House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 18 February 1698

Veneris, 18 die Februarii ;

10° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Ayre and Calder Navigation.

A PETITION of Sir John Bland, Richard Lloyd Esquire, Gilbert Cooper, Nicholas Netherward, Elizabeth Grany, Roger Coates, Dorothy Banes, and Charles Robinsan, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there is a Bill in the House for making the Rivers Ayre and Calder, in the County of York, navigable, at the Charge of such Persons as shall undertake the same: And the Petitioners having several Mills, and their Dams and Weirs, upon the River Ayre, the same will suffer very great Damage, if the said designed Navigation be effected: And praying, That a Clause may be inserted in the said Bill, to oblige the said Undertakers to purchase or sarm the Petitioners said Mills.

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

Lustring Trade.

A Petition of the Royal Lustring Company of England was presented to the House, and read; setting forth That the Petitioners, with much Labour and Charge, settled the Manufacture of Alamodes and Lustrings in this Kingdom: That, Two Years since, they had Two hundred Looms at Work in London and Ipswich, by means whereof many Hundreds of Poor were employed; but lately the French Smugglers have fraudulently imported great Quantities of French Alamodes and Lustrings, as appears by a Copy of a French Pass annexed to the Petition: And praying, That several Books and Papers lately discovered, may be laid before the House, and examined; in which, among other notorious Practices against the Trade of this Kingdom, the Contrivances to ruin the Lustring Company do appear: And that such evil Practices against the Trade of this Kingdom may be effectuall . . provided against, by a Law for that Purpose, for the future.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee appointed to consider of the Trade of England and Ireland; and how to make the Trade of this Kingdom more beneficial: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House: And they are to have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Ordered, That the said Committee have Leave to sit in a Morning, provided they do not sit after Ten a Clock.

Duties on Leather.

A Petition of the Tanners, Skinners, Fell-mongers, Curriers, Tawers, and other Persons dealing in Leather, within the ancient Corporation of Stafford, in the County of Stafford, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners are very much disabled in their Substance by the Duty upon Leather, the whole Tax lying on the Dealers therein, and not on the Buyers from the Petitioners, who, through the Scarcity of Trade, are forced to sell, though their Labour is near lost: And praying Relief against the Severity of the said Tax.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Aldermen, Stewards, and Company of Fellmongers, Leather-dressers, and Glovers, in the City of Chester, is referred: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Inland Bills of Exchange.

A Petition of the Merchants, and other Traders, within the City of Exon, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That Trade in those Parts does very much depend on the Help of Inland Bills of Exchange; but by reason of many Defects in the Law therein, and particularly because many Bills have no Day expressed in them, beyond which the Drawer or Indorser shall be charged, if not paid, many Persons have been great Losers: And praying, That some Remedy may be provided against the said Inconveniences.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Bill for the better Payment of Inland Bills of Exchange is committed.

Barlow's Estate.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the better Management of the Estate of Sir George Barlow Knight, during his Minority; and for Payment of Debts and Legacies the same is charged with; and to enable the said Sir George, and Dame Winifred his Wife, to sell an Estate in the County of Lincolne, and, in lieu thereof, to settle an Estate in the County of Pembroke.

Reversal of Outlawries in Ireland.

The Clerk of the Crown delivered in a Copy of the Bill to hinder the Reversal of several Outlawries and Attainders in Ireland.

Crediton Work-houses.

A Bill for the erecting an Hospital or Hospitals, Workhouse or Work-houses, and House or Houses of Correction, within the Town and Parish of Crediton, in Devon, for the better Relief of the Poor there, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir William Coriton, Sir Edward Seaward, Major Burrington, Mr. England, Mr. Mountstevens, Sir Jos. Tily, Mr. Hobby, Lord Pawlett, Mr. Vivian, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Watlington, Mr. Vaughan, Mr. Perry, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Gardner, Sir Math. Andrews, Sir Francis Masham, Mr. Whitaker, Mr. Hedger, Mr. Stawell, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Dolben, Mr. Jacob, Sir Wm. Lowther, Sir John Phillips, Mr. Shackerly, Sir Jacob Ashley, Sir John Trevillian, Mr. York, Mr. Boscawen, Sir Walter Yonge, Mr. Smith, Mr. Beare, Lord Digby, Mr. Stokes, Mr. Daniell, Mr. Stonehouse, Mr. Norris, Sir Tho. Hussey, Mr. Hooper, Mr. Baldwin; and all the Members that serve for the Counties of Devon and Cornwall: And they are to meet at Five a Clock this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Answer to Address.

Mr. Speaker reported, That he, with the House, did Yesterday present to his Majesty their Address, That he would issue his Royal Proclamation to suppress Profaneness and Immorality; and all Books which endeavour to undermine the Fundamentals of the Christian Religion; and punish the Authors: And that his Majesty was thereupon pleased to express himself to this Effect; viz.

