House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 23 March 1698

Mercurii, 23 die Martii;

10° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Fauquier's &c. Nat.

SIR John Elwill reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill to naturalize John Francis Fauquier, Joseph Du Casse, and others, 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.

Relief of Creditors.

Mr. Dolben, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to repeal the Act for Relief of Creditors, by makeing Compositions with their Debtors, in case Two-thirds in Number and Value do agree: And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

J. Smith's Estate.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for Sale of Three Houses in Swan-alley, in Coleman-street, late of Joseph Smith, deceased, for Payment of his Debts, with which the same Houses are chargeable: And that Mr. Gery do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

Lloyd's Nat.

A Bill to naturalize William Lloyd Esquire was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Foley, Mr. Blofeild, Sir Fra. Masham, Sir John Elwill, Mr. Machell, Sir Isaac Rebow, Mr. Thornhagh, Mr. Phillips, Sir Ra. Dutton, Sir Jacob Ashley, Sir Robert Burdet, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Mountstevens, Mr. Mawdit, Sir Wm. Cowper, Mr. Dolben, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Gery, Mr. White, Mr. Rowney, Mr. Stockdale, Mr. Fleming, Mr. Perry, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Fuller, Mr. England, Mr. Foley, Sir John Bucknall, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Morgan, Sir Wm. Lowther: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Duties on Leather.

A Petition of the Tanners, Cordwainers, Skinners, and Glovers, residing and trading within the City of Durham and the Suburbs thereof, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, by reason of the high Duties upon Leather, and paying the same down in ready Money, though they are forced to give long Credit for the Goods they sold, has so discouraged the Petitioners Trades, that many of them are fallen to the Parish; and besides, the Manner of collecting the Duty, and the Attendance upon the Officers, is very troublesome and vexatious: 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 Fellmongers, Leather-dressers, and Glovers, in the City of Chester, is referred: And that they do examine the Matter; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Counterfeiting Coin.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Saturday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, after the House hath resolved into a Committee to consider of the Bill for the better preventing the counterfeiting, and other diminishing, the Coin of this Kingdom, to consider of the Bill for encouraging and improving the Trade to Russia.

Colchester Work-houses.

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, was, according to Order, read the First time.

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

Hall's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for settling the Estate of John Hall, a Lunatick, subject to a Debt charged thereon, was, according to Order, read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed . . Mr. Ogle, Mr. Stockdale, Mr. Bickerstaffe, Mr. Gery, Sir Fra. Masham, Mr. York, Mr. Blofeild, Lord Fairfax, Mr. Fleming, Mr. Bertie, Mr. Stonehouse, Mr. Osborne, Mr. Watlington, Mr. Mawdit, Mr. Philips, Mr. England, Sir John Manwaring, Mr. Forster, Sir John Philips, Mr. Carr, Mr. Mountstevens, Sir Isaac Rebow, Mr. Milbank, Sir Wm. Honywood, Mr. Fuller, Sir Wm. Blackett, Sir John Kay, Mr. Perry, Mr. Lambton, Mr. Henley, Mr. Gray, Mr. Foley, Lord Coningsby, Sir Wm. Bowes, Mr. Foley, Sir Tho. Roberts, Mr. Nevill, Mr. Gardner: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Wove Buttons.

Sir John Manwaring, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to suppress the making of wove Buttons: And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

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

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Hoblyn have Leave to go into the Country for Three Weeks, upon extraordinary Occasions.

May's Nat.

The House proceeded to take into Consideration the Amendment, made by the Lords, to the Bill, intituled, An Act for the naturalizing Charles May Esquire.

And the same was twice read; and agreed unto by the House; and is as followeth; viz.

2 Skin, L. 1, for "Bucks," read "Berks."

Ordered, That Sir Henry Colt do carry the Bill to the Lords, and acquaint them, That this House hath agreed to the said Amendment.

Gardiner's Marriage Settlement.

An ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act to rectify a Mistake in the Marriage Settlement of William Gardiner Esquire, was, according to Order, read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass.

Ordered, That Sir Henry Colt do carry the Bill to the Lords, and acquaint them, That this House hath agreed to the same, without any Amendments.

Sheriffs Accounts.

An ingrossed Bill for the more easy passing Sheriffs Accounts, and the Execution of their Offices, was read the Third time.

An ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider, to be added to the Bill, That the Under Sheriffs and Bailiffs of the County of Westmorland shall be subject to the Penalties of the Bill, for taking greater Fees, or not taking the Oaths, as the Bill directs;

And the same was twice read; and amended:

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

An Amendment was proposed to be made, Press 11.

L. 17, to insert "And of any City and County, and "Town and County, except London and Middlesex:"

And the same was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for the more easy passing Sheriffs Accounts, and the Execution of their Offices.

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

Answer to Lords for a Member to attend them.

The Lord Spencer reported from the Committee appointed to draw up an Answer, upon the Debate of the House, to be given to the Message from the Lords, upon Monday last, touching Mr. Robert Bertie, That they had drawn up the same accordingly; 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 was . . . .; and is as followeth; viz.

The Commons having received a Message from your Lordships, wherein your Lordships did acquaint them, That a scandalous Paper, reflecting on the Lord Chancellor, and his Proceedings in the Court of Chancery, has been complained of, and read in the House of Lords; of which your Lordships are informed, upon Oath, That Mr. Robert Bertie, a Member of the House of Commons, can give some Account; your Lordships do desire, That, for that Purpose, the Commons would give Leave for him to appear before your Lordships;

The Commons having commanded us to acquaint your Lordships, That they not being informed, by the said Message, of the particular Matters contained in the said Paper, or upon what Grounds your Lordships ask to have their Member appear before you, they desire your Lordships to let them know what the Nature of that Account is, which is expected from their Member.

The Answer, being read a Second time, was agreed unto by the House.

Resolved, That the said Answer be delivered to the Lords at a Conference.

Conference desired with Lords.

Resolved, That a Conference be desired with the Lords, upon the Subject-matter of the Message from their Lordships, upon Monday last, touching Mr. Robert Bertie.

Ordered, That the Lord Spencer do go to the Lords, and desire the said Conference.

Suppressing Profaneness, &c.

Ordered, That the ingrossed Bill for the more effectual suppressing Blasphemy and Profaneness be read the Third time To-morrow Morning.

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, upon Friday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the said Bill.

Answer to Lords desiring Conference.

The Lord Spencer reported, That he having, according to Order, been to desire a Conference with the Lords, upon the Subject-matter of their Message, upon Monday last, touching Mr. Robert Bertie, the Lords answered, That they will return an Answer by Messengers of their own.

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