House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 8 February 1696

Sabbati, 8 die Februarii;

7° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Baliol College Estate.

MR. Harcourt, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to ascertain and settle the Payment of the Impropriate Tythes of the Parish of St. Laurence, Old Jury, in London, to the Master and Scholars of Baliol College in Oxford; and for confirming an Award made concerning the same.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Darwent Navigation.

A Petition of the Bailiffs and Aldermen, Burgesses and Inhabitants, of the Borough of East-Retford, in the County of Nottingham, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Bill, now before the House, for making the River Darwent, in the County of Derby, navigable, will be a great Damage to the Petitioners, who generally subsist by sending Wheat, Malt, and other Commodities, into the West, by the Return of Lead Carriages, which bring Lead to Bawtry, and by their Trade with the Town of Stockwith: That this intended Navigation will cut off their said Communication, and thereby starve many Families, and destroy the Market of the said Borough; and will be a greater Injury than a Good to the Publick: And praying, That they may be heard, by Counsel, at the Bar of the House, touching the Premises.

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

Ditto.

A Petition of divers Carriers of Lead, and other Goods to and from the Town of Nottingham, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Bill, now depending in the House, for making the River Darwent, in the County of Derby, navigable will utterly ruin the Petitioners, and their Families, who solely subsist upon the Land-carriage of Lead, from the Mills to the Town of Nottingham; where they are always furnished with Loading back to Workworth, and other neighbouring Towns; by which Carriage and Re-carriage the Petitioners, and their Cattle, are employed; and thereby they are enabled to pay their Rents, which otherwise they cannot do, if the said Navigation should be effected: And praying, That the House will remove their present Fears, and prevent their future Ruin, by quashing the said Bill.

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

Darwent Navigation.

A Petition of the Inhabitants of Blithe, in the County of Nottingham, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there is a Bill now depending in the House, for making the River Darwent, in the County of Derby, navigable; which Navigation will be a great Damage to the Petitioners, who chiefly depend upon the Land-carriage of Lead from Derbyshire to the River Idle, at Bawtry, and the Re-carriage of Corn, Malt, and other Commodities, from thence into Darbyshire; and that the said Navigation will be a greater Prejudice than Advantage to most of his Majesty's Subjects: And pray ing, That they may be heard, at the Bar of the House, against the said Bill.

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

Ditto.

A Petition of the Gentry, Freeholders, Tradesmen, Salters, and Carriers, and others, at, in, and near, the Towns of Middlewich and Namptwich, in the County of Chester, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the making of the River Darwent, in the County of Derby, navigable, from the River Trent to the Town of Derby, will be of great Benefit to the County of Derby; and will preserve their Highways, which are almost unpassable, by reason of the great Land-carriage of Iron, Lead, Mill-stones, and other ponderous Commodities, down to the Trent: and thereby lessen the Charge of Carriage, and encourage Trade, and advance the Rent of Lands: 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 of Darwent navigable is committed.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Lead-merchants, Cheesemongers, and other Traders, in and about the Cities of London and Westminster, who trade into the Counties of Derby, Stafford, Warwick, and Chester, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners deal for great Quantities of Lead, Copper, Cheese, Butter, and other Commodities, the Product of the said Counties; which the Petitioners could afford to sell cheaper, if the Charge of Carriage were lessened; and thereby the King's Subjects reap the Advantage, and the Petitioners encouraged in their Trades: That the Bill, now depending in the House, for making the River Darwent, in the County of Derby, navigable, will lessen the Charge of bringing those Commodities to London: And praying, That the House will take the premises into Consideration.

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

Stanhope's, &c. Nat.

A Bill for naturalizing James Stanhope Esquire, and others, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir John Bolles, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Bertie, Sir Robert Clayton, Mr. Burdet, Mr. Moore, Mr. Conyers, Colonel Perry, Mr. Heveningham, Colonel Gibson, Mr. Dolben, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Bickerstaff, Mr. Foley, Mr. Watlington, Mr. Farrer, Sir Richard Atkins, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Owen, Mr. Stokes, Mr. Hoblyn, Mr. Pocklington, Mr. Baldwyn, Mr. Whitacre, Mr. Norris, Mr. Foley, Mr. Thornhagh, Mr. England, Mr. Slater, Mr. Hobby, Mr. Knight, Mr. Packer, Mr. Sayer, Mr. Bowyer, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Hunt, Mr. Moyle, Mr. Mawdit, Mr. Mountague, Sir Tho. Day: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

Fines' of ancient Demesne Lands.

