House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 14 February 1698

Lunæ, 14 die Februarii ;

Decimo Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Army Arrears.

A PETITION of William Lake, late QuarterMaster to the Earl of Arran's, afterwards Colonel Harvye's Regiment, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner hath been in his Majesty's Service all his Reign; and there is due to the Petitioner above 260 l. of Arrears for Subsistence and for his Service in Ireland; and that he is forced to rely upon the Charity of his Friends: And praying the Consideration of the House therein.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of Mr. Francis Molyneux is referred: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Ayre and Calder Navigation.

A Petition of the Town of Ossett, in the WestRiding of the County of York, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Towns of Leeds and Wakefield are the principal Markets for the Northern Cloth-Trade; and are fituate upon the Rivers Ayre and Calder, which are capable of being made navigable, and by that means will greatly redound to the Advantage of Trade of all the Towns concerned in the Northern Cloth-Trade; being forced at present to carry their Goods by Land, at great Expence, and sometimes Damage: And praying, That the said Rivers may be made navigable.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Bill for making the Rivers Ayre and Calder navigable is committed.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Freeholders and Inhabitants of the Town and Lordship of Escrich, near to the ancient City of York, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the said Town being situate, near York, upon the River Ouze, doth receive great Benefits by the same; but if the Rivers Ayre and Calder be made navigable, the Commerce of Escrich will be mightily prejudiced, and the River Ouze spoiled: And praying, That the said Rivers may not be made navigable.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Bill for making the Rivers Ayre and Calder navigable is committed.

Ditto

A Petition of the Inhabitants of Gate-foulford, and Water-foulford, in the County of York, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the making the Rivers Ayre and Calder navigable will drain the River of Ouze, having only a small Water at Spring-tides, or at a Flood; whereby the Petitioners will be deprived of the Benefit of the said River, by which they are supplied with all Necessaries for themselves and Families.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Bill for making the Rivers Ayre and Calder navigable is committed.

Ayre and Calder Navigation.

A Petition of the Freeholders and Inhabitants within the Town and Township of Wistow, in the County of York, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the said Town is conveniently seated on the Banks of the River Ouze, whereby they have a beneficial and easy Conveyance of Goods and Merchandize, and also of Manure to cultivate their Lands; but, in case the Rivers Ayre and Calder should be made navigable, for which there is a Bill in this House, the River Ouze will be totally drained, to the Petitioners Ruin: And praying, That the said Rivers may not be made navigable.

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

Inland Bills of Exchange.

A Petition of the Merchants, and other Traders, within the Borough of Plimouth, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That they are not only great Traders at home, but also into foreign Parts; and, unless some Provision be made to regulate Bills of Exchange, Trade and Commerce may be ruined in those Parts; many Bills having no Day in them expressed beyond which the Drawer or Indorser shall not be chargeable, if not paid: And praying a Remedy against the said Hazards and Inconveniencies.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the Bill for the better payment of Inland Bills of Exchange be read a Second time.

Newcastle Waterworks.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the better supplying the Town of Newcastle upon Tyne with fresh Water: And that Sir William Blackett do prepare, and bring in, the same.

Houghton's Estate.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for vesting the Manors of Bastwick and Laviles, in the County of Norfolk, Part of the Estate of John Houghton Esquire, in Trustees, to be sold for discharging Debts charged thereon; and for settling another Estate, in lieu thereof.

African Trade.

A Bill to settle the Trade to Africa was, according to Order, read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time upon this Day Sevennight.

Laws concerning Robberies.

A Bill for regulating and amending the Laws concerning Robberies on the Highways, and Hue and Cries, was, according to Order, read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir John Phillipps, Mr. Watlington, Sir Robert Cotton, Mr. Bridges, Mr. Attorney-General, Mr. Conyers, Sir Eliab Harvey, Mr. Gardner, Sir John Bolles, Major-General Belasyse, Sir Richard Onslow, Mr. Mounson, Mr. Tilney, Mr. Hobby, Sir Chr. Musgrave, Mr. Nevill, Mr. Farrer, Mr. St. John, Mr. Lowndes, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Dolbein, Mr. Thornhagh, Mr. Ashby, Sir Robert Burdet, Mr. Woodroffe, Mr. Halsey, Mr. Norris, Sir John Woolstenholm, Mr. England, Sir Wm. Blackett, Mr. Venables, Mr. Methwyn, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Fleming, Mr. Harcourt, Mr. Hoblyn, Mr. Fuller, Colonel Lee, Mr. Machel, Mr. York, Mr. Mawdit, Sir Math. Andrews, Mr. Gery, Mr. Turgis: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Reversing Outlawries in Ireland.

