House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 9 April 1696

Jovis, 9 die Aprilis;

8 Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Linen Manufacture.

A BILL for encouraging the Linen Manufacture of Ireland, and bringing in Flax and Hemp, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir Godfrey Copley, Mr. Molesworth, Sir Robert Davers, Mr. Moore, Sir Wm. Scawen, Sir Hen. Hobart, Mr. Bagnold, Mr. Slater, Mr. Duncomb, Sir Edw. Ernly, Mr. Cheyney, Mr. Henly, Mr. Palmes, Mr. Ashby, Mr. Culliford, Mr. Duke, Mr. Blaake, Sir Tho. Day, Mr. Foley, Sir Wm. Lowther, Mr. Papillion, Mr. Bohun, Mr. Hedger, Mr. Sloan, Mr. Farrer, Mr. Pocklington, Sir Math. Andrews, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Venables, Mr. Perry, Lord Cornbury: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers.

Ordered, That it be an Instruction to the said Committee, That they have Power to receive a Clause for the Encouragement of making white Writing Paper.

Ordered, That it be an Instruction also to the said Committee, That they have Power to receive a Clause for the taking off the Duties upon English-made Sail-cloth, upon Exportation thereof.

Courts of Equity.

Ordered, That Sir Marm. Wivell, Sir Jos. Tily, Mr. Staines, Mr. Lassells, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Foley, Mr. Mawdit, Mr. Thompson, be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill to regulate Proceedings in Courts of Equity is committed.

Quartering Soldiers.

A Petition of divers Inhabitants of the Town of Hexham, in the County of Northumberland, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That Captain James Crow's Troop of Dragoons, late Brigadier Leveson's, was quartered in the said Town, and marched from thence greatly indebted to the Petitioners for Quarters, Shirts, Boots, and other Necessaries, to the Sum of 250 l. which they can prove upon Oath: That the Captain promised Payment to the Petitioners; and, the Night before the Troop marched away, ordered one White, Clerk to the Troop, to pay the Petitioners what he ordered, which was less than the late Act allows; and if they would not take That, to pay them nothing: That White got in the Petitioners Bill; and, to some, paid Half, some a Third Part, and some none at all; and would not give them back their Bills again, nor pay them: That the Petitioners went, the next Day, to acquaint the Captain with White's Usage; and that he took 6d. Poundage for what he paid; but the Captain would not suffer the Petitioners to speak to him, but marched the Troop away that Afternoon: That during the time the said Troop was quartered at Hexham, they behaved themselves very disorderly, and scarce could have been worse in an Enemy's Country, to the great Discouragement of the Subject in like Cases: And praying such Relief in the Premises as the House shall think fit.

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 to the House.

And it is referred to Sir Wm. Blackett, Sir Geo. Hungerford, Mr. Culliford, Lord Ashley, Sir Godfry Copley, Mr. Ashby, Mr. Brereton, Sir Jos. Tily, Sir Edw. Ernley, Mr. Farrer, Mr. Conyers, Sir Cha. Raleigh, Mr. Pocklington, Sir Tho. Mompesson, Mr. Duke, Mr. Molesworth, Mr. Perry, Mr. Bagnold, Sir John Bolles, Mr. Hedger, Mr. Bickerstaffe, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Moore, Mr. Pudsey, Sir Robert Cotton, Mr. Palmes, Mr. Car, Sir Wm. Lowther, Mr. Foster, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Bromley, Mr. Ash, Mr. Bowyer: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber: And are impowered to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Claims on Post-Office Revenue.

A Petition of John Ward, Merchant, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That King Charles the Second, by Letters Patents, in the 13 Year of his Reign, did grant to Sir Samuel Moreland, and his Assigns, 500 l. per Annum, out of the Profits of the Post-Office, during his Life: That, in 1663, Sir Samuel Moreland assigned the said Annuity to Sir Arthur Slingsby; and, by several other Mesne Assignments, the same came to Sir Robert Clayton, as Executor of Alderman Morris, who, for 1,420 l. really paid, assigned his Interest therein; under which Assignment the Petitioner claims a Moiety of the said Annuity, during the said Sir Samuel's Life: That there is a Bill now before the House, 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; which Bill is, amongst other Things, to charge the Revenue of the Post-Office with 515,000 l.: That the said Revenue is no ancient Revenue to the Crown, but subject to several other Grants, and to some by his present Majesty, as the Petitioner is informed: And praying, That he may be heard, as to his Claim to the said Annuity, before the said Bill do pass.

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

Ways and Means.