A Bill for proclaiming Fines levied of ancient Demesnelands, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Conyers, Mr. Farrer, Mr. Heveningham, Mr. Dolben, Sir Wm. Ashurst, Serjeant Bond, Sir John Bolles, Colonel Perry, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Berty, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Pocklington, Mr. Foley, Mr. Parker, Mr. Newport, Mr. Thornhagh, Mr. Foley junior, Mr. Stokes, Mr. Baldwyn, Mr. Stringer, Sir Marm. Wyvell, Mr. Norres, Mr. Moyle, Mr. Moor, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Knight, Mr. Whitacre, Sir Wm. Lowther, Mr. Pelham, Sir Tho. Estcourt, Mr. Mountague, Mr. Cary, Mr. Bickerstaffe: and all the Gentlemen of the Long Robe: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers.

Wapping Highways.

A Petition of the Inhabitants of the Parish of Saint John of Wapping, in the County of Middlesex, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That by an Act, made the last Parliament, the said Parish was made a distinct Parish from the Parish of Whitechapel; but is obliged to contribute towards the Repairs of the Highways of the Parish of Whitechapel, which lie near a Mile from the new Parish: That the Act does not determine which Part of the Highways the Petitioners are to repair, by reason of which Uncertainty, many Differences have arose between the Two Parishes; and the Petitioners are liable to many Indictments, which might be prevented, if they were at a Certainty: And praying, That the House will appoint certain Persons to set out what Part of the Highways the Petitioners shall keep in Repair.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table.

Clitheroe Election.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, touching the Election for the Borough of Clitheroe, in the County of Lancaster, be made upon this Day Sevennight.

Ease of Sheriffs.

Ordered, That the Lord Fairfax, Sir Thomas Stanly, Sir Ra. Delavall, Mr. Lee Banks, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Stains, Mr. Potlington, Mr. Stockdale, Mr. Etterick, Mr. Travers, Mr. Harcourt, Mr. Hoblyn, Mr. Done, be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill for the Ease of Sheriffs, in the Execution of their Office, and passing their Accounts, is committed.

High Price of Gold— Guineas at 30s.

A Petition of divers Merchants and Traders in and about the City of London, on behalf of themselves and others, was presented to the House and read; setting forth, That, by reason of the clipped and debased Money, Guineas are much used in Payment; which, by the Artifice of Brokers, and others, are advanced to Thirty Shillings apiece: That the Petitioners cannot receive Money for their Goods and Debts, without taking Guineas at that Rate; though they cannot pay them away again at the Custom-house, or on foreign Bills, or other Payments, without a Loss of Three, Four, or Five, Pounds per Cent. to the great Discouragement of Trade, and the Loss of some Hundreds of Pounds to many of the Petitioners: That there are imported from Holland, and other Parts, great Quantities of Guineas, and Gold to be coined into Guineas, which stand the Importers in about 22s. apiece; and the broad and milled Money of this Kingdom is melted down, and sent over, in Exchange thereof; whereby at least 25 l. per Cent. Profit is gotten: That great Quantities of Gold lie now ready shipped to be imported hither from Holland; and, it is feared, the Pieces of Eight now brought in the Cadiz Fleet will be exported to Holland, for the Exchange of the said Gold, by the Artifice of Brokers employed by the Importers: to the Prejudice of our Exchanges, and consequently the Impoverishing of the Kingdom, and endangering the Peace thereof: And praying the House to take the said Difficulties and Losses in their Trade into Consideration; and to provide such Relief therein as the House shall think, fit.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill to encourage the Bringing in of milled, broad, or unclipped Monies, to be exchanged, by Commissioners in the several Parts of this Realm, with the common People, for their clipped Monies; and for the Encouraging of Persons to bring Plate into the Mint, to be coined; is committed.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That the Lord Marquis of Hartington have Leave to go into the Country for a Fortnight, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Ordered, That Colonel Tipping have Leave to go to the Bath for Six Weeks, for Recovery of his Health.

Privilege.

A Complaint being made to the House, That one John Lewis hath lately entered upon some Lands, Part of Nurden Farm, in Woolhope, in the County of Hereford, the Estate of Paul Foley Esquire, Speaker of this House, and of which he, and his Tenants, have been in quiet Possession many Years; and hath set Persons at Work, to fence and inclose the same, as his own; in Breach of the Privilege of this House.

