionel Norman, Sir Robert Dixon and William Boyle as Commissioners of Customs in Scotland (of all and singular our Customs and Subsidies of Tonnage and Poundage, the Continued and Additional Impositions and other Duties) with the salary of 400l. per an. Each from date of such commission: during pleasure. Ibid, pp. 23–24.
	Same dated May 24 to same for a great seal to constitute John Crookshanks as Comptroller General of the accounts of the Customs in Scotland: with 200l per an. For himself and 100l. per an. For his clerk as from 1 May 1707. Ibid., pp. 26–27.
	Same, dated May 31, to the Attorney General for a great seal to appoint Charles Graydon as Receiver General and Cashier of Customs in Scotland as from May 1: with 300l. per an. For himself and 230l. per an. For clerks Ibid., p. 26.
	Warrant dated June 4 by Treasurer Godolphin to the Customs Commissioners Scotland to employ the following viz :
	Jessop Boughton as their Secretary with 200l. per an. For himself and 100l. for his clerks.
	John Short as Accountant General with the like salary etc.
	Cha. Eyre as Agent and Solicitor in all causes and matters relating to the Customs Receiver in Scotland with 150l. per an. For himself and 50l. per an. for his clerks. Ibid., p. 28.
	William Lowndes dated June 6 or 7 to the Customs Commissioners in Scotland enclosing the form of a transpire or let pass for the coast shipment of foreign goods from any port in Scotland to any port in England, to wit for good imported into Scotland before 1 May last.
	Prefixing: said from; and approval dated June 6 therefore by the Attorney General.
	A similar letter dated the 12th June to the Customs Commissioners in England with the addition of the following clause “and the Lord Treasurer directs you to order your officers not to stop or give any unnecessary trouble to the importers of any goods of the growth, production and manufacture of Scotland.” Ibid., pp. 39, 43.
Relating to the Excise in Scotland.
Excise arrangements in Scotland consequent upon the Union.	Report dated March 27 to Treasurer Godolphin from the Excise Commissioners in reply to the letter of March 18th inst. ut supra p. 209, here prefixed, concerning the management of the Excise in Scotland [after the Union]. We are of opinion that since the revenue of Excise in Scotland hath been hitherto let to farm and collected throughout the whole kingdom by composition, without gauging or otherwise ascertaining the quantities of exciseable liquors that have been made, it will be too great a work at once to put the whole kingdom of Scotland under the same management as the Excise in England. If so great a number of officers could be found to attempt so great a work the great novelty of sending them (who must be supposed to be for the most part English men) may create some uneasiness. We submit whether at first it may not be adviseable to put the city of Edinburgh and some other the most populous and trading towns in Scotland under the methods of surveying and gauging practised in England and to charge and collect the remainder of the Excise of Scotland by composition, taking the best care that may be that the sums compounded for be in some measure proportionable to the trade of the persons compounded with and making such compositions only from 6 months to 6 months. This method of composition is agreeable to the laws of Excise and is practised in several parts of England where victuallers live remote from any officers and where the expence of constant surveys would exceed the Duty chargeable thereby. But when matters are more settled the method of survey and gauging may by degrees be enlarged and extended to other places in Scotland where the Managers [there] shall think it expedient and where it will answer the expense. We therefore propose an [Excise] Commission for Scotland with power to appoint officers for charging, collecting and accounting; that a Cashier, Comptroller and Auditor be appointed for setting forward the same and that there be sent from England 2 skilled collectors, 2 supervisors, a surveyor of the London brewery that understands both the brewery and distillery, 6 gaugers accustomed to survey common brewers, and 10 country officers to instruct such persons of the Scottish nation as the Commissioners there shall approve of: also an accomptant from hence to instruct in the methods practised here such accomptants, comptrollers and auditors as shall be appointed: further that books of the Laws of Excise and printed Instructions for all sorts of officers of Excise be sent thither; and specimens of all books and papers made use of in the Excise in England and an account of the several measures [of liquid capacity] by which the Excise Duties are collected here. As to salaries, in England the Accomptant General receives 200l., his clerks 60l., collectors 120l., supervisor 90l. and gaugers 50l. per an. each but we are informed that in Ireland (where provisions are cheaper than in England) the salaries of similar officers are much lower. In regard provisions are cheap in Scotland we submit whether salaries should not be less than in England. They would be best proportioned by the Commissioners there.
