|
| February 1. |
40. Statement of opinion by the Attorney General on a case concerning tobacco from the British Plantations, the traders in tobacco from the British Plantations being informed that it is intended to bring tobacco of the growth of the Spanish Plantations in pudding or roll not containing 200 wt. of neat tobacco from some of the British Plantations in British ships duly owned and manned, or to bring it directly from the Spanish Plantations in British ships so duly owned and manned, according to the Act of Navigation. 5 pages.
Appending:—(a.) Charles Carkesse to John Scrope, dated Custom House, London, 1730, November 12, transmitting from the Inspector General of Imports and Exports an account of the quantity of tobacco not of the growth of English Plantations imported into England in the seven years 1722, December 25, to 1729, December 25. 1 page.
(b.) The account as above, attested by John Oxenford, Assistant Inspector General. 1 page.
(c.) Charles Carkesse to John Scrope, dated Custom House, London, 1730, October 30, concerning the complaints of several tobacco merchants to Horatio Walpole and John Scrope regarding the importation of great quantities of tobacco from the Carácas; and forwarding copies of all papers relating thereto. 5 pages.
(d.) Copy of the memorial of Jonathan Perrie to the Commissioners of the Customs, dated Custom House, London, 1730, July 22, laying before the Commissioners the opinion of the Attorney General on the case submitted concerning Spanish tobacco.
“Although I cannot say, particularly in the case of Spanish tobacco, that it has been usual to import it by way of the English colonies, yet it has been usual to import thence many other products of the Spanish West Indies, such as cochineal, logwood, Nicaragua wood, indigo, Jesuits bark, and snuff of the Havana…. The general practice, therefore, of importing these commodities seems sufficiently to authorise the importation of Spanish tobacco the same way, whereon I pray your Honours' resolution” Desires a further statement of opinion, to be taken at his own expense, by the Attorney General.
Followed by copy of the report to the Commissioners of Customs from Edward Williams, Deputy Surveyor, Robert Paul, Deputy Collector, and Thos. Causton, Deputy Comptroller, dated 1730, July 27, concerning their objections to the importation of Spanish tobacco from the Plantations. 2½pages.
(e.) Copy of the statement of opinion by the Attorney General, dated 1730, July 11. Verbatim as under that date. 2 pages.
[Treasury Board Papers CCLXXV. No. 12.] |
| February 1. |
41. The petition of John McNeill, Collector of Customs at Fort William [to the Lords of the Treasury], setting forth that at the commencement of the Union there was little business in that part of the country, and the officers being only preventive, were appointed at small salaries, and particularly the Collector, at 25l. per annum, he himself being appointed in 1726; that of late the fishing happening mostly in the Highland Isles thereabout has occasioned several exportations of fish from that port, and since the working of the lead mines in that country considerable quantities of lead and lead ore are exported every season, the duties of which are considerable, beside lead and iron ore exported, and coal imported coastwise. In 1723 the salaries of the officers in Caithness, &c. were augmented. Therefore prays an increase of salary to 40l. per annum, living in the Highlands of Scotland having become much more expensive than formerly. Referred to the Commissioners of Customs, Scotland.
[North Britain Book X. p. 71.] |
| February 4. |
42. Statement of opinion by Sir Philip Yorke, Attorney General, by way of report to the Lords of the Treasury on the petition of Henry Grey, of Billingbear, Berkshire, concerning the lighthouses at Orford Ness and Winterton Ness, ut supra, p. 3. 5 pages.
Appending:—(a.) Henry Grey's petition as above to the King, minuted with order of reference, dated 1730–1, January 8, to the Attorney General. 1½ pages.
