Minute Book: November 1706

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

This free content was digitised by double rekeying. All rights reserved.

'Minute Book: November 1706', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 21, 1706-1707, (London, 1952) pp. 3-8. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol21/pp3-8 [accessed 19 April 2024]

November 1706

Nov.1, forenoon. Present: ut supra.
Send to the Ordnance to know what progress is made in the wharf and storehouse at Portsmouth and about the Ordnance stores there and carriages for the eight ships new built in lieu of those lost in the storm.
The Gentlemen of the two East India Companies are called in and the petition of Page and Moor is read [and is] ordered to be referred to the Customs Commissioners [together] with the memorial of the [said two] Companies and the petition of the [ship's] Commander. In the mean time the Attorney General will stay the prosecution.
Look out the Attorney General's report about the Four and a Half per cent. Duty.
Sir Theodore Janssen is called in and sayes that “my Lord Peterborough at Genoa desires 100,000 pistols [sic for desires pistols at Genoa] upon his bills on London or Amsterdam.” My Lord Treasurer says we are near to sitting down of a Parliament: that the whole 250,000l. given last year for [prosecuting the successes of] the war in Spain is already expended: so that any money to be borrowed now must come out of the Supplies to be given for next year. “We are in hopes the Parliament will give money to prosecute that war” but his lordship cannot encourage the drawing of bills for so great a sum before provision is made for it: and there is the less necessity of doing it at this time because a great sum has lately been sent thither [to Spain] in specie from Portugal; and 'tis a much greater loss to the public to draw the money from Italy (which Sir Theodore says is now at 62d. for the dollar) than to furnish it by the way of Portugal.
Upon reading a [usual weekly money demand or] memorial of Mr. Brydges of this day's date for a month's subsistence to the 40,000 men and the additional 10,000 men in Holland, viz. from Nov. 24 next to Dec. 23 next amounting to 70,705l 4s. 0¾d. my Lord Treasurer orders 40,000l. in part thereof to be issued [in order] to be remitted [to Holland].
likewise 414l. 13s. 4d. to same for answering 2 bills of exchange drawn by the Earl of Peterborough from Valencia.
likewise 2416l. to same for 3 bills drawn by Mr. Hartop, Deputy Paymaster of the Forces with Earl Rivers, for money furnished by Mr. Pearson, collector of Customs at Plymouth. Treasury Minute Book, XV, p. 286.
Nov.4, forenoon. Present: My Lord Treasurer, Chancellor of the Exchequer
The [Principal] Commissioners of Prizes are called in. My Lord Treasurer directs them to prepare a body of Instructions to be annexed to a commission to enquire and ascertain what prizes have been brought into Jamaica or elsewhere in America, the kinds and quantities of the captures, the values, the prices [realised] on sale and the money arising thereby and in whose hands it remains; and to consider and propose to my Lord how an Establishment for a better comptrol for the future may be established [struck through] how the value of prizes may be better brought to account in those remote parts.
The said Commissioners acquaint my Lord that Capt. Kyrton, Commander of the Bedford, who is arrived from Spain has sent to the Custom House, London port, from Blackstakes eight bales of raw silk and two chests of goods unknown which the prize agent at Rochester has informed of as believing the same to be prize. Send to the Customs Commissioners to cause this matter to be enquired into and to give my Lord an account of it as soon as possible.
[My Lord directs] 700l. to Sir Charles Hedges for Secret Service.
[Likewise] 3526l. 5s. 0d. [to the Transports Commissioners] to complete 24,000l. for the transports: to be issued as part of the 250,000l. for recovering the Spanish monarchy.
and 20,000l. [to same] for the Course in the Transport Office: [both the said sums to be issued] out of [money in the Exchequer arising from] Contributions for Annuities.
The Customs Commissioners are put off. One or two of their number are to attend tomorrow morning between 9 & 10 a clock. Ibid., p. 287.
Nov.5. Cockpit, Treasury Chambers. Present: ut supra.
Sir William Scawen is called in. My Lord Treasurer desires that the Bank will lend up [to the full of] the complement of the Malt Act anno 1705, being 51,733l. 7s. 5d. and [his Lordship promises that] in case the deficiency on that Act [or fund] be not (as hath been done in the like case) transferred to the Malt Duty to be granted in the next session of Parliament he, my Lord Treasurer, will cause the loan now desired with the interest thereof to be satisfied and repaid out of such other public moneys as shall be applicable thereto [struck through] may be disposed thereunto.
