House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 20 November 1696

Veneris, 20 die Novembris;

Octavo Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Newfound land Trade.

A PETITION of the Mayor, Bailiff, Burgesses, and Commonalty, together with the Merchants and others, Traders to Newfoundland, from the Town and County of Poole, and Places adjacent, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That they conceive the Trade to Newfoundland to be the most beneficial to the Nation of all others; which will be utterly lost, if a considerable Force, both by Sea and Land, be not sent thither early in the next Spring; the French having, last Year, ruined the English Interest there, and forced them to desert the Country: And praying, That a sufficient Convoy may be appointed to preserve that Trade the ensuing Year; and for the future, that better Care be taken for its Preservation.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Consideration of the Petition of the Mayor, Magistrates, Common-Council, Merchants and Traders, of the Town of Dartmouth, to the Newfoundland, is referred.

Petition relating to a Member.

A Petition of Francis Windham Esquire was presented to the House:

And the same relating to Sir Stephen Evans, a Member of the House; who not being in the House;

Ordered, That Sir Stephen Evans do attend, in his Place, To-morrow Morning at Eleven a Clock: And, That the said Petition be then read, and taken into Consideration.

Enquiry concerning the Fleet.

The House being informed, That Sir George Rooke attended, according to Order;

He was brought in; and presented to the House Three Books; viz. One Book of Copies of Letters and Orders from the Lords of the Admiralty, commencing the 24th of January 1695, and ending the 27th of May 1696:

Another Book of Copies of his Letters to the Lords of the Admiralty, from the 1st of January 1695, to the 31st of May 1696:

And another Book of Copies of his Journal, beginning the 1st of January, and ending the 1st of June following.

And then Sir George Rook withdrew.

Ordered, That Sir George Rooke do, upon Monday Morning next, lay before this House Copies of all such Letters as he sent to and received from, the Secretary of State, in relation to the Fleet under his Command.

Ordered, That the said Three Books do lie upon the Table, to be perused by the Members of the House.

A Member discharged from custody.

Ordered, That Sir Scroop How, in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, for absenting himself from his Service in Parliament, be discharged out of Custody, paying his Fees.

Ways and Means

Sir Thomas Littleton, according to Order, reported, from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred to consider of Ways and Means for raising the Supply granted to his Majesty, for carrying on the War against France, for the Service of the Year 1697, the Resolution of the said Committee; which they had directed him to report to the House; which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was read; and is as followeth; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Supplies, for carrying on the War, for the Year 1697, be raised by such Aids and Duties as will answer and produce the same within the Year.

The said Resolution being read a Second time;

Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, That the Supplies, for carrying on the War, for the Year 1697, be raised by such Aids and Duties as will answer and produce the same within the Year.

Fenwick's Attainder.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill to attaint Sir John Fenwick Baronet of High Treason.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Norris took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Norris reported from the said Committee, That they had gone through the Bill; and made an Amendment; which they had directed him to report, when the House will please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the Report be made To-morrow Morning, after the Report, from the Committee of the whole House, of the Bill for the further remedying the ill State of the Coin of the Kingdom.

Credit of the Nation.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Tuesday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of that Part of his Majesty's Speech, which relates to the Credit of the Nation.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

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