House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 28 February 1696

Veneris, 23 die Februarii;

8° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Maidwell Rectory.

MR. Conyers reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for settling divers Lands and Rents-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 committed; That they had made some Amendments to the Bill; which they had directed him to report; and which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were once read throughout; and then a Second time, one by one; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments, be ingrossed.

Prohibiting India Silks, Callicoes, &c.

A Petition of the Master, Wardens, and Assistants, of the Company of Weavers in the City of Canterbury, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners Trade depends upon the Manufacture of wrought Silks, and Silk and Worsted Stuffs, whereby they employ many Thousand People: That formerly their Trade was much hindered by the great Quantities of Silks and Bengals imported from the East-Indies; but since that Company has lain under some Difficulties, and so imported but small Quantities of those Commodities, the Petitioners Trade has been much improved and advanced; but if the East-India Company should be established by Act of Parliament, without a Restraint upon the Importation of India wrought Silks and Bengals, the Petitioners are very sensible of the Decay of their Trade, and other ill Consequences to the Nation: And praying the Consideration of the House in the Premises.

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

And it is referred to Mr. Brewer, Mr. Heveningham, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Gardiner, Sir Marm. Wivell, Mr. Harvey, Mr. England, Mr. Henley, Sir John Kay, Mr. Frewen, Mr. Watlington, Mr. Sandford, Mr. Burdet, Mr. Baldwin, Sir Tho. Davall, Mr. Bohun, Doctor Oxenden, Sir Fra. Massam, Sir Robert Cotton, Mr. Foley, Mr. Bertie, Mr. Clark, Mr. Hedger, Sir Steph. Evance, Sir Tho. Day, Mr. Carey, Sir John Turner, Lord Cornbury, Sir Richard Temple, Mr. Moore, Mr. Verney, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Yates, Mr. Hobby, Mr. Palmer: And they are to meet this Afternoon, at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the Petition of the Wardens and Assistants of the Trade and Company of Worsted-weavers of the City of Norwich, and County of Norfolk, on behalf of themselves, and the said Trade, formerly presented to the House, be referred to the said Committee: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Select Vestries.

A Petition of the Churchwardens of the Parish of St. Margarett's, Westminster, in behalf of the said Parish, and the Vestry thereof, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, Time out of Mind, the Affairs of the said Parish have been faithfully managed by about Thirty Gentlemen of the best Quality, Justices of the Peace, and others; who, by reason of the Increase of the Poor, by Widows and Children of Watermen slain in the present War, have been compelled to borrow great Sums of Money on their private Credit, to relieve the Poor; the common Way of raising Money, by Rates, not being sufficient for their Support: That the Petitioners fear, the Bill, now in the House, for Regulating of select Vestries, and preventing Abuses arising thereby, besides the Difficulty of the Method proposed thereby for choosing Vestrymen, the Housholders being above 3,000, will endanger the Starving of the Poor, before they can be relieved by the in tended new Constitution: And praying, That they may be heard, by Counsel, 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.

Wool Trade.

A Petition of the Jersey-combers and Stocking framework-knitters, in and about the Borough of Leicester, in the County of Leicester, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, for about Ten Years last past, the Petitioners have employed almost all the poorer Sort of People of the said Borough, and other Places adjacent, with Work belonging to their Trade; but, for about Two Years last, a Sort of People, called Jobbers, have engrossed almost all the Wool in the Country; and have, for the next Season, bought the Wool on the Sheeps Back: That the Aulnagers also receive what they please for sealing their Stockings, though that Duty was never intended to extend to Stockings, as advised; by reason of which Abuse, committed by the said Wool-jobbers and Aulnagers, the Petitioners are like to be ruined; and the Poor employed by them must be maintained by their several Parishes, unless these Grievances be speedily redressed: And praying the Relief of the House in the Premises.

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.

Kensington Pavement.

