House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 23 November 1691

Lunæ, 23 die Novembris; 3° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

ARMOND de la Bastide, Raymond de Smeth, and John William Teschemaker, took the Oaths appointed, at the Table, in order to their Naturalization.

French Bay Salt.

A Bill for Preserving of Two Ships Load of Bay Salt, taken as Prize, for the Benefit of the Navy, to be accounted for by the Victuallers of their Majesties Navy, was read the Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Papillion, Mr. Shackerly, Sir Jervas Elwes, Mr. Biddolph, Mr. Bull, Mr. Bickerstaffe, Mr. Carter, Mr. Champneyes, Sir Rob. Cotton, Sir John Dorrell, Sir Rich. Onslow, Mr. Willmot, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Maine, Sir Robert Davers, Sir Tho. Darcye, Mr. Perry, Mr. Travers, Mr. Palmes, Mr. Waller, Mr. England, Mr. Hutchinson, Sir Cha. Raleigh, Sir Edw. Seymour, Sir Jos. Williamson, Sir Tho. Bernardiston, Mr. Lutterell, Sir John Cotton, Mr. Christie, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Norries, Mr. Onslow: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Four of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Butter and Cheese Trade.

A Bill for the remedying the Abuses in Weighing and Packing of Butter, and also of the Abuses in Making and Weighing of Cheese, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Hertford Roads.

A Bill for reviving a former Law for the Repair of the Highways in the County of Hertford, was read the Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to a Committee of the whole House.

Resolved, That this House will, upon This-day-sevennight in the Morning, at Ten of the Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Bill.

A Member discharged from custody.

The House being informed, that *Wallpole, Esquire, a Member of this House, who was sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, for not attending the Service of the House, had surrendered himself to the Serjeant; and desired to be admitted into the House, to attend the Service thereof;

Ordered, That the said Mr. Walpole be discharged out of Custody of the Serjeant, paying his Fees.

Brewers not to be Maltsters.

Mr. Christie presented to the House, according to Order, a Bill to disable Brewers from being Maltsters. And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Aulnage Duty.

Mr. Clerke, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for Transferring of the Collection of the Duty of Aulnage to the Custom-house, and giving a Recompence to the Crown for the same. And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Absentees not to take Seats without Leave.

The House taking Notice, that Sir John Moreton, a Member of the House, who was sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, for not attending the Service of the House, was come into the House, without Leave, and without paying his Fees;

Ordered, That the said Sir John Moreton do pay his Fees to the Serjeant at Arms, before he sit in the House.

Ordered, That all Members, sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, do forbear coming into the House, without the Leave of the House first had.

Intercepted Papers.

Then the House being informed, that Sir Ralph Delavall attended, according to their Order;

He was called in; and, at the Bar, gave the House an Account touching the Papers lately taken in a French Boat, and of a Letter written to him by the Earl of Nottingham, to send up the said Papers.

The which Letter he was ordered to produce: And produced the same accordingly:

And the same was read at the Table: Dated 14 November 91: and is as followeth;

Sir,

HERE is a Report, That on board the French Packet Boat, lately taken by some Ships of your Squadron, there were found Copies of all your Orders, as well of those which you had not received, as those with which you sailed: You will oblige me with some Account of these Matters, and what Ground there is for This, which is written to several here from Portsmouth. And, if there be any such Papers, I intreat you to send me Copies of them. I am

Your most faithful humble Servant,

" Sir R. Delavall." Nottingham.

Also he produced several other Papers; viz.

An Order from the Admiralty, dated the Thirteenth October 1669: And

Two Papers of Instructions from Admiral Russell, dated Twelfth September 1691: And

Two several Orders from the Admiralty, dated Sixteenth September 1691: And

Another dated 6 Octob. 1691: And

Another dated Twelfth November 1691.

All which were also read at the Table.

Ordered, That the said Orders and Instructions be re-delivered to Sir Ralph Delavall.

And they were so done.

And then he withdrew.

Ordered, That the Letter, from the Lord Nottingham to Sir Ralph Delavall, for sending up the said Papers, be referred to the Committee to whom the Perusal, Translation, and Examination of the Papers taken in the French Boat, were referred.

Ordered, That the said Committee do make Report of the Matter to them referred To-morrow Morning.

Lords desire Papers to be returned.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cook and Sir John Francklyn;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords do desire to have the Papers returned that were delivered at the last Conference, their Lordships having present Occasion to make use of them.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Resolved, That this House will send an Answer to the Lords by Messengers of their own.

And the Messengers were called in again; and acquainted therewith.

Supply.

Resolved, That this House, will upon Wednesday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Supplies to be granted to their Majesties, for carrying on a vigorous War against France, in relation to the Land Forces.

And then the House adjourned till To-morrow Morning, Nine of the Clock.