House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 7 April 1697

Mercuri, 7 die Aprilis;

9° Gulielmi Tertii.

Tinners Trade.

A BILL for encouraging the Consumption of Tin, and advancing the Price thereof, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Disannulling Knight's Marriage.

Mr. Norris, according to Order, reported, from the Committee, to whom the Bill to disannul the Marriage of Hannah Knight, an Infant; and punish the Persons concerned in conveying her away; was committed; the Matter of Fact specially, as it appeared to the Committee; which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was read; and is as followeth; viz.

That Sir Ralph Knight, by Lease and Release, dated the 21th and 22th of May 1683, in Consideration of a Marriage then intended, and which was soon after had, between John Knight, his eldest Son, and Mary the Daughter of Robert Clarkson Esquire, did convey the Manor and Lands therein mentioned, to Trustees, for the Term of 500 Years, in Trust, for the Raising of Portions for younger Children; viz. if there was but One Daughter, and no Issue Male, then to raise 5,000l. Portion for such Daughter, payable at her Age of 21 Years, or Day of Marriage, which should first happen; and such Maintenance as the Trustees, or the Survivor of them, should think fit, not exceeding 60l. per Ann.:

That the said John Knight and Mary his Wife had Issue a Daughter, being the above-named Hannah the Infant; who was born the 21th of December 1686, and christened the First Day of January following, as appeared by a Certificate thereof proved:

That the said John Knight died the 6th May 1693, leaving Issue only the said Daughter; and after his Death, the Trustees agreed with the Counsel of Mary the Mother, the Infant being then but a little above Six Years old, to allow 40l. per Ann. for her Maintenance; which was paid to the Mother for Two Years; but, before the Third Year was up, she intermarried with James Watkinson, who has her own Coachman, and had been her late Husband's Groom.

Mr. Clerkson, Executor of Robert Clerkson Esquire, deceased, Father of the said Mary, the Mother of the Infant, said, That the said Testator was so much concerned at the Apprehensions he had of such his Daughter's Marriage with her said Coachman, that he, to shew his Resentment thereof, obliged her to enter into a Bond to him, of 1,500l. Penalty, that she would never marry him the said Watkinson.

Mr. Tho. Marriot attested, That the Trustees, being very much concerned for the Infant, did prefer their Bill in Chancery against the said Watkinson and Mary his Wife; thereby setting forth the Trust, and the Marriage of the Mother; to the Intent to have the Infant preserved from her Father-in-law, and that she might not be married to her Disadvantage.

That, on the 3d of August 1696, Mr. Watkinson and his Wife put in their Answer to the said Bill; which was perused and signed by Serjeant Gooding; who, thereby finding that there was such a Portion settled upon the said Hannah the Infant, though otherwise a Stranger to the Family, did apply himself to him, the said Mr. Marriot, who was concerned in Chancery for the said Trustees on behalf of the Infant, for Satisfaction in the Truth of such Portion, and how the same was secured; and, Mr. Marriot acquainting him with the same, the said Serjeant told him, He had a Friend that would be glad to treat of a Marriage for the young Lady; but Mr. Marriot told him, the said Infant was very young, and it would be very proper for his Friend to treat with the Trustees in that Affair; and that if he, the Serjeant, would give him his Proposals in Writing, he would communicate the same to them: Upon which the said Serjeant left him; and he heard no more from him, till he received a Letter from Mr. Taylor, one of the Trustees, and a Member of this House, that he had heard, That the said Infant, his Niece, was married to one of the said Serjeant Gooding's Sons.

Mr. Benard said, That, on the 29th Day of September last, Tho. Gooding the younger, in order to get a Licence at Doctors-Commons, being accompanied with the Serjeant his Father, the said Mary, Mother of the Infant, and Watkinson her Husband, he the said Tho. Gooding the younger made Oath, the which was produced, entered in the said Mr. Benard's Book, attested by the said Mary Watkinson's signing the same, That the said Infant was about 12 Years old.

Wm. Clements, Doctor of Laws, before whom the said Oath was made, said, That he, observing some Sort of Interlineation in the Oath, relating to the Age of the said Infant, did require the said Infant's Age from the said Mrs. Watkinson; who then, in Presence of the Parties aforesaid, did declare her Daughter to be about 12 Years of Age: Upon which Affirmation, and the said Mr. Gooding's Oath, a Licence was granted for such Marriage.

