House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 23 February 1699

Jovis, 23 die Februarii;

11° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Duty on Glass.

A PETITION of several Persons, for and on behalf of themselves, and the rest of the many poor labouring Artificers in the Glass Manufacture, in and about the City of London, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the House was pleased, the last Parliament, to take off Half the Duty which was laid upon Glass, and the whole Duty laid upon Earthen-wares and Tobacco-pipes, it being apparently proved, that the said Duties were an Oppression to the Petitioners, That the remaining Half Duty upon Glass will not yield 1,000 l. per Annum to the Crown, as they are credibly informed; but yet is a great Grievance to the Petitioners, who have had but very little Work since the Half Duty has been taken off, their Masters selling their Goods to little or no Profit: And praying, That the said remaining Half Duty may be taken off; whereby they may be enabled to get Bread for their Families.

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 Mr. Cox, Sir Theop. Oglethorpe, Sir Sam. Barnardiston, Sir Wm. Cook, Mr. Hamond, Mr. Barnardiston, Mr. Hayes, Mr. England, Mr. Osborn, Mr. Cook, Mr. Yates, Mr. Lowther, Sir Jacob Ashley, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Thornhagh, Mr. Mountague, Sir Richard Cocks, Mr. Dyott, Sir Robert Eden, Mr. Jervoise, Sir Edward Hussey, Mr. Clayton, Mr. Guy: And they are to meet at Five a Clock this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chambers: And have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Meole's Nat.

Colonel Churchill, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to naturalize Captain John Meoles: And the same was received; and read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Woollen Manufacture.

A Petition of the Gentlemen, Clothiers, Clothworkers, Traders in the Woollen Manufactures, and other Inhabitants, of the Town of Hallifax, in the West Riding of the County of York, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, for many Years past, great Quantities of our Woollen Manufactures have been sold in Flanders; but foreign Letters give Account, that either the Prohibition of importing their Manufactures into England, or the great Duties put upon others imported, puts them upon renewing a Trade of making Cloth; and there is great Reason to believe that they intend to prohibit our Manufactures: And praying, That the Woollen Manufactory may by some means, be prevented from being set up in foreign Countries: And that the Commerce and Trade of this Kingdom in that staple Commodity may be still maintained and preserved abroad.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Town of Ratchdale in the County Palatine of Lancaster, is referred.

Duty on Leather.

A Petition of the Tanners, Leather-dressers, and other Artificers in Leather, inhabiting within the several Market-Towns of Bridgnorth, Much Wenlock, Newport, Shifnall, and Wellington, in the County of Salop, and Woollverhampton, in the County of Stafford; and the Glovers of Stourbridge, Kidderminster, and Bewdley, in the County of Worcester; and other adjacent Places; was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Duty upon Leather is extremely prejudicial to the Petitioners, and the whole Leather-Trade; insomuch that it decays their Stocks and Trade together; and they are forced to turn off several of their Work-folks, for Want of Employment for them; many of whom have fallen to the Parish, though the Leather-Trade is improving in foreign Parts, to the lessening the Interest of England: And praying some Relief in the Premises.

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

Philiponeu's, &c. Nat.

Sir Theophilus Oglethorp, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to naturalize John de Philiponeu, Sieur de Montargier: And the same was received.

Ordered, That the Bill be read To-morrow Morning.

Ship Nazareth.

Sir Robert Eden, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for the Ship Nazareth to trade as a free Ship.

Ordered, That the Bill be read upon Saturday Morning next.

Petition from a Witness arrested.

A Petition of Colonel Richard Coote was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, Yesterday Morning, the Petitioner attending a Committee of this House, according to the Chairman's Summons, he was arrested, immediately upon his going from the said Committee, at the Suit of Sir Jacob Banks, a Member of the House; and is detained in Custody; notwithstanding he was ordered to attend the said Committee again, at their next Meeting: And praying the House to consider the Premises, and to relieve him therein.

To which Sir Jacob Banks was heard in his Place.

Resolved, That the said Petition be rejected.

Darcy's Estate.

A Bill for Sale of some Part of the Estate of Sir Thomas Darcy deceased, for Payment of Debts, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Hummond, Sir Theoph. Oglethorpe, Mr. Mountague, Sir Richard Onslow, Sir Robert Cotton, Sir William Cook, Lord Coningsby, Mr. Bridges, Sir Robert Davers, Mr. Tredenham, Mr. Probert, Mr. England, Mr. Clayton, Mr. Bullock, Mr. Osborne, Mr. Shackerly, Mr. Vernon, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Rowney, Sir Henry Parker, Sir Sam. Barnardiston, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Boyle, Mr. Hughes, Colonel Crawford, Sir Richard Farrington, Mr. Cox; and all that serve for the County of Essex: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock in the Speaker's Chambers.