(b.) Affidavit, dated 1730–1, January 18, of John Whormby, of the Custom House, London, gentleman, receiver of the duties payable for the Winterton Ness and Orford lighthouses, and agent under the appointment of Henry Grey, that petitioner, since coming into possession of the lighthouses, has spent 1,850l. in removing and rebuilding that at Orford Ness, which was left in a ruinous condition by the former proprietor, and 140l. 17s. for securing the said lighthouses upon an overflowing of the sea; and that on occasion of the seas gaining upon the coast at Winterton there has been a further expense in removing one of the three lighthouses there. Further that about October last one of the new lighthouses at Orford Ness was washed down by the sea, and that deponent has already paid out of the profits of the said lighthouses upwards of 100l. for the exhibition of a new light there for the present security of trade and navigation until the season of the year will allow the building a new lighthouse there. 1 page.
[Treasury Board Papers CCLXXV. No. 13.] |
| February 4. |
43. Report of Exton Sayer, Surveyor General, to the Lords of the Treasury, on the petition of Wm. Dawson, Esq. who prayed a lease of Heworth Grange, near the city of York, for lives of petitioner, Wm. Dawson his son, and Wm. Dawson his grandson. 2 pages.
Appending:—Dawson's petition to the Treasury. Minuted with reference of date 1730, November 10, to Exton Sayer. 1¼ pages. [Ibid, No. 14.] |
| February 5. |
44. Warrant under the royal sign manual, countersigned by the Lords of the Treasury, to John Conduitt, Master and Worker of the Mint, authorising the stamping of such silver as may be imported into the Mint to be coined into crown and half-crown pieces, by the Company of Copper Miners in Wales, with the letters W. C. C. under the head, and on the reverse side the Feathers quartered and X.: the said silver being drawn from lead ore mined by the company, and the same privilege having been granted by warrant of the late King, of date 1727, June 3, as far as related to shillings only.
[Kings Warrant Book XXX. p. 136.] |
February 5.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers. |
45. Present:—Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Dodington, Mr. Clayton.
The report of the Commissioners of Customs of January 8th ultimo read, on Henry Davenant's memorial to be returned the duties paid by him many years since on goods imported from Leghorn and Geneva, which belonged to him as envoy to several princes in Italy, and had been used in his house. The Commissioners certify that the goods in question did not come under the denomination of furniture, and were therefore chargeable, and are constantly paid, and that a retrospect allowance in such case would occasion great sums to be paid out of revenue long since returned into the Exchequer and appropriated. Their Lordships agree and adhere to the said report.
On the memorial of the Paymaster of the Forces of the 1st instant, transmitting Sir Joseph Eyles's proposal for remitting the subsistence to Minorca and Gibraltar, from 1730–1, February 24 to April 24 following, and acquainting their Lordships that the rates of exchange are as usual, said proposal was read and agreed to as follows:—
15,000 dollars for Port Mahon at sight, payable in gold at 55d. per dollar.
24,000 dollars for Gibraltar at sight, payable in gold at 54½d. per dollar. [Treasury Minute Book XXVI. p. 394.] |
| February 9. |
46. John Viscount Percival and Sir Philip Parker Long, Baronet, to John Scrope, forwarding a second petition from the Corporation of Harwich concerning the great danger the town is in, together with the lands purchased by the Government, for want of immediate defence against the daily encroachment of the sea. Consider it highly necessary no time should be lost beyond this summer, knowing what a dangerous condition they are in and the importance of the place to the Goverment, and that every year's delay since Captain Horneck's report, made soon after the purchase of those lands, has greatly enhanced the charge the Government must now be at to effectually secure them. 1 page.
Appending:—(a.) The petition of the mayor, aldermen, and capital burgesses and chief inhabitants of Harwich to the Lords of the Treasury. By virtue of several Acts of Parliament of 7 & 8 Queen Anne, for the better fortifying Portsmouth, Chatham, and Harwich, divers lands and tenements at and near Harwich were vested in trustees for the use of the Crown. Since the purchase thereof, many acres of those lands adjoining the sea, called the Beacon lands, have, for want of proper fencing, been wasted away by the washing of the tide. By this means, the town is almost environed with the sea; the Forelands are much damnified, and in particular the foundations of the great wharf or quay called the Custom House Quay. Pray repair of same. 1 page.
