House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 3 March 1696

Martis, 3 die Martii;

8° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

African Company.

A PETITION of the Weavers and Dyers within the Borough of Kidderminster, in the County of Worcester, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, by reason of the great Losses of the Royal African Company of England, and for want of having their Trade established to themselves against Interlopers, the Petitioners, chiefly depending upon the said Company, have great Quantities of Goods now in their Hands unsold, and must forbear to employ several Hundreds of poor Folks, which they used to keep at Work in the Counties of Worcester, Stafford, Gloucester, and Salop, who cannot otherwise subsist but by the Charity of well-disposed Persons: And praying the protecting and preserving the Traffick of the said Company, in such manner as to the House shall seem meet.

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 in relation to Trade; and particularly the African Trade.

State of the Nation.

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 in relation to Trade; and particularly the African Trade.

Lord Tunbridge's &c. Nat.

Sir Rowland Gwyn reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill to naturalize William Viscount Tunbridge, and other the Children of the Earl of Rochfort, 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 Clerk's Table.

Ordered, That the Bill be ingrossed.

Midford's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Trustees to sell the Manor of Pespoole, in the County of Durham, Part of the Estate of William Midford, an Infant, for Payment of Debts and Incumbrances charged thereon; and for preserving the rest of the said Infant's Estate; was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Liddall, Mr. Bickerstaffe, Mr. Lambton, Sir John Bucknall, Sir Marm. Wivell, Mr. Mountague, Sir John Kay, Mr. Bertie, Mr. Moyle, Mr. Foley, Mr. Gardiner, Mr. England, Mr. Pocklington, Mr. Swift, Mr. Whitaker, Mr. Taylor, Colonel Perry, Mr. York, Mr. Farrer, Mr. Blofeild, Sir William Ashurst, Sir Wm. Lowther, Sir Tho. Day, Sir Hen. Hobart, Sir Row. Gwyn, Mr. Gery, Mr. Hore, Sir H. D. Colt, Mr. Blaake, Mr. Hedger, Mr. Frewen, Mr. Ryder; and all the Members that serve for Yorkshire and Durham: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Chamberlain's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Trustees to exchange Lands, of Sir James Chamberlain Baronet, an Infant, lying in the common Hill or Field of Salford, in the County of Oxon, for like Quantities of Lands there, in order to the making an Inclosure, was read a Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass.

Ordered, That Mr. Pocklington do carry the said Bill to the Lords, and acquaint them, That this House hath agreed to the same, without any Amendment.

Preventing Export of Wool.

Sir Rowland Gwyn reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill to prevent the Exportation of Wool was committed, That they had filled up the Blank in the Bill, for appointing a Port for receiving Wool from Ireland, before several Petitions, presented to the House, were referred to them.

Ordered, That the said Committee have Power, upon Consideration of the said Petitions, to insert any other Town they shall think fit to receive Wool from Ireland; and also to receive any other Clauses they shall conceive necessary to the said Bill.

Wimondham Roads.

An ingrossed Bill for Repair of the Highways between Wimondham and Attleborough, in the County of Norsolk, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for repairing the Highways between Wimondham and Attleborough, in the County of Norfolk.

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

Alienating Lands in Mortmain.

Dr. Oxenden reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill to enable the King, his Heirs and Successors, to grant Licence of Alienation of Lands in Mortmain, was committed, That they had made Two Amendments to the Bill; which they had directed him to report to the 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, upon the Question severally put thereupon, the one agreed and the other disagreed, unto by the House: And another Amendment made by the House to the Bill.

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

Bristoll Waterworks.

An ingrossed Bill for the better supplying the City of Bristoll with fresh Water was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for the better supplying the City of Bristoll with fresh Water.

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

Red Lionsquare (St. Andrew's Holbourn) new Parish.

Ordered, That the Bill for making Part of the Parish of St. Andrew's Holbourn, a new Parish, be read a Second time To-morrow Morning.

Members summoned.

Ordered, That the Serjeant do go, with the Mace, into Westminster-hall, Court of Request, and other Places adjacent, and summon the Members there to attend the Service of the House.

Quakers Affirmation.

A Bill, That the solemn Affirmation, or Denial, of the People called Quakers, may be accepted, instead of an Oath, was read a Second time.

And the Question being put, That the Bill be committed;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it passed in the Affirmative.

