Letter from the Lords of the
Privy Council to the Duke
of Newcastle Custos
Rotulorum of Middx
concerning the taking up
Stragling Seamen for his
Maties Service}

After Our hearty Commendations to Yor. Grace Whereas His Majestys
Service doth at this time require a Speedy Supply of able Seamen and
Seafaring Men , for Compleating the Number of those that are
wanting to Mann His Maties Fleet which is now fitting out; We
do therefore by His Majestys Command, hereby pray and require
Yor. Grace, to call upon the Justices of the peace within the County of
Middlesex whereof you are Custos Rotulorum, and Shirtly enjoyn
and require them to cause all Straggling Seamen who are fit to
Serve on Board His Majestys Ships, to be taken up and Sent by
proper persons from place to place, untill they Shall be
brought to the Clerks of the Cheque of his Majestys Yards at
Deptford , Woolwich , Chatham , Sheerness, Portsmouth or Plymouth,
according as those places Shall be nearest to where Such
Straggling Seamen Shall be first taken up, that So they may be put on
BoardShaSuch of his Majestys Ships or Vessels as will be appointed
to receive them And that there be paid to the persons, who Shall be
entrusted with the Conducting them, by the aforesaid Clerks of the
Cheque, twenty Shillings for each Seaman fit for His Majestys
Service, and Six pence a Mile for every Mile they respectively
Travel not exceeding twenty Miles; but that if the Men So taken
up, Shall be Sent to any place where no Such Clerk of the Cheque
doth reside, that then the Same allowances be paid to the
Conductors by the Collector or proper Officer of the Customs
residing at or nearest to the place whereunto they Shall be
brought, upon producing Certificates from theChaptCaptain or
Commander of the Ship or Vessel whereunto they Shall be put,
of his having received them on Board; Which allowance is to
be reimburst to the Said Officers of the Customs by the
principal Officers and Commissioners of His Maties Navy,
upon their transmitting to the Said Principal Officers and
Commissioners, Authentick accounts of what moneys they
Shall have expended-And so not Doubting of your Graces
Zeal and Vigour in the Performance of this Service-We bid
Your Grace very heartily farewell:-From the Councill
Chamber at St. James's this 3d. day of April 1734.

To His Grace Thos. Holles< no role > Duke
of Newcastle Custos Rotul of
the County of Middlesex

Your Graces very Loving Friends
Wilmington P.
Lonsdale C.P.S.
Torrington
Harrington
R WalpoleCha. Wager< no role >