Volume 63: August 1-October 14, 1699 | British History Online

Pages 319-334

Calendar of Treasury Papers, Volume 2, 1697-1702. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1871.

Citation:

August 1–October 14, 1699



1699. Aug. 1.	1. Memorial of Mr. George Dodington, paymaster, to the Right Hon. the Earl of Orford, Treasurer of the Navy, praying that the books of ships paid off since 1 Jan. 1694 might be made up, that he might be able to perfect the accounts of Lord Orford. Dated 1 Aug. 1699. Minuted:—“To be bro^t in on Mund^a morn.” 1 page.
[? About Aug. 1.]	2. Report of the Earl of Ranelagh to the Lords of the Treasury, on the case of Lieut.-Col. Duncanson, who was under arrest for debt, said to be caused by the misfortune of the Lord Lorne's regiment losing a new clothing at Dixmude; the petitioner behaved himself particularly well in the affair of Dixmude, having refused to sign the capitulation, when most others did; “upon which acc^t he was recommended to His Ma[jes]ty's favour by the generall court marshall appointed to examine that affair”: recommending that he should be paid out of the contingencies. Minuted:—“1 Aug. '99. My Lords are inclined to satisfy this out of hackney coach m^o if it can be done.” Again:—“P^d in part 7^th Sept^r 1699, 375^li. 16/6.” In the Minute Book, Vol. IX., p. 172, 6 Sept. 1699, is:—“375. 16. 6. hackney coach money to be issued to ye Earle of Ranelagh for conting^ts, the same being intended for L^t Coll^o Duncanson,” &c., “in consideration of ye loss of their cloathing at Dixmuyde.” 2 pages.
Aug. 2.	3. Report of the Com^rs of Excise to the Lords of the Treasury, on the petition of Jonathan Powell, who had sent the Com^rs of Excise certain Exchequer bills, &c., which had been carried off by highway-men; recommending him as an object of favour to the Com^rs. Dated 2 Aug. 1699. Minuted:—“To be allowd.” (Two enclosures.) 3 pages.
[? About Aug. 2.]	4. Memorial signed “Sa. Prat,” showing that 216l. 2s. 6d. were due to Dr. Prat, and three others, for lodging the King's servants at Kensington in 1697 and 1698; praying their Lordships to order payment of the same out of the Treasury chamber. Minuted:—“Read 2 Aug. '99. See the minute concerning this, & my Lords will pay the money so farr as they agreed & noe further.” No minute is entered in the Minute Book in relation to this. ½ page.
Aug. 7.	5. Report of the Com^rs of Excise to the Lords of the Treasury, on the petition of Henry Ireton, collector of Excise, whose deputy had been robbed of 20l. 13s. 0¾d., and had prosecuted the highwayman, who was convicted, “and thereby the pet^r made incapable of receiving this money soe lost of the hundred:” also as to the failure of John Lyndsell, who was mayor of Saffron Walden, through whom the petitioner had returned certain moneys. Dated 7 Aug. 1699. Minuted:—“Read 7 Aug. '99. Allow the 20. 13. 0¾. & 140^li. W^t signed 9^th Aug^t 1699.” (Two enclosures.) 3 pages.
Aug. 7.	6. Memorial of the Trustees for exchanging Exchequer bills, to the Lords of the Treasury, sending them a state of the account of cash and bills, and a state of the account of Exchequer bills received and issued at the Exchequer, presenting a report upon a discovery of persons concerned in altering Exchequer bills from a less to a greater amount; seeking that their Lordships would direct the payment of a quarter's salary to the Trustees and officers under them. [Minuted:—“A warr^t.”] Also, 685l. 9s. 4d. which the Trustees disbursed for interest and premiums due upon 40,000l. tallies charged upon the surplus of the new customs. [Minuted:—“To be p^d out of overplus customes”]: further praying the payment of 100l. reward to Capt. Wm. Scott, for discovering a fraud. Dated 7 Aug. 1699. Accompanied by a detailed report of the discovery referred to, viz., of the alteration of Exchequer bills, and an account of salaries due to the Trustees, &c. Minuted:—“Wt^s drawn 6^th Sept. 1699.” 4 pages.
Aug. 16.	7. Report of the Com^rs for Sick and Wounded Seamen, &c., to the Lords of the Treasury, on the accounts of several consuls in the Mediterranean, amounting to 2,356l. 9s. 3¼d., for relieving English prisoners; advising that the accounts ought to be paid. Dated 16 Aug. 1699. Minuted:—“Rec^d 19 7br. '99. Bring this in when the Com^rs of Sick & Wounded are here.” (Five enclosures.) 8 pages.
Aug. 21.	8. Presentment of the Com^rs of Customs to the Lords of the Treasury, as to a seizure of calicoes and muslins by Mr. Charles Goodman, who acted as collector at Perth Amboy, in East New Jersey, and had seized the said goods, which were forcibly retaken from him; reminding their Lordships of their former recommendation of Goodman to be collector instead of Thomas Coker, deceased, as the opposition complained of in a letter enclosed, seemed to be chiefly from want of proper authority from England. Dated 21 Aug. 1699. Accompanied by the letter, which has some interesting particulars as to the state of society there, stating that the people were so precise, that they would upon no consideration suffer a waggon to travel on the Sabbath day; and again, “y^e people here are all lawless, & have no respect to Goverm^t or the King's authority, but publickly affront y^e magistrates & those who endeavour to execute the law.” 4½ pages.
