House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 11 November 1653

Friday, the 11th of November, 1653.

Duty on Tobacco.

MR. Caley reports from the Committee for inspecting the Treasuries, and regulating Officers and Salaries, A Certificate from the Commissioners of Excise: Which was now read; viz.

To the honourable Committee of Parliament for inspecting the Treasuries, and regulating Officers and Salaries:

May it please your Honours,

FORASMUCH as, by Act of Parliament of the Third of September last, there is a Rate of Three-pence set and imposed upon every net Pound of English Tobacco, of the Growth of this present Year, to be paid to and for the Use of this Commonwealth, by the first Buyer or Buyers thereof: And forasmuch as great Quantities of Tobaccos are daily bought up, and shipped out for beyond the Seas; amongst which, those of the English Growth being intended likewise to be sent out, we have more than a probable Suspicion, that the Growers and Buyers combining together, will, to elude the Duty thereof, conceal the Sales, and enter the same outwards, in the Name of the Growers or Planters; by which the Intention of the Act before-mentioned, will be wholly frustrated and avoided; this Duty being not receivable till Sale.

For the Prevention whereof, it is humbly prayed, That the Parliament may be moved to declare, that, in case any English Tobacco, of this present Year's Growth, shall happen to be shipped off, or out of any Port, or other Place of this Commonwealth, by the Grower or Planter, or Curer thereof, that the Excise then payable by the first Buyer, as aforesaid, shall be paid by every such Grower, Planter, or Curer, before he or they shall be permitted to ship out, or ship off, any of the same, upon Payment of Forfeiture of double the Value thereof, to be levied by Distress or Imprisonment, as in other Cases for Excise is directed and appointed.

Resolved, by the Parliament, That Mr. Caley do bring in an Act for the Redress and preventing of this Abuse.

Registering Marriages.

Ordered, That it be referred to a Committee of the Law, to prepare and bring in an Act of Explanation to the Act touching Marriages, upon the Debate of the House; and report the same to the House.

Sale of Forests.

Sir William Roberts reports from the Committee who brought in the Amendments to the Bill for Sale of Forests, The Names of Officers to be inserted into the Bill: Which were now read; viz. Edward Cressett, Wm. Webb, Josias Berners, John Parker, Henry Pitts, Robert Aldworth, Francis Mussenden, Trustees; Ralph Hall, Surveyor General-Register; Wm. Benson, Register-Accomptant; Charles Deoyly, Colonel Mathew Shepherd, Treasurers.

Resolved, by the Parliament, That Edward Cressett Esquire be one of the Trustees.

Resolved, That Wm. Webb Esquire be one of the Trustees.

Resolved, That Josias Berners Esquire be one of the Trustees.

Resolved, That John Parker Esquire be one of the Trustees.

Resolved, That Henry Pitt Esquire be one of the Trustees.

Resolved, That Robert Aldworth Esquire be one of the Trustees.

Resolved, That Francis Mussenden Esquire be one of the Trustees.

Resolved, That Ralph Hall be Surveyor-General and Register in this Bill.

Resolved, That Wm. Benson be Register-Accomptant.

Resolved, That Charles Doyley shall be one of the Treasurers.

Resolved, That Colonel Mathew Shepherd be the other of the Treasurers.

Resolved, That there be Two Treasurers, and no more.

Resolved, That the Quorum of the Trustees shall be Four.

The Question being put, That these Words, Folio 4th, Line the 4th, beginning with these Words, "so as," unto the Word "so," in the 8th Line, do stand in the Bill;

It passed in the Negative.

The Question being put, That the Clause, beginning, Page 7th, Line 14th, with "Provided also, " and ending with these Words, "Demand thereunto," in the 9th Line of the 8th Folio, do stand in the Bill;

It passed in the Negative.

The Question being put, That these Words, Folio 8th, Line 11th, "by virtue of such Offices," do stand in the Bill;

It passed in the Negative.

The Question being put, That the Clause, Line 11th, of the 8th Folio, beginning in these Words, "that claim any Right," unto the Words, "all Persons," Line 15, of the same Folio, do stand in the Bill;

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That in the 8th Instruction of the Trustees, these Words be inserted, "under Fourteen Years Purchase."

Resolved, That the next Blank, in that Instruction, be filled with "Seven and a Half Years Purchase."

Resolved, That the Third Blank, in that Instruction, be filled with "Four and a Half Years Purchase."

The Question being put, That the Fourth Blank be filled with "Three and a Half Years."

It passed in the Negative.

Then the Question being put, For "Three Years after Twenty-one;"

It passed in the Affirmative.

So it was Resolved, That the Fourth Blank be filled with "Three Years."

Resolved, That the next Blank be filled with "Seven Years Purchase, after one Life."

Resolved, That the next Blank be filled with "Four Years, after two Lives."

Resolved, That the next Blank be filled with "Two and a Half Years, after Three Lives."

Resolved, That the Sum to be borrowed upon the Security of these Lands, be 400,000£.

The Question being put, That the Blank, in the 4th Line of the 34 Folio, be filled up with these Words, "Three-pence in the Pound;"

It passed in the Negative.

The Question being put, That these Words, in the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Lines of the 34 Folio, viz. "other than the upon the Pound, hereafter mentioned, payable to the Trustees and other Officers upon each Contract," do stand in the Bill;

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That the Blank in the 20th Line of the 35 Folio, be filled with "One hundred Pounds, to be allowed to the Clerks and Tellers Extraordinary."

Resolved, That the Blank in the last Line of the same Folio, be filled with "Fifty Pounds."

Resolved, That the Blank, in the Fourth Line of 37 Folio, be filled with "Ten Days."

The Question being put, That the Clause, beginning with these Words, "And be it," in the 14th Line of the 44 Folio, and ending with this Word, "accordingly," in the Third Line of the next Folio, do stand in the Bill;

It passed in the Negative.

The Question being put, That the Salary for the Trustees shall be three hundred Pounds a Year apiece;

It passed with the Negative.

Resolved, That the Salaries for the Trustees shall be Two hundred Pounds by the Year to each of them.

Resolved, That the Salary of the Treasurers shall be Two hundred Pounds a Year to each.

Resolved, That the Salary of the Register Accomptant shall be One hundred and Fifty Pounds a Year.

Resolved, That this Clause following be inserted, in the 14 Line of the 44 Folio, instead of that which is omitted; viz. "And be it Enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, That the said Trustees, for their Pains and Service in the Premises, shall have allowed to every of them the yearly Salary of Two hundred Pounds: And the said Treasurers shall be allowed, unto each of them, the yearly Salary of Two hundred Pounds: And that the said Register-Accomptant shall have and receive, for himself, the yearly Salary of One hundred and Fifty Pounds: All and every which said Salaries shall be paid and defalked by the said Treasurers on the 24th Day of June, and the 24th of December, yearly, by equal Portions, upon Warrant from the said Trustees, or any Four or more of them; the first Payment to be made on the 24th Day of June 1654.

Resolved, That this Act be ingrossed.