House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 17 February 1694

Sabbati, 17 die Februarii;

6° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Sergemaking.

A PETITION of divers Sergemakers, living in and about the Town of Wellington in the County of Somerset, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Art of Sergemaking is of great Advantage to this Kingdom; yet it being reputed not to be within the Statute 5° Eliz. which requires Seven Years Apprenticeship, many unskilful Persons have presumed to exercise the same, to the Disparagement of the said Commodity, both at Home and Abroad; and many, by reason of the Smalness of their Stocks, are forced to accept of Credit for Wool, and then must sell at any Rate to support a Trade; and many times accept of their Commodities in lieu of ready Money; and for their present Relief, they have sold for 3d. or 4d. loss in a Shilling, which, in a little time, will ruin the said Trade: And praying, That such Ways may be taken for the keeping up, and improving, the Art of making Serges, and preventing all Abuses therein, as shall be thought necessary.

Ordered, That the Examination and Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Bill for the better preventing the Exportation of Wool, Fulling and Scouring Earth, by altering the Penalty; and for the better regulating the Factors in Blackwell-hall; is committed.

Whitehall's Estate.

Mr. Christy reported from the Committee, to whom the ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable John Whitehall to charge certain Lands with the Sum of Fifteen hundred Pounds, towards Portions for his younger Children, was committed, That they had examined and considered the same; and had directed him to report the same to the House, without any Amendments: And he delivered the same in at the Table.

Special Bails.

Mr. Waller, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for settling the Method of taking special Bails in the Court of King's-Bench; and for the Filing, Entering, and Docquetting, of all such Bails in the several Courts of Law at Westminster: And the same was received.

Raising Militia.

Sir William Cooper, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for raising the Militia of this Kingdom, for the Year One thousand Six hundred Ninety-four; although the Month's Pay, formerly advanced, be not repaid: And the same was received.

Boats carrying Coals.

A Bill for the measuring, by a dead Weight, the Keels and Boats within the River of Newcastle upon Tine, and the Ports adjacent, which carry Coals, was read the Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir Ralph Car, Mr. Bickerstaffe, Sir John Key, Colonel Perry, Mr. Mordant, Mr. Christy, Sir John Barker, Mr. Hawtry, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Hutchinson, Sir Rich. Hart, Sir Wm. York, Mr. White, Sir Tho. Haslerigg, Sir Robert Cotton, Mr. Lutterell, Mr. Goldwell, Mr. Bence, Mr. Waller, Mr. Blofield, Mr. Piggot, Mr. Sandford, Mr. Slater, Mr. Carr, Mr. Fawkes, Lord Cornbury, Mr. Fenwick, Mr. How, Sir Robert Edon, Mr. Freke, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Frewen, Mr. England; and all the Members that serve for the Sea-Ports, and for the City of London: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Four a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

London Orphans Fund.

Colonel Goldwell reported from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred to consider of the Petition of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and CommonCouncil, of the City of London, relating to the Orphans of the said City, That they had considered the same; and the several other Petitions referred to the Consideration of the said Committee; and had come to several Resolutions thereupon; which they had directed him to report to the House; and which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were read; and are as follow; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards Satisfaction of the Debts due to the Orphans of the City of London, a Rent-charge of Eight thousand Pounds per Ann. be charged upon all the Revenues of the said City, for raising a perpetual Fund of Interest.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the City of London be enabled to raise a Sum not exceeding 2,000l. per Ann. upon personal Estates within the said City, towards the further Satisfaction of the Debts due to the said Orphans.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards Satisfaction of the Debts due to the Orphans of the City of London, the Patentees, upon a Lease to them to be granted for a Term not exceeding 21 Years, do, out of the Profits of the Convex-Lights, pay the Sum of Six hundred Pounds per Ann.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That towards Satisfaction of the Debts, due to the Orphans of the City of London, there be an additional Duty of Four-pence per Chaldron, Metage, laid upon Coals within the Port of the City of London.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That towards Satisfaction of the Debts, due to the Orphans of the City of London, there be a Duty of Six-Pence per Chaldron, for Fifty Years, laid upon Coals imported to the City of London; to commence from the Determination of the Duty now thereupon for the Building of St. Paul's Church.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards Satisfaction of the Debts, due to the Orphans of the City of London, a Duty of Four Shillings per Tun, upon Wines imported into the Port of London, be paid over and above the Duties charged thereupon; and so in proportion for a greater or lesser Quantity.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards Satisfaction of the Debts due to the Orphans of the City of London, the Improvements to be made by the Aqueducts belonging to the said City be applied to that Purpose.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards Satisfaction of the Debts due to the Orphans of the said City of London, there be paid by every Person to be bound an Apprentice in the City of London, Two Shillings Six-pence; and by every Person to be made free of the City, Five Shillings; over and above what is now paid.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That an equal Consideration be had of William, Henry, Stewkly, and Katharine Godwyn, Audree Beale, and Mary Chappell, upon their Petition, as of the Orphans of the said City.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That an equal Consideration be had of Francis Bradbury, Ellen Pank, and Grace Bell, upon their Petition, as of the Orphans of the said City.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That an equal Consideration be had of Nicolas Smith, Clerk, upon his Petition, as of the Orphans of the said City.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That an equal Consideration be had of the Lady Ann Dowager Rockingham, in behalf of her younger Children, upon her Petition, as of the Orphans of the said City.

