Minute Book: January 1713

Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 27, 1713. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1955.

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'Minute Book: January 1713', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 27, 1713, (London, 1955) pp. 1-8. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol27/pp1-8 [accessed 20 April 2024]

January 1713

1712–13.
Jan. 7.
Treasury
Chambers,
Whitehall.		 Present. Lord Treasurer Robert (Harley), Earl of Oxford.
The [Principal] Officers of the Ordnance are called in. They will speak with some Directors of the East India Company about 500 tons of saltpetre.
Mr. Bridges is to discourse the Agents of the Regiments to which the Invalids transported from Spain to England did belong, to know whether they do submit that the charge of the same transportation as demanded by the [ship] owners and directed by the Queen's warrant shall be charged on the said Regiments.
On Mr. Bridges' memorial [for money my Lord Treasurer] ordered that Mr. Deckar have a security for 50,000l. [to wit in or] by South Sea Stock [as below].
[My Lord Treasurer directs the Exchequer to] issue 1,236l. 19s. 0d. to Mr. Bridges for subsistence of Officers who are to repair to Port Mahon and Gibraltar.
Mr. Decker by letter dated the 6th inst. proposing to give his bills upon Messrs. Andrea Pells and Sons at Amsterdam to the value of 50,000l. for the service of the Forces in Flanders either at two [months'] uso at the exchange rate of 10 guilders 15½ stivers to the pound sterling; or at eight days' sight at the same exchange rate current money; on a security of 65,000l. in South Sea Stock to be transferred to him on the delivery of the bills and to be [re-]paid in two months from the date hereof [thereof] with 6 per cent. interest to the date of repayment: my Lord Treasurer agrees to the latter form of the said proposal, viz. bills at eight days' sight at 10 guilders 15½ stivers current money, but Decker to have only 60,000l. security in South Sea Stock instead of 65,000l. Treasury Minute Book XX, p. 14.
Jan. 8. Present: ut supra.
Mr. Cæsar [Treasurer of the Navy is] called in [and my Lord Treasurer directs that] 6,000l. more in South Sea Stock is to be applied to [payment of bills on] the old Course of the Victualling, but the [Navy Victualling] creditors are not to have the interest of the last quarter.
In the margin: Treasurer of the Navy 6,000l. in South Sea Stock for the old Course of the Victualling.
[Write] to the Commissioners of Sick and Wounded to be here to-morrow morning. Ibid., p. 15.
Jan. 9. Present: Lord Treasurer.
[Write] to the Cofferer [of the Household] and Mr. Vanburgh to send an account what is due for wages and board wages to the Queen's servants to Xmas 1712.
Write to Mr. Francis Scobell that my Lord Treasurer resolves that the 3,000l. a week shall from this time be punctually issued at the Exchequer to pay for the tin and if he can get any money in the country from any of her Majesty's Receivers or others for that [the tin purchase] service he may draw bills for 3,000l. a week and they will be exactly complied with.
[Write] to the Commissioners for the tin affair to attend on Monday morning next about settling the price for selling the tin in Holland.
[My Lord directs that] 8,905l. 13s. 11d., being Mr. Brydges' [or the Army's] part of the dividend due at Midsummer last upon South Sea Stock [subscribed by him] for the public is to be applied in part of his [Brydges’] demand of 17,041l. 7s. 7d. for arrears of subsistence to the Officers of Regiments disbanded or reduced and for their half pay. Treasury Minute Book XX, p. 16.
Jan. 9
[? afternoon].		 Present: Lord Treasurer; Chancellor of the Exchequer [Robert Benson, afterwards Lord Bingley].
[Send word] to the Attorney General and Solicitor General to be here on Tuesday morning to discourse about the interest on the Army debentures before the decree of the Exchequer [Court] concerning the same is signed or anything is done thereupon.
[My Lord directs that the sum of] 4,486l. 1s. 6d. be issued forthwith to Mr. Cæsar for subsistence of the Marines, viz. so much thereof as will complete the provision for the Navy made in the last Session, to be issued out of the Exchequer, and the rest of the said 4,486l. 1s. 6d. out of the first money coming to Mr. Cæsar's hands applicable thereto. Ibid., p. 17.
Jan. 12. Present: Lord Treasurer, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The Agents for Tin are called in [and my Lord discourses them: they promise my Lord that] they will speak with Mr. Beranger about the disposal of the tin in Holland. Ibid., p. 18.