Aug. 21.	9. Presentment of the same to the same, about the allowances for collecting and managing the coal duty. Dated 21 Aug. 1699. Minuted:—“Approved. W^t signed 19 7ber 1699.” 2 pages.
Aug. 22.	10. Order in Council by the Lords Justices, approving the estimate of the principal officers and Com^rs of the Ordnance concerning stores to be sent to New York, and ordering the payment of 472l. 10s. for the same. Dated 22 Aug. 1699. Minuted:—“A s. m. [sign manual] for ye 472. 10.” 1 page.
Aug. 23.	11. Letter of the Com^rs of Ordnance, signifying to the Lords of the Treasury that they can do little or no business till the cash in Mr. Bertie's hands is delivered to Mr. Mordant; for which they pray directions. Dated 23 Aug. 1699. In the Minute Book, Vol. IX., p. 223, 27 Nov. 1699, is:—“Board of Ordnance & Coll^o Mordaunt. Board acquaint my Lords that Coll^o Mordaunt has given security for the office of Tre[asure]r of the Ordnance, and desire the Privy Seal may now pass, for authorizing M^r Bertie to pay over the remain in his hands as late tre[asure]r.” 1 page (quarto).
[About Aug. 23.]	12. Petition of the officers in the Court of the Receipt of the Exchequer, commonly called the Tally Court, as to their fees for striking tallies. Also a certificate in their favour, signed “Chr. Montagu.” Dated 23 Aug. 1699. 1½ pages.
Aug. 24.	13. Letter from Mr. Geo. Dodington to the Lords of the Treasury, in reference to the widow Cordwent's petition, whose late husband in 1694 supplied the second marine regiment with clothes and beds to the amount of 3,300l. He believed there was a contract between Lord Berkley, the commander of the regiment, and the petitioner's husband, but did not know what money was paid; there had been above 4,000l. paid to clothiers for those regiments for. 1697, which was taken out of the soldiers' pay. The Com^rs of the Navy had appointed a clerk to adjust what ought to be abated from the marine soldiers for 1694–5–6, to satisfy the petitioner's demands, &c., and great progress had been made; but whether the money due on ships' books paid off, and on ships' books not yet paid off, would be sufficient to answer the petitioner's demands, and discharge the imprest of 6,851l. 5s., he could not say. The petitioner was misinformed as to there being a considerable sum in the treasurer's hands for the clothes of that regiment. The petitioner's case was very hard and unless relieved, she would be a great sufferer by the contract Dated 24 Aug. 1699. There are two minutes on the back, the second of which is:—“Read again 26 7^br'99. My Lords can give no order in this till the order of the Adm^lty is taken off.” 2 pages.
Aug. 25.	14. Report of the Com^rs of Customs to the Lords of the Treasury, as to certain lace inadvertently brought over by Henry Buisson, who had made his escape from France to avoid the persecutions against the Protestants, which lace was seized by an officer of the Customs; advising that the petitioner deserved relief out of the King's part. Dated 25 Aug. 1699. Minuted:—“Agreed.” (Three enclosures.) 4½ pages.
Aug. 25.	15. Extract from the Register of the Court of Delegates, concerning Dr. Watson, late Bishop of St. David's, who was charged with simony. Dated 25 Aug. 1699. In the Minute Book, Vol. IX., p. 170, 31 Aug. 1699, is:—“M^r Attor. is of opinion y^t the appeale (in case of B^p of S^t David's) is a suspenc[i]on of all things, till ye appeal is determined, so that no seisure can be till the sentence of ye delegates. “Do^r Oxenden saies some appeales do suspend the jurisdiction of the Judg. a quo, others do not; in the former case the party desires an inhibition, w^ch is on ye part of ye B[isho]p, and till that is done, the sentence is not suspended. “Brook tit. Deprivacon, 12, if a parson be deprived & appeales, no avoidance dur. the appeale. “Dyer, 240. “3 Cro., 679. “Do^r Godolphin Repertorium Canonicū, 213. “B^p Bonner was deprived, & Ridley made B^p. “M^r Soll^r thinks that this matter wilbe decided by ye Cānon Law, so that if this appeale does not suspend ye judgm^t by that law, then there may be a seizure, otherwise not.” 1 page.
[? About Aug. 28.]	16. Three certificates to the effect that search had been made at the Petty Bag Office, the records of sessions of the peace for the county of Middlesex, and the Crown Office, in the Court of Queen's Bench; and that in neither of them, from 1697, had Mr. William Dockwra taken the several oaths, &c. Dated 30 and 31 May 1698, and 28 Aug. 1699. These are probably connected with some other paper. 3 pages.
Aug. 29.	17. Letter of Mr. Burchett to Mr. Lowndes. Due instructions would be sent to Capt. Coode, commander of the “Messenger” advice boat, at Plymouth, for the observance of the Acts of Trade made for preventing frauds, &c. in the plantation trade. Dated 29 Aug. 1699. 1 page.
