House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 17 October 1690

Veneris, 17 die Octobris; 2° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Southampton Election.

A PETITION of Arthur Shallet, Merchant, was read; setting forth, That the Petitioner was duly elected Burgess for the Town and County of Southampton: But, in Wrong to the Petitioner, Sir Benj. Newland is returned; notwithstanding the Petitioner had the Majority of legal Electors: And praying the Consideration and Justice of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: Who are to examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Preston Election.

A Petition of the Mayor, Bailiffs, Majority of Aldermen, Common Council, and Capital Burgesses of the Borough of Preston in the County of Lancaster, was read; setting forth, That the Right honourable the Lord Willoughby of Eresby was duly elected and returned for the said Borough: But is since called up by Writ of Summons, to the House of Lords; whereby the Borough is now represented by one Member only: That Thomas Patten, Esquire, hath exhibited his Petition to this honourable House, thereby alleging he is duly elected for the said Borough: Which Petition is referred to the Committee of Elections and Privileges; but cannot be by them heard, in Course, in a long Time: And praying a short Day may be appointed for the Hearing the Matter of the said Petition: And that the Petitioners may, at the same time, be heard against the Pretensions of the said Tho. Patten.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: Who are to examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinions, to the House.

Barret's Estate.

A Bill to enable Dacres Barret, Esquire, to charge the Reversion of his Estate, in England, with One thousand Five hundred Pounds, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Preventing Fires at Marlborugh.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the better Preventing of Fires in the Town of Marlbrough.

And the said Bill was presented to the House: and received.

Pye's Marriage Settlement.

A Petition of Sir Robert Pye was read; setting forth, That, in the Settlement made by the Petitioner upon the Marriage of his eldest Son, there is a Mistake to the Prejudice of all the Parties concerned; which they are all desirous may be rectified: But are advised that it cannot properly be done but by Act of Parliament: And praying, That Leave may be given to bring in a Bill for the rectifying the said Mistake.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill accordingly.

Hackney Coaches.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for regulating Hackney Coaches in London and Westminster.

And it is recommended to Sir Wm. Poultney, Mr. Christy, Sir Thomas Clarges, Mr. Serjeant Wogan, Mr. Hawtry, to prepare and bring in the same.

African Company.

A Petition of the Royal Affrican Company of England was read; setting forth, That the Petitioners have, by their great Charge for many Years past, preserved to this Nation the Trade in Affrica, from the Port of Sally, to Cape de Bona Esperanza, under Letters Patents from the late King Charles the Second; whereby they have not only improved the Manufactories of this Nation; but, from the large Credit the Company have given to their Majesties Plantations, the said Trade hath produced an Increase of Wealth and Navigation to the Kingdom, and Revenue to the Crown: But there arising Disputes about the Powers granted to the said Company by the Letters Patents, whereby they are disturbed in their Trade: And praying, That they may have Leave to offer a Bill for confirming to the Petitioners their Charter and Trade.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to consider of the Affrican Trade; and how the same may be best settled for the Benefit of the Nation; and to report their Opinions therein to the House.

And it is referred unto Sir Cha. Porter, Sir Benj. Newland, Mr. Etterick, Mr. Pitts, Sir Rob. Nappier, Sir Wm. Strickland, Mr. Perry, Sir Peter Coryton, Mr. Baile, Sir John Guise, Sir Math. Andrewes, Sir Walter Young, Sir Rob. Rich, Mr. Christy, Mr. Jeffryes, Mr. Henly, Mr. Hutcheson, Sir Edw. Seymour, Mr. Buscawen, Lord Cheny, Mr. Lewes, Sir John Banks, Mr. Papillion, Sir Jervas Elwes, Sir Tho. Clarges, Sir Tho. Vernon, Sir Phil. Skippon, Sir Rob. Davers, Mr. Godolphin, Mr. Goldwell, Mr. Slater, Sir Tho. Hussey, Sir Cha. Bloys, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Onslow, Mr. Brockman, Mr. Burdett, Sir Sam. Bernadiston, Sir Wm. Thompson, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Burrard, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Chetwynd, Sir Tho. Pope Blunt, Mr. Dyott, Sir Jos. Herne, Mr. Dolben, Mr. Fawkes, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Gray, Mr. Ryder, Sir Jos. Williamson, Mr. Fenwick, Sir Sam. Dashwood, Sir Wm. Whitlock: And all that come are to have Voices: And they are to meet To-morrow in the Afternoon at Three of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Raising Revenue by Fines, &c.

