House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 9 November 1691

Lunæ, 9 die Novembris; 3° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Witnesses to be summoned.

ORDERED, That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant for Mr. * Byer, Captain John Bromhall, Mr. * Blackburn, Captain Tho. Marsh, Captain Wm. Wilday, Mr. * Holister, Captain Jon. Andrewes, Dr. John St. John, Captain Edm. Wright, Mr. Newman, Captain Wm. Heath, and such other Witnesses as shall be desired to attend the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Consideration of the Petitions concerning the East India Trade, is referred.

Christchurch Election.

Ordered, That Thomas Hooper and Thomas Dore, Esquires, be at Liberty to withdraw their Petition touching the Election for the Borough of Christchurch in the County of Southampton.

Answer to desire for Accounts.

Mr. Vice Chamberlain acquaints the House, That he had, according to their Order, moved his Majesty, That there might be laid before this House a State of the War for the next Year's Service, in relation to the Fleet, and the Land Forces: And that his Majesty had given Direction to the Commissioners of the Admiralty, that are of this House, to lay before the House an Estimate of the Charge of the Navy; and to the Lord Ranelagh, to lay before the House a List of what Forces his Majesty thinks necessary to maintain the next Year.

Navy and Army Estimates.

Accordingly Sir Rich. Onslow presented to the House, an Estimate of the Charge of the Navy:

And the Lord Ranelagh acquainted the House, That the King had been pleased to command him to deliver to the House the State of the War for the next Year's Service, in relation to the Land Forces; and that he had it.

That it proposeth the maintaining Sixty-four thousand Nine hundred and Twenty-four private Men: Of which Eight thousand Seventy Horse, Three thousand Four hundred and Forty Dragoons, and Fifty-three thousand Four hundred and Fourteen Foot: Which makes Five Troops of Guards, Twenty-four Regiments of Horse, Seven Regiments of Dragoons, and Sixty-three Regiments of Foot: In all, Ninety-four Regiments, besides the Five Troops of Guards, and Six independent Companies: All which are provided for by the Establishment now in being.

And, because the Number of effective Men, in several of the Regiments, are at present much short of what . . allowed by the said Establishments, especially in those Regiments who have served so well in Ireland this last Summer.

That his Majesty hath commanded him to tell this House, That he will take the best Care he can to recruit and complete them with all convenient Speed.

That the State will shew the Names of the several Regiments, the Number of Troops, Companies, and Men allowed to each, and the yearly Charge of each Regiment, according to the several Establishments.

That their total Charge for a Year, without General Officers, Garisons, Train, Transport Ships, Hospitals, and Contingencies, amounts to One Million Eight hundred and Five thousand Six hundred Seventy-one Pounds Fifteen Shillings and Two-pence: To which, adding for those Six Heads, Four hundred and Fifty thousand Pounds for the next Year, which is a very moderate Computation of their Charge, the total Expence of the Land Forces, supposing them all complete, will be Two Million Two hundred fifty-five thousand Six hundred Seventy-one Pounds Fifteen Shillings and Two-pence.

That, how these Forces shall be distributed, his Majesty hath not yet resolved: But that, howsoever, the King had commanded him to tell this House, That he will keep no more of them in his own Dominions than what he shall judge absolutely necessary for their Security; and the rest he will transport beyond Seas, in order to annoy the common Enemy, where it may be more sensible to them.

Then the said Estimate of the Charge of the Navy, and List of the Forces; were read; and are as followeth;

Army Estimates.

To which is to be added, the same being computed at a moderate Rate,

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Estimate, and List, be referred to the Committee of the whole House, who are to consider further of the Supplies to be granted to their Majesties, for the carrying on a vigorous War against France.

Privilege-Reflections on Proceedings.

A Complaint being made to the House of a printed Pamphlet, intituled, "Mercurius Reformatus, or, The New Observator," reflecting on the Proceedings of this House, in Breach of the Privileges thereof;

Ordered, That Richard Baldwyn, the Printer of the said Pamphlet, and likewise the Author of the same, be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, to answer the said Breach of Privilege.

Tryals for Treason.

A Bill for Regulating of Tryals in Cases of High Treason, was, according to the Order of the Day, read the Second time.

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

Resolved, That this House will upon Wednesday Morning next, at Ten of the Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Bill.

Supply.

Then the House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Supply to be granted to their Majesties, for carrying on a vigorous War against France.
Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
Mr. Solicitor General took the Chair of the Committee.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.
Mr. Solicitor General reports from the said Committee, That they had directed him to move the House, That a Committee be appointed to inspect the Estimate of the Charge of their Majesties Navy for the Year 1692, delivered in to this House; and to report their Opinions therein to the House.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to inspect the Estimate of the Charge of their Majesties Navy for the Year 1692, delivered in to this House; and to report their Opinions therein to the House.

And it is referred to Sir Tho. Clarges, Sir John Lowther, Sir Christopher Musgrave, Mr. Palmes, Sir Hen. Johnson, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Bridges, Mr. Hen. Herbert, Mr. Russell, Mr. Fawkes, Mr. Paul Foley, Sir Gilbert Clerke, Sir John Bancks, Sir Cha. Windham, Lord Falkland, Mr. Jeffryes, Mr. Harly, Mr. Papillion, Sir John Knatchbull, Sir Orlando Gee, Lord Brandon, Mr. Harcourt, Sir Benjam. Newland, Sir Walt. Young, Sir Peter Colleton, Lord Cornbury, Lord Ranelagh, Sir Sam. Bernardiston, Sir Rob. Rich, Sir Ralph Carre, Sir John Thompson, Sir Rich Onslow, Sir John Guise, Sir Tho. Dyke, Sir Sam. Dashwood, Mr. Clerke, Sir John Key, Mr. Onslow, Sir John Barker, Lord Digby, Mr. Hampden, Sir Rob. Cotton, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Mr. Attorney General, Sir Edw. Seymour, Mr. Solicitor General, Colonel Austin, Sir Wm. Cooper, Sir Cha. Blunt, Sir Hen. Goodrick, Mr. Arnold, Lord Castleton, Mr. Cary, Mr. Lewes, Colonel Titus, Mr. Newport, Sir Jos. Williamson, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Thornhaugh, Mr. Travers, Mr. Mountague, Major Vincent, Sir Tho. Vernon, Sir Rob. Cotton, Sir Wm. Leveson Gowre, Sir John Cotton, Sir Jervas Elwes, Mr. Waller, Mr. Fuller, Sir Tho. Littleton, Sir Rich. Temple, Mr. Pelham, Sir Tho. Bernardiston, Mr. Serjeant Trenchard, Mr. Windham, Mr. Bidolph, Sir Wilfred Lawson: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Four of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber: And are impowered to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Mr. Solicitor General also acquainted the House, That he was directed by the said Committee to move the House, That the Committee may have Leave to sit again.

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 further of the Supplies to be granted to their Majesties.

East India Company.

Ordered, That the Sitting of the Committee of the whole House on Thursday next, to whom the Consideration of the Petitions concerning the East India Trade, was referred, be put off.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Friday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to proceed in the further Consideration of the Petitions concerning the India Trade.

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