Aug. 29.	18. Report of Philip Ryley to the Lords of the Treasury, on the petition of Edwd. Progers, Esq., for payment of 222l. 4s. 6d., by him expended for sundry services within the King's park, called the Middle Park, at Hampton Court; touching also on the question of the taxation of royal parks. Dated 29 Aug. 1699. The petition and the account of moneys laid out. Minuted:—“A warr^t for this.” 3½ pages.
Aug. 29.	19. Report of the Com^rs of Customs to the Lords of the Treasury, on the question as to whether a certain Henry Peterson, alias Peters, master of the ship called the “John,” galley, of Wexford, was a foreigner or not; his ship having been seized on the pretence that he was a foreigner, and so had contravened the navigation laws: in favour of the petitioner. Dated 29 Aug. 1699. Minuted:—“My Lords have spoken w^th M^r Soll^r, & doe agree w^th the report.” 4 pages.
[? About Aug. 29.]	20. Copy of the petition of Samuel Hemming, gent., to the Lords of the Treasury, praying for their warrant for discovery, recovery, and collection of defective rents re-conveyed, or any other defective rents of the Crown that should be made out by the several auditors or receivers of His Majesty's revenue. Rec^d 29^th Aug^t '99. Minuted:—“Read 7 7^br '99. If the pet^r knows of any rents to w^ch the K. hath no title of record, upon his discovery thereof, my Lords will imploy him to receive or recover the same; but as to rents re-conveyed to y^e crowne by matter of record, the auditors have, or ought to putt them in charge, and the K. has rec^rs already in every county, who ought to receive the same. Send to ye aud^r to know if ye rents reconveyed by M^r Guy for ye M. of Tring be putt in charge.” Also the case of the petitioner Sam. Hemming, touching reprized purchased rents. Including copy of the previous petition and other matters relating thereto. 6½ pages.
Aug. 30.	21. “Commissioners' report on Capt. Baker's scheame & instructions for y^e guard of y^e coasts of Kent & Sussex;” advising the continuance of Capt. Ellesdon and Mr. Paterson, two of the riding officers on the coast between Dover and Guilford, as supervisors, and proposing to appoint Mr. Jeffrey Hafford the riding officer for the Isle of Thanet and coast adjacent, to inspect the other officers in that isle, and for Herne Bay and Reculvers; and Mr. James Whitwood, the collector of Chichester, to superintend the officers of that part of the coast of Sussex. Dated 30 Aug. 1699. This report is accompanied by the report of Capt. Baker, who gives an elaborate account of the state of those coasts, as regards smuggling, and its prevention. Also five other enclosures. In the Minute Book, Vol. IX., p. 165, 7 Aug. 1699, is:—““Com[missione]rs of Customes. My Lords recom^d to them that next spring some of the Com^rs do survey the outports. M^r Baker will attend the Com^rs with his scheme, and prepare it w^th them.” 36 pages and 4 halves.
Aug. 31.	22. Report of the Lord Ranelagh to the Lords [of the Treasury], on the petition of Archibald Hutcheson, Esq., relating to the subsistence of the Independent Company at St. Christopher's. The subsistence of that company for 24 weeks, viz., to 10 Sept., amounted to 363l. 12s., and he had no objection to an order to pay the 300l. mentioned in the petition. Dated 31 Aug. 1699. (Two enclosures.) 3 pages.
Aug.	23. A state of Exchequer bills received and issued by the four tellers of the Exchequer and Receiver-General of the Excise, at various dates from March to Aug. 1699. 6 pages.
Sept. 4.	24. Presentment of the Com^rs of Customs to the Lords of the Treasury, praying for the relief from taxes of officers connected with the Customs, whose salaries were less than 60l. per ann. Dated 4 Sept. 1699. Minuted:—“Agreed.” 1 page.
Sept. 4.	25. Presentment of the same to the same, as to a seizure of coins to the value of 74l. 8s.: recommending a moiety to be paid Mr. Robert Wind, one of the tide surveyors of the port of Plymouth, who seized the same. Dated 4 Sept. 1699. Minuted:—“Agreed.” 1 page.
Sept. 7.	26. Report of Samuel Travers, Esq., Surveyor-General, on the petition of Sir John Morden, concerning the quit rents of the manor of Chesworth, in Sussex, which were in charge before the Queen Dowager's auditor: also concerning the value of Colstable farm, parcel of the same manor, which the petitioner desired might be thrown into his bargain, for the designed grant of the manor of Old Court, and of Sedgwick park (which last was part of the manor of Chesworth), on his paying down 2,000l., as the petitioner desired to settle these premises on his newly erected hospital for decayed merchants. Dated 7 Sept. 1699. Minuted:—“Ref. to M^r Surv^r to know ye value of it. M^r Surv^rs report bro^t 11^th 7br. 1699.” 2 pages.
[About Sept. 8.]	27. Report of John Parkhurst and John Paschal, made in pursuance of their Lordships' directions, referring their Lordships to their memorial of 30 June 1699, and referring also to Mr. Lowndes' letter of 2 Aug. last, in which their Lordships recommended that they should prepare such a draft of instructions as would be most conducive to the King's service; proposing instructions under four heads, for the management of the Prize Office. “Rec^d 8^th Sep^r '99.” 1½ pages.
