|
| May 2. |
54. Lord Harrington to the Treasury, communicating His Majesty's pleasure that the following persons should attend him during his absence from the kingdom, for the despatch of the affairs of the Secretary of State's office, and praying issue of allowances, detailed, to each of them, with extraordinaries for the journey to Germany and back: viz., George Tilson and Edward Weston, Under Secretaries, Wm. Blair, John Wace, first clerk, Joseph Richardson, Robert Trevor, and John Larpent, clerks, John Phipps, office keeper. 2½ pages.
[Treasury Board Papers CCLXXVIII. No. 51.] |
| May 3. |
55. Report to the Treasury from Ed. Carteret and E. Harrison, Postmasters General, concerning diamonds transmitted in the mail packets. It is the custom of the Comptroller of the Foreign Post Office to tax at 1 per cent. packets of letters which he guessed had lace or diamonds in them. The amount has not been much, diamonds which have been sent abroad for sale having come back unsold eight or ten times. The new discovery of the Brazil mines has altered the case, but if they had suspected the despatch of diamonds in large quantities would not have left it to a Custom House officer to break open the King's mail, which has never been done before, “nor is it opened when received at this office but by the superior officer in waiting and in the presence of two of his clerks.” General Post Office, May 3. 1½ pages.
Appending:—(a.) Memorial of the Customs Commissioners to the Treasury, dated April 28, concerning seizure of 21 parcels of diamonds in a mail bag on the pacquet boat “Hanover” from Lisbon. 4 pages.
(b.) Richard Score to Richard Wyat, Solicitor of Customs, dated April 26, to enter an information in the Exchequer concerning the above seizure. 1 page.
(c.) Complaint by Ashburnham Frowde, Comptroller of the Foreign Post Office, to the Customs Commissioners, concerning breaking open the mail. 1 page.
(d.) Reply to (c) from the Customs Commissioners, dated April 14. 2 pages.
(e.) Reply to (d) from the Postmaster General, dated April 19. 1 page.
(f.) Petition of several merchants of London praying leave to import diamonds in mails or pacquet boats on payment of the one per cent. duty. 2 large pages with 25 signatures.
[Ibid, No. 52.] |
May 9.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers. |
56. Present:—Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Dodington, Mr. Clayton, Sir Wm. Yonge.
A petition, in the name of the merchants, proprietors of the diamonds lately seized at Falmouth, read, with five other papers, detailed, relating thereto. To be sent to the Attorney General for his opinion as to what directions may be safely given as to bringing up the said diamonds or delivering them when here.
The Commissioners of Taxes to attend on the 16th instant, with a state of the receipts, payments, and arrears of the present receivers of taxes, and of the progress made in recovering debts and arrears from receivers or their sureties.
Order for a sign manual for 100l. to Raymundo Canter as royal bounty.
Same for same for 3,000l. to Lord Harrington for his service and the extraordinary charges he will be at in attending the King as principal Secretary of State in His Majesty's intended progress to Germany. Mr. Lowther to pay fees of same out of the King's money in his hands.
Write to the Postmaster General for an account of the money taken for lace and diamonds coming in the packets over and above the postage rates since His Majesty's accession.
[Treasury Minute Book XXVII. pp. 112–3.] |
| May 12. |
57. Treasury order for execution of a Lord Chamberlain's warrant for necessaries and repairs, detailed, at Kensington and Hampton Court, “and to cover the bar in the Painted Chamber with green baize in the House of Lords, and for the case curtains of the canopy to be new scoured and repaired, and new serge to make good the same, the case rod to be cleaned and new false cases of crimson serge for the State chair, footstool, and two side chairs on the throne, to repair the carpet on the throne, as also the woolpacks and the hangings in several apartments about the House.”
Memorandum:—This warrant will come to 148l. or thereabouts. [Lord Chamberlain's Warrant Book I. p. 390.] |
58. Same for execution of same for furniture for His Majesty's service at St. James's, detailed, including inter al. a mahogany desk for the Princess Royal's harpsichord, and items for Mr. Brinkman, Lady Isabella Finch, Mrs. Elliot, and Mrs. Swinton.
[Ibid, pp. 391–2.] |
May 12.
At the Chancellor
of the Exchequer's
House. |
59. Present:—Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Dodington, Mr. Clayton, Sir Wm. Yonge.
The report of the Customs Commissioners read, on permitting Mr. Perrin, now in Holland, to return unmolested on account of his debt to the Crown. Their Lordships agree to such return.