(b.) The memorial of Percival and Long to the same. Since the last petition from the Corporation to the Lords of the Treasury, presented in February 1730–1, the sea has, for want of walling, gained so considerably on one side as must, within some years, render the town an island, and before winter, threaten the entire washing away the Custom House with other houses situated on the said quay.
Endorsed:—“They may proceed to repair to the amount of the money in their hands if it does not exceed 300l.” 2 pages.
[Treasury Board Papers CCLXXV. No. 15.] |
February 9.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers. |
47. Present:—Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Dodington, Sir G. Oxenden, Mr. Clayton.
The memorial of the Treasurer of the Navy of the 8th instant for 1,000l. for bills of exchange on the sick and hurt seamen's office, and for 1,993l. 6s. 5d. for bills of exchange on the victualling account, read and ordered out of the funds in the Exchequer for the year 1730.
Mr. Walker, usher of the Court of Exchequer, is to paid out of the late King's arrears so much of the debts owing to him as will clear his bills of liberate to the time to which the liberates to the Usher of the Receipt have been cleared out of the like arrears. [Treasury Minute Book XXVI. p. 395.] |
February 10.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers. |
48. Present:—Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Dodington, Mr. Clayton, Sir Wm. Yonge.
Order for the preparation of a sign manual for 4,930l. to Mr. Scrope for secret service.
The like for 200l. to Sir Wm. Keith, for service in promoting matters before the Commissioners for Trade for the interest of the Plantations, and for all charges and expenses for attendances in respect thereof.
Consul Parker is to be reimbursed the 52l. 11s. for expresses despatched from Coruña to the King's envoy at Lisbon, for His Majesty's service in the late rupture with Spain, according to the King's pleasure signified by the Duke of Newcastle's letter of 1730, August 1. The fees thereof to be paid by Mr. Lowther.
Order for the preparation of a sign manual for the issue of 417l. to Wm. Richards, to reimburse expenses for His Majesty's service with so much more as will defray the fees thereof.
Mr. Lowther is to pay to John Peele out of the King's money in his hand, 37l. 10s. as His Majesty's bounty. [Ibid, p. 396.] |
| February 11. |
49. Letters patent under the Privy Seal in Latin appointing Wm. Sharpe, junior, a clerk of the Privy Council, loco Edward Southwell, deceased, at a salary of 250l. per annum to date from 1730, December 4. [King's Warrant Book XXX. p. 149.] |
| February 11. |
50. Report by Charles Wither to the Lords of the Treasury on the memorial of the Duke of Grafton, Lord Warden of Whittlewood Forest, concerning the ruinous condition of some few of the lodges in that forest, and of the roads and ring mounds there. “Hasleborough Lodge had better be rebuilt.” 1 page.
Appending:—(a.) The Luke of Grafton's memorial as above to the Lords of the Treasury, with order of reference, dated 1730, July 17, from the latter to Charles Wither. 1 page.
(b.) An estimate of repairs wanting in the forest of Whittlewood (total, 749l. ls. 9½d.). 4½ pages.
(c.) A rough half-sheet of estimates. ½ page.
[Treasury Board Papers CCLXXV. No. 17.] |
| February 13. |
51. Report by Robert Jocelyn and John Bowes, Attorney and Solicitor General of Ireland, to the Lords Justices General and General Governors of Ireland, concerning a new lease of the lighthouse on the Tower of Hook, at a certain rent, in His Majesty's name. 1 page. [Ibid, No. 19.] |
| February 13. |
52. Royal sign manual, countersigned by the Lords of the Treasury, directed to the Attorney or Solicitor General for the preparation of a bill to pass the Great Seal, containing the grant to Queen Caroline of the manor of East Greenwich and the Palace commonly called the Queen's House, in the said manor, heretofore in the occupancy of Henry Earl of Romney, together with Greenwich Park, the Old Tilt Yard and the Queen's Garden next adjoining to the said Palace, and the land heretofore used as the King's highway lying between the said park, the Queen's Garden and the Old Tilt Yard, and extending from the entrance of Fryer's Road to the entrance of Back Lane: all at yearly reserved rents of 16s. 8½d. and 13s. 4d. to hold during the lives of William Duke of Cumberland and the Princesses Royal and Amelia, for and during the life of the longer liver of them.