[About Sept. 8.]	28. Petition of James Whiston to the Lords of the Treasury. From the last of Oct. 1698, to 23 Aug. 1699, about 5,000 pipes of Canary wine were imported in London, the pipes each holding 122 gallons, the merchant paying duty on 126 gallons (sic); also 2,000 tuns of Florence and 300 tuns of Rhenish wines in the same manner. 28,000 pipes of wine from other places, holding 140 to 170 odd gallons each, were also entered, which passed as if they held but 126 gallons, by which the King was defrauded of the duty on 2,335 tuns, equal to 46,700l. For several years the vintage had proved bad; but this to come is very good. If these wines were honestly gauged in the other ports it would add to the revenue 70,000l. per ann. The petitioner asked their Lordships to send for Mr. Thos. Leader, in Billiter Lane, the now city gauger, to prove these assertions: the petitioner honestly believed if he had a good salary as King's gauger, he would detect the abuse; but as he was gauger for the city, it would be his ruin to aver this truth. Praying that a minute might be made to reward him. He was further ready to show how the King might make hundreds of thousands of pounds per ann. in other matters. Minuted:—“Read 7^br 8 '99. My Lords will speak w^th the Com^rs of the Customs in this.” In the Minute Book, Vol. IX., p. 272, on 12 Feb. 1699–1700, it is mentioned that various of his proposals were discussed. The minute finishes: “My Lords commend his zeal, & direct the Com^rs to order their officers to be civil to him.” 1 large page.
Sept. 8.	29. Letter of Lord Bellomont to the Lords [of the Treasury]. He had been greatly concerned for the neglect of the four companies at New York, and he was more wearied by the complaints of the victuallers than with all the other business; they told him they were out of pocket above 7,000l.; he had fed them with hopes, but that artifice would no longer satisfy them; he feared unless the subsistence were paid in England they would be “broke and the soldiers turned a grazing.” Soldiers were never more necessary than in the province of New York, where the people had such an appetite for piracy and unlawful trade, that they were ready to rebel as often as the Government put the laws in execution against them; he hoped that order should be given that those four companies should be as exactly paid as the forces in England. An Act had passed in the Assembly that vacated some few of Col. Fletcher's extravagant grants of lands, which he (the writer) presented to the Council of Trade, but seven or eight of those grants remained unbroken; eleven men had full three-fourths of that whole province granted them, and there was not a gentleman amongst them, nor three well affected to His Majesty. Mr. Dellius, the Dutch minister of Albany, had a grant of above 900,000 acres of land, besides a grant of the Mohawk's land (one of the five nations of Indians), which so disturbed and dissatisfied that nation and the rest, that they had like to have gone over to the French; he had previously treated of these extravagant grants, and hoped the Council of Trade had communicated with the Treasury Board thereon; he had intended to complain to their Lordships and the Council of Trade, in respect to the execution of patent places by deputies, even if he had not received a letter from the Council; as a specimen, he referred to the case of Mr. Brenton, collector of this province, of New Hampshire and Rhode Island; if he could get the papers transcribed, which were delivered him by Mr. Mounteys, a merchant, with his petition against Col. Allen, the last Governor, and Mr. Sheaf, the deputy collector, he would send them by that conveyance to the Com^rs of Customs; he charged those two with making an unjust seizure of Mr. Mounteys' ship and goods; Mr. Brenton's deputy in Rhode Island (one Gardiner) was accused of sheltering one Guillam, a pirate, in his house, who lately came with Capt. Kidd from Madagascar, and was a most bloody villain, said to be the man who stabbed Capt. Edgecomb, commander of the “Mocha” frigate for the East India Company. He was the ringleader when that ship's company turned pirates; he was said also to have served the Mogul eight or nine years, to have turned Mahomedan, and to have been circumcised; he endeavoured to apprehend Guillam and some other pirates in Rhode Island, two were taken, but Guillam was conveyed away, and Gardiner was said to have had a hand in his escape; he (the writer) was going to Rhode Island to execute a commission from His Majesty, viz., to inquire into the irregularities of that Government, and then he would inform himself how far Gardiner was guilty; he was certain he was guilty of entertaining Guillam in his house, but he did not charge this against Mr. Brenton, for he knew it was very hard to find honest men in that part of the world to put into employment; the clerk of the council at New York and the naval officer (the only officers the writer made) proved both very idle knavish fellows, but they were the best he could get; the office of collector was the most ungrateful in those plantations, if he were just, they hated him mortally; so that an honest man with substance would hardly accept a deputy collector's place; he had not discovered anything amiss in Mr. Brenton's behaviour there, though he was much hated by the merchants, but (for ought he could find) it was for his exactness; he (the writer) would neither deceive the King, nor suffer any one else to deceive him; he desired Mr. Brenton might be ordered to his post, as his absence was prejudicial; he advised the appointment of a collector for Rhode Island and another for New Hampshire, who should be “nicely honest” at 100l. a year each; and because there would be little for the latter to do, there being little trade there, he advised that the collector should be surveyor of the woods in that province and receive 50l. a year, (which Mr. Brenton then had to