House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 6 December 1652

Monday, the 6th of December, 1652.

Prayers.

Letters read.

THE Lord Commissioner Whitelock reports from the Council of State, a Copy of a Letter from General Blake, aboard the Triumph, in the Downes, of the Third of December 1652; and another Letter from General Blake, of the 4th of December 1652; and also a Letter from Herbert Morley, and Thomas Challoner, from Deale, of the 4th of December 1652: Which were this Day read.

Naval Commissions.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State to gave a Commission to the Three Generals at Sea, according to the Direction of the Votes of Parliament, of the Six-and-twentieth Day of November 1652.

Army Maintenance.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Army, upon Conference had with the General and Officers of the Army, to consider how the Vote passed on Saturday last, whereby Eighty Thousand Pounds a Month, only, is allotted for Support of the Army, out of the Assessment, and the Residue of the Monthly Assessment for the Navy, may be made practicable, without the Danger of free Quarter: And to report their Opinion therein to the House.

Forest Lands.

Ordered, That the Bill for Forests Lands be reported on Thursday next, the First Business.

Ditto.

Ordered, That the Trustees for Sale of the late King's Lands be authorized to administer unto Sylanus Taylor, and Wm. Webb, Esquires, appointed to be Surveyors of Hyde-park, Hampton-court, with the Appurtenances, Meadows, Parks, and Lands thereunto belonging; Greenwich house, with the Appurtenances and the Park there, and Lands belonging to the said House; Windsore Castle, and the Park adjoining, called Little Park, and such Lands, Houses, &c. which by a Commission from the Council of State, they are authorised to survey, the like Oath for the Surveying of the Premises, as by the Act of Parliament was prescribed to be taken by the Surveyors for Sale of the late King's Lands; and that the said Surveyors shall return the Surveys thereof unto the Committee of Parliament, appointed to bring in a Bill for Sale of the Premises.

Sale of late King's Property.

Mr. Solicitor-General reports A Bill for the exposing to Sale divers Castles, Houses, Parks, Lands, and Hereditaments, belonging to the late King, Queen, or Prince, exempted from Sale by a former Act: Which was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, committed to the same Committee: And that they meet this Afternoon, at Two of Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Ordered, That the Committee do take into Consideration the Proviso, whereby the Premises were formerly excepted from Sale, whether there be any thing else therein excepted from Sale, that may be fit to be exposed to Sale, whereby ready Money may be advanced; and report their Opinion therein to the House, with Amendments to this Bill.

Prizes of War.

Ordered, That the Proposal touching the Prizes taken from France and Spaine, in the Beginning of the Reign of the late King, be referred to the Committee of the Navy, with Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Witnesses; and to consider of the Proposal; and report their Opinion therein to the House.

Post-Office.

Ordered, That the former Order of Reference, touching the Letter-Office, to the late Council of State, be revived to this present Council, to take the same into Consideration, according to the former Order; and also the Overture, touching the Advance of a present Sum of Money upon the same: And report their Opinion therein, with all Speed, to the House.

Charges of Offices.

Ordered, That the Committee for retrenching the Charges of Offices be revived: And Mr. Anlaby, and Mr. Lechmere, are to take special Care thereof; and to make Report to the House, with Speed.

Assessment.

Colonel Downes reports from the Committee of the Army, a Bill for raising One hundred and Twenty thousand Pounds, by the Month, by way of Assessment.