Volume 182: November 16-December 20, 1714

Pages 24-36

Calendar of Treasury Papers, Volume 5, 1714-1719. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1883.

Citation:

November 16–December 20, 1714



Nov. 16.	1. Report of the Com^rs of Excise to the Lords of the Treasury, laying before their lordships a copy of the Establishment of the officers of the Excise, malt, candles, &c., and their salaries; also an estimate of the annual charge of the management thereof. Excise Office, London, 16 Nov. 1714. 16 pages.
Nov. 16.	2. Certificate of the “sovereigne” bailiffs, burgesses and common council of the borough of Athlone, testifying that Lemuell Hodgson, gent., Surveyor of Excise for Athlone, has in the worst of times, to the hazard of his employment, been reputed a whig, has expressed himself with remarkable zeal and integrity for the succession of the house of Hanover, vindicating his Majesty's right against all papists, jacobites, and other friends to the Pretender, &c., for which they have presented him with the freedom of the borough, and this certitificate. 16 Nov. 1714. 20 signatures. 1 page.
[? About Nov. 16.]	3. Two memorials of Lady Charlotte Lovelace to the King, detailing the losses of her husband, Lord Lovelace, by being put on the establishment of Ireland, in place of that of England; and on being made governor of New York, by having been reimbursed only 400l. of the charge of his equipage, which amounted to 3,000l. He had been but five months in his government when he died, leaving his wife enceinte, and with two other children. His sickness was caused by the rigour of the voyage, &c. The creditors have become more importunate than ever, and have commenced process against her for her husband's debts. Minuted:—“16 Nov. 1714. M^r Nicholas to certifye my Lords w^t remained due to my Lady Lovelace on her penc[i]on, at the time of the Queen's demise. M^r Godfrey certifys that she is paid to Midsm^r 1714.” “W^t for 100 bounty.” 3 pages.
Oct. 5– Nov. 16.	4. Four certificates returned weekly of receipts on the subscriptions for 885,703l. 14s. 7½d., South Sea Stock. Signed Robert Knight, Rec^r: addressed to William Lowndes, Esq. Dated, Southsea House, between 5 Oct. and 16 Nov. 1714. 4 pages.
Nov. 15.	5. Several papers relating to bills drawn by Captain Paddon, who had the Queen's command to offer the Alcaid of Alcazar a present of 2,000 dollars, and even to go a little further, rather than not procure the liberty of her Majesty's subjects. He was also her Majesty's plenipotentiary to make peace with the Emperor of Morocco. He was obliged to purchase three Moors for 70l. 10s., being slaves to the Genoese Consul at Gibraltar, in order to facilitate the peace and to bring her Majesty's subjects from Barbary. Various dates; the last appears to be 15 Nov. 1714. There is also an abstract of some of the papers. 8 pages, or parts of pages.
Nov. 17.	6. Recommendation of Sir Stephen Fox to the Lords of the Treasury of M^rs Ann Whittle, daughter of M^r Richard Whittle, late Apothecary-General to the Army from the Restoration to 1689. She had been admitted to the Royal Bounty usually paid from M^r Nicholas's office. Sir Stephen asks for a continuance of the support. Nov. 17, 1714. ½ page.
Nov. 18.	7. Memorial to the Lords of the Treasury of Richard Marshall, stud-master to her late Majesty. 460l. were due to him on 1 Aug. last, for keeping the stud and other incidents; prays payment. Dated Nov. 18, 1714. Minuted:—“Ordered.” Also his bill which was for six running horses at Newmarket, and for managing the running for her Majesty's plates. 2 pages.
Nov. 19.	8. Report of the Auditor (E. Harley) on the accounts of Sir Roger Mostyn of his receipts and issues as Paymaster of the late marine regiments. There is no occasion for the accountant to defer the delivery of his accounts and vouchers to the auditors, &c. Dated Nov. 19, 1714. Enclosed is:—“A state of S^r R. M., his rec^ts & issues, 11th Nov^r 1714.” Minuted:—“19 Nov^r 1714. My Lords order S^r Roger to exhibit his acco^t with the vouchers so as a true state may be made by the Aud^rs with as much expedic[i]on as may be.” 4 pages.