Augmenting Vicarages.

Mr. Pelham; according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for settling Augmentations on some small Vicarages for ever: And the same was received; and read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time upon Tuesday Morning next.

Ayre and Calder Navigation.

A Petition of the Inhabitants of the Town of Gainsborough, in the County of Lincoln, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That divers Undertakers have proposed to make the Rivers of Ayre and Calder, in the County of York, navigable, at their own Charge; whereby the Trade and Commerce in Wool, and Woollen Manufactures, will be rendered far more easy, by Water, to all the trading Towns in the North: And praying, That the Bill, depending in the House, for making the said Rivers navigable, may pass, with such Encouragement to the Undertakers as shall be reasonable for carrying on so necessary a Work.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the said Bill is committed.

Distillation from Corn.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Robert Legard and Mr. Meredith:

Mr. Speaker,

The Lords have agreed to the Bill to prohibit the excessive Distilling of Spirits and low Wines, from Corn; and against the exporting Beer and Ale; and to prevent Frauds in Distillers; with some Amendments: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Army Arrears.

A Petition of Hugh Mac Cave, George Webster, and Leonard Knowles, in behalf of themselves, and other Dragooners, in the Honourable Colonel Rosse's Regiment, late reduced, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That their Horses and Accoutrements are detained from them, contrary to the King's Order therein: That, all the time they were in Flanders, 2d. a Day was stopped out of their Subsistence, for Exchange of Money, and 3d. a Day, while they were in the Camp, in 1694, 95, and 96; to their great Impoverishment: And praying the House to relieve the Petitioners in their just Complaints.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Soldiers of Colonel Coot's Regiment is referred.

Ditto.

A Petition of Jane Foy, Widow and Executrix of Dennis Foy, late Quarter-master of the Regiment commanded by the Honourable Colonel Richard Coot, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there is 69 l. 6s. 11d. due to her for the Pay of her said Husband's Servants; which the said Colonel received long ago, as she is informed; yet he absolutely refuseth to pay the Petitioner, who is in great Distress for want of it: And praying Relief in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Soldiers of Colonel Coot's Regiment is referred.

Executing Judgments in America.

Mr. Offley, according to Order, presented to the House, a Bill, That Judgments and Decrees hereafter to be obtained in his Majesty's Courts of Law and Equity in England, may be executed in the English Plantations and Colonies in America: And the same was received.

Ordered, That the Bill be read upon Saturday Morning next.

Woollen Manufacture.

A Bill for the better Improvement of the Woollen Manufacture, by making the Act, in the 8th and 9th Years of his Majesty's Reign, to restore the Market at Blackwell-hall to the Clothiers; and for regulating the Factors there; more effectual; was, according to Order, read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Eyres, Sir Sam. Barnardiston, Sir Richard Cocks, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Heveningham, Sir Tho. Davall, Mr. Hayes, Mr. Moor, Mr. How, Mr. Molyneux, Mr. Bullock, Mr. Yates, Mr. Osborne, Sir Wm. Coriton, Mr. Bulkley, Mr. Stratford, Mr. York, Mr. Bridges, Mr. Colson, Mr. Ash, Mr. Bristoll, Mr. Ireton, Sir Henry Parker, Sir Edw. Ernly, Sir Wm. Scawen, Sir Wm. Ashurst, Mr. Kent, Mr. Perry; and all the Members that serve for the Counties of Gloucester, Wilts, Somerset, and York: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Woollen Manufacture.

A Petition of several Merchants, Buyers, and Exporters of Woollen Cloth, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there is a Bill depending in the House, for the better Improvement of the Woollen Manufacture, by making the Act, in the 8th and 9th Years of his Majesty's Reign, to restore the Market at Blackwell-hall to the Clothiers; and for regulating the Factors there; more effectual; wherein a further Penalty, than in the said former Act, is intended to be laid upon the Buyer of Cloth, if he refuses to give a Note under his Hand for the Value of the Cloth, in case of Credit; and to pay Interest for it; which is a greater Hardship upon the Petitioners than other Merchants; and will be a great Discouragement to Exporters of Cloth, at such a time as this, when all our Neighbours are setting up Woollen Manufactures against us: And praying the Consideration of the House therein, that the Petitioners may not be discouraged in their Trades.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the said Bill is committed.

Ditto.