Appending:—(a.) Particular and constat made out by W. Lowndes, auditor, and dated 1730, July 22, with memorandum by same as follows: “His late Majesty King Wm. III. by his indenture under the Great Seal, dated 1697, August 31, did demise to Henry then Earl of Romney the Palace or Mansion House of East Greenwich, called the Queen's House, together with the park there, the Old Tilt Yard, Queen's Garden and a piece of ground formerly used for a highway within mentioned, for 31 years from the date, under the yearly rental of 13s. 4d. It doth not appear to me that the manor of East Greenwich hath ever been in grant before or since that time to any person whatsoever, and according to the best account I can find, the quit rents of the said manor, clear of all charges, amount but to 2l. 10s. 1d. as appears by a rental thereof taken by a jury impanelled 25 October 1631. I think it advisable in any grant to be made of the premises that the usual covenants for repairs and a proviso for enrolment thereof with the auditor of the premises should be inserted therein.”
(b.) Same rated by Exton Sayer, Surveyor General, 1730, October, in answer to and by virtue of a warrant from the Treasury of date 1730, September 2.
[Crown Lease Book II. pp. 190–2.] |
| February 13. |
53. Memorial of Sir John Eyles, Bart, [to the Lords of the Treasury]. Sets forth that the tenants of His Majesty's manor of Havering-atte-Bower, in Essex, for want of due regard to be had over them, daily enclose to their own estates divers parcels of the waste of the common and cut down the timber trees. Prays a lease of the manor for 31 years, in order to prevent those abuses. Referred to the Surveyor General to report a state and value of the premises. [Crown Lease Book II. p. 149.] |
| February 15. |
54. An account of the feu duties payable to the Crown out of the island of Lewis, part of the estate belonging to Wm. late Earl of Seaforth, and in arrear. (Total, 3,916l. 13s. 4d. sterling) examined by John Philp, deputy auditor. 1 page.
[Treasury Board Papers CCLXXV. No. 20.] |
February 16.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers. |
55. Present:—Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Clayton, Sir Wm. Yonge.
“The poor of the parishes of St. Martin's in the Fields, Watford, and Berkhampstead St. Peter's and others, being proprietors of certain springs and waters in Hyde Park for the term of 31 years to come, and the vestry held in St. Martin's in the Fields vestry room having by an order of vestry of January 12 last, offered to His Majesty the purchase of the respective interests in the said springs and waters for the said term, for 2,500l. clear of all expenses, Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer acquaints my Lords that His Majesty is pleased to accept of the said offer,” and agrees that the said sum shall be paid as soon as the title to the said springs and waters is examined and passed by the Attorney General, and proper assurances thereupon executed for conveying same to or in trust for the use of the Crown.
Order for Mr. Lowther to pay out of the King's money in his hands 31l. 7s. to Mr. Mann for the cost and charges of four dogs to be sent as a present from His Majesty to the Emperor of Morocco.
On reading the several memorials from the public offices for supplies, their Lordships order the following sums to be issued in Exchequer bills on the Malt Act, 1731. |
|
£ |
s. |
d. |
|
To the Paymaster of the Forces |
239,819 |
0 |
1 |
|
To the Treasurer of the Navy |
200,108 |
5 |
0 |
|
To the Treasurer of the Ordnance- |
30,000 |
0 |
0 |
|
[Treasury Minute Book XXVI. p. 397.] |
| February 18. |
56. Royal sign manual directed to the Clerk of the Signet attending, for the preparation of a bill to pass the Privy Seal to acknowledge the receipt and full discharge of the sum of 6,360l. 5s. 5½d. from Spencer Earl of Wilmington, the same appearing as due upon his balance of the last account as Treasurer and Receiver General of all His Majesty's revenues when Prince of Wales, to which office said Wilmington, then Spencer Compton, Esq. had been appointed by letters patent under the Great Seal on or about 1714–5, January 24th. Given at the Court at St. James's.
