House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 4 April 1699

Martis, 4 die Aprilis;

Undecimo Gulielmi 3tii.

Prayers.

Conway's Estate.

A BILL to enable Popham Conway Esquire, and his Two younger Brothers, to make Leases of their Estates, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Sloane, Sir Richard Temple, Lord Cornbury, Mr. Boyle, Sir Robert Nappier, Mr. Bridges, Mr. Tredenham, Mr. Vernon, Mr. Thursby, Mr. Bridgman, Sir Ja. Oxenden, Sir Chr. Musgrave, Sir Abstr. Danby, Mr. Dyot, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Sir William Villiers, Sir Rowl. Gwyn, Sir John Leveson Gower, Sir Barth. Shower, Mr. Pultney, Lord Cheine, Mr. Moore, Marquis of Hartington, Mr. Hayes, Sir Phil. Boteler, Mr. Foley, Mr. Crane, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Yates, Mr. Hoar, Mr. Osborne, Mr. Brewer, Lord Cavendish, Mr. Sandford: And they are to meet at Eight a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber, upon Thursday Morning next.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Edward Hussey have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Billingsgate Fish Market.

Ordered, That a Message be sent to the Lords, to put them in mind of the Bill, intituled, An Act to make Billingsgate a free Market for Sale of Fish.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Davall do carry the said Message.

Bone-lace makers.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Matter relating to the Agents of the Manager of the Duty upon Hawkers and Pedlars is referred, be made upon Thursday Morning next.

Poor Laws.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Thursday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for the better providing for the Poor, and setting them on Work.

Army Arrears.

A Petition of Susanna Macomtosh was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That James Macomtosh, the Petitioner's late Husband, did serve his Majesty in Ireland during the late Wars, under the Command of Colonel Hamilton; and had a very great Arrear of Pay due to him: That the Petitioner hath not received One Peny thereof; and hath Two Children to maintain, which, for want of the said Pay, are ready to starve: And praying the Consideration of the House; and that Colonel Hamilton may be ordered to pay the Petitioner.

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.

Wake's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Samuel Wake, alias Jones, to sell Lands, to pay Debts; and to purchase other Lands adjoining to, and formerly Parcel of, his Manor of Waltham, alias Waltham Holy-cross, in the County of Essex, to be settled to the same Uses; was read the First time.

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

Capture of Ship St. Elizabeth.

Ordered, That Colonel Osborne, Colonel Kirby, Mr. England, Mr. Philips, Mr. Travers, Sir Robert Edon, Mr. Mounstevens, Mr. Clayton, Mr. Hammond, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Coniers, Mr. Blofeild, Admiral Hobson, Mr. Hancock, Mr. Smith be added to the Committee, to whom the Petition of Serquis de Mirza, and other Armenian Merchants, was referred.

Scott's Estate.

Mr. Brewer reported from the Committee, to whom 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 Brothers and Sister; and to settle other Part of his Estate; was committed; That they had examined the same; and found the Allegations to be true; and that all the Persons concerned therein had given their Consents thereunto, to the Satisfaction of the Committee; and that the Committee had directed him to report the Bill to the House, without any Amendments: And he delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table.

Ordered, That the Bill be read the Third time upon Thursday Morning next.

Ship Hope.

A Bill to enable the Ship Hope, of great Length, and very serviceable for bringing Masts into this Kingdom, to trade as an English-built Ship, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Lascels' Estate.

Sir William Hustler reported from the Committee, to whom the ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for vesting the real Estate, late of Thomas Lascels Esquire, in Trustees, to be sold, for Payment of his Debts, was committed, That they had examined the same; and found the Allegations therein to be true; and that all the Persons therein concerned had given their Consent thereunto, to the Satisfaction of the Committee: and that they 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 read the Third time upon Thursday Morning next.

