House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 3 January 1696

Veneris, 3 die Januarii ;

Septimo Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Holbourn and Finsbury Court of Conscience.

SIR John Wolstenholme presented to the House, according to Order, a Bill for erecting a Court of Conscience for Holbourn and Finsbury Division, for recovery of small Debts under Forty Shillings.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Bigg's Estate.

A Petition of Thomas Bigg and Elizabeth his Wife, on behalf of themselves, and all their Children, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the said Thomas is seized of a Farm called Upstreet Farm, and several other Lands and Tenements, in the County of Kent, to the Use of himself for Life; Remainder to the said Eliz. for Life; Remainder to the Issue between them begotten; Remainder to the said Thomas in Fee: That the Petitioners are in Debt, and have several small Children to provide for; but cannot sell the said Premises to pay their Debts, and provide for their Children, without an Act of Parliament to enable them thereto: And praying Leave to bring in a Bill to enable them, by Sale, or other Disposition, of the Premises, to raise Money for the Payment of their Debts, and making Provision for their Children.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to a Committee: And that they do examine the Matter; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House:

And it is referred to Sir Wm. Honywood, Sir Eliab Harvey, Sir Ra. Dutton, Sir Bazil Dixwell, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Slater, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Campion, Mr. Stonehouse, Mr. Manly, Sir Gerv. Elwes, Mr. Car, Sir Sam. Barnardiston, Mr. Gauntlet, Mr. Baldwyn, Doctor Oxenden, Sir Robert Davers, Mr. Hedger, Mr. Colt, Mr. Hooper, Mr. Burdet, Mr. Lowther, Sir John Key, Mr. Sandford, Sir Wm. Cooper, Mr. Moore, Sir Wm. Coriton, Sir Fra. Massam, Mr. Dolben, Mr. Waller, Sir Wm. Ellis, Sir Wm. Lowther, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Haines, Mr. Onslow, Mr. Blofeild, Lord Fairfax; and all the Members that serve for the County of Kent: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Four a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Brunskell's Claims for discovering Abuses.

A Petition of Percivall Brunskell Gentleman was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner did, in 1674, being obliged by Oath, discover many undue Practices in all the Courts of Justice, and proposed a Remedy; insomuch, that King Charles the II. gave him the Office of Surveyor of the Green Wax Fines, and a Commissioner's Place in the Alienation-Office; but the other Commissioners of the Alienation so mismanaged the same, and misrepresented the Petitioner, that he spent more Money than he got by that Office: That, upon the late King's Access to the Crown, he was laid aside; but, upon this Revolution, his Majesty did signify, That the Petitioner should be restored; yet, though the Lord Chief Baron, and 50 Members of the Convention, did certify, That the Petitioner deserved a Reward, and was the fittest Person for the said Offices, others have been preferred thereto: That, afterwards, the Petitioner preferred his Case and Proposals to the Parliament in 1690: and since, several Laws have been made to redress the Abuses set forth in his Case: And, last Session, it was reported from a Committee of this House, That the Petitioner's Case was worthy the Consideration of the House; and that an Address be made to his Majesty, to consider the Petitioner's Services and Sufferings; and reward the same: But, many Members being gone home, and the rest being busy, to find out Persons suspected guilty of Bribery, in buying and selling Offices, no Report was made to his Majesty, by the House, of the Petitioner's Case; so that the Petitioner remains still unrewarded, and stripped of his Estate, and Practice as an Attorney, by reason of his discovering the former Abuses committed in the Courts of Justice; to the Ruin of himself and Family: And praying, That the House will take his said Case into Consideration, and give him such Relief therein as shall be just.

Resolved, That the said Petition be rejected.

Duty on Coals.

A Petition of the Borough and Parish of Stratford upon Avon, and of the adjacent Towns of Luddington, Binton, and also of Bidford and Barton, Martcleeve, and Broom, situate near the River of Avon, in the County of Warwick, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, above Fifty Years ago, the said River was, at great Charge, made navigable for the Conveyance of Coals from the River Severne, to the several Places, not only where the Petitioners live, but many Villages in Northamptonshire and Oxonshire; which is of great Conveniency, and the Poor thereby supplied with Fuel at moderate Rates; but by reason of an Act, of the last Parliament, which lays a Duty upon water-borne Coal, the Charge is so oppressive, that, since that Act, the Barge-masters have ceased from carrying Coal by Water; and must do so, they hardly making Wages at the former Rates; so that all Persons are incommoded, and the Poor near starved, and ready to mutiny; and no Income accrues to his Majesty by the said Duty: And praying, That the House will take their Condition into Consideration, and provide some speedy Relief in the Premises.

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 of the Doubts and Complaints relating thereunto; and report the Matter to the House.

