Miscellaneous Papers, chiefly of Robert Harley, relating to trade and fisheries,...

Miscellaneous Papers, chiefly of Robert Harley, relating to trade and fisheries, the colonies, revenue, mint and coinage, etc., 1628-1729.

I. Letters and papers relating to the Commissioners for Trade, etc., 1696-1706, including:-

1. Copy of the Royal Commission for Trade; 15 May, 1696. f.1.

2. Report of the Commission, against allowing the exportation of linen from Ireland to the Colonies; 23 Dec., 1703. f.5.

3. Letter of Lieut. J. Moody, commanding Fort William, St. John's, Newfoundland, to the governor of New England, with an account of an invasion by French and Indians; 20 Apr., 1705. f.13.

4. Correspondence relating to the opening and encouragement of trade with Flanders; 1706. ff. 15-26.

II. Papers relating to Fisheries, temp Charles II. - 1713 (ff.27-67), including:-

5. Proposals by John Collins (d.1683) for the advantage of the revenue and for "carrying on the fishery trade" by an excise on salt. f.27.

6. Proposals for encouraging the herring fishery, etc., off the Welsh coast, addressed to Robert Harley. f.29.

7. Proposals for preventing the smuggling of whalebone, by Joseph Billers, 1710. f.31.

8. Letters of Thomas Sliford, with various proposals as to fisheries off Zetland, Orkney, etc.; 1711-1713. ff.33-62.

III. Papers relating to trade with Russia and the Muscovy Company, etc, (ff.68-108), including:-

9. Letter of Sir Benjamin Ayloffe, Governor of the Muscovy Company, on a threat of the Czar against the English merchants; 20 May, 1704. f.68.

10. Memorial of the Tobacco Company on grievances against the Czar, 25 Apr, 1705; with other papers on the subject, 1705-1706. ff. 72-92.

11. Letters of the Commissioners of Trade on the injury to the Muscovy Company by "Muscovites trading to England in their own shipping, 21 June, 1706. f.93.

12. Reasons for "opening a trade to Narva and Nyen Schans now called Petersburg". f.100.

13. Answers to objections to a scheme of [William?] Paterson for a trade through the Elbe, Oder and Danube to the Levant. French. f.102.

IV Papers relating to the West Indies and South America (ff.109-134), including:-

14. Copies of patents granting the Caribbee Islands to James Hay, Earl of Carlisle, 1628, 1630; with other documents relating to Barbados to 1663. ff. 109-125.

15. Account of the Isthmus of Darien, signed by Lionell Wafer. f.126; Account of the same and parts adjacent in America, presented to the Board by Mr Dampier and Mr Wafer. f.130.

V. Papers relating to the Revenue (ff.135-146), including:-

16. Proposals, memorials, etc., in connection with the wine-license duty, 1711, etc.: ff. 135-144.

17. "State of the Hackney Coach Office", from the Commissioners downwards; Sept, 1711. f.145.

VI. Papers relating to the Mint and Coinage (ff.147-250), including:

18. Copies of royal orders as to the arms to be impressed on the coins, 1689, 1691. ff.147, 150.

19. Letters to Robert Harley on coinage questions, clipping, etc., from (a) Tho. Hudson; Bristol, 6 Jan, 1695-1696. f.153;- (b) Nath. Huthnance; Norwich, 15 Jan., 1695-1696. In the same hand as the preceding. f.154;- (c) Tho. Bateman; Tiverton, 19 May, 1696. f.155.

20. Trials of the pix; 16 July, 1696, 1710. ff.160-165, 176.

21. Letter of J. Stratford, J.P., with examinations on a charge of coining; Walford, 19 Mar., 1706-1707. f.167.

22. Letters of Sir Isaac Newton, Master of the Mint, (a) in favour of Charles Brattel for the office of Assay Master; 29 Jan., 1712-1713. f.189;- (b) on the same subject; 10 Apr., 1713. f.193;- (c) praying for a new trial of the Pix; 22 May, 1713. f.201.

23. Letter of T. Sadler, submitting designs for historical medals; Pell Office, 6 Feb., 1712-1713. f.199.

24. Accompt of "foreign coin and bullion exported from this kingdom and to what foreign countries" in each year from 1698 to 1715. f.220.

25. Accompt of gold and silver money coined (a) from 1700 to 1717, and (b) from 1714 to 1729. ff.228, 249.

26. "An Inventory of their Majesties Jewels and Plate", 29 July, 1691. f. 251. Followed by an order to R. Harley for the return of plate, 28 May, 1703 (f.262), and certificates of the delivery of plate to Lord Raby, 26 July, 1711 and Lord Lexington, 3 July, 1714, for use in embassies abroad (ff.264, 266).

Folio; ff.267.