Nov. 19.	9. Sir Isaac Newton to the Earl of Halifax. Has spoken to M^r Eyres, and his answer is that he can make the experiment in a horse mill, and within a week will deliver into the Mint a hundred weight of bars drawn after the manner proposed by him. But a water mill is cheaper, and goes with more strength for making despatch, with fewer draughts and less waste of the metal; and so enables him to perform the undertaking at a cheaper rate. Dated 19 Nov. 1714. The work referred to was the drawing of fillets to make copper farthings and half-pence. See Minute Book, Vol. 20, p. 28. Minuted:—“Read 19^th Nov^r 1714. My Lords desire M^r Eyres to go on w^th all the expedic[i]on that may be.” 1 page, quarto.
Nov. 18 and 20.	10. Report of the Com^rs of Customs to the Lords of the Treasury on the petition of John Tasker, Thomas Bunce, and others, in behalf of themselves and the under coal meters of the city of London, complaining of a delay in this board, in making a report on a former reference relating to the under-meters; and desiring their Lordships' order for a report to be made. Refer to their report of 21 July last on the subject, a report and order of the Court of Aldermen, and a letter from Sir John Parsons, which they have reconsidered, but see no cause to alter their opinion, which is that the agreement made with the 15 principal coal meters to allow them a half-penny per chaldron for coals delivered, shall be continued &c. Offer these further reasons for their opinion, viz., that the upper meters insist on their right to place or displace the under-meters, who are their servants; therefore the under-meters are not in a capacity to make any agreement with this board: that the upper-meters are all persons of substance and reputation: that the coal-meters' office has been under a regulation for many years, and they, having an allowance from the city, are enabled to undertake the work cheaper than any other persons can, and for much less than the petitioners offer to do it, and that the upper coal meters often declared to this board, that unless the contract were made with them distinct from their servants, the under-meters, they could not carry on the service. As to deputations to under coal meters to search ships and seize prohibited goods, are of opinion that the granting such deputations to persons who have no certain salaries, and are not employed by the board, is a detriment to the revenue. The principal coal meters report that they have long since dismissed all their deputies, and their successors are fully satisfied. The dispute relating to the allowance to the petitioners is still depending in the Court of Exchequer; and the right of placing or displacing the under-meters lies before the Common Council. Custom House, 18 Nov. 1714. Minuted:—“22 Dec^r 1714, Read.” Eight other papers, including the petition referred to, and M^r Baron Price's award in the same matter, which is in favour of the under-meters, dated 20 Nov. 1714. 17 pages.
Nov. 21.	11. Report of M^r Thomas Jett, Auditor, on the petition of John Richmond Webb, Esq., as to the surplusage on his declared account for the year 1713, as Governor of the Isle of Wight. Also the petition, the letter referring it to the auditor, a certificate and a brief state of the declared account. 5 pages.
[About Nov. 22.]	12. Petition of Lord James Murray, brother to the Duke of Athol, to the Lords of the Treasury, praying that the grant to him of the office of Receiver General and Cashier of the Customs of Scotland, vacant by the death of M^r Graydon, may be perfected, her late Majesty's sudden illness having prevented her from completing the same. Minuted:—“Read 22 Nov. 1714.” Also the copy of the warrant. 2 pages.
[? About Nov. 22.]	13. Petition of James Stewart to the King. Is lineally descended from the next male branch of the family of Lenox, after Henry, Lord Darnley, eldest son of the Earl of Lenox, and father of King James the Sixth of Scotland and First of England, his Majesty's great grandfather, as appears by a copy of a certificate annexed; prays that some post or pension for life may be bestowed upon him. Minuted:—“22 Nov. 1714, my L^ds can do nothing in this.” The copy of the certificate referred to. 2 pages.
[About Nov. 22.]	14. Petition of John Viscount Lisburne and Baron of Feathers in the Kingdom of Ireland, for a renewal of the grant of the office of Steward and Keeper of the Courts and Liberties of the Lordships and Manors of “Mevenneth, Croythyn, Hemmniock, Caerwedros, and Perveth” in the county of Cardigan, which the petitioner held until the demise of her late Majesty. Minuted:—“22 Nov. 1714. Prepare a warr^t.” 1 page.