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in upon the said Resolutions: And that Colonel Goldwell, Sir Chr. Musgrave, Mr. Harcourt, Mr. Solicitor-General, Sir Tho. Clarges, and the Members for the City of London, do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

London Orphans Fund:

The House took into Consideration the Petition of Ann Wright, which was presented to the House Yesterday, and lay on the Table.

Ordered, That the said Ann Wright be inserted in the said Bill.

Ditto.

A Petition of Edward Brewster, Citizen and Stationer of London, on behalf of the Children of George Sawbridge, late Citizen and Stationer of London, deceased, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That Hannah Sawbridge, late Widow of the said George, being by him left a Trustee for the said Children, did, in 1681, and 1682, lend 2,000l. of the said Childrens Money to the City of London; and took Two Bonds as a Security for the same: That, soon after that, the said Hannah made her Will, and the Petitioner her Executor: and died without having received any Part of the Principal or Interest: That, in case the whole Revenues of the City should be settled by Parliament, for Payment of the Orphans Debts, without Provision made for the said Children, they will be in great Danger of losing the said 2,000l. and Interest: And praying, That such Provision may be made for the Relief of the said Children, as that the said 2,000l. and Interest may be secured to them.

Ordered, That the Petitioner, on behalf of the said Children, be inserted in the said Bill.

Supply Bill; Duties on Salt, Beer; &c.

A Bill for granting to their Majesties certain Rates and Duties upon Salt, and upon Beer, Ale, and other Liquors, for securing certain Recompences and Advantages, in the said Bill mentioned, to such Persons as shall voluntarily advance the Sum of Ten hundred thousand Pounds towards carrying on the War against France, was read the Second time.

Resolved, That no Member of the House of Commons shall be concerned directly or indirectly, in the Farming, Collecting, or Managing, of the Duties to be collected by this Bill, or any other Aid to be granted to their Majesties, other than the present Commissioners of the Treasury, and the Officers and Commissioners for managing the Customs and Excise.

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

A Message from the Lords, by Mr. Holford and Mr. Pitt:

Mr. Speaker,

Whitley's Estate.

The Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act to enable Roger Whitley the elder Esquire, and Thomas Whitley Esquire, to exchange certain Lands, of equal Value, within the County of Chester, without any Amendments: Also,

A. Turner's Estate.

The Lords have passed a Bill, intituled, An Act to enable the Trustees of Alice Turner Widow, and her Children, to make Sale of certain Houses and Ground in or near Lincolne's-Inn-Fields, in the County of Middlesex, during the Minority of the younger Children: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

East-India Imports, &c.

Mr. Godolphin, from the Commissioners of the Customs, according to Order presented to the House an Account of the East-India Goods imported between the Year 1675, and the Year 1685:

And acquainted the House, That the Account of the Goods and Bullion exported could not, as yet, be prepared; but would be ready in a few Days:

But that, as to the East-India Goods which have been exported again, the Account thereof could not, be prepared in less than Two or Three Months.

Ordered, That the said Account of the Goods and Bullion exported to the East-Indies be laid before this House upon Thursday Morning next.

East-India Trade.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Thursday Morning next, at Eleven a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the EastIndia Trade.

Secret Service Money.

The House resumed the adjourned Debate of Yesterday, upon the Account of the Monies issued and paid for secret Service, and to Members of Parliament; and also of the Pensions, Salaries, and Sums of Money, paid or payable to Members of Parliament out of the publick Revenue, or otherwise.

And the Names of the Members therein mentioned were severally read over.

And such of them as were present, gave their Answers to the Matters therein charged.

And as to such as were absent, they were ordered to attend, in their Places, upon Saturday next.

Ordered, That the Debate, as to those Members that are absent, be adjourned till Saturday Morning next.

Adjournment.

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the House do now adjourn;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

And then the House adjourned till Monday Morning next, Nine a Clock.