Ordered, That the said John Lewis be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, to answer the said Breach of Privilege.

Footmen not to stand on the Stairs.

A Complaint being made to the House of the Rudeness of Footmen upon the Stairs coming up to the House, notwithstanding the late Order concerning them;

Ordered, That no Footmen do, at any time, stand upon the Stairs; and if any shall so do, that the Serjeant at Arms attending this House do take them into Custody.

Backdoors of Speaker's Chamber.

Ordered, That the Backdoors of the Speaker's Chamber be locked up every Day at Eleven a Clock; and the Keys be brought by the Serjeant, and laid upon the Table.

Frauds in the Excise.

The House being informed, That one John Farthing can give Information of great Sums of Money arising by the Excise, which have been diverted into private Hands;

Ordered, That the said John Farthing do attend the Commissioners for taking and stating the Publick Accounts, and give his Information to them: And that they do report the same to the House.

Dunwich Election.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, touching the Election for the Borough of Dunwich, in the County of Suffolk, be made upon Wednesday Morning next.

Select Vestries.

A Bill for Regulating of select Vestries, and preventing Abuses arising thereby, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Members summoned.

Ordered, That the Serjeant do go with the Mace into Westminster-hall, and several Courts, and Court of Request, and summon the Members there to attend the Service of the House.

And the Serjeant went accordingly.

And, being returned with the Mace;

Recovery of small Tythes.

The House proceeded to take into Consideration the Amendments, made by the Lords, to the Bill for the more easy Recovery of small Tythes:

And the same were severally read; and agreed unto by the House; and are as follow; viz.

Skin 6. L. 10, leave out from "and," to "provided," in the 33th Line.

L. 39, after "Costs," add the Proviso marked A, That any Clerk, or other Person who shall begin any Suit for Recovery of small Tythes, not exceeding the Value of 40 s. shall have no Benefit by the Act for the same.

Ordered, That Mr. Bickerstaffe do carry the Bill to the Lords, and acquaint them, That this House hath agreed to the said Amendments.

Bamfeild's Estate.

A Petition of Alexander Popham Esquire was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Bill now depending in the House, for enabling Trustees to make Leases of the Estate of Sir Coppleston Warwick Bamfeild, an Infant, during his Infancy; and for the laying out the Monies, to be raised thereby, in Purchases, to the Uses the said Estate now is; will be much to the Petitioner's Prejudice, as the same is now penned in general Words, it extending, as he conceives, to enable the Trustees to grant Leases of the Estate of Henry Rogers Esquire, deceased, who devised the same to the Petitioner, making one Warwick Bamfeild Esquire, deceased, his Executor and Trustee: That there has been many Contests at Law, and in Equity between the Petitioner and the said Warwick Bamfeild for the said Estate; and the Petitioner is now in the actual Possession thereof: And praying, That he may be heard, by Counsel, touching the Premises.

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

Raising Militia.

The Lord Coningsby, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for raising the Militia for the Year 1696, although the Month's Pay, formerly advanced, be not repaid: And the Bill was received.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Charles Barrington have Leave to go into the Country for Ten Days, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Chamberlain's Estate.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cook and Doctor Edisbury:

Mr. Speaker,

The Lords have passed a Bill, intituled, An Act to enable Trustees to exchange Lands of Sir James Chamberlain Baronet, an Infant, lying in the common Hill or Field of Salford, in the County of Oxford, for like Quantities of Lands there, in order to the making of an Inclosure: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Proclamation for apprehending Mackenzee.

The House, being informed, That the Serjeant at Arms had, according to the Order of the House, used his utmost Endeavours to take Roderick Mackenzee; but that he could not be found;

Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to his Majesty by such Members of this House as are of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy-Council, That he will please to issue his Royal Proclamation for the apprehending the said Roderick Mackenzee.

Bringing Plate to be coined.

The House according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Bill to encourage the Bringing in of milled, broad, and unclipped Monies, to be exchanged, by the Commissioners in the several Parts of this Realm, with the common People, for their clipped Monies; and for the encouraging Persons to bring Plate into the Mint to be coined.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Smith took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Smith reported from the said Committee, That they had made a further Progress in the Matter to them referred; and had directed him to move, That they may have Leave to sit again.

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

And then the House adjourned till Monday Morning, Nine a Clock.