Jan. 13. Present: Lord Treasurer.
The Attorney General and Solicitor General are called in. They will move the Exchequer to re-hear the cause about the interest of the Army and Transport debentures.
[My Lord directs] 20,000l. to be issued to Mr. Micklethwayt, Treasurer of the Transports.
[Write] to Mr. Burchett [Secretary of the Admiralty] to represent to the Admiralty Lords that the Treasurer of the Navy has had his proportion of the money granted by Parliament for the year 1712 and that therefore it may be necessary that no more ships should at present be directed to be paid off nor any more ships in pay to reduce their men to the middle complement.
Upon reading this day a memorial from Mr. Brydges, representing that there is due from the Bank to him a balance of 278,673l. 18s. 3d. for principal and interest after deduction of 64,300l. principal accepted by them in orders and tallies on Land Tax and Malt, my Lord Treasurer agrees that Mr. Brydges do continue as a deposit with the Bank the sum of 306,000l. of the tallies and orders issued to him for the Troops under his pay; [the same to be] as security for repayment, within two months from this day, of the principall moneys owing to them [the Bank] and the 6 per cent. interest thereon: and as to the interest now due to the Bank upon former [loans to him covered by] deposits by Mr. Brydges (amounting as by his memorial to 22,390l. 17s. 11d.) my Lord agrees that the interest due on the several orders of loan deposited with them may be received at the Exchequer and that out of the same they [the Bank] be paid the interest due to them to this time. For that purpose my Lord directs a list to be laid before him of all the said orders and of the interest incurred thereupon, to the end his warrant may be sent to the Auditor of the Receipt to issue the same to Mr. Brydges and to surcharge him therewith in his [Brydges'] next imprest certificate. Ibid., p. 19.
Jan. 14.
At
St. James's.		 Present: Lord Treasurer, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
[My Lord sends to the Exchequer a direction] letter [for issuing] to Mr. Micklethwayte 21,339l. 1s. 7d. out of Lottery money in the Exchequer: to be for the Transport service. [Send a] letter to him [Micklethwayte] to pay it over to the Treasurer of the Navy upon his [the Treasurer's] transferring to him [Micklethwayte] the like sum in South Sea Stock.
[My Lord orders a] warrant for the Treasurer of the Navy to transfer [the said] 21,339l. 1s. 7d. in South Sea Stock to Mr. Micklethwayte accordingly.
[Send a] letter to Mr. Cæsar [the Treasurer of the Navy] to apply the [above] said moneys to discharge the men from her Majesty's ships for [the purpose of] reducing their number to the middle complements: [to be charged] under the head of [Navy] Wages.
[Write] to Mr. Milner to be at the Treasury on Friday morning with Mr. Brydges.
Speak to Mr. Brydges and Mr. Southwell about the money to be remitted from Ireland to be replaced to the account of the Forces here [in England]. Ibid., p. 20.
Jan. 15.
At
St. Jame's.		 Present: ut supra.
[Write] to the [Principal] Officers of the Works to make the preparation they used to make for an Enstalment [Installation: to wit] in the Guard Chamber at Windsor.
[My Lord directs the Exchequer to issue to] Lord Strafford 500l. for one quarter due at Xmas last on his allowance of 2,000l. a year as First Commissioner of the Admiralty (over and above his salary of 1,000l. a year): [to be issued] out of money arisen, or to arise, by sale of old stores.
[Write] to Mr. Brydges to send an account how much he advanced that is to be refunded from Ireland; how much hath been remitted to him and in what proportions he is to receive the remainder: and also an account how much he has advanced to such Regiments as are upon the Establishment of Guards and Garrisons.
Mr. Brydges lays before my Lord Treasurer a proposal of Mr. Milner for furnishing 50,000l. in Portuguese moydas of gold for the use of her Majesty's Forces in the garrisons of Port Mahon and Gibraltar: which is considered and agreed to by my Lord as follows, viz. for 30,000l. at sight payable in Port Mahon in Portuguese gold moydas at the current price, the exchange at 57 pence sterling per piece of Eight, and 20,000l. at sight payable at Gibraltar at the exchange rate of 54 pence sterling per piece of Eight: and to be repaid for the same by 25,000l. at three months after date of the bills and 25,000l. at four months after date of the bills; without any interest for the time; and he [Milner] to have for his security a deposit of 60,000l. in South Sea Stock in his own right. “It's declared that the moydas are to answer in weight and standard at the rate of four pieces of Eight to the Spanish Dubloon.”