Bydes, Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Thomas Byde Esquire, an Infant, with the Consent of his Guardians, and next Relations, to make a Contract for the buying-in his Mother's Jointure; and to sell a small Estate in Great Amwell, in the County of Hertford; and likewise for the securing and raising a Portion for Barbara Byde, Sister of the said Thomas Byde; and for other Purposes in the Act mentioned; was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Freeman, Mr. Hayes, Sir Charles Barrington, Sir William Villiers, Mr. Tredenham, Mr. Dyott, Mr. Thursby, Sir Wm. Gostwicke, Mr. Vernon, Major Stringer, Lord Cornbury, Sir Richard Cocks, Mr. Brewer, Sir Thomas Wagstaff, Colonel Churchill, Sir Theoph. Oglethorp, Sir Ja. Etheridge, Mr. Hughes, Mr. England, Mr. Gwynne, Mr. Bridges, Mr. Harvey, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Hancock, Mr. Henley, Mr. Mounstevens, Sir Willoughby Hickman, Sir Henry Ashurst, Mr. Hammond; and all for Essex and Hertfordshire: And they are to meet at Five a Clock this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Colonel Churchill have Leave to go into the Country, for Recovery of his Health.

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

Ordered, That Sir John Turner have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Raising Militia.

A Bill for raising the Militia of this Kingdom for the Year 1699, although the Month's Pay, formerly advanced, be not repaid, was read a Second time.

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

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

Claims for Prizes.

Mr. Parkhurst, from the Commissioners for Prizes, presented to the House their Answer to the Petition of Henry Lawrence, formerly presented to the House;

The Title whereof was read.

And the Answer is as followeth; viz.

To the Honourable the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses in Parliament assembled:

The principal Commissioners for Prizes Answer to the Petition of Captain Henry Lawrence.

ABOUT May 1697. The Crowned Mary loaded with Wine, Brandy, Paper, &c. in France.

Latter End of June 1697. Was seized by the Diligence Brigantine, Captain Henry Lawrence Commander.

2d of July 1697, Brought into Plymouth.

22d of September 1697. The Ship and Loading condemned: but appealed.

15th of March 1697. The Lords of the Treasury directed, that she might be brought about for London; and a Letter was sent down to Mr. Cowse that Night, to get all Provisions, and other Necessaries, ready against the Seamen, which were hired here to bring her about, came down; who were obliged to be at Plymouth on the 26th of March following.

The latter End of April 1698. She arrived at London.

The latter End of May 1698, and Beginning of June, Unloaded out of her, viz. unfilled,

90 Casks of Brandy.
46 Casks of Wine.
21 Casks of Stum.
15 Casks of Vinegar.
272 Casks of Molasses.
1 Cask of Prunes.
6 Casks of Indigo.
19 Barrels of Flints.
105 Bales of Paper.

23d June 1698. The Goods set up for Sale, as the Act of Parliament directs; and sold, for the Prices made good in the Account, to the Persons therein mentioned.

11th of November 1698. The whole Loading, and One Sixteenth Part of the Ship, condemned, and Fifteen Sixteenths of the Ship restored, by the Lords of the Appeals.

5th January 1698. The Freight was paid, as in the Account; and the Value of the Sixteenth Part of the Ship, as appraised, and Sixteenth Part of the Freight; then received by the Receiver-General's Deputy, and made good in the Account.

Note, The Loss in Quantity, when delivered, proceeds from their so long lying on board; whereby the Hoops were rotted; and, some of them flying, occasioned great Leakage: So that great Part of them came out but a Quarter, others One-third, full; and, in general, every one of them wanting of being full: But the Commissioners were obliged to pay Freight for the whole Quantity landed, it being the Custom of Merchants so to d.

Note further, From her first coming in, till she was delivered, there was always Waiters on board, as well for the Custom-house as for the Excise and Prize-Office; and Locks kept on the Cellar-Doors, by all Three Sets of Officers, until the Delivery to the Buyers; which was in Presence of all of them; and the Quantity agreed.

There was also Directions always given, That the Captains, or their Agents, might put a Waiter or Waiters on board, be present at the Sale, and put Locks on the Cellar-Doors until Delivery, if they were so pleased.

Dated the 1st of April 1699.

Michael Cole,
Jo. Parkhurst,
John Paschal.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition and Answer, be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of Captain Crow was referred.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the general Account of Prizes, which hath been laid before this House, be referred to the said Committee.

Lang's Claim, Prize Proceeds.