[? About Nov. 23.]	15. Memorial of James Scott, Esq., his Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary to the King of Poland, praying payment of 400l. for hire of wagon and baggage horses in his journeys in 1711, 1712, and 1713, when he travelled above 2,000 miles. ? About 23 Nov. 1714. See Money Book, Vol. 23, p. 410. 1 page, quarto.
[About Nov. 23.]	16. Memorial of Brigadier William Bretton, Envoy at the Court of Prussia, to the Lords of the Treasury, praying payment of his charge for putting himself and family in mourning on the decease of the late King of Prussia. Undated, but ? about 23 Nov. 1714. See Money Book, Vol. 23, p. 416. 1 page.
Nov. 23.	17. Letter signed:—“I. R. waiting at the dore,” to the Hon. Sir Richard Onslow, Bart. Proposed in two letters, signed I. R., directed to his honour and to the Hon^ble Board of Admiralty, to lay before them the great abuses committed by the Navy, to which he received no answer. The matter partly related to the Custom House. Dated 23 Nov. 1714. Minuted:—“The person sent to the Commiss^rs of Customs. Nov^r 23 1714.” 1 page.
Nov. 24.	18. Report of Sir Christopher Wren to the Lords of the Treasury, giving the particulars of the work done in setting up the Diana fountain, in the great bason in Bushey Park at Hampton Court. Dated, Office of his Majesty's Works, 24 Nov. 1714. 5 large pages.
[? About Nov. 26.]	19. Petition of John Hodgson, George Luxford, and George Sawbridge to the Lords of the Treasury. Petitioners were bound for one Thomas Wells, an Inspector of the Surveyors, employed by the Com^rs for the duty on hawkers and pedlars, who was forced to give up his employment in Sept. 1713, and was indebted to that revenue 189l. 9s.; praying that just allowances may be made for his services and losses to go in discharge of their bond. Referred to the Com^rs for Hawkers and Pedlars, 26 Nov. 1714. Enclosed is Wells' account of the duty arising by hawkers and pedlars. Sworn 23 June 1713. 5 pages.
Nov. 26.	20. “Account of the assignments to be directed to be paid, that Sir Bibye Lake, in pursuance of his proposal to the R^t Hon^ble the Lords Com^rs of the Treasury, may be enabled to discharge the debt due to his Majesty from Robert Peters, late Receiver-General of Hertfordshire.” Dated 26 Nov. 1714. 1 large page.
Nov. 26.	21. Lord Townshend to the Lords of the Treasury. Encloses a memorial of Don Manuel Mercader and D^r Francisco Sancho, who came from the Island of Minorca upon the public service. Signifies the King's pleasure that each of them should be allowed 100l. Dated Whitehall, 26 Nov. 1714. The memorial to the King referred to, and a memorial to the Lords of the Treasury. (French). Minuted:—“26 Nov. 1714, Mercader & Sancho from Minorca, to settle a forme of Gov[ern]ment 100^li each.” Again:—“7 Xbr. 1714. Forme a penc[i]on to the board to move the King on y^r behalfe, and my Lords will take y^e K~s pł.” 3 pages.
[? About Nov. 27.]	22. Proposal of Sir John Lambert, Bart., and Edward Gibbon to the Lords of the Treasury as to the sale of his Majesty's tin at Hamburgh. Minuted:—“27 Nov. 1714. Read.” 1 page.
[? About Nov. 27.]	23. Moses Beranger and John Gore to the Lords of the Treasury, giving their reasons why they could not comply with their Lordships' desire for a loan on the deposit of his Majesty's tin at Hamburgh. Minuted:—“27 Nov^r 1714. Read.” 2 pages.
Nov. 29.	24. J. Vanbrugh to the Earl of Halifax. Sends a few heads for the future settlement and reformation of the Board of Works. In whatever station he was placed by the Earl would do what he could to be truly serviceable to the King. Dated 29 Nov. 1714. The “heads” referred to. 2½ pages.
Nov. 29.	25. Robert Sedgwick (in the absence of the Master of the Jewel Office) to my Lords. Finds the charge of the Coronation amounts to 14,850l., as connected with the Jewel Office. Dated Jewel Office, 29 Nov. 1714. 1 page.