[King's Warrant Book XXX. pp. 145–6.] |
| February 18. |
57. Warrant under the royal sign manual, directed to the Attorney or Solicitor General for the preparation of a bill to pass the Great Seal to contain a lease or grant to Henry Grey of the free liberty, licence and authority of maintaining, continuing, altering, renewing, removing and changing of lighthouses and lights at Orford Ness and Winterton Ness, and of taking the duties or payments upon the tonnage of ships and other things in respect thereof; all for 36 years from 1755, April 13, at the yearly rental to the Crown of 20l.
[Crown Lease Book II. pp. 193–4.] |
| February 18. |
58. M. Frecker to the Commissioners of Excise requesting them to hasten the payment into the Exchequer of the arrears, if any, standing out on the malt duties, 1729, with a view to lessen the incumbrances on the supplies for the present year as much as possible, it being provided by the Act for the malt duty, 1731, that the money wanting at Lady Day, 1731, to clear the 750,000l. borrowed on the malt duties for 1729 with interest, shall he satisfied out of moneys to be borrowed on malt duties, 1731.
[Letter Book XIX. p. 28.] |
|
59. J. Scrope to the Auditor of the Receipt for the preparation of a state of the national debt provided or unprovided for by Parliament as it stood 1729, December 31, and 1730, December 31, together with an account of the produce of the Sinking Fund of that year, and to the payment of what debts contracted before 1716, December 25, the said fund has been applied. [Ibid, p. 29.] |
| February 19. |
60. Report of the Commissioners of Customs, London, to the Lords of the Treasury on the petition, as below, of the merchants and others, importers of tobacco from the British Plantations, concerning the warehousing of same. 3 pages.
Appending:—(a.) The petition to the Lords of the Treasury from the merchants and others concerned in the importation of tobacco from the British Plantations. By the Act of 12 Queen Anne it was enacted that on any importer of tobacco paying down 1d. per lb. duty and giving bond for the rest, the tobacco might be warehoused under the joint locks of the Crown and the merchant. This Act was continued by an Act of 5 Geo. I. The Act of 9 Geo. I. directed the duties to be paid down or bond given therefor, and no notice is taken of the previous privilege of warehousing. It is therefore doubtful whether the Act of 12 Queen Anne is in force. If not, pray its re-establishment.
Minuted with order of reference, dated 1730, December 15, to the Commissioners of Customs. 2 pages.
(b.) Petition of same to the House of Commons as above, and praying for the insertion of a clause to the above effect in a bill now depending before the House. 1½ pages.
(c.) Draft of the clause as proposed. 3½ pages.
[Treasury Board Papers CCLXXV. No. 21.] |
| February 22. |
61. Petition [to the Treasury] from His Majesty's tenants in the manors of Barton-upon-Humber, Barrow and Goxhill, in Lincolnshire. When they attended the audit appointed to receive their rents due Michaelmas last, Mr. Berry, deputy to Mr. Brooks, the Receiver General, demanded of them to take acquittance for each rent and to pay him 8d. and 12d. for such acquittances. This they refused, tendering their rents as usual, which said deputy receiver refused. Pray that the receiver may be ordered to receive their last year's rent without any such extraordinary charge. Referred to Mr. Auditor Godolphin.
[Reference Book IX. p. 426.] |
| February 22. |
62. Warrant from the Lords of the Treasury to George Earl of Halifax, Auditor of the Receipt, Robert Lord Walpole, Clerk of the Pells, and all other the officers of the Receipt, to cause the sum of 750,000l. in Exchequer bills, chargeable on the Act lately passed in Parliament for continuing the duties upon malt, &c. each bill containing 100l. principal money, to be placed as so much cash in the office of the Tellers of the Receipt, to be thence issued for the public service according to notifications from time to time by order from the said Lords.
