House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 31 March 1697

Mercurii, 31 die Martii;

9° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Thompson's Estate.

AN ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the speedy Payment of the Debts of Sir William Thompson Knight, Serjeant at Law, deceased, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Preventing Exportation of Wool.

The House resumed the adjourned Debate, touching the ingrossing the Bill for the more effectual preventing the Exportation of Wool:

And the Question being put, That the Bill with the Amendments, be ingrossed;

It passed in the Negative.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

Abuses in Exchequer.

Mr. Gwyn reported, from the Committee appointed to inquire into the Abuses of the Officers of the Exchequer, and Receivers of the Taxes and Revenues, the Matter, as it appeared to them: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table.

Ordered, That the said Report be taken into Consideration upon this Day Sevennight.

Supply Bill; Duty on Leather.

Sir Thomas Littleton reported, from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for laying a Duty upon Leather, for the Term of Three Years, for answering the Deficiencies, as well of the late Duties upon Coals and Culm, as for paying the Annuities on the Lotteries, and for Lives, charged on the Tonage of Ships, and the Duties upon Salt, was committed, the Amendments, made by the Committee, to the said Bill; which he read in his Place, with the Coherence; 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, with Blanks, That all Persons who have any Stock of Leather for Sale, not made into Wares, shall pay a certain Duty to his Majesty for the same; and that all such Persons shall deliver to the proper Officer a Particular of their Stocks valued, under a Penalty; to the end their Stocks may be known: And that, upon Search and View of the same, the Officer may examine into the Truth of the Particular: And if any Dispute arise, about the Valuation of any Stock, the same shall be determined by the Oath of the Owner, in Writing; but, if the Officer shall think the King defrauded thereby, he may take the Goods at the Value specified in the Affidavit, paying down ready Money to the Owner; and the Goods shall afterwards be sold, at the best Advantage, for his Majesty's Use: And that in all Cases, where no Particular shall be given of Stock, or if any Part of the same be fraudulently omitted thereout, or shall be concealed, or carried away, before the Duty paid, or secured, as the Act requires, the same shall be forfeited to his Majesty:

And the said Clause was twice read; and the Blanks filled up:

And then the Clause was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

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

Duty on Tin.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Matter relating to the Duty upon Tin exported was referred, be made To-morrow Morning.

Supply Bill; Malt Duties.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Friday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Bill for granting to his Majesty certain Duties upon Malt and Mum, Sweets, Cyder, and Perry, as well towards carrying on the War against France, as for the necessary Expence of his Majesty's Houshold, and other Occasions.

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