House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 3 April 1690

Jovis, 3 die Aprilis; 2° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Wynn's Estate.

A PETITION of Cadwallader Wynn, Esquire, was read; setting forth, That he and his Brothers have agreed to endeavour to procure an Act of Parliament for the vesting his Estate in Trustees for the Payment of his Debts: And praying, That Leave may be given to bring in a Bill for that Purpose.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill accordingly.

Reversing Judgment against Arnold.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for reversing a Judgment obtained against John Arnold, Esquire, in the King's Bench.

And the Bill was presented to the House; and received.

Legrand's &c. Nat.

An ingrossed Bill from the Lords, for naturalizing David Legrand, and others, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Lewknor's Wife's illegitimate Children.

A Bill to illegitimate any Child or Children that the Wife of John Lewknor, Esquire, hath had, or shall have, during her Elopement from him, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Fenwick's Estate.

A Petition of Sir Robert Fenwick was read; setting forth, That, upon the Petitioner's Marriage with his late Wife, his late Father, in Consideration of Two thousand Pounds Portion by him received, by Indenture dated 27 September 1679, settled the Manor of Shortflatt, with other Lands in Com' Northumberland, of the yearly Value of One hundred Twenty-five Pounds, on the Petitioner and his said Wife, and their Issue in Tail Male; the Remainder to the Petitioner's Four younger Brothers in Tail; likewise the Reversion to the Petitioner's Father in Fee: And all other the Lands, mentioned in the Settlement, are subjected to the Payment of One thousand Five hundred Pounds to the Petitioner's Three Sisters; for Payment whereof, and other the Petitioner's Father's Debts by him charged on the said Estate, the Petitioner is indebted upwards of Two thousand Five hundred Pounds: That all the Estate the Petitioner hath is contained in the said Settlement: and is about Nine hundred Pounds per Annum: And, though it was the Petitioner's Father's Intention the Petitioner should have had, yet, by the penning the said Settlement, he has not, a Power to have sold Part of the Estate for Payment of the said Debts: That the Petitioner hath had Issue, by his said Wife, Two Sons, and One Daughter, Infants: And the Petitioner, and Trustees for his said Wife, finding the said Manor of Shortflat, with a Mill thereto, may be most conveniently sold, and divided from the rest of the Estate; and the Trustees are contented an Act should pass for that Purpose; and praying, That the Petitioner might have Leave to bring in a Bill for the Purposes aforesaid.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill accordingly.

Coventrye's Estate.

A Bill to supply a Defect in an Act of Parliament, passed the last Session, for Sale of a House late Mr. Secretary Coventrye's, was presented to the House; and received.

Wolstenholm's Estate.

A Bill to enable John Wolstenholm, Esquire, to sell Lands to pay Debts, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Gloucester Election.

A Petition of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Freemen of the City of Gloucester was presented to the House; setting forth, That the Privilege of the said City, as to the Choice of Parliament Men, is, that no Person shall be there chose, but one that is a Freeman; and hath taken the usual Oath of the said City: Yet, notwithstanding, one Mr. Try, having joined with Mr. Palmer, one of the Sheriffs of the City, by great Expence of Money amongst the poorer Sort of Freemen, hath prevailed with them for their Voices; and with the said Palmer; to return him with William Cooke, Esquire; although John Delabre, Esquire, who is a Freeman of the City, and qualified as he ought to be (and the said Mr. Trye is not), was duly elected by the Majority of the Petitioners, and qualified Freemen; as appears by the Return executed by one Benjamin Rose, one other of the Sheriffs, and the Petitioners: But the said Mr. Palmer refused to join therein; but hath returned the said Mr. Try, in Breach of the ancient Privileges of the said City: And not doubting but that this House will be very tender of the Preservation of the Rights and Customs of so ancient a City; and praying, That they may be permitted to enjoy their so ancient Liberty, and free Custom, according to the Tenor of the Great Charter of the Liberties of England.

Ordered, That the said Petition be read To-morrow Morning.

Wilts Election.

A Petition of Henry Lord Colraine in the Kingdom of Ireland was read; setting forth, That the Petitioner was elected to serve as Knight of the Shire for the County of Wilts, by the Majority of the Freeholders of the said County: But that, by the undue Practices of James Edghill, Under Sheriff, and one Sansbury the County Clerk, Persons unqualified being admitted to poll, and the County Court unduly adjourned from Wilton to several Places the First Day, the last Adjournment being to Salisbury, then visited with the Small Pox, the Fear whereof restrained and discouraged some Hundreds that would have polled for the Petitioner; and by Multitudes of other manifest and wicked Practices; they the said Edghill and Sansbury, notwithstanding the due Election of the Petitioner, have made a Return, in Prejudice to the Petitioner, by declaring the Election against the Petitioner: And praying the Consideration and Relief of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: Who are to examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Paper Manufacture.

