House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 9 April 1697

Veneris, 9 die Aprilis;

9° Gulielmi Tertii.

Privilege—A person reprimanded and discharged.

JOHN Salusbury was, according to Order, brought to the Bar: Where he, upon his Knees, received a Reprimand from Mr. Speaker.

Ordered, That the said John Salusbury be discharged out of Custody, paying his Fees.

Regulating Printing and Printing Presses.

Ordered, That the Lord Ashly and Mr. Aislaby be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill for Regulating of Printing, and Printing-Presses, is committed.

Disannulling Knight's Marriage.

An ingrossed Bill to disannul the Marriage of Hannah Knight, an Infant; and punish the Persons concerned in conveying her away; was, according to Order, read the Third time.

An ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider to the Bill, That the said Infant shall be entitled to the Interest of her said Portion, settled on her by the said Deed of Settlement, as if this Act had never been made:

And the same was read the First time.

And the Question being put, That the same be read a Second time;

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for annulling the Marriage of Hannah Knight, an Infant; and directing the Guardianship of the said Infant.

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

Preventing Purchase and Sale of Offices.

The Lord Spencer reported from the Committee appointed to draw up Reasons to be offered at a Conference with the Lords, upon the Subject-matter of the Amendments, made by their Lordships, to the Bill, intituled, An Act to prevent the Buying and Selling of Offices and Places of Trust, That they had drawn up the same accordingly; which they had directed him to report to the House; and which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Table.

Ordered, That the said Report do . . . upon the Table.

Exchequer Receipt.

A Bill for the better Observation of the Course anciently used in the Receipt of the Exchequer was, according to Order, read a Second time.

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

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

Ordered, That the Orders, mentioned in the said Bill to be made by the Earl of Rochester, when Lord Treasurer, be brought to the said Committee.

A Member waves his Privilege.

Ordered, That the Lord Fairfax have Leave, at his own Desire, to wave his Privilege, as to any Demand of the Lord Culpepper against him.

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

Mr. Speaker,

Lustring Manufacture.

The Lords have agreed to the Bill for the further Encouragement of the Manufacture of Lustrings and Alamodes within this Realm; and for the better preventing the Importation of prohibited Goods, and Goods without paying the Duties charged on the same; with some Amendments: To which Amendments they desire the Concurrence of this House. Also,

Lords desire Leave for a Member to attend them.

The Lords do desire, That Sir Joseph Hern, a Member of this House, may have Leave to attend the Lords Committees, appointed, amongst other things, to make Inquiry concerning Letters of Marque.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Resolved, That Sir Joseph Hern have Leave to attend, as the Lords do desire.

And the Messengers were called in again; and Mr. Speaker acquainted them therewith.

Supply Bill; Tonage Duty and Land Tax.

Mr. Lownds, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for granting to his Majesty a further Duty of Tonage and Poundage upon Merchandize imported, for the Term of Two Years and Three-quarters; and an additional Land-Tax, for One Year; for carrying on the War against France: And the same was received; and read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time, Tomorrow Morning.

Supply Bill; Duty on Tin and Pewter.

Sir Henry Hobart, according to Order, reported, from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for lessening the Duty upon Tin and Pewter exported; and granting an Equivalent for the same; was committed; the Amendments, made by the Committee, to the said Bill; which they had directed him to report to the House; and which he read in his Place, with the Coherence: 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.

A Clause was offered, to be added to the Bill, That, from and after the 10th Day of May 1697, the Subsidy to be received for all Drugs imported directly from the Place of their Growth, in English built Shipping, shall be according to the full Value on the respective Species enumerated in the Book of Rates; and for all Drugs otherwise imported, treble such full Value:

And the same was twice read; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House to be made Part of the Bill.

Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments, be ingrossed.

Abuses in the Mint.

The House being acquainted, That there is in the Hands of the Chairman of the Committee, to whom it was referred to examine what Dyes have been got out of the Tower; and by what Means; and to inquire into any Miscarriages of the Officers of the Mint; another Report, besides that made by him Yesterday;

Ordered, That the said Report be made upon this Day Month.

Woollen Manufactures.

Ordered, That the Bill to encourage the Woollen Manufactures in England; and to prevent the Exportation thereof from Ireland to foreign Parts; be read a Second time upon Tuesday Morning next.

African Company.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Wednesday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Bill to regulate and settle the Trade to Africa.

Supply Bill; Malt Duties.

The House, according to Order, resumed the further Consideration of the Report from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for granting to his Majesty certain Duties upon Malt, Mum, Sweets, Cyder, and Perry, as well towards carrying on the War against France, as for the necessary Expence of his Majesty's Household, and other Occasions, was committed:

And the Amendments, made by the Committee, to the said Bill, were read a Second time, one by one; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, with some other Amendments, agreed unto by the House.

A Clause was offered, to be added to the Bill, That where any Rent is payable in Malt; or if payable in Money, and the Sum or Quantity of such Rent is to be ascertained by the Price of Malt; the Tenant of any Lands subject to such Rent may, during the Continuance of this Act, detain so much of such Rent as will amount to Two Shillings a Quarter for every Quarter of Malt, or the Value of it in Money, that is so reserved:

And the same was twice read; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House to be made Part of the Bill.

Another Clause was offered, to be added to the Bill, That it shall and may be lawful to and for any Person or Persons to lend to his Majesty any Sum, not exceeding Two hundred thousand Pounds, at the Rate of 8£. per Cent. per Ann.; which shall not be taxed; and shall be repaid in Course, according to the Dates of the Tallies of Loan for the same; and the Interest thereof shall be paid every Three Months, until Satisfaction of the Principal, out of the Monies to be contributed for the Tickets: And in case that shall not be sufficient to repay the said Loans, then the same shall be satisfied out of the Monies which shall arise for the said Duties upon Malt:

And the said Clause was twice read; and the Blanks filled up:

And then the same was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House to be made Part of the Bill.

Another Clause was offered, to be added to the Bill, That every round Bushel, with a plain and even Bottom, being made Eighteen Inches and a Half wide throughout, and Eighteen Inches deep, shall be esteemed a legal Winchester Bushel, according to the Standard in his Majesty's Exchequer:

And the same was twice read: and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House to be made Part of the Bill.

Another Clause was offered, to be added to the Bill, That from and after the Twentieth Day of April 1697, during the Continuance of this Act, no Malt shall be imported into this Kingdom from any foreign Parts beyond the Seas, upon Pain of Forfeiture of the Malt so imported, or the full Value thereof:

And the same was twice read; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House to be made Part of the Bill.

Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments, be ingrossed.

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