House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 10 February 1698

Jovis, 10 die Februarii ;

Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Committees.

ORDERED, That all Committees be revived.

Russia Trade.

A Petition of the Fellowship of Eastland Merchants residing in the City of York was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners Predecessors were the first that found out the Trade to Narva; and that they, and the Petitioners, have enjoyed the sole Freedom and Advantage of the said Trade, undisturbed, till of late that the Russia Company hath taken upon them to lay a great Imposition upon all Goods imported from thence, under colour that Narva did belong to the Great Duke of Musco at the time when their Charter was granted: And praying, That they may be restored to their free Trade to Narva, or else be admitted to the Freedom of the Russia Company, upon the same Terms the Eastland Company are injoined to admit others into their Society.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the Bill for encouraging and improving the Trade to Russia shall be read a Second time.

Ditto.

A Petition of sundry Merchants of London, on behalf of themselves, and others, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there is a Bill depending in the House for encouraging and improving the Trade to Russia; and that the Russia Company have obtained Leave to be heard against the said Bill: The Petitioners pray, That they may be heard for the said Bill, at the same time as the said Company are heard against the said Bill.

Ordered, That the Petitioners be heard at the Bar of this House, upon Monday Morning next, for, as well as the said Company against, the said Bill.

Army Arrears.

Ordered, That the Committee, to whom the Petition of Mr. Francis Molyneux is referred, have Leave to sit To-morrow Morning.

Duties on Glass.

A Petition of John Ellis and John Morris, and divers other Glass-makers, on behalf of themselves, and others, in and near the City of Gloucester, and Town of Newnham, in the County of Gloucester, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the great Duty upon Glass-wares has so discouraged the making of Glass, that there has been none made in the said County for Two Years and a Quarter last past; which has occasioned the Impoverishment of many Families: And praying, That the said Duty may be taken off.

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

Ditto.

A Petition of several working Glass-makers, on behalf of themselves, and other poor Glass-makers, in or near the City of London, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That if the Duties upon Glass-wares be continued, it will be the Ruin of the Petitioners, and, in a great measure, the Loss of the said Manufacture to this Nation: And praying the Consideration of the House, and Relief in the Premises.

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

Duties on Leather.

A Petition of the Tanners of Wareham, Stowborough, and Parts adjacent, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the late Duty upon Leather tends to the utter impoverishing the Petitioners Stocks, and Decay of their Trades: And praying speedy Relief therein.

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 thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Tanners, Shoemakers, Skinners, Glovers, Sadlers, Curriers, and other Leather-workers, of the Town of Whitchurch, in the County of Salop, and other adjacent Places, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the now Duty upon Leather has made such a considerable Alteration for the worse in their Trades in general, and has been so particular a Loss to several poor Families, whose Livelihoods, depend thereon, that, if the Duty be continued, it will be their utter Ruin: And praying, That the said Duty 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 thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Overall's Petition.

A Petition of Henry Overall, of London, Gentleman, was presented to the House:

And the same relating to Archdale Palmen Esquire, a Member of this House; who not being in the House;

Ordered, That the said Mr. Archdale Palmer do attend in his Place To-morrow Morning: And that the said Petition be then read.

Escapes of Debtors.

Ordered, That the Committee, to whom the Petition of John Woodward, relating to the Fleet Prison, . . . . . . have Leave to sit upon Saturday Morning next.

Godolphin's Will.

Mr. Boscawen presented to the House a Bill for confirming and establishing the Administration of the Goods and Chattels of Sir William Godolphin Knight, deceased: And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

