House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 30 December 1695

Lunæ, 30 die Decembris ;

Septimo Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Parkins' Estate.

AN ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Sir Thomas Parkins Baronet to sell certain Messuages, Lands, and Hereditaments, in Huby and Easingwould, in the County of York; and settling other Lands and Hereditaments, of greater Value, in lieu thereof; was read a Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill, with the Amendment, do pass.

Ordered, That Sir John Bolles do carry the Bill to the Lords, and acquaint them, That this House hath agreed to the Bill, with an Amendment: To which they desire their Lordships Concurrence.

Avon Navigation.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to make navigable the River Avon, in the County of Somerset, between the Cities of Bath and Bristoll: And that Mr. Blathwaite and Mr. Heveningham do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Stoughton's, &c. Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for vesting the Estate late of Sir Nicolas Stoughton and Sir Laurence Stoughton Baronets, deceased, in Trustees, to be sold, for the Payment of their Debts, and raising Portions, for the Daughters of the said Sir Nicolas Stoughton, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Whitacre, Sir Gervas Elwes, Mr. Baldwyn, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Bowyer, Mr. Farrer, Mr. Henly, Mr. Norris, Sir Matth. Andrews, Mr. Burdet, Mr. Frewen, Sir Robert Davers, Sir Richard Sandford, Mr. Venables, Mr. Hedger, Mr. Waller, Mr. Ash, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Foley, Mr. Bagnold, Mr. England, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Stonehouse, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Baldwyn, Mr. Mountague, Mr. Parker, Mr. Harvey: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Four a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Supply Bill; Annuities.

Sir Thomas Littleton reported from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for enlarging the Times for Persons to come in, and purchase certain Annuities, therein mentioned; and for continuing the Duties formerly charged on low Wines, and Spirits, of the first Extraction; for carrying on the War against France; was committed; the Amendments made by the Committee to the said Bill; which he read in his Place; 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, some of them disagreed, and the Residue agreed, unto by the House.

A Clause was offered, with Blanks, for a Liberty of Pre-emption to the Bank of England; and twice read; and, by Leave of the House, withdrawn.

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

State of the Nation.

Colonel Granville, according to the Order of the Day, reported, from the Committee of the whole House, who were to consider further of the State of the Nation; and of Ways and Means for raising Twelve hundred thousand Pounds, for Supply of the Deficiency of the clipped Money; the Resolutions of the said Committee; 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 raising the Twelve hundred thousand Pounds, for supplying the Deficiency of the Coin, a Duty be laid upon all Dwelling-houses, except Cottages.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Duty be Two Shillings yearly upon each House.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That every House having Ten Windows do pay Four Shillings yearly, over and above the said Two Shillings.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That every House having Twenty Windows do pay Eight Shillings yearly, over and above the said Two Shillings.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Duties be paid by the Inhabitants of the said Houses.

Ordered, That the said Resolutions be re-committed to the said Committee of the whole House.

Darwent Navigation.

Ordered, That the Bill for making navigable the River Darwen, in the County of Derby, be read a Second time upon Friday Morning next.

Encouragement of Privateers.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Wednesday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for Encouragement of Privateers.

Ways and Means.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of Ways and Means for raising the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for carrying on the War against France.

Ditto.

Sir Thomas Littleton reported, from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred to consider of Ways and Means for raising the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for carrying on the War against France, the Resolutions of the said Committee; which they had directed him to report to the House; which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were read; and are as follow; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for carrying on the War against France, an Aid, not exceeding Four Shillings in the Pound, for One Year, be laid upon all Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments, according to the true yearly Value thereof.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for carrying on the War against France, an Aid, also not exceeding Four Shillings in the Pound, be laid upon all personal Estates, other than Houshold Goods, and Stock upon Lands; and upon all Offices and Employments of Profit, other than military Offices in the Army, Navy, and Ordnance; according to the true yearly Profit thereof.

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

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in according to the said Resolutions: And that Mr. Attorney-General, Mr. Solicitor-General, and Mr. Serjeant Bond, do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Portsmouth Election.

A Petition of John Gibson Esquire was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner, and Matthew Aylmer Esquire, stood Candidates at the Election of a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Portsmouth, in the County of Southampton; and the Petitioner was duly elected by the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses, in whom the Right of Election is: But Mr. Aylmer, by many undue Practices, and by setting up the Right of Election to be in the Populace, who never pretended to have any Vote until since the Revolution, and the same never controverted, hath procured himself to be returned in the same Indenture with the Petitioner; whereby the Petitioner is hindered from sitting in the House, till the Matter of the Return be determined: For which Reason, he intended to petition the House, but that he was informed, he ought to stay until the Return came to the Clerk of the Crown; which was not till this Morning, as the Petitioner is informed; though Mr. Aylmer hath obtained an Order, upon his Petition, for a speedy Hearing, upon a Suggestion, that the Return was then with the Clerk of the Crown, and that the Petitioner procured the same to be made; which could not be; for that the Petitioner was absent, from Portsmouth, when Mr. Aylmer, by Threats, procured the Mayor to make the said Return: And praying, That the House will appoint a time for hearing the Merits of the Election, as well as the Right of the Return.

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.

Ordered, That the said Committee do hear and examine the Matter of the said Petition, at the same time they hear and examine the Matter of the Petition of Matthew Aylmer Esquire.

Privilege of a Member in a Suit.

Sir Edward Hungerford attending in his Place, according to Order;

The Petition relating to him, presented to the House on Friday last, was read; setting forth, That Sir William Basset, being seized and possessed of a considerable real and personal Estate, in September 1693, made his Will; and made Sir Edward Hungerford, and John Hill Gentleman, deceased, his Executors, in Trust, to pay his Debts, and some few Legacies; and, after 100 l. apiece paid to his Executors, he gave the Residue of his Estate, so as it ought to go, to the Sisters and Coheirs of Sir Wm. Basset: That there are Suits in Chancery, by the Petitioners and Creditors, to have the Trust executed; to which Sir Edward Hungerford answered, in time of Privilege of last Parliament; but now insists upon the same; so that the Petitioners dare not venture to proceed in the said Suits, without Leave of the House: And praying Leave to proceed in the said Suits, without incurring the Displeasure of the House.

And the said Sir Edward Hungerford was heard in his Place.

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 to the House.

Red Lyon-square (St. Andrew's Holborn) new Parish.

A Petition of the Inhabitants of Red Lyon-square, Bedford-walk, &c. was presented to the House.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the Bill for the building a Church there be brought in, according the Order of the House.

Ways and Means.

Resolved, That this House do immediately resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of Ways and Means for raising the Twelve hundred thousand Pounds, for Supply of the Deficiency of the clipped Money.

And the House resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House accordingly.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Colonel Granville took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Colonel Granville reported from the said Committee, That they had come to a further Resolution than those which were re-committed to them; and that they had directed him to report all the Resolutions, when the House will please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the said Report be made To-morrow Morning.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

Committees.

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