Volume 209: October 15-December 31, 1717

Pages 325-336

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

Citation:

October 15–December 31, 1717



15 Oct.	1. John Anstis to the Hon^ble William Lowndes, Esq., at his house near the new church in Totehill Fields, Westminster. Returns his hearty thanks for his great favour in laying M^r Attorney's report before the Lords, who have referred it to Lord Suffolk and to Vanburgh, which he hopes is only out of compliment to them, and not to overrule M^r Attorney's opinion in a matter of law relating to the prerogative. If there should be any hesitation, hopes the report may be referred to the Duke of Norfolk, the Earl Marshal, which ceremony is as much due to his Grace as to his deputy, from the very words of M^r Attorney's report, which says that the Lord Suffolk insisted that his (M^r Anstis') office must be granted by the Crown to the nominee of the Earl Marshal or his deputy. “And, indeed, if there be any pretension of that nature, the Duke himself may as well nominate as appoint his own stewards.” If their L^ps do not order him the salary, asks to have a copy of Lord Suffolk's answer, so that he may have a reply, and if they will not “be concluded” by the Attorney's report, they will hear counsel, and then make their determination, which cannot be final, to bar his further applications. Prays a copy of Lord Suffolk's answer. Mortlake, 15^th Oct. 1717. P.S.—“My Lord Duke was so kind to acquaint my Lord Stanhope and M^r Micklethwait with a narrative of the ill-usage my Lord Suffolk hath given me in this case.” Minuted:—“Send a copy of y^e Report to y^e D. of Norff.” 1 page.
15 Oct.	2. (fn. 1) [? Com^rs for Forfeitures] to the Lords of the Treasury. There are no other claims unsatisfied on the estates of the late Lord Widdrington, in Lincolnshire, lately sold, than 210l. arrears of an annuity of 100l. payable during the life of Ralph Widdrington, lately deceased, and the further sum of 8l. 10s., arrears of annual sum of 74l. payable to the rector of Evedon, in lieu of tithes, and due to Rowland Fox, as rector there. There are other claims on the estate in Northumberland and Durham. The claims made by the sufferers at Preston amount to 7,100l. Essex House, 15 October 1718. 2 pages.
[? About 16 Oct.]	3. “An account of what is due to the publique ministers in her late Ma^ts reigne.” Minuted:—“16^th Oct^r 1717. Read. To be read again when Lord Stanhope comes to the Board.” 1 page.
April–16 Oct.	4. A parcel of papers (the last being dated 16 Oct. 1717) relating to the Island of S^t Christopher, the principal of which are:— A memorial to the King, unsigned [but from inhabitants of S^t Christopher's], showing what was to be considered in settling the French parts of the island. The persons admitted should be known Protestants, and no Jacobites or non-jurors; for the late King James sent an Irish governor, a Papist, who drew many Irish Papists there, and such was their number that, when King William was proclaimed, the Irish revolted and burned all the houses of the Protestants, and the French Papists joined them, and although the war was not then proclaimed, they made themselves masters of the island. The Lords of Plantations are informed that there are in these quarters but 11,000 acres, and if they grant 3,000 to the poor inhabitants who have no land in S^t Christopher's, nor in the other islands (specified) by the distribution of six acres gratis to each of them, it will produce a number of inhabitants who will fortify the island and stop the descent of an enemy. The inhabitants occupying many small pieces of land in the French quarter who were dispossessed and obliged to leave the island, will not return except with the above encouragement. As to the four places where the French had built towns and villages, and where they shipped their sugars, it will be necessary to give 70 or 80 feet square to those who wish to rebuild as formerly. The inhabitants who have built sugaries have no houses in the island. By order of the generals they have grants to encourage them to cultivate the French quarters, and have, by the aid of their friends, bought slaves, &c. built houses, planted sugar canes, &c., but having lost a number of slaves, horses, &c., if dispossessed, as is intended, will abandon the island and be made bankrupt. The Lords of Plantations wished to know the present state of the island. Many inhabitants of Nevis and other islands have advanced moneys, with a design to buy the lands and dispossess the petitioners and profit by their labour. The Lords were given to understand that many settlements in the English quarters had been sold at 5l. sterling the acre, the land being as good as any in the island. Give the particulars of a scheme which would produce 5,432 inhabitants. Pray his Majesty to prevent the entire ruin of the petitioners and their families, and to order a small annual rent to be set on them until they can pay for the lands which they occupy; or if dispossesed, that they may be reimbursed the sums they have advanced. [French.] Some particulars concerning the persons who offer to buy the French quarter of the island. [French.] Petition of Lient.