House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 21 February 1696

Veneris, 21 die Februarii;

8° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Darwent Navigation.

A PETITION of the Town of Southwell, in the County of Nottingham, with other Towns adjacent thereto, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Town of Mansfeild gives the best Price for Corn thereabouts; whither the Petitioners carry it, and bring back Coals, with which many Families pay their Rents: That if the Bill now before the House, for making the River Darwent, in the County of Derby, navigable, should pass, it will lessen the Trade of the Town of Mansfeild, who sell Malt to those Countries the Town of Derby, sell unto; and, consequently, the Price of the Petitioners Corn will be brought lower, and their Coals come home the heavier: And praying, That they may be heard, to shew their Reasons against Passing of the said Bill.

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

Stamford Election.

Ordered, That Sir Pury Cust have Leave to withdraw his Petition touching the Election for the Borough of Stamford, in the County of Lincolne.

Coparcenary Lands.

A Bill for the more easy obtaining Partitions of Lands in Coparcenary was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Fownes' Estate.

Sir Wm. Coriton reported from the Committee, to whom the ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable John Fownes Esquire to sell certain Lands, in the County of Devon, which were settled on his Marriage; and to settle other Lands, of an equal Value, to the same Uses; was committed; that they had examined and considered the same; and had directed him to report the same to the House, without any Amendment: And he delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table.

Guineas coined.

Ordered, That Mr. Whitacre, Mr. Watlington, Sir Sa. Barnardiston, Mr. Clark, be added to the Committee to whom the Consideration of the Account of Guineas coined at the Tower since Lady-day last, is referred.

Vesting Tutbury in the Crown.

Ordered, That the Committee, to whom the Bill for revesting in his Majesty the Honour of Tutbury, Forest of Needwood, several Parks, Manors, Lands, and Offices, and other Profits, thereunto belonging; and vacating certain Letters Patents therein mentioned; is committed; do report the Matter, touching the Petition of Rupert Brown, specially, to the House.

Servants Wages.

Ordered, That the Committee, to whom the Bill for the more easy Recovery of Servants Wages is committed, have Power to receive a Clause for the Punishing of such as shall steal Fruit, Turneps, and other Roots.

Ryder's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to confirm and establish an Exchange made between Thomas Ryder Esquire, and Christopher Clithero Esquire, of certain Messuages in London, for the Manors of Bilsington, and other Lands, in Kent, of the like Value, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Rotherhith Church.

A Bill to enable Trustees to raise Money for making a wet Dock, and improving the Estate of the Marquis and Marchioness of Tavistock at Rotherhith, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Conyers, Sir Marm. Wivell, Lord Digby, Sir Jos. Tily, Sir John Bolles, Mr. Hamond, Sir Fra. Massam, Mr. Sandford, Lord Russell, Mr. Whitacre, Lord Cavendish, Mr. Grey, Sir Robert Davers, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Pepys, Mr. Frewen, Sir Ro. Cotton, Sir Wm. Coriton, Lord Ro. Russel, Mr. Arnold, Colonel Gibson, Sir Richard Atkyns, Admiral Russell, Mr. Mountague, Mr. Lowther, Sir Thomas Littleton, Mr. Farrer, Lord Edw. Russell, Mr. Blake, Sir Wm. Williams, Mr. England, Sir Geo. Hungerford, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Colt, Sir Ri. Onslow, Lord Newport, Mr. Foley, Mr. Baldwyn, Colonel Granvill, Lord Cornbury, Mr. Boyle, Sir Har. Hobart, Lord Coningsby, Mr. Watlington, Mr. Blofeild, Sir Wm. Ashurst, Mr. Vaughan, Mr. Tredenham: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Address for the speedy equipping the Navy.

Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, by such Members of this House as are of his Majesty's most honourable PrivyCouncil, That he will please to give effectual Orders for the speedy Manning, and setting forth of the Navy Royal to Sea.

Maidwell Rectory.

