House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 11 February 1698

Veneris, 11 die Februarii ;

Nono Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Irish Arrears.

A PETITION of Francis Colerack, John Dougan, James Thompson, Hugh Elliott, and David Anderson, Serjeants in the Honourable Brigadier Tiffin's Regiment; was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That they have faithfully served the King, till they were reduced on the 3d of January last; and there is a considerable Arrear of Pay due to them; but they cannot bring the said Brigadier, and their several Captains, to state their Accounts, although their Brigadier has received their Irish Arrears, and kept it these four Years in his Hands: And praying a speedy Redress of their Grievances, they being ready to perish, and remote from their usual Abodes, which is in Ireland.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Soldiers of Colonel Langston's Regiment 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, Skinners, and others concerned in Leather, in the City of Bath, and Places adjacent, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That should the Duty upon Leather be continued for the time the Act prescribes, the Petitioners must expect nothing less than inevitable Ruin to themselves and Families: And praying the House to think of some way to redress their Grievances.

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, Tawers, Curriers, Glovers, and other Makers and Dressers of Leather, in the Eastern Part of the County of Sussex, in behalf of themselves and others, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, by reason of the Duty laid upon Leather, they find the Consumption of their Goods daily to abate, and their own Estates, gotten by the Industry and Labour of their Ancestors, visibly to lessen; which, if not speedily prevented, will utterly ruin the Petitioners: 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.

Fishmongers Petition.

A Petition of the Trading Fishmongers of London, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That * * * *

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

Seamens Arrears.

A Petition of Captain Wooden, late Commander of his Majesty's Ship the Blaze Fireship; Captain George Ramsey, late Commander of the Portsmouth-Prize; Captain Walter Riddell, late Commander of the Hind-Pink; and Captain Thomas Dennett, late Commander of the Wren-Pink; taken by the French in the late War; was presented to the House, and read: setting forth, That they, being taken by the French, were tried by their Court-Martials, and acquitted, and have applied to the Admiralty for their Pay; but, instead of relieving the Petitioners, they have made an Order for paying all that were under Deck, at the time of the Capture, with Exception to those that were above: And praying the Relief of the House therein.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of several Persons, in behalf of themselves, and the rest of the Officers and Ships Companies of Seamen belonging to the Newport, Hind-Pink, and Wren-Pink, Ætna and Blaze Fireships, and Portsmouth-Prize, is referred: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same to the House.

Duty on Salt.

A Petition of Thomas Bendish, of Southtown, in the County of Suffolk, John Burton of Great Yarmouth, in the County of Norfolk, Merchant, John Gosline, Mary Hollis, and William Maltyward, of Great Yarmouth, Refiners of Salt, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That * * * *

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to a Committee: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same to the House:

And it is referred to * * * *.

Ayre and Calder Navigation.

A Petition of the Mayor, Aldermen, Burgesses, Gentlemen, and other Inhabitants of the Town and Borough of Pontefract, in the County of York, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That they formerly had a very great Cloth-Trade, which the Civil Wars put an End to; and now their Trade that remains is a Corn-Trade, and some other Advantages they receive by the River Ayre: And, there being a Bill depending in the House for making the Rivers Ayre and Calder, in the County of York, navigable, which will take away a very considerable Part of the Trade of the said Town, if it should pass, the Petitioners pray, That the said Bill may not pass, it being to their Prejudice.

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

Preserving Inclosures.

A Petition of the Inhabitants of the Parishes of Epworth, Belton, Harey, and Owston, in the Manor of Epworth, and Isle of Axholme, in the County of Lincolne, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners are informed, There is a Bill brought into this House, to make the Statutes of Edward the Ist, and Edward the VIth, against the burning and destroying Inclosures, more effectual; in which Bill there is a Clause, That in case any Person shall burn or pull down any Houses, Barns, or Fences, in the Day-time, on giving Notice to the Constables thereof, if the adjoining Towns do not apprehend the Offender, they shall make good the Damages: Which Bill is pretended for a publick Good; but is designed by Mr. Reading, who prepared it, for his own private Ends, and to prejudice the Petitioners: And praying, to be heard against the said Bill.

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

Ditto.

A Petition of the Inhabitants of the Parishes of Althorp and Crowle, in the County of Lincolne, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That a Bill being brought into the House, and solicited by one Mr. Reading, for making the Statutes of Edward the Ist, and Edward the VIth, against the burning and destroying Inclosures, more effectual; and there being a Dispute between the said Mr. Reading, and the Inhabitants of Epworth, touching the Right of Common; and the Petitioners Towns and Parishes adjoining next to the Northside of the Common of Epworth, and no ways concerned therein: the Petitioners apprehend themselves in Danger of suffering by the said Bill, if it should pass, in case any further Disputes should arise between the said contending Parties, about inclosing the said Common, if any Fences should be thrown down: And praying, That the House will take care, that the Petitioners may not be prejudiced by the said Bill.

