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Treasury Books and Papers: August 1743

Pages 303-311

Calendar of Treasury Books and Papers, Volume 5, 1742-1745. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1903.

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August 1743

Aug. 2. 149. Two documents lacking the covering document which conveyed them to the Treasury:
(a) Report to the Customs Commissioners from Richard Swainston, their Solicitor, detailing the further progress made with regard to the affair of Deacon's frauds on the coal duties. Gibson, who was violently rescued, is in a house watched day and night, but which is made so strong with iron bolts and bars that there is no possibility of coming at him. Details the various legal steps taken and possibilities. 3 pages.
Enclosing:
—(a) (1) A copy of the answer of Joshua Savage. 6 sheets.
(a) (2) Same of same of James Deacon the late coal collector's son. 8 sheets.
(a) (3) Same of same of John Woodward. 3 sheets.
(b) A copy of the information filed in the Exchequer in Hilary Term, 16 Geo. II., in the case of the Attorney General, plaintiff, v. James Deacon, Joshua Savage, and John Woodward, defendants. 5 sheets.
[Ibid, CCCXII. No. 2.]
Aug. 3.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers.
150. Present: Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir John Rushout, Whitehall, Mr. Gybbon.
“The Deputy Auditors of the Imprests and the Comptrollers General of the Accounts of the Customs, attending, are called in with respect to the insupers standing in the general account of the Customs upon several collectors who are, and some of them have many years been, dead. And the Lords, observing that some of the said collectors who stand in supers on some have made overpayments on other branches of the revenue, direct the said Deputy Auditors and Comptroller to lay a state before their Lordships of each person's overpayments and of the insupers set upon him, that it may appear by some ballance of the one against the other what each of the said collectors is really indebted; and recommend it to them to consider of and lay before their Lordships some method how they may best be discharged.”
A memorial read from Mr. Corbett for 62,935l. for wages and other services of the Navy.
Same read from the Office of Ordnance for 30,000l. to pay their artificers and other services.
A letter read from Sir William Yonge with a bill from the Apothecary to the Army amounting to 2,687l. 3s. 2d. To lie by.
A memorial read from Mr. Dummer acquainting my Lords that the Duke of Montagu, as Master of the Great Wardrobe, has a right to take his salary out of any money issued to him for the service of that office, and that his Grace has taken out of the money issued to clear the Wardrobe for 1742, June 24 quarter, 500l. for his quarter's salary to 1743, June 24, and therefore desiring the issue of said sum to complete the sum due to the tradesmen.
A memorial read from John Way, Receiver of the Hackney Coach Duties, proposing sureties. Referred to the King's Remembrancer.
A petition read from Stephen Kneller, surveyor of window lights in Hantshire, praying his extra expenses, amounting to 150l.
Same read from William Reynolds, of London, merchant, owner of the “Elizabeth,” formerly seized at Cork, and then in the service of the Government, praying that the Commissioners of the Revenue, Ireland, may be directed to admit the charter party, thereto annexed, as evidence in a trial to be at the next assizes for co. Cork.
A report read from the Barons of the Exchequer, Scotland, on the memorial of the Equivalent Company for the arrears of their annuity. To be considered another time.
Order for the following issues out of the Civil List revenues:—
£ s. d.
To Mr. Manning 200 0 0
To the Speaker 500 0 0
To Chancellor of the Garter 285 2 6
To French Protestants 4,295 10 0
To Secretaries of State 2,250 0 0
[Treasury Minute Book XXIX. pp. 304–5; Reference Book X. p. 239.]
Aug. 10. 151. Treasury warrant to Lord Lovel and Sir John Eyles [joint] Postmaster General, to cause the salary of 300l. per an. to be placed on the establishment of the Post Office, and made payable to John Lumley, the first of the road surveyors, who has been directed to reside in London and attend the board. In place of said Lumley, a third road surveyor to be appointed, to be paid the like salary by the farmer of the bye and cross road letters.
Prefixing: Representation to the Treasury from said Eyles, dated 1743, June 27. Abovesaid Lumley has acted as first road surveyor since 1720, and has regulated the post stages throughout the Kingdom in a very accurate manner, and reformed the confusion they were before in. It would be extremely useful to have so experienced an officer in attendance in London, but find that the expectation which they had on the occasion of the last representation of 1742, July 13, viz. that the country service might be sufficiently performed by two riding surveyors is an impossible one. It cannot be performed by less than three, Lumley being frequently sent from his station into the country upon many occasions when the two other surveyors are at great distances, “which inconvenience arises not a little from the increase of country business by a late regulation in our office, whereby, for the advantage of the revenue and convenience of correspondence, the post goes out and comes in every day to many more places than before it did.”