Gentlemen,

I cannot but be very well pleased with an Address of this Nature; and I will give immediate Directions in the several Particulars you desire: But I could wish some more effectual Provision were made for the suppressing those pernicious Books and Pamphlets, which your Address takes notice of.

Privilege of Member is a Suit.

Sir Joseph Tily attending in his Place, according to Order;

The Petition of William Wharton, and Eunice his Wife, was read; setting forth, That Sir John Roberts Baronet, deceased, designing to make a competent Provision for the said Eunice his Niece, he, having no Children of his own, gave her a Bond of 3,000 l. Penalty, for Payment of 1,500 l. at his Death; and also, by Will, gave her a Legacy of 300 l.: That Eunice brought her Action against Dame Deborah Roberts, the Widow and Administratrix, with the Will annexed of Sir John; and recovered Judgment upon the said Bond: Since which, Dame Deborah has married Sir Joseph Tily; who brought a Writ of Error, but the said Judgment was confirmed thereupon; yet Sir Joseph refuseth to pay the Petitioners, though the said Sir John Roberts' Personal Estate was more than sufficient to pay his Debts and Legacies, and though his Real Estate is charged therewith: That, about Six Months ago, the Petitioners exhibited their Bill in Chancery against Sir Joseph, without Process; to which Sir Joseph put in his Answer, which, the Petitioners are advised, is a Waver of his Privilege: But he being only an Administrator in the Right of his Wife, and in the Nature of a Trustee, they pray, That they may have Liberty to proceed at Law against the said Sir Joseph Tily, for Recovery of their said Debt and Legacy, notwithstanding his Privilege.

To which the said Sir Joseph Tily being heard in his Place;

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

Sufferers by London Derry Siege.

A Petition of the Mayor, Commonalty, and Citizens, of the City of London-Derr in Ireland, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That their Charge in the late Siege amounted to 30,000 l. on a moderate Computation, besides private Losses; and the Charge of relieving many Thousand Protestants, who fled thither for Refuge, has brought the said City to great Poverty, and to a very ruinous Condition: And praying, That their Case and Sufferings may be taken into Consideration, and laid before his Majesty.

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

And it is referred to * * * *.

Seizures upon Outlawries.

Mr. Hoblyn, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for the speedier and more easy Discharging of Seizures, in the Exchequer, upon Outlawries in Civil Actions: And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir William Morley have Leave to go into the Country for Recovery of his Health.

Seamens Arrears.

Ordered, That the Committee, to whom the Petitions of the Officers and Seamen of the Ships taken as Prizes are referred, have Leave to sit in a Morning.

Committees.

Ordered, That no Committee, who shall have Leave to sit in a Morning, do sit after Ten a Clock.

Challoner's Complaint.

A Petition of William Challoner Gentleman was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the last Session of Parliament he discovered several Abuses in the Mint; and shewed by what Method false Money was coined: That Laws might be made, more effectually to prevent the same; and accordingly several Acts were made for that Purpose: And then some Persons of the Mint threatened to prosecute the Petitioner, and take away his Life, before the next Session of Parliament: And since have committed him to Newgate, on Allegation, That he had abused the Mint: And preferred an Indictment against him, which they could not prove: And that the Petitioner is utterly ruined, for endeavouring to serve the King and Kingdom, and by his Discoveries against the Mint: And praying, That his Sufferings, and ruined Condition, may be considered and redressed.

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

And it is referred to Mr. Arnold, Sir Christ. Musgrave, Mr. Smith, Mr. Secretary Vernon, Mr. Dolben, Mr. Duke, Mr. Foley, Mr. Mountstevens, Sir Henry Hobart, Mr. Clerke, Sir Fra. Molyneux, Mr. Manly, Sir John Philips, Mr. England, Mr. Mountague, Mr. York, Sir Henry Colt, Sir Fra. Masham, Sir John Bolles, Sir Gerv. Elwes, Sir Robert Cotton, Mr. Moore, Lord Digby, Mr. Cornwallis, Mr. Boscawen, Dr. Barbon, Sir Rich. Onslow, Mr. Whitaker, Sir Richard Sandford, Mr. Tayler, Sir Tho. Roberts, Mr. Cheney, Sir Jos. Jekell, Mr. Shackerley, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Lowndes, Sir Robert Burdett, Mr. Norris, Mr. Fuller, Sir John Kay, Sir John Elwill, Lord Pawlet, Mr. Perry, Mr. Foley: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber: And have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Ordered, That it be an Instruction to the said Committee, That they have Power to send for any Informations given against the said William Challoner, touching his counterseiting of the Coin.

Punishing Duncomb for false indorsing Exchequer Bills.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for punishing Charles Duncomb Esquire, for contriving and advising the making false Indorsements of several Bills, made forth at the Receipt of Exchequer, commonly called Exchequer Bills.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

The Lord Marquis of Hartington took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

The Lord Marquis of Hartington 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 Report be made upon Monday Morning next.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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