House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 1 February 1698

Martis, 1 die Februarii ;

Nono Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Poor Relief.

ORDERED, That Mr. Harley, Mr. Newport, Sir John Phillips, Sir Henry Goff, Mr. Bromley, Colonel Perry, Mr. Foley, Mr. Shackerley, be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill for explaining an Act made in the last Session of Parliament, intituled, An Act for supplying some Defects in the Laws for the Relief of the Poor of this Kingdom, is committed.

Lewin's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable John Lewin to sell certain Messuages in Southwark, for Payment of Debts, was read the First time.

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

Dr. Langford thanked.

Ordered, That the Thanks of this House be given to Doctor Langford, for the Sermon by him preached before this House Yesterday at St. Margaret's, Westminster: And that he be desired to print the same: And that Sir Robert Davers, and Mr. Bromley, do acquaint him therewith.

Dun Navigation.

A Petition of the Inhabitants of the Town of Rotherham, situate upon the River Dun, in the West Riding of the County of York, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there has been ancient . . a great Market and Trade at the said Town; and the making the said River navigable to Sheffeild, for which there is a Bill in this House, will be of public Good to all the adjacent Country: And praying, That the said Bill may pass into an Act.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table till the said Bill be read a Second time.

Ayre and Calder Navigation.

The Lord Fairfax, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for the making the River Ayre and Calder navigable, at the Charge of such Persons as shall undertake the same: And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

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

Ditto.

A Petition of several Merchants and others within the City of London, trading to and from Leeds and Wakefeild, in the County of York, and other Places near thereunto, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That a great Trade is carried on in the Woollen Manufactures, and other Commodities, to and from the said Towns; and that, for want of Water-carriage thereabouts, the Dealers therein are at great Charges for Land-carriage; which may be accommodated by passing a Bill now in the House for making the River Ayre and Calder navigable: And praying, That the said Bill may pass.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table, until the said Bill be read a Second time.

Ayre and Calder Navigation.

A Petition of the Mayor and Commonalty of the ancient City of York, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That by the River Ouze, which floweth from the Mouth of Humber to the said City, the Commerce thereof is maintained; and if the Rivers of Ayre, Calder and Dun, or either of them, should be made navigable, the River Ouze will be totally drained, and Trade interrupted thereby, to the Ruin of the said City: And praying, That the House will not pass a Bill for making the Rivers Aire and Calder navigable; which will greatly prejudice Trade in the Northern Parts.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the said Bill be read a Second time.

Leave of Absence.

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

Army Debts.

Sir Samuel Barnardiston, according to Order, reported, from the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Officers, Inn-keepers, and Clothiers, that served in, quartered, and cloathed the Army raised by an Act of Parliament in 1677, and disbanded by another Act in 1679, was referred, the Matter, as it appeared to the said Committee; 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 was read; and is as followeth; viz.

That the Committee, having inspected the Petitioners Demands, and seen many of their Orders, signed by Three or more of the then Lords of the Treasury, upon their Debentures, by which they make good their Claims, as also what Sir Robert Howard, Auditor of his Majesty's Exchequer, hath certified to be due upon the Orders registered upon the said Act made in the 31st Year of the Reign of King Charles the Second, for granting to his Majesty an Aid of 206,462 l. 17s. 3d. for paying off and disbanding the Forces then raised; do find the Account to be as followeth; viz.

That it appeared to the Committee, That the Petitioners said Accounts have been several times, viz. the 16 July 1689, the 15th May, and the 25th November 1690, stated by Committees, and by them reported to this House, amounting then to 61,926 l. 3s. 11d.; which is more by 2,850 l. 17s. 3d. than appears upon the said Register at Sir Robert Howard's Office; that said Sum being due upon Debentures, signed by the Commissioners for disbanding only, which have not had Orders from the Treasury made thereupon: And that, upon making the said Reports, the House did resolve to go into Committees of the whole House, to consider of Ways and Means for raising the Supplies granted for the Payment of the said Debt; as by the Entries in the Journals of this House will more fully appear.