-Col. Pierre Buor. Sets out his services. Built a house in the part of the island called Basse Terre, where the French had a considerable town, now burnt and destroyed. Prays that the ground on which it is built may be excepted from a grant to the heirs of Madame Salenave. [French.] Petition of M. Pierre Cabibel, described as living in Walbrook, “near Stocks Market, London,” in partnership with Peter Soulegré. Having failed to obtain a plantation in the island took to trading, but were ruined by their ships being taken; pray that they may be allowed to buy the two plantations, which had been granted to them, at the same price as the land is sold for that remains untilled in the French ground. [French.] Also a translation of the same. Letter in favour of the last named. Petition of Stephen Browne to the King. Is an inhabitant of the Island of S^t Christopher, in America, and during the late wars has signalised himself in the defence of the Island against the frequent attempts of the French, by whom he has often been plundered. Prays that in order to alleviate his losses he may have a grant by letters patent of 700 acres of plantable land in one entire parcel in that quarter of the island called Basse Terre which has been confirmed to Great Britain by the Treaty of Utrecht. Also a certificate of the truth of the petition. Dated 14 June 1717. Letter of the Board of Trade and Plantations to the Lords of the Treasury. Have given directions for copying all the papers desired relating to the late French lands in S^t Christopher's. Send copies of those finished. The rest will be sent. Have seen the advertisement in the Daily Courant and Gazette for the persons willing to purchase the lands to lay their proposals before this board. Have no survey of the lands, and are of opinion that they should be parcelled out into lots and sold at a certain value per acre. Submit for approval certain conditions necessary for the settlement and security of the Island. 7 Aug. 1717. Enclose the “Preliminary conditions as to quit rents, grants to poor families, salt ponds,” &c. Copy of the two foregoing papers. Letter of a later date (16 Oct. 1717.) of the Board of Trade. The highest bidders do not exceed 6l. per acre, excepting Col. Codrington who has ofiered 8l. an acre. Having no survey, and their information coming through possessors or agents, cannot say what is a valuable consideration. All the lands to be sold are already possessed by planters, by virtue of intermediate grants from governors of the Leeward Islands, for a limited time. The sale to one purchaser would save much trouble. Amongst the several proposers there are only three who offer to purchase the whole, viz.:—M^r Banks, Sir Tho. Johnston, and M^r Mills. That of the last named is the fairest. By a memorial signed by Micajah Perry and other merchants, on behalf of the planters, it appears highly just that the present possessors should have the preference. United are conditions and restrictions. Copy of the letter. Various other papers in relation to these negotiations. One of them (numbered 20) contains a list of the grantees of the lands, terms for which they held the same, &c. 53 papers.
16 Oct.	5. William Leathes to Viscount Stanhope. A troublesome distemper, caught in pursuit of Baron Gortz, has long prevented him from putting the accounts into his Lordship's hands. Sends them by Col. Kane. Hopes his Lordship will order the bills drawn by him (Leathes) for 946l. 6s. 6d. to be given up to him, that he may be discharged. London, 16 8^ber 1717, 2 pages.
[? About 16 Oct.]	6. Memorial of Thomas Jenkin, Robert Wood, and John Culliford, officers of H.M. Customs, to the Lords of the Treasury, touching a seizure of a considerable quantity of coffee from S^t Malo, seized below Gravesend, about which a new trial was proposed. Minuted:—“Read 16^th October 1717. Several applications were made to my Lords before the tryal, as well on behalf of the prosecutors as the claimants, but their L^ps thought it reasonable to leave the matter to law, which having decided the same by a verdict, their Lord[shi]ps think it would be unjustifyable for them to put the King's Civil List revenues to an expense to renew the prosecution.” 5½ pages.