[Warrants not relating to Money XXVII. pp. 184–5.]
Aug. 10.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers.
152. Present: Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir John Rushout, Mr. Gybbon.
A letter read from the Customs Commissioners by their Secretary, Mr. Wood, concerning opening, airing, and repacking goods in ships liable to quarantine, and recommending it to the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen to employ proper persons as in 1720. To be sent to the Clerk of the Council in waiting and Mr. Wood to be written to send word where the directions then given arose.
Same from said Wood read transmitting a letter sent to the Customs Commissioners from the Collector and Comptroller of Bridgwater, concerning the force apprehended to be necessary to oblige ships arriving there from the Mediterranean to proceed to the place of their discharge [sic for quarantine]. To be sent to the Clerk of the Council in waiting.
A letter read from Capt. Hanway, of the “Mortar” (“Mortar Bomb”) sloop, in King Road, for restoration of rum seized by the Excise officers on his ship's arrival from Jamaica. Referred to the Excise Commissioners.
The opinion of the Attorney General read concerning the land tax on the rent of 1,200l. per an. for the alum works in Yorkshire, which were demised to the Duchess of Buckingham: viz. that said land tax should not be allowed. A copy to be sent to the Duchess's trustees.
Same of same read concerning discharging the sureties of Mr. Burridge of 900l. 12s. 0d. remaining due; viz. that it may be legally discharged by an allowance thereof in passing the accounts of the receivership of the duties on houses, by the Auditor [of Imprests], by virtue of a Treasury warrant for that purpose. A warrant ordered.
Mr. Ramsden's application read for a dormant warrant to the Postmaster General for payment of a salary of 400l. a year to Mr. Couraud and him, and 100l. per an. for incidents in respect of their office of collectors and transmitters of treaties, &c., as the same were paid to Mr. Weston and Mr. Couraud.
The Customs Commissioners' report read on Robert Henning's petition and recommending mercy. A report hereupon and copy hereof to be prepared for the Lords Justices by whom this matter was referred to my Lords.
A petition read from Charles Sheffield, Esq., concerning his claim to Buckingham House and the appurtenances, and praying that no survey thereof may be made or completed and returned, till the deeds and writings relating to said house, which were taken out of the hands of a Master in Chancery, be brought back into said Master's hands, in order to the ascertaining how much thereof is freehold, and that if thereafter a survey is thought necessary he may be at liberty to nominate an equal number of surveyors on his behalf. My Lords think it reasonable to grant his request, and the Surveyor General is to stop his survey till further orders.
A petition read from Thomas Hanly, prisoner in Newgate, praying discharge. Rejected.
A memorial read from Mr. Corbett of the 5th instant for 79,281l. for several services of the Navy. Order for the issue of 50,000l. on the head of wages in part thereof.
Order for the issue to the Treasurer of the Ordnance of 30,000l., half for sea and half for land service as by his memorial of the 2nd instant. This completes the memorial of July 26 for 50,000l.
A petition read from William Dawson, Commissary for the Bishop of London in Virginia, praying a warrant for the salary of 100l. per an. always attending that office, but by the warrant of Mr. Blair, his predecessor, not made payable to the Commissary for the time being. “Enquire into this, and if it appears as represented prepare a warrant.”
A report from the Board of Works for repairs in the house belonging to Mr. Brudenall, in the Mews, read and agreed to, at the estimate of 124l. Same from same read and agreed to for same at the Cofferer's office in Palace Yard at an estimate of 255l. Warrants ordered.
Warrant ordered for 20l. to Mr. Alcock for passage money as a minister to Jamaica.
A petition read from Nathanil Watson for a further term in a house and some ground in Greenwich Park. Referred to the Surveyor General of Lands.
A letter read from Mr. Corbett, Secretary to the Admiralty, praying repayment of taxes to the Admiralty Clerks. Agreed to.
My Lords confirm the Lord Chamberlain's warrant for 825l. for liveries for the drummers and trumpeters of the — to be prepared by the Wardrobe.
A petition read from David Goizin for a lease of New Park in New Forest, offering 15l. per an. rent, and 600l. fine. Referred to the Surveyor General of Lands.
The Taxes Commissioners to attend Wednesday next.
