House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 15 December 1692

Jovis, 15 die Decembris; 4° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Bayntun's Will.

A BILL for the more speedy Execution of the Trust created by the Will of Henry Bayntun, Esquire, deceased, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Importing Silk.

A Petition of several Merchants of London trading to Italy, and the Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily, was presented to the House; and read; setting forth, That there being a Bill now before the House for dispensing with the late Act prohibiting the Importation of Thrown Silk of the said Countries over Land, during the present War: which Bill, if it should pass into an Act, will great . . lessen the Exportation of Fish, Tin, Lead, Woolen, and other our Manufactures, into those Parts; and praying to be heard against the said Bill.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee to whom the Bill for the Importation of fine Italian, Sicilian, and Naples Thrown Silk over Land, is committed.

Hair Buttons.

A Petition of the Buttonmakers of London, and elsewhere in the Kingdom of England, and others concerned in the same Trade, was read, setting forth, That, by an Act made 14° Car. II^di, for prohibiting the Importation of Foreign Bonelace, Cut-work Buttons, &c. and (inter alia) all Buttons made of Thread or Silk, were prohibited to be imported; Hair Buttons then not being used, and so were left out of the said Act; That, since the said Act, Hair Buttons are generally used and worn, and great Quantities are daily imported from Foreign Parts; whereby the Buttonmakers Trade is very much decayed, and will in a short time be totally ruined, their Families impoverished, and must lie upon their several Parishes; and many Thousands of poor People formerly employed are now like to perish for Want of Work; which may be prevented by prohibiting the Importation of all Foreign Buttons: That the Petitioners can and do make better Hair Buttons than any are imported; and are able to supply their Majesties Subjects with more than they can use: And praying Leave to bring in a Bill for prohibiting the Importation of all Foreign Buttons whatsoever.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill, according to the Prayer of the said Petition.

Butter and Cheese Trade.

An ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act for preventing Abuses committed by the Searchers and Weighers of Butter and Cheese, was read the First time.

And a Debate arising, touching the Second Reading of the said Bill;

Ordered, That the Debate be adjourned.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to prevent Frauds in Packing and Weighing of Butter and Cheese.

Trade in Cities, &c.

Ordered, That Sir William Basset, Mr. Beddingfeild, Mr. Trelawney, Sir Wm. Turner, Mr. Travers, Mr. Haster, Mr. Baile, * Phillipps, Sir Walt. Clarges, be added to the Committee to whom the Bill to prevent the Decay of Trade in Cities, Corporations, and Market Towns, is committed.

Free Proceedings in Parliament.

Ordered, That the Bill touching free and impartial Proceedings in Parliament, be read a Second time Tomorrow Morning.

Ways and Means.

Then the House according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of Ways and Means for raising the Supply to be granted to their Majesties, for the carrying on a vigorous War against France.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Attorney General took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Attorney General reported from the said Committee, That they had agreed upon several Resolutions; which they had directed him to report to the House: And which he 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, towards the Supply to be granted to their Majesties, there be a Charge of Four Shillings in the Pound, for One Year, upon all Personal Estates (other than Houshold Goods, and Stock upon Land), and upon all Offices and Employments of Profit (other than military Officers in the Army and Navy), according to the true yearly Profit thereof.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards the Supply to be granted to their Majesties, there be a Fund of Seventy thousand Pounds per Annum set apart for the Payment of the Interest of a Million of Money, to be raised by Persons voluntarily paying in that Sum; the Principal paid in, to be sunk; and the Persons paying in the same to receive, during their Lives, their respective Proportions of the said Seventy thousand Pounds, according to the Sums paid in by them, with the Advantage of Survivorship, till all the Lives be determined.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Fund be out of the hereditary Excise, until the Seventeenth Day of May 1697; and afterwards, by an additional Excise upon Beer, Ale, and other Liquors, according to the Proportions in an Act of the First Year of their Majesties Reign, intituled, An Act for an additional Duty of Excise upon Beer, Ale, and other Liquors.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, in case a Million shall not be paid in upon the said Fund before the Twenty-fourth Day of June 1693, the Remainder is to be taken up at Interest not exceeding Seven Pounds per Cent. per Annum, and to be paid to the Lenders out of the next Aids to be granted to their Majesties by Parliament.

The said several Resolutions, being read a Second time, were, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in, upon the several Resolutions of the House, for the Charge of Four Shillings in the Pound upon Lands and Personal Estates.

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in, upon the several Resolutions aforesaid, touching the said Fund of Seventy thousand Pounds per Annum.

And it is referred to Mr. Attorney General, Sir Chr. Musgrave, Mr. Solicitor General, Mr. Foley, Sir Tho. Clarges, to prepare and bring in the said Bills.

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

Resolved, That this House will, upon Saturday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of Ways and Means for raising the Supply to be granted to their Majesties, for the carrying on a vigorous War against France.

Essex Writ.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ for the electing a Knight of the Shire to serve in this present Parliament for the County of Essex, in the room of Henry Mildmay, Esquire, deceased.

Members not to be absent without Leave.

Ordered, That no Member of this House do go out of Town, without Leave first had from the House: And that, in case any Member shall go out of Town without such Leave, that he be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House.

Motions for Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That no Motion be made for Leave for any Member to go out of Town, but between the Hours of Eleven and One of the Clock.

Call of the House.

Ordered, That the House be Called over upon Thisday-sevennight.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

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