House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 15 April 1698

Veneris, 15 die Aprilis;

Decimo Gulielmi.

Prayers.

Cary's Estate.

AN ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for vesting a Moiety of certain Messuages and Lands in Hackney, in the County of Middlesex, in Trustees, for the Benefit of Susannah Cary, Widow, and Relict of Nicolas Cary Esquire, deceased, and others, was read the First time.

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

Escapes of Debtors.

A Petition of George Taylor Esquire, Marshal of the Court of King's Bench, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Bill for Relief of Creditors in Cases of Escapes; and for preventing of Escapes, and other Abuses in Keepers of Gaols; very much concerns the Petitioner: And praying to be heard against the said Bill, by Counsel, before the same do pass this House.

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

Abuses in Fleet Prison.

A Petition of several of the Prisoners of the Fleet, in behalf of themselves, and the rest of the Prisoners there, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That Mr. Ford, pretended Warden of the Fleet, notwithstanding the late Act for preventing Abuses in Prisons, doth exact and take 5 s. per Week for almost every Chamber in the Prison; and likewise extravagant Fees for the Commitment of every Prisoner, and Gratuities for the Liberty of Prisoners: And praying the Fees may be settled, to prevent such Abuses for the future.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the poor Prisoners confined in the Prison-houses of the King'sBench and Fleet is referred: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Exon Work-houses.

An ingrossed Bill for erecting of Hospitals and Workhouses within the City and County of Exon, for the better employing and maintaining of the Poor there, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for erecting Hospitals and Work-houses within the City, and County of the City, of Exon, for the better employing and maintaining the Poor there.

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

Copper Coinage.

Ordered, That Mr. Mawdit and Mr. Lowther be added to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Grocers, Cheesemongers, Bakers, Victuallers, Market-people, and Retailers in general, of the Borough of Southwark, is referred.

Claims on Lottery, Tickets.

Ordered, That Mr. Baldwyn, and Mr. Aislaby be added to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Proprietors of the Tickets on the Million Lottery-Act is referred.

Improving Woollen Manufacture.

A Petition of several Factors of Blackwell-hall, on behalf of themselves, and the rest of the Factors there, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there is a Proviso to be added to the Bill for the better improving the Woollen Manufacture, That no Blackwell-hall Factors shall sell any Wool to Clothiers; which will prejudice the Petitioners: And praying to be heard, by Counsel, against the said Proviso.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the said Bill be read the Third time: And that the same be read upon Wednesday Morning next.

Duties on Malt.

Ordered, That an Account be laid before this House, of what hath been received of the Duties upon Malt.

Repealing 39 Eliz. against making Malt.

A Bill to repeal an Act, in the Thirty-ninth Year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, intituled, An Act to restrain the excessive making of Malt; and to discharge and vacate all Orders, made by Justices of Peace, from restraining of Maltsters from making of Malt, since the late Duty of Six-pence per Bushel laid upon Malt; was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Brotherton, Sir Thomas Travell, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Mawdit, Mr. Baldwyn, Mr. Ashby, Mr. Windham, Mr. Farrer, Lord Digby, Mr. England, Mr. Clarke, Dr. Oxinden, Sir John Elwell, Mr. Gardner, Sir Matthew Andrews, Sir Fran. Massam, Sir John Key, Mr. Thornhaugh, Sir Wm. Bowes, Sir William Lowther, Sir Stephen Evans, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Boyle, Sir John Phillips, Mr. Morgan, Sir Rowland Gwynne, Mr. Gery, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Gwyne, Mr. Machell, Sir Herbert Crofts, Mr. Phillips, Lord Fairfax, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Duke, Colonel Pery, Mr. Lampton, Sir Thomas Roberts, Mr. Fleming, Mr. Frewen, Mr. Mountstevens, Mr. Battiscombe: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Exporting Wool, Fullers Earth, &c.

A Bill for the Explanation, and better Execution, of former Acts made against Transportation of Wool, and Fullers Earth, and Tobacco-pipe Clay, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir John Elwell, Sir Rowland Gwynne, Sir John Key, Sir William Lowther, Mr. Boscawen, Sir Marmaduke Wyvell, Mr. Boyle, Mr. Harrison, Sir Samuel Barnardiston, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Campion, Mr. Taylor, Dr. Oxinden, Mr. Thornhaugh, Lord Fairfax, Sir William Drake, Mr. Ashby, Mr. Osborne, Mr. Mountstevens, Mr. Farrer, Mr. Ryder, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Baldwyn, Mr. Howe, Sir Scroop Howe, Sir Francis Massam, Mr. Palmes, Mr. Manly, Mr. Bethell, Mr. Thompson, Sir John Philipps, Sir George Choute, Mr. Morgan, Mr. Lowther, Sir William Ashurst, Mr. England, Mr. Frewen, Sir Baz. Dixwell, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. York, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Blake, Mr. Lampton, Mr. Mawdit; and all the Members that serve for the Cloathing Counties: And all that come are. to have Voices: And they are to meet at Five a Clock this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Foreign Lustrings.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Royal Lustring Company of England was referred, be received To-morrow Morning at Eleven a Clock; and nothing to intervene.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Colonel Nanny have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

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

Ordered, That Sir William Bowes have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Ordered, That Mr. Serjeant Coward have Leave to go into the Country, for Recovery of his Health.

Children of Soldiers Nat.

The House resumed the Consideration of 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:

And a Clause was offered to be added to the Bill, with Blanks, That any Person expressly named in the said Act, or not expressed, but intended to be thereby naturalized, shall and may, at any time during the Space of Five Years after he or she shall attain to the Age of Fourteen, be admitted in any Court at Westminster, to make Proof, by one or more Witnesses, viva voce, that such Person did receive the Sacrament, and take the Oaths by this Act appointed; and that such Person was born of a Father, or Mother, that was a natural-born Subject of this Realm, and actually in the Service of his Majesty, or the late Queen, at such his or her Birth:

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

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

Then an Amendment was proposed to be made in the Bill, Pr. 2. L. 12, after "Realm," to insert "and were then actually in the Service of his Majesty, or of his Majesty and the late Queen, of blessed Memory:"

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

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act 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.

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

Counterfeiting Coin.

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the receiving the Report from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for the better preventing the counterfeiting, clipping, and other diminishing, the Coin of this Kingdom, was committed, be adjourned till Monday Morning;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

Ditto.

Mr. Cowper, according to the Order of the Day, reported from the said Committee of the whole House, That they had made some Amendments to the said 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 being offered, That no Person shall be obliged to receive Guineas at 22 s. a piece, or higher Value than they are worth in Standard Bullion;

And the Question being put, That the Clause be read;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

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

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cook and Sir John Franklyn:

Mr. Speaker,

Earl of Gainsborough's Estate.

The Lords have passed a Bill, intituled, An Act for vesting Lands in Trustees, to be sold, for Payment of the Debts of Wriothesly Baptist late Earl of Gainsborough, deceased: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House, Also,

Churchill's Estate.

The Lords have passed a Bill, intituled, An Act to confirm the Sale of Part of the Estate of Sir John Churchill Knight, lately deceased, pursuant to his last Will, and Two Decrees of Chancery for Performance thereof: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Ways and Means.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of Ways and Means for raising the Supply granted to his Majesty.

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 come to several Resolutions; which they had directed him to report, when the House will please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the Report be made To-morrow Morning.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees, but the Committee of Privileges and Elections, be adjourned.

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