A Petition of divers Woollen-drapers, of London and Westminster, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, by an Act, passed 8° and 9° Wil. III. to restore the Market of Blackwell-hall to the Clothiers; and regulate the Factors there; the Petitioners are greatly prejudiced in their Trades; and the same tends much to the Discouragement of the Woollen Manufacture in general: And that there is a Bill depending in the House, for the better Improvement of the Woollen Manufacture, by making the said Act more effectual; which will add further Grievances to the Petitioners: They therefore pray, That they may be heard before the Passing of the said Bill.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the said Bill is committed.

Andrewes Estate.

A Bill for Sale of the Manor of Downham, in the County of Essex, the Estate of Sir Francis Andrewes; and for buying and settling other Lands to the same Uses, was, according to Order, read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir Cha. Barrington, Mr. Heveningham, Sir Henry Parker, Sir Tho. Travell, Sir Edw. Hussey, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Hoblyn, Sir Richard Cocks, Sir Sam. Barnardiston, Lord Fairfax, Mr. Brotherton, Sir John Bolls, Mr. Crawford, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Perry, Sir Rich. Onslow, Mr. Hancock, Mr. Hamond, Mr. Thornhagh, Sir John Packington, Mr. Cox, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Clayton, Mr. Cook, Sir Wm. Cook, Mr. Bertie, Colonel Bierly, Mr. Pennell, Mr. Shackerly; and all that serve for Essex: And they are to meet at Five a Clock this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chambers.

Supply.

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

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Cowper took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Cowper reported from the said Committee, That they had made a further Progress in the Matter to them referred.

Army Arrears.

Ordered, That the Earl of Ranelagh do lay before this House an Accouat of what is due to the Lord Gallway's Regiment of Horse, Marquis de Mermont's Regiment of Dragoons, Major-General le Mellonere's, Lord Lefford's, and Brigadier Belcastle's Regiments of Foot, now in Ireland, since they were under the English Establishment.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

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

Veneris, 24 die Februarii;

11° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Burnett's Nat.

A PETITION of George Burnett, Captain-Lieutenant in the late Queen's Regiment of Foot, commanded by the Honourable Brigadier Trelawney, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner is of Scotch Parents, but born in France, and has been in the Service of this Kingdom 26 Years; having nothing but his said Employment for his Subsistence: And praying, That Leave may be given to bring in a Bill for his Naturalization.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill, according to the Prayer of the said Petition: And that Brigadier Trelawney and Mr. Hoblyn do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Hamborough Company.

A Petition of the Mayor, Aldermen, Clothiers, Sergemakers, and others of Taunton, Wellington, Wiveliscombe, Bishop-Hull, Hill-Farrance, Oak-Milverton, Bradford, Langford, Budville, Culmstock, and Burlescombe, concerned in Wool, and the Woollen Manufactures, in the Counties of Somerset and Devon, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That Foreigners having, of late Years, had equal Liberty with the King's Subjects of exporting our Woollen Manufactures, they have almost wholly gotten that Trade into their Hands; who cause the Manufactures to be debased, and export them, in a manner, unmanufactured; to the Prejudice and Discredit of England: And that the Trade to Holland, Flanders, and Germany, is almost lost to English Merchants: And praying, That Provision may be made for encouraging his Majesty's natural-born Subjects to export our Woollen Manufactures to Germany, and keeping the said Trade from falling under the Government of Foreigners.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the Report relating to the Hamborough Company be taken into Consideration.

Duty on Leather.

A Petition of the Tanners of the County of Devon, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Duty upon Leather is very grievous; for which they pay a Tax, not only by the Act that imposes the same; but also by the Land-Tax and Poll Acts; and many Restraints and Inconveniencies are incident to their said Trade, by the Act for the Duty upon Leather, occasioned by their frequent Attendance upon the Excise Officers, in Compliance with the said Act; and, by reason they cannot sell their Leather but at Fairs and Markets, they often lose a Sale to Merchants, when their Vessel is ready to sail, for want of a Market-Day: And praying, That the said Duty may be lessened, and laid on raw Hides and Skins, as an expedient to redress the Petitioners Grievances.

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

Ship Charles.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill, That the Ship Charles Fly-Boat, of Exeter, may trade as a free Ship: And that Mr. Fortescue do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Aliens Children to inherit.

Sir Edward Hussey reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill to enable his Majesty's natural-born Subjects to inherit the Estate of their Ancestors, lineal or collateral, notwithstanding their Father or Mother were Aliens, was committed, That they had 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.

Ordered, That the Bill be ingrossed.

Improving Woollen Manufacture.

