House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 4 May 1698

Mercurii, 4 die Maii;

Decimo Gulielmi.

Prayers.

Copper Coinage.

A PETITION of the Grocers, Mercers, Chandlers, Innkeepers, Victuallers, Butchers, Bakers, and other Inhabitants of the Borough of Newcastle under Lyne, in the County of Stafford, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the great Quantities of Farthings and Halfpence, now extant, are very burdensome unto them: And praying Redress.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Grocers, Cheesemongers, Mealmen, Bakers, Victuallers, Market-people, and Retailers, in general, of the Borough of Southwark, is referred: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Davis' Estate.

Mr. Hore reported from the Committee, to whom the ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for vesting certain customary Messuages and Lands within the Manor of Gillingham, in the County of Dorsett, late the Estate of Thomas Davis Gentleman, deceased, in Trustees, to be sold, for Payment of Debts, was committed, That they had examined and considered the same; and had directed him to report the same to the House, without any Amendment: And he delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table.

Irish Arrears.

Mr. Manly reported, from the Committee, to whom the Petition of Archibald Lawrimer, and Jacob Smith, in behalf of themselves, and others, the Soldiers under the Command of the late Colonel Robert Byerly, and Colonel Hugh Windham, in the Reducing of Ireland, was referred, the Matter, as it appeared to the said 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 they do find, by a Report from the Paymasters of the Army in Ireland, That there is due to clear the Regiment to the First of April 1692, the Sum of 1,478 l. 16s. 6¾d.

But the Committee do not find, that the Colonels, or other Officers, have received any Part of that Arrear.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to prepare an Address to be presented to his Majesty, humbly to desire his Majesty, That he will please to appoint Persons to examine, how his Majesty's Orders, given upon disbanding the Army, have been observed:

And it is referred to Mr. Colt, Mr. Manly, Sir Henry Colt, Mr. Thornhaugh, Sir John Elwell, Mr. Hore, Sir John Bolls, Mr. White, Sir Wm. Lowther, Mr. Clarke, Sir Robert Clayton, Mr. Boscawen, Sir John Bucknall, Mr. Lowther, Sir Richard Onslow, Sir William Drake, Mr. Perry, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Sandford, Sir Fran. Massam, Mr. Brotherton, Sir Tho. Barnardiston, Mr. Mawdit, Mr. Brereton, Sir Mat. Andrews, Mr. Fleming, Sir Marm. Wyvell, Mr. Mounstevens, Mr. Morgan, Sir John Phillips, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Bromley, Mr. Foley; or any Five of them: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Lewen's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill to rectify some Mistakes in an Act, lately made, intituled, An Act to enable John Lewen to sell certain Messuages in Southwark, for Payment of Debts, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act to rectify some Mistakes in an Act, intituled, An Act to enable John Lewen to sell certain Messuages in Southwark, for Payment of Debts.

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

Supply Bill; Duties on Coffee, &c.

The House, according to Order, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for continuing the Duties upon Coffee, Tea, Chocolate, and Spices.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Norris took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Norris reported from the said Committee, That they had gone through the Bill, and made one Amendment thereunto; which they had directed him to report, when the House will please to receive the same.

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

Duties on Leather.

The House resumed the further Consideration of the Report Yesterday from the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Aldermen, Stewards, and Company of Fellmongers, Leather-dressers, and Glovers, in the City of Chester, was referred:

And the Resolutions of the Committee were severally read a Second time; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in upon the said Resolutions: And that Mr. Lowndes, Sir Henry Colt, and Mr. Morgan, do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Ordered, That it be an Instruction, That, in preparing the said Bill, they do take care, that after the Duty upon Leather is paid, there be no Restraint from cutting the Leather in the Market.

Kingston upon-Hull Workhouses.

Ordered, That Mr. Pudsey, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Hore, Mr. Sherrard, and all the Members that serve for the Counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill for erecting Work-houses, and Houses of Correction, in the Town of Kingston upon Hull, for the Employment and Maintenance of the Poor there, was committed.

Supply Bill; Lottery-Tickets.

Ordered, That all the Members for the County of Cornwall be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill for the better and more orderly Payment of the LotteryTickets, now payable, out of certain additional Duties of Excise, was committed.

Exporting Watches.

Ordered, That Sir Francis Massam, Mr. Arnold, be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill to explain the Act, made in the 7th and 8th Years of his Majesty's Reign, intituled, An Act to encourage the bringing Plate into the Mints to be coined; and for the further remedying the ill State of the Coin of the Kingdom; so as to give Leave for the exporting Watches, Sword-hilts, and other Manufactures of Silver; was committed.

Ways and Means.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of Ways and Means for raising the Supply to be granted to his Majesty.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Sir Tho. Littleton took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Old East-India Company's Proposal.

And Sir John Fleet, Governor of the East-India Company, presenting to the House a Paper of Proposals, agreed in a General Court of Adventurers, for the General joint Stock to the East-Indies; the same was received; and read; and is as followeth; viz.

It was proposed, and agreed, in a General Court of Adventurers, for the General joint Stock to the EastIndies, holden the 14th April 1698;

That, by settling the East-India Company, a Loan of 700,000 l. may be made to his Majesty, on the Terms following:

That the Stock of the present Company be valued at 50 per Cent.; and that Books for taking new Subscriptions be laid open, for the subscribing of 712,696 l. to make up the Stock, in the Whole 1,500,000 l.

That no Person subscribe less than 100 l. or more than 10,000 l.

That 700,000 l. be lent; and paid in Four equal Payments, in such convenient Time as shall be agreed on.

That the present Adventurers, and new Subscribers, be settled by Act of Parliament, exclusive of all others, for 31 Years; with such Powers and Privileges, as will enable them to carry on and preserve the Trade.

That the Sum of 700,000 l. be repaid, with Interest, out of such Parliamentary Funds as will repay the Principal and Interest, in Years:

This may probably take Effect, according to the Goodness of the Fund, and the Encouragement given by the Act.

This is a true Extract of the Order of the said General Court.

Ro. Blackborne senior.

Resolved, That the Consideration of the said Proposals be referred to a Committee of the whole House.

Resolved, That this House will immediately resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Proposals.

The House resolved itself into the said Committee of the whole House.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Newport took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Newport reported from the said Committee, That they had made some Progress in the Matter to them referred; and had directed him to move, That they may have Leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the said Proposals.

Bail in cases of Misdemeanors.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to consider in what manner Bail hath been taken in Cases of Misdemeanors, have Leave to sit both To-night, and To-morrow Morning.

Papers respecting Smuggling.

The House being informed, That Mr. Aaron Smith, formerly Solicitor to the Treasury, hath in his Hands several Papers relating to the Smuggling of Goods;

Ordered, That the said Mr. Smith do bring all the said Papers, in his Hands, to the Committee, who are appointed to draw up Articles of Impeachment against John Goudett, and others.

Committees.

Ordered, That all other Committees be adjourned.

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