House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 30 March 1696

Lunæ, 30 die Martii;

8° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Wilton Bridge.

ORDERED, That Sir Chr. Musgrove, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Boyle, Mr. Sandford, Mr. Granville, Sir John Ernly, Mr. Harley, Mr. Rowney, Sir Tho. Dyke, Mr. Winnington, be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill for repealing an Act of 39 Eliz. for taking off the Duty of Pontage, payable at Wilton Bridge, near Ross, in the County of Hereford, is committed.

Supply Bill; Duty on French Goods.

An ingrossed Bill for granting to his Majesty an additional Duty upon all French Goods and Merchandize was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for granting to his Majesty an additional Duty upon all French Goods and Merchandize.

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

Duty on Glass.

A Petition of the Glass-makers in and about London, on the behalf of themselves, and the Glass-makers in England, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners, by great Pains and Expence, have attained such a Perfection in making Glass, as to outdo all the World therein; and hoped they should have reaped a Benefit thereby; but a Duty having been laid thereon by Parliament, by Misinformation that Glass would bear a great Tax, the Consumption thereof has, since, been so little, that the Petitioners have not had above some Eight, some Four, and some not above Two, Weeks Work, to the almost Starving of the Petitioners; and if the Duties be continued, the Petitioners must be forced into foreign Countries to get their Bread; and thereby the Glass Manufacture will be ruined, as well as the Petitioners; the said Duty being a very small Advantage to the Crown: And praying the Consideration of the House in the Premises; and that the said Duty upon Glass Wares may be taken off.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for continuing to his Majesty certain Rates and Duties upon Salt, for carrying on the War against France; and for taking off the Duties of Tonage upon Ships, and upon Coals; and for establishing a National Land-Bank; is committed.

Oaths of Supremacy in Ireland.

Ordered, That the ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for altering Part of an Act, made in the Third Year of his present Majesty and the late Queen, intituled, An Act for the abrogating the Oath of Supremacy in Ireland, and appointing other Oaths, be read a Third time upon Friday Morning next.

Fines of ancient Demesne Lands.

Ordered, That the Amendments, made by the Lords, to the Bill, intituled, An Act for proclaiming, and making effectual, Fines levied of ancient demesne Lands, be taken into Consideration upon Wednesday come Fortnight.

Supply Bill; Salt Duties and Land Bank.

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 continuing to his Majesty certain Rates and Duties upon Salt, for carrying on the War against France; and for taking off the Duties of Tonage upon Ships, and upon Coals; and for establishing a National Land-Bank.

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 the House will please to consider how the Seven Pounds per Cent. per Ann. for perpetual Interest of the Two millions Five hundred Sixty-four thousand Pounds, voted by the House, may be made up; the Duties upon Salt falling short to answer the same.

Resolved, That it be referred to the said Committee of the whole House, to consider of Ways and Means for making up the said Seven Pounds per Cent. per Annum, for the perpetual Interest . . . 2,564,000l.

Sir Thomas Littleton 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 Wednesday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the said Bill, and other the Matters to them referred.

Halfpence and Farthings.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Matter of the Complaint, touching Halfpence and Farthings, was referred, be made upon Wednesday Morning next.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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