|
1732.
July 1. |
95. Representation [to the Lords of Trade] from the General Assembly of the Colony of Virginia, signed on their behalf by Robert Carter, President of the Council of Virginia, and John Holloway, Speaker of the House of Burgesses, on the miserable state of the tobacco trade, owing to the frauds practised in the payment of Customs. Have appointed John Randolph, Esq. the Colony's Agent to wait on their Lordships. Desire that tobacco may be put under the Excise. Williamsburg, July 1. 3 pages.
[Treasury Board Papers CCLXXIX. No. 20.] |
| July 16. |
96. Gooch [to same] recommending John Randolph, appointed by the General Assembly of Virginia to solicit their Lordships and Parliament for relief from the villainous running of tobacco. Besides a letter to their Lordships, Randolph brings an address to the King and one to the House of Commons. The Act of Assembly passed in 1730 for amending the staple of tobacco and preventing frauds on the Customs is, by an additional Act of May last, rendered as easy to the trade as the merchants themselves can wish. Encloses a report (a) on Colonel Spotswood's account of his disbursements in the treaty with the five nations of Indians in 1722. Concerning His Majesty's instructions for an exact map of the colony, has appointed a fit person, Mr. Robinson, to be director of the work at a salary of 150l. per annum, proposing to have the survey done by the surveyors of the several counties. He reported that an exact survey of the inhabited part of the colony, taking in the mountains and the River Shenandoah, on the west side of them, and a hydrographical chart of the soundings on the coast, Chesapeake Bay, and several rivers will amount to 5,000l. Have, therefore, stopped proceedings, awaiting His Majesty's pleasure, though the survey is much wanted, and would be of great use towards settling the boundaries of the northern neck betwixt the King and Lord Fairfax. The business of the Attorney-General is greatly increased since the importation of those numbers of transported convicts brought yearly. The Council recommends Mr. Clayton, present Attorney General, for an increase of salary on the additional 60l. per annum granted out of quit rents 1 Anne. Williamsburg, Virginia, July 16. In duplicate. 3½ and 3½ pages.
Appending:—(a.) Said report to the Treasury from Gooch and the Council of Virginia, undated. 4 pages. [Ibid, No. 23.] |
July 18.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers. |
97. Present:—Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir George Oxenden, Mr. Clayton, Sir Wm. Yonge.
Robert Bedford, jun. to be a riding officer at Hamble, loco Bridges, deceased.
John Hull to be surveyor of house duties, Huntingdon, loco Thos. Palmer, his brother-in-law.
Jenkin Lewis to be coast waiter, London port, loco Peter Mayber, superannuated.
Lord Gage called in, urged the unfitness of Lewis Elstob to be receiver of the late Earl of Derwentwater's estate, as having been a receiver or solicitor under the Commission for Forfeitures, and not having accounted for many sums.
[Treasury Minute Book XXVII. p. 136.] |
July 19.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers. |
98. Present:—Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Geo. Oxenden, Mr. Clayton, Sir Wm. Yonge.
Mr. Paxton and Mr. Turbill to examine Lord Gage's charges against Elstob.
The auditor's states of Sir Humphrey Howorth's accounts as Receiver General of the Land Revenues for North Wales and the County Palatine of Chester, to be sent to Mr. Paxton, to take action thereon for recovery of the debt to the Crown.
The report of the Navy Commissioners of the 7th instant on the petition of David Dunbar for an allowance to himself and deputies for travelling charges as Surveyor of Woods in North America, read. Allowance per travelling day fixed at 6s. 8d. on production of a diary of proceedings and voucher upon oath of such travelling.
Mr. Towers' two sons to have an abstract of Mr. Paul's letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, about a debt on account of Customs on the India trade charged on the late Mr. Towers, as deputy to the collector inwards.
Order for the issue of 11,144l. 14s. 9¼d. to the Wardrobe, to clear the debt in that office to Midsummer, 1732, according to an account thereof under the hands of the Deputy Master and Comptroller.
Same for 20l. royal bounty to Roger Mansuer, out of the King's money in Mr. Lowther's hand.
The memorial of the Treasurer of the Navy for 6,268l. 9s. 6d. for several services, including 5,000l. for Greenwich Hospital, read. Order for the issue of 1,268l. 9s. 6d.
Mr. Joseph Day's petition for an allowance of salary as succeeding Mr. Lascelles as commissary at Dunkirk, read. Referred to the Duke of Newcastle for His Majesty's pleasure as to said allowance.