	The judicial part of this revenue will be in the Justices of the Peace. We do not know whether there are any Justices of the Peace in Scotland but if not, they ought to be appointed throughout that kingdom. Out Letters (North Britain) I, pp. 4–6.
	Report dated April 22 to Treasurer Godolphin from the Excise Commissioners in reply to the letter of April 21st inst. ut supra p. 244. In obedience thereto we waited on the Duke of Queensberry and other Lords of Scotland [here in London] to consider of proper methods of collecting and securing the Duties of Excise in Scotland. We find that at the present time Edinburgh and many of the great towns are under survey and gauge as in England but all persons, whether under survey and gauge or not, pay by composition for 3 or 6 months as they can be agreed with. We laid before their said Lordships our report of March 27 ut supra p. 260 and they seem to approve of that proposal but what seemed generally concluded for the present was that a Commission of Excise should be forthwith established in Scotland “appointing Commissioners that might enable all the officers that now survey and gauge to continue to do so,” and that they should empower such persons as they think fit to make composition for 3 or 6 months with all retailers of Exciseable liquors for such liquors only as shall be consumed and spent within the term of such composition, as is practised in some instances in England. It is believed that these particulars, together with the despatch of books, papers, instructions etc. may secure that Duty as far as can be done at present. Ibid., p. 15.
	Royal warrant dated St. James's May 15 to the Attorney or Solicitor General for a great seal for a Commission of Excise for Scotland, the Commissioners to be William Douglas, Alexander Wedderburn, John Montgomery, John Whetham and David Ross; with all such powers, directions, quorums and clauses as are contained in the English [Excise] Commission: with salaries of 300l. per an. each from the date of said Commission. Ibid., p. 23.
	Report dated May 19 to Treasurer Godolphin from the Excise Commissioners, England in reply to the letter of May 17 inst. here prefixed, concerning Excise officers for Scotland, to wit an Auditor, a Comptroller and a Secretary. We propose George Tilson for Auditor; he is of liberal education and officiated for some time as Register to the Commissioners of Appeals in Excise, was since a clerk in one of the Secretary [of State]'s Office and is now Secretary to Lord Raby. For Comptroller we propose Thomas Sadler, one of our accomptants, a man very well educated and skilled in all the accompts of the Excise. For Secretary we propose Richard Dowdswell and that he should also officiate as Solicitor, Clerk of Securities and Correspondent. He is now a supervisor in the Excise, educated to the law, a very good clerk and has been with good satisfaction in several stations in the Excise. Ibid., pp. 7–8.
	A later report dated May 23 to same from same proposing John Parsons as Comptroller in place of the abovesaid Sadler, as said Sadler is his father's only son and his father and other relations are unwilling he should remove to Scotland and therefore desired that he may be continued in his station in the London Office. Parsons has for 7 years been clerk in the Comptroller's Office and Mr. Samuell Story, Deputy Comptroller of Excise certifies him as a very fit person for that employment. Out Letters (North Britain) I, p. II.
	Report dated May 20 to Treasurer Godolphin from the Excise Commissioners, England in reply to Mr. Lowndes's letter of May 19. We advise salaries of 200l. per an. each to Auditor, the Comptroller and the Secretary of Excise in Scotland. The present produce of that revenue will not admit of such salaries as the said officers may deserve. The number of clerks necessary for them will be best fixed by the Excise Commissioners there. Ibid., p. 8.
	Same to same by same dated May 2 on the petitions of John Whetham (a Collector of Excise in Surrey for 10 years) and William De la Rose (formerly a collector of Excise in Hants and Wilts) praying some place in the Excise in Scotland: both petitions, here prefixed, being referred to the said Commissioners April 30 last. Whetham is a fitting person for any station in the Excise in Scotland but De la Rose is not fit for any station in the Excise. Ibid., pp. 9–10.
	The like report dated May 8 on the petition, here prefixed, of David Ross for the like employment, he having been 18 years in the Excise, of which 7 years as a General Surveyor of the London brewery in which post he now is. For knowledge, integrity and behaviour he is very fit to be employed. Ibid., pp. 10–11.
	Representation dated May 30 to Treasurer Godolphin from the Excise Commissioners England. Having sent several Excise officers to Scotland we are informed that several of them want money to subsist, having not received any money since they went thither. We therefore desire your directions to the Excise Commissioners in Scotland to pay them for the present such sums as they find necessary. Ibid., p. 12.