Mr. Brydges in his said memorial computes that the said 30,000l. will carry up the services at Port Mahon to the latter end of April 1713 and the 20,000l. for Gibraltar to 23 March next. Treasury Minute Book XX, p. 21.
Jan. 16.
Treasury Chambers, Whitehall.		 Present: Lord Treasurer, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Copy of a paper relating to the interest of the Classes [Lottery] orders with Mr. Attorney General's opinion thereupon:
9 Anne, c. 16, pp. 475–6, enacts that several Duties therein mentioned shall be a fund to raise 186,670l. per an. for 32 years from the 29th Sept. 1711 for paying 2,602,200l. principal and interest at 6 per cent. [to contributors of 2,000,000l. by way of Lottery, for the service of the war]: and that the Deficiency yearly shall be made good out of the next Aid to be granted in Parliament, and for want of such Aid, out of any publique money in the Exchequer unappropriated.
p. 496 enacts that all money coming in of the Leather Duty [the Duties on hides and skins imposed by 9 Anne, c. 12, for 32 years and made part of the said Lottery Fund by the Act 9 Anne, c. 16] before Michaelmas 1711 shall be applied towards the said principal and that from Michaelmas 1711 a quarterly account shall be made of all the moneys coming in and, deducting from time to time enough to pay the interest of that quarter, the rest shall be applied towards the principal.
p. 500 [enacts that] the officers [employed in administering said fund] and incidents [expenses of such officers and fund] shall be paid out of the moneys arising by the Act:
£ s. d.
the whole principal was 2,602,200 0 0
paid out of the Leather Duty arising before Michaelmas 1711 11,902 15 7
£2,590,297 4 5
the interest whereof amounts to 155,417l. 16s. 8d. per an. and for five quarters ended at Xmas 1712 comes to 194,272l. 5s. 10d.
There came into the Exchequer before Xmas 1712 from the said Duties 161,091 7 11
£ s. d.
whereof, paid towards principal, ut supra, the sum of 11,902 15 7
to the officers and incidents 9,010 17 3½
20,913 12 10½
rest towards interest 140,077 15 0½
wanting to complete [the above total of] all payments to 1712 Xmas 54,194 10 9½
£194,272 5 10
Memorandum: 41,871l. 17s. 11d., part of the said sum for interest, is still in cash at the Exchequer or in the [Lottery] Paymaster's hands unapplyed.
Query: whether the money now in cash and hereafter to come in, as it shall arise, ought not to be applied to answer all demands of interest without any stoppage or postponing.
[Attorney General's opinion thereon.]
I am of opinion the intent of the Parliament was that only the overplus of the Fond beyond what would pay the arrears of interest should be applied to sink the principal: therefore it's fit the moneys as they come in be applied to pay the interest “and [nevertheless] the computations, however, may be made [ambulando] to see [or ascertain] the annual Deficiency, if such shall happen, [so that the same may be ready] to be laid before Parliament”: signed Edward Northey, 15 Jan. 1712–13.
Ibid., p. 22.
Jan. 19. Present: ut supra.
[Write the] Commissioners for the Tin Affairs and Mr. Beranger to attend my Lord [Treasurer] at this place [the Treasury Chambers] to-morrow morning.
Letter from the Master and Worker of the Mint to Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer concerning the value of Spanish money:
Mint Office, Jan. 16 1712–13.
“Our assay master being out of town and his clerk sick in bed I got the two Spanish pieces assayed at Goldsmiths’ Hall. The piece of King Charles weigh'd 3 pennyweight 12 grams and in fineness was 4 pennyweight worse than standard. The value thereof in English money is 10 pence and threefifths of a penny. The piece of King Philip weighed 4 pennyweight and ¼ grains and was one ounce two pennyweight worse than standard; and in value 11½ pence English. They seem to be quarter pieces of Eight of the new Species and in the nearest round number 5 of them may be reckoned worth a Mexico or Pillar Piece of Eight. If I had had two or three more of each sort I could have made a better judgment of them. But by the best judgment I can make of these two only, it seems to me that they may be diminished in value by one fifth part or in the proportion of 5 to 4.