A Bill for settling divers Lands, and Rent-charge, on the Rector of the Church of Maidwell, in the County of Northampton, and his Successors; and, in lieu thereof, for settling other Lands, and discharging Tythes belonging to the said Church; according to several Agreements between the Patron and the said Rector, made upon the Inclosing of Lands in Maidwell; and afterwards, with Consent of the Ordinary, confirmed by several Decrees in the High Court of Chancery; was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Conyers, Lord Ashley, Mr. Culliford, Mr. Norres, Sir John Bolles, Sir Jac. Ashley, Sir Fra. Massam, Mr. Heveningham, Sir Ro. Davers, Lord Cornbury, Mr. Ash, Mr. Daniell, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Henley, Sir William Twisden, Mr. Baldwyn, Mr. Colt, Mr. Papillion, Sir Henry Colt, Mr. Blofeild, Sir Marm. Wivell, Lord Robert Russell, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Fleming, Mr. Whitacre, Lord Edward Russell, Mr. Burdet, Mr. England, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Hamond, Sir Tho. Roberts, Admiral Russell, Mr. Sandford, Mr. Bagnold, Mr. Blake, Mr. How, Sir Wm. Lowther, Mr. Mawdit, Mr. Swift, Mr. Moore, Mr. Frewen, Sir Sam. Barnardiston, Mr. Holmes, Mr. Farrer, Lord Coningsby, Mr. Stockdale; and all that serve for the County of Northampton: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Register of Ships.

Mr. Papillion, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for registring of Bills of Sales of Ships and Vessels: And the Bill was received.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cook and Sir Lacon Wm. Child:

Mr. Speaker,

Barkham's Estate.

The Lords have passed a Bill, intituled, An Act for making good the last Will of Sir William Barkham Baronet, deceased: and vesting of Lands in Trustees, to be sold, for Payment of his Debts, and making Provision for his Children: And also,

Midford's Estate.

A Bill, intituled, An Act to enable Trustees to sell the Manor of Pespoole, in the County of Durham, Part of the Estate of William Midford, an Infant, for Payment of Debts, and Incumbrances charged thereon; and for pre serving the rest of the said Infant's Estate:

To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Rosse Bridge

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for taking off the Duty of Pontage upon Rosse Bridge; and for the maintaining the said Bridge at the Charge of the County of Hereford: And that the Lord Coningsby and Mr. Thomas Foley junior do prepare, and bring, the Bill.

Stretching Woollen Cloth.

A Petition of divers Merchants, Clothiers, Fullers, and other Inhabitants, of the City of Exon, trading and concerned in the Woollen Manufacture, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That although all Persons are prohibited from using any Instrument for stretching the Drapery of this Kingdom, yet several Persons at Exon use an Engine, called a Skee, wherewith they stretch Cloth, to the Detriment of the said Manufacture, and the Petitioners: And praying, That some speedy Course may be taken to prevent the Use of the said Engine.

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

Creditors of late Queen Mary.

A Petition of several Tradesmen who served the late Queen Mary, on behalf of themselves, and others, was presented to the House and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners, in their several Trades, served the said Queen with Commodities, at reasonable Rates, before her Departure; for which they have received no Satisfaction: That, some time since, there was a Bill in this House, for vesting in his now Majesty and the late Queen the Lands and Estate of the said Queen; and, upon the Petitioners Application, this House ordered a Clause for their Relief; but that Session ended before any thing done therein: That the Petitioners are informed, those Lands have been granted to certain Persons, by Privy Seal, without any Regard to the Petitioner's Right; and that a Bill is now depending in this House, for confirming a Grant, under the Great Seal of England, to Arthur Earl of Torrington, by King William and Queen Mary, of several Parcels of Land, Part of the great Level of the Fens, called Bedford Level; and for the better enabling the said Earl to recover the Arrears of Rent, and Mesne Profits; whereby, the Petitioners are advised, they shall be utterly excluded from receiving any Satisfaction for their just Debts: And praying the Consideration and Relief of the House in the Premises; and that they may be heard before the Passing of the said Bill.