	Royal warrant dated St. James's May 31 to the Attorney or Solicitor General for a great seal to appoint George Tilson to be Auditor of Excise and New Imposts in Scotland with the salary of 200l. per an. as from May 1 inst.: with such further salaries and allowances for clerks and incidents as the Lord Treasurer shall consider reasonable. Ibid., pp. 24–25.
	The like for John Parsons as Comptroller of same there: with the like salary etc. [For other officers see infra p. 273]. Ibid., p. 25.
	Warrant dated June 11 by Treasurer Godolphin to the Excise Commissioners, England to pay the charges of passing the Commission of Excise for Scotland, and of the patents for the Auditor and Comptroller, and of all other patents or warrants lately passed and now passing here for establishing officers of the said revenue in Scotland: and for the said purpose to imprest money to Whitlock Bulstrode.
	And further to present an accompt of the said payments and charges to the end the same may be reclaimed from the Excise Commissioners in Scotland “as, regularly, it ought to be.” Ibid., p. 57.
Relating to the Mint and Weights and Measures in Scotland.
Mint arrangements and Weights and Measures arrangements in Scotland consequent upon the Union.	Report dated March 24 to Treasurer Godolphin from Sir John Stanley, Warden of the Mint, Sir Isaac Newton, Master and Worker of the Mint and Ja. Ellis, Comptroller of the Mint in reply to the letter of March 18 inst. ut supra p. 209; as to what is necessary to be done for putting into execution that part of the Act [of Union] which concerns the continuing the Mint in Scotland.
	By the said Act the coin is to be of the same standard and value throughout the United Kingdom. Two new piles of Troy weight should be made, one for each kingdom: likewise new Indented Trial pieces for each, viz. 2 sets for Scotland, one for the proper officer who shall covenant with the Queen to make the moneys thereby and the other to be kept in the Treasury of Scotland for checking and proving the moneys.
	The moneys should be of the same sizes and stamp but with some letter or mark upon the Scotch money to distinguish it from money made in England “as was lately practised in the Country Mints.”
	So much of the Indenture of the Mint in England as contains the rules for coinage should be transmitted to the Mint in Scotland and for the better putting the said rules in practice the officers of the Mint in Scotland may send any of their Mint to see and learn the practice of the Mint in the Tower and, if they desire it, an officer of the English Mint may be sent into Scotland to see the said rules put in execution there. If they shall want any new engines, dies, puncheons, sets of weights or other necessaries for coinage they may be provided for them in [our Mint here in] the Tower. Out Letters (North Britain) I, pp. 55–57.
	Same dated April 12 to same from same in reply to the Lord Treasurer's order of April 3rd inst. ut supra p. 227. We have considered the inventory of tools and necessaries proposed to be provided in London for the use of the Mint in Scotland. The total items in the said inventory, detailed, come to 169l 12s. 8d. [With regard to the item of “four pair of cast rollers of the same size with those in the old mill in the Tower”] cast rollers are not to be bought. The man who makes them keeps the secret to himself and only lends the rollers to the Moneyers at 10s. a day. Hammered rollers cost 6l. a pair but are not so serviceable. What is meant by a sizing mill we are not certain. If it be the mill for drawing the bars of gold and silver to a just thickness such a mill with 3 hammered rollers in the late re-coinage cost 177l. The Moneyers have some of these mills remaining in their hands which they can afford cheaper. [With regard to the item of 200 pound weight of German steel] German steel is scarce to be met with in shops, [which would be] fit for their [the Scotch Mint's] use. Our smiths send into Germany for it. It costs from 8d. to 12d. or 14d. per poundweight according to the goodness and scarcity. Its chief use is for making the dies and puncheons and we conceive it best to have the money of both nations made from the same puncheons for the variety of impressions makes it more difficult to know good money and more easy to adulterate it. [With regard to the item of “one dozen of large scratch brushes, the one half thereof of wire”] what is meant by large scratches half of wire we do not understand.
	Besides the things mentioned in the inventory there should be two Indented Trial pieces of Crown Gold and two of Standard Silver, one for making the money of due alloy, the other for examining it before delivery. They will cost the value of the gold and silver therein and are to be made by a jury of goldsmiths with 4 other Trial pieces for England as we mentioned in our late report of March 24 last supra p. 263.
	Prefixing: the abovesaid “Inventor of tools and other necessaries to be had from London for the use of her Majesty's Mint in Scotland.” Out Letters (North Britain) I, pp. 1–3.