Mr. Marriot informed the Committee, That, in Hilary Term last, the said Trustees did petition the Lord Keeper concerning the said Infant, complaining of the Proceedings of the said Watkinson, and his Wife, and the said Serjeant Gooding, pending the said Bill in Chancery, and prayed, That the said Infant might be brought into Court, and committed to some indifferent Hand, until she should attain her Age of Consent: Whereupon, the Lord Keeper, on the 12th February 1696, ordered, That Watkinson, and his Wife, and Serjeant Gooding, should attend him, with the Infant, on the next Day of Petitions:

That, on the 12th March 1696, the said Parties attended, with the said Infant; and, after the Petition, and Two Affidavits, on the Petitioners Part, were read, Serjeant Gooding refused to consent to deliver up the Child at that time; but desired further time, in order to take Copies of the Petitioner's Affidavits, and to make his Defence by Affidavits also: And thereupon the Lord Keeper ordered, That the Child should be brought again, and all Parties to attend him on the 18th March then next ensuing; and that all Affidavits, on either Side, should be filed Two Days before:

That, on the 18th March 1696, the Petitioners, with their Counsel, attended at the Lord Keeper's House accordingly; but, after some time, Mrs. Watkinson, with some of Serjeant Gooding's Daughters and Family, came with the Infant to my Lord Keeper's House; but, before the Infant was brought into Court, she was taken away from the Company of her Mother, and those that came with her, by a Woman who stood there ready, whose Name, upon Inquiry, was found to be Jane Pasmore; who had been a Servant for Four Years, about Five Years since, in Serjeant Gooding's House, and is since employed to make Manteaus for several of the Serjeant's Family; and had been but Two Days before at the Serjeant's House:

That my Lord Keeper sent his Messenger to search after Pasmore; but she could not be found, nor the Child; and then the Lord Keeper did examine most of the Serjeant's Family; but both he, as well as they, and also Watkinson, and his Wife, and Tho. Gooding the younger, did all affirm, upon their Oaths, excepting the Serjeant, who, though not upon Oath, did affirm, That they did not know where the said Child was; though it was testified, before the Lord Keeper, That the said Pasmore made a Courtesy to the Infant's Mother when she took the Child away; and that there was no manner of Outcry made to prevent her being carried off:

And that it is supposed, That it is the Design of the Serjeant, and his Son, and the other Confederates, either to keep the Child till she comes to the Years of Consent, and then to compel her to agree to the Marriage; or otherwise, that if the Child die before she attain her Age of Twelve, that Tho. Gooding the Son will then be entitled to take out Administration to the Infant, under the Pretence of the said Marriage, and thereby recover the said 5,000 l.

And the said Mrs. Mary Watkinson and Thomas Gooding junior, who signed their Petition to this House, together with the said Serjeant Gooding, attending, to be heard against the said Bill, by their Counsel;

The said Deed of Settlement, made by Sir Ralph Knight upon the Marriage of Mr. Knight and the Infant's Mother, together with her Second Marriage to Mr. Watkinson, was admitted to be true:

And the said Mrs. Watkinson alleged, That she was induced to marry her Daughter by reason of the Jealousies she had, that her late Husband's Relations, who had used her very hard and unkindly, would make use of their Endeavours to take the said Infant away from her; they, viz. Mrs. Ann Knight, her said Husband's Sister, and Mrs. Bridget Taylor, One of the Trustees Daughters, having attempted so to do, by endeavouring to take her away from Mrs. Preist' School in Chelsea, where she had put her for her Security; to whom she gave 35 l. per Annum for her said Daughter and Maid's Diet, and 5 l. to the Maid for Wages; besides the Charge of her Daughter's Cloaths, and other incident Expences of the School, which amounted to a very considerable Sum; and therefore she expected an Allowance, in some Proportion, answerable thereto, from the said Trustees; but could prevail with them but for 40 l. a Year; and of that never had but Two Year's Payments, though the Infant's Father has been dead almost Four Years.

Mrs. Preist said, That, about May last, there were Two Ladies, Mrs. Knight and Mrs. Taylor, who came to see the said Infant, at her House; and told her, That they must take her said Scholar with them to London: To which, she being fearful that she should not have her again, because she heard One of them ask the Child, Whether she was willing to go to her Aunt Taylor's in the Country? she, the said Mrs. Preist, told them, She could not part with the Child without her Mother's Leave; who then living at Little Chelsea, Mrs. Preist sent her Servant for such Liberty to Mrs. Watkinson; but she, by Answer, refusing it, the Ladies took their Leave of the Infant, and went away; and she never saw them afterwards.

