House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 31 March 1696

Martis, 31 die Martii;

8° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Plantation Trade.

THE House, took into Consideration the Amendments, made by the Lords, to the Bill, intituled, An Act for preventing Frauds, and regulating Abuses, in the Plantation-Trade:

And the same, being read, were as followeth; viz.

1 Skin, 32 L. instead of "Seven," read "Eight."

2 Skin, 3 and 4 L. leave out "any other English Colony, or Plantation;" and insert "the Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, or Town of Berwick upon Tweed."

13 L. after "Plantations," add "to be navigated by the Master, and Three-Fourths of the Mariners English, or of the said Plantations, as aforesaid; and whereof the Property doth belong to Englishmen."

19 L. after "Kingdom," add "to be navigated, as aforesaid; and whereof the Property doth belong to Englishmen."

29 L. after "committed," add the Clause A, That Merchandize may be imported, or exported, in any Prize-Ship, after her Condemnation, to be navigated, as aforesaid; whereof the Property belongs to Englishmen.

3 Skin, 34 L. leave out from "Oath" to "or," in the 36th L.; and insert "at the Times aforesaid."

6 Skin, 11 L. after "shall" add "and may plead the General Issue; and shall give this or other Custom, Acts, in Evidence; and the Judge to allow thereof."

24 L. after "Westminster, or," add "in the Kingdom of Ireland, or in the Court of Admiralty held in his Majesty's Plantations respectively, where such Offence shall be committed, at the Pleasure of the Officer or Informer; or in any other Plantation belonging to any Subject of England."

25 L. leave out "in any of the said Colonies, or Plantations."

8 Skin, 34 L. after "he," add, "or they."

9 Skin, 4 L. after "Effort," add Clause B, That the Commissioners of Treasury and Customs in England shall appoint as many Officers of the Customs, in all Places, as they shall think fit, for executing the Acts relating to the Plantation-Trade.

12 L. after "England," add "or."

19 L. after "Informer," add Clause C, That all Places of Trust, relating to the Plantations, shall be executed by the native-born Subjects of England, Ireland, or the Plantations.

10 Skin, 29 L. leave out "to be in Force," and insert or Copies thereof, being attested under the Hand and Seal of the Governor, or Commander in Chief, to whom such Bonds were given, shall be in Force, and allowed of, in any Court in England, Ireland, or the Plantations, as if the Originals were produced in Court by the Prosecutor."

34 L. for "Kingdom," read "Kingdoms;" and after "of," read "Scotland, and."

11 Sk. 3 L. for "Kingdom," read "Kingdoms;" and after "of," read "Scotland, and."

At the End of the Bill, add the Clauses D and E.

Clause D, That no Person, claiming any Right in any Island, or Tract of Land, upon the Continent of America, shall dispose of the same without his Majesty's Licence, other than to the natural-born Subjects of England or Ireland:

Clause E, That after the 25 March 1698, no Ship shall be deemed to be English built, so as to be qualified to trade to the Plantations, until the same shall be registred upon Oath.

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

Amendment 11 Skin, L. 3. being read a Second time, an Amendment was proposed to be made, instead of the last "and," to read "or:"

And the same was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

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

Ordered, That Mr. Chadwick do carry the Bill to the Lords, and acquaint them, That this House hath agreed to the said Amendments, with an Amendment: To which Amendment they desire their Lordships Concurrence.

Association for defending the King, &c.

Mr. Speaker acquainted the House with the Answers he had received from the several Members he had, according to Order, written to, in relation to their signing the Association; viz.

That Mr. Godolphin, and Sir Rice Rudd had signified their Readiness to sign the same; but were indisposed.

That Sir John Barker, Mr. Richard Lewis, the Lord Bulkley, Sir Ro. Owen, and the Lord Burleigh, desired to be excused.

King's Pleasure to be known when he will be attended.

Ordered, That such Members of this House, as are of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy-Council, do humbly know his Majesty's Pleasure, when he will be attended by this House.

Roberts' Accounts.

A Complaint being made to the House, by Mr. James Morgan, Executor of Sir John Morgan, That Mr. Richard Roberts, Agent to the said Sir John Morgan's, and other Regiments, had been often required to give in his Accounts relating to the said Regiments, before the Commissioners for taking and stating the publick Accounts; but had hitherto neglected to give in the same;

Ordered, That the said Mr. Richard Roberts, for neglecting to account before the Commissioners for taking and stating the publick Accounts, for the Regiments be hath been Agent for, be taken into the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House.

Expiring Laws.

Ordered, That Sir Marma. Wivell, Sir Thomas Day, Mr. Mawdit, Sir Robert Cotton, Mr. Yates, Sir Fra. Massam, Sir Richard Onslow, Sir Hen. Goff, Mr. Moore, Mr. Stokes, Sir Gilbert Clarke, Mr. Stonehouse, be added to the Committee, to . . . . the Bill for continuing several Acts therein mentioned is committed.

Courts of Equity.

Ordered, That Sir John Lowther, Sir Wm. Lowther, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Hunt, Mr. Molesworth, Mr. Bickerstaffe, be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill for regulating Proceedings in Courts of Equity is committed.

Kensington Pavement.

Ordered, That Sir William Ashurst, Mr. Baldwin, Sir Jos. Tyly, Mr. Harvey, Mr. Whitacre, Sir Ra. Dutton, be added to the Committee, to whom the Petition of John Richardson, and other Inhabitants of the Town of Kensington, is committed.

Progress of the Coinage.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to go to the Tower, to take an Account of what new Monies have been coined there, and what forwardness they are in for further coining Silver; and to make their Report to the House:

And it is referred to Sir Joseph Tyly, Lord Pawlet, Mr. Manley, Sir Harry Hobart, Mr. Moyle.

Preventing Stock-jobbing.

Mr. Culliford, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to prevent Stock-jobbing: And the Bill was received.

Prohibiting India Silks, Callicoes, &c.

An ingrossed Bill for restraining the Wearing of all wrought Silks, Bengals, and dyed, printed, or stained, Callicoes, imported into the Kingdom of England, of the Product and Manufacture of Persia, and the East-Indies, was, according to the Order of the Day, read a Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for restraining the Wearing of all wrought Silks, Bengals, and dyed, printed, or stained, Callicoes, imported into the Kingdom of England, of the Product and Manufacture of Persia, and the East-Indies.

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

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

Mr. Speaker,

Ridout's Estates.

The Lords have agreed to the Amendments, made by this House, to the Bill, intituled, An Act for the Sale of Lands in Horsington, in the County of Somerset, Part of the Estate of Christopher Ridout, an Infant, for Payment of Incumbrances charged thereon; and for preserving the Residue of the said Estate for the Infant:

Bristoll Hospitals, &c.

And also have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act for erecting Hospitals and Workhouses within the City of Bristoll, for the better employing and maintaining the Poor thereof, with some Amendments: To which Amendments they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

English East India Company.

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 settling and regulating the Trade to the East-Indies.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Colonel Granvill took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Colonel Granville 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 Thursday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the said Bill.

African Company.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Saturday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for settling and regulating the Trade to Africa.

Committees.

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

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

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