[About Nov. 29.]	26. Petition of M^r Edward Pauncfort to the Lords of the Treasury. Paid 3,500l. to Lord Howe to surrender to petitioner his employment as Controller of Excise. Three months afterwards the Lord Treasurer prevailed with petitioner to quit that office, and accept that of cashier, to make way for the present controller, by which means M^r Meriton, the then cashier (who was to be removed for some quarrel in the office) was reimbursed the 4,000l. he laid down in order to succeed M^r Hall. Is about to be removed from his employment without any regard to the manner of his coming in. Prays that some expedient may be found, either in his remaining in his post or by an equivalent. Minuted:—“29 Nov. 1714. The place is already disposed of, and my L^ds do not think fit there should be any mony given for employm^ts in y^e revenue.” 1 page.
Nov. 29.	27. An account of the several persons standing in debt to the revenue on salt in Michaelmas term 1714, and the proceedings that have been made against them, and what has been recovered. [Michaelmas term ended 29 Nov.] 11½ pages.
Nov. 30.	28. An account of South Sea Stock, subscribed in the name of James Brydges, Esq., for the use of the public, and what transfers have been made thereout. Dated Whitehall, 30 Nov. 1714. 2 pages.
Dec. 1.	29. William Pulteney to the Lords of the Treasury. Sends copy of the Foreign and Home subsistence as established by King William and Queen Mary, the greater part being reduced. Submits whether the whole army then on foot may be brought under the same regulation. Dated Whitehall, 1 Dec. 1714. Minuted:—“7 X^ber 1714. Read, and my Lords agree to the regulac[i]on for the greater subsistence.” The enclosure, entitled, “The regulation of subsistence established by King William in the year 1699.” 3 pages.
Dec. 2.	30. Report from the Officers of Works to the Lords of the Treasury on the charges of the Coronation. It is impossible to make a just estimate of the expense beforehand, according to the late instructions, neither can they for the funeral of the late Queen, nor for the sudden exigency for the reception of his Majesty at Greenwich. Pray for a sufficient warrant for these expenses. Dated Office of Works, December 2, 1714. Minuted:—“M^d, there was an abatem^t made out of this demand by the new Board of Works.”
[About Dec. 3.]	31. Petition of the Earl of Radnor to the King for renewal of his patent as Constable of Carnarvon Castle, the office of Ranger of the Forest of Snowdon, and Steward of the Courts of the Lordships, &c. of the late monastery of Bardsey, all in the county of Carnarvon. Minuted:—“To be layd before the K.” Again: “Granted.” [The patent was granted 3 Dec. 1714.] 1 page.
Dec. 4.	32. An account of the charges in the office of the Great Wardrobe, relating to his Majesty's Coronation. Dated Great Wardrobe, 4 Dec. 1714. 1 page.
Dec. 6.	33. Memorial of the R^t Hon. Francis, Earl of Godolphin, Cofferer of the Household, to the Lords of the Treasury for an advance of of 9,850l. to be distributed among the purveyors who supplied the Royal family with provisions. Dated S^t James's, Cofferer's Office, 6 Dec. 1714. P.S.—M^r Lowman has been directed to prepare an account of the charges in the Cofferer's Office of the Coronation. Minuted:—“7 Dec. 1714. Orderd.” Enclosed is the letter to the Cofferer from the Board of Green Cloth in pursuance of which the memorial was sent. 2 pages.
Dec. 6.	34. Jon^a [? Jonathan] Watson to John Taylor, Esq., “Sec[reta]ry. to the Lords of his Majesty's Treasury.” If not prevented, red and fallow deer will be destroyed in Holt Forest. Men come in great numbers and carry them away on horseback, and timber bushes are daily cut down and carried off. Asks for a proclamation or troops to be sent to Farnham, or an additional number of assistant keepers. “Why, pray, is not on such complaints the Surveyor of the Woods sent down to view, and report the facts before it be too late?” Also asks that this letter and memorial may be laid before their Lordships. Dated 6 Dec. 1714. Minuted:—“Sir Basil Dixwell to be restored.” The memorial of M^rs Ruperta Howe, Chief Ranger and Keeper of the Forest and Chace of Alice Holt and Woolmer, in the county of Southampton, drawing attention to previous memorials to the same effect as the above. A wood, called Binswood, containing about 160 acres, well stocked with young thriving timber trees, has been cut down and disposed of for his own use by Sir Simon Stuart. Dated London, 29 Nov. 1714. 2½ pages.