To which, Madam Taylor and Madam Knight, being present, said, That they never knew of any ill, or severe, Usage that was put upon the said Mrs. Watkinson, after their Brother's Death; but, on the contrary, that all possible Marks of Civility and Respect were shewn to her, though she was not pleased to accept the same.

Mrs. Founds, a Gentlewoman who was present at Mrs. Preist's when Madam Tayler and Mrs. Knight went to see the said Infant, said, That such their Visit was to see the Child, and to know what Usage she had from her Mother after her said Second Marriage:

That, upon Mention of the said Marriage, the Child cried; and said, That she never would live with the Man her Mother had married; but that, if her Aunt Taylor would be troubled with her, she would go home along with her: Upon which, she, the said Mrs. Founds, went along with the Servant to ask Mrs. Watkinson Leave, that her Daughter might go along with her Aunt Taylor to London; but, her Mother refusing, they all took their Leaves of the Child, and left her; having no other Design but the Safety and Well-doing of the Child, in what they intended.

Disannulling Knights' Marriage.

Mrs. Watkinson further alleged, That, under the said Difficulties that attended her, she did resolve upon marrying her Child; and, making her Complaints to one Mr. Spalton, Brother-in-Law to Serjeant Gooding's Coachman, he told her, That he knew the Serjeant's Family full well; and that, in his Thoughts, One of the Serjeant's Sons would make a very good Husband for the young Lady; not doubting but that he would stay for her till she was fit to be made a Wife: Upon which, she, being desirous to see him, did give him several Opportunities of her Daughter's Conversation, and was well liking to him for her Child; and thereupon desired Mr. Spalton, that he would acquaint the Serjeant therewith, and that she was desirous of treating with him about the same; who, coming to her, declared his Unwillingness to treat with her singly, being a Woman, more than to acquaint her what he intended to settle upon his said Son; but rather with her Friends: Whereupon, she appointed one Mr. Whitehead and Mr. Mountney to treat with the Serjeant in respect to the said Marriage:

Who, being present, acquainted the Committee, That the said Serjeant did propose, to lay out the Child's Fortune, when paid, in Purchase of Lands of Inheritance, to be settled as a Jointure; and, in case she survived his Son, that the Estate, so purchased, should come to her the Infant, and her Heirs; also, the Serjeant offered to settle his Interest in the Office of Custos Brevium of the King's-Bench (which was One Moiety in the said Office) wherein he has a Term for Two Lives, upon his said Son, immediately upon Payment of the said Portion; and that, if the said Infant should survive his Son, the said Office should remain charged with 50 l. per Ann. as a further Provision for her: With which Proposals they acquainted Mrs. Watkinson; and, she approving of the same, they were reduced into Writing; and, by the Advice of her Counsel, settled and executed by the said Serjeant Gooding:

And the same were produced, and read, at the Committee; which appeared to be in such manner, as that Mr. Gooding would have been Tenant in Tail; and, by a Fine, might have barred the Issue, and, by a common Recovery, might have barred the Remainder to the right Heirs of the said Infant; and, the same being so observed to be, the Serjeant declared himself willing, that the same should be amended.

Mrs. Watkinson further alleged, That, upon the executing such Articles, she, in Company with the Serjeant and his Son, did go to Doctors-Commons, and there procured a Licence for the Marriage; at which time she did apprehend, and so declared, her Daughter to be about Twelve Years of Age (not remembering what Age she had sworn to, in her Answer, some time before); and that, soon after such Licence, that is, about the Beginning of October last, Mr. Gooding junior, and her Daughter, were, with her Consent and Approbation, publickly married; and hopes and desires the same may not be avoided.

Mr. Mountney said, That he had his Instructions for drawing Mrs. Watkinson's Answer to the Trustees Bill from herself; and that, when he had drawn the same, he read it over to her several times, and left it with her, with a Blank, to fill up her Daughter's Age; which she ordered to be filled up accordingly:

That she has, several times, complained of her late Husband's Relations ill Usage to her; and the Fear she had of her Child's being taken away, as well by them as others; a Linen-draper, in the Neighbourhood (fn. 1) [at that time,] attempting to do the same; and that she was resolved to marry her, to preserve her: And that he saw the said Infant at Night, upon her Bedding, after the Marriage, and she appeared as chearful a Bride as he had ever seen; and that, as near as he can judge the time, after the young Couple were in Bed, the whole Company retired out of the Chamber, and left them alone for about Two Hours.