19 Oct.	7. Com^rs of Revenue (Ireland) to the Lords of the Treasury. Since their letter (relating to M^r Maynard's memorial, in which his disaffection was complained of), M^r Maynard appeared at their board, and produced an information (enclosed) about M^r Melvill's behaviour and voting in the last Parliament. This paper seems to set that matter in another light. Though M^r Melvill still persists in his first assertion of his being perfectly disengag'd from giving any votes in the case of S^r Constantine Phipps, they thought fit to dismiss him. Wait their L^ps' directions with relation to the collection of Cork. Custom House, Dublin, 19 Oct. 1771. Minuted:—“12^th Nov^r 1717. Write to the Com^rs to make M^r Maynard Coll^r of Corke, in the room of M^r Arkwright, and M^r Arkwright to be Surv^r-Gen^ll in the room of M^r Melvill, dismissed.” The paper referred to is the copy of a letter signed T. Ker, to William Maynard, Esq., and contains a detailed account of M^r Melvill's conduct in Parliament. His votes, apparently, had been given against the Government. 3 pages.
19 Oct.	8. An estimate of the gross and net produce of the hereditary and temporary Excise for three years from 1^st Aug^st 1714 to 1^st Aug^st 1717, exclusive of the weekly sum of 3,700l., and the yearly sum of 35,000l. appropriated to public uses. Also:—“Excise. The payments into the Excheq^r on the account of the hereditary and temp^ry Excise, commenced 1^st Aug^st 1714, from said 1^st Aug. to 19^th Oct. instant.” 2 pages.
22 Oct.	9. Duke of Bolton to M^r Addison. Had represented the method taken by the Com^rs of Forfeitures in relation to 17,000l. demanded by them of the Vice-Treasurers in Ireland, on the pension of 5,000l. per ann., and prizage farm of 3,500l. per ann., payable on the late establishment of the late Duke of Ormond, forfeited by his rebellion. Encloses the report of the Attorney and Solicitor-General thereon. Desires the affair may be laid before his Majesty, so that it may not come to be a demand upon Ireland. Dublin Castle, 22 Oct. 1717. Minuted:—“25^th Nov^r 1717. Read.” The report referred to, on the memorial of Hugh Boscawen and Mat. Ducie Moreton, Esq^res, Vice-Treasurers of Ireland, and on a paper annexed; as also an Act of Parliament, entitled, “An Act for appointing Com^rs to enquire of the estates of certain traitors and of Popish recusants, and of estates given to superstitious uses,” in order to raise money out of them severally for the use of the public, and also another Act entitled, “An Act to enlarge the time for making claims,” before the same Com^rs. Are of opinion that the order made to the Vice-Treasurers for payment of the pension, prizage and butlerage, forfeited by the late Duke of Ormond unto Hugh Henry, Esq., is not warranted by the Acts. 17 Oct. 1717. Minuted:—“25^th Nov^r 1717. Read.” 4½ pages.
28 Oct.	10. Board of Ordnance to the Lords of the Treasury. Have considered the enclosed letters from M^r Secretary Addison, the Duke of Bolton, and the Officers of Ordnance, Ireland, concerning the state of the 10,000 arms sent thither from Holland in the time of the late Rebellion. They were sent direct from Holland. Know nothing more of them than that his Majesty's warrant ordered them to pay for them, and for the ammunition sent from hence. Hope the office is not to be a sufferer thereby. 28 Oct. 1717. The account of the charge and the letters referred to. 5 pages.
… Oct.	11. Lord Castlecomer to [Mr. Lowndes.] Has to observe upon the representation sent to him, that the whole of it seems an endeavour of the Com^rs of Revenue for Ireland to justify their proceedings; first in regard to M^r Melvill, whom they constituted one of the Surveyors-General (after his being displaced from being Collector of Inland Excise by Lord Sunderland's order, when Lord Lieutenant), and next in regard to their appointing M^r Arkwright to be Collector of Cork, for which they pretend a former order of the Treasury in directing them to place in that collection the most able officer they could find. They own that M^r Melvill has the character of being a Tory, but never heard of his being concerned in the late disorders in Dublin, or in the measures of Sir Constantine Phipps, and that when Lord Sunderland was pleased to write that Melvill should be displaced from being Collector of the Inland Excise, they suppose it was only to make way for Col. Sandford, there being no mention of his being represented as a disaffected person, Has always heard that Melvill is looked upon as a disaffected person, and not as a Tory, only in principle. The putting M^r Arkwright into the Collection of Cork was purely their own act. They admit M^r Maynard's integrity and ability. Hopes that their L^ps will insist on their recommendation of M^r Maynard as the Collector of Cork. Kirklington, October …, 1717. 3 pages, quarto.