John Rogers to be a watchman, London port, loco William Davis, deceased; David Butter, a salt officer, Borrowstounness, loco Hugh Grandiston, resigned; George Ramsay, a landwaiter, Anstruther, loco Robert Smyth, preferred; John Briggs, surveyor, Faversham port, loco Peter King, superannuated; Thomas Cooke, tidesman and weigher, Yarmouth, loco John Drake, dismissed; Richard Cox, waterman at Gravesend, loco Richard Stuart, resigned; Peter Nicols (Nicolls), tidesman, Truro, loco William Arthur, deceased.
Order for the following issues out of the Civil List revenues:—
£ s. d.
To the Mayor of Lyme Regis 25 0 0
To the Attorney General 196 16 8
To Mr. Garden 20 0 0
To the Lyon 20 0 0
To the Chappell 20 0 0
To the Loch 20 0 0
To the Bosomworth 20 0 0
To the Janssen 290 4 0
To Monsr. de Sailly 200 0 0
To deputy Chamberlains of the Exchequer 68 17 9
To Mr. Ryley 67 10 0
To the Hatton 400 0 0
To the Band of Pensioners 1,500 0 0
To Mr. Basket in further part of his order 1,366 15 3
To the Cofferer towards answering the current expenses of the Greencloth attending the King abroad 2,000 0 0
Mr. Sharpe to attend on Wednesday next with an account of prosecutions under his direction.
The report from the Barons of the Exchequer, Scotland, of the 14th ult., read on the memorial of the Equivalent Company. They hereby certify that there is due to the said Company three quarters on their annuity; further that they have considered the act of 5 Geo. I., and are of opinion that the salt duties leviable in Scotland are applicable to the payment of the Equivalent Company. “And my Lords observing that the said Barons are impowered by His Majesty's letters of Privy Seal, dated the 5th June, 1728, to pay all such sums of money as are inserted on the establishment for Civil affairs in Scotland, or which should become due and payable in pursuance of any other warrants to be signed by His Majesty; and it appearing that the said Barons are also impowered by warrant under his present Majesty's royal sign manual, dated the 1st day of August, 1727, to pay the annuity to the said Equivalent Company quarterly as the same should become due out of the issues from time to time arising by the revenue of Customs and Excise in Scotland, or any other the revenues there that may be charged therewith; my Lords are of opinion that this matter is entirely under the care of the Barons of the Exchequer [Scotland]: and the Directors of the said Equivalent Company attending were called in, and my Lords acquaint them therewith, and that they do not doubt but the Barons will act in this affair with the strictest regard to law and justice.”
[Treasury Minute Book XXIX. pp. 306–11; Customs Book XV. p. 3186; North Britain Book XIII. p. 471; Letter Book XX. p. 105; Reference Book X. p. 240.]
Aug. 11 153. J. Scrope to Mr. Wood [Secretary to the Customs] concerning the following words in the letter of the 4th instant from said Wood to the Treasury relating to the opening and airing of goods imported in ships liable to perform quarantine. “The [Customs] Commissioners also desire it may be recommended to the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen of this city to make choice of proper persons for [supervising the opening and airing, &c., of] such goods as are to be delivered in the port of London as was done in the year 1720.” Search has been made in the Treasury Books, but no entry of any such recommendation has been found. Desires information as to it, and a copy of it if such recommendation came from the Treasury.
[Customs Book XV. p 337.]
Aug. 11. 154. E. Weston to the Treasury, dated Whitehall, forwarding from the Lords Justices a petition from Harman Verelst, private agent to General Oglethorpe, with signification of the directions of said Lords Justices for the issue of the requisite sum out of the 100,000l. granted by Parliament for the further prosecution of the war.
Minuted:—ut infra, p. 310, under date August 17. 1 page.
Appending
:—(a) Said Verelst's petition to the Duke of Newcastle, dated 1743, July 6, for an imprest for 3 of Oglethorpe's bills to the value of 1,940l. and for other items.
Together with:—Copies of 4 letters from Oglethorpe to Verelst advising him of the above drafts; and same of a certificate by Charles Mackay of the receipt from Oglethorpe of the subsistence and arrears for the Highland Independent Company.
In one of the above letters dated, Frederica, 1742, August 16, Oglethorpe informs Verelst, “I have signed and issued 20l. bills from No. 117 to 143, both inclusive, which I have paid to Captain Richard Kent, and took from him a bill of exchange … which I have sent to you that you may therewith pay the said 20l. bills.” 5 pages.