no manner of purpose) as part of the 100l. proposed: Mr. Randolph had that 50l. a year before Mr. Brenton for looking after the woods of that province, and neither of them had ever done sixpence worth of service for it; Mr. Brenton had employed one Mr. Ichabod Plaisted to look after the woods there as his deputy, and Ichabod the deputy, did as little good as Jahleel, his principal, nay, he did a great deal of hurt, for he traded in timber and was building a saw mill in order to devour more timber; there were above 50 saw mills in that little province, half of them double ones that used two or more saws; a mill with a single saw did 20 times the work of two men, for it would saw 2,000 feet of boards in a day; they worked about eight months in the year, the frost hindering them the remainder of the year. There was such a shameful waste of the woods as could not be conceived; the collector ought to be a right honest man, and he would give him what assistance he could; he advised that all officers of the revenue should be Englishmen. P.S.—The collector of New York wrote that this was the worst year known for the customs, the growth of the Sugar islands, which used to bring almost the whole revenue of customs, having failed; but one sloop could get a loading at Barbadoes, and several sloops had come from those islands to New York in ballast. Mr. Hungerford, one of the collectors, and Mr. Parmiter, the naval officer of New York, wrote that the acts of Assembly which granted a revenue to the King were so lame and weakly penned, that the merchants and others eluded them, and a good many seizures of ships and goods were lost by want of honest judges; there was not such a parcel of wild knaves and Jacobites as those that practised the law in the province of New York, not one of them a barrister, one was a dancing master, another a glover, a third (and he Col. Fletcher's bosom friend, favourite and land-jobber) condemned to be hanged in Scotland for blasphemy and burning the bible, and all of that honourable profession, ignorant and usurers, their only skill consisting in chicane and stirring up the people to litigate the titles of estates with one another, and debauching them from their duty and affection to His Majesty: he was thus particular in regard to the lawyers, that their Lordships might promote an honest understanding lawyer who would deserve 1,000l. a year to be made Chief Justice of that province, and another good lawyer to be Attorney-General at 300l. a year; the Assembly of New York had complained to him against the lawyers by petition, and desired that the administration of justice might be in better hands; a pure and upright administration of the laws would improve the revenue at least double, and reconcile the people to the laws and government of England, who, he must needs say, had too great an aversion to both. Dated Boston, 8 Sept. '99. Also, “Sampson Sheafe, deputy collector of His Maj^ties province of New Hampshire and Meine, his answer to the petition or complaint of James Mounteaes, directed to his Excellency Richard, Earle of Bellomont, &c.,” touching the seizure of a ship called the “Hope well,” with its goods, and the proceedings about the same. 8½ pages.
Sept. 9.	30. Report of the Com^rs of Customs to the Lords of the Treasury, touching the list of persons proposed for riding officers in Kent and Sussex. Dated 9 Sept. 1699. (Two enclosures.) 4 pages.
Sept. 13.	31. Presentment of the same to the same. Recommending the establishment of Stephen Pattee, a fisherman, as a preventive officer at Tarcross, a creek about seven miles from Dartmouth, which offered facilities for smuggling: also as to some additions to salaries. Dated 13 Sept. 1699. Minuted:—“Agreed.” 1½ pages.
Sept. 15.	32. Report of Com^rs of Revenue in Ireland to the Lords Justices there, on the petition of William Burgh, Esq., for payment of his salary as accountant-general: advising that if the King should not think fit to have the salaries placed as formerly on the civil list, direction should be given to them for paying them out of the revenue. Dated 15 Sept. 1699. Also the petition. 2 pages.
Sept. 16.	33. Report of the Navy Board to Mr. Lowndes. They had caused the claims made by the executors of Mr. Stephens, late cashier of the Earl of Orford, Treasurer of the Navy, to be examined and stated, and had sent the same with other papers for their Lordships' instructions thereon. Dated 16 Sept. 1699. Minuted:—“Allowd.” Accompanied by the said papers. 5 pages.
Sept. 19/29.	34. Letter from Mr. Blathwayt to Mr. Lowndes, concerning the payment of the pension of Doctor Kingston, sending the King's directions to pay to Lord Lucas 300l. upon that account. Dated Loo, 19/29 Sept. 1699. Minuted:—“3 Oct. '99. My Lords cannot pay this till they have spoken w^th His Ma^ty after his returne.” In the Minute Book, Vol. IX., p. 255, 17 Jan. 1699–1700, is:—“D^r Kingston papers read, 200^li to be paid him as bounty.” 1 page.
Sept. 19.	35. Letter of the Officers of Ordnance to the Lords of the Treasury, as to payment of moneys by Mr. Bertie, until Mr. Mordant was qualified to act as treasurer. Dated 19 7ber. '99. 1 page (quarto).
Sept. 20.	36. Memorial of the victuallers of the Navy to the Lords of the Treasury, praying for the assignment of moneys for foreign bills of exchange, for the purser of the ship “Rochester,” for a debt to Sir John Elwill, for salt bought, and for the provision of various articles, amongst which were peas, which were very scarce. Dated 20 Sept. 1699. 1 page.
Sept. 26.	37. Letter signed R. Yard, to the Lords of the Treasury, communicating to them the directions of the Lords Justices, that they should order 25l. to be paid to Thomas Shorter, as the King's bounty, for attendance on their Excellencies as chamber keeper. Dated 26 Sept. 1699. In the Minute Book, Vol. IX., p. 188, 10 Oct. 1699, is a minute to the effect that the above sum was “ordered accordingly.” 1 page (quarto).