5 Nov.	12. Report of Edward Northey, Attorney-General, to the Lords of the Treasury, on the petition of Thomas Bigg, of the parish of Kimpton, in the county of Hertford, Esq., and Elizabeth his wife, and Sarah Cotton, of the same parish, spinster, which Elizabeth and Sarah are the only sisters and heirs apparent to William Cotton of the parish of Harpenden, in the above county, gent. Certifies that the facts are as represented in the petition, viz., that William Cotton was an idiot from his birth, who hath been in the custody of Robert Jenkyn of Harpenden, gent., by the will of William Cotton, his father. His Majesty may grant the custody of the idiot and management of the estate. Dated 5 Nov. 1717. The commission and inquisition on the lunacy, the petition, copy of warrant, and another paper relating to this enquiry. 12 pages.
6 Nov.	13. Charles Carkesse to W^m Lowndes, Esq., and C. Stanhope, Esq., Secretaries to the Treasury. The Com^rs [of Customs] were informed that the town of Basseterre, in the Island of S^t Christopher, was likely to become the chief place for trade in that island. A piece of ground of about 200 feet square, near the waterside, should be reserved to build a Custom House. Pray their L^ps to move for a piece of ground there to be reserved. Custom House, London, 6 Nov. 1717. 1 page.
9 Nov.	14. “Memorial and petition” of John Anstis, “Garter,” to the Lords of the Treasury. Sets forth what has been done respecting his title to the fees of his office, He says, “that it is a matter of freehold and property,” and that he is entitled to the fees until the letters patent can be repealed by scire facias. Answers Sir John Vanbrugh. Their L^ps will receive a full account of the manner of passing his patent from copies of papers united. Renews his request for their L^ps' order to the Exchequer for payment of the fees according to the opinion of the Attorney-General. 9 Nov. 1717. Copies of two warrants and a letter from W. Bromley to M^r Anstis. M^r Bromley says, he received the late Queen's commands to prepare and lay before her the warrants for the reversionary patent, and is sure that due care was used that all the steps taken should be regular and legal. The affair depended so long, and he had so often occasion to speak to the Queen to write to the Earl of Suffolk and, he thinks, to the Attorney-General, upon it, that there cannot be the least foundation to suggest that the Queen was surprised in her grant, or that the Earl of Suffolk knew nothing of it. Nov. 6, 1717. 5 pages.
19 Nov.	15. W^m Popple to Cha. Stanhope, Esq. Since the Lords of Trade and Plantations sent their letter to the Lords of the Treasury relating to the poor people of Anguilla, they have received another from Gen^l Hamilton (extract enclosed), whereby it appears that the poor inhabitants are actually gone from Anguilla to settle on Crab Island, and that General Hamilton apprehends the poor inhabitants in other islands will do the same. Asks what hopes General Hamilton may give to these people that care will be taken of them whenever the French part of S^t Christopher's is disposed of. The Lords of Trade think it is of great consequence to hinder, as much as possible, these people from dispersing themselves, or removing to some foreign plantations. 19 Nov. 1717. The extract named. Minuted:—“My Lords to give them all the encouragem^t w^ch lyes in their power. Write to Lords of Trade accordingly. L~re signed 28^th Nov. 1717.” 2¼ pages.
20 Nov.	16. Lord Sunderland to the Lords of the Treasury. Sends by the King's command a letter from the Duke of Marlborough, with one from the Board of Ordnance to his Grace, and an abstract of the works remaining unperformed at Gibraltar, and an estimate of the expense of finishing the same, for orders to be given thereon. Whitehall, 20 Nov. 1717. The abstract is now the only paper with the letter. 2 pages.
[? About 25 Nov.]	17. Memorial of Hugh Boscawen and Math. Ducie Morton, Esq., Vice-Treasurers of Ireland, to the Lord Lieut. of Ireland. Received an order from two of the Com^rs for Estates of Traitors, &c. to pay into the Exchequer in England the sums due to the late Duke of Ormonde from his Majesty for prizage, and on account of his pension of 5,000l. per ann. Pray to know his pleasure thereon. Minuted:—“25^th Nov^r 1717. Read.” 2 pages.
