House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 10 February 1699

Veneris, 10 die Februarii;

10° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Duty on Leather.

A PETITION of the Company of Tanners, Leatherdressers, and Shoemakers, of the City and County of the City of Coventry, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Manufacture of Leather employs as many People as most Trades in England: but, by reason of the Duty upon Leather, which must be paid in ready Money, the same is much decreased; and, their Stocks being but small, they cannot give Credit, as formerly, to their Chapmen: so that, in case the said Duty be continued, the Petitioners and their Families, are like to be reduced to the utmost Extremity: And praying, That their Trades may be as free from Taxes and Penalties as their Fellow-Subjects are in their Trades.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table.

Claims for Prizes.

A Petition of John Reilly, John Stanton, and James Rogers, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners are impowered by several of the Company, late of his Majesty's Ship Anglesea, to recover their Shares of Prizes due to them; and the Petitioners have Proof, that 650 l. Part of their Shares, hath been detained by Contrivance between William Caldwell, their Captain, and Seaborn Buckeridge, Accountant of the Prize-Office: And praying Relief therein.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to a Committee: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House:

And it is referred to Lord Cornbury, Sir James Houblon, Mr. Hamond, Sir John Philips, Sir Fra. Drake, Colonel Perry, Mr. England, Sir Francis Blake, Mr. Cook, Mr. Foley, Sir Tho. Davall, Sir Robert Eden, Sir John Bolles, Mr. Calthrop, Sir Edw. Hussey, Mr. Blaake, Mr. Dyot, Mr. Thornhagh, Mr. Carter, Mr. York, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Vernon, Mr. Duke, Mr. Lowndes, Mr. Hoblyn: And they are to meet this Afternoon, at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Darcy's Estate.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for Sale of some Part of the Estate of Thomas Darcy, deceased, for Payment of Debts: And that Mr. Hamond. and Mr. Hoblyn do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Yarmouth Harbour.

An ingrossed Bill for continuing a former Act, for the clearing, preserving, maintaining, and repairing, the Haven and Pier of Great Yarmouth, in the County of Norfolk, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for the clearing, repairing, preserving, and maintaining, the Haven and Piers of Great Yarmouth, in the County of Norfolk.

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

Darwent Navigation.

A Petition of several of the Owners and Occupiers of Lands, adjoining to that Part of the River Darwent, in the County of Derby, below Derby, was presented to the House, and read, setting forth; That the Petitioners conceive, the Bill, depending in the House, for making the said River navigable, will be a general Good, and no Prejudice to the Petitioners, or any other Owners of Land; so that the Undertakers be obliged to make Satisfaction for what Damages shall be done, so soon as the same shall be afferted: And praying, That the said Bill may pass, with such a Proviso, or such others as the House shall think fit.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon . . . Table until the said Bill be read a Second time.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Gentlemen and Freeholders in the County of Derby, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners are verily persuaded, that the making of the River Darwent, in the said County, navigable, will be a general Advantage to that County: And praying, That the Bill, depending in the House for that Purpose, may pass into an Act.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the Bill for making the said River navigable be read a Second time.

Defective Titles.

An ingrossed Bill for the general Quiet of the Subject against all Pretence of Concealments whatsoever was read the Third time.

And several Amendments were successively proposed to be made; viz.

Press *. L. *. to leave out "from and after," and instead thereof, to insert "next before:"

Press 4. L. *. to leave out "aforesaid:"

Press 5. L. *. to insert "before that time:"

L. *. to leave out "his," and insert "their:"

And the same were, upon the Question severally 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 the general Quiet of the Subject against all Pretences of Concealments, Incroachments, or other defective Titles.

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

Andrew's Estate.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for Sale of the Manor of Downham, in the County of Essex, the Estate of Sir Francis Andrews; and for buying and settling other Lands to the same Uses: And that Sir Charles Barrington and Mr. Carter do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Penryn Election.

A Petition of James Vernon junior, Esquire, was presented to the House and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner, and Alexander Pendarvis Esquire, stood Candidates at the last Election of a Burgess for Penryn, in the County of Cornwall; when the Mayor refused to poll several for the Petitioner, who had a Right to poll; and admitted others to poll for Mr. Pendarvis, that had no Right; and many, who declared their Intentions to vote for the Petitioner, were, by indirect Practices, prevailed upon to vote for Mr. Pendarvis; who hath procured himself to be returned, upon Pretence of having a Majority of Two Voices; though the Petitioner had the Majority of legal Voices, according to the Rule settled at the taking of the Poll: And praying Relief in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Abuses in the King's Yard.

