House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 1 December 1693

Veneris, 1 die Decembris;

5° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Justices of Peace in Wales.

MR. Lloyd, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for repealing a Clause, in the Statute of 34 and 35° Hen VIIIth, by which the Justices of Peace in Wales are limited to Eight in each County: And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Duchy of Cornwall Leasing.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to enable their Majesties to make Grants, Leases, and Copies of Offices, Lands, and Hereditaments, Parcel of their Duchy of Cornwall, or annexed to the same; and for Confirmation of Leases and Grants already made: And that Mr. Tracers do prepare, and bring in, the same.

Free Proceedings in Parliament.

Colonel Granville, according to the Order of the Day, reported from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill touching free and impartial Proceedings in Parliament was committed, That they had made some Amendments thereunto, which they had directed him to report to the House; and which he read in his Place, with the Coherence; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were once read throughout, and then a Second time, one by one; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments, be ingrossed.

Supply Bill; importing Brandy, &c.

An ingrossed Bill for Repeal of the Clause, in the Act made in the First Year of their Majesties Reign, for prohibiting all Trade and Commerce with France, which prohibits the Importation of Brandy, was read the Third time.

And an Amendment was proposed to be made in Pr. 1. L. last, to leave out "Act," and insert "Acts," instead thereof:

And the same was, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House; and the Bill was amended at the Table accordingly.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for repealing such Parts of several former Acts, as prevent or prohibit the Importation of Foreign Brandy, Aqua-Vitæ, and other Spirits, and Bacon, except from France.

Ordered, That Sir Chr. Musgrave do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Stockbridge Election.

A Petition of Henry Dawley Esquire was read; setting forth, That the Petitioner was duly elected to serve in this present Parliament, for the Borough of Stockbridg, Com. Southampton; but the Bailiff of the said Borough hath unduly returned Anth. Row Esquire, who was altogether a Stranger there; and many Votes for him were obtained by extravagant Gifts: And praying Relief in the said Matter.

Ordered, That the Examination and Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections; And that they do report the Matter thereof, with their Opinions therin, to the House.

Exporting Potters Clay.

A Petition of Edmund Warner Gentleman, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners, and his Ancestors, have been, Time out of Mind, Owners of an Estate wherein they have constantly dug a Sort of Olay, only proper for making of white Earthen-Ware, wherewith he hath always furnished the Potters of England:—That, since the general Prohibition of Commerce with France, the Dutch, who were used to have the same Sort of Clay out of the French Conquest in Flanders, have been furnished by your Petitioners:— That the Customhouse-Officers, upon Pretence that the Petitioners Clay was Fullers-Earth, seized several Vessels thereof, going to Holland: Whereupon there hath been two Tryals at the Exchequer-Bar; where it was found, that the same was not Fullers-Earth, but Potters Clay:— That the Committee for repealing a Clause in the Act 5° Eliz. having a Power to bring in a Clause to prevent the Exportation of all Earth and Clay, it will be a great Damage to the Petitioner's Inheritance: And praying to be heard in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Examination and Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee to whom the Bill, for repealing the 32d Article in the Statute of 5° Eliz. relating to Weavers of Cloth, is committed.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

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