[Treasury Board Papers CCCXII. No. 4.]
Aug. 12
and 17.
155. J. Scrope to the Customs Commissioners in England and Scotland respectively, and Treasury warrants to same, forwarding Orders of Council ut infra, prefixed in extenso; for. Nos. 2 and 3 to be duly complied with, and in the case of No. 1 for care to be taken for the giving of the necessary directions therein, and for the said Commissioners further to consider thereof, and to report to the Treasury their opinion thereon.
Prefixing:—(1) An order of the Privy Council, dated Whitehall, 1743, August 11, requiring the Customs Commissioners to lay before the Privy Council an account of the several places which have been appointed for the performance of quarantine, and what forces may be necessary to be quartered at said places for the assistance of the Customs officers therein.
(2) Same of same date recommending it to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London to choose proper persons to attend constantly with vessels at the places appointed for airing goods to receive them out of the ships after quarantine performed, and there to open, air, re-pack and re-ship same in order to their being brought to the place of discharge; such person to be under the direction of the Customs officers, but with allowances as determined by said Lord Mayor, &c., and further for the like method to be taken in all the other ports by the magistrates of such ports, &c.
(3) Same of same date for Standgate Creek, on the south shore of the Med way, opposite the Isle of Grain, to be henceforth the only place for quarantine for vessels for the Thames and Medway, if coming from the Mediterranean: Sharpfleet Creek or the lower end of the Hope, which had also been prescribed as quarantine stations in the Order in Council of the 21st July last, being now to be abandoned as such, it having been this day represented to the Council that the Hope is not a proper place for that purpose, in regard great numbers of foreign ships, coasters, fishing vessels, &c., are constantly passing and repassing, insomuch that it is very difficult or hardly possible to prevent their having communication with the ships and people there.
[Customs Book XV. pp. 340–2; North Britain Book XIII. p. 471.]
Aug. 17. 156. Treasury warrant to the Auditor of the Receipt to cause the sum of 481,400l. in Exchequer bills on the duties for licences to sell spiritous liquors and strong waters by retail, to be made forth and placed as so much cash in the offices of the Tellers of the Receipt, for the same several and respective sums as are contained in Exchequer bills now outstanding and lately charged on the duties upon victuallers and retailers of beer and ale within the cities of London and Westminster: the said bills so to be made forth being to be issued to the Paymasters of Exchequer Bills on the unsatisfied order in their names for paying off and discharging the said old Exchequer bills on victuallers and cancelling the said principal of 481,400l. in old Exchequer bills accordingly: the said new bills to bear date 1743, June 24, and to be subject to the same orders, rules and methods as the Exchequer bills in lieu of which they are to be made forth. all in accordance with the Act of 16 George II. for repealing the rates upon victuallers and for transferring the Exchequer bills outstanding thereupon to the duties for licences, &c., as above, and for enabling His Majesty to raise a certain sum for the service of 1743, on the said duties for licences.
[Money Book XLI. p. 263.]
157. Same to same to cause a further sum of 518,600l. in Exchequer bills on the abovesaid duties on licences (viz., 518 bills of 1,000l. and 1 bill of 600l.), to be similarly made forth and placed as cash in the offices of the Tellers of the Receipt, to be thence issued for the public service according to Treasury notifications from time to time: to register after the abovesaid 481,400l.
[ibid. p. 264.]
Aug. 17.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers.
158. Present: Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir John Rushout, Mr. Gybbon.
A state of the causes now under prosecution or defence by Mr. Sharpe as Solicitor of the Treasury is read, Mr. Sharpe being present.
The Attorney General's opinion read on the question whether the under housekeeper of Hampton Court is in the gift of the Crown or of the Earl of Halifax: which is that it is in the gift of the Crown, and that it is reasonable to be at the expense of defending the Crown right.
Order for the issue to the Paymaster of the Forces of 147,629l. 10s. 5d. for services as in his memorial of this day.
Same for same to Mr. Corbet for the services of the Navy of 5,545l. 1s. 2d. on the head of wear and tear, and 4,522l. 8s.d. on the head of victualling; in part of his memorial of the 16th instant for 33,500l.
A petition read of John Pyne (Pine), the engraver of seals to His Majesty, setting forth that he thinks he has a right by virtue of his patent to cut the stamps for the Excise Office as his predecessor did; that he has applied to the Excise Commissioners, but they have appointed another person. Referred to the Excise Commissioners.