Dec. 6.	35. Order of Council on the petition of divers cowkeepers of Newington, in the county of Surrey, which sets forth the great losses they have sustained by the infection that has for some time raged and destroyed great numbers of their cows, and prays for relief. The bounty, if continued, will amount to an excessive sum, and it has not produced the effects hoped for from it. No further allowance is to be made for any cows that die after the 8^th of Dec.; but his Majesty, intending to consider a proper method of relief for those who bury their cattle and comply with necessary directions, orders that the justices continue to take exact account of all cattle that die by infection and are buried in sufficient depth of earth. Dated 6 Dec. 1714. 1½ pages.
Dec. 8.	36. Com^rs of the Navy to William Lowndes, Esq. Send a book, containing an abstract of the rates and prices of stores for which the Board contracted. The “course” is upwards of three months in arrear, and they pray that provision may be made for it, or the contractors will cease to serve on the contracts, and expect new ones at higher prices. Dated 8 Dec. 1714. 1¼ pages.
Dec. 9.	37. Lord Townsend to the Lords of the Treasury. M^r Clement, having resided at Vienna, and corresponded with the Secretaries of State for three years, and the King having ordered his recall, his Majesty desires that directions shall be given for paying him 400l., besides the 800l. he has already received in the late Queen's time. Dated Whitehall, 9 Dec. 1714. Minuted:—“A warr^t to be prepared.” 1 page.
Dec. 12.	38. Tho. Beho to “Jon^a Watson, Esq., at his house in Pall Mall Courte.” At the direction of Captain Garston, gives an account of the state of the forest of [? Alice Holt] and Woolmer. The state of the forest was never worse, for there is nothing but what tends to the destruction of vert and venison. The number of the deer left is about 450, but the great part of them “Rascald deare,” the male deer being very much destroyed and lessened since the Queen's death, and since the country has taken to shooting, and coming in a riotous manner, 40 or 50 loads of bushes have been cut in the “Straights,” and other damages done. Dated Great Lodge, 12 Dec. 1714. 1 page.
Nov. 6–Dec. 14.	39. Five reports of the Justices of the Peace, to whom the care of the distempered cattle in the county of Middlesex was committed, addressed to the Lords of the Treasury, viz.:— (1.) Nov. 6. They (the justices) report that the new distemper affects the entrails and is very malignant and infectious, but for a particular account of the nature of the distemper they refer to a report of M^r Bates, a surgeon employed by the Government. They cannot certainly determine the cause of the distemper, although it does not seem to have proceeded from unwholesome food or want of water, but chiefly from the extraordinary drought of the previous summer and winter, whereby the grass failing of its usual moisture, the cows wanted those natural purgations in the spring, which in other years they always had, and which seem to be necessary to their health; and by means of this uncommon drought, it may have happened that more than an usual quantity of unwholesome vapour was engendered in the earth, and was locked up therein, till loosened and put in motion by the late rains, when they were sucked in by the cows with their food and breath. No medicine hitherto used (“tho' all sorts and of all operations have been tried”) has been effectual. To prevent the spread of the infection they bought and burnt the sick cows whilst they had orders so to do. Ordered the separation of the sick from the healthy, and the cleansing and purifying of the cowhouses with pitch, tar, and limewash, and that no sound cows should be put into any fields where the others had grazed within six weeks at least. All the cows they bought they caused to be burnt and buried in pits about 16 feet deep, and to be covered 10 feet thick with earth. Contracted with the rakers and scavengers for several hundred loads of rubbish to be carried thither. Received many complaints where the cowkeepers buried their own cows as all have done for a fortnight past; particularly that several of them have dug them up again for their hides, that others are buried so shallow that their limbs appear above ground and occasion a stench. Up to the 16^th of Oct. have killed and burnt 715 cows, the charge of which is 1,612l. 15s. 1d., at an average of 45s. per cow. They have also received accounts of about 500 cows more buried by the owners between 16 and 30 October, and from that time to the present, 121 cows and some few calves have been buried with lime according to the last orders. There are 70 cows sick and not yet buried. The whole cost, thus far, amounts to about 3,300l. The distemper has spread by their being interfered with in their destroying and burning from day to day, as the cows fall sick. Recommend that method to be pursued. The distemper has already spread into all the parishes on the north side of London, from Poplar to S^t James's and S^t Margaret's, Westminster. Altho' this method has not put an entire stop to the disease, yet it tends to preserve the health of the people, by destroying those cows which, with their milk, would have been sold and eaten by the poor people, as all were, before this method was taken. Fear this will be continued unless the Government interpose, as there are no laws to hinder it. To prevent fraud, they examine on oath and keep a check upon all the cowkeepers about Islington and others, as to the number of sound and sick cows that they have. Minuted:—“6 Nov. 1714. My Lords exhort the Justices to continue their diligence.” (2.) 