27 Nov.	18. Com^rs of Chelsea Hospital to “My Lords.” Great numbers of the men lately reduced are entitled to the out-pension of this College by his Majesty's instructions, by which the board is obliged to admit them. The funds will not meet the charges. Enclose an estimate. Pray for their L^ps' commands. 27 Nov. 1717. The estimate named. 3½ pages.
12 Dec.	19. Sir Isaac Newton to the Lords of the Treasury. Is ready to receive at the Mint a ton or two of fine copper in bars every month from M^r William Wood, like the specimen which he had of him (M^r Wood), but if he intends to prepare it some other way, desires a specimen, that it may be assayed. Mint Office, 12 Dec. 1717. Minuted:—“My Lords agree to the rep^t.” 1 page.
12 Dec.	20. “Savoy Hospital.—A state of the Savoy revenue as it stands in charge before the Auditor, and approved of by the Treasury before the Acco^ts were declared.” Signed:—“Tho. Jett, Auditor.” Dec. 12, 1717. Minuted:—“Ult. Xbr. 1717. Direct the officers of y^e works to view the houses now out of lease, and to make an estimate of the necessary repairs, & p[re]sent ye same to my Lords, and make a warr^t to levy the arrears by distress.” 6 pages.
14 Dec.	21. ? Cr. Ward [late Sheriff of London] to the R^t Hon. Lord Stanhope. After the many troubles he endured in the year of his shrievalty about the State and rebel prisoners in Newgate, did not think he should have had to lay the annexed petition and accounts before his Lordship, but some things seem to deserve his L^p'^s compassion. Dec. 14, 1717. Accompanied by,— Letter or petition of William Pitt [Governor of Newgate] to —. In respect to his account of the expenses he was at in relation to the Preston prisoners. He says, “Why they paid me not themselves is chiefly owing to their inability, y^e greatest part of them being either poor Scotts men or others, whose effects were seized, or out of their reach; others that could have paid me were willing, by any, tho' ever so unjust means, to save their money, & to do this with shew of reason, they accused me in general termes, for they could never mention any one particular of extortion & other unjust usage of them to y^e greatest men of y^e kingdome, w^ch was so far harkened to, as that I was deterred from causing them to pay me or removing them from y^e use of my house & goods; and at length they were removed out of my custody, many of them to y^e King's messeng^rs, who were paid by y^e governm^t, as I am informed, 6^s 8^d per day for each prisoner, tho' they neither maintained nor took any care of them. The rest were discharged by order of Court, & I in a manner directed to take nothing of them; so that after a most wretched life, such as no man would, & but few could, have endured for about 20 months, if my Lord should not take my case into his consideration I shall find myself in a thousand respects the worse, & in not one particular y^e better, for all my pains.” The fourth part of the acco^t he further says, “is for my close keeping of the other State prisoners for many months, in such manner that they were not permitted access of any body to them, nor to have y^e use of pen, ink, or paper, & in separate rooms w^ch occasioned a great deal of care, trouble, and charge; & some of them also being extream poor, were not a little subsisted by me.” Prays that he may be recommended to his Lordship. Dec. 11, 1717. 3½ pages.
Dec. 14.	22. Lord-Lieut. of Ireland (Bolton) to the Lords of the Treasury. On the petition of Sir James Jeffery, Governor of Cork, who desired that the allowance of 10s. a day, which he formerly received in lieu of a company (and which is left out of the present establishment), may be replaced thereon. Has nothing to object if his Majesty sees fit to give him this addition to his government. But it would be better given in any other manner than in lieu of an independant company, as formerly; as well to avoid its being made a precedent in favour of Governors of other garrisons as to prevent its becoming a right to succeeding Governors of the same garrison. Dublin Castle, 14 Dec. 1717. The memorial referred to. Minuted:—“31^st July 1718. My Lords cannot advise this.” 3 pages.
