House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 8 May 1690

Jovis, 8 die Maii; 2° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

PRAYERS.

Hobby's Annuity.

AN ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the granting unto Eliz. Hobby, Widow, one Annuity or yearly Rent-charge of Four hundred and Fifty Pounds for her Life, in Satisfaction of Five hundred Pounds a Year in Lands, which she was to have for her Jointure, was read the Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Christy, Sir Jerv. Elwes, Mr. Piggot, Mr. Ryder, Mr. Freke, Mr. Arnold, Sir Cha. Raleigh, Sir Hen. Goff, Sir Orlan. Gee, Mr. Archer, Mr. Godolphin, Sir Wm. Honeywood, Sir Rob. Napier, Mr. Blowfeild, Mr. Hedger, Sir Tho. Darcy, Mr. Bickerstaffe, Mr. Price, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Mr. Colt, Mr. Etterick, Sir James Long, Sir Sam. Bernadiston, Sir Walter Young, Serjeant Wogan, Sir Wm. Poultney, and all the Members that serve for the Counties of Berkes and Bucks: And they are to meet this Afternoon, at Three of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Streets to be kept clear.

Ordered, That the Constables, and other Officers of Middlesex and Westminster concerned, do take care, that from Eight of the Clock in the Morning, till Two in the Afternoon, being the usual Time of Meeting and Rising of this House, the Passage through the Streets, between Temple Bar and Westminster Hall, be kept free and open; and that no Obstruction be made by Cars, Drays, Carts, or otherwise, to hinder the Passage of the Members to and from this House: And the Serjeant at Arms attending this House is to give Notice of this Order to the Officers aforesaid. And it is recommended to Sir Wm. Poultney, Mr. Cary High Bailiff of Westminster, Mr. Done, and Mr. Bridgman Justices of the Peace, to see this Order put in Execution.

Leave for Member to attend Lords.

Ordered, That Mr. Attorney General have Leave to attend the Lords, as Counsel, in a Cause between Croke and Watt.

East India Company.

A Bill for Confirmation of the Charter granted to the East India Company, until another Company shall be established by Act of Parliament, was read the Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed, upon the Debate of the House, unto Sir Tho. Clarges, Sir Rich. Onslow, Mr. Bickerstaffe, Mr. Godolphin, Sir Tho. Hussey, Mr. Pitts, Sir Carbury Price, Mr. Cary, Lord Cheny, Mr. Evans, Mr. Harcourt, Mr. Perry, Mr. Blowfeild, Sir John Turner, Mr. Pendarvis, Lord Ranelagh, Mr. Cognisby, Sir Cha. Bloys, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Sir John Barker, Mr. Hutchinson, Sir John Guise, Colonel Austen, Sir Hen. Goffe, Mr. Mansell, Sir Math. Andrews, Mr. Guy, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Fuller, Sir Rob. Cotton, Major Vincent, Mr. Lampton Mr. Serjeant Hutchins, Mr. Herne, Colonel Birch, Mr. Brewer, Sir John Cotton, Mr. Wm. Johnson, Mr. Foot Onslow, Mr. Peregrine Bertie, Sir John Cary, Sir Rich. Hart, Sir John Knight, Sir Sam. Bernadiston, Sir Christopher Musgrave, Mr. Paul Foley, Mr. Dalben, Mr. Buscawen, Lord Falkland, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Hawtry, Sir Harry Johnson, Mr. Vincent, Mr. Gray, Sir Fra. Guybon, Sir Math. Andrews, Sir Fra. Vincent, Mr. England, Sir Rob. Davers, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Thornhaugh, Mr. Holt, Mr. Papillion, Sir Wm. Robinson, Sir Tho. Darcy, Mr. Anch. Gray, Mr. Done, Sir Tho. Littleton, Mr. Berty, Mr. Ash, Sir Gilbert Clarke, Mr. Turges, Sir John Thomson, Mr. Tho. Foley, Mr. Rudge, Sir John Bancks, Sir Benj. Newland, Sir Jon. Jennings, Sir Edm. Jennings, Sir Rich. Temple, and all the Members that are Merchants, and that serve for the Sea Ports: And all that come to have Voices: And they are to meet this Afternoon, at Three of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber: and are impowered to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Ditto.

A Petition of John and Thomas Temple, Owners of the Ship Bristoll, was read; setting forth, That the Petitioners, in the First Session of the last Parliament, exhibited their Petition to this House; thereby setting forth the great Oppression they had sustained in relation to their Ship; which was sunk and plundered by Captain Tyrrell, Commander of the Phænix, by Order of the East India Company; which Petition was afterwards referred to a Committee, and the Matter thereof by them examined: The which the Petitioners, are again ready to prove, together with their Damage, amounting to Thirty-one thousand Two hundred Eight Pounds Two Shillings and Ten-pence Sterling; besides a considerable Damage suffered by the said Ship's Company: By reason of which great Losses, the Petitioners are become insolvent, and not able to pay their Creditors their full Dues: And praying the Consideration and Relief of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee to whom the Bill for Confirmation of the Charters granted to the present East India Company, until another Company shall be established, is committed.