A Petition of Percival Brunskill, Gentleman, was read, setting forth, That the Stat. 5 and 6 Edw. VI. which prohibits all Persons to buy or sell Offices, doth provide, That such as have Estates therein, in Fee, may do it; and consequently their Majesties are seised of all hereditary Rights belonging to their Imperial Crown and Dignity, to which the Administration, and Offices incident thereto, are inseparably annexed: And that, whereas their Majesties may get and save above Four hundred thousand Pounds yearly, by a right Disposition of Offices; and make a considerable yearly Revenue of Fines and Forfeitures, in case the Laws in Force were duly put in Execution, to prevent Officers, Under Sheriffs, Bailiffs, and Attornies Vexation, unreasonable Bills of Costs, and Exactions, whereby they ruin some thousand Families: And the Petitioner conceiving, that his Majesty hath a lawful Right and Authority to put the Laws in Execution for the due answering all ancient Rights, Duties, and Profits, which are established to support the Right and due Administration of Justice, did propose to his Majesty, how and which way his Majesty might get and save the yearly Sum aforesaid: And, upon hearing the same read and debated last Week, before the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, assisted with Sir Robert Atkins, Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer, and Sir Geo. Treby, Attorney General, it was thought adviseable for the Petitioner to offer the same Case, and Proposals, to Parliament: And praying, That a select Committee may be appointed to hear and examine the Petitioner's Case, and Proposals for raising the Revenue of the Crown, by Fines and Forfeitures, and Disposition of Offices; and to report the same to the House.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed accordingly.

And it is referred unto Sir Rob. Napper, Master of the Rolls, Sir Edmund Jennings, Mr. Clerke, Mr. Arnold, Sir Wm. Poultney, Sir Jos. Williamson, Sir Rob. Cotton, Sir Edward Seymour, Mr. Newport, Sir Cha. Bloys, Mr. Glemham, Mr. Price, Mr. Blowfeild, Mr. Gilbert, Sir Tho. Pope Blunt, Mr. Chetwyn, Sir Phil. Skippon, Colonel Birch, Sir John Guise, Sir Cha. Windham, Sir Math. Andrewes, Sir Thom. Clarges, Mr. Gray, Mr. Dyott, Mr. Bull, Sir Jerv. Elwes, Serjeant Trenchard, Mr. Goldwell, Mr. Fawkes, Mr. Christy, Mr. Kenyon, Sir Tho. Travell, Sir Peter Collyton, Sir Gilbert Clerke, Mr. Burdet, Mr. Waller, Sir Sam. Bernadiston, Sir Jonath. Jennings: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Three of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers.

Smithfeild Market.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to regulate the Abuses of the Market of Smithfeild: And it is recommended to Sir John Guise, Sir Tho. Clarges, Sir John Fagg, Mr. Fagg, Mr. Machell, Colonel Birch, Sir Ralph Dutton, to prepare and bring in the same.

Supply Bill; Land Tax.

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in for the Assessment of One hundred Thirty-seven thousand Six hundred Forty-one Pounds Eighteen Shillings and Two-pence, by the Month, for Twelve Months, to begin from the Twenty-fifth of December next, upon Land, according to the Proportions in the Act made in the First Year of their Majesties Reign, intituled, An Act for granting a present Aid to their Majesties: And it is recommended to Mr. Attorney General, Mr. Solicitor General, Sir Tho. Clarges, Mr. Serjeant Wogan, to prepare and bring in the same.

Ways and Means.

Then the House resolved into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of Ways and Means for the raising the Supplies to be granted to their Majesties.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Solicitor General took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Solicitor General reports from the Committee, That they had agreed upon a Resolution: Which they had directed him to report to the House: The which he read in his Place; and afterwards, delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was read; and is as followeth; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards the raising the Supplies to be granted to their Majesties, the Sum of Ten hundred thousand Pounds be raised, upon the Credit, or by Sale, of the forfeited Estates in Ireland.

The said Resolution being read a Second time;

Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That this House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, That, towards the raising the Supplies to be granted to their Majesties, the Sum of Ten hundred thousand Pounds be raised upon the Credit, or by Sale, of the forfeited Estates in Ireland.

Mr. Solicitor General also acquainted the House, That he was directed by the said Committee to move the House, That they might have Leave to sit again Tomorrow Morning.

Resolved, That the House will, To-morrow Morning at Ten of the Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of Ways and Means, for the raising the Supplies to be granted to their Majesties.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

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