And it is committed to Mr. Mountague, Mr. Thornhagh, Mr. Waller, Mr. Poulteny, Mr. Heveningham, Colonel Granville, Mr. Moyle, Mr. Whitacre, Lord Cavendish, Mr. Elwill, Sir Tho. Littleton, Mr. Mansell, Mr. How, Mr. Tily, Mr. Yates, Mr. Gardner, Sir Jac. Ashley, Mr. Mason, Sir Fra. Molyneux, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Watlington, Mr. Pocklington, Mr. Ryder, Mr. Burrard, Mr. Clark, Mr. England, Sir Wm. Ashurst, Sir Rowl. Gwyn, Sir Tho. Day, Sir Wm. Honeywood, Mr. Croker, Sir Godf. Copley, Mr. Conyers, Sir Ro. Cotton, Lord Pawlet, Mr. Bowyer, Sir Wm. Cooper, Mr. Farrer, Sir Wm. York, Sir John Kay, Mr. Beak, Mr. Stonehouse, Sir Hen. Hobart, Mr. Cowper, Sir Wm. Lowther, Mr. Lowther, Sir Wm. Drake, Mr. Colt, Sir Marm. Wivell, Mr. Osborne, Mr. Boyle, Mr. Burdet, Mr. Molesworth, Sir Wm. Ellis, Mr. Ashby, Sir Gerv. Elwes, Sir Chr. Musgrove, Mr. Tho. Foley, Mr. Venables, Mr. Ph. Foley, Mr. Vincent, Colonel Kerkby: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers.

Ordered, That it be an Instruction to the said Committee, That they do provide for the said Persons more effectual Payment of Tythes, and the Churchwardens Dues.

Ways and Means.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee of the whole House to whom it was referred to consider further of Ways and Means for raising the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for carrying on the War against France, be made To-morrow Morning.

Plantation Trade.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Friday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for preventing Frauds, and regulating Abuses, in the Plantation-Trade.

Supply Bill; House Duty.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Saturday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Bill for granting several Rates, or Duties, upon Houses, for making good the Deficiency of the clipped Money.

Sitting of Parliament on Demise of the Crown.

An ingrossed Bill, That whenever it shall please God to afflict these Realms by the Death of his present Majesty, the Parliament then in being shall not be dissolved thereby; but shall continue until the next Heir to the Crown in Succession, according to the late Act of Settlement, shall dissolve the same; was read a Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for Continuing, Meeting, and Sitting, of a Parliament, in case of the Death or Demise of his Majesty, his Heirs or Successors.

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

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Watlington have Leave to go into the Country for Three Weeks, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Serge making.

A Petition of the Merchants, Master-Fullers, and others concerned in the Manufactory of Serges, commonly called the New Drapery, of and within the City and County of Exon, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners, who are chiefly concerned in the Dressing and Ordering of the said Serges, were wholly ignorant of the Petition presented to the House in the Name of the Merchants and Traders of the City of Exon, in the Woollen Manufactory, complaining of the stretching Serges with a Skey: That the said Petition was secretly carried about for Hands, and is not signed by above Two Persons concerned in the said Manufactory: That nothing can be more beneficial in ordering this New Drapery than the Use of a Skey, which hath ever been used in all Parts of England, Ireland and Holland; and renders the Serges, more acceptable to the Merchant: And praying, That the Use of a Skey may not be taken away; and that the Manufacture of the said New Drapery may be preserved to this Nation, by such Methods as may best improve the same.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee to whom the Bill for preventing the Exportation of Wool is committed.

Council of Trade.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Monday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for constituting a Council of Trade.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Thomas Pelham have Leave to go into the Country for Three Weeks upon extraordinary Occasions.

Bringing Plate to be coined.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Tuesday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Bill to encourage the Bringing in of milled, broad, or unclipped Monies, to be exchanged, by Commissioners in the several Parts of this Realm, with the common People, for their clipped Monies; and for the Encouraging of Persons to bring Plate into the Mint to be coined.

Encouragement of Privateors.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, take into Consideration the Amendments, made by the Lords, to the Bill for continuing the Acts for prohibiting all Trade and Commerce with France; and for the Encouragement of Privateers.

English East India Company.

Ordered, That the Bill for settling and regulating the Trade to the East-Indies be read the First time To-morrow Morning.

Encouraging Seamen.

Sir Richard Onslow, according to the Order of the Day, reported from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for the Increase and Encouragement of Seamen was committed, the Amendments, made by the Committee, to the said 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, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

A Clause was offered, to be added to the Bill, That the Company of Fishermen of the River of Thomas shall register all Fishermen, and their Servants, within the Limits of their Charter, to be transmitted to the general Register appointed by the Act:

And the same was once read.

And the Question being put, That the Clause be read a Second time;

It passed in the Negative.

Another Clause was offered to be added to the Bill, That no Person registring himself, as the Act requires, shall be obliged to serve as a Land-Soldier:

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

Another Clause was offered, to be added to the Bill, That if any Ship be taken by the Enemy, through Carelessness, or Refusal to Fight, the Persons not doing their Duty in such Case shall be disabled to recover their Wages:

And the same was once read.

And the Question being put, That the Clause be read a Second time;

It passed in the Negative.

Another Clause was offered, to be added to the Bill, for the City of Bristoll to register their Seamen:

And the same was once read; and, by Leave of the House, withdrawn.

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

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