19 Nov. Have acquainted their Lordships that 715 cows have been killed and burnt from the beginning of the new distemper till the 16^th of October, the charge for which is 1,612l. 15s. 1d. From 16 Oct. to 13 Nov. 1,217 cows have been killed and buried with lime, at a cost of 2,607l., and from Saturday to Wednesday last about 260 cows more; whereby it appears that the distemper has considerably increased, although it is confined within three miles of London. It chiefly rages about Poplar and Marybone, having abated at Islington, where there remain 550 cows alive and well, after the loss of 667 since the beginning of September. However the distemper began, it owes its increase chiefly to infection. Enclose the instructions that they have issued to their agents. Apprehend that Smithfield Market is, or probably will be, infected, and have waited on the Lord Mayor and Aldermen to recommend that the scavengers shall carry away the dirt and filth of the city markets, and shall have the slaughter-houses, stalls, and rails well cleaned and washed with limewash, and provide against sick cattle being brought to the city markets. Minuted:—“Read 19 Nov. 1714.” The instructions referred to. [The cows were to be buried with 8 feet of earth above them; they were to be buried with lime the next day after notice. The early destruction of them was found to be the most effectual method to destroy the distemper.] (3.) 30 Nov. They (the justices) represent that from the 13^th to the 20^th inst. 430 cows were killed and buried, whereof 115 belong to Benjamin Coker, and 93 to John Scott, both of Stepney, and neighbours. So great a loss in so short a time has not hitherto happened to any other cowkeepers. They (the justices) impute it to the unusual closeness of these particular cowhouses, whereby the wind and fresh air being kept out, and the breath of the infected cattle confined within, the infection became stronger and more powerful than it could have been in a more open place. This appears still more probable, in regard that whilst they kept their cows in the fields, before they put them in the cowhouses, their loss was but proportionable to that of their neighbours. Their (the justices') charges had all been settled to the 16th of Oct. and from the 16th of October to the 20th of November 1,647 cows and 57 calves have been killed and buried; the whole charge of which is 3,433l. 13s. 6d. Have also taken an account of 320 cows killed and buried from the 20th to the 27th inst. at 3s. a head, amounting to 688l. (4.) 7 Dec. From 27 Nov. to the 4th inst. 312 cows and about 30 calves have been killed and buried, whereof 140 cows died in Stepney and thereabouts, and 100 at Westminster and Marybone; the expense will be about 688l. (5.) 14 Dec. From the 4th to the 7th 177 cows and 27 calves have been killed and buried. The whole expense from the beginning amounts to 6,774l. 1s. 1d. They have adjusted the demands of all the cowkeepers who claim allowance, except Christopher Capper of St. Giles-in-the-Fields, whose case they refer to their Lordships. They summoned all the cowkeepers on the previous Saturday and cautioned and advised them as to the future. Minuted:—“Read 14^th Dec^r 1714.” In the Minute Book, Vol. 20, p. 17, 4 Nov. 1714, is:— “Justices of y^e Peace & M^r Borret about the infected cattell. Justices of peace and M^r Borret concerning infected cows are called in. They will rep[re]sent matters in writing on Satterd^a morn., but in the meantime they say there were kild & buryed so many cows before the 16^th of Octobr. as makes ye whole charge to amount to about 1,600^li, of w^ch about 800^li is paid already. That this method of killing & burying deep in y^e ground had so good an effect, that they buryed but about 30 in ten days time. Then they were directed to make trial of medicines w^ch did no good, and ye distemper increased to ab^t 250 cows a week dead, frõ the 16 of Octobr. Yesterd^a they began to kill & bury againe & by Satterd^a they think will be a demand of about 1,700ł more. And they say that unless they could give the owners assurance of ye 40^sh p[er] head, they will not be induced to bring their cattle to be kild and buryd, and they believe no other method will prevent the spreading of the infection.” Again at p. 41:—“7 Dec. The Justices of Middx. called in. Re[re]sent a state of their proceedings in the affaire relating to the destroying the distemperd cowes. Lord H. acquaints them that it has been laid before the K. in Councill, and it being found to be a charge too great for the Civil list to bear, it is orderd that his Ma^ty be at no farther charge therein. Lord asks them what time will be necessary to give notice hereof. They say by to-morrow incl. Upon which my Lords desire that the Order of Councill may allow the payment of 40^s p[er] cow to continue to y^e 8^th instant incl. And my Lords desire they will give notice to the owners, and cause an exact acco^t to be kept of all the cowes they lose by the distemper after that day.” 7 pages.