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

Preventing Robberies.

A Petition of Daniel Beckman and Charles Lownes, Citizens of London, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That frequent Robberies committed in this Nation is one of the greatest Grievances thereof; and Committees were appointed, in the Two last Sessions, to consider of more effectual Ways to prevent the same: That the Petitioners conceive, they can propose such Methods as will entirely remove and prevent such Robberies for the future; and thereby also raise some Hundred thousands of Pounds to the Government: And praying, That they may be heard by the House, to offer their said Methods to the Consideration of the House.

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

And it is referred to Sir John Bolles, Mr. Harrison, Sir Godfry Copley, Mr. Burdet, Sir Robert Davers, Mr. Sanford, Mr. Tyly, Mr. How, Sir Jacob Ashley, Mr. Frewen, Mr. Gwynn, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Heveningham, Mr. White, Sir Wm. Ashurst, Sir Marm. Wivell, Mr. Ash, Mr. Waller, Sir Wm. Coriton, Mr. Thornhagh, Sir Tho. Dyke, Sir Henry D. Colt, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Mountague, Mr. Colt, Mr. Pocklington, Colonel Perry, Sir Geo. Fletcher, Mr. Farrer, Sir John Manwaring, Mr. Bohun, Sir Robert Cotton, Sir Rich. Atkins, Sir Ra. Dutton, Sir Richard Temple, Sir Walter Yong, Lord Ranelagh, Sir Wm. Lowther, Lord Cornbury, Mr. Bertie, Mr. Norres, Mr. Freke, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Elson, Mr. Manley, Mr. Tredenham, Mr. Mordaunt, Mr. Elwell: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Preventing Export of Wool.

A Petition of the Inhabitants of the Town of Dunstar, in the County of Somerset, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Inhabitants of Bridgwater having petitioned the House for making Bridgwater a Staple Port for the Discharge of Irish Wool, the Petitioners conceive it is more to advance the Interest of a few private Persons, than the publick Good; for that Minehed is the most convenient Place for the Staple; from whence the Petitioners, and all the Western Country, have, Time out of Mind, been supplied with Wool; and, besides, Bridgwater being an inland Town, and many Creeks and Conveniencies in the River to discharge Goods, the King may thereby be defrauded of his Customs: And praying, That Bridgwater may not be made a Staple Port; for that it will be a great Charge to the Western Country to fetch Wool from thence.

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

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Elson have Leave to go into the Country for a Fortnight, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Ordered, That the Lord Irwin have Leave to go into the Country for a Month, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

Regulating Elections.

An ingrossed Bill for further Regulating of Elections of Members in Parliament was read the Third time.

An ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider, That an Estate in Reversion of double the Values required by the Act shall qualify such Reversioner to be a Member to serve in Parliament:

And the same was twice read:

And the Question being put, That the Clause be read the Third time;

It passed in the Negative.

Another ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider, That the Act shall not extend to the City of London:

And the same was read the First time:

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

It passed in the Negative.

An Amendment was proposed to be made in the Preamble of the Bill, L. 3, to leave out "at this Time:"

And the same was, upon the Question put, agreed unto by the House; and the Bill amended at the Table accordingly.

The Question being put, That the Bill do pass;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

And the Title to be, An Act for the further Regulating of Elections of Members to serve in Parliament.

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

Garbling Spices.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Consideration of the Petition of the West-India Merchants, relating to the Garbling of Spices, was referred, be made upon this Day Sevennight.

Supply Bill; Duties on Wines, &c.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for continuing several Duties, granted by former Acts, upon Wine and Vinegar, and upon Tobacco, and East-India Goods, and other Merchandize, imported, for carrying on the War against France was committed, be made To-morrow Morning.

Encouraging Seamen.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Bill for the Increase and Encouragement of Seamen was committed, be made To-morrow Morning.

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