Sept. 26.	38. Report of Mr. John Povey to the Lords of the Treasury, on the memorial presented on behalf of Chidley Brook, lately collector and receiver-general of the public revenue in New York; representing to their Lordships the state of his accounts against which he had made several objections which could only be cleared up by a reference to New York. Dated 26 Sept. 1699. Accompanied by the memorial of the said Mr. Brook, who states that he was necessitated to accept of an employment under the new East India Company, in India, where he was gone. Also another paper containing objections against the accounts. 7 pages.
Sept. 26.	39. Order in Council, concerning the rules for passing messengers' bills. Dated 26 Sept. 1699. 1 page.
Sept. 28.	40. Warrant from the Lords of the Treasury to Christopher Montague, Esq., auditor of the receipt of the Exchequer, requiring him to draw an order for paying Lord Robert Lucas 70l. without account, for money expended, as Governor of the Tower of London, for contingencies. Dated 28 Sept. 1699. Accompanied by a list of the same. 1½ pages.
Sept. 29.	41. Bounties paid at the Exchequer to divers persons between Michaelmas 1698 and Michaelmas 1699. 1½ pages.
Sept. 29.	42a. “A particular state of the several Fonds & Revenues now payable to His Ma^ty at the receipt of the Excheq^r.” Dated 29 Sept. 1699. [A very comprehensive financial paper.] 12 pages.
Sept. 29.	42b. A paper docquetted:—“Mr. Auditor Done's certificate to the Lords of y^e Trea[su]ry touching demands made by Lord Montague,” [Master of the Great Wardrobe]. Dated 29 Sept. 1699. Minuted:—“Read 17 Oct. '99. To be bro^t in next Thursd^a.” 3 pages.
Sept. 30.	43. Letter from Mr. Blathwayt to Mr. Lowndes, signifying the King's pleasure for the preparation of a warrant for 1,845l., as an allowance at 5l. a day to the “Comte de Frise,” from the time of his first employment as the King's envoy extraordinary; viz. from 1 Sept. 1698, up to which time he was last paid, to 5 Sept., being the day of the commencement of his privy seal, as envoy extraordinary, to the Elector of Brandenburg; to be paid out of the secret service money. Dated Loo, 30 Sept. 1699. Minuted:—“30 Apr. 1700. 1,845^li to be pđ by way of bounty.” There is also the following similar minute in the Minute Book, Vol. X., p. 36, 30 April 1700:—“Count Frise to be paid one year's allowance out of civill list m^o as a bounty.” 1 page (quarto).
Sept. 30.	44. An extract of the ordinary and extraordinary expense of the household, from the 1st July 1685 to the last September 1699. 1 large page.
Oct. 1.	45. Letter from Mr. Isaac Newton to the Lords of the Treasury. The prosecution of coiners during the last three years, had put him to various small expenses, in coach-hire, and at taverns and prisons and other places, of all which services it was not possible to account on oath; praying for an order for an allowance of 120l. on his accounts. Dated Mint Office, Oct. 1, 1699. Minuted:—“To be allowed in his acco^t of mo. by him rec^d for prosecution of clippers & coyners.” Part of a page.
Oct. 4.	46. Report signed Wm. Talman, to the Lords of the Treasury, on the petition of Alice Symmonds, widow [who complained that Sir Chr. Wren promised her late husband on his death-bed, that he would get some one to be appointed to his place of clerk of the works at Hampton Court in trust for hereelf and son, in the same way as was practised in favour of Mrs. Browne, widow of the clerk of the works at Windsor]. Also in pursuance of a letter from Mr. Lowndes to Sir Chr. Wren and himself, signifying their Lordships' desire that the petitioner should be relieved. The report states that Sir Chr. Wren utterly refused to do anything therein, and that the petitioner's allegations were true, and advises that her son should be appointed to his father's place, with a suitable deputy, until he was of a fit age to execute the duties; further Sir Chr. Wren positively promised the employment, at one and the same time, to several others, as well as the petitioner; but what inducement he had to give it to his kinsman, Mr. Ball, was unknown to him. Dated 4 Oct. 1699. Accompanied by (1) the petition; (2) the copy of a letter of Sir Chr. Wren to Sir John Clayton, expressing his sympathy with the family of the deceased, and stating his fears that he could not serve them in the way he had projected, for not an hour since a servant near the King's person came to him with a sort of mandamus; if he could weather that point the best he could do would be that a friend and not a stranger should succeed; and (3) copy of the letter of Mr. Lowndes referred to. 4 pages.
Oct. 4.	47. “A copy of the L^ds of the Admiralties letter to direct the paying comanders half pay.” Dated 4 Oct. '99. With four lists of those entitled to the same. 9 pages.
Oct. 4.	48. A memorial presented by George London, master gardener, on behalf of all the King's gardeners, to the Lords of the Treasury; praying them to order such part of 8,400l. due to them as they thought fit, for their present necessities; they being all poor labouring people. Dated 4 Oct. 1699. Minuted:—“To be inserted upon the list to Mids^r 1698.” 1 page (quarto).