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

Crediton Workhouses.

Mr. Hooper, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for the erecting an Hospital or Hospitals, Workhouses, and House or Houses of Correction, within the Town and Parish of Crediton, in the County of Devon, for the better Relief of the Poor there: And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time upon this Day Sevennight.

Army Arrears.

Ordered, That the Committee, to whom the Petition of Mr. Francis Molyneux is referred, have leave to fit upon Monday Morning next.

Sir Henry Colt acquainted the House, That he was directed by the said Committee to make a special Report to the House, when the House will please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the said Report be made upon Tuesday Morning next.

African Trade.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for settling the Trade to Africa: And that Sir William Trumball do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Overall's Petition.

Ordered, That Leave be given to Mr. Henry Overall to withdraw his Petition, presented to the House Yesterday, relating to Mr. Archdale Palmer, a Member of this House.

Freedom of Elections.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the further securing the Freedom of Elections of Members to serve in Parliament: And that Mr. Foley and Mr Winington do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Colonel Webb have Leave to go into the Country for a Week, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Privilege of a Member in a Suit.

A Petition of William Wharton, of the Middle Temple, Esquire, and Eunice his Wife, was presented to the House; relating to Sir Joseph Tily, a Member of this House:

Who not being in the House;

Ordered, That Sir Joseph Tily do attend in his Place upon this Day Sevennight: And that the said Petition be then read.

Address against Profaneness.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to prepare an humble Address, to be presented to his Majesty, to suppress Profaneness and Immorality, and all Books which endeavour to undermine the Fundamentals of the Christian Religion, and punish the Authors, do sit To-morrow Morning.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

Supply Bill; Arrears of Annuities.

The House, according to Order, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of 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.

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 gone through the Bill, and made several Amendments; 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.

Members summoned.

Ordered, That the Serjeant do go with the Mace into Westminster-Hall, and Courts there, and Court of Requests, and summon the Members there to attend the Service of the House:

And he went accordingly.

And, being returned;

Supply.

Sir Thomas Littleton 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 raising the same; 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.

1. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That there is due to the Elector of Brandenburgh, as appears by an Abstract of the Treaties for Subsidies and Payments, an Arrear of Subsidies to the 1st of November last, of 180,000 Rixdollars.

2. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That there is due to the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassell, as appears by an Abstract of Treaties and Payments, an Arrear of Subsidies to the 1st Day of November last, of 254,000 Rixdollars.

3. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That there is due to the Dukes of Wolfenbuttle, as appears by an Abstract of Treaties and Payments, an Arrear of Subsidies to the 1st Day of November last, for his Majesty's Share, being Two-thirds, of 121,223 Rixdollars.

4. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That there is due to the Bishop of Munster, as appears by an Abstract of Treaties and Payments, an Arrear of Subsidies to the 1st Day of November last, for his Majesty's Share, being Two-thirds, of 149,997 Rixdollars.

5. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That there is due to the Dukes of Hanover and Cell, as appears by an Abstract of Treaties and Payments, an Arrear of Subsidies to the 1st Day of November last, for his Majesty's Share, being Two-thirds, of 50,000 Rixdollars.

6. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That there is due to the Duke of Holstein, as appears by an Abstract of Treaties and Payments, an Arrear of Subsidies to the 1st Day of November last, for his Majesty's Share, being Two-thirds, of 25,000 Rixdollars.

7. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That there is due to the King of Denmark, as appears by an Abstract of Treaties for Subsidies and Payments, in Consideration of an intire Prohibition of Commerce between that Crown and France, and for Subsidies, an Arrear to the 1st Day of November last, of 111,111 Rixdollars, for his Majesty's Share, being Two-thirds; besides the like Share of 300,000 Rixdollars, payable within Three Years; both which Sums may be satisfied with 200,000 Rixdollars.

8. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That there is due to the Contractors for Bread and Forage, as appears by several Accounts, the Sum of 177,000 l.

9. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That there is due, as demanded by the King's Aid de Camp, the Sum of 1,500 l.

10. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That there is due, for Physick for the Army the last Year, the Sum of 4,500 l.

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

The Seventh Resolution being read a Second time;

And the Question being put, That the House do agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, That there is due to the King of Denmark, as appears by an Abstract of Treaties for Subsidies and Payments, in Consideration of an intire Prohibition of Commerce between that Crown and France, and for Subsidies, an Arrear to the 1st Day of November last, of 111,111 Rixdollars, for his Majesty's Share, being Two-thirds; besides the like Share of 300,000 Rixdollars, payable within Three Years; both which Sums may be satisfied with 200,000 Rixdollars;

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

The Eighth Resolution, being read a Second time, was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

The Ninth Resolution being read a Second time;

Resolved, That the Consideration of the said Resolution be postponed.

The Tenth Resolution being read a Second time;

Resolved, That the Consideration of the said Resolution be postponed.

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.

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