The Postmaster General's report of this day, read. Their Lordships approve of the nomination of Ashburnham Frowde and Allen Lovelade, the Comptroller and Sub-comptroller of the Foreign Post Office, to act under the deputation of the Customs Commissioners, to receive the duties on diamonds and other jewels and precious stones imported by the packet boats.
A second petition of Thomas Tomkins, late cashier to the Hawkers and Pedlars Commission, read. Their Lordships are of opinion that the Act passed for making composition with him does not empower his enlargement before composition.
The report of the Customs Commissioners of the 14th June last read on the case of John Jeffery and John Watkins, securities for Peter and John Williams, late merchants at Exeter. Watkins to be indulged with his liberty.
Same of same of 15th June last, on the affidavits on behalf of John Weeks, read. No order at present made thereupon.
Order for the issue of 1,000l. to the Treasurer of the Chamber for the messengers to perform foreign services.
Same for 730l. to Mr. Arnall, out of the King's money in Mr. Lowther's hands, for “Free Britons,” &c. delivered to the Post Office, 1732, April 13 to July 13, and for writing, &c.
[Treasury Minute Book XXVII. pp. 137–8.] |
July 25.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers. |
99. Present:—Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Clayton, Sir Wm. Yonge.
The Commissioners of Taxes to attend on Tuesday next concerning Flower, the receiver of Wilts, and other receivers whose respites are not yet removed. Sir Richard Lane to attend at the same time.
Order for 739l. 12s. to Samuel Buckley for particulars by him furnished for His Majesty's service between 1731, August 2, and 1732, July 6, as specified in his bills by warrant on the Exchequer as usual.
Sir Alexander Murray attended. Their Lordships agree that the minute taken June 27 last, on the hearing between the Duke of Argyll and himself, be entered in general terms without taking notice of any particular matters alleged at the hearing.
Order for a sign manual for the Auditor to allow on Mr. Pelham's account 205l. 0s. 7d. paid by him for the net offreckonings of the reduced men of Clayton's regiment at Gibraltar, 1728, December 25, to 1729, April 24.
Order for the issue of 9,683l. 13s. 11¼d. to the Paymaster of the Works to clear the debt in that office for quarter ended 1732, June 30, according to the state thereof, signed by the Board of Works the 19th instant.
The executor of Mrs. Vernatti is to be allowed 189l. 2s. for setting up, lighting, and maintaining the lamps at Westminster for the accommodation of the Parliament last session.
On a report from the Board of Works of 1731, December 30, Fryer Walker appointed to take charge of the lamps at Westminster at 1s. per week for each lamp for repairing, lighting, and maintaining same with the best rape oil and cotton.
Order for a sign manual for the issue of 6,678l. to Mr. Scrope for His Majesty's secret service.
Order for repayment by Mr. Lowther out of the King's money in his hands, of the charge of passing Christopher Rhodes's patent as Controller of the Excise in Scotland.
The case between the Duke of Argyll and Sir Alexander Murray heard. Agreed by counsel on both sides that a grant pass to the Duke exactly conformable to the words of the Act of Parliament of Scotland, 1592, in relation to mines. A warrant to be prepared to be approved by counsel on both sides. [Ibid, pp. 139–40.] |
July 27.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers. |
100.Present:—Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Clayton, Sir Wm. Yonge.
The memorial of the managers of the lottery for rewards for executing the commission of taking in and exchanging lottery tickets, 1731, for certificates, read, and 200l. each ordered as usual.
The Navy Commissioners' memorial of this day for 1,000l. for imprests and bills of exchange and 5,586l. to pay off the “Blandford,” read and ordered out of supplies, anno 1732.
The Taxes Commissioners' representation concerning the receivers of Northampton, Bucks, Worcester and Wilts, read and orders taken thereupon.
The Customs Commissioners' report, of the 20th instant, on the petition of Thomas Wells, a riding officer at Cowes, for salary during his imprisonment for debt, read. Salary not allowed.
[Treasury Minute Book XXVII. p. 141.] |
| July 28. |
101. Memorial to the Treasury from the Customs Commissioners, concerning the extensive smuggling of tea and brandy on the coasts of Suffolk, Essex, Kent, and Sussex, by well armed gangs of smugglers. Within a year past over 54,000 lbs. of tea, and 123,000 gallons of brandy have been seized. The gangs are now so increased and armed as to intimidate both Customs officers and sheriffs. Propose an addition to the dragoons to assist in the suppression. 5 pages.
Appending:—(a.) Schemes for quartering the 185 dragoons and foot already stationed in said counties. 3 pages.
(b.) Same for an additional 106 dragoons. 1 page.
[Treasury Board Papers CCLXXIX. No. 27.] |
