House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 26 March 1698

Sabbati, 26 die Martii;

10° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Ettrick's Estate.

ORDERED, That Mr. Bulkley, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Devereux, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Molesworth, Mr. Dolben, Sir Hen. Hobart, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Granville, Mr. Milbank, Mr. Hide, Mr. Rowney, be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill for vesting in Trustees certain Lands, Parcel of the Estate of Jane late Wife of Antony Ettrick Gentleman, to be sold for Payment of Debts, is committed.

Escapes of Debtors.

Ordered, That Mr. Harrison, Colonel Granville, Sir Roger Bradshaw, Mr. Manly, Mr. White, Mr. Arnold, be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill for the further Relief of Creditors, in Cases of Escapes, is committed.

Duties on Glass.

Ordered, That Mr. Osborne, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Gardiner, Mr. Cox, be added to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Glass-makers of the Town of Stourbridge is referred.

J. Smith's Estate.

Mr. Gery, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for Sale of Three Houses in Swan-alley, in Colemanstreet, late of Joseph Smith, deceased, for Payment of his Debts, with which the same Houses are chargeable: And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

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

Herring Fishery.

A Petition of the Herring-Fishery inhabiting the Town of Folkstone, in the County of Kent, a Member of the Cinque-Ports, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the said Town solely depends upon the Fishing Trade, and chiefly on Herrings caught in Yarmouth Seas; which they are like to lose by the Irish catching Herrings at Waterford and Wexford, and sending them to the Streights, thereby forestalling and ruining the Petitioners Markets: And praying, That Provision may be made for preserving the Petitioners Trade, and encouraging the English Fishery.

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 of the Trade of England and Ireland; and how to make the Trade of this Kingdom more beneficial;

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That the Petition be rejected.

Herring Fishery.

A Petition of the Inhabitants of Aldborough, in the County of Suffolk, on behalf of themselves, and others, concerned in the Herring fishery on the Coast of Suffolk aforesaid, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That formerly the Petitioners had a considerable Trade in selling Herrings for Exportation; but of late great Quantities have been caught in Ireland, at a small Charge, where they sell them for a Fourth Part of the Charges the Petitioners are at in taking them; and from thence they are exported into the Streights, and other Places, to the Prejudice of the Trade of this Kingdom; And praying the Consideration of the House therein.

And a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the said Committee;

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That the Petition be rejected.

Lord Lisburne's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the better settling the several Estates of the Right Honourable John Lord Viscount Lisburne, in the Kingdom of Ireland, and the Lady Viscountess his Wife, was read the First time.

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

Cleansing Rivers, &c.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to encourage the cleansing of Ports, Harbours, Roads, Bars, and Rivers, which may be made more navigable of all such Obstructions as prejudice the Navigation thereof: And that Sir John Bucknall and Mr. Colt do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Hall's Estate.

Mr. Ogle reported from the Committee, to whom the ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for settling the Estate of John Hall, a Lunatick, subject to a Debt charged thereon, That they had examined and considered the same; and had directed him to report the same to the House, without any Amendment: And he desivered the same in at the Clerk's Table.

Masters' Estate.

An ingrossed Bill to enable Streinsham Masters Esquire to sell Lands in Kent, which were agreed to be settled by his Marriage-Articles; and to convey Lands in Derbyshire, of a greater Value, to the same Uses; was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act to enable Streinsham Masters Esquire to sell Lauds in Kent, which were agreed to be settled by his Marriage-Articles; and to convey Lands in Derbyshire, of a greater Value to the same Uses.

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

Buying and selling Offices.

A Bill to prevent the buying and selling of Offices and Places of Trust, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Harley, Sir William Lowther, Mr. Newport, Mr. Archer, Mr. Gery, Mr. Morgan, Sir Steph. Fox, Sir Wm. York, Mr. Heveningham, Mr. Aylemer, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Boyle, Mr. Colt, Sir Marm. Wivell, Mr. Perry, Mr. Clark, Mr. Arnold, Sir John Bolles, Sir Wm. Forester, Sir John Phillips, Mr. Moyle, Mr. Norris, Lord Spencer, Mr. Bertie, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Wharton, Sir Fra. Masham, Mr. Freeman, Sir Geo. Hungerford, Mr. Lowndes, Sir Wm. St. Quintin, Mr. Fox, Sir Tho. Roberts, Sir Gervas Elwes, Mr. Vaughan, Lord Wm. Powlett: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Claims on Lottery Tickets.

