House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 21 February 1698

Lunæ, 21 die Februarii ;

10° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Army Arrears.

APETITION of Robert Alden, Maurice Morris, James Gray, Robert Ware, Emanuel Moore, and John Blackhall, of the 2d Marine Regiment, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That Alden, a Corporal in Captain Thornell's Company, having Two Pounds Fourteen Shillings detained by his said Captain, upon Account of Cloathing, as he pretended; and Morris, and the other Petitioners, having divers Abuses, and unreasonable Demands put on them, by the said Captain; They pray the Relief of the House therein.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Soldiers of Colonel Langston's Regiment is referred: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Duties on Leather.

A Petition of the Wardens, and the rest of the Socicty of Glovers, within the Town of Brecon in the County of Brecon, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That their Trade, on which many Thousands depend for a Livelihood, is very much decayed since a Duty has been laid upon Leather: And praying, That the said Duty may be taken off, many Families being reduced to Want by it.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Aldermen, Stewards, and Company of Fell-mongers, 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.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Tanners, Curriers, Cordwainers alias Shoemakers, Glovers, and Leather-dressers, of the Town of Wimburn-minster in the County of Dorset, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the great Duty laid upon Leather is not only a great Grievance to the Petitioners, but also to all the Parts adjacent, being very poor by reason of the said Tax: And praying Relief in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Aldermen, Stewards, and Company of Fell-mongers, 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.

Chapman's Importing Silk.

A Petition of Dame Elizabeth Chapman was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That she had one Bale of Italian Silk sent her in June last, from Naples to Hamborough, in order to come for London; but, coming through Germany, it was detained there by the Frosts, and cannot now be imported without Forfeiture: And praying, That she may be comprehended in the Bill to enable Paris Slaughter and Wm. Druce, Merchants, to import several Bales of fine Italian Thrown Silk, from Amsterdam, into this Kingdom; so as that she may have Liberty to import her said Bale of Silk.

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

African Trade.

A Petition of the Merchants and Planters concerned in the Island of Jamaica was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there is a Bill depending in the House for settling the Trade to Africa, which may prove of dangerous Consequence to the said Island, in respect of the Produce and Trade thereof: And praying, That they may be heard thereto, before the passing of the said Bill.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the said Bill be read a Second time.

Winslow's, &c. Petition.

A Petition of Samuel Winslow, and others, belonging to his Majesty's Ship Anglesea, was presented to the House, relating to a Prize taken by the said Ship:

And a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the said Petition be read;

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That the said Petition be rejected.

Ayre and Calder Navigation.

A Petition of the Inhabitants of the Town of Grimston and Heslington, in the County of York, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That they have an easy and beneficial Conveyance, by the River Ouze, of Commodities to Hull, and other Places, which cannot be otherwise supplied, but at an extraordinary Charge: And if the Bill in the House for making the Rivers Ayre and Calder, in the County of York, navigable, should pass, the River Ouze will be so drained, that it will be useless; to the Impoverishment of the Petitioners: 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.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Inhabitants of the Town of Wheeldrake, in the County of York, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the said Town is conveniently seated on the River Darwent, which runs into the River Ouze, whereby they send, and receive back again, several Goods and Commodities, at an easy Rate; but if the Rivers Ayre and Calder, in the County of York, be made navigable, as is intended by a Bill in the House, the Rivers of Ouze and Darwent will de drained thereby: And praying, That the said Bill may not pass.

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

Debtors Petition.

A Petition of the poor Prisoners in the Goal of the Castle of Lancaster was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That for want of Running-cash, by reason of the Alteration of the Coin; and for that the Country is much weakened in their Credit thereby; and Paper-credit denied; and other Misfortunes; the Petitioners are closely confined in Goal, and in great Want: And praying, That some time may be allowed them, with their Enlargement, for raising Money by their own, and their Friends, Endeavours, to pay their just Debts.

And a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee appointed to consider by what Means the Poor may be better provided for, and employed; and to receive Proposals in relation thereunto;

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That the Petition be rejected.

Army Arrears.

A Petition of several Serjeants, discharged out of Colonel Fargison's Regiment of Foot, formerly commanded by Colonel Monroe, now in the Spanish Low-Countries, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That they have served his Majesty Eight Years, and are discharged without being accounted with, or their Arrears paid: And praying Relief therein.

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

Wool-broggers, &c.

A Petition of the Inhabitants of the Borough of Devizes in the County of Wilts was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That many Thousands of poor People, for many Years past, got an honest Livelihood by making Yarn in those Parts, who are now fallen under great Hardships for want of Employment, which in a great measure is occasioned by the great Growth of Wool-broggers, or Ingrossers of Wool: And praying, That the Manufacturers of Wool may have the preference in buying of Wool, for Three Months after Shearing, in the Counties which are nearest to the chief Places of Manufacture; and that a general Liberty of buying Wool may be restrained, under such Regulations as the House shall think sit.

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

It passed in the Negative.

Silver and Gold Thread.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for settling and adjusting the Proportions of fine Silver and Silk, for the better making of Silver and Gold Thread; and to prevent the Abuses of the Wire-drawers: And that Sir Henry Hobart and Sir Robert Davers do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Escapes of Debtors.

