House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 4 March 1698

Veneris, 4 die Martii;

10° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

JOHN Francis Fauquier, Joseph Ducasse, James Sartre, Peter Hugon, Joseph Boit, Luke Maistre, Henry Gaultier, John Prevost, Nicholas Bosquet, Gabriel Tahourdin, Robert Calle, John Anthony Lullin, Lawrence Galdii, Stephen Fagett, and Abel Ligonier, took the Oaths appointed in Order to their Naturalization.

Duties on Leather.

A Petition of the Tanners, Fell-mongers, Leatherdressers, and other the Dealers in, and Manufacturers of, Leather, within the ancient Town and Borough of KingsLynn, in the County of Norfolk, and Parts adjacent, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Duty upon Leather, being so excessive high, is not only a great Discouragement to the Petitioners, but also a great Hindrance to the Consumption of Leather, and tends to the Impoverishing of many Persons: And praying that the said Duty may be taken off.

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.

Petition from Bridgwater.

A Petition of the Mayor, Aldermen, and principal Inhabitants, of the Town of Bridgwater in the County of Somersett, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That * * * *.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill according to the Prayer of the said Petition: And that Mr. Palmer and Mr. Hunt do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Resumption of Grants.

A Petition of Barnaby Bowtell Gentleman was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That Justin Macharty, for Two hundred Pounds paid him by Christopher Davenport in 1687, mortgaged to the said Davenport all his Lands in Ireland, of about 70 l. per Annum; which Mortgage was in Trust for Francis Chamberlaine, under whom the Petitioner claims as Administrator: And praying, That he may have a saving Clause in the Bill for vacating all Grants of Estates, and other Interests, forfeited in Ireland, since the 13th Day of February 1688; and for appropriating the same to the Use of the Publick; for so much Money as is specified in the Mortgage-deed, with Interest.

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

Ditto.

A Petition of Richard Talbott Esquire was presented to the House, and read; seting forth, That he is a Protestant, and was no-ways concerned in the Rebellion in Ireland, yet he was outlawed for Treason; but the same was reversed by the King's Order: And praying, That the Bill depending in the House for vacating all Grants of Estates, and other Interests, forfeited in Ireland, since the 13th Day of February 1688, may not prejudice the said Reversal.

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

Duty on Stone, &c.

A Petition of John Dwight was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner has, with much Charge and Industry, invented, and set up at Fulham, several Manufactures of Clay into Pots, in greater Perfection and Variety than ever was in England, or anywhere else: That the Petitioner was attempting further Improvements, till the Imposition for laying a Duty upon Stone and Earthen-wares discouraged him from going on in Search of new Arts, or cultivating those he had found out: And praying, That he may be considered, and his Art encouraged.

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

Lewin's Estate.

Mr. Bromley reported from the Committee, to whom the ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable John Lewin to sell certain Messuages in Southwark, for Payment of Debts, 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.

Barlow's Estate.

A Petition of Faith Heneage Widow, and of Tho. Heneage Esquire, Grandmother, and Brother, unto Dame Winifred, now Wife of Sir George Barlow Baronet, in behalf of themselves, and other Relations of the said Dame Winifred, was presented to the House, relating to the Bill for the better Management of the Estate of Sir George Barlow Baronet, during his Minority; and for Payment of Debts and Legacies the same is chargeable 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.

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

The Bill was read a Second time.

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

It passed in the Negative.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Robert Smith have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Copper Coinage.

Ordered, That Sir Robert Davers, Mr. Bickerstaff, Sir Rowland Gwynn, Mr. Vincent, Mr. Granville, Sir Robert Burdet, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Sturt, Mr. Molyneux, Mr. Godolphin, Mr. Maudit, Mr. Neale, Mr. Mason, Sir Wm. Cowper, Mr. Pudsey, Mr. Cowper, Sir Tho. Travell, Mr. Lowther, be added to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Grocers, Cheesemongers, Mealmen, Bakers, Victuallers, Market-people, and Retailers in general, of the Borough of Southwark, is referred.

Estates given to superstitious Uses.

Ordered, That Mr. Freeman, Sir Cha. Raleigh, Sir Geo. Fletcher, Mr. Bromley, Mr. Gauntlet, Mr. Chase, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Onslow, Mr. Kirby, be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill for the better Discovery of Estates given to superstitious Uses is committed.

Colchester Channel.

Sir Isaac Rebow, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to cleanse, and make navigable, the Channel from the Heith at Colchester to Wivenhoo: And the same was received.

Ordered, That the Bill be read To-morrow Morning.

Escapes of Debtors.

A Bill for the more effectual Relief of the Creditors in Cases of Escapes; and for preventing Escapes, and other Abuses in the Keepers of Gaols: was read the First time; and, because it was brought in with Penalties, by Leave of the House, withdrawn.

African Company's Charter, &c.

The House being informed, That the Secretary of the Royal African Company attended with such Things as the House had ordered to be laid before them;

He was called in: And, at the Bar, delivered in to the House the Charter of the Company, and Book of Bylaws; and a List of the Names of the Members of the Company.

And then withdrew.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Charter, Book, and List, be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for settling the Trade to Africa is committed.

Relief of Creditors.

Ordered, That the Bill to explain and rectify an Act for Relief of Creditors, by making Composition with their Debtors, in case Two-Thirds in Number and Value do agree, be read a Second time upon Tuesday Morning next.

Ways and Means.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty; and of Ways and Means for raising the same.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Sir Thomas Littleton took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir Thomas Littleton reported from the said Committee, That they had made a further Progress in the Matter to them referred.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

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