House of Lords Journal Volume 18: 4 March 1706

DIE Lnuæ, 4 Martii.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

Pegg's Bill.

The Earl of Rochester reported from the Lords Committees, the Bill, intituled, "An Act for Sale of the Manors and Estate of and in Hethersedge and Dore, in the County of Derby, the Estate of Christopher Pegg Esquire; and mortgaging Part of his Manor and Estate, of and in Beauchiff and Strawberry Lee, in the same County, for raising Money, for Payment of Debts and Incumbrances thereon, and for making Provision for his Family," as fit to pass, without any Amendment.

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for Sale of the Manors and Estate of and in Hethersedge and Dore, in the County of Derby, the Estate of Christopher Pegg Esquire; and mortgaging Part of his Manor and Estate, of and in Beauchiff and Strawberry Lee, in the same County, for raising Money, for Payment of Debts and Incumbrances thereon, and for making Provision for his Family."

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

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

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

Ld. Bulkeley's Bill:

The Earl of Rochester reported from the Lords Committees, the Bill, intituled, "An Act to enlarge the Power of Richard Lord Bulkley, Viscount Cashells in the Kingdom of Ireland, of leasing his Estate in Cheshire, for Performance and Satisfaction of the Trusts upon the said Estate," as fit to pass, with One Amendment.

Which was read Twice, and agreed to.

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act to enlarge the Power of Richard Lord Bulkley, Viscount Cashells in the Kingdom of Ireland, of leasing his Estate in Cheshire, for Performance and Satisfaction of the Trusts upon the said Estate."

The Question was put, "Whether this Bill, with the Amendments, 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 Robert Legard and Mr. Pitt:

To return the said last-mentioned Bill, and desire their Concurrence to their Lordships Amendments made thereto.

Rates of Coals, &c. Yarmouth Bill.

The Earl of Rochester reported from the Lords Committees, the Bill, intituled, "An Act for regulating and ascertaining the Rates to be paid by Unfreemen, Importers of Coals, Culm, and Cinders, into the Port of Great Yarmouth," as fit to pass, with One Amendment; (videlicet,)

"Pr. 2. 38 L. Leave out ["Half"], and after ["Pence"] insert ["Half-penny"]."

Which was read Twice, and agreed to.

Records in Offices, Address about.

The Lord Halifax reported from the Lords Committees, appointed to consider the Method of keeping Records and Public Papers in Offices, and how they are kept, and of Ways to remedy what shall be found to be amiss, an Address drawn by them.

Which was read, and agreed to, as followeth; (videlicet,)

"We, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, humbly conceiving that the safe and orderly keeping of the Records and Public Papers is much for Your Majesty's Honour, and of great Importance to Your Subjects, did appoint a Committee, to inquire into the Method of keeping Records and Public Papers in Offices. The Committee proceeding to inquire into the State and Condition of the Paperoffice in Whitehall; and having sent for Mr. Tucker, the Keeper of those Papers, and heard what Account he gave of the Method observed in that Office, and of the State the Papers were in; and ordered a general Catalogue of them to be prepared and laid before them; and having gone themselves to view the Place where the Office is kept; they reported the following Observations to the House:

"That there is Want of Room in the Office, so that the Papers cannot be conveniently disposed.

"That, as they are placed now in Bundles, they are much crouded, and difficult to be inspected; and, if they were bound up in Volumes, much more Room would be wanting.

"That more Presses are absolutely necessary; and those which are now standing are not so convenient as might be contrived.

"That the Papers are not digested in Order, and should be sorted with more Exactness; and the Bundles of Misceliany Papers, which are very numerous, should be reduced under their proper Heads.

"That those Papers that are of no Use, nor serve for Curiosity, should be laid aside; and the rest, to be made useful, should be bound up in Volumes, with proper Indexes; and a Catalogue made of the Volumes, referring to the Presses where they are placed."

"The Committee further reported:

"That few Papers have been delivered into that Office by the Secretaries of State since the Year 1670 (except those left by Sir Lionel Jenkins); and that many Papers are wanting in the preceding Times: It does appear by the Catalogue, that there are wanting, to continue the Series of Foreign Papers; from France, from 1659 to 1661; from Germany, from 1653 to 1660; from Flanders, from 1641 to 1660; from Russia and Poland, from 1640 to 1661; from Turkey, from 1656 to 1660; from Italy, from 1641 to 1662; from Spain, from 1658 to 1660.

"That in the Catalogue, Fol. 67, a Treaty is mentioned to have been concluded with Holland in 1654, which is not in the Office.

"That the Ratification of the Treaty of Breda is not there.