Mr. How said, That he, with divers others of the Serjeant's Family, besides many Strangers who came into the Church, were present at the Marriage of Mr. Gooding junior, and the said Infant; the same being solemnized in a publick Manner, about Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon, the Doors of the Church standing open:

Disannulling Knights' Marriage.

That, upon the Bedding them, he, being present, observed the Bride to go very chearful to Bed, attended with the usual Solemnities upon such an Occasion; and that, after her Husband went into the Bed to her, she seemed to be very well pleased; upon which, he bearing a particular Esteem for Mr. Gooding, and being One of his Father's Family, he prevailed upon all the Company, the Infant's Mother and Serjeant Gooding being then present, to go out of the Chamber, in order that the Bride and her Husband might be left alone; and, the Company going out of the Room, he pulled-to the Chamber-door, and locked it after him; leaving them together in Bed, as aforesaid, for about Two Hours, before any body went in to disturb them.

Mr. Gooding, another Son of the Serjeant's, said, That he was present at the Marriage and Bedding of the said Infant with his Brother; and that the Child's Mother, Mrs. Watkinson, pressed the putting them to Bed, and was as forward as any body in the whole Matter; and that, after they had been in Bed together about Two Hours, the Company taking Notice that it might be proper to go into the Room to them, in order to advise his said Brother to rise, she said, It was a Pity to disturb them, and that they might as well lie together all Night; but the Company, going in to them, did prevail with Mr. Gooding to rise; who, after having dressed himself, and taken his Leave of his Lady, he went Home to his Father's House, to Bed; and, as he was informed, Mrs. Watkinson took his Place, and went into Bed with her Daughter, and lay with her the remaining Part of the Night.

The said Hannah the Infant, being present, said, That she was induced to think of Marriage from the Fear she had of her Father's Relations taking her away; who she took to be her Enemies, because they used to speak ill of her Mother: And that the Choice of her Husband was from her own Inclinations; he not being imposed upon her by her Mother, more than as he was brought by her into her Company; and that she loved him the First time she saw him, as believing him very pretty; and that she married and bedded him with a free Consent and Desire, and was sorry he was taken away from her, when the Company came into the Room to advise him to rise; the which, when he had done, and left her, her Mother came to Bed to her, to comfort her:

That on the Day she was carried away from the Lord Keeper's House, she was going, of her own Accord, fearing she should be put into those Hands she did not like; and meeting a Gentlewoman upon the Stairs, whose Name she would not tell, she desired her to carry her away; the which she did: And that, if she had not met with her, nor any body else she knew, she would have run away by herself, rather than, by staying, to have been parted from her Husband.

Mr. Serjeant Gooding said, That his Son, having Encouragement from the said Infant's Mother to marry her said Daughter, had several Meetings with the Mother, concerning his Marriage, without his Privity or Knowledge; in which, he hoped, he had done nothing unjustifiable for his Son; he having the Mother's Consent and Approbation therein; who was her Child's proper Guardian, and had the sole disposing of her:

That he did peruse Mrs. Watkinson's Answer to the said Trustees Bill, though then a Stranger to all Parties; and looked upon the Bill to have no Equity therein, whereupon to ground a Decree for to take away the Child from the Mother; to whom the Laws and Customs of this Realm have intrusted her Care, Education, and Disposal:

That he admitted the Proceedings before the Lord Keeper, in relation to the Infant, to be as before suggested, excepting as to that Part which surmises, That either himself, or any of his Family, were privy to the Child's being taken away; they having all, except himself, and he gave his Affirmation therein, purged themselves, by their Oaths, That they neither did or do know any thing thereof: That the Child was again brought to his House, upon Sunday was Sevennight in the Evening; but how, or by whom, knows not: he not thinking it proper to interrogate the Child in that Matter:

That as to his Son's swearing, upon the taking out the Licence, That the Infant was about Twelve Years of Age, he was induced thereto from what the Mother then, and often before had, declared to him the Serjeant, and his Wife; viz. That she really believed the Infant to be about Twelve Years of Age: And therefore hopes no Fault will be imputed either to himself, or Son; such Treaty of Marriage having been all along carried on with Fairness, and mature Consideration, by the Mother of the Infant, and those she thought fit to intrust therein; who gave his Son those frequent Encouragements before he was made any way privy thereto; he knowing nothing thereof till he was sent for by the Mother to treat about the same.