Is[aac] Newton.”
Ibid., p. 23.
Jan. 20. Present: ut supra.
Sir Solomon de Medina [is] called in with Mr. Bridges and Mr. Sloper. My Lord Treasurer determines several of the remaining articles in Sir Solomon's account for 1710.
My Lord will give a security upon South Sea Stock for 50,000l. to be advanced to Mr. Bridges for the service of the Forces under his care [of pay]. Ibid., p. 24.
Jan. 22.
St. James's.		 Present: ut supra.
[My Lord Treasurer orders] Mr. Harrison to take care to prosecute the heirs and executors of Walter Whitfeild in order to bring them to account and to answer for the public money wherewith he is chargeable [as late Paymaster of Marines].
Write] to the Directors of the Bank and to the petitioners for a [new Charter for the [Million Bank of] Annuities [along] with Mr. Ince that my Lord Treasurer will hear them on Monday next.
[My Lord orders] Mr. Watts to have 20l. for past service.
[Send] to Mr. Hanworth Fitch at the Sword Blade Office in Burchin Lane, London, to be here to-morrow at 12 o'clock about a method to obviate the mischief of bad money.
Direct Mr. Baker and Mr. Gosselin to prepare instructions (in relation to prizes only) to be given to Col. Nicholson or such as he shall appoint and to propose what salary may be proper for his deputy for that part of the commission he is entrusted with. [The marginal note of this minute is “Mr. Baker and Mr. Gosselin to prepare Instructions for Col. Nicholson.”]
Send Mr. Drisdel's paper to the Commissioners of Excise. Treasury Minute Book XX, p. 24.
Jan. 23.
Treasury
Chambers,
Whitehall.		 Present: Lord Treasurer, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
[Write] to Mr. Bridges to know what care is taken upon the death of Mr. Morrys that the money which Mr. Bridges entrusted him with shalbe duly accounted for and that the ballances (if may be) shall be duly answered.
Prepare a warrant for borrowing 50,000l. upon South Sea Stock: which 50,000l. is to be reserved for such uses as my Lord Treasurer shall direct.
[My Lord directs] 2,486l. 11s. 8d. to Mr. How to be applied by him as in part of 4,396l. 10s. 3d. [demanded by him] in his memorial of this day for the Invalids: [the said 2,486l. 11s. 8d.] being the dividend in his hands on South Sea Stock [subscribed by said How in the name of the public: the said interest being] for the half year ending at Midsummer last.
[My Lord orders that] Mr. Cæsar out of 130,000l. to be borrowed on South Sea Stock is to apply 20,000l. for the new Course of the Navy and 20,000l. for the new Course of the Victualling and 1,602l. 15s. 9½d. to complete 4,486l. 1s. 6d. in Sir Roger Mostyn's memorial of the 23 December last for the Marines.
[My Lord orders] Mr. Brydges to make a memorial for the pay of the Officers of the seven Companies of Invalids ordered to be disbanded: [to wit] to the 31st inst.: and Mr. Howe is to attend [my Lord] next Tuesday about the pay of the private men of the said Companies to the same time; towards which his Lordship now orders 2,486l. [2,486l. 11s. 8d. as above], “the dividend of the South Sea Stock in his hands which was due at Midsummer last.”
My Lord Treasurer is pleased to direct that the Treasurer of the Navy do continue as a deposit [of security] with the Bank of England, the several tallies and orders as follows (upon which the said Bank has lent him 180,000l. for the services of the Navy), viz.
100,000l. on a deposit of 110,000l. tallies on Malt anno 1711.
50,000l. on a deposit of 55,000l. tallies on Malt anno 1712.
30,000l. on a deposit of 20,300l. tallies on the fourteenth 4s.
Aid and of 12,700l. tallies on hops anno 1711.
making a total of 180,000l. advance as against 198,000l. tallies for security of repayment within two months from this day with 6 per cent. interest. Ibid., p. 25.
Jan. 24.
St. James's.		 Present: Lord Treasurer.
[Write] to the Treasurer of the Navy that out of the 130,000l. borrowed on South Sea Stock he apply 54,600l. to pay off the Sunderland, Falkland and Hampton Court.