A Petition of several Persons, on behalf of themselves and others, the Proprietors of the Tickets on the Million Lottery-Act, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the said Proprietors lent a Million of Money upon the Credit of a late Act for laying several Duties on Salt, and of Excise upon Beer, Ale, and other Liquors; whereby, they are intitled to Annuities of 140,000 l. per Annum, for 16 Years: That this House hath provided for Payment of the Tickets due between the 17th May 1696, and the 17th of May 1697, by an Act of this Session; but there was also due, at Lady-day 1696, the Sum of 20,000 l. and 40,000 l. at Michaelmas 1697, which is yet unprovided for; and there is a Doubt, whether the next Monies, arising by Excise, shall go to pay the same, or the Payment that will be due at Lady-day 1698; and the Tickets are very numerous, and no Direction which shall be first paid; which has occasioned much Disorder: The Petitioners therefore pray, That Provision may be made for Payment of the Money due at Lady-day 1696, and Michaelmas 1697; and that some Method may be taken for answering the Payments, upon the said Tickets, in Course.

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

And it is referred to Mr. Lowndes, Sir John Bolles, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Ryder, Sir Tho. Littleton, Sir Wm. Ellis, Colonel Lee, Mr. Morgan, Mr. Mountstevens, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Harley, Sir Hen. Colt, Mr. Dolben, Sir Wm. Honywood, Sir Chr. Musgrave, Sir Wm. Lowther, Mr. Hedger, Sir Tho. Mompesson, Mr. Bowyer, Sir Jacob Ashly, Mr. Daniel, Sir Marm. Wivell, Mr. Traverse, Mr. Watlington, Sir Wm. York, Mr. Lambton, Mr. Machell, Mr. Ogle, Sir John Fagg, Mr. Clark, Mr. Arnold, Sir Wm. Forester, Mr. Lowther, Sir John Kay, Mr. Colt, Mr. Perry, Sir Wm. St. Quintin, Mr. Bridges, Mr. Mawdit, Sir John Philips, Sir Edward Seaward, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Freeman: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Army Arrears.

Sir Marmaduke Wyvell reported from the Committee, to whom the Petition of Captain Christopher Billopp was referred, the Matter, as it appeared to the said Committee; and the Resolution of the Committee thereupon; which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table.

Ordered, That the said Report be taken into Consideration upon this Day Fortnight.

Seamens Arrears.

Ordered, That the Report upon the Petitions of the Officers and Seamen of the Ships, taken as Prize, be made upon this Day Sevennight.

Counterfeiting Coin.

The House, according to Order, resolved 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.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Cooper took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Cooper reported from the said Committee, That they had gone through the Bill, and made several Amendments to the same; which they had directed him to report, when the House will please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the Report be made upon Monday Sevennight, and nothing to intervene.

A Message from the Lords, by Mr. Meredeth and Mr. Pitt:

Mr. Speaker,

Bishop of Chichester's Estate.

The Lords have agreed to the Amendment, made by this House, to the Bill, intituled, An Act to enable John Lord Bishop of Chichester to make Leases of certain Houses and Grounds, belonging to the Bishoprick of Chichester, situate in Chancery-lane, for a competent Number of Years: Also,

Arbitrations.

The Lords have passed a Bill, intituled, An Act for determining Differences by Arbitration: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Regulating Elections.

Ordered, That the Bill for the further regulating Elections of Members to serve in Parliament be read a Second time upon Tuesday Sevennight.

Russia Trade.

Resolved, That this House will, upon this Day Sevennight, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for encouraging and improving the Trade to Russia; and nothing to intervene.

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