House of Lords Journal Volume 16: 4 April 1700

DIE Jovis, 4 Aprilis.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

John Earl of Bridgewater sat Speaker.

Watermen, &c. Laws about, for explaining, Bill.

The Lord Viscount Longueville reported from the Lords Committees, the Bill, intituled, "An Act for the Explanation and better Execution of former Acts, made touching Watermen and Wherrymen rowing on the River of Thames; and for the better ordering and governing the said Watermen, Wherrymen, and Lightermen, upon the said River, between Gravesend and Windsor," as fit to pass, without any Amendment.

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for the Explanation and better Execution of former Acts, made touching Watermen and Wherrymen rowing on the River of Thames; and for the better ordering and governing the said Watermen, Wherrymen, and Lightermen, upon the said River, between Gravesend and Windsor."

The Question was put, "Whether this Bill shall pass?"

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

ORDERED, That the Commons have Notice, that the Lords have agreed to the said Bill, without any Amendment.

Militia Bill.

Hodie 1^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for raising the Militia for the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred, although the Month's Pay formerly advanced be not re-paid."

Assay of Plate, Bill for.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure, and put into a Committee upon the Bill, intituled, "An Act for appointing Assayers of Plate, and settling the old Standard thereof, within this Kingdom."

After some Time, the House was resumed.

Message from H. C. to return the French Protestant Church Bill; Richard & al. Nat. Bill; Bourges & al. Nat. Bill; and Howland's Bill.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Tredenham and others:

To return the Bill, intituled, "An Act for confirming a Lease of a Piece of Ground, from the Rector and Churchwardens of the Parish of St. Martin's Orgars, London, for Liberty to build a Church thereon, for the worship and Service of GOD, in the French Tongue, according to the Usage of the Church of England;" and to acquaint this House, that they have agreed to the same, without any Amendment.

Also, a Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Bertie and others:

To return the Bill, intituled, "An Act for naturalizing John Riccarde and others;" to which they have agreed, with some Amendments, whereunto they desire the Concurrence of this House.

Which Amendments, being read Thrice, were agreed to; and ORDERED, That the Commons have Notice thereof.

Also, a Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Robert Cotton and others:

To return the Bill, intituled, "An Act for naturalizing John Bourges and others;" and to acquaint this House, that they have agreed to their Lordships Amendments made to the said Bill.

Also, a Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Blake and others:

To return the Bill, intituled, "An Act for taking the Estate in Law of several Messuages and Lands, mortgaged to Jeffery and Samuel Howland and their Heirs, out of Wriothesley Russell, commonly called Lord Marquis of Tavistock, and his Lady;" and to acquaint this House, that they have agreed to their Lordships Amendment made to the said Bill.

Land Tax in England, and forfeited Estates in Ireland, Bill:

The Order being read, for resuming the Debate adjourned Yesterday, upon the Bill, intituled, "An Act for granting an Aid to His Majesty, by Sale of forfeited and other Estates and Interests in Ireland, and by a Land Tax in England," for the several Purposes therein mentioned:

After Debate thereupon;

This Question was put, "Whether this Bill shall be read a Second Time?"

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Protest against reading it a Second Time.

"Dissentient.

"Though there be nothing we more earnestly desire, and shall on all Occasions, to the uttermost of our Power, more sincerely and heartily endeavour, than the Preservation of a constant right and good Understanding and Agreement between the Two Houses of Parliament, as that on which the Safety, Welfare, and Happiness of the Nation, and the Preservation of the wisest and noblest Constitution in the World does so much depend; yet we cannot but enter this our Protestation against a Second Reading of this Bill:

"1. First, Because (as we conceive) this Bill does in one Part very much tend to the Alteration (if not to the Destruction) of that Constitution, which, we believe, the Supply in the other Part was given to preserve.

"2. Because (we conceive) the tacking of so many and different Matters to a Money Bill is not only contrary to all the Rules and Methods of Parliament; but highly dangerous, both to the undoubted Prerogative of the Crown, and Right of this House; putting it (as we conceive) in the Power of the Commons to make any Resolutions of their own as necessary as any Supply given for the Support or Emergencies of State.

"3. We know not how far the just Right any private Subject has to his Estate may be endangered by the Precedent of such a Bill; for, if the Titles so many Persons have to their Estates may be determined by the Commons in a Money Bill, without either Oath or Appeal, as (we conceive) in this Bill they are, we cannot apprehend how any single private Subject, or Minister of State, can for the future be safe, which must needs be a weakening the Prince's Hands, and the legal Security every Man now has to his Estate.

"Richmond.
Bolton.
Stamford.
Anglesey.
Mohun.
Bergevenny.
Audley.
Haversham."

Hodie 2^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for granting an Aid to His Majesty, by Sale of forfeited and other Estates and Interests in Ireland, and by a Land Tax in England, for the several Purposes therein mentioned."

ORDERED, That the said Bill shall be committed to a Committee of the whole House, To-morrow at Twelve of the Clock; and all the Lords summoned to attend.

Ships stationed to prevent the Exportation of Wool, Account of.

The Lord Haversham (pursuant to the Order of the Second Instant) presented to this House an Account, in Writing, of the Ships appointed to cruize, by virtue of an Act, intituled, "An Act to prevent the Exportation of Wool out of the Kingdom of Ireland and England into Foreign Parts; and for the better Encouragement of the Woollen Manufactures in the Kingdom of England."

Which was read, as follows:

"By the Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of England, Ireland, &c.

"In Obedience to an Order from the Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, dated the Second of this Month, requiring us to lay before them an Account, in Writing, whether the Ships, appointed by an Act, intituled, "An Act to prevent the Exportation of Wool out of the Kingdom of Ireland and England into Foreign Parts, and for the better Encouragement of the Woollen Manufactures in the Kingdom of England," have attended, as ordered by the said Act; and what Effect their Attendance hath had, and what the Charge of those Ships have been: We do humbly report, That, pursuant to the said Act, Two Ships of the Fifth Rate, Two of the Sixth, and Eight armed Sloops, were, about the Middle of July last, ordered to sail to the Coast of Ireland, and to cruize there, and on several Stations between that Kingdom and Scotland, for preventing the Exportation of Wool; on which Stations they have ever since been employed: But, in regard we are not able to say what Service they have done, by preventing any Attempts to ship off and transport that Commodity, we shall only humbly inform their Lordships, that they have not, during the whole Time of their Cruize, taken any One Vessel loaden therewith; but instead thereof, His Majesty has already sustained the Loss of Two of the Sloops; and it is very probable, that more of them may meet with the same Misfortune; and as for the Charge of the Wages, Wear and Tear, Victuals, and Ordnance Stores of the said Frigates and Sloops, from the Middle of July last, when they were appointed to this Service, to this Time, it is estimated at £. 22371. 8s. 7d. which is £. 2400. a Month.

"Dated at the Admiralty Office, this Fourth Day of April, One Thousand Seven Hundred.

"By Command of their Lordships.

"Burchett.
J. Bridgewater.
Haversham.
D. Mitchell.
Geo. Churchill."

Adjourn.

Joh'es Comes Bridgewater, Orator Procerum, declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque ad et in diem Veneris, (videlicet,) quintum diem instantis Aprilis, hora undecima Auroræ, Dominis sic decernentibus.