House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 22 January 1696

Mercurii, 22 die Januarii ;

7° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

JAMES Stanhope took the Oaths appointed, in order his Naturalization.

Haynes' Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Richard Haynes Esquire to settle a Jointure on his now Wife; and to exchange Lands with the Trustees of Thomas Stevens Esquire, deceased; was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir John Bolles, Sir John Manwaring, Mr. Pinnell, Mr. Newport, Sir Marm. Wyvell, Mr. Manley, Mr. Sloane, Sir Wm. Lowther, Sir Geo. Hungerford, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Paine, Sir Wm. Whitmore, Sir Fra. Molyneux, Mr. Watlington, Sir John Key, Sir Wm. York, Mr. York, Sir Tho. Roberts, Sir Wm. Honywood, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Philipps, Mr. Norris, Sir Robert Cotton, Mr. Backwell, Mr. Yates, Mr. Slater, Sir Fra. Massam, Mr. Lowther, Colonel Perry, Mr. Moore, Mr. Price, Mr. Baldwyn, Mr. England, Mr. White, Mr. Rowney, Mr. Swift, Sir Gerv. Elwes, Mr. Hoare; and all that serve for the County of Gloucester: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Aunger's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill to enable John Aunger, an Infant, to make a Lease of his Estate, for the Improvement thereof, was read a Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act to enable John Aunger, an Infant, and his Mother, to make a Lease of his Estate, for the Improvement thereof.

Ordered, That Colonel Perry do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Encouragement of Privateers.

An ingrossed Bill for Encouraging of Privateers was read the Third time.

An ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider for preserving the Jurisdiction of the Cinque Ports:

And the same was thrice read; and, upon the . . . . . . put thereupon, agreed unto, to be made Part of the Bill.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for continuing the Acts for prohibiting all Trade and Commerce with France; and for the Encouragement of Privateers.

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

Wye and Lugg Navigation.

A Petition of the High Sheriff, Justices of the Peace, and the Grand Jury, for the Body of the County of Hereford, at the General Quarter-Session of the Peace, held the 14th Day of January 1695, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the making of the Rivers Wye and Lugg, in the County of Hereford, navigable, will be a great Benefit to the adjacent Countries; but the same is now prevented, by several Weirs erected thereon unlawfully; whereby the Salmon, and other Fishery, wherewith those Rivers used to abound, is much prejudiced, to the great Damage of their neighbouring Counties, and the Nation in general: And praying the Removal of all Obstructions in making the said Rivers navigable.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee to whom the Bill for making the said Rivers navigable is committed.

Garbling Spices.

A Petition of the Governor and Company of Merchants of England trading into the Levant Seas was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That by an Act, made in the First Year of the Reign of King James the First, the Garbling of divers Spices and Drugs is established: That the Direction of the Garbler's Office is in the Power of the City of London; and, formerly, was lett at 20s. per Ann. and 50 l. Fine; but now, the same is farmed, to one Mr. Steward, at 300 l. per Ann. Rent, and 1,200 l. Fine, as informed: That the said Mr. Stewart, contrary to former Practice, claims the Garbling of many Goods for Exportation, and putting the Proprietors to great Charge, by Prosecutions in the Exchequer, if they refuse to pay him what he demands; and many times takes Fees for garbling Spices, for which he does nothing; and for those that would be prejudiced if they should be opened; which causes a great Disturbance to Trade, where there is no need of Garbling: And praying Leave to bring in a Bill for explaining the said Act, and for redressing the Grievances in the Execution of the Garbler's Office.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the West-India Merchants is referred: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

General Nat. Bill.

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for a General Naturalization;

It passed in the Negative.

Supply Bill; Land Tax.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Bill for granting to his Majesty an Aid of Four Shillings in the Pound, for One Year, for carrying on the War against France.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Sir Thomas Littleton took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir Thomas Littleton reported from the said Committee, That they had made a further Progress in the Matter to them referred; and had directed him to move, That they may have Leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, resolve into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the said Bill.

Shipwrights, &c.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Consideration of the Petition of the Shipwrights belonging to the Yards at Woollwich and Deptford was referred, be made upon Friday Morning next.

Reversing Judgment against Sir W. Williams.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for reversing the Judgment against Sir William Williams; and for asserting the Rights and Freedom of Parliament.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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