House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 9 January 1697

Sabbati, 9 die Januarii ;

8° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Leave of Absence.

ORDERED, That Mr. Cox have Leave to go into the Country for Three Weeks, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Preventing Exportation of Wool.

A Petition of the Merchants, Cloth-makers, Clothworkers, and Staplers, on behalf of themselves, and others, the Inhabitants of the West Riding of the County of York, trading in Wool and Woollen Manufactures, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the said Traders in the Woollen Manufactures have formerly been supplied with Wool at reasonable Rates from Cumberland, Northumberland, and Durham; yet since the late Act, made last Sessions, for the more effectual preventing the Exportation of Wool; and other Laws for that Purpose; the greatest Part of the Growth of Wool of the said Counties hath been bought up at excessive Rates, and carried into Scotland, and from thence transported into France, to the great Discouragement of our Woollen Manufactures: And praying the Consideration of the House, for preventing the like Mischiefs for the future.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee appointed to inspect the Laws for preventing the Exportation of Wool; and to consider of the most effectual Means for preventing the Exportation of Wool.

King's Lynn Port.

A Petition of the Mayor, Aldermen, Bailiffs, Burgesses, and Inhabitants, of the Town and Corporation of Bedford, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Corporation of King's Lynn have lately required the Corporation of the Fens, called Bedford Level, to take away their navigable Sass at the Hermitage, near Erith, in Huntingdonshire, and their Sluices at Denver Dam; which will deprive the Petitioners of Bedford River, Twenty Miles in Length; and the only navigable River for all Commodities from Lynn to Huntingdon, and so to Bedford, which will not only be a great Damage to the Petitioners, and to Navigation, but also to the Trade and Commerce of divers other Counties: And praying, That the said Sass and Sluices may be continued, whereby the said Navigation is preserved.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the Bill for the better Preservation of the Navigation of the Port of Lynn, in the County of Norfolk, be read a Second time.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Deputy-Lieutenants, and Justices of the Peace, at the General Quarter-Sessions of the Peace, held at Bedford, and of the Gentlemen, Freeholders, and Inhabitants, of the said County, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, by a navigable Sass at the Hermitage, near Erith, and Sluices at Salters-Load, in Norfolk, set up by the Corporation of the Fens, a Navigation is maintained along the One-hundred Foot River or New Bedford River, for Traffick, betwixt the Towns of Lynn and Huntingdon, and so to Bedford, for the great Advantage not only of the Petitioners, but the adjacent Counties: That the Corporation of King's Lynn have required, That the said Sass and Sluices should be removed; whereby the said Navigation will be destroyed, and the adjacent Counties be thereby greatly prejudiced in their Trade and Commerce: And praying, That the said Sass and Sluices may be continued.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the Bill for the better Preservation of the Navigation of the Port of Lynn, in the County of Norfolk, be read a Second time.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Deputy-Lieutenants, and Justices of the Peace, and other Gentlemen, Freeholders, and Inhabitants, of the County of Bucks, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Corporation of King's Lynn having lately demanded the Corporation of the Fens of Bedford Level to remove a navigable Sass, by them set up at the Hermitage, near Erith, and their Sluices at Salters-Load; if the same should be done, it will deprive the adjacent Counties of an advantageous Commerce, by the Navigation of New Bedford River, between Lynn and Huntingdon, and Bedford: And praying, That the said Sass and Sluices may not be taken away; the same being a great Encouragement to Navigation, and Trade and Commerce, ever since they were erected.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the Bill for the better Preservation of the Navigation of the Port of Lynn, in the County of Norfolk, be read a Second time.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Inhabitants of Downham-Market, Fordham, Denver, Wimbottisham, and Stowbardolfe, on the East Side the River Owze, in the County of Norfolk, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners are Owners and Occupiers of about 1,800 Acres of rich Lands, near adjoining to Bedford Level, which had proper Drains to Helgay River, which emptied into the Owze, and so to Sea; but, since the Corporation of the Fens, called Bedford Level, have placed a great Dam and Sluice, at Denver, cross the Owze, for draining the said Level, the Petitioners Drains are stopped up, and the Waters of 10,000 Acres of the Level, together with the Waters of the Owze, are suffered to run through the Petitioners Lands, which are become a Wash for the Waters of the said Level; to the Ruin of the Petitioners, and contrary to the Act of 15 Car. IId, for settling and draining the said Level; the Damages prescribed by the said Act being determined, and insufficient for the Petitioners Relief: And praying, That the said Dam in the River Owze may be taken away, and the Petitioners made Satisfaction for their Damages sustained thereby; and that the Deficiences in the said Act may be supplied, as the House shall think fit.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the Bill for the better Preservation of the Navigation of the Port of Lynn, in the County of Norfolk, be read a Second time.