A representation read from the Salt Commissioners for repayment of land tax, 1743, to officers of under 100l. salary. Agreed to.
Captain Hanway's petition read, &c., ut supra p. 305 (in margin:— “Entered the 10th August”).
A petition read from Thos. Tilney (Tinley), prisoner in Newgate for smuggling, praying discharge. Referred to the Customs Commissioners.
Same read from Lawrence Hall, late a boatman at Faversham, praying re-employment. Referred ut supra.
Order for the following issues out of the Civil List funds:—
£ s. d.
For salaries and pensions at the Exchequer, 1742, June 24 quarter 7,063 16
To the King's Goldsmith for plate 806 5 1
To the Exchequer officers on their Latin order 35 0 0
To the Usher of the Exchequer 384 14 4
To the Usher of the Exchequer 222 16 4
To the Corporation of Lyme Regis 100 0 0
The case of the ship “Mermaid” under quarantine under an Order of Council of the 11th instant, referred to the Customs Commissioners.
Joseph Thomas to be King's waiter at Bristol, loco Richard Stear, deceased.
A report read from Mr. Wilson, Solicitor to the Taxes Commissioners, on Mr. Thornhaugh's affair relating to timber blown down in Sherwood Forest in 1714, and not accounted for by Sir Thomas Hewet, the [then] Surveyor of Woods. Has procured a commission for proving the quantities and value of said timber; but by Mr. Thornhaugh's death there is an abatement in the suit till his executors be known.
Mr. Weston's letter of the 11th instant read enclosing Mr. Verelst's petition concerning Oglethorpe's bills, ut infra, and concerning payment of same out of the 100,000l. granted for the war. My Lords say there is no such sum, and therefore they cannot direct a warrant to be prepared.
The report of the Taxes Commissioners, dated 1743, May 18, again read containing, inter al, an account of the behaviour of the several surveyors of house duties as collected from the reports of the general surveyors. Said Commissioners are directed to transmit to the several surveyors reported against extracts of the charges made against them, to which they are to give clear and distinct answers within a month on peril of dismissal.
[Treasury Minute Book XXIX. pp. 312–315; Customs Book XV. p. 337; Reference Book X. p. 240.]
Aug. 23. 159. Petition to the Treasury from Harman Verelst, private agent to Brig. General James Oglethorpe, concerning his application of the 6th ult. for 1,940l. to meet 3 bills of Oglethorpe, and for some assistance in the way of pay to Capt. John Mackintosh, of the Highland Company, and Master James Mackqueen, of the Highland Rangers, taken prisoners in 1740, at the siege of St. Augustine, and brought to England from St. Sebastian, by virtue of the cartel, and unable to get back for want of pay. Prays again the issue of 2256l. 0s.d. to meet the above.
Together with:—Copies of 4 letters and one certificate, 5 letters ut supra p. 308 under date 1743 August 11. 2 pages.
[Treasury Board Papers CCCXII. No. 7.]
Aug. 24.
Whitehall,
Treasury
Chambers.
160. Present: Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir John Rushout, Mr. Gybbon.
Leave of absence to John Chaffin, tidesman, London port. Joseph Tolcher to be tidesurveyor at Plymouth, loco his father, Henry Tolcher, resigned.
Order for the following issues out of the Civil List funds:—
£ s. d.
To the Cofferer of the Household for August to the purveyors 2,000 0 0
To Mr. Lowther for bills of exchange 1,164 16 2
To Mr. Basket to complete to 1742, June 24 4,000 0 0
Order for the issue to the Paymaster of Marines of 24,816l. 16s. 8d. for 2 months' subsist to 1743, Oct. 24, as by his memorial of the 19th instant.
John Jones, waiter and searcher at Briton Ferry, Swansea port, loco Richard Lloyd, dismissed; Griffith Hammond, waiter and searcher at Tenby, Milford port, loco Robert Naish, deceased; Charles Kinross, tidesman, Dunbar (Edinburgh), loco James Come (Chisholm); John Kirk, tidesman, Glasgow, loco James Campbell, deceased; Gilbert McCarter and Abraham Henderson, two of the riding officers under William Hamilton, Surveyor General of the riding officers to prevent the importation of cattle (wool), &., from Ireland; William Gee, a tidesman, Newcastle, loco William Smith, deceased.
[Treasury Minute Book XXIX. pp. 316–7; North Britain Book XIII pp. 471, 472; Customs Book XV. pp. 318b, 347.]