A Petition of the Clothiers of the County of Gloucester was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That many unexperienced Persons in making Cloth, being of other Callings, as Shopkeepers, Bakers, Maltsters, Shoemakers, &c. have of late made base and deceitful Cloth, and set other Mens Marks to the same; which hath brought a Disreputation upon our Cloth, in foreign Markets; and will, if not prevented, be a Means to drive great Part of our Trade into foreign Nations; and, besides, such Persons compel the poor People they employ to take such Commodities as they sell, for their Work; to the great Disadvantage of the said Poor, and those who pay them in current Money: And praying, That the Woollen Manufacture Trade may be established, by reviving former good Laws relating thereunto; and that henceforth all Clothiers shall pay their Work-folks in current Money.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Bill for the better Improvement of the Woollen Manufacture, by making the Act, in the 8th and 9th Years of his Majesty's Reign, to restore the Market at Blackwell-hall to the Clothiers; and for regulating the Factors there; more effectual; is committed.

St. Eloy's Nat.

A Petition of Captain Isaac Gouquett St. Eloy was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner hath faithfully served his Majesty for Ten Years last past, in Sir Bevill Granvill's Regiment of Foot; and hath a numerous Family; and is a Refugee, and hath no Home to go to: And praying, That Leave may be given to bring in a Bill for his Naturalization.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill, according to the Prayer of the said Petition: And that Sir Bevill Granvill and Mr. Tredenham do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Apprehending Felons.

Mr. Dyott, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for the better Apprehending, Prosecuting, and Punishing of Felons, that commit Burglary, or Housebreaking, or Robbery in Shops and Warehouses: And the same was received; and read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Lloyd's, &c. Nat.

A Petition of William Lloyd, Cornelius de Witt, and Godfrey Loyd, Gentlemen, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners have served, the First Five Years, the Second Ten Years, and the other Eight Years, in English Regiments, and were born of English Parents, but out of the King's Allegiance, their Parents then attending King Charles the IId in his Exile: And praying, That Leave may be given to bring in a Bill for the Petitioners Naturalization.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill, according to the Prayer of the said Petition: And that Sir John Thorold and Sir Edward Hussey do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Abuses in King's Bench and Fleet Prisons.

A Petition of Thomas Garthwaite was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That one John Nelms being, in Hilary Term last, charged in Execution in the Fleet Prison, at the Petitioner's Suit, for 40 l. the Warden of the Fleet hath suffered Nelms to escape; and refuseth to give the Petitioner any Satisfaction, or Account, therein: And praying the Relief of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of John Goodall is referred; and who are to inquire into the ill Practices and Abuses of the Prisons of the King's-Bench, and Fleet: And that they do examine the Matter thereof, and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Army Arrears.

A Petition of Richard Whiteby, and others, in behalf of themselves, and all others reduced and discharged out of his Majesty's Regiment of Light-Horse, now under the Command of the Right Honourable Charles Earl of Arran, and late commanded by the Honourable Colonel John Coy, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That although his Majesty ordered, that all reduced Troopers should have their Horses and Accoutrements, or their Value, yet their Officers disobey the same; neither are those that served in Ireland paid their Arrears, nor had any Account of their Off-reckonings; but were loaded with about 24 l. a Man, in 1693, when their Accounts were stated, for Regiment deductions and Contingencies; the whole Charge being generally laid on the private Men, the Officers and Servants going free: That Recruit-Horses are charged but 1,080 l. which is but 4 l. 1s. 11¼ d. per Man; and yet they are charged 11 l. odd Money, per Man: That out of their Subsistence in Flanders, they have lost 2s. 10d. out of every 20s. and their Officers stopped Six Stivers a Day a Man, during the Campaigns in 1694, 95, 96, with other Deductions for Tents, Clerks Fees, Charge of Money, &c.; the Whole amounting to between Eight and 10 l. per Man, per Annum: And praying the House to relieve them in their just Complaints.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Soldiers of Colonel Coote's Regiment is referred: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Distillation from Corn.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Monday next, at Twelve a Clock, take into Consideration the Amendments, made by the Lords, to the Bill to prohibit the excessive Distilling of Spirits, and low Wines, from Corn, and against the Exporting of Beer and Ale; and to prevent Frauds in Distillers.

Philipeneau's, &c. Nat.

A Bill to naturalize John Philipeneau, Sieur de Montargier, was, according to Order, read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time, Tomorrow Morning.

Papists Protestant Heirs.