Darwent Navigation.

A Bill to make navigable the River Darwent, in the County of Derby, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Hammond, Sir Henry Goff, Sir Wm. Lowther, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Blofeild, Sir Robert Davers, Lord Cavendish, Mr. Price, Mr. Pepys, Mr. Tho. Foley, Mr. Lassells, Mr. Dolben, Sir John Bolles, Lord Pawlet, Sir John Fagg, Mr. York, Mr. Ri. How, Lord Coningsby, Mr. Thornhagh, Mr. Ashby, Mr. Papillon, Mr. Burdet, Sir Wm. Scawen, Mr. Justin. Isham, Mr. Harley, Mr. Ph. Foley, Mr. Smith, Mr. Bowyer, Mr. Molyneux, Mr. Morgan, Colonel Granville, Mr. Slater, Mr. England, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Stonehouse, Mr. Pocklington, Mr. Jennings, Mr. White, Sir John Kay, Sir Cha. Keymish, Sir Wm. Husler, Mr. Peirpoint, Sir Ra. Dutton, Sir Scroop How, Mr. Hooper, Mr. Bagnold, Sir Marm. Wyvell, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Boyle, Mr. Whitacre, Sir John Wolstenholm, Mr. Sands, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Parker, Sir Jacob Ashley, Sir Fra. Massam, Mr. Paget, Mr. Fleming, Mr. Bromley, Mr. Watlington, Sir Wm. Cooper, Sir Edw. Abney, Mr. Colt, Sir Robert Clayton, Mr. Palmes, Mr. Manley: And all that come are to have Voices: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Four a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers.

Supply Bill; Annuities.

An ingrossed 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, or Spirits of the first Extraction; for carrying on the War against France; was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act 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, or Spirits of the first Extraction; for carrying on the War against France.

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

Ease of Sheriffs.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the Ease of Sheriffs in the Execution of their Office, and passing their Accounts: And that Mr. Harley do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Supply Bill; Land Tax.

A Bill for granting to his Majesty an Aid of Four Shillings in the Pound, for One Year, for carrying on the War against France, was read a Second time.

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

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

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cook and Mr. Pitts:

Mr. Speaker,

Parkins' Estate.

The Lords have agreed to the Amendment, made by this House, to the Bill, intituled, An Act for enabling Sir Thomas Parkins Baronet to sell certain Messuages, Lands, and Hereditaments, in Huby and Easingwould, in the County of York; and for settling other Lands and Hereditaments, of greater Value, in lieu thereof. Also,

Earl of Kent's Jointure.

The Lords have passed a Bill, intituled, An Act to enable Anthony Earl of Kent, and Henry Grey his Son and Heir apparent, to make a Jointure for Jemima, Wife of the said Henry Grey: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House. Also,

Coinage.

The Lords desire a present Conference with this House, in the Painted Chamber, upon the Subject-matter of a Bill, intituled, An Act for regulating the Coinage of the Silver Money of this Kingdom, sent up from this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Resolved, That this House doth agree to a Conference, as the Lords do desire.

And the Messengers were called in again; and Mr. Speaker acquainted them therewith.

Ordered, That Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Bridges, Mr. Moyle, Mr. Comptroller, Mr. Dolben, Colonel Granville, Sir Chr. Musgrave, Sir Tho. Littleton, Mr. Harley, Lord Hide, Lord Marquis Winton, Sir Fra. Massam, Sir John Thompson, Mr. Brereton, Mr. Hooper, Lord Cornbury, Mr. Wharton, Mr. Heveningham, Sir Wm. Cooper, Mr. Smith, Sir Fra. Molyneux, Mr Gwynn, Serjeant Wogan, Lord Coningsby, Mr. Elwill, Mr. Boyle, Lord Cavendish, Sir John Lowther, Sir Fra. Winington, Lord Ranelagh, Mr. Byerley, do manage the said Conference.

And the Managers went to the Conference.

And, being returned;

Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer reported, That they had met the Lords at the Conference; and that the Lord Rochester managed the same on the Part of the Lords: And said, It was desired, for preserving good Correspondence between the Two Houses: And that the Lords had made many Amendments to the Bill, sent from this House, for regulating the Coinage of the Silver Money of this Kingdom; which his Lordship opened to them: And further acquainted them, That the Lords have directed this Bill, with the Amendments made to it by their Lordships, to be delivered at a Conference; being willing to take that Opportunity of acquainting the House of Commons, That their Lordships are sensible, the Alterations they have made in this Bill, will fall very short of what may be requisite to be done upon a Subject so nice, and of so general a Concern; But their Lordships persuade themselves, That what soever may prove defective in these Clauses and Alterations, will be fully supplied by the Care and Prudence of the House of Commons.

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