Dec. 14.	40. Proposal from Sir Bibye Lake to the Lords of the Treasury to pay into the receipt of the Exchequer 2,257l. 4s. 10¼d. in part of the debt owing by Robert Peters upon the 15th four-shilling aid, and that 10,892l. 5s. 9¼d. due to assignees of the said Peters upon several off-reckonings shall be assigned in trust to James Taylor, Esq., to discharge the residue of the debt owing by Peters to the Crown upon the several land tax aids and duties on houses wherewith he was charged. Dated 14 Dec. 1714. 1 page. [Entered in the Minute Book, Vol. 20, p. 44, with this remark: “The following Mem^ll from Sir Bibie Lake is read, and my Lords agree to what is therein proposed.”]
Dec. 14.	41. Report of Thomas Jett, Esq., one of the auditors of the Land Revenue, to the Lords of the Treasury on the petition of Thomas Rudge, Esq., who held the office of Receiver-General of the Land Revenue in the counties of Southampton, Wilts, Gloucester, Somerset, and Dorset, until 29 Sept. 1714. Sir William Wyndham, Bart., late Chancellor of the Exchequer, had granted the offices of the petitioner and that of Receiver-General for Devon and Cornwall, to William Mallett, Esq. Dated 14 Dec. 1714. Appended are some further statements of the Petitioner, in which he says M^r Auditor has omitted to state as well as misstated the case. Minuted:—“6^th Aug^t 1717 Read.” On the petition is “Memorand^m that upon application made by the petition^r to the Duke of Shrewsbury, late lord High Trea[su]rer, his Grace ordered a letter to bee writt to S^r William Wyndham, desiring that none of the Receivers of His Majestys Land Revenue might bee removed untill the Treasury was first made acquainted therewith.” 3 pages.
[? About Dec. 14.]	42. Petition of John Elphinstone to the Lords of the Treasury for allowance for his sufferings and constant attendance at the Cotton Library. William Hanbury, Esq., had in 1708, received 300l. and deputed him to attend, but had not satisfied him according to promise, &c. Has received only 120l. since Oct. 1706, being upwards of eight years. Minuted:—“30^li.” In the Minute Book, Vol. 20, p. 43, 14 Dec. 1714, is:—“M^r Hanbury and M^r Elphinston called in. A petic[i]on of y^e latter is read complaining of M^r Hanbury as not having made him a just allowance for his attendance in the Cotton Library. M^r Hanbury exhibits an acco^t of the money he has rep[ai]d for looking after the said library and what he has paid to the said Elphinston for his attendance there, which is also read. M^r Lowndes to hear them and examine their acco^ts. Lord Halifax discourses w^th M^r Hanbury concerning the state of the said library, and then he and Elphinston w^thdraws.” 1 page.
Dec. 16.	43. Report of H. Bythell, deputy of T. Foley, auditor, to the Lords of the Treasury, on the memorial of the Right Hon. the Lord Delawar. The allowances craved by him are such as have usually been made by the Lord Chamberlain's warrants. They are not warranted by the establishment for the Treasurer of the Chamber's Office, and a warrant under the Royal Sign Manual is required to allow the payments. If their L^ps continue the allowance to M^r John Holbech, Clerk to the Treasurer of the Chamber, it may be provided for in the same warrant. Dated 16 Dec. 1714. Minuted:—“Agreed to & y^e warr^t pass'd.” A list of the payments craved to be allowed. 3 pages.
