House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 7 April 1698

Jovis, 7 die Aprilis;

Decimo Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Cleansing Rivers, &c.

SIR John Bucknall, according to Order, presented to the House 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 the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

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

Copper Coinage.

A Petition of the Grocers, Brewers, Distillers, Soapmakers, Cheesemongers, Mealmen, Bakers, Tallowchandlers, Butchers, Victuallers, Retailers and others, of the Parish of St. Botolph without Bishopsgate, in the City of London, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Contractors for making Copper Halfpence and Farthings have coined such vast Quantities, that they are become more burthensome than the late Tin Farthings, which were to be changed by the said Contractors, who allow 4 l. per Cent. to such Persons as buy their Copper Coin; whereby, so many are uttered from their Office, that the poorer Sort of People are paid for their Labour in very little other Money, and by them, who are very numerous, paid to the Petitioners for Provisions and Goods; so that the Petitioners are rendered incapable to pay their Bills, otherwise than by Farthings; which their Chapmen refuse to take: And praying, That the House will take the Premises into Consideration, and redress their Grievances.

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.

Wove Buttons.

Mr. Molyneux reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill to suppress the making of wove Buttons 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.

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

Ettrick's Estate.

A Petition of John Knott was offered to the House, relating to the Bill to enable Antony Ettrick Gentleman, to sell Part of his late Wife's Lands, pursuant to Articles of Agreement, made in her Life-time, for the Sale thereof.

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

It passed in the Negative.

Suppressing House-breakers.

A Bill for the better Discovery, and suppressing, of House-breakers, was read the Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Evelyn, Sir John Bucknall, Mr. Serjeant Bond, Sir John Fleet, Mr. Ettrick, Sir Marm. Wivell, Sir Robert Cotton, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Farrer, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Frewen, Sir William Bowes, Mr. Sandford, Mr. Colt, Mr. How, Mr. Flemming, Mr. Bohun, Mr. Bertie, Mr. Trye, Mr. Molyneux, Mr. Pagit, Sir Richard Onslow, Sir John Phillips, Sir Robert Clayton, Lord Hide, Sir Robert Burdet, Mr. Gardner, Colonel Try, Mr. Gery, Sir Tho. Roberts, Mr. Machell, Sir Sam. Barnardiston, Mr. Baldwyn, Mr. Tredenham; and all the Members that serve for Surrey: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That it be an Instruction to the Committee, to whom the said Bill is committed, That they do consider of some other Punishment than Death, for Burglars and Highwaymen;

It passed in the Negative.

Army Arrears.

Ordered, That the Books and Papers, now in the Hands of the Clerk of this House, relating to the Accounts of Mr. Francis Molyneux, Agent to the Duke of Schomberg's Regiment, be delivered to the said Mr. Molyneux, by a Schedule, to be returned when the Reference, touching the said Accounts, is over.

Burlipp Roads.

An ingrossed Bill for repairing the Highways from the Town of Burlipp, and the Top of Crickley Hill, in the County of Gloucester, was read the Third time.

An ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider, with Blanks, That no Toll shall be demanded until the Security, given to the Gloucestershire Justices, shall be approved by a certain Number of Herefordshire Justices:

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 repairing the Highways from Burlip, and the Top of Crickley Hill, in the County of Gloucester.

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

Burgh's Estate.

Mr. Brotherton reported from the Committee, to whom the 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, was committed, That they had examined and considered the same; and had directed him to report the same to the House, without any Amendment: And he delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table.

Escapes of Debtors.

Ordered, That Mr. Shackerly, Mr. Lee Banks, Mr. Holt, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Halsey, Mr. Pudsey, Mr. York, Mr. Cooper, be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill for the further Relief of Creditors in Cases of Escapes; and for preventing Escapes, and other Abuses in the Keepers of Goals; is committed.

Relief of Creditors.

Mr. Dolben reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for repealing the Act, made the last Session of Parliament, intituled, An Act for Relief of Creditors, by making Compositions with their Debtors, in case Two-thirds, in Number and Value, do agree, 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.

A Clause was offered to be added to the Bill, to make void fraudulent Discharges, obtained by Perjury:

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

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

A Message from the Lords by Sir Miles Cook and Mr. Pitt;

Mr. Speaker,

R. Smith's Estate.

The Lords have passed a Bill, intituled, An Act for the vesting several Lands, late belonging to Robert Smith Esquire, deceased, in Trustees, to be sold, for the Payment of his Debts: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. George Rodney Bridges have Leave to go into the Country for a Fortnight, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Army Arrears.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the Petition of Mrs. Lovelace, which was referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of Mr. Francis Molyneux was referred, be transferred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Soldiers of Colonel Langston's Regiment is referred.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That the Lord Fitzharding have Leave to go into the Country for Ten Days, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Ordered, That Mr. Napper have Leave to go into the Country for a Fortnight, upon extraordinary Occasions.

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

Bailing of Prisoners committed by the House.

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That Mr. Knight, now Prisoner in the Tower, and Mr. Burton, Prisoner in Newgate, be bailed, by giving Security to the Serjeant at Arms attending this House;

It passed in the Negative.

Supply.

Sir Thomas Littleton, according to Order, reported; from the Committee of the whole House, who were to consider of the Supply granted to his Majesty, the Resolutions of the said Committee; 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 read; and are as follow; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee That, over and above the Duties already payable, a further Duty be laid upon all Coal and Culm.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Duty upon all Coal shipped, or waterborne in order to be shipped, be Five Shillings per Chaldron.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Duty be paid by the Owner or Master of the Vessel, at the Place of landing the said Coal.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Duty upon Coal not shipped, or waterborne in order to be shipped, where the same usually are, or may be, sold by Weight, be Two Shillings per Ton.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Duty upon Coal not shipped, or waterborne in order to be shipped, where the same usually are, or may be, sold by Measure, be Three Shillings per Chaldron.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Duty upon Coal not shipped, or waterborne in order to be shipped, be paid by the Owner at the Pit.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Duty upon Culm be One Shilling per Chaldron, to be paid by the Owner thereof.

The First Resolution being read a Second time;

And the Question being put, That the House do agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, That, over and above the Duties already payable, a further Duty be laid upon all Coal and Culm;

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

The rest of the Resolutions, being severally read a Second time, were, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in upon the said Resolutions: And that Mr. Attorney-General, Mr. Solicitor General, and Mr. Lowndes, do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Militia Regulation.

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 regulate and settle the Militia.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Sir Henry Hobart took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir Henry Hobart . . . . . . . . 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 this Day Sevennight, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the said Bill.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

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