[Money Book XXXV. p. 445.] |
| February 24. |
63. The Earl of Scarborough to the Lords of the Treasury representing the ruinous condition of His Majesty's stables and buildings on the east side of St. James's Mews and of most of the stabling in His Majesty's Great Mews near Charing Cross. Desires the necessary directions therein for the prevention of accidents to the royal horses or servants. 1 page.
[Treasury Board Papers CCLXXIII. No. 22.] |
|
64. Same to same requesting the issue to himself of the further sum of 5,000l. in full of his unsatisfied order for 10,000l. 1 page. [Ibid, No. 23.] |
February 25.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers. |
65. Present:—Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Dodington, Mr. Clayton, Sir Wm. Yonge.
Mr. Paxton to be made acquainted that the keepers of Windsor Great Park have been disturbed by deer stealers in the last doe season, and that Wm. Bristow and Wm. Merlow are now in Reading goal for that offence. Their Lordships order that he take care to prosecute them with vigour at the next assizes.
Order for the preparation of warrants for passing the Duke of Somerset's accounts of the extraordinaries of the stables as Master of the Horse to the late Queen and the King, conformable to the auditor's statement.
The 32,129l. 16s. 1½d. now remaining in the Exchequer of the supplies for 1730, ordered to be issued as follows:—
To the Ordnance, 20,000l.
Paymaster of the Forces, 12,129l. 16s. 1½d.
Mr. Lowther is directed to give to the Chancellor of the Exchequer a list of all persons receiving annual allowances or pensions by his hands, with the pensions they receive. Such of his accounts as have not passed the examination of the late Mr. Auditor Jett are ordered by their Lordships to pass the examination of Mr. Auditor Lowndes.
Such of the French pensioners now living who need to receive pensions yearly by a sign manual payable to Mr. Blagny (“Blaney”) are to have another year paid them. Order for the preparation of the proper warrant upon receiving a list of the persons now living, certified under the hand of Mr. Blagny.
[Treasury Minute Book XXVI. p. 398.] |
| February 26. |
66. Privy Seal directed to the Lords of the Treasury authorising the issue of an annuity or pension of 1,000l. per annum to James Earl Waldegrave, appointed one of the Gentlemen of the Bed Chamber in the place of Philip Earl of Chesterfield, same to date from 1730, October 31.
[King's Warrant Book XXX. p. 148.] |
| February 26. |
67. A statement of certain moneys in the Exchequer undisposed, being the income of certain public funds paid in there after the appropriations of the year have been made good by Parliament under the head of Deficiencies of Supplies, together with a statement of “other disposable moneys” (including among the latter inter al money arisen by the sale of French lands at St. Christopher on a vote of 1717, June 21, viz., 69,253l. 4s. 8¼d.) 1¼ pages. [Treasury Board Papers CCLXXV. No. 24.] |
[After
February 27.] |
68. Petition to the Lords of the Treasury from Richard Hawkins, on behalf of himself and the rest of the people called Quakers residing in and about the cities of London and Westminster. By his report as below, Dr. Exton Sayer, the Surveyor General, advises the permitting to petitioner and the people called Quakers the enjoyment of their meeting house in the Savoy during the King's pleasure only, at 20l. per annum, or some such small rent rather than to grant any term of years therein. Petitioners have built said house at their own charge and it is now old and out of repair. Further the King has given places to the Lutheran and Calvinist congregations in the Savoy precincts, and a place in Swallow Street for the Scotch church without paying any rent. Therefore pray the reduction of the proposed rent to 3s. 4d. as an acknowledgment. 1 page.
Appending:—(a.) Report of Dr. Exton Sayer to the Lords of the Treasury on a previous petition of Hawkins. Gives an account of the premises and advises as above. 2 pages.
(b.) Copy of the previous petition referred to.
Minuted with order of reference to Exton Sayer, of date 1730, December 10. 1¼ pages.
[Treasury Board Papers CCLXXV. No. 25.] |
