| AdminHistory | In the period 1703 to 1729 a number of statements of the distribution of sundry grants of the Royal Bounty were printed. As prefaces to various statements show, the intentions of the French Committees concerned were: to controvert accusations of malversation; to establish their good faith and integrity; to explain their procedure; to encourage their supporters and well-wishers; and to tender their heartfelt benedictions to the Sovereign and the nation. These printed accounts are of importance for a number of reasons:
1) They help to fill gaps in the surviving manuscripts records
2) Prefaces supply information regarding the machinery of the grants: how they were supplied, distributed, and accounted for
3) They record the names and circumstances of many of the people to whom grants were distributed.
This last item is of particular interest. The lists show the distribution, under various categories, of monies received from the Crown. In some instances the age, profession, place of birth and place of living are indicated. It is not known how many such statements were printed or how many of each issue. It can, however, be said that today they are difficult to find. Ten issues have been located in libraries in London; and collectively these form the subject of this appendix. A list of them follows, arranged in chronological order of year of printing. |