House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 22 December 1691

Martis 22 die Decembris; 3° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Westminster Small Debts.

A BILL for the Recovering of small Debts, and for Relieving of poor Debtors in Westminster, and the Liberties thereof, was read the Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir Tho. Clarges, Sir John Carew, Mr. Blowfeild, Mr. Lewis, Colonel Sackvile, Mr. Roberts, Lord Eland, Mr. Dolben, Mr. Hawtry, Mr. Mountague, Sir Cha. Bloys, Sir Rob. Henly, Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. Bockenham, Mr. Lutterell, Mr. Beddingfeild, Mr. Christie, Sir Peter Colleton, Mr. How, Sir Math. Andrewes, Sir Wm. Drake, Sir Tho. Travell, Colonel Lee, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Thornhaugh, Mr. Brewer, Mr. England, Sir Wm. Cook, Mr. Cary, Mr. Cooke, Mr. Vincent, Mr. Travers, Dr. Barbon, Mr. Cheney, Mr. Bale, Mr. Carter, Sir Wal. Clarges, and all the Members that serve for the County of Middlesex, and City of Westminster: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Four a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Punishment of Offenders.

Ordered, That the ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act to take away Clergy from some Offenders, and to bring others to Punishment, be read the Second time To-morrow Morning.

Fraudulent Devises.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the better Relief of Creditors, against fraudulent Wills and Devises.

Smith's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Trustees to sell the Estates of Edward Smith, Esquire, deceased, to raise Money for the Payment of his Debts, and to make Provision for his Children, who are Infants, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Paving Streets. &c.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to explain a Clause in the late Act for paving and cleansing the Streets in the Cities of London and Westminster, and Suburbs and Liberties thereof, and Out Parishes in the County of Middlesex. and Borough of Southwark, and other Places within the Weekly Bills of Mortality in the County of Surrey, and regulating the Markets therein mentioned, touching Cart and Car Wheels.

Duties on Spirits from Melasses.

A Petition of the Refiners of Sugar in England, was read; setting forth, That this Kingdom, being Master of the best and most considerable Sugar Plantations in the whole World, might enrich itself by encouraging the Refining of our Brown Sugars; and so enable our Merchants to supply Foreign Markets with the home-made White Sugars: That the Dutch, Hamburghers, and French, have most studiously encouraged this expensive and profitable Trade within themselves, having been greatly enabled thereunto by an Act made 1° Jac. II^di; which has proved a very great Discouragement and Weakening to this Trade here at Home: And that, by reason another Act made in the last Sessions, for encouraging the Consumption of Corn, a very high Duty is laid, not only on the Low Wines drawn from the Plantation Melasses, but also upon the Low Wines drawn from the home-made Melasses, the Petitioners are disabled in the carrying on of their Trade; and if not relieved by the House, the aforesaid beneficial Trade must be unavoidably lost in this Kingdom, and carried to our Neighbours: And praying the Consideration of the House in the Premises: And that the Petitioners may at least, have as much Encouragement to refine our own Plantation Brown Sugars, as the Dutch now have, by reason of their Drawback, to export and work them abroad.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee to whom the Examination and Consideration of the Petition of several Merchants and Planters trading to and interested in their Majesties Sugar Plantations, was referred.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir John Knatchbull have Leave to go into the Country for Ten Days, from this Day, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Ordered, That Sir Fra. Guibon have Leave to go into the Country for a Fortnight, for Recovery of his Health.

Ordered, That Mr. Wilmot have Leave to go into the Country for a Month, for Recovery of his Health.

Ordered, That Mr. Norreis have Leave to go into the Country for Ten Days, for his Health.

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That Captain Reignolds have Leave to go into the Country for a Fortnight;

It passed in the Negative.

Supply Bill; Land Tax.

Then Mr. Solicitor General, according to the Order of the Day, reported from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for granting to their Majesties the Sum of Sixteen hundred fifty-one thousand Seven hundred and Two Pounds, upon Lands, towards the carrying on a vigorous War against France, was committed, the said Bill, with the Amendments and Clauses: The which he read in his Place, with the Coherence; and afterwards, delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were once read throughout; and afterwards a Second time, one by one; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

A Proviso was offered to be added to the Bill, For taxing the Prison of the King's Bench in Surrey.

And the same was twice read; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments, be ingrossed.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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