House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 19 March 1698

Sabbati, 19 die Martii;

10° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Hudson's Bay Company.

A PETITION of the Master, Wardens, and Commonalty of the Mystery of Skinners, London, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there is a Bill depending in the House for confirming to the Hudsons Bay Company their Charter, Privileges, and Trade; which is now managed in a joint Stock; and is found to be very prejudicial to the Petitioners, and the Exportation of the Woollen and other Manufactures: And praying to be heard against the said Bill.

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

Trade to Germany.

A Petition of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses of the Corporation of Taunton, in the County of Somersett, together with divers Shopkeepers, Sergemakers, Fullers, and others concerned in the Woollen Manufactury, residing in and near the same, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners have greatly found the Benefit of an Act, made in the First Year of his Majesty's Reign, for opening a free Trade to Germany; by which the Price of Wool was considerably advanced, and far greater Quantities of its Product exported, than when the Trade was confined to a select Company; who hitherto have not bought the 20th Part of the Goods made by the Petitioners: And praying, That the Trade to Germany may be continued free and open, in such manner as the House shall think sit.

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 Sergemakers, and others concerned in, and depending upon, the making of Serges, within the Borough of Ashburton in the County of Devon, was presented to the House, relating to the Bill for supporting the Merchant-Adventurers of England in their Trade to Germany.

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

Colchester Work-houses.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for erecting Hospitals and Work-houses within the Town of Colchester, in the County of Essex, for the better employing and maintaining the Poor thereof: And that Sir Isaac Rebow, Sir John Mordant, and Mr. Whitaker, do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Importing Goods in Elizabeth Flyboat.

A Petition of James Bayly and William Keech, on behalf of themselves, and the rest of the Part-owners of the Ship, called the Elizabeth Flyboat, 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 Sir HenryColt, and Mr. Perry do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Resumption of Grants.

A Petition of Katherine Countess of Abercorne, in behalf of herself, and her Husband Charles Earl of Abercorne, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner's Husband's Brother being killed in the Service of the late King James, his Estate was comprehended with others attainted, as well as the Petitioner's Husband's though he was a Protestant, and turned out of Command by King James out of the English Army, being zealous for the present Government; which has been represented to the King, and his Forfeitures remitted: Besides which, the Petitioner discharged an Incumbrance of 7,000 l. thereon; and had the Barony of Saraban, Part of her Husband's Estate settled upon her: And this House did, the last Session, distinguish the Petitioner's Case by a particular Clause in a then Bill depending: And praying, the like Care may be taken of her by the present Bill in the House 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.

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

Importing Irish Tallow.

A Petition of the Master and Wardens of the Community and Fellowship of Soap-makers and Chandlers, in the City of Bristoll, in behalf of themselves, and the whole Community, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That since a Duty has been laid upon Irish Tallow imported into England, our Plantations have been generally supplied with Candles from Ireland, where they can afford them 30 l. per Cent. cheaper than here; neither can Candles here be made without Irish Tallow fit for the waren Countries; so that the Candle-Trade to the Plantatious is much lessened; and will be lost, if some speedy Care, more than the Laws in Force do allow, be not taken to prevent the same; which, the Petitioners conceive, may be done by allowing a Drawback on Exportation: And praying the Consideration and Encouragement of the House for making Candles in England.

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.

African Trade.

A Petition of Sir Nicholas Crisp Baronet was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner's Grandfather, Sir Nicholas Crisp, was the First Person who discovered and settled the Trade to Africa; and had a Patent from King Charles the First for the sole Trade thither: And Sir Nicholas built a Castle at Cormanteen; and, with other Charges in managing the Trade till the Restoration of King Charles the Second, was out of Pocket above 100,000 l.: And then the King was informed, That the Trade to Africa was too great for a single Person, he annulled the said Patent, and established a Company, awarding them to pay Sir Nicholas 20,000 l. which they promised to do; but, they failing, never performed: That the present Company were settled on the same Foot as the former; and, when they first petitioned this House for an Establishment, their chief Argument and Inducement was, that they were to pay the said 20,000 l. to Sir Nicholas, upon resigning his Interest, who is since dead; but by his Will doubts not but this Nation will make Compensation to his Family for their very great Loss: Therefore the Petitioner prays, That the House will take the Premises into Consideration; and provide, that the present African Company, or the Traders to Africa, may make such reasonable Compensation to the Petitioner, as the House shall think sit.

