Treasury Minutes: January 1717, 2-28

Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 31, 1717. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1960.

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

'Treasury Minutes: January 1717, 2-28', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 31, 1717, (London, 1960) pp. 1-4. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol31/pp1-4 [accessed 26 April 2024]

Image
Image
Image
Image

January 1717, 2–28

1716–17.
Jan. 2.
Treasury
Chambers,
Whitehall.
Present: Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir William St. Quintin, Lord Torrington, Mr. Edgcumbe.
Auditor Harley with Sir Robert Furnese and Mr. Beranger are called in. The state of the accounts of Sir Henry Furnese is read and detailed. [Thereupon my Lords] ordered that Sir Robert Furnese do attend the Auditor with a certificate from the Earl of Carnarvon's Office of the several species wherein he [the said Earl of Carnarvon as then Paymaster of the Forces Abroad] paid the money to Sir Henry Furnese in the years specified in the account [to wit, whether in specie, Exchequer Bills, tallies or paper orders of loan on different funds]. And the Auditor is to inform himself what the common rates of discount were at that time upon the same species respectively, and thereupon to make a report in writing: and these parties are to attend therewith on this day se'night. Treasury Minute Book XXIII, p. 62.
Jan. 3.
Treasury
Chambers,
Whitehall.
Present: ut supra.
Prepare a warrant to pay the Blue Coat Boys to Xmas. In the margin: Christ's Hospital.
Write a letter of leave to Mr. Hopkins, one of the Commissioners of the Revenue in Ireland, to come into England, [they] taking care the business of the Commission may be carried on during his absence.
[Write] to the Commissioners of Taxes to send my Lords an account what sums have been yearly charged by [Land Tax] Acts of Parliament upon the Palaces of Whitehall and St. James's for such years whereof the accounts are not yet cleared and particularly for the year 1716; how much thereof is assessed or remains unassessed and how much upon those assessments have been collected and paid into the Exchequer or doth remain in the hands of the Receiver General or any of the collectors. Ibid., p. 63.
Jan. 9.
Treasury
Chambers,
Whitehall.
Present: ut supra.
Let an account be procured [as to] when the interest commenced on the tallies and orders of 575,989l. 0s. 3d. mentioned in the Auditor's report read this day relating to Sir Henry Furnese's account, and whether any interest incurred upon the said orders before Sir Henry received them, and who had the benefit of that interest.
Sir Robert Furnese, Mr. Beranger and Auditor Harley [are ordered] to attend on Friday morning next.
[My Lords order a royal] warrant to be prepared for 100l. to Mr. Herman von Pettecum [as royal] bounty.
Prepare a [royal] warrant for 500l. (including the [Exchequer] fees) to William Robinson for money expended for his Majesty's special service.
[Likewise a like warrant for] 200l. to [Augustus] Samson (including the fees) for the like sum by him disbursed for his Majesty's special service. Treasury Minute Book XXIII, p. 64.
Jan. 14.
Treasury
Chambers,
Whitehall.
Present: Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir William St. Quintin, Mr. Edgcumbe.
Prepare a [money] warrant for 300l. to Mr. [Richard] Woolaston for the charges in passing the commissions of the Scotch Justices of the Peace. Ibid., p. 65.
Jan. 15.
Treasury
Chambers,
Whitehall.
Present: Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir William St. Quintin, Lord Torrington, Mr. Edgcumbe.
My Lords order [a warrant for] 1,841l. 0s. 8d. due to the South Sea Company to complete the charges on the several subscriptions.
[Write] to the Commissioners of the Post Office to send my Lords an account how [much] South Sea Stock is in their hands [stands registered in their names for the use of the public] undisposed of.
The report and state from the Auditor of Imprests upon Sir Henry Furnese's accounts are again considered. My Lords order that a draft of a privy seal be prepared upon the aforesaid state and report and [my Lords] are of opinion that the 4,040l. 5s. 4d. mentioned in the Auditor's report is a profit made by Sir Henry Furnese upon his own bills compared with the rates of exchange as they appear by Castain's public accounts of the Rates of Exchange at the several times [and that the said sum] should be charged upon Sir Robert Furnese and he be obliged to account for the same in consideration of his being obliged to account by his contract for a profit and loss made by his remittances. But as to the 11,596l. 9s.d. mentioned in the said report as an advantage which Sir Henry Furnese might probably have made from the distance of the times of payments at which the bills drawn from abroad upon the said Sir Henry Furnese were made payable, my Lords are of opinion that this ought not in justice to be charged upon him in consideration that he received the sum of 1,769,405l. 11s.d. in Exchequer Bills and 575,989l. 0s. 3d. in Land Tax tallies, as appears from certificates from the Earl of Carnarvon's Office; which Exchequer Bills and tallies were at so great a discount at the several times they were issued to the said Sir Henry Furnese (as appears by certificates from several brokers mentioned in the report of Mr. Auditor Harley on this subject) that the loss by the said discount did far exceed the profit which Sir Henry Furnese could possibly make from the remoteness of the times of payment aforesaid.