A Bill to prevent Settlements made by Papists, from disinheriting their Protestant Heirs, was, according to Order, read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir Richard Cocks, Sir Wm. St. Quintin, Lord Cornbury, Mr. Perry, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Price, Mr. How, Mr. Freeman, Sir Richard Onslow, Mr. England, Mr. Dyott, Sir Wm. Villers, Mr. Thornhagh, Sir John Mordant, Mr. Mountague, Sir Fran. Blake, Mr. Boyle, Mr. Cowper, Mr. Hayes, Mr. Ryder, Mr. White, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Ireton, Mr. Smith, Sir Rich. Temple, Sir Robert Eden, Sir Barth. Shower, Sir Steph. Leonard, Sir Robert Cotton, Sir Wm. Ashurst, Mr. Worsley, Mr. Bullock, Sir Walt. Young, Lord Powlett, Mr. Ogle, Mr. York, Mr. Mason, Mr. Vane, Mr. Gott: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers.

Old East India Company.

A Petition of the Governor and Company of Merchants trading into the East Indies was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners have been intitled to the sole Trade to India, by several Charters; and to the Inheritance of divers Lands and Privileges, purchased of Indian Princes; and, upon the 7th of October 1693, his Majesty, and the late Queen, granted the Petitioners a new Charter, and another upon the 11th of November 1693, framed pursuant to the Regulations agreed in the House of Commons; and new Subscriptions were made to 744,000 l. by near 800 new Adventurers, who have had no Advantage thereby; and the said Charters were confirmed only for 21 Years, and, by another Charter of the 28 September 1694, the same were subjected to a Three Years Warning, if it should appear to the King, That the said Charters were not profitable to him, or the Nation: That, since the said new Subscriptions, the Company have paid in Customs and Taxes above 500,000 l. and, last Year, being in great Disorders abroad, by Interlopers and Pirates, proposed a Loan of 700,000 l. in order to procure a Settlement by Authority of Parliament; but just then a Subscription was set on foot, in London and Westminster, to raise Two Millions, on an undoubted Fund of 8 l. per Cent. and the sole Trade to India, without any Regard to the Petitioners Right in the said Trade: Which Subscriptions being received in Parliament, the Company did, in Two General Courts, resolve to raise the Two Millions, for the Publick Service, and to deposit 200,000 l. to make good the subsequent Payments; which Offer, the Petitioners are ready to make appear, was more advantageous to the Publick by above 60,000 l. than what will be raised by the new Subscribers: That the Petitioners subscribed 315,000 l. to the said new Fund for raising Two Millions; but, on the same Day the Subscription was made they were served with his Majesty's Sign Manual, to dissolve their Corporation after three Years; and, on the 27th of October last, the same was served on them by Privy Seal: According to which, if they must be dissolved, it will be the Company's certain Ruin; because, in that time, they cannot adjust their Affairs with their Factors, and others; nor can the said 315,000 l. being the Property of 1,200 Persons, be well managed but in a Corporation: That the principal Reason given, why the Petitioners Proposal should not be accepted, was, because the Trade would be confined to a Joint Stock, which was adjudged prejudicial to the Nation; and therefore, to ascertain what separate Traders should pay towards Defraying of publick Charges, it was resolved, That 5 per Cent. ad valorem, upon all Returns from India, be paid by the Importer, to be placed to the Account of the Subscribers, towards the Charge of sending Ambassadors, and other extraordinary Expences; whereby it appears, that all the Traders were to have proportionable Benefit in the said Payment of 5 per Cent. yet it is now pretended, the same is to be paid only to the new Joint Stock; which seems contrary to all Justice; for that the Petitioners are the Persons that maintain Forts, Castles, and Factories, in India, for Preservation of the East-India Trade; and therefore conceive they ought not to pay the said 5 per Cent. And praying, That their Case may be taken into Consideration; and that the House will provide, that their Corporation may subsist for the Residue of the Term of 21 Years; that the Payment of the said 5 per Cent may be adjusted, so as it may not remain a Burden upon the Petitioners; and that such further Considerations may be had for their Relief, and for the Preservation of the East-India Trade, as shall be thought meet by the House.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Monday Morning next, take the said Petition into Consideration.

Ordered, That Mr. Dalby Thomas, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Green, Clerk to the Distillers Company, and Mr. Plaisted, do attend this House immediately.

Officers sitting in the House.

A Bill to restrain the Number of Officers sitting in the House of Commons, was, according to Order, read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to a Committee of the whole House.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Wednesday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Bill.

Poor Laws.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom it was referred to consider of Ways for the better providing for the Poor, and setting them on Work, be made To-morrow Morning.

Persons to attend.

Ordered, That Mr. Dalby Thomas, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Green, and Mr. Plaisted, do attend this House To-morrow Morning at Ten a Clock.

State of the Navy.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Monday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the State of the Navy.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

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