A Petition of John Richardson, Thomas Hill, Thomas Orbell, and others, the Owners and Inhabitants on the North and South Sides of the Highway in the Town of Kensington, in the County of Middlesex, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Justices of the Peace for the said County, being thereunto impowered by several Acts of Parliament, did, at a General QuarterSessions held on the Second of April last, make an Order, That the Petitioners should, before the First of June then next, pave the Ground before their respective Houses, to the Middle of the Way: Which Order was made without notice to, or Hearing of, the Petitioners; and hath very much aggrieved them, it having cost 343 l. 14s. 3d.; and will be a yearly Charge to keep the same in Repair; and will also require a Scavenger: That though the said Paving, in Justice, ought to have been a Parish-charge, it being for the common Good of the whole Town, the said Highway leading to the Church from all Parts of the Parish; but more especially, for that the Petitioners are but Sixty-six in Number; and not above the Fifth, and much the poorest, Part of the Town; Seventeen of them not paying to Church and Poor; and many of the rest keeping Coaches and Teems; yet they refuse to contribute to the said Charge of Paving, or keeping the same in Repair; and some of them have been so violent as to prosecute the Petitioners to an Outlawry, because all the Paving was not finished at the precise Time, for want of Stones: That the Petitioners have since made Application to the said Justices for Relief; but, the Law being defective in this Case, the Justices declared they had not Power . . relieve the Petitioners: And praying, That the Charge of the said Pavement may be borne and maintained by the whole Parish, and not by the Petitioners only; and that a Clause may be brought into some Bill for that Purpose.

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

And it is referred to Sir Henry D. Colt, Mr. Mountague, Sir John Bucknall, Mr. Sandford, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Price, Mr. Egerton, Sir Robert Cotton, Mr. England, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Baldwyn, Mr. Freke, Mr. Pocklington, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Heveningham, Mr. Gery, Mr. Hobby, Sir John Wolstenholme, Mr. Granville, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Bertie, Mr. Farrer, Colonel Perry, Mr. Burdet, Mr. Halsey, Sir Rowland Gwyn, Mr. Phillipps, Mr. Moore, Sir John Kay, Sir Marm. Wivell, Mr. Frewen, Sir Gerv. Elwes, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Brewer, Sir Fra. Masham, Mr. Watlington, Sir Tho. Davall, Mr. Lowndes, Sir Richard Atkins, Sir Hen. Hobart, Lord Cornbury, Mr. Elson, Mr. Bromley, Mr. Monstevens, Mr. Elwell, Mr. Tredenham: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers.

African Trade.

A Petition of the Merchants and Planters trading to, and interested in, the Plantations of Virginia and Maryland, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the said Plantations are capable of greater Improvments; but want People to carry on the Increase of planting Tobacco; and, if they were sufficiently supplied with Negroes, they would produce twice the Quantity they now do; which would not only employ more of our Shipping, but increase the Customs, and render Tobacco cheaper, and enable us to furnish the Dutch, and other Nations, at cheaper Rates than they now make it; whereby, their planting Tobacco would be wholly discouraged: That One Negro will make as much Tobacco in a Year as must pay 30 or 40 l. Custom in England; and the African Company have been so far from supplying those Plantations, that they have seized all those Ships that offered to supply them: And praying, That the Trade for Negroes from Acra to Angola may be left free and open to all the Subjects of this Kingdom.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, who are to consider of the State of the Nation in relation to Trade; and particularly the African Trade.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Merchants and Planters trading to, and interested in, the Island of Jamaica, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Commodities of that Island are dearer or cheaper, according to the Plenty or Scarcity of Negroes, brought thither from Guinea: That while the African Company exercised an unlimited Power, under Pretence of a Charter, the said Island was not sufficiently supplied with Negroes; and what came, were sold partially, at what Prices the Company pleased: That the Trade to Africa, being open, or in a regulated Company, will be much increased, the Island supplied with Negroes, the Commodities sold cheaper our Shipping more employed, more of English Manufactures exported; and, by this means, the Mischiefs of the Scotch Act will be, in a great measure, prevented; but if the Trade for Negroes be restrained to a Company in a joint . . . . the said Island is not like to recover their several Losses; viz. by the Earthquake, and the Descent of the French, above 800,000 l.; and at least 400,000 l. taken by the French at Sea: And praying, That the Trade to Africa may be left free to all; or in a regulated Company, as that of Turkey.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, who are to consider of the State of the Nation in relation to Trade; and particularly the African Trade.

Woollen Manufactures.