Ordered, That the Clerk of the Crown do lay before this House a Copy of the Act of Parliament in Ireland, to prevent the Reversing of Outlawries for Treason there.

Privilege.

The House being informed, That Mr. Morris, Minister of Aldborough, . . . attending according to Order;

He was called in to the Bar: And also several Witnesses; who were examined touching the Matter of the Complaint made against the said Mr. Morris, for intercepting a Letter of Christopher Tankard Esquire, a Member of this House; viz. Mr. Ridgdale, Christopher Fall, John English, and Captain Fairfax.

And the said Mr. Morris was heard thereupon; and his Witnesses also.

And then they withdrew.

Resolved, That there is no Ground of Complaint of a Breach of Privilege by the said Mr. Morris.

Ordered, That the said Mr. Morris be discharged of any further Attendance upon this House: And that he be paid the Charges of his Attendance by the said Mr. Tankard.

Address against Profaneness.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee appointed to prepare an humble Address to his Majesty, to suppress Profaneness and Immorality, and all Books which endeavour to undermine the Fundamentals of the Christian Religion, and to punish the Authors, be made Tomorrow Morning.

Grants from the Crown.

Mr. Lowndes, according to Order, presented to the House a Copy of the Constat annexed to a Warrant of the 12th Day of January 1697, importing a Grant of Lands; Tenements, and Hereditaments, Parcel of the Manor and Bailiwick of St. James, in the County of Middlefex: And

A Copy of a List directed in Letters to the Lords Justices of Ireland, of the 15th Day of September 1697, for granting several forfeited Lands and Estates specified therein, amounting to the clear yearly Value of 2,001 l. 18s. 9½d.: And

A Copy of a Schedule annexed to Letters of the Lords Justices of Ireland, of the 23d Day of April 1697, for granting unto Maurice Annesly Debts, Judgments, Mortgages, and Incumbrances, therein mentioned: And

A Copy of a Schedule mentioned in Letters to the Lords Justices of Ireland; of the 1st Day of December 1697, for demising to Thomas Cook several Lands forfeited to his Majesty; together with a Report of the Lords Justices relating thereunto: And

A Copy of the Schedule specified in a Letter to the Lords Justices of Ireland, of the 15th Day of September 1697, for granting to the Marquis of Puissar, and his Heirs, several forfeited Estates therein specified: And

A Copy of the Warrant mentioned in Letters to the Lords Justices of Ireland, of the 16th of April 1697, for granting to Thomas Railton Esquire several Judgments forfeited to his Majesty in Ireland: And also

An Abstract of what Interest hath been allowed to the Cashiers of the Customs and Excise since the Year 1670: And also

An Account of what Money hath been imprested to Mr. Burton and Mr. Knight, for Premiums and Rewards for advancing Money, and other Services, since the First Day of May 1695.

Ordered, That the said Copies and Accounts be read, and taken into Consideration, To-morrow Morning.

Russia Trade.

Ordered, That the Petitioners for and against the Bill for encouraging and improving the Trade to Russia be heard at the Bar of this House upon Saturday Morning next.

Counterfeiting Coin.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Saturday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for the better preventing the counterfeiting, clipping, and other diminishing, the Coin of this Kingdom.

Punishing Duncomb for false indorsing Exchequer Bills.

The House being informed, That the Counsel for and against the Bill for punishing Charles Duncomb Esquire, for contriving and advising the Making of false Indorsements of several Bills, made forth at the Receipt of Exchequer, commonly called Exchequer-Bills; and also Mr. Duncomb; attended, according to Order;

Ordered, That Mr. Duncomb, and the Counsel for and against the Bill, and the Witnesses, and no others, be brought in.

And then they were called in accordingly.

And the Bill was read a Second time: And Mr. Duncomb's Petition.

And the Counsel against and for the Bill were heard, as to the Matter of Law: And also several Witnesses were examined, as to the Facts relating to the Bill.

And then they withdrew.

And Mr. Speaker opened the Bill.

Candles.

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That Candles be brought in;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

And they were brought in accordingly.

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

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

Ordered, That Mr. Duncomb be remanded to the Tower of London: And that Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant accordingly.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

Punishing Knight, &c.

Ordered, That the Bills for punishing Mr. Knight and Mr. Burton be read a Second time upon Saturday Morning next.

Call of the House.

Ordered, That the House be called over upon this Day Sevennight: And that such Members as shall not then attend, be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House.

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