	Report dated June 2 to Treasurer Godolphin from Sir John Stanley, Warden of the Mint, Sir Isaac Newton, Master and Worker of the Mint and Ja. Ellis, Comptroller of the Mint concerning the steps proper to be taken for setting on foot with all convenient speed the coinage in the Mint at Edinburgh and for trying the Pyx of that Mint before her Majesty's Council of Scotland.
	In conformity to the Act of Union we conceive there should be a jury of goldsmiths, 7 indented trial pieces of Crown gold, and 7 of standard silver, two of each metal to be kept in the two Treasuries [English and Scotch] to try the Pixes of the two Mints [English and Scotch], two of each for the Wardens of the two Mints to try the money before delivery and to decide questions between the master and the importer [of bullion] about the fineness of bullion; two of each for the Master of the two Mints to make the moneys by and one of each for the Wardens and Company of Goldsmiths to try their plate and other manufacture of gold and silver: and also that a pile of standard Troy weights be made by the Deputy Chamberlains of the Exchequer for the Treasury of Scotland and 2 other piles by the Wardens of this Mint in such manner as the Mint Indenture directs; and that all these piles be printed like the weights sent to the Corporations: and one of the two piles to be delivered for the Mint in Scotland.
	Until a Mint Indenture for Scotland may be drawn up, the coinage there may be set on foot by royal warrant to the general and other officers of that Mint, with a copy of the existing Indenture of the English Mint annexed to it, authorising and requiring them to act under the rules there set down relating to their several officers and particularly that the Master coin all the moneys of the weight and fineness and within the remedies there appointed and take care that the several pieces be not lighter than their counterpieces and that the Warden and Counter Warden do survey and cheque the proceedings of all the other officers and ministers and see that the monies be well and duly coined in all respects and an exact account kept of the dies and puncheons.
	Another [royal] warrant may, if thought fit, be also directed to the Master of the Mint [in Edinburgh] naming the species to be coined by him and requiring him to coin one tenth part of the silver into sixpences and four tenths into shillings as was done in the late re-coinage in England, three tenths in half-crowns and the remaining two tenths in Crown pieces: and authorising him to command the graver to make puncheons and dies for coining the said money of the very same form with the moneys coined in the Tower of London and to use such master puncheons as shall be sent to him from the Tower for making moneys of both Mints perfectly alike until the puncheons made by himself shall be approved by the officers of that [our London] Mint: and to let [set] the letter E (the first letter of the city of Edinburgh) under her Majesty's effigies as in the specimens of dies which will be sent him from the Tower, so that the moneys of the 2 Mints may be thereby distinguished. Out Letters (North Britain) I, pp. 70–71.
	Report dated March 22 to Treasurer Godolphin from Lord Halifax, Auditor of the Receipt, in reply to the letter of March 18 inst. here prefixed ut supra p. 209 concerning the standards of weights and measures to be sent into the several burghs in Scotland from the standards kept in the Receipt of the Exchequer in England. I advise that the proposal as below from the Deputy Chamberlains [of the Receipt of the Exchequer] be put in execution with all imaginable execution, the time being very short for performing this service with the exactness that is requisite.
	Appending: said proposal of the Deputy Chamberlains of the Exchequer. There is remaining in the Receipt of the Exchequer for measures the Ell and Yard; the Bushel, Gallon, Quart and Pint, “the ale quart and pint made by virtue of the statute of the eleventh year of the late King Wm. III but to the best of our inquiries [we] never had particular standard measure for wine.”
	The standard weights are of two kinds; first Averdupois being one of 56 pounds, one of 28 pounds, one of 14, one of 7, one of 4, one of 2, one of 1, all of which are made bell fashion. Besides these there are standards Averdupois made flat, and are called a pile of flat-weights, the biggest of which is 8 pounds, the second of 4 pounds, the third of 2 pounds, one of 1 pound, one of 8 ounces, one of 4 ounces, one of 2 ounces, one of 1 ounce, one of ½ ounce, one of ¼ ounce, one of ¹/8 ounce, one of 1/16 ounce.
	The second sort of standard weights are those called Troy weights made pyle fashion, the biggest in the pile being of 256 ounces, the second of 128 ounces, one of 64 ounces, one of 32 ounces, one of 16 ounces, one of 8 ounces, one of 4 ounces, one of 2 ounces, one of 1 ounce, one of ½ ounce, one of ¼ ounce, one of ¹/8 ounce and 2 weights each 1/16 of ounce.
