House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 23 March 1699

Jovis, 23 die Martii;

Undecimo Gulielmi 3tii.

Prayers.

Duty on Coals.

A PETITION of the Mayor, Burgesses, and Inhabitants, of the Borough of King's Lynn, in Norfolk, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Coal-Trade from Newcastle hath always been the most considerable Support of this ancient Port; and that the late Tax of Five Shillings per Chaldron, laid on Coals, is so great an Advance of the Price, that the Country have contented themselves with Turf, and other Fewel, much cheaper; whereby not half the Quantity of Coals are consumed as formerly; by means whereof, great Numbers of Seamen are unemployed, and the Poor of the Town become very burdensome: And praying the said Duty may be taken off.

Ordered, That the Petition do lie upon the Table.

Aldworth's Estate.

A Bill to enable Robert Aldworth, and Anne his Wife, to sell their Estate, in or near Wantage, in the County of Berks, for raising of 300 l. for Payment of his Debts; and for applying the Residue of the Monies, arising by the Sale, for the purchasing some other Estate, for the sole Benefit of his Wife and Children; was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Browne's, &c. Nat.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to naturalize Captain Thomas Browne, and others, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill, with the Amendments, do pass.

Ordered, That the Lord Cornbury do carry the Bill to the Lords, and acquaint them, That this House hath agreed to the same, with some Amendments: To which they desire their Lordships Concurrence.

Posthumous Children to inherit.

The Lord Cornbury, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to enable posthumous Children to inherit their Fathers Estate: And the same was received; and read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Distillation from Corn.

A Petition of the Distillers in and about London, for and on the behalf of themselves, and many others, distilling from Molosses, and other foreign Materials, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, by the Bill depending, to restrain the distilling of Brandy from Corn, the Petitioners are not only excluded from distilling the same, but the small Quantity likely to be made thereby will occasion a great Scarcity thereof: especially when Holland, and other Countries, are in Want, and have prohibited from distilling from Corn: That the Dutch do buy up Molosses, and other Materials of our Plantations; by which the Kingdom is deprived of manufacturing their own Commodities, and his Majesty deprived of a great Part of his Custom: And praying they may not be totally excluded from distilling from Corn, and, by an extreme high Duty, discouraged from a free using of foreign Materials to the Prejudice of the Trade of the Nation.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, who shall consider of Ways and Means for raising the Supply to be granted to his Majesty.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Greenhill have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Ordered, That Sir William Rich have Leave to go into the Country for a Fortnight, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Papists Protestant Heirs.

An ingrossed Bill to prevent Settlements made by Papists from disinheriting their Protestant Heirs, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act to prevent Settlements made by Papists from disinheriting their Protestant Heirs.

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

Sedgemore Drainage.

An ingrossed Bill for opening the ancient Roynes and Watercourses in Sedgemore, in the County of Somerset, for rendering the said Moor more healthful and profitable to the Inhabitants, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for opening the ancient, and making any new, Roynes and Watercourses in or near Sedgemore, in the County of Somerset, for rendering the said Moor more healthful and profitable to the Inhabitants.

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

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That the Lord Irwin have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Ordered, That Mr. Machell have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Recovery of Small Tythes.

Mr. Freeman reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for continuing the Act for the more easy Recovery of small Tythes was committed, That they had made an Amendment thereunto; which they had directed him to report to the House; which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was once read; and then a Second time; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

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

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir William Phipard have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Imprisonment of Counter, &c.

A Bill for continuing the Imprisonment of * Counter and others, for the late horrid Conspiracy to assassinate the Person of his Sacred Majesty, was read a Second time.

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

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

Seizures upon Outlawries.

An ingrossed Bill for discharging Seizures upon Outlawries in the Exchequer, upon civil Causes, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for the speedier and move easy discharging of Seizures in the Exchequer, upon Outlawries in civil Causes.

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

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Robert Legard and Sir Richard Holford:

Mr. Speaker,

Bernardeau's &c. Nat.

The Lords have passed a Bill, intituled, An Act for naturalizing Samuel Bernardeau, Peter Chantreau de Gaudre, and others, private Gentlemen belonging to his Majesty's Three Troops of Guards and Grenadiers: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House. Also,

Scott's Estate.

The Lords have passed a Bill, intituled, An Act to enable, Trustees to sell Part of the Estate of George Scott Esquire, to pay his Debts, and raise Portions for his Brothers and Sister; and to settle other Part of his Estate: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House. Also,

Bridges' Estate.

The Lords have passed a Bill, intituled, An Act for the vesting and settling the Estate of Anne Bridges, an Infant, in Bermudas, alias The Summer Islands, in America, in and upon Trustees, to be sold; and laying out the Money, arising by such Sale, in England, for the Use of the said Anne Bridges: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then Messengers withdrew.

Exporting Wool.