That it also appeared to the Committee, That many of the poor Petitioners have been very great Sufferers, by their not receiving their Money in the time the said Act seemed to give them Hopes they should; and that, for want thereof, several Families have been ruined, and the rest very much damnified in their Fortunes.

Ordered, That the said Report be referred to the Committee of the whole House, who are to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty; and of Ways and Means for providing for the Deficiencies, and for disbanding the Army.

Privilege.

A Petition of Dame Ellen Williams, Widow, and Relict of Sir William Williams, of Vaynoll, in the County of Carnarvon, Baronet, deceased, was presented to the House:

And the same relating to Mr. Owen, a Member of this House; who not being in the House;

Ordered, That Mr. Owen do attend in his Place Tomorrow Morning: And that the Petition be then read.

Cambridge Election.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, touching the Election for the County of Cambridge, be made upon Friday Morning next.

Laws concerning Robberies.

Ordered, That all the Members that serve for the Counties of Kent, Essex, Cornwall, and York, be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill for regulating and amending the Laws concerning Robberies on the Highways, and Hue-and-cries, is committed.

Privilege of a Member in a Suit.

A Petition of Katherine, Hodgson, Widow, and Executrix of Edward Hodgson, Esquire, Son and Heir of Sir Thomas Hodgson, deceased, was presented to the House:

And the same relating to Sir Thomas Travell, a Member of this House; who not being in the House;

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Travell do attend in his Place upon Thursday Morning next: And that the Petition be then read.

Dun Navigation.

A Bill to make navigable the River Dun, in the County of York, at the Charge of such Persons as shall undertake the same, was, according to Order, read a Second time.

And a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Bill be committed;

The House divide.

The Yeas go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

Hindon Election.

Ordered, That Mr. Calthrop have Leave to withdraw his Petition, touching the Election for the Borough of Hindon, in the County of Wilts.

Deficiency of Supplies.

Mr. Lowndes, according to Order, presented to the House an Account, how the Supplies intended yearly to be granted for the Maintenance of the War have fallen short.

Ordered, That the said Account do lie upon the Table, to be perused by the Members of the House.

Call of the House.

Ordered, That the House be called over upon Monday Morning next: And that such Members as shall not then attend the Service of the House, be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House.

Supply.

Sir Thomas Littleton, according to Order, reported, from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty; and of Ways and Means for providing for the Deficiencies, and for disbanding the Army; the Resolutions of the said Committee; 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 read; and are as follow; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That there is due to clear the Arrears of Pay to the Land-Forces, from the 1st Day of April 1692, to the last Day of September 1697, according to the Establishment, the Sum of 1,200,054 l. 16s. 3 d.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That there is due to clear the Arrear of Subsistence to the Troops in England, according to the Regulation thereof, between the 1st of January 1696, and the 1st Day of August 1697, the Sum of 203,415 l. 7s. 9½d.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That there is due to clear the Arrear of Subsistence due to the Troop of Scotts Guards in Scotland, and the Regiment and Companies in the West-Indies, from the 1st Day of January 1696, to the 20th of November 1697, inclusive, to which time the Army in England was subsisted, except for the Seven Months, between the 1st Day of January 1696, and the 1st Day of August 1697, the Sum of 21,348 l. —s. 9d.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That there is due to clear the Arrear of Subsistence to the Troops in Flanders, to the 4th Day of October 1697, the Sum of 450,816 l. 17s. 8d.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That there is due to clear Contingencies for the Troops in Flanders, to the 4th Day of October 1697, the Sum of 28,293 l. 2s. 4d.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That there is due to the General Officers, with their Aids de Camp, and the Majors of Brigade, the Sum of 50,000 l.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That there is due for Arrears of Pay to the Land-Forces, Guards, and Garisons, from the last Day of September 1697, to the 31st Day of December 1697, inclusive, the Sum of 75,000 l.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That there is further due to clear the Arrear of Subsistence due to the Troops in Flanders, from the 4th Day of October 1697, exclusive, to the last Day of December inclusive, the Sum of 137,990 l. —s. 9d.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That it appears, That, towards the said Sums, there did remain in the Hands of the Paymaster of the Army, the 1st Day of January 1697, the Sum of 85,550 l. 9s. 5½d.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That there is due to several Regiments late under the Care of the Right Honourable Thomas Lord Coningsby and Charles Fox Esquire, to the time they were placed on the English Establishment, according to the Account delivered in to the House by the Lord Coningsby the 14th Day of December last, the Sum of 99,951 l. 18s. 4½d.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That there is due to several Regiments, to be cleared of their Irish Arrears, till the last Day of March 1692, according to the Account delivered into the House by the Lord Coningsby the 22d Day of December last, the Sum of 27,260 l. 17s. 1d.

