House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 23 December 1693

Sabbati, 23 die Decembris;

5° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

. . . .

London Orphans Fund.

A PETITION of the Lady Anne Dowager Rockingham, in behalf of her younger Children, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner's late Husband, about 1681, did pay into the Chamber of London 5,000 l. by way of Loan, which was applied towards Payment of the Orphans Debts: That the Consideration of the said Orphans Debt is now before this House; and that the said 5,000 l. and great Part of the Interest, is still unpaid, which is a very considerable Part of the Provision made for her younger Children: And praying the Consideration of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Examination and Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Consideration of the Petition of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common-Council, of the City of London, relating to the Orphans, is referred.

Worcester Election.

A Petition of John Oakley Mayor, John Handy, and others, Citizens and Freemen of the City of Worcester, on the behalf of themselves, who have Right to elect Members to serve in Parliament for the said City, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That Samuell Swift Esquire hath, by divers illegal Practices, obtained a Return from the Sheriff, as if he were duly chosen a Member to serve for the said City; which, in Truth, he is not; and therefore the said Practices are unjust, and contrary to the Petitioners Rights: And praying Relief in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Examination and Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Elections and Privileges: And that they do report the Matter, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Ditto.

A Petition of Charles Cocks Esquire was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, upon the 9th Day of December instant, the Petitioner was duly chosen a Citizen to serve in this present Parliament for the City of Worcester; but one Samuell Swift Esquire is returned, in Prejudice to the Petitioner's Right: And praying the House to take his Case into their Consideration.

Ordered, That the Examination and Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Elections and Privileges: And that they do report the Matter, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Malden Election.

A Petition of several of the Inhabitants and Freemen of the Town of Malden in the County of Essex, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the said Town is a Borough by Prescription; to which divers Privileges have been added by Charters, with a Power to make By-Laws: That, of late Years, many Gentlemen have had honorary Freedoms, who have out-voted the Petitioners, contrary to the Interests of the Petitioners, and their By-Laws: That since the Precept for the last Election, in the room of Sir Thomas Darcey, deceased, several Freedoms have been given; by which means, and the great Partiality of the Bailiffs, who denied a Scrutiny of the Poll, Sir Eliab Harvey has procured himself to be returned as the Petitioners Representative; although Richard Hutchinson Esquire was duly chosen by the Majority of legal Electors: And praying Relief, as the House shall think fit, in order to prevent the like Inconveniencies for the future.

Ordered, That the Examination and Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Elections and Privileges: And that they do report the Matter, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Ordered, That the Merits of the said Petition be heard at the same time that the Merits of the Petition of Richard Hutchinson Esquire, touching the said Election, is appointed to be heard by the said Committee.

Right in Elections, &c.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill, or Bills, for settling the Right in Elections; and for preventing undue Returns of Members to serve in Parliament: And that Mr. Godolphin, Sir John Dorell, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Mr. Clark, and Sir John Moreton, do prepare, and bring in, the same.

A Person to attend.

Ordered, That Sir Charles Meredith do attend this House on Friday Morning next, Ten a Clock.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. John How have Leave to go into the Country, for Recovery of his Health.

Holbourn, &c. Court of Conscience.

A Bill for the erecting a Court of Conscience in Holbourn and Finsbury Divisions, in the County of Middlesex, was read the First time.

And the Question being put, That the Bill be read a Second time;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

5th Eliz. respecting Cloth Weavers.

Ordered, That the Committee, to whom the Bill for Repeal of the 32d Article in the Act of 5° Eliz. containing divers Orders for Artificers and others, relating to Weavers of Cloth, is committed, have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Supply Bill; Million Act Deficiency.

A Bill to supply the Deficiency of the Money raised by a former Act, intituled, An Act for granting to their Majesties certain Rates and Duties of Excise upon Beer, Ale, and other Liquors, for securing certain Recompences and Advantages to such Persons, as shall voluntarily advance the Sum of Ten hundred thousand Pounds, towards carrying on the War against France; and to impower any Persons to name a Second or Third Life for their Annuities, upon the Terms and Recompences therein mentioned; was read the Second time.

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

Resolved, That it be an Instruction to the said Committee, That they have Power to receive a Clause for giving further Time to the Contributors, that did not nominate their Nominees by the time appointed to nominate the same.

Trials for Treason.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Tuesday Sevennight next, at Ten a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for regulating of Tryals in Cases of High-Treason, and Misprision of Treason.

New East-India Company.

Resolved, That this House will, upon this Day Sevennight, at Ten a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Petition of the several Merchants, and others, in and about the City of London, relating to the East-India Trade; and for erecting a new East-India Company.

Ordered, That the Governor, or Deputy, of the EastIndia Company, do then attend this House with the old and new Charters of the said Company.

Ways and Means.

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 Supplies to be granted to their Majesties, for the Maintenance of the Fleet, and for Maintenance of the LandForces, for the Service of the Year One thousand Six hundred Ninety-four.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Sir Thomas Littleton took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir Thomas Littleton reported from the said Committee, That they had come to a Resolution; which they had directed him to report to the House, when the House would please to receive the same

Ordered, That the said Report be made the First Day of the next Sitting of the House, in the Morning.

Adjournment.

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the House be now adjourned until Tuesday Morning next.

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.