Ordered, That the Bill for the more effectual preventing the Exportation of Wool from England, be read a Second time upon Saturday Morning next.

Bridges' Estate.

Ordered, That the ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the vesting and settling the Estate of Anne Bridges, an Infant, in Bermudas, alias The Summer Islands, in America, in and upon Trustees, to be sold; and laying out the Monies, arising by such Sale, in England, for the Use of the said Anne Bridges, be read the First time To-morrow Morning.

Duties on Salt.

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Bill for the better ascertaining and collecting the Duties on Salt, and preventing the ill Practices used to defraud the King of the said Duties, be now read the First time.

It passed in the Negative.

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

Scott's Estate.

Ordered, That the ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Trustees to sell Part of the Estate of George Scott Esquire, to pay his Debts, and raise Portions for his Brother and Sister; and to settle other Part of his Estate; be read the First time To-morrow Morning.

Elections— qualifying Votes.

Mr. Edward Harley, according to Order, presented to the House, a Bill for regulating the Method of qualifying the Votes of Cities, Boroughs, and Cinque-Ports, for electing Members to serve in Parliament: And the same was received.

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

Privilege of Witnesses.

A Complaint being made to the House, That one * Pearse, a Surgeon, being summoned to attend the Committee, to whom the Petition of Robert Ledginham, was committed, de die in diem, he had been arrested by Thomas Bowyer, and * Hamond his Yeoman, at the Suit of one Langford; and that, altho the said Pearse had shewed the Officers the Order for his attending the Committee, and the Officer hath been since desired to discharge the said * Pearse, yet he hath refused to discharge him;

Ordered, That the said Langford, Bower, and Hamond, do attend this House, with the said Pearse, To-morrow Morning.

Poor Laws.

A Bill for the better providing for the Poor, and setting them on Work, was read the First time.

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

Montargier's, &c. Nat.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Robert Legard and Sir Richard Holford:

Mr. Speaker,

The Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act to naturalize John de Philipeneau, Sieur de Montargier, and others, with some Amendments: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Suppressing Lotteries.

Ordered, That the Bill to suppress the Royal Oak Lottery, and all other Lotteries, be read To-morrow Morning.

Hereditary Excise Patentees.

A Petition of several of the Patentees, Assignees, and others, who are interested in annual Sums payable out of the Hereditary Excise, in behalf of themselves, and divers others, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners have, at their own Cost and Charges, promoted, and encouraged the promoting and encouraging, the Methodizing of a Fund, which will not lessen the present Revenue, or occasion any new Tax; the Produce whereof will be sufficient to answer the Principal and Interest due to them: And praying the same may be applied to the Payment of their said Debt, without being appropriated to any other Use.

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 to the House.

And it is referred to Sir Robert Nappier, Sir Wm. Roberts, Mr. Clarke, Sir Edward Hungerford, Mr. Thursby, Mr. Scobell, Sir John Bolls, Mr. Brewer, Sir James Houblon, Mr. Philips, Mr. Hammond, Mr. Cox, Mr. Sloane, Mr. Pledwell, Sir Wm. Robinson, Sir Isaac Rebow, Mr. Bridges, Sir Samuel Barnardiston, Mr. Heveningham, Sir John Wolstenholm, Mr. Thornhagh, Mr. Johnson, Sir Joseph Tredenham, Mr. Sayers, Sir Wm. Husler, Sir John Wynn, Mr. Barnardiston, Mr. Boulter, Sir Chr. Hales, Mr. Bertie, Mr. Bullock, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Traverse, Sir Thomas Cook, Mr. Berkley, Mr. Freek, Mr. Crocker, Mr. Desbovery, Mr. Backwell, Mr. Nicholson, Sir Jar. Oxenden, Sir Rowl. Gwynne, Mr. Gwynne, Mr. Stonehouse, Sir John Mordant, Mr. England, Sir Tho. Wagstaffe, Sir Wm. Brownlowe, Sir Wm. Coryton, Sir Tho. Davall, Sir Theoph. Oglethorpe, Colonel Pery, Mr. Hayes, Mr. Hoar, Sir Fra. Molineux, Mr. Tredenham, Mr. Hancock: And they are to meet at Five a Clock this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Supply.

Mr. Cowper, according to Order, reported, from the Committee of the whole House, who were to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, the Resolution of the said Committee; which they had directed him to report to the House; which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was read; and is as follows; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That more Bills of Credit be issued out of his Majesty's Exchequer; which shall be current in all Branches of the publick Revenue.

And the Question being put, That the House do agree with the Committee in the said Resolution;

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Saturday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

Supply Bill; Land Tax.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for granting to his Majesty the Sum of One million Four hundred eighty-four thousand and Fifteen Pounds One Shilling Eleven-pence Three Farthings, for disbanding the Army, providing for the Navy, and for other necessary Occasions.

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