Mercurii, 10 die Februarii.

8° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

James' Estate.

AN ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act for vesting and settling certain Estates of William James Gentleman, in and upon Trustees, to be sold, for the Payment of Debts, and making Provision for himself, and his Wife, and their Children, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Pagitt, Sir Wm. Blackett, Mr. Whitaker, Mr. Gery, Mr. Harley, Mr. Machell, Sir Wm. Cooper, Sir Robert Burdett, Mr. Sanford, Mr. Blofeild, Sir Robert Davers, Mr. White, Sir Wm. York, Sir Gerv. Elwes, Mr. Yates, Mr. Bagnold, Mr. Palmes, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Mawdit, Mr. Lowther, Sir Edw. Seyward, Mr. Philips, Mr. Baldwyn, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Morgan, Mr. Fuller, Sir Hen. Colt, Sir Math. Andrewes, Mr. Lambton, Sir Mich. Biddulph, Mr. Bridges, Mr. Osborne, Mr. Hammond: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Lord Holles' Debts.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the speedy Satisfying of the Debts of Francis Lord Holles, deceased, was read the First time.

Resolved, &c. That the Bill be read a Second time.

Duke of Ormond's Estate.

Mr. Gwyn reported from the Committee, to whom the ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for enabling James Duke of Ormond to raise Money, by Sale of Woods, and making Leases for Lives, renewable for ever, for Payment of Debts, and for encouraging English Plantations in Ireland; and for Charles Lord Weston Earl of Arran, in the Kingdom of Ireland, to make Leases of his Estate in the said Kingdom; was committed; That they had examined and considered the same, and made some Amendments; 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.

Press 10. L. 24, leave out "or," and after "Three" insert "or Four:"

L. 27. The same Amendments.

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

Russia Company.

A Petition of several Merchants, free of the Eastland, Company, residing in the Town of Newcasle upon Tyne, on behalf of themselves and others, was presented to the House, and read, setting forth, That the Territories to which the Russia Company have Liberty to trade, by virtue of a Charter, which is confirmed by Act of Parliament are of vast Extent, and capable of great Improvement, by exporting much more of our own Commodities, and importing greater Quantities of foreign Commodities, and Naval Stores, than the Russia Company have traded for, if other Merchants might have Liberty to trade into those Parts; which they dare not do, without Leave of the Russia Company, under Forseiture of Ship and Goods; though little Trade is driven thither by themselves; who pretend the Narve also is within their Limits; and though the Trade thither was first discovered by the Petitioners, and is chiefly managed by them, and others not free of the Russia Company, yet the Petitioners are forced to pay such Duties as the said Company please for Leave to trade to the Narve: And praying, That they may pursue the Trade to the Narve; or else be admitted into the Freedom of the Russia Company, for the same Fine which the Members of the Russia Company, and all English Merchants, may be admitted into the Hamborough and Eastland, Companies; or that the said Trade may be enlarged and regulated.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the Bill for admitting Merchants into the Freedom of the Russia Company, upon reasonable Terms, be read a Second time: And that the Petitioners be then heard, at the Bar, thereupon.

Hay-market Paying, &c.

A Petition of Thomas Beake was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner hath a House and Garden, of 30 l. per Ann. situate at the upper End of Warwick-street, abutting upon Swallow-street and Beakstreet, containing 329 Foot in the 3 Fronts: That the Hay-carts, from Tybourne-road to the Hay-market, make it their common Road through Beak-street, 181 Foot in Length; whereby the said Street is continually broken up, and wanting Paving; so that, what with the Ground-rent, Taxes, and Paving, the whole Rent of the Premises is eaten up: And praying, That Beak-street may be included in the Bill, now depending in the House, for repairing, paving, and regulating, the Streets called the Hay-market, in the Parishes of St. Martin's in the Fields, and St. James', within the Liberty of Westminster.

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

Preventing Corruption of Juries.

Mr. Edward Harley, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to prevent the Bribing and Corrupting of Juries: And the same was received.

Privilege—a Person petitions for Discharge.

A Petition of Anthony Morin, in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, for a Breach of Privilege, in arresting Colonel Luttrell a Member of this House, instead of another Person, was presented to the House, and read; acknowleging his Offence, and begging Pardon for the same: And praying to be discharged out of Custody.

Ordered, That the said Anthony Morin be brought to the Bar To-morrow Morning, in order to his Discharge.

Ditto.

A Petition of James Anderson, in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms also, was presented to the House, and read.

Ordered, That the said James Anderson be brought to the Bar To-morrow Morning, in order to his Discharge.

Abuses in the Mint at York.

Mr. Arnold reported from the Committee, appointed to provide against the Abuses by Receivers of publick Money, and to inquire into the Miscarriages of the Officers of the Mints, That they had received Information of several Abuses committed by Mr. * Barton, Melter and Comptroller of the Mint at York; which they had directed him to report specially to the House; and 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.

That Mr. Thompson, a Member of the House, who declared the whole Matter to the Committee, and then delivered to them an Affidavit of one Robert Williamson, of the City of York, Goldsmith: Who made Oath, That in October last, he was desired by Mr. Thompson to inspect and oversee the Melting at the Mint in York; which he accordingly did, and found amongst the Washings and Skimmings of Silver, which was taken out of the Pot, which lay upon the Furnace-side, several Pieces of thick Copper; which he took up, and shewed to Mr. Barton, who took them from the said Williamson, and said, They were his: That he did not know the Design of their placing the Copper there at that time, there being no Occasion for any Allay, it being only clipped Money that was melted, for Two Days and One Night, in that Furnace.