Mrs. Pasmore said, That, upon the Day when the Infant was carried to the Lord Keeper's, she was designing to go to Greenwich, upon some Business she had there; but the Snow and Rain falling prevented her going thither; and, she remembering that the Matter relating to the said Infant was that Morning to be heard before the Lord Keeper, she, in Respect to Serjeant Gooding, who had been her Master, went thither, to hear how the same would be determined: And that, when she came to the Lord Keeper's, she saw the said Serjeant Gooding; but, not seeing the young Ladies; she went down Stairs; and, waiting in the Piazza of the Lord Keeper's House some time after, going up the Stairs again, she met the said Infant upon the Stairs; who spoke to her to the Effect following; viz. "Mrs. Pasmore, I am glad to see you, because you must go along with me; for I am resolved to run away from my Lord Keeper:" Upon which she was surprised, and told her, That she could not tell what to do in such a Case; but, the said Infant pressing her hasting away with her, they did walk together to the upper End of Queen-street; and there finding a Coach, they took the same; and she ordered the Man to drive to the Blue Boar's Head in Cannon-street; and, when they were in the Coach, the said Infant told her, That she would never see the Lord Keeper's Face until she became Mistress of her Reason, because he intended to put her into her Uncle Taylor's Hands; who had made Poison for her Mother, and would poison her before she should ever come to be 21 Years of Age; and that she would take off all the Faults that should be laid upon her for going away with her: That they staid together about an Hour at the Blue Boar's Head, and then were carried into Cheapside:

But being asked, What House, and where they lay that Night? she said, She would not tell that: But afterwards said, That they lay in a Street that turned down by the Haunch of Venison, at a Packer's House; but had forgotten the Name of the Street, as also the Name of the People of the House where they so lay:

That there was a Bill upon the Door of the said House, which induced her to go thither to inquire for a Lodging: And that though she had seen the said Infant several times before, at the Serjeant's House, yet she had never spoke Twelve Words to her before she met her upon the Stairs at the Lord Keeper's House, as aforesaid.

The Trustees alleged, That the said Serjeant Gooding was privy to the Match that Spalton had so proposed to Mrs. Watkinson for his Son; and that he had an early Knowlege therein:

To prove which, they produced a Letter, proved to be his Son's Hand-writing; which was written by him to a Brother of a young Gentlewoman, who the said Mr. Thomas Gooding junior was then making his Amours to; wherein he acquaints him of his Concern he was under, from his Father's Commands, to leave the Conversation of a Lady he so much admired, by reason of the Nearness of the Relation between them; and because his Father had found out a pretty young Creature for him, who had 8,000 l. to her Portion; as by the Letter will more fully appear.

Mrs. Bridget Cooper, Servant to one Mrs. Gibbs, another Gentlewoman to whom Mr. Gooding made his Addresses, said, That she very well knew his Hand-writing, having often seen him write, and seen several of his Letters to her Mistress: And that she has heard her Lady's Father say, before he died, That a Match was proposed for his Daughter by Mr. Gooding; and that, after his Death, the Serjeant's Lady brought down her Son to her young Mistress, and seconded that Matter: That she was privy to several verbal Contracts he made to her; as also to One of his own Writing, purporting, That, as he was then in the Presence of God, he would marry Mrs. Gibbs, and nobody else (but no such Contract was produced); to which he set his Hand:

That the Serjeant was a Trustee for her Mistress, for 1,000 l.; and was of Counsel for her Mother.

In answer to which Matter, the Serjeant said, That he always was against his Son's courting Mrs. Gibbs: And, to shew his Resentment thereof, he called one

Mr. Harrison: Who said, That, before Mr. Gooding's Marriage with the Infant, he had heard Mrs. Gibbs, the Mother, complain to Mrs. Goodin, the Mother, of her Son's ill Usage to her Daughter, in carrying on an Amour so far with her, and then to marry another: To which Madam Gooding told her, That she might blame herself, for admitting it to be so carried on in private; and that, should the same go on, it would be to the utter Ruin of them both; for that the Serjeant was resolved never to give him a Groat.

