House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 23 April 1694

Lunæ, 23 die Aprilis;

6° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Berealston Writ.

ORDERED, That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for electing a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Berealston in the County of Devon, in the room of John Swinsen Esquire, deceased.

Disciplining the Navy.

Mr. Harley reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for the better Discipline of their Majesties NavyRoyal was committed, That they had made some Amendments to the Bill; which they had directed him to report to the House; and 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 then a Second time, one by one; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

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

Building Ships.

The House proceeded to take into Consideration the Amendments, made by the Lords, to the Bill, intituled, An Act for the building good and defensible Ships:

And the same were once read throughout; and are as follow; viz.

Pr. * L. 13. leave out "Decks and half," and insert reckoning the Orlop for one:" and, after "Castle," add Quarter-deck, and Round-house."

L. 14. after "Plank to Plank, "insert "their Hawses to be between Decks; the said Ships to be of no less than 450 Tons; and to have no less than Ten Ports of a Side between Decks."

L. 15. and 16. for "at least," read "close; of which Eighteen to be between Decks; the said Guns upon the Lower Deck to be Demi-culverin, of 30 Hundred Weight at least; upon the Upper Deck, Forecastle, and Steerage, to be also Demi-culverin, of Two-andtwenty hundred Weight at least; and those in the Cuddy to be Six hundred Weight at least."

L. 20. after "Customs," read "commonly called and known by the Name of the Subsidy of Tonage and Poundage."

At the End of the Bill, add the Proviso marked A, That if at any time, after the Three first Voyages, any of the said Ships shall be altered, so as they may be less desensible, they shall be forseited to their Majesties.

The First Amendment being read a Second time;

An Amendment was proposed to be made in the Bill, L. 13. after "Three Decks," to leave out "or:"

And the same was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment, with the said Amendment made by this House.

The rest of the Amendments, made by the Lords, being read a Second time, one by one, were, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Ordered, That Sir Henry Ashurst do carry the Bill to the Lords, and acquaint them, That this House hath agreed to the said Amendments, with an Amendment: To which this House desires their Lordships Concurrence.

Supply Bill Hackney Coach Duty.

An ingrossed Bill for licensing and regulating Hackney Coaches, and Stage Coaches, was read the Third time.

An Amendment was proposed to be made in the Bill, by leaving out the Clause for permitting Coaches to ply on Sundays.

And the Question being put; That the said Clause do stand in the Bill;

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

An ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider to the Bill, That no Person shall have any Grant, or Pension, of any Money arising by the Act; with a Blank for the Forfeiture:

And the Clause was twice read; and the Blank filled up by the House:

And then the Clause was read the Third time; and agreed unto by the House to be made Part of the Bill.

The Question being put, That the Bill do pass;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it passed in the Affirmative (fn. 1).

Resolved, That the Title be, An Act for licensing and regulating Hackney Coaches, and Stage Coaches.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Littleton do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Answer to Address.

Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer acquainted the House, That, he having presented the humble Address of this House to his Majesty, touching the Tin Farthings and Halfpence, his Majesty was pleased to return this gracious Answer; viz.

That he is willing to comply with the Desires of this House; and will do in this as far as is consistent with the publick Good.

Disciplining the Navy.

An ingrossed Bill for the better Discipline of their Majesties Navy-Royal was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: and that the Title be, An Act for the better Discipline of their Majesties Navy-Royal.

Ordered, That Mr. Harley do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

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