Mrs. Wither, widow of the late Surveyor of Woods, to give an accounts of the bills remaining unpaid for services performed by order of her late husband, to be satisfied out of the produce of Navy timber, and of Navy bills for such produce remaining in her hands.
The Commissioners of the Navy to give a similar account of bills for royal timber delivered for the Navy by Wither, and not taken out from the office by him at the time of his death.
The Auditors of the Land Revenue to give in a state of said Wither's accounts, and to what time they are passed.
Mr. Davenant's pension of 800l. per annum, on the establishment payable by Mr. Stewart is to be divided, 500l. per annum to himself, and 300l. per annum to his six sisters, from 1732, Lady Day.
Order for a sign manual for the issue of 1,200l. to—Burnham, for clerks and incidents attending the work of the Committee appointed to examine into the affairs of the Charitable Corporation.
The Treasurer of the Navy's memorial of the 11th instant for 11,330l. for wages and 2,000l. for necessary money and contingencies, read and ordered out of supplies, 1732.
[Treasury Minute Book XXVII. p. 114.] |
| May 15. |
60. Report to the Treasury by N. Boothe, Surveyor of Greenwax, on the petition of Thos. Robe and John Mathews, Clerk of the Market of His Majesty's Household. It is not customary to pay the salary of the Clerk of the Market out of fines imposed by them. The fines and names are to be returned into the Treasurer's Remembrancer's office, and the next issuable term the Clerk of Estreats sends them out in process to the respective sheriffs to levy, and when levied the Surveyor of Greenwax takes care that the Foreign Apposer charges the sheriff with them, who have to answer same to the Exchequer before they are suffered to go out of their accounts. 1 page.
Appending:—(a.) J. Scrope to the Surveyor of Greenwax forwarding above petition. 1 page.
(b.) Extract of the letters patent of 1726, August 1, granting the Clerkship of the Market of His Majesty's Household, within and without the liberties, to Robe and Mathews.
Endorsed:—“By letters patent of Charles II. this office was granted to Thos. Earl of Berkshire and Wm. Hempson.” 1 page.
[Treasury Board Papers CCLXXVIII. No. 55.] |
May 16.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers. |
61. Present:—Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Geo. Oxenden, Mr. Dodington, Mr. Clayton.
The Commissioners for Taxes attend with the accounts of the Receivers of land tax and house duty. Their Lordships find great sums in arrear, and order the Commissioners to write, in the strongest terms, to hasten payments of arrears into the Exchequer.
Order for the issue of 1,000l. to the Treasurer of the Chamber, for expenses of the messengers sent abroad.
Miles Greenwood to be inserted on the establishment of salt duties, at a salary of 200l. in respect of three employments, viz. Correspondent and Examiner of the Delivery and Score Books, Assistant Secretary, and Clerk to the Accomptant General for making up the cash and general account of the salt revenue.
James Cresset to be Accomptant General on the same establishment, at 200l. per annum.
Mrs. Wither's return of the 5th instant to the order of May 12 read. The Navy bills unissued ordered to be paid to Mr. Whitworth, Wither's successor, and he to pay Mrs. Wither any balance on his accounts of wood sales when passed. Wither's account for the 6,000l. imprested for works at Windsor Great Park approved, and ordered to be prepared for declaration.
Col. Cosby, desiring payment to himself, out of quit rents, of the salary of Governor of New York, from the death of Mr. Montgomery to the date of his own patent, their Lordships agree thereto, if it has been usually done.
Sir Richard Lane's letter of to-day, concerning the trial as to waste certificates on salt sent coastwise and to Ireland, referred to the Salt Commissioners.
Order for a pension of 100l. per annum to Mr. Chetwynd, from 1731, Lady Day.
Same for same of 400l. per annum to the Earl of Sussex.
Same for a sign manual for issue of 500l. at the Exchequer to James Arnot, Esq. as royal bounty.
Sir James Grant's petition read, for a release of arrears of feu duties on his estate. Referred to Barons of Exchequer, Scotland.
Order for a warrant to the Barons of the Exchequer, Scotland, for renewing a lease of the Bishop's rent of Orkney to John Hay, of Balbithan, at a yearly rent of 200l. free of land tax, ministers' stipends, and other public dues, as the same was leased to John Coventry.
