House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 28 March 1698

Lunæ, 28 die Martii;

10° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Duty on Salt.

A PETITION of Thomas Hollister, of Colchester, Charles Coe, of Malden, and Jonathan Bass, of Maningtree, in the County of Essex, Refiners of Salt, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That after the 25th Day of March 1694, the Petitioners refined several Quantities of Salt, which they sold to the Country at the usual Price, only advancing Three Halfpence per Gallon, which was the Duty paid to the King; no more being demanded till after an additional Duty of Three Halfpence was laid on Salt, by an Act of the 7th and 8th Year of the King; ever since which, the Petitioners have paid the same; yet Mr. Townsend, Solicitor to the Commissioners of Excise, threatens to sue the Petitioners for several Sums of Money due, as he pretends, for the Salt refined, and sold, as aforesaid, before the said Act, made in the 7th and 8th Years of his Majesty's Reign; in Wrong to the Petitioners: And praying Relief therein.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of Thomas Bendish, and others, Refiners of Salt, is referred: And that they do examine the Matter, and report the same to the House.

Hudson's Bay Company.

A Petition of the Merchants of London, and others, trading to New-England, New-York, &c. was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there is a Bill depending in this House, to confirm to the Hudson's-Bay Company their Charter and Privileges: And praying to be heard against the same, as the House shall think sit, before it pass into a Law.

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

Exeter Work-houses.

A Bill for erecting Hospitals and Work-houses, within the City and County of Exon, for the better employing and maintaining the Poor there, was, according to Order, read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir John Elwill, Sir John Phillips, Sir Edw. Seaward, Mr. Hoar, Sir Marm. Wyvell, Mr. Mawdit, Sir John Bolles, Mr. Hooper, Sir Joseph Tily, Sir Cha. Windham, Mr. Blofield, Sir Fra. Masham, Sir Isaac Rebow, Mr. Osborne, Mr. Mountstevens, Mr. Harrison, Mr. England, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Colt, Sir Hen. Colt, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Monson, Sir Hen. Hobart, Mr. Foley, Sir Wm. York, Sir Wm. Cowper, Colonel Rolles, Mr. Lambton, Mr. Whitaker, Mr. Lowther, Sir Tho. Roberts, Sir Jacob Ashley, Mr. Yates, Mr. Morgan, Sir Tho. Day, Mr. York, Mr. Pagitt; and all the Members for Devonshire, Cornwall, and Somersetshire: And they are to meet at Five a Clock this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Houghton's Estate.

Ordered, That the ingrossed Bill for vesting the Manors of Bastwick and Laviles, in the County of Norfolk, Part of the Estate of John Houghton Esquire, in Trustees, to be sold for discharging Debts charged thereon; and for settling another Estate in lieu thereof; be read the Third time upon Wednesday Morning next.

Leave of Absence.

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

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 read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass.

Ordered, That Mr. Ogle do carry the Bill to the Lords, and acquaint them, That this House hath agreed to the same, without any Amendment.

Hawkes' Estate.

Mr. Edward Harley, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to enable John Hawkes to sell Lands, in the County of Salop, for Payment of his Debts: And the same was received.

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

Exporting Wool, &c.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the Explanation, and better Execution, of former Acts made against transporting of Wool, and Fullers Earth: And that Sir John Kay do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Burgh's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for settling certain Lands in Essex on Thomas Burgh Esquire, and his Heirs, in lieu of other Lands of greater Value, conveyed by him according to a Decree, and the Will of Sir Samuel Jones, deceased, was read the First time.

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

Colchester Channel.

An ingrossed Bill for cleansing, and making navigable, the Channel, from the Hythe at Colchester, to Wivenhoo, was read the Third time.

An ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider, with * * * *;

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

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

Another ingrossed Clause was offered as a Rider, with Blanks, That * * * *:

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

And then the Clause 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 cleansing and making navigable, the Channel, from the Hythe at Colchester, to Wivenhoo.

Ordered, That Sir Isaac Rebow do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Challoner's Complaint.

Ordered, That the Lord Cutts, Colonel Godfrey, Sir John Manwaring, Mr. Gerard, Sir Tho. Day, Mr. Bridges, Sir Jos. Tily, Mr. Morgan, be added to the Committee, to whom the Petition of Wm. Challoner is referred.

Ayre and Calder Navigation.

Ordered, That the Committee to whom the Bill for making navigable the Rivers Ayre and Calder, in the County of York, is committed, have Power to receive a Clause for removing the Cloth-Market in Leeds, which is kept upon the Bridge, over the said Rivers, to some other Place in the said Town.

Copper Coinage.

A Petition of the Brewers, Grocers, Cheesemongers Mealmen, Bakers, Victuallers, and Retailers in general, of the great and populous Parish of St. Giles's without Cripplegate, in the City of London, and County of Middlesex, on behalf of themselves, and many others, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Managers of the Copper Coinage have not only refused to change the late White Farthings contrary to their Obligation, but have coined such vast Quantities of Copper Halfpence and Farthings, that they are become a greater Clog and Inconvenience to Trade than the said White Farthings were: And praying, That the Increase thereof may be prevented.

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 Borough of Southwark, is referred: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Timber in New Forest.

Resolved, That the ingrossed Bill, for the Increase and Preservation of Timber, in the New Forest, in the County of Southampton, be now read the Third time.

The Bill was read the Third time.

An Amendment was proposed to be made, Press*. L. *. by leaving out "and by Sale of like decayed Trees, in the said Forest, of Oak or Beech, not being ShipTimber, raise Money for defraying the Charge of making the said Inclosures; the same to be accounted, and:"

And the same was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House, and the Bill amended at the Table accordingly.

Then the Question being put, That the Bill do pass;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Resolved, That the Title be, An Act for the Increase and Preservation of Timber, in the New Forest, in the County of Southampton.

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

African Company.

A Petition of Sir Ralph Delavall was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner, being, in the Reign of King Charles the IId, Commander of his then Majesty's Ship the Warwick, was sent to Barbadoes, for the Service of the Royal African Company of England, with Instructions to seize all such Ships as traded within the Limits of their Charter, without their Consent: And accordingly the Petitioner made several Seizures, and expected to be indemnified by the said Company for so doing: but they refuse it, though the Petitioner is now sued for prosecuting such Orders: And praying, That a Clause may be inserted in the Bill before the House to settle the Trade to Africa, to oblige the said Company to indemnify the Petitioner.

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

African Trade.

Then the House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the said Bill.

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 Saturday next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the said Bill, after the Committee of the whole House, for encouraging and improving the Trade to Russia.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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