House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 23 January 1696

Jovis, 23 die Januarii ;

Septimo Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Half-pence and Farthings.

ORDERED, That Mr. Brewer, Sir William Scawen, Mr. Vincent, Sir Godfry Copley, Mr. Moncton, Mr. Pendarvis, Mr. Granville, Sir Tho. Travell, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Pepys, Mr. Mawdit, Mr. Manly, Mr. Neale, be added to the Committee, to whom it is referred to consider the Matter of the Complaint, made to the House, touching Half-pence and Farthings.

Lord Pawlet's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable the Lord Francis Pawlet to charge his Estate with Provisions for his younger Children, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Lord Marquis of Winton, Mr. Watlington, Sir Robert Davers, Mr. Knight, Mr. Ash, Mr. Slater, Mr. Bridges, Mr. Bertie, Mr. Tho. Foley junior, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Smith, Mr. Parker, Mr. Vincent, Mr. Chadwick, Mr. Hedger, Mr. Bagnold, Mr. Machell, Colonel Perry, Sir Edward Acton, Mr. Morgan, Sir Wm. Ashurst, Sir Robert Cotton, Sir Tho. Mompesson, Mr. Winington, Sir Ralph Ashton, Mr. Osborne, Mr. Brewer, Mr. How, Sir Tho. Grosvenor, Mr. Kinaston: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock in the Speaker's Chamber.

Avon Navigation.

Mr. Blathwaite, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for making the River Avon, in the County of Wilts, Gloucester, and Somerset, navigable: And the Bill was received.

Ordered, That the Bill be read upon Saturday Morning.

Darwent Navigation.

A Petition of the Bailiffs, Magistrates, Sheriff, Tradesmen, and other Inhabitants, in and about the City of Litchfeild, being adjacent and near the Town of Derby, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners conceive, the making of the River Darwent, in the County of Derby, navigable, will be of great Convenience and Benefit; the Charge of Land-carriage thereby much lessened, and Trade encouraged; and will be for the general Good of the adjacent Countries; and not prejudicial to any Persons: And praying the Consideration of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Bill for making the said River navigable is committed.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Gentry, Freeholders, and others, assembled at the Quarter-Sessions, held for the County of Chester, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the making the River Darwent, in the County of Derby, . . . ., will be of great Advantage, not only to the said County, but to the neighbouring Counties; Land-Carriage lessened, and thereby the Highways preserved, which are unpassable in Winter; Trade will be much encouraged, and consequently the Rents of Lands advanced; the Carriages used for carrying Goods to the River of Trent may have other profitable Employments; and no Person damnified, but that may receive reasonable Satisfaction: And praying the Consideration of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Bill for making the said River navigable is committed.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

Plantation Trade.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for preventing Frauds, and regulating Abuses, in the Plantation-Trade: And that Mr. Chadwick and Mr. Blathwaite do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Methods of granting Money.

Ordered, That all the Gentlemen of the Long Robe be added to the Committee appointed to inspect the Methods of granting Money: And that Sir John Bolles, Mr. Ash, Mr. Foley, Mr. Pagit, be added to the said Committee.

Supply Bill; Land Tax.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Bill for granting to his Majesty an Aid of Four Shillings in the Pound, for One Year, for carrying on the War against France.

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 gone through the Bill, and made several Amendments; which they had directed him to report, when the House will please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the said Report be made upon Saturday Morning next.

Answer to Address.

Mr. Speaker reported, That he, with the House, did Yesterday present their Address to his Majesty: And that his Majesty was pleased to express himself to this Effect:

Gentlemen,

I have Kindness for my Lord Portland, which he has deserved of me, by long and faithful Services: But I should not have given him these Lands, if I had imagined the House of Commons could have been concerned: I will therefore recall the Grant; and find some other Way of shewing my Favour to him.

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