A Bill for the encouraging and better establishing the Manufacture of White Paper in this Kingdom, was read the Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Bickerstaffe, Mr. Wharton, Mr. Gilbert, Mr. Bennet, Sir Rob. Sawyer, Sir Cha. Bloys, Sir Orlando Gee, Mr. Papillion, Mr. St. John, Mr. Fuller, Colonel Norton, Mr. Etterick, Sir Robert Cotton, Mr. Waller, Mr. Bull, Serjeant Wogan, Colonel Birch, Major Vincent, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Vincent, Sir John Key, Sir Rich. Onslow, Mr. Dolben, Sir Tho. Littleton, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Hutchinson, Sir Cha. Windham, Sir Robert Rich, Mr. Hawtry, Sir Hen. Goffe, Mr. Blowfeild, Sir John Cotton, Sir Gilbert Clerke, Mr. Denz Onslow, Sir Hen. Johnson, Mr. Foot Onslow, Lord Norreis, Mr. Thornhaugh, Colonel Austen, Sir Tho. Mompesson, Sir Phil. Skippon, Mr. Glemham, Mr. England, Mr. Chetwyn, Mr. Goodwin Wharton, Mr. Cary, Sir Samuel Bernadiston, Mr. Fenwick, Sir John Wyn, Mr. Machell, Sir Gervas Elwes, Mr. Neal, Mr. Tho. Foley, Sir Matth. Andrews, Mr. Paul Foley, Mr. Perry, Mr. Bowyer, Sir Rob. Nappier, Mr. Sherrard, Sir R. Carteret, Mr. Holt, Mr. Burrard, Mr. Whitehead, Sir Ja. Rushout, Mr. Thompson, Mr. May, Sir Ben. Newland: And all that come are to have Voices: And they are to meet To morrow in the Afternoon at Three of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

A Petition of George Hagar, Gentleman, was read; setting forth, That the Petitioner having, with great Charge and Pains, attained to a new and extraordinary Way of making Paper; and the Petitioner, 34 Car. II. obtained a Patent under the Great Seal for the sole Use of such his Art and Invention, for the Term of Fourteen Years, not yet expired; and hath, for Three Years past, employed several Mills in the County of Surrey: and, if he be now interrupted in such his Trade, his Expence having been so great, it will tend to his and his Family's utter Ruin: And praying, That in case it shall be thought necessary for the better settling the Manufacture of White Paper in this Kingdom, to establish it by an Act of Parliament, he may have Leave to be heard by his Counsel, before a Bill, brought into this House for the encouraging and better establishing the said Manufacture do pass.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee to whom the said Bill is referred.

Dorchester Election.

A Petition of the Inhabitants of the Borough of Dorchester in the County of Dorset was read; setting forth, That the Right of Election of Burgesses to serve in Parliament for the said Town is only in the Inhabitants residing there, paying Scot and Lot, until upon One or Two late Elections it hath been practised otherwise; the Mayor, Town Clerk, and some of the Aldermen there, contrary to their Freeman's Oath, having acted very partially, by admitting Persons on late Elections, not so qualified as aforesaid, to vote, purely to elect such Persons, as by the Wills and Pleasures of the Mayor, Town Clerk, and Aldermen, are set up: So that of late, by such arbitrary Methods, there has not been Two Elections, one after the other, chosen by one and the same Method; but contrary to each other, as hath served the Purposes of the said Mayor, Town Clerk, and Aldermen: And praying the House to settle the said Borough in their ancient Rights and Privileges, so that it may not be in the Power of the Mayor, Town Clerk, &c. to destroy the same, or withhold the Inhabitants of their ancient Usage; but that Elections, for the future, may be in those who have Right to vote and elect.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: Who are to examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Duke of Buckingham's Estate.

Ordered, That the Bill for enabling the Trustees of the late Duke of Buckingham to sell several Manors and Lands settled on them, for Payment of Debts, be read the Second time To-morrow Morning: And that Sir Robert Clayton, a Member of the House, and one of the Trustees, have Notice then to attend in his Place, if he think fit.

Ludgershall Election.

A Petition of Edmund Harrison, Merchant, was read; setting forth, That the Petitioner was duly elected to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Ludgershall in the County of Wilts: But Wm. Munday junior, Bailiff there, hath unduly returned another Person, in Prejudice of the said Borough, and the Petitioner: And praying the Relief of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: Who are to examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Importing Thrown Silk.

A Bill to discourage the Importation of Thrown Silk, was read the First time.

Ordered, That the Bill do lie upon the Table.

Westminster, &c. Paving.

Ordered, That the Bill for paving and cleansing the Streets, be read To-morrow Morning.

Paper Manufacture.

A Petition of several Persons using the Trade of Papermaking within this Kingdom was read; setting forth, That the Making of Paper in England hath been used Time out of Mind, and many Families maintained thereout, till the French, who (by paying but small Wages to their Workmen) did under-sell them: That, since the Prohibition of French Goods, the Petitioners Trade is again revived; but that they are informed some Persons, having procured Letters Patents from the late King James the Second, for monopolizing the sole Use of the said Trade for Fourteen Years, have brought a Bill into this House to confirm the same by Act of Parliament; in which, if they should it will tend to the Petitioners and their Families utter Ruin: And praying they may be heard, by their Counsel, to give their Reasons against the said Bill.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee to whom the said Bill is referred.

Search for Papers.

Ordered, That the Report touching the Search for Mr. Stafford's Papers be received To-morrow Morning.

Supply.

Then the House resolved into a Committee of the whole House, to proceed in the further Consideration of the Supply to their Majesties.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer reports from the Committee of the whole House, That they had agreed upon a Resolution; which they had directed him to report to the House: And he read the same in his Place; and afterwards, delivered it in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was read; and is as followeth; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, for the Raising of the Sum of Two hundred thousand Pounds, being the Residue of the Twelve hundred thousand Pounds to be given to their Majesties, the House be moved for Leave to bring in a Bill for a Poll.

The said Resolution being read a Second time;

Resolved, That a Bill be brought in for a Poll for the Raising of the Sum of Two hundred thousand Pounds, being the Residue of the Twelve hundred thousand Pounds to be given to their Majesties.

Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer also acquainted the House, That he was directed by the Committee to move the House, That the said Committee may sit again Tomorrow Morning.

Resolved, That the House will To-morrow at Ten of the Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to proceed in the further Consideration of the Poll; and nothing to intervene.

And then the House adjourned till To-morrow Morning, Nine of the Clock.