Mr. Pocklington reported from the Committee, to whom the several Petitions, relating to Escapes out of the Prison of the Fleet, were referred, That they had examined the Matters thereof; and had directed him to move, That Leave may be given to bring in a Bill for the more effectual Relief of Creditors in Cases of Escapes.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the more effectual Relief of Creditors in Cases of Escapes: And that Mr. Pocklington do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Kinnersley's Estate

Mr. Gery reported from the Committee, to whom the ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Thomas Kinnersley Esquire, an Infant, to make a Jointure and Settlement of his Estate, was committed, That they had examined and considered the same; and had directed him to report the same to the House, without any Amendment: And he delivered the same in at the Table.

Children of Soldiers Nat.

A Bill to naturalize the Children of such Officers and Soldiers, and others, the natural-born Subjects of this Realm, who have been born abroad during the War; the Parents of such Children having been in the Service of this Government; was, according to Order, read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Major-General Earle, Sir Tho. Barnardiston, Sir Robert Davers, Mr. Yates, Sir Henry Colt, Mr. Maudit, Colonel Webb, Sir William Lowther, Sir Sam. Barnardiston, Mr. Mountague, Sir Matth. Andrews, Lord Cutts, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Colt, Sir John Kay, Sir Robert Burdet, Sir Fran. Masham, Colonel Morgan, Mr. Norris, Mr. England, Lord Pawlet, Sir Wm. Drake, Mr. Stokes, Sir Fra. Windham, Mr. Vincent, Mr. Portman, Sir Edward Ernly, Mr. Stanley, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Freeman, Sir Tho. Roberts, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Gery, Sir Fra. Drake, Mr. Osborne, Mr. Henley, Mr. Boscawen, Mr. Pendarvis, Mr. Morgan, Sir Wm. Honywood, Sir Wm. Ashurst, Mr. Carr: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Repealing 39 Eliz. against making Malt.

Mr. Brotherton, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to repeal an Act, made in the 39th Year of the Reign of Queen Eliz. intituled, An Act to restrain the excessive making of Malt; and to discharge and vacate all Orders, made by Justices of Peace, from restraining of Maltsters from making of Malt, since the late Duty of 6d. per Bushel was laid upon Malt: And the same was received.

Registering Deeds.

A Bill for registring Memorials of future Deeds and Conveyances was read the First time.

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

African Trads.

A Bill to settle the Trade to Africa 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, upon this Day Sevennight, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Bill.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the several Petitions, which were laid upon the Table until the said Bill was read a Second time, be referred to the said Committee of the whole House: And that the Petitioners be then heard by the said Committee.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cooke and Sir Robert Legard:

Mr. Speaker,

Farrington's Estate.

The Lords have agreed to the Amendments, made by this House, to the Bill, intituled, An Act for vesting in Trustees, to be sold, certain Lands of Geo. Farrington Esquire, lying in the Counties of Middlesex and Surry, settled upon the Marriage of William Farrington, his Nephew; and, with the Money arising thereby, for purchasing of other Lands in Lancashire, where the ancient Estate of the Family lieth, to be settled to the same Uses: Also,

Vesey's Nat.

The Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act for naturalizing Dudley Vesey, an Infant, with an Amendment: To which Amendment they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Woollen Manufactures.

An ingrossed Bill to encourage the Woollen Manufacture of England; and to restrain the Importation of Woollen Manufacturers from Ireland into foreign Parts; and for the better preventing the Exportation of Wool from England and Ireland; was, according to Order, read the Third time.

And several Amendments being proposed to be made to the Bill; viz.

Press 5. L. 2. To leave out "Two Ships of the Fifth Rate;"

And L. 3d, To leave out "Four," and insert "Six;"

The same were, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House; and the Bill amended at the Table accordingly.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act to encourage the Woollen Manufacture in England; and to restrain the Exportation of Woollen Manufactures from Ireland into any foreign Parts; and for the better preventing the Exportation of Wool from England and Ireland.

Ordered, That Sir John Elwill do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Punishing Duncomb for False indorsing Exchequer Bills.

The Lord Marquis of Hartington, according to Order, reported, from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for the Punishing of 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, was committed, the Amendments, made by the Committee, to the said Bill; which they had directed him to report to the House; which he read in his Place: 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, all but the last Amendment; which was amended, and then agreed unto also.

A Clause was offered to be added to the Bill, to vest Two-Thirds of the Real and Personal Estate of Mr. Duncomb, forfeited by the Bill, in his Majesty, without any Inquisition to be found thereof:

And the same was twice read.

An Amendment was proposed to be made, by adding to be disposed of to such Uses, Intents, and Purposes, as shall be directed by Act of Parliament:"

And the Question being put, That the House do agree to the said Amendment;

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That the Clause be made Part of the Bill.

Another Clause was offered to be added to the Bill, to save the Rights of all Persons, except Mr. Duncomb's, and his Heirs, and those in Trust for them; with Blanks for the Time:

And the same was twice read; and the Blanks filled up:

And the Clause, 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.

Freedom of Elections.

Ordered, That the Bill for the further securing the Freedom of Elections of Members to serve in Parliament be read a Second time upon this Day Sevennight.

Counterfeiting Coin.

Resolved, That this House will, upon To-morrow Sevennight, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for the better preventing the counterseiting, clipping, and other diminishing, the Coin of this Kingdom.

Call of the House.

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

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

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