A Petition of Henry Corbett was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That divers notorious Frauds have been committed by divers Contractors, and Officers, belonging to the King's Yards; and particularly by one Suffeild, Anchor-smith, at Portsmouth; who, in One Year had at least 60 Tons of Iron, worth 1,800 l. allowed him, more than he delivered for the King's Use; and, at other times, Iron-work has been carried from Suffeild's, and weighed, and charged to the King, and afterwards carried back again to Suffeild's. and then again charged to the King; and so several times, for the same Goods, before they were continued for his Majesty's Service; and the Clerks, being Sharers with Suffeild, have charged much greater Quantities in Weight than were delivered: And that, upon Searches made, divers Stores were found in the Shop of one Light, who is Suffeild's Foreman, marked with the broad Arrow: And though the several Facts appeared, upon Examination, by several of the Commissioners of the Navy; yet Suffeild, through the Neglect, or Mismanagement, of the Solicitor of the Admiralty, who has had above 25,000 l. for Prosecutions, and not One convicted, was only tried upon One Indictment; and upon other Indictments, found by the Grand Jury at Winchester, he has procured a Noli prosequi, by the Desire, or Consent, of the Lords of the Admiralty, or their Solicitor; so that Suffeild is thereby like to go unpunished for the said Facts, to the Encouragement of others to do the like, unless some Care be taken by the House therein: And praying the House to take the Matters into Examination; which he is ready to prove; and appeals to Henry Greenhill Esquire, a Member of the House, as to the Truth thereof.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Colonel Cornwall have Leave to go into the Country for a Fortnight, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Value of Gold and Silver.

Ordered, That the Commissioners of Trade do lay before this House such Observations as they have made, in relation to the difference of the Value of Gold and Silver.

Members not to Stand in Passage, &c.

Ordered, That every Member of this House, when he comes into the House, do take his Place, and not stand in the Passage as he comes in, or goes out, or sit or stand in any of the Passages to the Seats, or in the Passage behind the Chair, or elsewhere, that is not a proper Place.

Members Letters.

Ordered, That no Post-Letters, directed to any Members of the House, be delivered out until after the Rising of the House.

Privilege of a Member in a Suit.

A Petition of William Hunt Gentleman, on behalf of himself, and others, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That Michael Weeks Esquire, a Member of this House, being formerly a Receiver of the Customs for Plantation-Goods, is Debtor to the King in above 30,000 l. as appears by Auditor Bridges' Accounts stated; and, no Effects being found of Mr. Weeks, the King was like to lose his said Debt, till the Petitioners, upon the Lords of the Treasury agreeing to allow them One-third, undertook to discover a considerable Estate of his; and have extended to the Value of 20,000 l.; but can proceed no further, by reason Mr. Weeks insists upon his Privilege of Parliament: And praying, That the House will oblige the said Mr. Weeks to wave his Privilege.

And a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to a Committee;

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That the said Petition be rejected.

Officers sitting in the House.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to restrain the Number of Officers sitting in this House: And that Mr. Edward Harly, Sir Richard Onslow, and Mr. How, do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

A Member expelled for accepting Office.

Ordered, That Mr. Isaackson, a Member of this House, do attend this House, in his Place, immediately.

And he, being come into the House, was heard in his Place.

Ordered, That Sir John Bolles, Sir John Leveson Gower, Sir Robert Napper, Mr. Hammond, do go immediately to the Stamp-Office, and bring with them the last Commission for managing the first Duties; and the Commission for managing the additional Duties upon stamped Vellum, Parchment, and Paper; and inspect the Books, what Persons have acted since the additional Duties were granted; and report the same to the House.

Mr. Isaackson being withdrawn into the Speaker's Chamber;

Candles.

Ordered, That Candles be brought in.

And they were brought in accordingly.

Then a Question being proposed, That James Isaackson Esquire, having since his being elected to serve in this Parliament been concerned, and acted as a Commissioner, in managing the Duties upon Vellom, Paper, and Parchment, contrary, to the Act, made in the 5th and 6th Years of his Majesty's Reign, for granting several Duties upon Salt, Beer, Ale, and other Liquors, be expelled this House;

And a Debate arising in the House thereupon;

And a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Debate be adjourned till To-morrow Morning;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

Then the Serjeant was directed to go into the Speaker's Chamber, and acquaint Mr. Isaackson, That if he had any thing more to offer to the House, they were ready to hear what he had to say.

Whereupon Mr. Isaackson, came down into the House, and was again heard in his Place.

And then withdrew.

Resolved, That James Isaackson Esquire, having, since his being elected to serve in this Parliament, been concerned, and acted as a Commissioner, in managing the Duties upon Vellom, Paper, and Parchment, contrary to the Act, made in the 5th and 6th Years of his Majesty's Reign, for granting several Duties upon Salt, Beer, Ale, and other Liquors, be expelled this House.

Banbury Writ.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for the electing a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Banbury, in the County of Oxon, in the room of James Isaackson Esquire, expelled this House.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, who were appointed to go to the Stamp-Office, be made Tomorrow at Twelve a Clock.

Darwent Navigation.

Ordered, That the Bill to make the River Darwent, in the County of Derby, navigable, be read a Second time upon Monday Morning next, at Eleven a Clock.

Ludgershall Election.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, touching the Election for the Borough of Ludgershall, be made To-morrow Morning.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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