It appeared unto the Committee, by the Information of Mr. Thompson, who also delivered in to the Committee an Affidavit of one Christopher Hutton: Who made Oath, That, in September last, Mr. Barton, the Melter and Comptroller of the Mint in York, brought an Ingot of Silver in his Hand, which could not be worth less than 50 l.; and Mr. Barton ordered the Assay-master to lay it by; and the Assay-master then telling him it was not marked, Mr. Barton said, It needed not, for it belonged to them, and that it was Sweepings, and therefore he need not take any Notice of it; whereupon the Assay-master took the said Ingot and laid it in a Corner of the said Room.

Mr. Thompson also acquainted the Committee, That he had an Account from the above-named Robert Williamson, That on Tuesday the 22d of January, he being at the Mint in York, where they were melting after the Silver of one Pot was cast into Ingots, and the Pot set into the Fire again, he the said Williamson, looked into the same, and in the Bottom thereof he did perceive Two or Three Pieces lay, which was not Silver, so he got a Pair of Tongs, intending to have gotten them out, to have seen what they had been; but one Crettington came with a Ladle full of clipped Money, and though the said Williamson bid him forbear, and told him there was something in the Pot (fn. 1) [that was not Silver], yet he, the said Crettington, put the same into the Pot, and presently filled his Ladle a Second time; and so prevented the said Williamson from taking out the base Metal that was first put into the Melting-pot.

That it also appeared to the Committee, That the Money comes out from the Assay-master at York 3 d. and 3 d. ½ per Pound Weight worse than Sterling.

Mr. Thompson also acquainted the Committee, That the said Mr. Barton, Melter and Comptroller of the Mint, at York, hath several times abused Mr. Robert Williamson, who was appointed to inspect the Mint: And that the said Mr. Barton is negligent and careless about the melting; and that there was above 3,000 Weight of Silver melted in his Absence.

Ordered, That the Matter of the said Informations be heard, at the Bar of this House, upon this Day Three Weeks: And that the said * Barton, and the Witnesses, do then attend this House.

Mr. Arnold also reported from the said Committee, That they, being informed, That several Receivers had furnished several notorious Clippers with broad Money; and that one Captain Winter, now a Prisoner in the Gatehouse for High Treason, hath received divers great Sums of Money from such Receivers; had directed him to move, That some Members may be appointed to go to the Gatehouse, in order to examine the said Captain Winter.

Ordered, That Mr. Arnold, Sir Marm. Wivell, Sir Hen. Colt, Mr. Sloane, Mr. Manley, Sir Godfrey Copley, do go and examine Captain Winter in the Gatehouse.

Mitchell Writ.

Mr. Speaker acquainted the House, That he had received a Letter from Mr. Vivian, who is sick in the Country, That he, being chosen a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament, as well for the Borough of Fowey as the Borough of Mitchell, in the County of Cornwall, makes his Election to serve for the said Borough of Fowey.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for electing a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the said Borough of Mitchell, in the room of the said Mr. Vivian.

Securing Debts.

A Bill for the better Securing of Debts, and establishing Credit, was read a Second time.

And a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Bill be committed;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

And it is referred to Sir Wm. St. Quintin, Sir Godfrey Copley, Mr. Bromley, Lord Walden, Mr. Chadwick, Mr. Arnold, Sir John Elwill, Mr. Hamond, Sir Robert Clayton, Mr. Smith, Mr. Champnyes, Sir Wm. Ashurst, Mr. Taylor, Sir Rich. Onslow, Mr. Bere, Sir Robert Rich, Mr. Hoar, Sir John Bucknall, Mr. Pocklington, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Palmes, Sir Walt. Yong, Mr. Stockdale, Mr. Cox, Mr. Farrer, Mr. Ashby, Sir Fra. Masham, Mr. Morgan, Mr. Newport, Mr. Bagnold, Mr. Pelham, Sir Hen. Hobart, Sir Gilbert Clerk, Mr. Daniel, Mr. Archer, Sir Robert Cotton, Mr. Morris: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Duty on Glass.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the several Petitions of the Glass-makers were referred, be made upon Friday Morning next.

Supply Bill; Duties on Paper, &c.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for granting to his Majesty several Duties on Paper, Vellom, and other Things, to encourage the Bringing in of Plate, and hammered Money, to be coined; and for other the Purposes therein mentioned.

Ways and Means.

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

Commissioners of Accounts.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, proceeded to a new Election of Commissioners for examining, taking, and stating, the publick Accounts:

And the Members put into Glasses their several Lists of Persons Names to be Commissioners; the Clerk, and Clerk-Assistant, going on each Side the House to receive the same.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed, to withdraw into the Speaker's Chamber, to examine and peruse the Lists given in by the Members of the House; and that they do report to the House upon whom the Choice shall fall:

And it is referred to Mr. Poultny, Sir Wm. Scawen, Mr. Mountague, Mr. Boyle, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Morris, Mr. Rowney, Sir Humph. Foster, Sir Mich. Biddulph, Lord Powlet, Sir Marm. Wivell, Lord Spencer, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Daniel, Mr. Gery, Mr. Onslow, for the Purpose aforesaid.

Ditto:

The House, according to Order, resolved 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.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Moyle took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Moyle reported from the said Committee, That they had gone through the Bill, and made several Amendments; 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.

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