	The method which hath been used for ages past, when any city or borough hath had occasion for any standards, hath been as follows: first they have made application to the Deputy Chamberlains of the Exchequer who have recommended them a founder of whom they have [thereupon] bespoke the several standards wanted sized as near as conveniently possible to the standard before they are brought to the Exchequer and then they are to be tried and sized by the Deputy Chamberlains, they having been most usually two days in despatching one set of standards after they were adjudged true in measure or weight to a nicety, and an indenture of the delivery thereof to the city or borough is sealed and a very ancient fee of 1l 11s. 4d. paid for the said indenture exclusive of the charge of vellum and stamp Duty. This fee is divided among seven persons. The number of the boroughs in Scotland cannot by a guess be less than 66, there being so many boroughs that send Members to Parliament, besides the 33 shires and several other boroughs which may have the privilege of standards kept by them, for all that is [to us] known. These cannot be despatched before the first of May next. We recommend immediately employing John Snart as the founder to prepare the said standards so that we the Deputy Chamberlains may be sizing immediately. The exact names of each corporation in Scotland should be certified to us and we shall require a place to perform this business in and an extra clerk and messenger, as one of the Deputy Chamberlains cannot be spared “neither the clerk of the other from the Tally Court.” The most suitable place will be the lower part of the Duchy Court as being near the Court of Receipt. Out Letters (North Britain) I, pp. 53–55.
	Lord Halifax, Auditor of the Receipt, to William Lowndes dated June 2 concerning the progress made in making a new wine gallon and in the despatch of weights and measures to Scotland. The Deputy Chamberlains of the Exchequer have long since bespoke the wine gallon from the founder but he hath not yet finished it. As to the weights and measures these are sized and sealed, 21 sets each of standard ells and yards, of standard Troy weights, of standard Avoirdupois weights bell fashion and of standard flat weights Averdupois and likewise 5 bushels, 5 gallons, 5 quarts and 5 pint measures. These are all that are yet finished by the founder. He has promised to complete 21 sets next week. The Deputy Chamberlains cannot complete the indentures for each set without the names of the towns or places to which the sets are to be sent and of the persons to be named in the indenture. Mr. Peter Le Neve, one of the said Chamberlains, has applied to the Earl of Mar, one of the Secretaries for Scotland, and to Sir David Nairn to get the said particulars. Ibid., pp. 27–28.
	Warrant dated June 25 by Treasurer Godolphin to Sir John Stanley, Warden of the Mint. By the indenture of the Mint you are authorised “with the consent of the General of the Mint in Scotland” to make 2 standard piles of Troy weights of England and to examine and print them with a Rose crowned and a Thistle crowned and to deliver one of them by indenture to the said General.
	As the service requires haste so that the consent of the said General cannot now be had with sufficient speed you are hereby to make the same without staying for the said consent and to deliver one of them to Sir David Nairn, Secretary Deputy, to be sent into Scotland, on his giving a receipt for same. Ibid., p. 50.
May 2.	Letter of direction for 50,000l. to the Navy Treasurer: to be applied to the payment of wages of seamen: to be issued out of funds as follows viz.: 15,406l. 7s. 6½d. out of loans on Land Tax 1707 as in part of 100,000l. intended for Wear and Tear of the Navy as by the letter of April 12 last: 28,767l. 11s. 0d. out of loans on Malt anno 1707; 5826l. 1s. 5½d. out of Contributions for Annuities anno 1707. Disposition Book XVIII, p. 273.
	Same for 157l. 10s. 0d. to Visct. Fitz-Hardinge, Treasurer of the Chamber: to be paid over to Mr. Winder for lodging the Morocco Ambassador and his retinue for 21 weeks Nov. 13 last to April 9 last at the rate of 7l. 10s. 0d. per week. Ibid., p. 275.
	William Lowndes to the Customs Commissioners to report on the enclosed petition [missing] of Thomas Reade relating to the management of the Customs in Scotland. Out Letters (General) XVIII, p. 300.
May 2.	Treasury reference to the Agents for Taxes of the petition of Francis Maidston, Receiver General of the third and fourth quarters of the Land Tax anno 1705 for co. Essex, praying allowance of 265l. 12s. 0d. for his extraordinary charges in his said receipt. Reference Book VIII, p. 271.
May 3.	William Lowndes [to the Customs Commissioners] to report on the enclosed paper [missing] touching the smuggling of some French goods. Out Letters (General) XVIII, p. 302.