A Petition of Michael Lang, a Subject of the King of Denmark, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That in the Month of May 1697, the Petitioner gave information to Sir George Rooke, who was then in the Channel, of a pretended Swedish Fleet coming from France, loaden with French Effects; which Fleet was accordingly seized, and brought into Plymouth, and prosecuted by the Petitioner, and condemned as Prizes in the Admiralty; for which Service his Majesty was pleased to order him a Reward of 5,000 l. the Effects of which Prizes, which are very great and considerable, are in the Hands of the Treasurer of the Navy: And, this Honourable House having been pleased, by their Vote of the 21th of March, to impower the Committee of the whole House to receive a Clause of Appropriation for the Money and Effects in the Hands of the said Treasurer of the Navy, to such Uses as the House shall direct, the Petitioner fears he cannot expect to have any Part of the said Money, without a particular Order of this House: And praying Relief.

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

Duty on Irish Linen.

The Lord Coningsby, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to encourage the Linen Manufactures in Ireland: And the same was received; and read the First time.

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

Letters written by a Member reflecting on the House.

A Complaint being made to the House, of several Letters, sent into the Country, by Henry Chivers Esquire, a Member of this House, wherein several of the Members of this House are not only reflected on, but misrepresented, as to their Votes in this House;

And Two of those Letters, being produced to the House, and read, are as follow; viz.

Dear Will, London, January 5th, 98.

Yesterday we had a great Contest in the House, concerning for augmenting the Forces, which my Bro Member signalized himself for the Good of his Country: He made a very violent Speech for keeping up more Forces than the Sense of the House were for; so that we poor Country Gentlemen were forced to labour hard, and sit late to overcome them: I do really believe he will never give his Country One Vote, he is so linked in with the Court-Party: If you please, you may communicate this to your Friends; and let them know, That I shall always be ready to serve both them, and you, here or elsewhere: So I remain,

Your humble Servant to command,

For Mr. William Wicks, living
in Calne Wiltshire,
per Calne Bagg.

Frank, Hen. Chivers.

Hen. Chivers.

Dear Potter, London, Febrary 2d, 169 8/9;.

I have sent you his Majesty's Speech, and a List of those Gentlemen that voted for a Standing-Army: The Question was put, Whether the Army should stand, or the Bill be thrown out? which, God be praised, we carried it; for the Disbanding of the Army, was Two hundred and Twenty one, and the List will satisfy you how many were against it; So I remain,

Your Servant to command,

For Mr. John Hoskins, at Calne,
per Calne Bagg, Wilts.

Free, Hen. Chivers.

Ordered, That the said Mr. Chivers do attend this House in his Place, upon Friday come Sevennight.

Woolen Manufacture.

Ordered, That the Amendments, made by the Lords, to the Bill, intituled, An Act to prevent the Exportation of Wool out of the Kingdoms of Ireland and England, into foreign Parts; and for the Encouragement of the Woolen Manufactures in the Kingdom of England; be taken into Consideration upon Thursday Morning next.

Answer to Address.

Mr. Speaker reported, That he, with the House, did Yesterday attend his Majesty with their Address, relating to the State of the Navy; and that his Majesty was pleased to give a most gracious Answer thereunto, as followeth; viz.

Gentlemen,

I will consider your Address: It is My Desire, that all Sorts of Mismanagements and Irregularities should be prevented or redressed: You may be assured I will take the best Care I can in relation to the Navy; the right Management whereof is of so great Concern to the Kingdom.

Ways and Means.

The House, according to Order, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of Ways and Means for raising the Supply 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 come to several Resolutions; which they had directed him to report, when the House will please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the said Report be made upon Thursday Morning next.

Mr. Cowper also acquainted the House, That he was directed by the said Committee to move, That they may have Leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Thursday Morning next, resolve 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.

Needwood Forest Rights.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Gentlemen, Freeholders, and other Inhabitants who have Right of Estovers, and Common, in the Forest, or Chace of Needwood, in the County of Stafford, Parcel of the Duchy of Lancaster, was referred, be made upon Tuesday Morning next.

Claims for Prizes.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Petition of Captain Crow, in relation to Prizes, is referred, be taken into Consideration upon Thursday come Sevennight.

Supply Bill; Land Tax.

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

Suppressing Lotteries.

Ordered, That the Bill for suppressing the Royal Oak Lottery, and all other Lotteries, be read a Second time upon To-morrow Sevennight.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

And then the House adjourned till Thursday Morning, Eight a Clock.