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

African Trade.

A Petition of several Merchants, trading and interested in the Sugar-Plantations in America, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, there being a Bill in the House for settling the Trade to Africa, the Petitioners are sensible it will be a great Benefit to secure that Trade to this Kingdom, by maintaining Forts and Castles there, with an equal Duty upon all Goods exported, to be paid into the Hands of the Governor of the African Company: And praying that the said Bill may pass.

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 the Planters of his Majesty's Leeward Caribbee Islands was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners have seen the several printed Reasons for and against the Bill, depending in the House, for settling the Trade to Africa; and humbly conceive it necessary to maintain Forts and Castles for preservation of that Trade: And the Royal African Company having been at great Charges in maintaining them, and in giving the Planters Credit; and since they offer a Freedom for all Persons to trade thither, paying a certain Sum per Cent. for all Goods exported, towards defraying the Charges of the said Forts: the Petitioners pray, That a Bill may pass for that Purpose, that the Plantations may be more plentifully supplied with Negroes, and at cheaper Rates.

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 the Inhabitants of Mountserrat was presented to the House and read; setting forth, That the Price of Negroes is very much advanced, and Credit very much lessened, since private Merchants have had Admittance to Trade to Africa; which was much better carried on for the Advantage of the Plantations, when in the Hands of the African Company: And praying, That Company may be so settled, for the Security of the Negro-Trade to the Plantations, as the Petitioners may reap the Benefits they formerly enjoyed.

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

Tiverton Workhouses.

An ingrossed Bill for erecting Hospitals and Workhouses within the Town and Parish of Tiverton, in the County of Devon, for the better employing and maintaining the Poor thereof was read the Third time.

An ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider, with Blanks, That no Person shall be charged to the Relief of the Poor, for a certain Time, that shall pay a certain Sum of Money for the Use of the Corporation:

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

And then the Glause was read the Third time; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House to be made Part of the Bill.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for erecting Hospitals and Work-houses within the Town and Parish of Tiverton, in the County of Devon, for the better employing and maintaining the Poor thereof.

Ordered, That Mr. Hoblyn do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Joseph Jekill, Chief Justice of Chester, have Leave to go that Circuit, which is already appointed.

Fitz-Harris' Estate.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Petition of Sir Henry Fitz-Harris is referred, be made upon this Day Sevennight.

Improving Woollen Manufacture.

Sir George Hungerford, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for the better improving of the Woollen Manufacture: And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

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

Privilege of a Member in a Suit.

A Petition of the Lord Culpeper, Baron of Thoresway, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, by virtue of the last Will of his Father John Lord Culpeper, and other Settlements, he hath a just Right to certain Lands, which have been long detained from him by Thomas Lord Fairfax, a Member of this House; who, the last Session of Parliament, as the Petitioner is informed, did, in his Place, affirm to the House, That he never refused to wave his Privilege to the Petitioner; yet now he insists upon it, though the Petitioner always was ready to wave his Privilege to the Lord Fairfax: And praying Leave to prosecute the Lord Fairfax for Recovery of his just Right.

To which the Lord Fairfax being heard in his Place; Resolved, That the Petition be rejected.

Children of Soldiers Nat.

Sir Henry Colt reported from the Committee, to whom the 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 committed, That they had made some 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.

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

Suppressing House-breakers.

Mr. Evelyn, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for the better Discovery and Suppressing of House-breakers: And the same was received.

The Question being put, That the Bill be now read the First time;

It passed in the Negative.

Persons ordered to attend.

Ordered, That Mr. Glover, and Mr. Levy, and Mr. Williamson, Receivers of Yorkshire, do attend this House upon Monday Morning next.

African Trade.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Bill to settle the Trade to Africa.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Norris took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Norris 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, upon Monday Sevennight, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the said Bill; and nothing to intervene.

And then the House adjourned till Monday Morning, Nine a Clock.