House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 16 March 1698

Mercurii, 16 die Martii;

10° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Copper Coinage.

A PETITION of divers Grocers, Mercers, Bakers, Butchers, and Victuallers, inhabiting in the Town of Bedford, in the County of Bedford, as well on behalf themselves, as of divers Tradesmen, and others, of the said Town, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there are greater Quantities of Copper Farthings and Halfpence coined than are needful; for that they receive greater Numbers thereof, than they can pay away; which is become a Grievance, and occasions many Quarrels between the Petitioners, and their Chapmen and Customers, to the Prejudice of Trade: And praying Relief therein.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Grocers, Cheesemongers, Mealmen, Bakers, Victuallers, Market-people, and Retailers in general, of the great and populous Borough of Southwark, is referred.

Trade to Germany.

A Petition of the Merchants, Fullers, Clothiers, and other Dealers in the Woollen Manufactures, in the City of Exon, and Parts adjacent, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners are very sensible of the great Benefit the Nation received by an Act made in the First Year of his Majesty's Reign, whereby a free Trade was open to Hamburgh and Germany; and far greater Quantities of our Woollen Manufactures were sold and exported, than when the Trade was limited to the insupportable Restrictions of the Hamborough Company: And praying, That the Trade to Hamborough and Germany may be kept free, as it now is.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the Bill for supporting the Merchant-Adventurers of England in their Trade to Germany be read a Second time.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Merchants, Fullers, Clothiers, and other Dealers in the Woollen Manufactures, in the North of England, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners have, during the late War, chearfully supported themselves, and their numerous Poor, from the Influence of free Trade to Germany; and hope by the Peace to reap a much better Advantage: But, finding by the Votes, That Leave is given to bring in a Bill for supporting the Merchant-Adventurers of England in their Trade to Germany, the Petitioners conceive, such an Establishment will restrain Trade to a few Buyers, who may force the Seller to accept of what Price they please for their Commodity, perhaps to Loss; to the Destruction of the Woollen Manufactures in the Northern Parts: And praying the House to take into Consideration the ill Consequences that may attend an Establishment of the said Company, as they desire.

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

Trade to Germany.

A Petition of the Clothiers, and other Traders in the Woollen Manufactures, at Hallifax, and Places adjacent, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners, and many Hundreds more, have supported themselves and Families by means of a free Trade to Germany; and should the Trade thither be restrained to the Hamborough Company, as is intended by a Bill depending in the House, it will be the Ruin of the Petitioners, and the Cloathing Trade Northwards: And praying the Consideration of the House therein.

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

Ditto.

A Petition of the Clothiers, and other Traders in the Woollen Manufactures, of Wakefeild, Hathersfeild, and Parts adjacent, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there is a Bill depending in this House for supporting the Merchant-Adventurers of England in their Trade to Germany, which, the Petitioners conceive, is, to hinder all others from exporting their Manufactures into Germany: And therefore they pray, That the said Bill may not pass; because it will restrain their Trade to a few Buyers, who will oblige the Petitioners to take what Price they please for their Commodities, though to great Loss.

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

Secwart's Petition.

A Petition of John Secwart, Marshal-Provost to the Dutch Regiment of House commanded by Colonel Stonebuck, was offered to the House:

And the Question being put, That the Petition be received;

It passed in the Negative.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Fortescue have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Burlipp Roads.

A Bill for Repair of the Highways from the Town of Burlipp, and the Top of Crickley-Hill, in the County of Gloucester, to the City of Gloucester, was read the First time.

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

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Pudsey have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Ettrick's Estate.

Mr. Ettrick, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for vesting in Trustees certain Lands, Parcel of the Estate of Jane late Wife of Ant. Ettrick Gentleman, to be sold for Payment of Debts; and for the making a Provision for Elizabeth their Daughter, an Infant, and Heir to her said Mother: And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time upon Tuesday Morning next.

Correspondence with late K. James.

Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, by such Members of this House as are of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council, That he will please to cause to be printed a List of the Persons Names, to whom Licences have been granted, pursuant to the Act lately passed, intituled, An Act against corresponding with the late King James, and his Adherents.