A Bill for the Encouragement of the Woollen Manufactures of this Kingdom was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Sandford, Sir Robert Davers, Mr. Gwynn, Mr. Clarke, Sir Wm. Ashurst, Mr. Berty, Sir Hen. Hobart, Mr. Tily, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Bere, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Pocklington, Mr. Bohun, Mr. England, Mr. Frewen, Lord Cornbury, Sir Robert Cotton, Mr. Ogle, Sir Jacob Asiley, Sir Rob. Smith, Mr. Speke, Sir Tho. Roberts, Mr. Gardiner, Mr. Lyddall, Mr. Molesworth, Mr. Moore, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Burdet, Mr. Colt, Lord Digby, Sir John Trevillian, Mr. Perry, Mr. Mawdit, Sir John Kay, Mr. Farrer, Mr. Pagett, Sir Rowland Gwyn, Mr. Foley, Mr. Elwell, Mr. Watlington, Mr. Gery, Sir Walter Young, Mr. Duke, Sir Tho. Davall, Mr. Lambton, Sir Henry Colt, Mr. Freeke, Sir Ra. Dutton, Mr. Mason, Mr. Yates: And all that come are to have Voices: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Ordered, That it be an Instruction to the said Committee, That they have Power to receive a Clause for regulating the Factors at Blackwell-hall.

Cleansing Havens.

Mr. Moore, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to encourage the Removal of Bars; and for the Scouring, Cleansing, and Deepening, of decayed Havens: And the same was received.

Lord Tonbridge's, &c. Nat.

Sir Rowland Gwyn, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to naturalize William Viscount Tonbridge, and other Children of the Earl of Rochfort: And the same was received.

Hawkers and Pedlars.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Bill for Suppressing of Hawkers and Pedlars was committed, be made upon Monday Morning next.

Garbling Spices.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Consideration of the Petition of the West-India Merchants, concerning the Garbling of Spices, was referred, be made upon Monday Morning next.

St. James, Westminster, Parish Debt.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cook and Sir John Hoskins:

Mr. Speaker,

The Lords have agreed to the Bill to enable the Parish of St. James, within the Liberties of the City of Westminster, to raise upon themselves so much Money as will discharge their Debt for building their Parish-Church, Rector's House, Vestry, and other publick Works there, with an Amendment: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Supply Bill; Duties on Wines, &c.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, proceeded to take into Consideration 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, East-India Goods, and other Merchandize, imported, for carrying on the War against France, was committed:

And the Amendments, made by the Committee, to the said Bill, were once read throughout; and then a Second time, one by one; and several of the Amendments and Clauses were, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Clause F being read a Second time, That, after the 25th of March 1696, no Person shall take or pay Guineas at above Twenty-eight Shillings apiece, upon Forfeiture of double the Value, and also the Sum of 20 l. above, for every Offence;

An Amendment was proposed therein, by leaving out "Eight," and inserting "Six:"

And the Question being put, That "Eight" stand in the Clause;

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That the Word "Six" be inserted.

And other Amendments were made by the House to the Clause.

And then the Clause, so amended, was agreed unto by the House.

The rest of the Amendments, being read a Second time, were, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

A Clause was presented to the House, and read, That Bar-Iron and Rod-Iron may be imported from Ireland, paying the Duty laid thereon:

And the same was twice read; and amended; and agreed unto by the House, to be made Part of the Bill.

Another Clause was presented to the House, and read, That a coarse Sort of Linen called, Boor-laps, which now pays Custom as Hollands, at 35 l. per Cent. shall hereafter be entered ad valorem, and pay all other Duties accordingly:

And the same was twice read; and amended; and agreed unto by the House, to be made Part of the Bill.

Ordered, That Bill, with the Amendments, be ingrossed.

Shaftesbury Election.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, touching the Election for the Borough of Shaftesbury, in the County of Dorset, be made Tomorrow Morning.

Habeas Corpus Suspension.

Ordered, That the taking the Report of the Bill for impowering his Majesty to apprehend, and detain such Persons as he shall find Cause to suspect are conspiring against his Royal Person, or Government, be adjourned till To-morrow Morning.

Sitting of Parliament on Demise of the Crown.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill, That whenever it shall please God to afflict these Realms by the Death of his present Majesty, the Parliament then in being shall not be dissolved thereby; but shall continue until the next Heir to the Crown in Succession, according to the late Act of Settlement, shall dissolve the same.

Punishing Mutiny and Desertion.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for continuing several former Acts for punishing Officers, and Soldiers who shall mutiny, or desert his Majesty's Service; and for punishing false Musters; and for Payment of Quarters; and also the Bill for raising the Militia for the Year 1696, although the Month's Pay, formerly advanced, be not repaid; were committed; be made upon Monday Morning next.

Committees.

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That all Committees be adjourned;

It passed in the Negative.

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