House of Lords Journal Volume 17: 25 February 1703

DIE Jovis, 25 Februarii.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

Commissioners Accompts, Army, &c. Bill.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure, and put into a Committee upon the Bill, intituled, "An Act for reviving and continuing the late Acts, for appointing Commissioners, to take, examine, and determine, the Debts due to the Army, and for Transport Service; and also an Account of the Prizes taken during the late War."

After some Time, the House was resumed.

And the Lord Viscount Longueville reported, "That the Committee had gone through the said Bill; and think it fit to pass, without any Amendment."

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for reviving and continuing the late Acts, for appointing Commissioners, to take, examine, and determine, the Debts due to the Army, and for Transport Service; and also an Account of the Prizes taken during the late War."

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

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

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

The Duke of Somerset reported from the Lords Committees (appointed to draw up what should be laid before Her Majesty upon the Observations of the Commissioners of Accompts) an Address.

Which was read, and agreed to, as followeth; (videlicet,)

Address upon the Report, concerning the Observations of the Commissioners of Accompts:

May it please your Majesty,

"We, Your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, having received from the Commissioners for taking, examining, and stating, the Public Accompts of the Kingdom, in Pursuance of an Act of Parliament, a Book of Accompts, together with several Observations made by them; thought it incumbent on us, out of our Duty to Your Majesty, and our Zeal for the Public, to have them carefully looked into and examined; and, having made some Remarks, and come to some Resolutions thereupon, which we hope may be of Service to Your Majesty, and of public Advantage to the Nation, we take the Liberty to lay these our Proceedings before Your Majesty; humbly desiring, that Your Majesty will be graciously pleased to take the same into Your Royal Consideration, and give such Directions therein, as Your Majesty, in Your great Wisdom, shall think fit."

Lords with White Staves to attend the Queen with it.

ORDERED, That the Lords with White Staves do humbly attend Her Majesty, with the Address agreed to this Day, and the Proceedings of this House relating thereunto.

Stamp Duties, to prevent Frauds in, Bill.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure, and put into a Committee upon the Bill, intituled, "An Act for preventing Frauds in Her Majesty's Duties upon stampt Vellum, Parchment, and Paper."

After some Time, the House was resumed.

And the Lord Viscount Longueville reported, "That the Committee had gone through the said Bill; and think it fit to pass, without any Amendment."

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for preventing Frauds in Her Majesty's Duties upon stampt Vellum, Parchment, and Paper."

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

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

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

Trant, concerning the forfeited Estates in Ireland, Bill.

Upon reading the Petition of Charles Trant, in Behalf of himself, and of his Mother, Brothers, and Sisters; praying, "to be heard, to the Bill, intituled, An Act for advancing the Sale of the forfeited Estates in Ireland:"

It is ORDERED, That the Petitioners shall be heard, by One Counsel, as desired.

Whitaker to accompt for Public Monies, Bill.

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That this House will hear Counsel, for and against the Bill, intituled, "An Act to oblige Edward Whitaker to accompt for such Sums of Public Money as hath been received by him," Tomorrow at Ten a Clock: And that the original Orders and Books, which are in the Navy-office, relating to the passing Edward Whitaker's Accompts, be laid before this House at the said Hearing; and that Mr. Borret do attend, with Counsel, on Behalf of Her Majesty.

Whitaker's Accompts, Report of, to be laid before the House.

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Commissioners appointed by a late Act of Parliament, for appointing Commissioners, to take, examine, and determine, the Debts due to the Army, and for Transport Service, do attend this House To-morrow, at Ten a Clock in the Forenoon; and that they do then lay before this House their Report of Mr. Whitaker's Accompts.

Message from H. C. for another Free Conference.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Thomas Hanmer and others:

To desire a Free Conference, upon the Subject-matter of the last Conferences.

To which the House agreed.

Managers restrained, not to allow the Lords Jurisdiction to be disputed.

ORDERED, That the Managers shall be restrained, that they do not permit the Commons to dispute the Lords Jurisdiction.

Then the Commons were called in; and told, "That the Lords agree to a Free Conference, as desired; and appoint it presently, in the Painted Chamber."

Report of Free Conference.

The Commons being come to the Free Conference; the former Managers Names were read, and the Lords went to the Free Conference.

Which being ended, the House was resumed.

And the Lord Steward reported, "That the Lords had attended the Free Conference; and endeavoured to maintain their Resolutions delivered at the last Conference."

Estates in Ireland, Bill for Sale of.

After hearing Counsel, upon several Petitions, in relation to the Bill, intituled, "An Act for advancing the Sale of the forfeited Estates in Ireland; and for vesting such as remain unsold by the present Trustees in Her Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors, for such Uses as the same were before vested in the said Trustees; and for the more effectual selling and setting the said Estates to Protestants; and for explaining the several Acts relating to the Lord Bophin and Sir Redmond Everard:"

Hodie 2^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for advancing the Sale of the forfeited Estates in Ireland, and for vesting such as remain unsold by the present Trustees in Her Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors, for such Uses as the same were before vested in the said Trustees; and for the more effectual selling and setting the said Estates to Protestants; and for explaining the several Acts relating to the Lord Bophin and Sir Redmond Everard."

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

Then, it being proposed, "That the House be now put into a Committee upon this Bill;"

And Debate thereupon:

The Question was put, "Whether this House shall be now put into a Committee upon this Bill?"

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Then the House was adjourned during Pleasure, and put into a Committee upon the said Bill.

After some Time, the House was resumed.

And the Lord Viscount Longueville reported, "That the Committee had gone through the said Bill; and think it fit to pass, without any Amendment."

Butler's Bill.

Upon reading the Petition of Walter Butler; praying to be heard; by his Counsel, in relation to the Bill abovementioned:

It is ORDERED, That the Petitioner shall be heard; as desired, by One Counsel, To-morrow, after the Hearing upon Mr. Whitaker's Bill.

Adjourn.

Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque ad & in diem Veneris, vicesimum sextum diem instantis Februarii, hora undecima Auroræ, Dominis sic decernentibus;