[My Lords order the] Treasurer of the Navy to dispose of 22,000l. Malt tallies anno 1715, principal and interest, [he] allowing 4 per cent. interest for three months to the parties advancing money thereupon: [and the proceeds therefrom is] to be applied to the head of Wages: as also 7,681l. 9s. 3d. remaining in his hands upon a deposit of Land Tax tallies anno 1716, except 1,580l. 10s. 0d. [which] is to be deducted thereout for Flag pay to Sir John Norris &c. [et al.] and 152l. 11s. 11d. on the head of Victualling for answering the loss by exchange, interest and charges of money supplied [to] Capt. Hopson for the Baltic Squadron. Ibid., pp. 66–7.
Jan. 16.
Treasury
Chambers,
Whitehall.
Present: ut supra.
Mr. Knight [attending] from the Directors of the South Sea Company having intimated to my Lords that the Court of Directors is willing to stay three months from this day for the 57,668l. 9s.d. due to complete the quarter ended at Xmas last (without making any demands on the Treasurer of the Navy for the same in the meantime) provided they may have interest at 4 per cent. from this day, my Lords on his Majesty's behalf do agree to the allowance of the said interest accordingly.
A memorial is read from the South Sea Company for 1,841l. 0s. 8d., praying the payment of the said sum to complete their charges in taking in subscriptions to their capital stock. My Lords direct the Navy Commissioners to make out [Navy] bills for the same payable in [the Navy creditors' bill Register] course.
[My Lords direct a money warrant for paying to the] Commissioners of Equivalent half a year's salary to Xmas [last] out of the Deficiency Money anno 1715.
[Write to the] Commissioners of Customs to attend next Tuesday in the afternoon with their presentments concerning such matters as they think necessary to be offered to Parliament relating to the Customs.
[My Lords order] Mrs. Preston and Mr. Woolaston to be heard on Monday morning next. Ibid., p. 68.
Jan. 22.
Treasury
Chambers,
Whitehall.
Present: Sir William St. Quintin, Lord Torrington.
The Auditors of Imprests attending are called in and desire my Lords would allow them a further time to give in their answer to my Lords' order [concerning the prosecution against them for fees illegally taken by them]. They are desired to bring in their answer in writing. They replied that they would attend to-morrow.
[Write to] Mr. Cracherode to inform my Lords what progress hath been made in the prosecutions ordered against several persons for frauds committed in Chelsea Hospital. Ibid., p. 69.
Jan. 23.
Treasury
Chambers,
Whitehall.
Present: ut supra.
The Auditors of Imprests attending are called in. They present a memorial praying a further time of a fortnight to be allowed them to give in their answer. My Lords will consider this when there is a full Board. Ibid., p. 70.
Jan. 25.
Treasury
Chambers,
Whitehall.
Present: Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir William St. Quintin, Lord Torrington.
The Auditors of Imprests' memorial is again considered. My Lords upon being informed by their Solicitor that the time desired (viz. to the 6th Feb. next) is so far within this term that it will make no delay in the prosecution do agree thereto. Ibid., p. 71.
Jan. 28.
Treasury
Chambers,
Whitehall.
Present: ut supra.
[Write] to the Commissioners of the Navy to send my Lords an account what number of seamen were kept in pay for the last year ending at Xmas, distinguished monthly.
[Write to the] Commissioners for making out Lottery Orders to state what price the Government may reasonably pay for stationery wares if their [the stationers'] bills are regularly discharged every quarter or half year [along] “with the Civil List payments.”
My Lords read a memorial of Brigadier Lewis Petit praying their Lordships' directions to the Commissioners for Stating the Debts of the Army to consider his demands when [he was] Chief Engineer to the King of Spain &c. as a debt [owing to him] from the Crown of Great Britain. My Lords thereupon are of opinion that all arrears of salary or pay due to any subjects of England upon an Establishment [under the hand] of the King of Spain payable out of subsidies given him [the said King] by England may be stated specially in the report to be made by the Commissioners of [Army Debts] Accounts to the Parliament; and if allowed, care ought to be taken that the same be deducted out of the King of Spain's [subsidy] demands. Treasury Minute Book XXIII, p. 72.