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

Ordered, That the said Resolutions be referred to the Committee of the whole House, who are to consider further of the said Supply.

Timber in New-Forest.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Friday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Bill for Increase and Preservation of Timber in the New-Forest, in the County of Southampton.

Letter from a Prisoner.

Mr. Speaker acquainted the House, That he had this Morning received a Letter from Mr. Duncomb in the Tower; which he desires may be communicated to the House: And the same was read; and is as followeth; viz.

Sir,

I Beseech you to acquaint the Honourable House, That I have received their Favour, of the Liberty granted by them for putting in my Answer, with my utmost Thankfulness. The Misfortune of being under their Displeasure lieth very heavy upon me; and my Pains from the Gout are excessive; so that I am not able to do it this Day; but, as soon as God shall please to ease me of them, I shall put in my Answer: Towards which, I should have been much better enabled, had it been their Pleasure to have granted me the Assistance for which I petitioned: However, I hope it will be to the clearing me from what is charged upon me. I am, with all Respect,

Sir,

Tower, February 1st. 169⁷/8.

Your most humble and obedient Servant,

Cha. Duncomb.

Ordered, That the Attendance of Mr. Williamson, Receiver of the County of York, be adjourned till Tomorrow Fortnight.

Ordered, That Mr. Levy and Mr. Glover do then attend this House as Witnesses.

False indorsing Exchequer Bills.

The House proceeded, according to the Order of the Day, in the further Consideration of the Matter touching the false Indorsement of Exchequer-Bills.

Ordered, That Mr. Hern, Mr. Edwards, and Mr. Tayler, Officers belonging to the Trustees for circulating Exchequer-Bills, do examine the Exchequer-Bills which have been cancelled; and lay before this House their Observations thereupon, in reference to false Indorsements.

Ordered, That the Secretary to the said Trustees do lay before this House a Copy of the Methods and Rules, agreed upon by the said Trustees, for circulating Exchequer-Bills.

Members expelled.

It appearing to this House, upon Examination, That John Knight Esquire, a Member of this House, is guilty of false Indorsement of Exchequer-Bills;

Resolved, That the said Mr. Knight be expelled this House.

It appearing to this House, on Examination, and by the Confession of Charles Duncomb Esquire, a Member of this House, That the said Mr. Duncomb is guilty of contriving and advising the making false Indorsements of Exchequer-Bills; and of paying the same into the Receipt of Exchequer for Excise, although they had never passed through that Revenue;

Resolved, That the said Mr. Duncomb be expelled this House.

Bill for punishing Knight and Duncomb.

Ordered, That a Bill or Bills be brought in for punishing John Knight Esquire, Charles Duncomb Esquire, and Barth. Burton Gentleman, for false indorsing Exchequer-Bills: And that the Lord Marquis of Hartington, Lord Ashley, Mr. Attorney General, and Mr. SolicitorGeneral, do prepare, and bring in, the same.

Orders touching Persons in custody, &c.

Ordered, That Mr. Bartholomew Burton be brought to this House upon Thursday Morning next.

Ordered, That Mr. John Knight, Mr. Duncomb, and Mr. Burton, be permitted to have their Friends resort to them.

Ordered, That Mr. William Huddleston be brought to this House upon Thursday Morning next.

Ordered, That Mr. Darby and Mr. Andrew Huddleston be brought to this House upon Thursday Morning next.

Ordered, That Mr. Levy and Mr. Helborn do attend this House, upon Thursday Morning next, as Witnesses.

Ordered, That Mr. Marryott be permitted to have his Friends resort to him.

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