Prepare a warrant for borrowing 200,000l. on South Sea Stock in the hands of Mr. Cæsar [the Treasurer of the Navy]: “the Trustees to be Sir Richard Hoar, Kt., Lord Mayor of London, Robert Child, William Lowndes and William Clayton, Esqrs.” Ibid., p. 26.
Jan. 26.
Treasury
Chambers,
Whitehall.		 Present: Lord Treasurer, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Insert in the “Gazette” an advertisement that money is put into the hands of the Paymaster [of Marines] to pay the subsistence of the Marines for [the period from] — to — 1712.
The Governor and several Directors of the Bank of England and several persons concerned in annuities called the Million Bank are called in, the Attorney General and Solicitor General being present. The first report on the petition of the said persons for an incorporation and the Attorney General's second report concerning the same are read. The paper of the Bank containing their objections against the desired incorporation is also read.
[On behalf of the Bank] Mr. Gold desires that if the petitioners are to be heard by counsel the Bank of England may have the same favour.
The Attorney General says there is a clause in the heads of a charter which he prepared and were approved by Mr. Dod and he apprehended the Bank of England was satisfied.
Mr. Gold says he thinks no provision can be sufficiently made against their interfering with the Bank.
The Attorney General and Solicitor General say that an objection may be laid against any incorporation to be made by the Queen.
Mr. Gold says that the incorporation desired is to work upon Exchequer fonds as the Bank does.
[My Lord decides that] both parties be heard by two counsel on each side on this day sevennight. Ibid., p. 27.
Jan. 27. Present: Lord Treasurer.
Mr. Auditor Harley [is to be] desired to attend my Lord at St. James's next Saturday in relation to the state of the Transport accounts of [the Troops for] Spain anno 1703. Ibid., p. 28.
Jan. 28.
St. James's.		 Present: Lord Treasurer, Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer.
[Write] to the Commissioners of Transports to be here to-morrow at 12 with Mr. Sloper.
Send to the Commissioners of the Admiralty to know if they have any objection to the immediate paying off the Bedford, Advice, Gloucester, Non Such, Feversham, Rye, Bideford, Greyhound, Hind, Rose, Sea Horse and Sole Bay.
[My Lord directs to Mr. Brydges the issue of] 2,600l. for satisfying the artificers at Port Mahon to June 30 last: to be paid out of 130,000l. advanced by Sir James Bateman et al. Ibid., p. 29.
Jan. 29.
St. James's.		 Present: ut supra.
Look out Sir Samuel Garret's papers and pay his debt out of South Sea Stock.
Mr. Auditor Harley comes in. The state of the accounts of the Commissioners for Transports for the year 1702 is read. [My Lord Treasurer orders that] this account is to be prepared for declaration, but the Auditor is to take care that the [said] Commissioners in their account of stores be charged with these stores.
Mr. Brydges’ memorial for 12,955l. 13s. 4d. is read and the following sums are ordered thereupon: viz.
1,000l. towards clearing subsistence and paying Bounty money to the sergeants, drums and private men designed for [to be] Invalids [out] of the Foot Regiments of Price, Rook and Slane, to the days of their being disbanded.
500l. for the Dragoons whose horses were taken by Marshal Starembergh and not paid for [and is to be] upon account of the allowance of four pistoles per man in consideration of the said horses.
1,500l. for the non-commissioned Officers and private men of the Regiments who were prisoners in Spain: [and is] upon account for clearing their subsistence to the days of their being disbanded and [for] paying the usual Bounty money.
1,830l. for the Duke of Ormonde's pay as General of her Majesty's Forces in the Low Countries for 182 days from the 23 June 1712 to the 22nd Dec. following at 10l. per diem.
1,785l. 13s. 4d. for the pay of his four Aides de Camp and the Staff Officers for 365 days to the said 22 Dec. 1712.
2,000l. for the pay of other General Officers upon the Establishment [of the Forces] in Flanders for the year 1712: these last two items to be paid if agreeable to the Establishment.
[Write] to Mr. Sloper and Mr. Merril to attend here on Saturday about money for disbanding the Invalids.
Sir William Windham's report concerning Barracks is read. The Queen is pleased that so much as concerns the Savoy be complied with. Enquire into the encroachments upon the Guards.
[My Lord directs] 1,500l. to the Earl of Dartmouth for secret services. Treasury Minute Book XX, p. 30.
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