Josias Pasmore said, That he was no-ways privy to his Wife's carrying away the said Infant; and that he has never seen her but once since that Day the Child was carried from the Lord Keeper's, which was on Thursday last, when he met her at the Tower-gate; where, he taxing her with conveying away the Infant, she did acknowlege the same; but would not give him any Satisfaction by whom she was employed, or upon what Account she did so do: But said, That, If she might be pardoned for what she had done, she would come in and discover the whole Matter; and left him Directions where he should leave a Letter for her, if he could obtain a Pardon for her; with which he acquainted Serjeant Gooding; who had often pressed him to make all possible Inquiry after his said Wife; and that he has, since his Wife has been gone from him, lain several times at the Serjeant's House.

That Serjeant Goodin alleged, That Bridget Cooper, who was examined to prove his Son's Hand to the Letter above-mentioned, was a Woman of a very slender Reputation: To prove which, he called

Mrs. Katherine Baker: Who said, That she had known the said Cooper for about Four Years; and has heard Mrs. Gibbs, her Mistress, often say, That she was the greatestLyar in England, and would swear any body out of their Lives: But that she still continues in her said Mistress's Service:

And being asked the Reason, Why her Mistress continued her in such Service? said, That she believed it was to swear upon this Occasion; and because her Mother was a Witness in another great Cause now depending.

Mr. Pasmore said, That he knew the said Cooper, and Mrs. Gibbs her Mistress, who was his Customer when he kept a Cook's Shop; and that he has several times heard Mrs. Gibbs complain of her said Servant, for being so great a Lyar: And that she had often sent Money by her to pay him for what things she had; which she secreted from him, and did not pay him accordingly.

And also reported, That the Committee had made several Amendments to the 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, with some Amendments to some of them.

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

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

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

Ways and Means.

Sir Thomas Littleton reported, from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred to consider further of Ways and Means for raising the Supply granted to his Majesty, for carrying on the War against France, for the Service of the Year 1697, instead of the Duty upon Wines; and who were impowered to consider of an Equivalent for the Duty laid upon the Manufactures made of, or mixed with, Wool, Silk, or Hair, if they should think fit; the Resolutions of the said Committee; which they had directed him to report to the House; and which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Table: Where the same were read; and are as followeth; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, for raising the Sum of Six hundred thousand Pounds, towards the Supply granted to his Majesty, for carrying on the War against France, for the Service of the Year 1697, instead of the Duty upon Wines, the Duties of the old Subsidy of Tonage and Poundage upon Goods imported, dyeing Wares excepted, according to the Book of Rates, settled in the Year 1660, be doubled, for the Term of Two Years and Three Quarters.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards raising the said Supply granted to his Majesty, an additional Aid of One Shilling per Pound be laid upon all Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments, for One Year, as an Equivalent for the Duty of Ten Pounds per Cent. laid upon the Manufactures made of, or mixed with Wool, Silk, or Hair.

The First Resolution, being read a Second time, was upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

The Second Resolution being read a Second time;

And the Question being put, That the House do agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, That, towards raising the said Supply granted to his Majesty, an additional Aid of One Shilling per Pound be laid upon all Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments, for One Year, as an Equivalent for the Duty of Ten Pounds per Cent. laid upon the Manufactures made of, or mixed with, Wool, Silk, or Hair;

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Ordered, That a Bill, or Bills, be brought in, pursuant to the said Resolutions: And that Mr. Attorney-General and Mr. Lownds do prepare, and bring in, the same.

Exchequer Receipt.

Mr. Pelham, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for the better Observation of the Course anciently used in the Receipt of the Exchequer: And the same was received.

Abuses in the Mint.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee appointed to inquire into the Miscarriages of the Officers of the Mint be made To-morrow Morning; and nothing to intervene.

Abuses in the Exchequer.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee appointed to inquire into the Abuses of the Officers of the Exchequer, and Receivers of the Taxes and Revenues, be, after the said Report relating to the Mints, taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning.

Supply Bill; Malt Duties.

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 certain Duties upon Malt, 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.

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 gone through the Bill; and made several Amendments; which they had directed him to report, when the House will please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the said Report be made To-morrow Morning.

Woollen Manufactures.

Ordered, That the Bill to encourage the Woollen Manufactures in England; and to prevent the Exportation thereof from Ireland to foreign Parts; be read a Second time upon Friday Morning next.

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