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

Farrington's Estates.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for vesting in Trustees, to be sold, certain Lands of George Farrington Esquire, lying in the Counties of Middlesex and Surry, settled upon the Marriage of William Farrington, his Nephew; and, with the Money arising thereby, for purchasing of other Lands in Lancashire, where the ancient Estate of the Family lies, to be settled to the same Uses; was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Lord Digby, Sir John Manwaring, Mr. Cooper, Sir John Banks, Mr. Mountstevens, Sir Robert Burdet, Mr. Blofield, Sir Fra. Masham, Sir Henry Gough, Mr. Foley, Mr. Fleming, Mr. Baldwyn, Mr. Watlington, Mr. Henley, Sir John Phillips, Sir Wm. Hustler, Mr. Kinaston, Sir Henry Colt, Mr. Thornhagh, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Norris, Mr. Philips, Mr. Shackerly, Colonel Perry, Mr. Baldwyn, Mr. England, Sir Wm. Lowther, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Kirkby, Mr. Harvey, Sir Tho. Roberts, Mr. Frewen, Sir Tho. Stanley, Mr. Heveningham, Mr. Colt, Mr. Bowyer, Sir Charles Sidley, Sir Godfry Copley, Sir Marm. Wivell; and all the Members that serve for the Counties of Lancaster and Chester: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir William Whitmore have Leave to go into the Country, for Recovery of his Health, and upon extraordinary Occasions.

Preserving Inclosures.

Ordered, That the Bill to make the Statutes of Edward the First, and Edward the Sixth, against burning and destroying Inclosures, more effectual, be read a Second time To-morrow Morning.

Registering Deeds.

Mr. Methwyn, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for registring Memorials of future Deeds and Conveyances: And the same was received.

Ordered, That the Bill be read To-morrow Morning.

Navy Debt.

Mr. Norris, according to Order, reported, from the select Committee, to whom the several States, Estimates, and Accounts, presented to the House, were referred, the Matter, as it appeared to the said Committee, touching the general Debt of his Majesty's Navy, on several Heads therein mentioned; calculated to the 30th Day of September 1697: 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.

Ordered, That the Consideration of 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 raising the same.

Ordnance Debt.

Mr. Norris also reported, from the said select Committee, the Matter, as it appeared to them, touching the Debt due from the Office of Ordnance to the last Day of September 1697, and what hath occurred since; 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 it appeared by the Accounts delivered by the Officers of the Ordnance, That the Debt due from that Office for Stores delivered, and Services performed, to the last Day of September 1697, and also what hath occurred since, exclusive of the Debt before November 1688, amounts to 204,157 l. 6s. 4d.

And that there remains in the Treasurer's Hands, by several Tallies, 178,104£. 14s. 10¼d.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Report be referred to the said Committee of the whole House.

Transport Service.

Mr. Norris also reported, from the said select Committee, the Matter, as it appeared to them, touching the Debt owing for Transport Service, exclusive of the Irish Debt; 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, upon Consideration had of the Account of the Debt owing for Transport-Service, exclusive of the Irish Debt, it appeared there is a Debt due to that Service, for Ships and Freight, amounting to 125,785£. 2s. 10½d.; as by the said Account particularly appears.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Report be referred to the said Committee of the whole House.

Charges upon Revenue.

Mr. Norris also reported, from the said select Committee, the Matter, as it appeared to them, how his Majesty's Revenue stands charged; 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.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Report be referred to the said Committee of the whole House.

Supply Bill; Malt Duties.

A Bill for explaining the Act of the last Session of Parliament, intituled, An Act for granting to his Majesty certain Duties upon Malt, Mum, Sweets, Cyder, and Perry, was, according to Order, read a Second time.

Ordered, That the Bill be ingrossed.

Punishing Duncomb for false indorsing Exchequer Bills.

A Petition of Charles Duncomb Esquire, now Prisoner in the Tower, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner hath had a Copy of the Bill depending in the House against him, which chargeth the Petitioner of several Crimes committed by him, in Deceit of the King: And praying, That he may be heard at the Bar of this House, upon the said Bill, as to the Law and Fact, in order to make his Innocency appear, before there be any further Proceedings on the Bill.

Ordered, That Counsel be heard at the Bar for the said Bill, at the same time Mr. Duncomb is heard, by his Counsel, against the same.

Ordered, That Mr. Attorney-General and Mr. Solicitor-General do take care, that the Evidence against Mr. Duncomb be ready to be produced to the House: And that Counsel for the Bill do attend.

Ordered, That Counsel for and against the Bill for punishing Mr. Duncomb be heard upon Monday Morning next: And that the Bill be then read a Second time.

Ordered, That the said Mr. Duncomb be brought to this House upon Monday Morning next: And that Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant accordingly.

Supply and 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 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 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.

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