House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 8 February 1698

Martis, 8 die Februarii ;

Nono Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Russia Trade.

APETITION of the Company of English Merchants for Discovery of new Trades was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners Predecessors were, by Letters-Patents, dated 6 Februarii, 2 ^do Phil' & Mariæ, incorporated, with a Power to enjoy the sole Trade to Russia, and other Parts, then unknown; which Letters Patents were confirmed by Act of Parliament, in the 8th Year of Queen Eliz' Reign: That, since the said Grants, the said Company, and their Predecessors, have greatly increased the said Trade, to the Advantage of England, at the great Charge of the Company: And now there is a Bill brought into the House, as is pretended, for encouraging and improving the Trade to Russia, which will greatly prejudice the Petitioners said established Right, and discourage all such as are and shall be brought up in the said Trade: And praying, That they may be heard before the said Bill do pass.

Ordered, That the Petitioners be heard, at the Bar of this House, upon Monday Morning next: And that the Bill be afterwards read a Second time.

Petition from Preston.

A Petition of the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Burgesses, of the Borough of Preston in the County of Lancaster, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That * * * *

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

Winckley's Petition.

A Petition of Thomas Winckley of Preston in the County of Lancaster, Gentleman, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That * * * *.

Vezey's Nat.

An ingrossed Bill for naturalizing Dudley Vezey, an Infant, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for naturalizing Dudley Vezey, an Infant.

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

Kinnersley's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Thomas Kinnersley Esquire, an Infant, to make a Jointure and Settlement of his Estate, was read the Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Foley, Mr. Ashbey, Sir Gilbert Clarke, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Try, Mr. Halsey, Mr. Manley, Sir Wm. Drake, Sir Henry Colt, Mr. Arnold, Sir Francis Masham, Sir Robert Burdet, Sir John Bolles, Mr. Blofield, Mr. Sloane, Sir John Kay, Mr. York, Mr. Mountague, Sir John Elwell, Mr. Evelyn, Sir Gervas Elwes, Sir John Phillips, Lord Digby, Mr. Phillipps, Mr. Gery, Mr. Bromley, Sir Edward Seaward, Mr. Slater, Mr. White, Mr. Mawdit, Sir Edward Abney, Mr. Swift; and all the Members that serve for the Counties of Lancaster and Stafford: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Levin'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 a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Gery, Sir Fra. Masham, Sir John Woolstenholm, Sir John Bolles, Mr. Bromley, Sir Wm. Ashurst, Mr. Foley, Mr. Munson, Mr. Payne, Mr. Mountague, Mr. Clark, Sir Robert Burdet, Mr. Foley, Mr. Evelyn, Mr. Blofield, Mr. Ashby, Mr. Mountsteven, Sir Tho. Roberts, Mr. Kinaston, Mr. Bertie, Mr. Sloan, Lord Pawlet, Sir Wm. Bowes, Mr. Carr, Mr. Whitaker, Mr. Done, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Holmes, Mr. Bohun, Major Halsey, Mr. Moore, Mr. Frewen, Mr. Manly: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Sheriff's Accounts.

Mr. Harley, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for the more easy passing Sheriffs Accounts: And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Counterfeiting Coin.

A Bill for the better preventing the counterfeiting, clipping, and other diminishing, the Coin of this Kingdom, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to a Committee of the whole House.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Monday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Bill.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Rushout Cullen have Leave to go into the Country, to the Funeral of Mr. Buller.

Ordered, That Colonel Yates have Leave to go into the Country for Fourteen Days, his Lady being very ill.

Supply Bill; Arrears of Annuities.

Ordered, That the Bill for satisfying and discharging the Arrears of several Annuities which incurred between the 17th Day of May 1696, and the 17th Day of May 1697, be read a Second time To morrow Morning.

Salmon Preservation.

Ordered, That Sir Gervase Elwes, and all the Members that serve for the County of Lancaster, be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill for the Increase and Preservation of Salmon, and the Fry of Salmon, in the Rivers of this Kingdom, is committed.

Quartering Soldiers on Victuallers.

Ordered, That the Lord Cutts, Sir Herbert Crofts, Sir Henry Belasys, Sir Wm. Scawen, Mr. Harly, Mr. Milbank, be added to the Committee, to whom the Petition of Robert Taylor, and others, Inhabitants and Victuallers, in the Tower Hamlets, is referred.

Laws concerning Robberies.

Ordered, That the Bill for regulating and amending the Laws concerning Robberies on the Highways, and Hue and Cries, be read a Second time upon Monday Morning next.

Punishing Knight for false indorsing Exchequer Bills.

A Bill for punishing John Knight Esquire, for false Indorsing of several Bills, made forth at the Receipt of Exchequer, commonly called Exchequer-Bills, was, according to Order, read the First time.

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

Punishing Duncomb for false indorsing Exchequer Bills.

A Bill for punishing Charles Duncomb Esquire, for contriving and advising the making of false Indorsements of several Bills, made forth at the Receipt of Exchequer, commonly called Exchequer-Bills, was, according to Order, read the First-time.

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

Punishing Burton for false indorsing Exchequer Bills.

A Bill for punishing Bartholomew Burton Gentleman, for false Indorsing of several Bills, made forth at the Receipt of Exchequer, commonly called Exchequer-Bills, was, according to Order, read the First time.

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

Punishing Duncomb for false indorsing Exchequer Bills.

A Petition of Charles Duncomb Esquire, Prisoner in the Tower, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That he is informed a Bill is brought into the House against the Petitioner, for several evil Practices, supposed to be committed by him, in relation to Exchequer-Bills; of which he hopes to acquit himself: And praying, That he may have a Copy of the said Bill; and be heard by his Counsel thereupon: And that he may be allowed convenient Time to prepare himself for the same.

Ordered, That Mr. Knight, Mr. Duncomb, and Mr. Burton, may have Copies of the said respective Bills: And that they be heard by their Counsel, before the same do pass this House.

Ways and Means.

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

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 a Resolution; which they had directed him to report, when the House will please to receive the same.

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

Exporting Watches.

Ordered, That the Bill to explain the Act, made in the 7th and 8th Years of his Majesty's Reign, intituled, An Act to encourage the bringing Plate into the Mints, to be coined, and for the further remedying the ill State of the Coin of the Kingdom; so as to give Leave for the exporting Watches, Sword-hilts, and other Manufactures of Silver; be read a Second time upon Friday Morning next.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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