16 Dec.	23. Report of R. Powys to the Lords of the Treasury, on the claims of Robert Jackson, Esq., late Resident at Stockholm. The whole arrears due to him from 9 Feb. 1702 were 3,342l. 16 Dec. 1717. Minuted:—“14^th March 1717. M^r Powys to insert in his report what objections were made against paym^t of the sum of 2,150l. (if any), and to be brought in again when the principal and interest due on the loan of 50,000^li at the Exch. is paid off.” M^r Powys adds the following:—“I never heard of any other objec[i]on but that of the retrospecc[i]on as to the com[]m]encem^t of his allowance by the letters of privy seale.” Draft of the above report. Petition of M^r Jackson. A letter from him of 6 Dec. 1717, in which he says that his pretensions, as set forth in his memorial, are both just and reasonable, and that he has met with very hard usage in having been so long deprived of his due. Also a letter of the B^p of London in his favour, of 5 May 1714. 8¼ pages.
17 Dec.	24. Report of the Attorney-General (Northey) to the Lords of the Treasury, on the petition and memorial of Joseph Hinxman, Esq., Chief Woodward of the New Forest, as to the trade of cutting down and carrying away trees by farmers and others, and whether discoveries and prosecutions may be made and carried on at the expense of the Crown, or whether compositions may be made by the petitioner, and whether a commission should be issued to inquire into the rights of estovers, &c. Is of opinion that such a commission will be expensive, and will serve only to inform his Majesty, but will not “conclude” any person whatsoever as to his rights. It will not be for his Majesty's interest to have such a perambulation, for the country may thereby abridge the bounds of the forest, and his Majesty will be “concluded” thereby. It is the duty of the officers of the forest to make perambulations, as is usual in parishes. As to the rights of persons who claim estovers, there being no prospect of a “justice leat,” the same can only be determined by a bill against the claimers in the Court of Exchequer, and by the Act of 9 Will. III. c. 36. sec. 9., no claim of estovers is to be allowed that was not allowed according to the laws of the forest before 27 Eliz. It will be dangerous to give officers a power of compounding at their discretion. The dealers in the offal wood, and “cast timber ought not to work them up and coal them in the forest,” but to remove them forthwith, &c. Every person making a coal hearth within the forest forfeits 100l. As to timber cut for the use of Portsmouth Dock, and delayed in the removal, their L^ps could give directions to prevent such delay. The officers of the forest may prevent the cutting of turf, and the rights of turbary may be determined by bill in the Court of Exchequer. Woodstealers may be presented at the Swainmote Court. The verderers of the forest may fine them in sums not exceeding 5l. and commit the offender to the common gaol for three months, or until the payment of the fine. Dec. 17, 1717. The petition and memorial referred to. 6 pages.
[? About 18 Dec.]	25. Proposal made for the sending over to Jamaica and the other colonies of a person with a commission to inquire into piracies committed in the American seas, and to recover money and effects piratically taken. Docquetted:—“Memorandum, M^r Wood.” Minuted:—“18^th Dec^r 1717. Read.” 1 page.
20 Dec.	26. Report to the King, of the Com^rs appointed to examine and determine the debts due to the army, on the demand of M^rs Elizabeth Coatsworth, widow and executrix of Doctor Edward Coatsworth, late Apothecary-General of the Army, (amounting to 12,407l. 5s. 3½d.), for medicines, &c. furnished to the sick soldiers in the hospitals at Dunkirk and Newport in 1712, 1713, and 1714. Are of opinion that the demand may reasonably be allowed, but are unable to certify without a warrant from his Majesty. Dorset Court, Westminster, 20 Dec. 1717. Minuted:—“24^th Jan^ry 1717. To Aud^rs Imprests to prepare a sign manual.” 1 page.
21 Dec.	27. Copy of an “Address of the Commons, 21 Dec^r 1717, respecting the value of guineas.” [They were not to be uttered or received at a higher rate than 21s. each.] 1 page, quarto.
[? About 21 Dec.]	28. Petition of James Annand, of Trinity, Minories, in the liberty of the Tower of London, barber-surgeon, to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and “the remnant Lords Comm^rs of his Majesty's Treasury.” Is a great sufferer for the House of Hanover by the practices of the Jacobites, who several times mobbed him and broke into his house on Tower Hill, threw fire-brands into it, and plundered his goods; and had not the Governor of the Tower and the Justices of the Peace sent some forces to his relief his wife and children would have been destroyed. Was obliged to leave his habitation to avoid their fury, and lost his trade; prays for some small post. Copies also of a certificate of the truth of the above and an affidavit. 3 pages.