"That though there is in the Office a complete Set of Warrant Books, from 1661 to 167 8/9; yet they are only those of Mr. Secretary Nicholas, Earl of Arlington, and Mr. Secretary Williamson. There are none of Mr. Secretary Morice's, Mr. Secretary Coventry's, nor any other Secretary of State, since the Beginning of King Charles the Second's Reign: And it appears, that since that Time few or no Papers have been brought into the Office, but those of the Three Secretaries of State abovementioned; nor is the Collection of those complete; for not to mention that, by a little Note tied up with the Earl of Arlington's Letters to the Ambassadors at Cologne in 1673 and 1674, being a List of them, according to their Dates, it appears several are lost or mislaid, which may be the Case of many other single Papers, there are wanting, of the Secretary's Office, Entry Books (besides those of all Kinds for One of the Secretary's Offices), Ecclesiastical Papers from 1663 to 16 69/70; Admiralty, all before 1675/6; Ireland, all since 1672; King's Letters, from 1670 to 1674; Trade and Plantations, all before 1670; Holland, all before 1670, and since 1674; Spain and Portugal, all before 1669; Flanders, all before 1669; Turkey, Barbary, &c. there are none; France, all before 1669; Poland and Russia, all before 167 4/5;; Germany, all before 16 69/70; Sweden and Denmark, all before 16 69/70;.

"And the Officer cannot tell where the Treaty of Ryswick remains."

"The Committee likewise viewed the Old Chapterhouse in Westminster Abbey, which is the chief Repository for the Records of the Treasury of the Exchequer, where also Records of other Courts are placed; and found the same in a ruinous Condition, in Danger of falling, if some Care be not speedily taken: Whereupon they ordered Sir Christopher Wron, Your Majesty's Surveyor General, to make a Survey thereof, and prepare an Estimate of the Expence of putting it in Repair; which is humbly laid before Your Majesty.

"May it please Your Majesty,

"We do not doubt but Your Majesty will think it proper to give timely Orders for putting the same into Repair; it being a Work so necessary for preserving the Records.

"We do also humbly beseech Your Majesty to give such Orders as You shall think fit, for the Recovery of such of the Papers of State as are not delivered into the Paper-office; and that Your Majesty would direct some proper Method may be taken for the future, in order to preserve the Papers of State, for the Use of the Public.

"And we likewise humbly beseech Your Majesty, That You would be pleased to make some additional Allowance to the Keeper of the Office, in order to encourage him to employ more Hands to sort and digest the Papers, and to bind them up in Volumes: And that the Officers of the Works may be directed to make such Repairs and Alterations in the Office, as shall be found useful and necessary."

Ordered, That the Lords with White Staves do attend Her Majesty, with the said Address.

Laymerie & al. Nat. Bill.

Then the Amendments made by the House of Commons to the Bill, intituled, "An Act for naturalizing of Vincent De Laymerie and others," were read Thrice, and agreed to; and Ordered, That the Commons have Notice thereof.

Growth of Popery, to prevent, Bill.

Hodie 2^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for the further preventing the Growth of Popery."

Ordered, That the said Bill be committed to a Committee of the whole House, To-morrow, at Twelve a Clock.

Low Wines, &c. Bill.

Hodie 1^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for laying further Duties on Low Wines; and for preventing the Damage to Her Majesty's Revenue, by Importation of Foreign Cut Whalebone; and for making some Provisions as to the Stamp Duties, and the Duties on Births, Burials, and Marriages, and the Salt Duties, and touching Million Lottery Tickets; and for enabling Her Majesty to dispose the Effects of William Kidd, a notorious Pirate, to the Use of Greenwich Hospital."

Army, &c. for recruiting, Bill.

Hodie 1^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for the better recruiting Her Majesty's Army and Marines."

Marshal's Men recommended for an Allowance.

The Lord Halifax reported from the Lords Committees, to whom was referred the Petition of the KnightMarshal's Men, as followeth:

"That it is the Opinion of the Committee, to whom was referred the Petition of the Knight-Marshal's Men, That they be recommended to the Lord Treasurer, to acquaint Her Majesty with their Service, to the End they may be rewarded for the same, in such Proportion as Her Majesty shall think fit."

Which, being read, was agreed to.

It is Ordered, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That it is the Opinion of this House, That the Knight-Marshal (fn. 1) Men shall be, and are hereby, recommended to the Lord Treasurer, to acquaint Her Majesty with their Service, to the End they may be rewarded for the same, in such Proportion as Her Majesty shall think fit.

Mint Bill.

Hodie 2^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act to empower the Lord High Treasurer, or Commissioners of the Treasury, to issue, out of the Monies arising by the Coinage Duty, any Sum not exceeding the Sum of Three Thousand Pounds Yearly, for the Uses of the Mint."

Ordered, That the said Bill be committed to a Committee of the whole House, presently.

Then the House was adjourned during Pleasure, and put into a Committee, on the said Bill.

After some Time, the House was resumed.

And the Earl of Stamford 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.

Message from H. C. to return the Bill for the Amendment of the Law.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Roll and others:

To return the Bill, intituled, "An Act for the Amendment of the Law, and the better Advancement of Justice;" and to acquaint this House, that they have agreed to the same, with some Amendments, whereunto they desire their Lordships Concurrence.

Adjourn.

Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque ad & in diem Martis, quintum diem instantis Martii, hora undecima Auroræ, Dominis sic decernentibus.