Dec. 17.	44. An account of the funeral and mourning for her late Majesty Queen Anne in the office of the Great Wardrobe. Signed, Thomas Dummer, 17 Dec. 1714. 1 page.
Dec. 18.	45. Report of M^r R. Powys on the memorial of Abraham Stanyan to the Lords of the Treasury. In Dec. 1711 memorialist was, by the Queen's command, ordered to go from his post in Switzerland, to be her Majesty's Plenipotentiary at Milan, at an allowance of 3l. a day; and was promised to be considered for his journey. Prayed the payment of 301l. in his bills of extraordinaries. The matters of fact are true. Dated 18 Dec. 1714. Minuted:—“Granted.” Extract of a letter from the Earl of Dartmouth to the memorialist on the same subject. The report is written on the back of the petition. 1 page and 2 halves.
[About Dec. 18.]	46. Various papers relating to complaints made to the Com^rs of Customs against M^r Alexander Gordon, collector of customs at Inverness, who had been dismissed from his office, but was reinstated by warrant of the Treasury; together with answers to the complaints. The papers consist of,— I. Representation of Sir William Gordon, Bart. and “Captain Robert Munro, Esq.,” on behalf of Alexander Gordon, brother of Sir William. Minuted:—“15 Nov. 1714. W^t to restore and replace Gordon.” Enclosed is copy of a certificate from officers of the port in his favour. II. Another representation from the same, also in his favour. This is numbered 1, and had six enclosures, but Nos. 3 and 4 are now missing. No. 2 is a protest against the conduct of the Com^rs of Customs of Scotland by Alexander Gordon for their refusal to reinstate him in his office according to the warrant of the Lords of the Treasury. (5.) Letter of Alexander Ross, a gentleman of Edinburgh, as to the refusal of the Com^rs of Customs of Scotland to reinstate M^r Gordon. (6.) Declaration of Sir Thomas Calder in relation to these affairs. Certified 18 Dec. 1714. (7.) Master Gordon's particular answer to all the articles of Master Le Grand's two reports. Minuted:—“Referred to the New Comm^rs of Scotland to re-examine the matters of fact and report their opinions upon the whole.” Again:—“Ult. X^br 1714. Upon reading this rep[re]sentac[i]on and the docum^ts belonging to it, and considering this affair a 2^d time, my Lords order a new warr^t to be prepared to be directed to y^e p[re]sent Com^rs.” There is also the following in the Minute Book, Vol. 20, p. 20:—9 Nov. 1714. “Lord Chief Baron Smith is called in. Representac[i]on in behalf of Alexander Gourdon is read, and papers relating thereunto. Lord Chief Baron says, as to his taking fees, the Barons thought the compłt ag^t him was malitious and groundlesse.” III. A copy of the representation ag^t M^r Gordon, Coll^r of Inverness, and the Com^rs of Customs' report of his case. Signatures. IV. Representation of the town of Inverness to the Treasury, Dec. 1714. Signatures. V. and VI. Declaration by the gentlemen, traders, and merchants of Inverness, in his favour. Numerous signatures. (In two parts.) 19 pages.
Dec. 20.	47. Report of the Com^rs of Customs to the Lords of the Treasury on the question how far the General and Cash Accounts of the Customs were passed, and on the better management of the revenue and the accounting for the same. Dated 20 Dec. 1714. Five enclosures. 19½ pages.
[? About Dec. 20.]	48. Copy of a petition of M^r Samuel Stebbing, Somerset Herald, to the Lords of the Treasury. Prepared the letters of notice to her Grace the chief mourner, her supporters and assistants, the Ladies of the Bedchamber and Maids of Honour to her late Majesty, and also printed several public orders relating to her Majesty's funeral, and his Majesty's public entry and coronation. Further prepared his Majesty's letters to the Peers of Great Britain to attend the Coronation, and tickets for places in Westminster Abbey, and paid for painting several draughts of the Royal Arms, as well for the manner of the Queen's funeral escutcheons, as for altering the King's arms, and some draughts for the coin; prays payment. Also a bill of the particulars and a certificate. Dated at the Council Chamber, Whitehall, 20 Dec. 1714. 2½ pages.