House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 31 October 1690

Veneris, 31 die Octobris; 2° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Mountague's Estate.

A BILL to enable Mrs. Eliz. Mountague, Relict of Edward Mountague, Esquire, to make Leases of her Estate at Stepny, was presented to the House.

The said Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Act of Navigation respecting English Seamen.

A Petition of divers Merchants, trading to the West Indies, East Country, Newcastle, &c. was read; setting forth, That, by reason of the great Occasion of Seamen to man their Majesties Fleet, a considerable Part of the Trade of the Nation is much obstructed; and will be more, unless a more considerable Number of Ships go yearly out than can be permitted, in this Exigency, manned, according to the Act of Navigation: That for the same Reason, great Part of the Shipping, belonging to England, lie by the Walls; whilst Merchants are under Necessity of employing Foreign Ships in several Trades, to the Damage of the Nation, and Advantage of Strangers: And praying Leave, That a Bill might be brought in for suspending, during the War with France, and some few Months after, that Part of the Act of Navigation, which obliges our Ships to sail with Englishmen.

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in accordingly: And it is referred to Sir Tho. Clarges, Sir Tho. Hussey, Sir John Guise, Mr. Papillion, Mr. Bickerstaffe, Sir Tho. Vernon, Mr. Perry, Mr. Bowyer, Sir Sam. Bernadiston, Sir Rob. Nappier, Mr. Brownlow, or any Three of them, to prepare the said Bill. And it is recommended to Sir Tho. Clarges to take care therein.

Excise on Vinegar.

Ordered, That Sir Tho. Darcy, Sir Ralph Dutton, Sir Math. Andrews, Mr. Slater, Sir Phil. Skippon, Mr. Hutchinson, be added to the Committee to whom the Consideration of the Petition of the Vinegar-makers, is referred.

Punishing Mutiny and Desertion.

A Bill for punishing Officers and Soldiers who shall mutiny, or desert their Majesties Service, and for punishing of false Musters, was read the Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed, upon the Debate of the House: And it is referred unto Colonel Birch, Mr. Bickerstaffe, Sir Tho. Clarges, Sir Jerv. Elwes, Sir Gilbert Clarke, Sir John Guise, Lord Digby, Sir Tho. Bernadiston, Mr. Burrard, Mr. Fox, Mr. Godolphin, Sir Rich. Onslow, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Freeman, Sir Phil. Skippon, Mr. Thornhaugh, Sir Jonath. Jennings, Sir Tho. Travell, Sir Rich. Hart, Sir John Chichly, Sir Sam. Bernadiston, Mr. Brockman, Mr. Fenwick, Lord Wm. Pawlet, Sir Rob. Rich, Sir Ralph Dutton, Mr. Henley, Mr. Paul Foley, Sir Rob. Cotton, Mr. Clerke, Sir Tho. Darcye, Sir Tho. Vernon, Sir Christopher Musgrave, Mr. Traverse, Mr. Pelham, Sir Rob. Nappier, Sir Edmund Jennings, Lord Falkland, Lord Fairfax, Sir Hen. Goodrick, Lord Marquis Winchester, Lord Ranelagh, Lord Brandon, Sir Wm. Whitlocke, Mr. Freke: And all that come are to have Voices: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Three of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Crawford, Governor of Sheerness, have Leave to go to his Command.

Rosseter's Estate.

A Petition of John Rosseter, Esquire, was read; setting forth, That the Petitioner settled Lands in Com. Lincolne, upon Frances his now Wife, of the Value of about Five hundred and Forty-four Pounds per Annum, as her Jointure with certain Remainders: That the Petitioner, at the making the Settlement, was considerably indebted; and they have since increased upon him: And for that all Persons concerned are consenting, that a Sale may be made of some of the said Lands, for payment of Debts, and praying Leave might be given for to bring in a Bill for that Purpose.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill accordingly.

Sandwich Election.

Mr. Gray reports from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, to whom was referred the Matter touching the Election of Barons to serve in this present Parliament for the Port of Sandwich, the State of the Case, as it appeared to the said Committee: The which he delivered in at the Clerk's Table in Writing: Where the same was read; and is as followeth; viz.

Upon the Petition of John Mitchell, Esquire, complaining of an undue Election for the Port of Sandwich;

That the Right of Election was agreed to be in the Freemen of the said Port, inhabiting within the said Port: Whereof, upon the Poll,

That Mr. Serjeant Thurbarne's Election was not questioned; but, as to those that polled for Mr. Brent, the Council for the Petitioner insisted, That Four were made free after the Teste of the Writ: But Three of them were intituled to their Freedom by Birth:

That Nic. Prisby was no Inhabitant within the Port:

That Five others were Servants:

That Thirty and odd were Almsmen, or received a charitable Donative.

But that, it appearing to the Committee, That Freemen in general had always voted at Elections of Parliament Men for the said Port, the Committee came to Two several Resolutions: Which the said Mr. Gray read in his Place; and afterwards, delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were read; and are as followeth; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Freemen of the Port of Sandwich, inhabiting within the said Port, although they receive Alms, have a Right to vote in electing Barons to serve in Parliament.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That Edward Brent, Esquire, is duly elected a Baron to serve in this present Parliament for the Port of Sandwich.

The First of the said Resolutions being read a Second time;

And the Question being put, That the House do agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, That the Freemen of the Port of Sandwich, inhabiting within the said Port, although they receive Alms, have a Right to vote in electing Barons to serve in Parliament;

It passed in the Negative.

The Second Resolution being read a Second time;

And the Question being put, That the House do agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, That Edward Brent, Esquire, is duly elected a Baron to serve in this present Parliament for the Port of Sandwich;

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Bullion.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Monday Morning next, at Ten of the Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for discouraging the Exportation of Bullion; and encouraging the Importation, and Converting thereof into the Coin of this Realm.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

London Orphans.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Thursday Morning next, at Ten of the Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of Ways and Means for satisfying the Debt due to the Orphans of the City of London.

Privilege.

Ordered, That the Matter touching the Complaint of a Breach of Privilege committed by Francis Brace, and Henry Whitebread, against Mr. Christy, a Member of this House, be heard at the Bar of this House Tomorrow Morning: And that the Serjeant at Arms do then bring the said Mr. Brace and Mr. Whitebread, up to this House.

Southwarke Court of Conscience.

Ordered, That Mr. Burdet, Mr. Willmot, be added to the Committee to whom the Bill for erecting a Court of Conscience for the Borough of Southwarke, is committed.

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