House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 8 April 1696

Mercurii, 8 die Aprilis;

8 Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Claims on Excise Revenue.

A PETITION of John Bennett Esquire was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner is legally intitled, by virtue of several Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England, to the yearly Payment of 600 l. out of the Revenue of the Hereditary Excise, purchased upon full and valuable Consideration: That a Bill is now depending in the House for laying several Duties upon low Wines, or Spirits, of the first Extraction; and for preventing Frauds and Abuses of Brewers, Distillers, and other Persons chargeable with the Duties of Excise . . . . will greatly prejudice the Petitioner's Right; there being a Clause therein for charging the said Excise with several great Loans, without any Saving for the Petitioner: And praying, That he may be heard against such Part of the said Bill as may any ways prejudice the Petitioner's said Demands.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of Sir Jeremiah Snow, and others, was referred.

Greenland Trade.

A Bill for the better Encouragement of the Greenland Trade was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir Henry Hobart, Sir John Trevillian, Mr. Nicholas, Mr. Perry, Mr. Farrer, Mr. Freke, Sir Marm. Wivell, Mr. Moore, Sir Godf. Copley, Sir John Kay, Sir John Lowther, Sir Sa. Barnardiston, Mr. Baldwyn, Mr. Duncomb, Sir Wm. Scawen, Mr. Moyle, Mr. Pocklington, Sir Henry Colt, Sir John Bucknall, Mr. Palmes, Mr. Frankland, Mr. Hedger, Mr. Ash, Sir Tho. Littleton, Mr. Frewen, Mr. Foley, Sir Wm. Ashurst, Sir Wm. Honywood, Sir Wm. Lowther, Mr. Brotherton, Sir Geo. Hungerford: And they are to meet this Afternoon, at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Encouraging the Fishery.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the Encouragement of the Fishery: And that Mr. Moore do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Supply Bill; Post Office.

A Bill for supplying several Defects in the Act for erecting and establishing a Post-Office was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to a Committee of the whole House.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to a Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for laying several Duties on low Wines, or Spirits, of the first Extraction; and for preventing the Frauds and Abuses of Brewers, Distillers, and other Persons chargeable with the Duties of Excise; is committed.

Expiring Laws.

Mr. Brotherton reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for continuing several Acts therein mentioned was committed, That they had heard the Cordwainers and Tanners upon their several Petitions referred to the said Committee; and had made some Amendments to the Bill; which they had directed him to report to the House; 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.

Highway Laws.

Sir Henry Hobart reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for the better Explanation of an Act, of the 22th Year of King Charles the Second, for better Repairing of Highways, was re-committed, the Amendments, made by the Committee, to the said Bill; which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were read.

Ordered, That the Bill be re-committed to the same Committee: And that Mr. Clark, Sir Edward Seymour, Sir John Lowther, Mr. Pocklington, Sir Godfry Copley, Sir Wm. Honywood, be added to the said Committee:

And it is to be an Instruction to the Committee, That they do provide, That all Carriages be drawn by Horses double, with a Poll between; but with Exceptions to such Countries, Places, and Roads, as they shall think fit.

Claims on Excise Revenue.

Ordered, That the Committee, to whom the Petition of . . . Jeremiah Snow, and others, was referred, have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Gardner have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Ordered, That Mr. Kirkby have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Security of King's Person.

An ingrossed Bill for the better Security of his Majesty's Royal Person, and Government, was read the Third time.

An Amendment was proposed to be made in the Bill, by inserting, in Two Places, "his Royal Highness Prince George, or;"

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

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for the better Security of his Majesty's Royal Person, and Government.

Ordered, That Mr. Cooper do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Supply Bill; Salt Duties and Land Bank.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for continuing to his Majesty certain Rates and Duties upon Salt, for carrying on the War against France; and for taking off the Duties of Tonage upon Ships, and upon Coals; and for establishing a National Land-Bank; was committed; and to whom it was referred, to consider of Ways and Means for making up the 7 l. per Cent. per Ann. Interest of the 2,564,000 l. granted to his Majesty 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 made a further Progress in the Matter to them referred; and had come to several Resolutions; which they had directed him to report, when the House will please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the said Report be made To-morrow Morning.

Sir Thomas Littleton also acquainted the House, That he was directed by the said Committee to move, That they may have Leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the said Bill.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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