House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 12 January 1698

Mercurii, 12 die Januarii;

Nono Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Knot's Estate.

SIR John Bolles reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill to enable the Trustees of William Knot Gentleman, and his Wife, to sell a Lease of Houses in Bread-street, London, for Payment of Debts; and settle another Estate, of better Value, in lieu thereof; was committed; That they had made some Amendments to the Bill; which they had directed him to report to the House; and 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.

Fees of Clerks of Peace.

Ordered, That the several Courts in Westminster-hall, the Clerks of the Peace for the Counties of Middlesex and Surry, and the Clerks of the Assize for the Home Circuit, do, upon this Day Sevennight, present to this House, a Table of the several Fees, belonging to their several Courts and Offices, established in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth; and also a Table of such Fees as are now taken by them.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Anthony Morgan have Leave to go into the Country for Three Weeks, his Lady being very ill.

Duties on Leather.

A Petition of the Spanish-Leather-dressers inhabiting in the Borough of Southwark, and Places adjacent, in behalf of themselves, and others, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Commodities the Petitioners deal in pay a Duty upon Importation; which, with a Duty laid upon all Leather, has rendered their Trades insufficient to support their Families; and the Obligation they lie under of carrying their Goods to Market, is not only a great Grievance to the Petitioners, but a Damage to their Goods: And praying, That the late Duty upon Leather may be taken off.

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.

Army Arrears.

A Petition of John Hackwell, and others, in behalf of themselves, and the rest of the Regiment lately commanded by Brigadier Villers, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That since this House was pleased to address his Majesty, in the Petitioners Behalf, they have been at great Charges; and, notwithstanding the King's positive Orders for the Petitioners Relief, and several Reports of this House, yet they cannot get their Officers and Captains to settle and sign their Accounts, though the Petitioners are in a starving Condition for want of what is due to them: And praying the further Relief of this House.

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

Importing Bone-lace, &c.

A Bill for rendering the Laws more effectual for preventing the Importation of foreign Bone-lace, Needlework, Point, and Cut-work was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir Wm. Drake, Mr. Farrer, Sir Walter Yonge, Mr. Chase, Mr. Blofeild, Sir John Elwell, Mr. Cheney, Sir John Bolles, Sir Henry Hubbart, Mr. Morgan, Mr. Freeman, Sir Edward Seaward, Mr. Sandford, Mr. Duke, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Gardner, Sir Tho. Day, Mr. Machell, Mr. Poultney, Mr. Mountague, Sir Fra. Masham, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Foley, Mr. Mawdit, Mr. Hedger, Mr. Hamond, Mr. Moncton, Sir Henry Colt, Mr. Machell, Sir Jacob Ashley, Mr. Norris; and all the Members that serve for the Counties of Devon, Dorset, Somerset, and Buckingham: And all that come to have Voices: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Four a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers.

Salmon Preservation.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the Increase and Preservation of Salmon, and the Fry of Salmon, in the several Rivers of this Kingdom: And that Sir William Bowes, Sir Christopher Musgrove, and Mr. Dolben, do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Air and Calder Navigation.

A Petition of the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, Common-Council, Merchants, and others the Inhabitants, of the Town of Leeds, in the West-Riding in the County of York, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Borough of Leeds, and Town of Wakefeild, are the principal Markets for the Northern Cloth, and are situate upon the Rivers Air and Calder; which Rivers have been viewed, and are found capable of being made navigable to the said Towns; which will very much redound to the great Improvement of Trade, and Benefit, not only to the Town of Leeds and Wakefeild, but also to all other Towns adjacent, and which are concerned in the Northern Cloth-Trade: And praying Leave to bring in a Bill for making the said Rivers navigable to the said Towns, at the Charge of such Persons as shall undertake the same.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill, according to the Prayer of the said Petition: And that the Lord Fairfax and Sir William St. Quintin do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Bishop of Ely's Estate.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cook and Mr. Meredeth:

Mr. Speaker,

The Lords have passed a Bill, intituled, An Act for enabling Simon Lord Bishop of Ely, and his Successors, to lease the Manor-house and Demesne-lands of Downham, in the Isle of Ely; and for confirming a Lease lately thereof made by the said Bishop; and for the Clearing of the said Bishop, and others, from Dilapidations there: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

A Member discharged from Custody.

Ordered, That Sir Edward Acton, in the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, for absenting himself from his Service in Parliament, be discharged out of Custody, paying his Fees.

False indorsing Exchequer Bills.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, proceeded in the further Examination of the Matter relating to the false Indorsement of Exchequer-Bills:

And Mr. Darby, in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms, was brought in to the Bar:

And the Charge against him was read: And he was examined touching the same.

And then withdrew.

Ordered, That an Account be laid before this House of all Charges hitherto relating to the Subscriptions for circulating Exchequer-Bills, and also an Account of what Exchequer-Bills are sunk.

Then Mr. Marryott was brought in to the Bar; and again examined.

And then withdrew.

Ordered, That Mr. John Brocket do attend this House immediately,

Then Mr. Burton and Mr. Marryott were brought in to the Bar together, and confronted.

And then they withdrew.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Tuesday Morning next, proceed in the further Examination of the Matter relating to the false Indorsement of Exchequer-Bills.

Ordered, That Mr. Barth. Burton be remanded to the Prison of Newgate.

Ordered, That all Persons who attended this Day, in relation to the Matter of the false Indorsement of Exchequer-Bills, do attend again upon Tuesday Morning next.

Ordered, That Mr. Brockett and Mr. Bolt do attend this House upon Tuesday Morning next.

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