“Mr. Lowther, in his account of money received to reimburse expenses for His late Majesty's service, beginning 14th September 1725, and amounting in the charge and discharge to 18,350l. 5s. hath craved the sum of 353l. as paid by him the 17th January 1728, without inserting, the name or the service to which it was paid. My Lords being apprised of this payment, and knowing that the same was actually made for the late King's service, do order” that the same be passed and allowed to Lowther in his account. [Treasury Minute Book XXVII. pp. 115–6.] |
| May 23. |
62. Representation to the Treasury from the Commissioners of Salt, inclosing copy of an opinion by the Attorney and Solicitor General concerning their power to act as Commissioners for the revived duties on salt by virtue of the patent granted before the late duties on salt ceased. 1 page.
Appending:—Said opinion dated 1732, April 4. 3 pages.
[Treasury Board Papers CCLXXVIII. No. 58.] |
May 25.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers. |
63. Present:—Mr. Chancellor of Exchequer, Sir Geo. Oxenden, Mr. Dodington, Mr. Clayton.
Order for the issue of 1,000l. to Mr. Howard, Paymaster of Works for Mr. Bridgman, for works in the new garden in the paddock at Hyde Park, to 1731, Christmas.
The memorial of the Treasurer of the Navy of to-day for 3,000l. for imprests and bills of Exchange, and 26,503l. to pay off ships, read and ordered out of supplies, 1732.
“My Lords order no more money to be taken in by way of loan on the land tax, 1732, till my Lord Godolphin's loan on the salt duty is settled.”
The memorial of the Postmasters General of the 18th instant, with accounts relating to money received for diamonds and lace coming in the packets, read. The Postmasters stating that no distinct account has been kept of the duties charged on those commodities, their Lordships order them to make up an account as nearly as possible, causing the amount thereof to be immediately paid to the proper officers of Customs.
Order for a warrant for paying the Earl of Grantham what is due on his annuity of 2,000l. out of the revenues of North and South Wales.
The Stamp Commissioners' report, of 4th March last, on Mr. Cartwright's petition for Crown assistance in prosecuting Hughes for embezzlement as receiver of stamp duties, read, and the assistance agreed to.
Order for Mr. Lowther to pay 129l. 8s. out of the King's money in his hands for fees, &c. in passing the commission and instructions of Captain Falkingham as Governor of Newfoundland, and 81l. 15s. 6d. for same in passing the Queen's Commission of Regent of the Kingdom.
The Board of Works' memorial, of the 16th instant, for repairing and cleaning the painting on the ceiling of the Banqueting House, estimated at 250l. and for repairing the ornaments round the said house, estimated at 200l. read and agreed to.
[Treasury Minute Book XXVII. p. 117.] |
[After
May 26.] |
64. Memorial to the Treasury from the Commissioners of Wine Licences forwarding a memorial to themselves from the free vintners of London complaining that merchants and others have of late branched into retailing wines without licence, and announcing the intention of the Company of Free Vintners to prevent in future cellar keepers being admitted to their freedom by redemption, to the hardship of fair traders and tavern keepers. Before 1711 few cellars were licensed, but in 1711 Brook and Helier, two wine merchants and partners, opened 11 cellars for retailing wine in several parts of the city and suburbs, taking a distinct licence for each, since then the number of retailing cellars has increased yearly, some of them refusing to take licences, as they sell by the gallon only. This manner of retailing is, now very general and the persons complained of very numerous, and some of them very rich and obstinate. Recommend it to their Lordships as an improvement to the revenue if these clandestine retailers can be detected and made to take out licences. 2 pages.
Appending:—(a.) Said memorial of the vintners. 1½ pages.
(b.) Copy of resolution as above of the Vintners' Company taken at a Court of Assistants, 1731, October 7. 1 page.
(c.) Extract of an Act 12 Car. II. c. 25. 1½ pages.
[Treasury Board Papers CCLXXVIII. No. 60.] |
| May 31. |
65. The Duke of Newcastle to the Treasury forwarding an application as below from the King of Portugal's Secretary, for them to lay before His Majesty the state of the matter therein and their opinion. Whitehall, May 31. 1 page.