27 Dec.	29. Thomas Colby (Transport Office) to the Secretaries of the Treasury (Lowndes and Stanhope). Sends an account of the bounty money, &c. paid to 208 poor Germans transported back to Holland. Transport Office, 27 Dec. 1717. The account referred to, entitled:—“An account of the charge of transporting from London back to Rotterdam 208 poor forreigners of the dutchy of Wirtemberg, and other parts of Germany, in October 1717.” 2 pages.
31 Dec.	30. Lord Lieut. of Ireland (Bolton) to the Lords of the Treasury. Encloses the petition of William Purefoy, Esq., recommended by the House of Commons for half-pay as Major and Captain from 1702, when the commission was taken from him by the Earl of Rochester, under pretence of his refusing to go to the West Indies. Has nothing to object to the half-pay, but by no means thinks it proper that his half-pay should commence as far back as 1702. The petitioner would be content for it to commence from the King's accession; but even this may be an ill-precedent. Dublin Castle, 31 Dec. 1717. Minuted:—“31 July 1718. Agreed to without any retrospect.” The recommendation and the petition. Similar letters and corroborative documents respecting half-pay of the following persons:— William Ormsby, Esq. Minuted:—“22 March 1717–18. To be considered when ½ pay is to be settled.” Again:—“31^st July 1718. Prepare a letter.” Lieut. Thomas Disney. Minuted:—“31 July 1718. Agreed to.” George Mosse. Minuted:—“31 July 1718. Agreed to.” Lieut. Robert Montgomery. The petition minuted:—“31 July 1718. Prepare a letter.” Gustavus Hamilton, Edmond Macnaghton, Denny Cuffe, and Richard Collins. Minuted:—“22^d March 1717–18. To be consider'd when the ½ pay is to be settled.” Theophilus Jones. Minuted:—“To be layd before ye K.” 20¼ pages.
[? Dec.]	31. Petition of Mossom Wye to the Lords of the Treasury. Before the late Rebellion, was, by the King's orders, sent to Paris, with proper instructions to insinuate himself into the secret designs of his Majesty's enemies, which he accomplished. Continued for a considerable time in France at his own expense till discovered by the King's enemies, when be was obliged to return home. Besides which, after his return from France, he made seasonable discoveries about Sir Willliam Windham. Has received luxuriant and unperformed promises from Lord Townshend; and a little before his Majesty's return from Hanover, with fresh promises, Lord Townshend informed him that he had an affair of secrecy and importance to intrust him with, viz., the Swedish minister being embarked with the King's enemies in pernicious designs against the Government, the petitioner must take notice from whom he received, and to whom he paid visits. This service he performed. On Lord Townshend's removal, applied to Lord Sunderland, who forwarded his petition for 300l. for his expenses to their L^ps, together with a recommendation for a provision. As yet he has received no benefit, only 100l., indorsed on his petition to the King. Sends copies of several credentials. The latter dated in Dec. 1717. Minuted:—“4^th Feb. 1717–18. To be read again when L^d Stanhope is here.” Again:—“19 March 1717–18, 200^li p[er] Mr. Lowther.” In the Minute Book, Vol. 21, p. 178, 12 Dec. 1717, is:—“Mossom Wye, 50^li bounty p[er] Mr. Lowther.” There is also an undated letter from the petitioner to the R^t Hon. Robert Walpole, Esq., on the same affairs, appealing to him to order him the 100l., which Lord Townshend recommended him for, as he had an opportunity to send his children to Ireland to his father to support. Minuted:—“19^th Jan^ry 1721–22. Prepare a warr^t for 100^li bounty.” 4 pages.
Dec.	32. Copy of a memorial of Dudley Downes, one of the Deputy Chamberlains of the Receipt of the Exchequer at Westminster. Is advised that the right of seniority in the respective offices of Chamberlain and Deputy Chamberlain belong to Sir Simeon Stuart as Chamberlain, and to memorialist, as his Deputy. Attended with the Deputy Chamberlain's key in the several offices of the Tellers for the opening and locking up of the several chests according to usage, &c. Prays for the usual fee of 40l. per ann. for this duty. There is an addendum at the end dated December 1717, to the effect that in Jan. next it will be three years since he performed these duties. Prays for a warrant for payment. 3 pages, gnawed by vermin.