House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 17 December 1695

Martis, 17die Decembris;

Septimo Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Theft, on Northern Borders.

ORDERED, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to continue several former Acts to prevent Theft and Rapine upon the Northern Borders of England: And that Mr. Bickerstaffe and Mr. Foster do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Wye and Lugg Navivigation.

The Lord Coningbsy presented to the House, according to Order, a Bill for making the Rivers of Wye and Lugg, in the County of Hereford, navigable.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Blount's Estate.

Sir Robert Cotton reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill to enable Sir Thomas Pope Blount Baronet to make Provision for his younger Children, upon the Marriage of his eldest Son, was committed, That they had examined and considered the same; and directed him to report the same to the House, without any Amendment: And he delivered the same in at the Table.

Ordered, That the Bill be ingrossed.

Elections—double Returns.

Mr. Clark reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for preventing false and double Returns of Members to serve in Parliament was committed, That they had made several Amendments to the Bill; 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 once read throughout; and then a Second time, one by one; and some of them agreed, and others disagreed, unto by the House.

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

King appoints to be attended.

A Message from the Lords by Sir Miles Cooke and Mr. Meredeth:

Mr. Speaker,

We are commanded to acquaint this House, That the Lords having sent to know his Majesty's Pleasure, when he would be attended with the Address of both Houses of Parliament, in relation to an Act of Parliament lately passed in Scotland, for establishing an East-India Company there, his Majesty was pleased to appoint this Afternoon, between Three and Four of the Clock, to be attended at Kensington, by both Houses, with the said Address.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Ways and Means.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of Ways and Means for raising the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for carrying on the War against France.

Clipped Money Deficiency.

Colonel Granville reported, from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred to consider of Ways and Means for raising a Fund, or Funds, for supplying the Deficiencies of the clipped Money, the Resolution of the said Committee; 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 was read; and is as followeth; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That a Fund, or Funds, be provided, for raising a Sum, not exceeding the Sum of Twelve hundred thousand Pounds, for supplying the Deficiency of the clipped Money.

The said Resolution being read a Second time;

Resolved, That the House do agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, That a Fund, or Funds, be provided, for raising a Sum, not exceeding the Sum of Twelve hundred thousand Pounds, for supplying the Deficiency of the clipped Money.

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That it be referred to the Committee of the whole House, who are to consider of Ways and Means for raising the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for carrying on the War against France, to consider of Ways and Means for raising the said 1,200,000 l. for supplying the Deficiency of the clipped Money;

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Thursday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the State of the Nation: And that they do consider of Ways and Means for raising the Twelve hundred thousand Pounds, for supplying the Deficiency of the clipped Money.

Answer to Address.

Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer acquainted the House, That their Address having, according to Order, been presented to his Majesty, That he would please to issue his Proclamation relating to the clipped Money; his Majesty was pleased to say, That he would issue his Proclamation accordingly, with all convenient Speed.

Coinage.

Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer reported from the Committee appointed to prepare a Bill for the regulating the Coinage of the Silver Money of this Kingdom, That they had prepared the same accordingly; and had directed him to present the Bill to the House: And he delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time upon Friday Morning next, at Eleven a Clock.

Tryals for Treason.

Ordered, That the ingrossed Bill for regulating of Tryals in Cases of Treason, and Misprision of Treason, be read To-morrow Morning.

Reversing Judgment against Sir W. Williams while Speaker.

The Order of the Day, for the House to resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for reversing the Judgment given against Sir William Williams; for what he did as Speaker of the House of Commons; and for asserting the Rights and Freedom of Parliament; being read:

And the Question being put, That Mr. Speaker leave the Chair;

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Friday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Bill.

English East-India Company.

A Petition of the Governor and Company of Merchants of London, trading to the East Indies, in a General Court, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That his Majesty hath, by several Charters, granted to the Petitioners an Establishment of the Trade to the East Indies; and was pleased to appoint, That the Sum of 744,000 l. should be added to the general joint Stock of the Company; which was accordingly done: Since which, they have sent out Nineteen Ships, laden with considerable Cargoes; whereof to the Value of 279,700 l. 10s. of the Product of this Kingdom: That, notwithstanding their great Losses, they have unanimously agreed to pay 300,000 l. for the more effectual carrying on this advantageous Trade to this Kingdom; which is in Danger of being lost, by reason of the great Privileges granted to joint Stocks of neighbouring Nations: That the Petitioners have now Four outward bound Ships in the Dawnes, richly laden, and are sitting out Four more; in all which is, and will be, laden great Quantities of Goods of the Growth and Product of England; and that the Company expect the greatest Part of 15 Ships, which they have now in India, home the next Year: And praying, That Leave may be given to bring in a Bill for Establishing of the said Company, with such Privileges and Immunities as the House shall think fit, and as may best preserve the present joint Stock, and enable them to carry on the Trade to the Honour and Advantage of the Nation.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, who are to consider further of the State of the Nation.

State of the Nation.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the State of the Nation.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Colonel Granville took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Colonel Granville reported from the said Committee, That they had directed him to move the House to appoint a Committee, to examine what Methods were taken for obtaining the Act of Parliament passed in Scotland, for establishing an East-India Company; and who were the Subscribers thereunto; and who were the Promoters and Advisers thereof.

And it is referred to Sir Chris. Musgrave, Sir Wm. Honywood, Sir Wm. Williams, Lord Spencer, Mr. Boyle, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Elwill, Serjeant Coward, Colonel Granville, Serjeant Bond, Mr. Harley, Sir Fra. Winington, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Drake, Mr. Molesworth, Lord Ashly, Mr. Foley, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Ja. Mountague, Sir Richard Onslow, Sir Matth. Andrews, Mr. Chadwick, Sir John Bolles, Sir Tho. Littleton, Sir Godfry Copley, Sir Walter Yonge, Sir Wm. Seawen, Mr. Smith, Colonel Perry, Mr. Norris, Sir John Fleet, Lord Cornbury, Mr. Price, Sir Edw Seymour, Mr. Chase, Mr. Boscawen, Mr. Palmes, Sir S. Barnardiston, Mr. Hammond, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Bromley, Sir Ja. Etheridge, Mr. Randall, Mr. Manly, Mr. Clark, Mr. Stringer, Mr. Moore, Mr. Hunt: And they are to meet To-morrow in the Afternoon at Four a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber: And have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Ordered, That it be an Instruction to the Committee, That they do examine into what Monies, Rewards, or Gratuities, have been given or stopped, or agreed to be given or stopped, for promoting the said Act of Parliament.

Colonel Granville also acquainted the House, That he was directed by the said Committee to move, That they may have Leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this House will upon Friday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the State of the Nation.

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