Appending:—(a.) Memorial to the King from Dr. Campos, Secretary to the King of Portugal. The Commissioners established by Act of Parliament to liquidate the accounts of the subsidies to the auxiliary troops during the late war have adjudicated the pretensions of the Portuguese King up to the close of 1712. They abstained from passing the other three months by reason of the absence of the certificate of the service of the troops and the said certificate has only been obtained after expiration of the Commissioners' powers. Prays payment of 37,500l. for the said three months' subsidies the troops having served up to the end of March, 1713, as appears by certificate of Major General Thomas Pearce. London, 1732, 10 April. 2 pages French.
(b.) Copy of Pearce's certificate, dated Dublin Castle, 1721, October 4, that “from the latter end of the year 1712 to the day the peace was signed, I had the honour to command Her late Majesty's troops serving with those of the King of Portugal, during which time the number of His said Majesty's forces in the field and in garrison for the preservation of his frontier did amount at least to 5,000 horse and 23,000 foot.” ½ page.
[Treasury Board Papers CCLXXVIII. No. 62.] |
May 30.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers. |
66. Present:—Mr. Chancellor of Exchequer, Sir George Oxenden, Mr. Dodington, Mr. Clayton, Sir Wm. Yonge.
“A memorial from the Royal Bank in Scotland is read, desiring that a sum equal to the half of the subsistence of the troops in Scotland may circulate through the said bank, and that instructions may be given from the Pay Office here to the agents of the troops in Scotland to take from the cashier of the said bank 450l. monthly for each regiment of dragoons and 400l. monthly for each regiment of foot, and so in proportion for the independent companies and garrisons, for which the cashier is to take the several regimental paymasters' bills on their agents here and the agents to return into the Pay Office every four months a signed account of what sums have been taken from the said cashier. My lords order the said memorial to be transmitted to the Paymaster General to give proper directions therein, if he has no objection to the contrary….”
On the Taxes Commissioners' report of April 21 last, the prosecution against Benjamin Wall, a surety for Jonathan Smart, stayed till Michaelmas Term next.
Memorial of Francis Whitworth, Surveyor General of His Majesty's Woods, of the 16th instant, read, concerning great stealing of timber in Dean and Whichwood Forests. Mr. Paxton to prosecute offenders.
The Commissioners of the Navy's letter, of the 24th instant, read. Order that the 1,984l. 7s. in bills for Navy timber delivered by Charles Wither, be delivered to the present Surveyor General for His Majesty's use.
The memorial of James Bruce, Master of the Mint in Scotland, for the salary between John Montgomery's death, late Master there, and his own appointment read and agreed to.
[Treasury Minute Book XXIX. p. 118.] |
| May 30. |
67. Treasury warrant to the officers of the Board of Works for the payment of 574l. 19s. 11d. to John Earl of Ashburnham in discharge of all damage by the fire to his house where the Cotton Library was kept, his Lordship receiving also the insurance on the house, but freeing His Majesty from any further demands in relation to the said house from June 24 next.
Appending:—Report by the officers of the Works, dated Whitehall, May 16, on the terms of the lease, the damages and the proposed arrangement.
[Lord Chamberlain's Warrant Book I. p. 393.] |
68. Same to same for the performance of works as in the memorial below in the best and cheapest manner that may be at the estimated 250l. and 200l.
Appending:—Memorial to the Treasury from the Officers of the Works, dated Whitehall, May 16, 1732, “In order to examine the condition of the paintings by Reubens on the ceiling of the Banqueting House, we have taken them down and find them to be in so bad a way that unless they are soon new lined, cleaned &c. we fear they will be in danger of totally perishing.” The expense of performing same will be 250l.
Further, the masks, festoons, and other ornaments painted all round the room in yellow and heightened with gold are almost quite defaced. The expense of restoration will be 200l.
[Ibid, p. 394.] |
| May 30. |
69. Warrant under the royal sign manual to the Attorney or Solicitor General for a new commission for the Salt Commissioners consequent upon the revival of the salt duties from 1732, March 25. Commissioners to be Thomas Woodcock, James Cardonnell, William Churchill, Edward Astley, and William Winde having been Commissioners before the taking off the said duties at Christmas 1730. [King's Warrant Book XXX. pp. 398–9.] |
| May 31. |
70. Privy Seal for the payment of 13l. per day as ordinary entertainment to William Earl of Essex appointed Ambassador to the King of Sardinia, same to date from 1732, Lady Day, and be paid quarterly, together with such further sums for intelligence expenses or other extraordinary expenses as by bills subscribed by him and allowed by the principal Secretaries of State.
[Ibid, pp. 423–4.] |