Counterfeiting Coin.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Saturday Sevennight, 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; and nothing to intervene.

Escapes of Debtors.

A Bill for the further Relief of Creditors in Cases of Escapes; and for preventing Escapes, and other Abuses in the Keepers of Goals; was read the First time.

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

Army Debts.

A Petition of the Clothiers of the Army was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, in 1695, they were paid in Tallies, as they were necessitated to sell for 65 l;. per Cent.; and for 1696, were forced to take Salt-Tallies; and were obliged to provide Cloathing for 1697; the Lords of the Treasury agreeing, that the Off-reckonings of that Year should be better paid: But the Petitioners do not find by the Votes of this House, that any Provision is made for that Year's Cloathing: And praying, That the House will appropriate such Part of the Funds as shall be given this Session, as will discharge the Debt due to the Petitioners.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, who are to consider of Ways and Means for raising the Supply granted to his Majesty.

Ditto.

A Petition of several Clothiers, and others dealing in the Woollen Manufacture, in behalf of themselves, and many others, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That they furnished Part of the Cloathing for the Army, upon a Promise, that they should speedily be paid; but fear they shall be delayed, to their great Damage, unless some Provision be made by the House, out of the Funds to be raised this Session: And praying, That Consideration may be had for Payment of what is due to them.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, who are to consider of Ways and Means for raising the Supply granted to his Majesty.

Inland Bills of Exchange.

Sir William Ashurst reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for the better Payment of Inland Bills of Exchange was committed, That they had made several Amendments to the 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: And other Amendments were made by the House to the Bill.

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

Leave of Absence.

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

Registering Deeds.

Ordered, That the Bill for registring Memorials of future Deeds and Conveyances be read a Second time upon Monday Morning next.

Proceedings of Lords, touching Duncomb's Punishment.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to inspect the Journals of the House of Lords; and to report to this House, what they find therein of the Proceedings in relation to Mr. Duncomb.

And it is referred to the Lord Ashly, Lord Spencer, Mr. Mountague, Mr. Dolben, Sir Joseph Jekyll, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Smith, Mr. Arnold, Sir John Bolles, Mr. Moncton, Mr. Boyle, Lord Hartington, Sir Henry Hobart, Sir William Lowther, Sir Godfrey Copley, Sir Herbert Crofts, Mr. Colt, Mr. Foley, Mr. Norris.

Militia Regulation.

Resolved, That this House will upon Monday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for regulating the Militia.

Privilege of a Member in a Suit.

Mr. Harvey attending in his Place;

The Petition of the Honourable Elizabeth Harvey, Widow and Relict of John Harvey Esquire, deceased, relating to him, was read; setting forth, That the Petitioner brought a great Fortune to her said Husband; who, by his last Will, appointed 20,000 l;. to be laid out in a Purchase of Lands, to be settled on her during her Life; and, until such Purchase was made, appointed Interest to be paid her for the same, at 4 l;. per Cent. per Annum, by Half-yearly Payments; and made his Brother, Sir Tho. Harvey, deceased, his Executor; who paid the Petitioner during his Life, having never made the said Purchase, though he received Assets much beyond 20,000 l;.: That Sir Thomas Harvey died about Three Years since, leaving John Harvey Esquire, his Son and Heir, his Executor; who refuseth to pay the Petitioner, and hath suffered the Interest to run much in Arrear; and insists on his Privilege, as a Member of this House: And praying, That Mr. Harvey being only Executor of an Executor, and, as to the Petitioner's Demands, but a Trustee, the Petitioner may have Leave to proceed against him, to recover her said Demands, notwithstanding his Privilege.

To which the said Mr. Harvey being heard.

Resolved, That the said Petition be rejected.

Supply Bill; Land Tax.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Bill for granting to his Majesty an Aid, by a Land-Tax, for One Year, to raise Money for disbanding Forces, paying Seamen, and other Uses therein mentioned.

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; and had directed him to move, That they may have Leave to sit again.

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

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