House of Lords Journal Volume 16: 17 March 1697

DIE Mercurii, 17 Martii.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

Warburton's Bill:

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act to enable Trustees to sell the Estate of Richard Warburton Clerk, for Payment of his Debts, and raising Portions for his Children."

The Question was put, "Whether this Bill shall pass?"

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Message to H.C. with it.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Rich'd Holford and Mr. Pitts:

To carry down the said Bill, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Westm. Haymarket Bill.

Hodie 1^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for paying and regulating the Hay-market in the Parishes of St. Martin in the Feilds and St. James, within the Liberty of Westminster."

St. Paul's and Westm. Abbey Bill:

The House was adjourned during Pleasure, and put into a Committee upon the Bill, intituled, "An Act for the compleating the building and adorning the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, London; and for repairing the Collegiate Church of St. Peter, Westm'r."

After some Time, the House was resumed.

And the Lord Bishop of London reported, "That the Committee had gone through the said Bill; and think it fit to pass, with One Amendment."

Which was read Twice, and agreed to.

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for the compleating the building and adorning the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, London; and for repairing the Collegiate Church of St. Peter, Westm'r."

The Question was put, "Whether this Bill, with the Amendment, shall pass?"

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Message to H.C. with an Amendment to it.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Richard Holford and Mr. Pitts:

To return the said Bill, and desire their Concurrence to the Amendment.

Message from thence, with a Bill.

A Message from the House of Commons, by Sir John Phillips and others:

Who brought up a Bill, intituled, "An Act to enable Thomas Lord Fairfax of the Kingdom of Scotland to raise Monies, charged by Thomas Lord Culpeper deceased upon his Estate;" to which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

State of Trade, Report concerning:

The Earl of Rochester reported from the Lords Committees appointed to consider of the State of the Trade of this Kingdom, Heads for an Address to be presented to His Majesty, in relation to Trade.

Which were read, and agreed to, as follows; (videlicet,)

Heads for an Address about it.

"The Committee is of Opinion, That an Address be presented to His Majesty, that an additional Instruction be sent to all His Majesty's Governors in the Plantations, in the Manner following, or to the like Effect: (videlicet,)

And whereas, notwithstanding the many good Laws made from Time to Time, for preventing of Frauds in the Plantation Trade, which have been enumerated in these and former Instructions, it is manifest that very great Abuses have been, and continue still to be practised, to the Prejudice of the same; which Abuses must needs arise either from the Insolvency of the Persons who are accepted for Security, or from the Remissness or Connivance of such as have been or are Governors in the several Plantations, who ought to take Care that those Persons who give Bond should be duly prosecuted in case of Non-performance: You are to take Notice, That We take the Good of Our Plantations, and the Improvement of the Trade thereof, by a strict and punctual Observance of the several Laws in Force concerning the same, to be of so great Importance to the Benefit of England, and to the advancing of the Duties of Our Customs here, that, if We shall be hereafter informed, that at any Time there shall be any Failure in the due Observance of these Our present Instructions, by any wilful Default or Neglect on your Part, We shall look upon it as a Breach of the Trust reposed in you by Us; which We shall punish with the Loss of your Place in that Government, and such further Marks of our Displeasure as We shall judge reasonable to be inflicted upon you for your Offence against Us, in a Matter of this Consequence, that We now so particularly charge you with.

"And that Your Majesty will be pleased further to direct, that the several Proprietors of the Plantations, where Your Majesty hath no Governors of Your own Nomination, may enter into Security here, that their respective Deputy Governors shall, from Time to Time, observe and obey all Instructions that shall be sent to them from Your Majesty, or any acting under Your Authority, pursuant to the several Acts of Trade relating to the Plantations.

"And whereas the Colonies of Connecticat, of Roade Island, and Providence Plantation, have their Governors and Assistants chosen Annually by the People there, are become a great Receptacle for Pirates, and carry on several illegal Trades, contrary to the Acts for the Government of the Plantations, which said Colonies have no Proprietors here in England; that Your Majesty would be pleased to take Care that the Governors in these several Places be likewise obliged to give Security to observe and obey all such Instructions as shall be sent to them from Your Majesty, or any acting under Your Authority."

ORDERED, That the Committee do draw this Report into an Address to be presented to His Majesty.

Admiralty Committee, to make Inquiries concerning the Fleet, &c.

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Lords Committees appointed the Second of December last to consider of the Answers received from the Commissioners of the Admiralty, pursuant to the Orders of the Seven and Twentieth of November last, do meet this Afternoon, and inquire into the following Particulars:

"1. Why the Thoulon Fleet was not interrupted last Summer?

"2. Whether Cruisers have been appointed according to the Acts of Parliament, and what Care hath been taken to interrupt Privateers?

"3. What the Commissioners of the Admiralty have done, in relation to the granting Letters of Mart?

"4. Whether the Officers of the Fleet excute the Instructions annexed to their Commissions?

"5. What Care hath been taken by the Admiralty, for bringing in the Sea Journals, and examining thereof?

"6. To inquire further into the Matter of the Loss of the Ships that came from Topisham and Ireland.

"7. To inquire why so many Officers have been turned out of the Fleet, without Trial?"

Highways, for enlarging, Bill.

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for enlarging common Highways."

The Question was put, "Whether this Bill shall pass?"

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

ORDERED, That the Commons have Notice, the Lords have agreed to the said Bill, without any Amendment.

Heads for a Conference on the Bill to prohibit India Silks, &c.

ORDERED, That the Managers of the last Conference with the House of Commons, upon the Lords Amendments made to the Bill, intituled, "An Act to restrain the wearing of all Wrought Silks and Bengalls imported into this Kingdom from Persia and East India, and all Callicoes printed or stained there," and the Lords Committees who drew the Reasons for the Lords insisting on their Amendments to the said Bill, do meet To-morrow, at Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon, in the Prince's Lodgings near the House of Peers, to consider of what may be proper to be offered at the Free Conference desired Yesterday by the House of Commons.

Precedents of Penalties imposed by the Lords.

ORDERED, That the Clerks do search Precedents of Conferences between the Two Houses, where Penalties have been imposed by the Lords.

Adjourn.

Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque ad et in diem Jovis, (videlicet,) decimum octavum diem instantis Martii, hora undecima Aurora, Dominis sic decernentibus.