Exporting Coin.

Sir Rich. Reynell reports from the Committee to whom the Petition of divers working Goldsmiths in and about the City of London, was referred, That they had considered the Matters to them referred; and had directed a Special Report to be made of the whole Matter to the House: The which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was read; and is as followeth;

That it appears, by a Certificate from the Custom-house, dated Seventeenth April last, That great Quantities of Silver have been of late exported; whereof we had a particular Account for the last Five Years: That above Seven Parts of Eight had been shipped off by the Jews, who do any thing for their Profit: The Reason was plain; that the French King, of late, finding his Money very scarce, had raised his Coin Ten Pounds per Cent.: Which was an Encouragement to send Silver to fill his Coffers: Which the Jews, for their Profit, exported daily in very great Quantities: That, on Monday last, they had shipped off about Sixty thousand Ounces by the Name of Foreign Silver; and great Parcels more were ready to be shipped: Which did make it scarce and dear, to the utter Ruin of the Working Goldsmiths.

That there were also English, as well as Jews, who, for their Advantages, would doubtless melt down our Crown Pieces, &c. and sell for Foreign Silver, to the Undoing of the whole Nation for want of Money, unless a present Remedy were found to prevent Exportation of any Silver or Gold.

That the Committee had also Certificates from the Officers of the Mint, for divers Years; and do find, that of late, very small Quantities have been coined.

That it was offered, that the Profit of melting down One thousand Pounds of milled Money for Exportation, was Twenty-five Pounds ready Money, and upwards.

That Silver was coined at the Mint at Five Shillings and Two-pence per Ounce; but, at the Time of Exportation, was generally sold at Five Shillings and Three-pence Halfpeny per Ounce: Which gave Occasion of its being melted down, and transported as Foreign Silver.

That divers Proposals were suggested;

1. A total Prohibition:

2. A qualified Prohibition for certain Times, or an Imposition for Exportation of Silver:

3. The enhancing our own Money.

So that, though the Committee found the Complaint of the Petitioners very just, and the Inconveniencies to the Kingdom very great, they could not agree of a Way for the preventing the same: But were humbly of Opinion, That it was worthy of the Consideration of the House.

Resolved, That the said Report be re-committed to the same Committee, upon the Debate of the House: And that they do thereupon prepare a Bill or Bills, as they shall see Cause; and present the same to the House: And that, in order thereunto, the Committee do sit de die in diem; and have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records: And that the Officers of the Mint do attend the said Committee: And that Mr. Neale, Mr. Norreis, Sir John Bancks, Mr. Thornhaugh, Sir Christopher Musgrave, Mr. Cognisby, Colonel Birch, Mr. Christy, Sir Peter Coriton, Sir Jerv. Elwes, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Mr. Evans, Mr. Slater, Mr. Tho. Foley, Mr. Hen. Herbert, and all the Members of the House that are Merchants. . . .: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Three of the Clock.

Recovery of Tythes, &c.

Mr. Christy, according to the Order of the House, presented a Bill for the more easy Recovery of small Tythes, and Repair of Churches: And the same was received.

Securing public Peace, &c.

A Bill for securing the public Peace, and proventing the Designs of Papists, and other disaffected Persons to their Majesties Government, was read the First Time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cooke, and Sir John Francklyn:

Sadleir's Estate.

House reminded of Bill.

Mr. Speaker, The Lords have agreed to the Bill, to enable Sir Edwin Sadleir to sell Lands, for Payment of Debts, with some Amendments; to which they desire the Concurrence of this House: And they do put this House in mind of the Bill for more easy Recovery of small Tythes, and Repair of Churches, some time since sent down to this House.

London Corporation.

An ingrossed Bill for reversing the Judgment upon a Quo Warranto against the City of London, and for restoring the City to its ancient Rights and Privileges, was read the Third time.

An ingrossed Clause was offered as a Rider, to the Bill, That if there were no new Election of Mayor, and other Officers, by the Time mentioned in the Bill, those which were at the Time of the Judgment, should be in: And the same was once read.

And the Question being put, That the same be read a Second time;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

The Clause was read the Second time: And several Amendments thereof were proposed to be made; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House; and twice read; and the Clause amended accordingly.

Then the Clause was read the Third time; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House, to be made Part of the Bill.

And then the Question being put, That the Bill do pass;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Resolved, That the Title be, An Act for reversing the Judgment in a Quo Warranto, against the City of London, and for restoring the City of London to its ancient Rights and Privileges.

Ordered, That Sir Edw. Seymour do carry the Bill to the Lords; and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Supply Bill; Forfeitures.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning at Ten of the Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for vesting the Five hundred Pounds Forfeitures in their Majesties.

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