[Oct. 5.]	49. Papers relating to arrears due to the farmers of the great branches of the Revenue in Ireland, including a proposal of Sir John Temple, Knt., Solicitor-General of Ireland, for the better and easier collecting and levying the arrears. Minuted:—“5^th Oct. '99. Send the draft w^th these papers to the Com^rs in Ireland, for them to consider & give their opinions.” 5½ pages.
[? About Oct. 5.]	50. Petition of Thomas Moreton and others, creditors of the late Marquess of Albeville, to the Lords of the Treasury, for payment of 140l. 8s., which had been promised to be paid, as soon as the Marquess received the money due to him from the Crown, while he was envoy from the late King James to the States of Holland. Accompanied by— An accompt of what was due to the said Marquess; copy of a letter to the Lords of the Treasury, from the Marquess, dated 12 Jan. 1688–9, stating that from the present revolution of affairs in England, he was not likely to continue long in his station; pressing for his arrears, that he might not go away in debt and defraud the tradesmen of their due; and further that the employment had been expensive, being above 2,000l. beyond the ordinary allowance. Also the bills of the above creditors. Minuted:—“Read 5 Oct. 1699. My Lords cannot satisfie these pretences.” 7 pages.
[? About Oct. 6.]	51, 52. Petition of Richard Poyke, late clerk of the Cheque, to the Lords of the Treasury, objecting to Mr. Vanbrugh's [treasurer of the chamber] report, on the examination of the messengers' bills and the matters relating to the complaints against the petitioner; stating that the said report is false and groundless, and an imposition on their Lordships; praying that before the matters relating to the petitioner are laid before the King, their Lordships would hear the petitioner, &c. Accompanied by the report of the examination of Mr. Poyke and his witnesses, taken at the Cockpitt, Treasury Chambers, before the Lords of the Treasury on 6 and 13 Oct. 1699. See also the Minute Book, Vol. IX., pp. 185 and 191. Minuted:—“Read againe 5 Feb. '99. Lett a short report be made from the minutes of y^e several hearings, w^th Poykes' charge ag^t sev^ll messengers & M^r Vanburgh's answer.” 4½ pages.
Oct. 7.	53. Certificate concerning derelict lands lying in the parishes of Long Sutton, Gedney, Holbech, Quaplode, and Moulton, and other places in the county of Lincoln. Numerously signed. Dated 7 Oct. 1699. “Read 30 May 1704.” 1 page.
Oct. 10.	54. Report of the officers of Ordnance to the Lords of the Treasury, on the petition of John Silvester and others, who have tallies in their hands on the ¾ customs received from the said office in payment of money, viz., as to the interest due on them at 2 per cent.; with a minute on the dorse for the payment thereof. Dated 10 Oct. 1699. (Three enclosures.) 4½ pages.
[? About Oct. 10.]	55. Petition of John Thompson to the Lords of the Treasury, showing that in 1679, he obtained a patent for himself and Mr. Edw. Noell, for the place of registrar to the Com^rs of Excise, at a joint salary of 350l. per ann. Mr. Noel had been also secretary to the Com^rs, which obliged him to a daily attendance, but was dismissed; he had promised to allow 75l. per ann. to an assistant, but then refused to pay the King's taxes or the allowance to the assistant; praying their Lordships to make a suitable order thereon, which should include the said payments. Read 10 Oct. 1699. There are two minutes on the back, the second of which follows:— “24 8^br 1699. Ordered that so much be paid to Tompson, as his part of ye sallary am^ts to; and so much more as the tax on ye whole office of reg^r am^ts to; and M^r Tompson is to give an acq^t to ye rec^r, and to see that the tax be p^d to the K^s coll^r.” The following is in the Minute Book, Vol. IX., p. 198, on the above day:— “Com^rs of Excise called in w^th M^r Noel & M^r Tompson. The petitions of Tompson & Burgess are read. Noel saies he never had any constituc[i]on, but the patent for register; and when he was turned out, he had nothing more to doe: calling him sec^ry was nothing but courtesy, he did all as register. That the offices of reg^r & sec^ry are all one, and the office of reg^r was granted to him for life, and the reason why he doth not meddle w^th his sall^a is, because he is turned out; but he thinks himselfe intitled to ye office still. “M^r Tompson saies in the patent it's said they had been sec^rys, & it grants to them ye office of reg^r.” 1 page.
[About Oct. 11.]	56. Petition of Thomas Doleman for letters patent to allow him to hold the place of customer and collector of Newcastle in his own name, instead of the name of his trustee, who desired to be discharged of his trust. Minuted:—“Read 11^th Oct. '99. Ref. C. C. to examine the allegacions.” Also a duplicate, with the following minute:—“Granted, if he will take it during the King's pleasure.” Undated. 1 page.
[? About Oct. 11.]	57. Petition of the clerks of the Privy Council to the Lords of the Treasury, for the payment of a year and a half's salary, for their attendance on the Council. Minuted:—“11^th Oct. '99. To be p[ai]d accordingly.” 1 page.
[About Oct. 11.]	58. Petition of John Jones of the borough town of Caermarthen, pewterer, to the Lords of the Treasury; begging them to expedite the payment of 83l. ordered by them to be paid him; he having in obedience to a late Act delivered into the Mint, in the Tower of London, one press, made for the sole use of making spoons, whereby he was deprived of the best part of his livelihood. Minuted:—“11 Oct. '99. R. to Mr. Neale.” 1 page.