The Navy Commissioners are called in [and on their representation my Lord Treasurer] ordered 35,000l. for Wages. Ibid., p. 288.
Nov.6. Present: ut supra.
Issue the complement of this year's subsidy for the King of Portugal: out of Contributions for Annuities [anno 1706].
Order Mr. Brydges to apply the tallies and orders in his hands for 25,000l. on the Malt Act to the said subsidy: with interest at 5 per cent. from the time the money is advanced on them or from the time they are accepted in payment at par; and upon bringing the orders to the Treasury my Lord Treasurer will endorse [them for payment of] the interest accordingly. Ibid., p. 289.
Nov.7. forenoon. Whitehall, Treasury Chambers. Present: ut supra.
Issue 981l. 0s. 3d. to Mr. How on his memorial for respited pay [of which the respits have been] removed by several [royal] warrants [the items in question being] proper to the year 1703: to be issued out of arrears of Customs ended Xmas 1699 and out of [arrears of] rent of the Hackney Coaches: on the said How's memorial dated 8 November [sic].
The Gentlemen of the Bank are called in. Mr. Eyles says the Directors have consented to make the loan, on the Malt Act, which was lately desired.
[My Lord directs that] it is to be issued to the Victuallers viz., for one month on their Victualling Course viz. 45,082l. 16s. 1d. and the rest, to wit 6,650l. 11s. 4d., for bills of exchange.
The Committee of the Directors for the United East India Companies, per Mr. Colson, thank my Lord Treasurer for all the kindnesses done them, particularly for the good advice given them the other day, and pray his Lordship to continue his good inclinations to establish their union.
My Lord expresses his readiness to serve them but cautions them not to do anything to prejudice the public in the matter of the excha[nge].
Sir Thomas Cook says their differences have occasioned their separate sending abroad for bullion, but he hopes there will be no more of it.
My Lord directs the issue of the complement to [complete] one year's interest of the Irish deb[entures] out of this year's funds: to wit 36,098l. 9s. 1½d.
Issue to Mr. Brydges [Paymaster of the Forces Abroad] as follows: out of loans on the eighth 4s. Aid anno 1705: viz.
£ s. d.
to complete the full pay of the General Officers on the Portugal Establishment to 23 Dec. 1705 1720 4 0
to complete the Contingencies on the same Establishment 599 11 0
and out of Contributions for Annuities anno 1706 for the full pay of the General Officers on the Portugal Establishment to 23 Dec., 1706 5297 16 8½
Issue to Mr. How [Paymaster of Guards and Garrisons] out of Contributions for Annuities anno 1706 as follows viz.:
£ s. d.
for Guards and Garrisons pursuant to his memorial of Nov.8th inst. [sic] 15732 6 6
more to ditto for Invalids: upon the same memorial 684 0 3
more to ditto for 5000 men in sea service: upon the same memorial 3560 5 6¼
£19976 12 3¼
Issue to same on the tallies and orders in his hands on the Duties on Low Wines anno 1705 as follows viz.:
£ s. d.
for Guards and Garrisons anno 1705 according to his memorial of the 8th [sic] inst. 3520 4 1½
[sic for 3520 4 9½]
for the 5000 men in sea service anno 1705 upon the same memorial 233 12 6½
for the 5000 additional men anno 1705 upon the same memorial 155 6 8
£3909 4 0
Interest after the rate of 6 per cent. per an. to be allowed to the lenders on these tallies from the time of the advancing their money. Treasury Minute Book XV, p. 290.
Nov.11, forenoon. Present: Lord Treasurer, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
(Write to] Mr. St. John to be here on Wednesday morning about extraordinaries [of the Forces] anno 1704 and [about] a bill of Mr. Sweet's.
Auditor Harley to attend on Wednesday morning.
The Customs Commissioners to attend on Friday afternoon.
Mr. Manwaring to attend on Wednesday morning. Ibid., p. 291.
Nov.13. Present: ut supra.
Mr. Vanburgh to attend on Friday morning.
The Auditors of Imprests are called in. My Lord Treasurer will allow 362l. 17s. 0d. for the [said] Auditors' fees for the [stating the Earl of Ranelagh's] accounts of half-pay to the Officers of disbanded Regiments annis 1699, 1700 and 1701 according to their report. My Lord orders the said sum to be issued out of any unappropriated money [in the Exchequer] and likewise 201l. 15s. 5d. for three accounts of the said Earl of the standing Forces in the same years according to the same report: and likewise [my Lord allows] 1000l. for another year's allowance for the said Earl's clerks [who continue in the preparation and passing of his accounts]. These three allowances totalling 1564l. 12s. 5d. are to be made to the said Earl upon the proper orders: and he is to demand no further allowance for the charge of clerks.
The Auditors say the said Earl's three accounts are engrossed and are ready for declaration.
My Lord Treasurer will speak with Mr. Brydges to send for Mr. Sweet to attend the passing the Earl of Ranelagh's final account this winter.
