House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 6 January 1696

Lunæ, 6 die Januarii ;

Septimo Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Wye and Lugg Navigation.

A PETITION of the Inhabitants of Weobly, in the County of Hereford, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, by reason of several Weirs, Mills, and Dams, upon the Rivers Wye and Lugg, the Commerce of the said Petitioners is lost, for want of the Navigation of the said Rivers; and many Commodities, with which that Part of the Country abounds, are so inconsiderable, the Land-carriage being so excessive dear, that they are scarcely worth propagating: And praying, That an Act of Parliament may pass, for making the Rivers of Wye and Lugg navigable.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Bill to make the Rivers of Wye and Lugg, in the County of Hereford, navigable, is committed.

Thetford 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 Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Thetford, in the County of Norfolk, in the room of Sir Joseph Williamson, who hath made his Election to serve for the City of Rochester.

Portsmouth Election.

A Petition of several Aldermen and Burgesses of the Borough of Portsmouth, in the County of Southampton, on behalf of themselves, and other Burgesses of the said Borough, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, at the last Election of a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the said Borough, a considerable Majority of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses, in whom only is the Right of Election, chose John Gibson Esquire for their Burgess; but the Mayor (being threatened and over-awed, admitted the Populace to poll, contrary to the ancient Custom of the said Borough) hath returned Matthew Aylmer Esquire, together with the said Mr. Gibson, in the same Indenture, in Prejudice of the Petitioners Right: And praying the Relief and Consideration of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections; And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House: And that they do hear and examine the same at the same time with the Matter of the Petitions of Matthew Aylmer and John Gibson Esquires, touching the said Election and Return.

Encouraging Seamen.

Sir Richard Onslow, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for the Increase and Encouragement of Seamen.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

East Grinstead Election.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, touching the Election for the Borough of East Grinstead, in the County of Sussex, be made upon Thursday Morning next.

Privilege of a Member in a Suit.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, touching the Matter of the Petition of the Heirs at Law and Creditors of Sir William Basset Knight, deceased, be made upon Friday Morning next.

Dut on Coals.

A Petition of the Grand Inquest for the County of Gloucester was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Duty of 5s. per Ton on Coals, imposed, by an Act, made the last Parliament, for laying a Duty upon Coals, Culm, &c. will so enhance the Price of Coals, that few or none will be water-borne; so that little Benefit will arise thereby to the Crown; and will lose the Advantage of breeding up Watermen, employed on the inland Rivers in the Coal-Trade, especially the Rivers Severn and Avon; which are a Conveyance for the Counties of Gloucester, Worcester, and Salop: That this Tax is very unequal in the measure; for that a Chaldron of Coals, which pays but 5s. contains more Coals than a Ton, which pays the same Duty: And the Petitioners conceive, That Sea-Coal ought to pay a higher Duty than Pit Coals, because they are now protected from Privateers, and may sell cheaper; whereas, the Ton-Coal, that receives no manner of Advantage, will be advanced 5s. per Ton, to the very great Hardship of the Petitioners, and the utter Ruin of the Poorer Sort of People, who already murmur at the Inequality of this Tax: And praying, That the said Act may be explained in favour of the Petitioners; or that the said Duty may be taken off from ton-borne-Coal, and changed for a more equal Tax; as the House shall think fit.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee appointed to consider of the Act, made the last Parliament, for granting to his Majesty certain Duties upon Glass Wares, Stone and Earthen Bottles, Coals, and Culm, for carrying on the War against France; and the Doubts and Complaints relating thereunto.

Coinage.

The House resumed the adjourned Debate of Saturday last, upon the Amendment, made by the Lords, to the Bill, intituled, An Act for regulating the Coinage of the Silver Money of this Kingdom:

And the said Amendment was again read.

And the Question being put, That the House do agree with the Lords in the said Amendment;

It passed in the Negative.

Press 11. L. 13th, 15th, 16th, B, and C, Amendments, being severally read a Second time, were, upon the Question severally put thereupon, disagreed unto by the House.

Resolved, That a Conference be desired with the Lords upon the Subject-matter of the Amendments, made by the Lords, to the said Bill.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to prepare Reasons, to be offered at a Conference with the Lords, for disagreeing with the Lords in the said Amendments:

And it is referred to Mr. Chancellor of Exchequer, Sir Joseph Williamson, Mr. Moyle, Mr. Whitacre, Mr. Wharton, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Dolben, Mr. Smith, Mr. Heveningham, Mr. Gwynn, Sir Chr. Musgrave, Lord Pawlet, Mr. Harley, Lord Coningsby, Sir Wm. Williams, Mr. Boyle, Sir John Thompson, Lord Ranelagh, Mr. Hooper, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Bridges, Mr. Comptroller, Sir Wm. Cooper, Colonel Granvill, Mr. Molyneux, Sir Tho. Littleton, Mr. Elwill, Sir Fra. Massam, Lord Cavendish, Lord Cornbury, Sir Fra. Winnington, Mr. Brereton, Mr. Byerly, Mr. Norris, Sir Walter Young, Mr. Etlerick, Mr. Neale, Mr. Newport, Lord Hide, Mr. Finch; or any Three of them: And they are to meet To-morrow Morning at Eight a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

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