Sir Thomas Littleton reported, from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred to consider of Ways and Means for raising the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for making up the Fund of Interest of Seven Pounds per Cent. per Annum, for two Millions Five hundred Sixty-four thousand Pounds, granted to his Majesty, for carrying on the War against France, the Resolutions of the said Committee; 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 read; and are as follow; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for making up the Fund of Interest of 2,564,000 l. certain Duties upon Glass Wares, Stone and Earthen Bottles, granted to his Majesty by an Act made in the 6th and 7th Years of his Majesty's Reign, for a Term of Years therein mentioned, be granted to his Majesty, his Heirs and Successors.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards the said Supply, a Duty of Twelve-pence per Gross upon all unglazed Tobacco-pipes be granted to his Majesty, his Heirs and Successors; to be paid by the first Maker.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards the said Supply, a Duty of One Shilling Six-pence per Gross upon all glazed Tobacco-pipes, be granted to his Majesty, his Heirs and Successors; to be paid by the first Maker.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards the said Supply, a Duty of Five Shillings per Gross upon all Tobacco-pipes imported be granted to his Majesty, his Heirs and Successors; to be paid by the Importer.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards the said Supply, a Duty of Ten Pound per Cent. ad valorem, upon all Stone and Earthen Ware, not otherwise charged, be granted to his Majesty, his Heirs and Successors; to be paid by the first Maker.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, for completing the said Supply, a Duty of 10 l. per Cent. ad valorem, over and above what is already payable for the same, upon all Stone and Earthen Ware imported, China excepted, be granted to his Majesty, his Heirs and Successors; to be paid by the Importer.

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

Ordered, That the 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-Band; is committed; have Power to receive Clauses pursuant to the said Resolutions.

Supply Bill; Duties on Low Wines.

Resolved, That it be an Instruction to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for laying several Duties upon low Wines, and 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 . . . . have Power to receive a Clause for preserving the Revenue to her Royal Highness the Princess Anne of Denmark.

Ditto.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Bill.

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 some Progress in the Matter to them referred; and had directed him to move, That they may have Leave to sit again.

Lords desired to continue sitting.

Ordered, That a Message be sent to the Lords, to desire, That they will continue to sit for some time longer.

Ordered, That Mr. Boyle do carry the said Message to the Lords.

Mr. Boyle reported, That he having, according to Order, been at the Lords; they do agree to sit some time longer, as this House doth desire.

Address for Royal Assent to a Bill.

Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, representing, That in the Bill, now ready for his Majesty's Royal Assent, for encouraging the bringing Plate into the Mint, to be coined, there are Penalties which will take place from To-morrow, if the Royal Assent be given thereunto.

Resolved, That a Message be sent to the Lords, to communicate the said Resolution to their Lordships; and to desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Ordered, That Mr. Pelham do carry the said Message to the Lords.

Mr. Pelham reported, That he having, according to Order, been at the Lords, and communicated to them the said Resolution, they do concur with this House in the said Address; and have sent the Lords with white Staves, to acquaint his Majesty therewith: And that the Lords do desire, That this House will continue to sit for some time.

Resolved, That this House doth agree to continue sitting, as the Lords do desire.

Ordered, That Sir Edward Ernly do go to the Lords, and acquaint them therewith.

Supply Bill; Duties on Low Wines.

Resolved, That this House do, immediately, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Bill for laying several Duties on low Wines, and Spirits, of the first Extraction; and for preventing the Frauds and Abuses of Brewers, Distillers, and other Persons chargeable with the Duties of Excise.

And the House resolved itself into a Committee accordingly.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Sir Tho. Littleton took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Answer to Address.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Robert Legard and Sir Richard Holford:

Mr. Speaker,

The Lords have commanded us to acquaint this House, That the Lords with white Staves have attended his Majesty, and brought this Answer, That his Majesty intends to be at the House of Peers To-morrow Morning:

And further, That the Lords do intend to adjourn till To-morrow Morning, Nine a Clock.

Supply Bill, Duties on Low Wines.

Then Sir Thomas Littleton reported from the said Committee of the whole House, That they had made a further Progress in the said Bill; and had directed him to move, That they may have Leave to sit again.

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

The House resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House accordingly.

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 gone through the Bill; and made several Amendments thereunto; which they had directed him to report, when the House will please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the said Report be made upon Tuesday Morning next.

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, to consider of the Bill for supplying several Defects in the Act for erecting and establishing a Post-Office.

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

Earl of Torrington's Grant in Bedford Level.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Bill 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; was committed; be made upon Wednesday Morning next.

Supply Bill; Salt Duties and Land Bank.

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That this House will, upon Saturday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of 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;

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Monday 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 Wednesday 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.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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