House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 20 March 1696

Veneris, 20 die Martii;

8° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

African Company.

A BILL for the settling and regulating the Trade to Africa was read a Second time.

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

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

Ordered, That the Royal African Company do, upon Monday Morning next, lay before this House an Account of the real Value of their Stock, together with their Debts.

Ditto,

The Petition of the Merchants of Plymouth, trading to, and interested in, the Plantations of Virginia and Maryland, which was formerly presented to the House, and lay on the Table, was, according to Order, read; setting forth, That the Improvements would soon increase in the Plantations, if they were sufficiently supplied with Negroes, where they could make twice as much Tobacco in a Year as now they do, every Negroe making as much as will pay 30 or 40 l. Custom yearly to the King; so that then they could supply the Dutch and other Nations, at much cheaper Rates than they can afford to make it; whereby their Trade of Planting must fall of course, and the Use of our Shipping more increased: That the African Company have been so far from supplying the said Plantations with Negroes, for Twenty Years past, that they have made it their Business to influence the Men of War sent thither, to stop and seize all such Ships as carry Negroes thither: And praying, That the Subjects of England may have Liberty to purchase Negroes from Acra to Angola, without any Interruption.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Report be referred to the Committee of the whole House to whom the Bill for settling and regulating the Trade to Africa is committed.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir John Hoskins, and Sir Richard Holford:

Mr. Speaker,

Elections—Irregularities of Returning Officers.

The Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, an Act for the further regulating Elections of Members to serve in Parliament; and for the preventing irregular Proceedings of Sheriffs, and other Officers in the electing and returning such Members, with some Amendments: To which Amendments they desire the Concurrence of this House: Also,

Fines of ancient Demesne Lands.

They have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act for proclaiming; and making effectual, Fines levied of ancient Demesne Lands, with some Amendments: To which Amendments they desire the Concurrence of this House: Also,

Sawyer's Estate.

They have agreed to the Amendments, made by this House, to the Bill, intituled, An Act to enable Trustees to sell a Messuage, Garden, and Outhouse, in Lincoln'sInn Fields, late of Sir Robert Sawyer Knight, deceased; and for Purchasing other Lands and Tenements, to be settled to the same Uses: Also,

Sandys' Estate.

They have agreed to the Amendments, made by this House, to the Bill, intituled, An Act for vesting a Moiety of the Manor of Shepton-Mallett, in the County of Somerset, and a divided Moiety of the Manor of Wells, in the said County in Trustees, to be sold, for Payment of a Mortgage charged thereon; and for making a Provision for the Maintenance of Mary the Wife of William Sandys Esquire, and her Children.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Hawkers and Pedlars.

An ingrossed Bill for suppressing Hawkers and Pedlars was, according to Order, read the Third time.

And an Amendment was proposed to be made, Press 1. L. *, to leave out "24th of June," and to insert "29th of September:"

And the same was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House; and the Bill amended at the Table accordingly.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for suppressing Hawkers and Pedlars.

Ordered, That the Lord Cornbury do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Courts of Equity.

A Bill for regulating Proceedings in Courts of Equity was, according to Order, read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Boscawen, Lord Cornbury, Mr. Sloane, Mr. Ryder, Mr. Burrington, Mr. Frewen, Mr. Manley, Sir Wm. Twisden, Sir Geo. Hungerford, Mr. Palmes, Mr. Baldwyn, Mr. Dowdswell, Sir John Kay, Mr. Henley, Mr. Nicholas, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Jacob, Mr. Blaake, Mr. Foley, Sir Robert Davers, Mr. Northmore, Sir Rowl. Gwyn, Sir Edw. Abney, Mr. Cornwallis, Serjeant Coward, Sir Phi. Butler, Sir John Bolles, Sir Tho. Hussey, Serjeant Bond, Mr. Moore; and all that are of the Long Robe: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Vivian have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Ordered, That Mr. Denton have Leave to go into the Country, for Recovery of his Health.

Wicomb 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 Wicomb, in the County of Bucks, in the room of Thomas Lewis Esquire, deceased.

Papists Protestant Heirs.

Ordered, That the Bill for preventing Papists from disinheriting their Protestant Heirs be read a Second time To-morrow Morning.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Bushy Mansell have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Bringing Plate to be coined.

The House, according to the Order of Yesterday, proceeded in the further Consideration of the Clause about settling the Price of Guineas:

And the Clause was read a Second time.

And a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Blank be filled up with "25s.;"

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

And the Question being put, That the Clause be made Part of the Bill;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

A Clause was offered, to be added to the Bill, That no Person shall keep a Flatting-mill, but what shall be appointed, in some publick Place, by the Wardens of the Goldsmiths Company:

And the Clause 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 any Receiver-General may receive by way of Loan to his Majesty, any Sum of clipped Money, and give a Certificate for the same; upon Delivery whereof into the Exchequer, such Person shall have a Tally struck for the Sum so lent, with Interest:

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 the Act shall not extend to Two Presses, used only for the Stamping of Pewter, at Wigan in Lancashire; so as the same be set, and used, in some publick Place:

And the same was once read.

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

It passed in the Negative.

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

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