My Lord Treasurer approves the Auditors' report concerning the Earl of Ranelagh's account of the [Chelsea] Hospital and orders a warrant accordingly to be passed under the privy seal.
The Auditors to attend again on Monday morning.
[My Lord directs] 20,000l. to the Treasurer of the Navy for Wages.
Issue so much to Mr. Nicholas as will clear his payments to French Protestants and [as will suffice] for the quarter's pensions payable by him to Michaelmas last: “and the rest of the Civil List money to be issued to the Cofferer in part of last Midsummer quarter.” Ibid., p. 292.
Nov.15. forenoon. Present: ut supra.
[The draft of a Queen's] letter to Mr. St. John to prepare a warrant for 7000l. for the Duke of Marlborough is read and approved.
[Likewise the draft of a Queen's] letter for 500l. per an. more to Mr. Brydges “for the Forces in Spain and Portugal.” Ibid., p. 293.
Eodem die afternoon. Present: ut supra.
The Customs Commissioners are called in. Mr. Holt's answer is read. My Lord Treasurer agrees to the report of the Commissioners of the 13th Sept. last and [orders Secretary Lowndes to] write to the Commissioners to employ such persons as they think proper for assisting the Comptroller General in bringing on the General accounts of the Customs to Xmas 1704 and to propose to my Lord what they think reasonable for their reward.
Mr. Billers will attend the Customs Commissioners to inform them how the running of whalebone may be prevented. Ibid.
Nov.18, forenoon. Present: ut supra.
[Send a] letter to Mr. Brydges to transmit [to my Lord Treasurer] an account of all the money that has been remitted by him for the service of the Forces in Spain, and to distinguish therein how much for the Troops and how much for [subsidy to] the King of Spain:
And also an account of the application thereof so far as he [Brydges] has received such account from his Deputies: and what has been paid by him here on bills of exchange for the service of Spain.
[Send word] to Mr. Sergison and Mr. Lidal that my Lord desires to speak to them the next time they come to the Admiralty.
[My Lord directs the issue to the Treasurer of the Navy of] 20,000l. for Wages. Ibid., XVI, p. 1.
Nov.19, forenoon at my Lord Treasurer's house. Present: ut supra.
Send a letter to the Customs Commissioners to cause my Lord Marlborough's baggage and about 19 pictures brought therewith from Holland for his Grace's use to be sent up to his lodgings at St. James's with direction to the officers to see them opened there and to receive the Duties for such of the goods are liable thereto, and not to pass any that are prohibited.
Write to Mr. Clayton to give my Lord an account why Mr. Williams was removed from being Surveyor of the Window Tax, co. Worcester.
[My Lord orders a] letter [of direction] for issuing several items amounting to 17,872l. 17s. 5d. to James Brydges out of Contribution money [for Annuities] in the Exchequer: as in his memorial of yesterday and upon the proper [relative] orders in that behalf.
[Likewise for] 9078l. 12s. 0d. to be issued to the Treasurer of the Navy out of the like Contributions: and to be placed to the head of Wages: but is intended to be paid over to Mr. Savery, the Treasurer for Sick and Wounded and Prisoners of War, as in part of 15,131l. 0s. 0d. certified by the Commissioners for Sick and Wounded to be owing for debts in quarters: to wit from Lady day [1705] to Michaelmas 1705, “being three fifths thereof [which is] the proportion usually borne on the head of Wages [the remaining two fifths being the proportion charged to the head of the Victualling].” Ibid., p. 2.
Nov.20, forenoon. Present: ut supra.
The Auditors of Imprests are to attend on Friday morning about accounts. Ibid., p. 3.
Nov.23, forenoon. Present: Lord Treasurer, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
[My Lord Treasurer orders] Mr. Walpool 200l. and the Marquis de Montandre 300l. for the pains and expense of their journeys from Valencia and back again.
Mr. Brydges' memorial is read and several sums are directed thereon. Treasury Minute Book XVI, p. 4.
Nov.25, forenoon. Present: ut supra.
Some of the members of Trinity House are called in. They say the profits of the lighthouse to be rebuilt on the Eddestone are assigned to the new undertaker for 99 years. Ibid., p. 5.
Nov.27. Present: ut supra.
The trustees for the loan of 250,000l. to the Emperor present the accounts of their transaction which are approved.
[The draft of a] letter [of direction] for 10,710l. 17s. 8½d. on Mr. Whitfeild's memorial [for the Marines] is read and approved.
[My Lord directs] 500l. to Secretary Harley for Secret Service. Ibid., p. 6.
Nov.29, forenoon. Present: ut supra.
Issue 530l. to Mr. Roberts to buy houses and ground at Windsor on the report of the Surveyor General of Crown Lands.
[My Lord Treasurer directs] 5000l. for the wharf at Portsmouth.
[Likewise] 2500l. for Secret Service: on the order in Mr. Lowndes's name. Ibid., p. 7.
PreviousTable of contentsNext