The Present State of London, Treatise · Chapter 5 · Section 3
SECT. 7.
Of the Cuſtom-Houſe.
THe Houſe where this great Office was kept a little below Billingsgate, was deſtroyed by the great Fire, but is Rebuilt in a much more magnificent uniform, and commodious manner by the King, which hath coſt His Majeſty 10000 l.
Here is received and managed all the Impoſitions laid on Merchandize Imported or Exported from this City, which are ſo conſiderable, that of all the Cuſtoms of England, (which amount to about 600000 l. a year) divided into three parts, the Port of London pays two thirds, that is about 400000 l. per annum. A great Number of Officers are here Employ'd, whereof divers are of conſiderable quality and ability.
There are at preſent Five Commiſſioners, who have the charge and overſight of all His Majeſtics Cuſtoms in all Ports of England, Viz.
Sir Richard Temple, Bar.
Sir George Downing, Kt.
Charles Cheney, Eſq
Francis Millington, Eſq
John Ʋpton, Eſq
The Sallaries to each of theſe is 1200 l. a Year, they have many Deputies or Waiters in the Port of London, and alſo in all the Out-Ports.
Then there are Cuſtomers, Collectors, Comptrollers, Surveyors, Searchers, Waiters, &c.
Sir John Shaw Collector Inwards (and for the Act of Navigation, Fee 966. l. 13. s. 4. d.)
Sir Nicholas Criſp Collector Outwards, Sallary 276 l.
Alderman Edward Backwell Comptroller, Sallary, 255 l.
George Nicholas Eſq Surveyor-General, Sallary 500 l.
The Searchers Office is managed by a Chief, and five Under-Searchers, Clerks, &c.
Since the happy Reſtoration of His Majeſty, there has been in all Eleven Perſons Under-Searchers in that Office, viz.
Six who have all (except one) diſpoſed of their place by His Majeſties grace and favours.
Mr.
Daniel Colwall.
Rob. Forſter.
Leonard Scot.
Will. Dockwra.
Tho. Hampſon.
John Seymour, Eſq
The Five Underſearchers now in Poſſeſſion, are
Mr.
Tho. Burton.
John Evans.
Richard Goodlad.
Charles Beauvoir.
Richard Pierce.
The Chief Searcher has 120 l. per annum.
The Underſearchers have each 12 l.
And ſundry Fees ſettled upon them by Authority of Parliament, which are paid them by Maſters of Ships, and Merchants, &c. Having always been Officers remarkable for their Induſtry and great Integrity, who have a continual attendance incumbent on them from Morning to Night, and who diſcharge the Duty of their Places with a very clear Reputation; And Maugre all the Malice and Envy that has many times been making attempts upon them, their honeſty has (verified the Proverb) proved the beſt Policy to defend them from all their open and ſecret Enemies.
There is alſo Five Deputy Searchers under the Commiſſioners or Farmers for the time being, who do aſſiſt the Five Underſearchers, in Shipping goods, and doing other buſineſs by Bills and Copies of the Original Warrants, which are by Law directed to the King's Searchers. Theſe Deputies, becauſe there is no Fee due to them, have 80 l. per annum Sallary, but are no Patent Officers.
Surveyors,
Mr.
Daniel Ford.
Thomas Fownes.
Tho. Cooke.
Hew. Cheely.
Sallary 150 l. per annum.
Six Tyde Surveyors,
Mr.
Simon Tomlins.
—Jones.
—Tombes.
Steph. Chuſman
Edm. Clark.
—Sumpter.
Sallary 80 l. per annum.
19 Kings-Waters, Sallary to each 80 l.
40 Land-Waiters, Sallary to each 80 l.
80 Tyde-Waiters in Fee, 5 l. per annum, and 2 s. 6 d. per Day.
50 Ditto Extraordinary, no Sallary, 2 s. 6 d. per Day.
There are many other Officers, as Richard Kent Eſq Receiver-General of the Revenue of the Cuſtoms; Giles Lidcot Eſq Accomptant-General; there is a Cuſtomer of Cloath, and petty Cuſtoms, Fee 277 l. Two Cuſtomers of the great Cuſtoms, Sallary 50 l. Comptroller of the Cloath and petty Cuſtoms, Fee 30 l. Regiſter of the Seizures, Sallary 106 l. Surveyor of the Out-Ports, Sallary 250 l. A Secretary, Ware-houſe-keeper, Surveyor of the Ware-houſe, &c. Beſides there are ſeveral perſons Commiſſioned to Seize Goods uncuſtomed, either inward or outward Bound; There are alſo Noontenders, Watchmen, and ſeveral inferiour Officers.
Note that the due perquiſites belonging to theſe Officers are very conſiderable, and to ſome are much more than their Reſpective Sallaries.