Punishing Mutiny and Desertion.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a 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; for One Year longer: And that Mr. Blathwaite do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

Discount on Bank Bills.

A Petition of the Clothiers, and Traders in the Woollen Manufacture, in the City of New Sarum, and Parts adjacent, in behalf of themselves, and many of their Dependents, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That by reason of the Scarcity and Non-currency of Money, and the great Discount of Bank Bills, the Petitioners are not able to carry on their Trades; whereby the Weavers, Spinners, and other Manufacturers in the Woollen Trade, are reduced to great Necessities, for want of Work: And praying the speedy Relief of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table.

Supply Bill; Land-Tax.

A Bill for granting an Aid to his Majesty, as well by a Land-Tax, as by several Subsidies, and other Duties, payable for One Year, was read a Second time.

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

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

Victualling Debt.

Ordered, That the Commissioners for the victualling the Fleet do, upon Thursday Morning next, lay before this House an Account of their Debts, and the Times when contracted, and at what Prices.

Ways and Means.

The Lord Coningsby, 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 making good the Deficiency in re-coining hammered Money; and the Recompence to be given for bringing Plate into the Mints to be coined; the Resolutions, 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 raising the Sum of 125,000 l. granted to his Majesty, for making good the Deficiency in re-coining hammered Money; and the Recompence to be given for bringing Plate into the Mints to be coined; a Duty be laid upon all wrought Plate that shall not be so brought in.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Duty be Six-pence per Ounce.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards raising the Sum of 125,000 l. granted to his Majesty, for making good the Deficiency in re-coining hammered Money; and the Recompence to be given for bringing Plate into the Mints to be coined; a Duty be laid upon all Paper, Pasteboard, Vellom, and Parchment; as to what shall be made in this Kingdom, to be paid by the Maker; and for what shall be imported, to be paid by the Importer.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Duty upon Paper, Pasteboard, Vellom, and Parchment, made in this Kingdom, be Twenty Pounds per Cent. according to the true Value thereof.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Duty upon Paper, Pasteboard, Vellom, and Parchment, imported, be Twenty-five Pounds per Cent. according to the true Value thereof.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Duties upon Paper, Pasteboard, Vellom, and Parchment, be granted to his Majesty for the Term of Two Years.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That a Duty be laid upon all Paper, Pasteboard, Vellom, and Parchment, which any Person or Persons have in Stock for Sale.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Duty be 17 l. 10s. per Cent. according to the true Value thereof, to be paid by the Merchant and Retailer.

The First of the said Resolutions being read a Second time;

And the Question being put, That the House do agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, That, towards raising the Sum of 125,000 l. granted to his Majesty, for making good the Deficiency in re-coining hammered Money; and the Recompence to be given for bringing Plate into the Mints to be coined; a Duty be laid upon all wrought Plate that shall not be so brought in;

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

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

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in, pursuant to the said Resolutions: And that the Lord Coningsby, and Mr. Lowndes, and such Members of this House as are of his Majesty's Counsel, do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Attainder of the Conspirators.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cooke and Sir John Francklyn:

Mr. Speaker,

The Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act to attaint such of the Persons concerned in the late horrid Conspiracy to assassinate his Majesty's Royal Person, who are fled from Justice, unless they render themselves to Justice; and for continuing several others of the said Conspirators in Custody; with some Amendments: To which Amendments they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Ditto.

Then the House proceeded to take into Consideration the said Amendments:

And the same were read; and are as follow; viz.

1 Skin, L. 18, after "Oath," add "before One or more of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace:"

2d Skin, L. 27, leave out "James:"

L. 29, after "Chambers," add "and Robert Blackborn:"

L. 32, leave out "James:"

L. 34, after "Chambers," add "and Robert Blackborn."

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

The Third Amendment being read a Second time;

And a Debate arising thereupon;

Resolved, That the further Consideration of the Lords Amendments be adjourned till Monday Morning next.

Supply; Deficiency of Funds.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Wednesday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for making good the Deficiency of Parliamentary Funds; and to consider further of that Part of his Majesty's Speech which relates to the Credit of the Nation.

Commissioners of Accounts.

Resolved, That this House will, upon this Day Sevennight, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for examining, taking, and stating, the publick Accounts of the Kingdom; to commence from the Expiration of the present Commission; and will then proceed to a new Election of Commissioners.

And then the House adjourned till Monday Morning, Nine a Clock.