House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 13 March 1650

Die Mercurii, 13 Martii, 1649.

Prayers.

Representation and Elections.

THE House was this Day resolved into a Grand Committee, upon the Heads of the Bill for the equal Representative, and regulating the Elections.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Say took the Chair.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Say reports from the Grand Committee, That the said Committee hath adjourned till this Day-sevennight: And desires the Leave of the House to sit then all the Morning.

Resolved, That the House do adjourn itself into a Grand Committee on This-day-sevennight; to sit upon the Heads of the said Bill, for an equal Representative, and regulating the Elections: And that Mr. Speaker do forbear to take the Chair.

Expences of Treaty with the late King.

Resolved, That the Order of the Fourth of March, touching the Fourteen thousand Pounds for the Charges of the Treaty, be amended, in this manner; viz. That it be referred to the Committee of the Revenue, to take Account of the Business touching the Sum of Fourteen thousand Pounds, to defray the Charges of the Treaty at the Isle of Wight; and to see what is behind, unpaid, of the Sum so to be lent; and that the Securities for Payment thereof do remain as they now stand: And the Committee at Goldsmiths Hall are impowered to pay the same in Course, as it now stands, upon a Certificate thereof from the Committee of the Revenue: And that the Remainder of the said Sum be paid over, by Order of the said Committee, at Goldsmiths Hall, to Mr. Fawconbridge, for satisfaction of such Sums of Money as are due for Debts contracted by the Commissioners, or their Authority, for that Service: And that Mr. Fawconbridge do pay over the said Money unto Mr. Gay, Steward to the said Commissioners, for the Uses aforesaid.

Navy Carpenters, &c.

Colonel Thompson reports from the Committee of the Navy, for an increase of Wages to the Carpenters, Calkers, Scavelmen, and Labourers, belonging to the Navy.

"Whereas the Committee of Merchants, appointed for regulating the Officers of the Navy and Customs, have certified unto this Committee, That, upon Application unto them made by the several Carpenters, Calkers, Scavelmen, and Labourers, belonging to the Navy, for an Increase of Wages whereby they might be enabled honestly to subsist, in these times of great Scarcity, without using any indirect Means to the Prejudice of the State; the said Committee, in pursuance of the late Act of Parliament, have made the Augmentations of Wages hereafter specified; viz. To the Carpenters and Calkers, being able and deserving Men, who now have Two-andtwenty pence per diem, Two Shillings and One Peny; To the Scavelmen, who now have Fourteen-pence per diem, Fifteen-pence; To the Labourers, who have Twelvepence, Thirteen-pence; which shall be in lieu of all Chips and former Perquisites whatsoever: Which this Committee having taken into Consideration, do order, That the same be reported to the Parliament, with their Opinions, That they conceive the said Augmentations fit to be allowed unto the said Carpenters, Calkers, and others, accordingly."

Resolved, that this House doth agree with the Committee, to give the several Allowances to the Carpenters, Calkers, Scavelmen, and Labourers, upon the Terms aforesaid; to begin from the Twenty-fifth of March next, till the House give further Order: And that the Committee of the Navy be authorized and impowered to make Payment accordingly.

Excise on Tobacco.

Colonel Thompson likewise reports from that Committee, That the said Committee is informed, That there is great Store of Tobacco brought from New England, and much planted in this Commonwealth, which pay neither Custom nor Excise; and that there is much Logwood brought into and spent within this Nation; which, being a prohibited Commodity, payeth neither Custom nor Excise.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Navy, to bring in an Act for Payment of Excise and Custom for Tobacco brought from New England, and other Parts of America, of that Growth, or otherwise, at the same Rates that other Tobacco is to pay.

Resolved, That an Act be likewise brought in, for prohibiting the Planting of Tobacco in England: And that the Committee of the Navy do prepare an Act accordingly.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Navy, to take Consideration concerning the Business of Logwood; and to report their Opinions to the House.