[About Oct. 11.]	59. Petition of John Herbert, gent., to the Lords of the Treasury, for the rewards of 50l. and 40l. for the apprehension of Anthony, servant of Captain William Wintour [of Dymocke in the county of Gloucester, who was in a proclamation suspected of clipping and coining]. Also certificate of his committal by the Mayor and Justice of the Peace of the town and county of Haverfordwest. Minuted:—“Read 11 Oct. '99. To examine w^t is allowed in y^e proclamac[i]on & to be p[ai]d according to ye reward therein declar'd.” 2 pages.
[? About Oct. 11.]	60 Petition addressed to the Lords of the Treasury by Alice Hierdson, widow, relict and late wife and executrix of the will of Augustine Hierdson, gent., deceased, who had been collector of the port of Poulton, in the county of Lancaster, and whose accounts the petitioner sought to have examined, and that in the meantime process might be stayed. Minuted:—“Read 11^th Oct. 1699. R. to C. Customes.” 1 page.
Oct. 12.	61. Report of Com^rs of Customs to the Lords of the Treasury, concerning the account of Col. Christopher Codrington, late Governor in chief of the Leeward Caribbee Islands, in America, viz., as to whether all the revenue in specie or money, of the four and half per cent. in Barbadoes and the Leeward Islands, received by Col. Codrington or his agents, were duly charged in the said account, &c. Dated 12 Oct. 1699. Ten enclosures, including copy of the minute thereon by the Lords of the Treasury; dated 14 Nov. 1699. The following is the copy of the minute entered in the Minute Book, Vol. IX., p. 216, 14 Nov. 1699:— “Com^rs of Customes cald in, & Coll. Codrington & M^r Povey, M^r Hutcheson, ag^t to the late Coll. Codrington, cald in. Coll. C. saies the Com^rs in y^e Lew^d Islands charge a price certain, his father ought to be charged w^th what he actually & bonâ fide sold the goods for, he having done ye best for His Ma^ts service. “M^r Hutcheson saies Coll. C. was necessitated to take ye goods in kind & sell them there, and offers the copy of a letter sent by him in 1691 to ye Comt^ee for Trade, advising ye contrary. He would have imployed severall to sell it at the Agency com[missi]on craved by him, which they refused, and at length he found severall that undertook it; that the prices sett by ye Com^rs are suppositious, but they were sold bonâ fide without collusion, & the Coll. is answerable for no more then ye reall price they were sold for; that the Coll. had no advantage but the 3 per cent., w^ch cost him as much. And as to ye sugar taken by Chapman, he saies it was taken by Chapman by order of ye Councel there to buy powder; he was tre^r of the island, & Coll. C. was never charged w^th it. My Lords are satisfied in ye acco^t, except 189. 16. 0½. craved for over rates, wastage, agency, & com^on of 562. 5. 3. surcharged in this acco^t as rec^d by M^r Horne, the accomptant's agent in Antigoa, w^ch 189. 16. 0½. is disallowd, and except the sum of 297. 3. 0¾., p[er]t of ye sum of 654. 9. 0. craved for com^on, my Lords being willing to allow the remainder of ye 654. 9. 0. for his charge in passing acco^ts & over seing his agents & his risque.” 21 pages.
Oct. 13.	62. Letter signed “Dan. Butts,” addressed to Wm. Lowndes, Esq., at his house near Westminster Abbey, enclosing his petition, and hoping something might be done to put an end to his account; there was no great occasion to stop his going to the West Indies, for he did not see but that he might have time to go to the East Indies before anything would be done in it; the soonest the Com^rs of Transports proposed was when the next interest would become due on their debentures—when that would be, God knew. Dated 13 8^ber 1699. Accompanied by the petition. His claims were for the transport of Irish forces into France after the treaty and surrender of Limerick. 2 pages.
[About Oct. 13.]	63. Petition of Robert Stephenson of Hampton Court, to the Lords of the Treasury. He had erected a house on Hampton Green for “the better conveniency of finding meat and drink for the King's gardeners employed at Hampton Court,” who were before that forced to go as far as Teddington for their meat and drink, and so were not able to perform half a day's work; the King having seen the house ordered that he should be admitted to it by Lord Portland. He was admitted at a court by the steward for a fine of 5l.: prays that he might quietly enjoy the same, having heard that the cottages on the Green were about to be demolished. Referred, on 13 Oct. 1699, to Samuel Travers, Esq., surveyor-general, to report upon. 1 page.
Oct. 3 and 14.	64. Letter from the Officers of Ordnance to the Lords of the Treasury, expressing the opinion that we ought to have a thousand tons of saltpetre in store at least, and having but 300 tons, submitting it to their Lordships whether they had not better contract for 500 tons with the East India Company. Dated 3 Oct. 1699. Further letter on the same subject. Dated 14 Oct. 1699. 2 pages (quarto).
Oct. 14.	65. Memorial of the Paymaster of the Works, for a warrant to the auditor to allow the sums advanced by him, amounting to 3,221l. 8s. 4½d. Dated 14 Oct. '99. Minuted:—“Lett M^r Powys search whether all these paym^ts were ordered at ye Tre^ry. If so, a warr^t to allow them on producing ye vouch^rs.” 1 page.