House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 31 December 1691

Jovis, 31 die Decembris; 3° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Committees.

ORDERED, That all Committees be revived.

Shelton's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable the Sale of several Lands for the Payment of the Debts and Legacies of Maurice Shelton and others, and for settling other Lands, instead of them, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Roberts' Estate.

An ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act to vest certain Messuages, Lands, and Tenements, in Thorpe, Langton, and elsewhere in the County of Leicester, in Trustees, to be sold for Payment of the Debts of Richard Roberts, Esquire, and for raising Portions for his Daughters, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be agreed to.

Ordered, That Mr. Carter do carry the Bill to the Lords; and acquaint them, That this House hath agreed to the same, without any Amendments.

Westminster Small Debts.

Sir Thom. Clarges reported from the Committee to whom the Bill for Recovering of small Debts, and for Relieving of poor Debtors in Westminster, and the Liberties thereof, was committed, That they had made several Amendments; which they had directed him to report to the House: And which he read in his Place, with the Coherence; and afterwards, delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were once read throughout, and then a Second time, one by one; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

And a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Bill be re-committed.

It passed in the Negative.

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

Paving Streets, &c.

Mr. Bowyer, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to explain a Clause in the late Act for paving and cleansing the Streets in the Cities of London and Westminster, and Suburbs and Liberties thereof, and Out Parishes in the County of Middlesex, and Borough of Southwark, and other Places within the weekly Bills of Mortality in the County of Surrey, and regulating the Markets therein mentioned, touching Cart and Carwheels. And the same was received.

Supply Bill; Land Tax.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cook and Sir Lacon Wm. Child;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords have agreed to the Bill for granting an Aid to their Majesties of the Sum of Sixteen hundred fifty-one thousand Seven hundred and Fiftytwo Pounds Eighteen Shillings, towards the carrying on a vigorous War against France; with some Amendments: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

The said Amendments were read; and are as followeth; viz.

Press 44, Line 37, after "Earl," leave out "of."

Press 115, Line *, for "the," read "such;" and after "Person," add "or Persons."

Press 140, Line 29, after "the," add "Lords and."

Then the said Amendments were read a Second time, one by one; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Ordered, That Mr. Solicitor General do carry the Bill to the Lords; and acquaint them, That this House hath agreed to the said Amendments.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Backwell have Leave to go into the Country, for Ten Days, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Ordered, That Sir Rich. How have Leave to go into the Country for a Fortnight, for Recovery of his Health.

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

Ordered, That Mr. Wheat have Leave to go into the Country for a Fortnight, upon extraordinary Occasions.

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That Sir Tho. Samwell have Leave to go into the Country upon extraordinary Occasions, for a Fortnight;

It passed in the Negative.

Royal Assent to Bills.

A Message from his Majesty, by Sir Tho. Duppa, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod;

Mr. Speaker,

The King commands this honourable House to attend His Majesty in the House of Peers immediately.

And accordingly Mr. Speaker, with the House, went up to attend his Majesty: And being returned;

Mr. Speaker reported, That his Majesty had been pleased to give the Royal Assent to the Bills following; viz.

An Act for granting an Aid to their Majesties of the Sum of Sixteen hundred Fifty-one thousand Seven hundred and Fifty-two Pounds Eighteen Shillings, towards the carrying on a vigorous War against France.

An Act to vest certain Messuages, Lands, and Tenements, in Thorp, Langton, and elsewhere in the County of Leicester, in Trustees, to be sold for Payment of Debts of Richard Roberts, Esquire, and for raising Portions for his Daughters.

The King's Speech reported.

And that also his Majesty was pleased to make a gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament: And, that he might prevent any Mistake in reporting the same, he had desired, and obtained, a Copy thereof: Which he read to the House; and is as followeth;

My Lords and Gentlemen,

I MUST not lose this Occasion of returning you My hearty Thanks for the great Proofs you continue to give Me of your Zeal and Resolution to support and assist Me in the vigorous Prosecution of the War against France next Year: And, I assure you, it shall be My greatest Care, That the Assistances you give Me may be so applied, as to render them the most effectual for the Ends you design them: But I must take notice to you, at the same time, with some Trouble, That the new Year is already come, while our Preparations for it are not only more backward, but those of our Enemies, as we have Reason to think, in greater Forwardness than they were the last Year. I find myself therefore necessitated from this Consideration, most earnestly to recommend to you, Gentlemen of the House of Commons, the Hastening of such further Supplies as you design to enable Me with for the Prosecution of the War.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

The Season being so far advanced, this present Sessions cannot admit of a much longer Continuance: And therefore I must recommend to you the Dispatch of all such other Bills also as you shall judge necessary for the Publick Good.

Trials for Treason.

Then the House, according to the Order of the Day, took into Consideration the Report of the Conference on Tuesday last, touching the Amendments made by the Lords to the Bill for regulating of Tryals, in Cases of Treason.

And the Report of the Conference, and Clause A, being read;

And the Question being put, That this House doth insist upon disagreeing with the Lords in the Clause marked A;

The House divided.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Resolved, That a free Conference be desired with the Lords upon the Subject Matter of the last Conference.

Ordered, That Mr. Mountague do, To-morrow Morning, go to the Lords; and desire the said Conference.

Supply.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning at Ten a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Supplies to be granted to their Majesties for the carrying on a vigorous War against France.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cook and Sir Lacon Wm. Child;

Earl of Salisbury's Estate.

Mr. Speaker, The Lords have passed a Bill, intituled, An Act for the better securing the Portions, Debts, and Legacies given and owing by James late Earl of Salisbury: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

Earl of Waldgrave's Estate.

Also a Bill, intituled, An Act to enable Trustees of the Right honourable James Lord Waldgrave to make Leases, and grant Copyhold Estates, for the Payment of the Arrears of Annuities of Henry Lord Waldgrave his Father, deceased: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

Deer Stealers.

Also the Lords have agreed to the Bill intituled, An Act for the better Discovery and Punishment of Deerstealers, with some Amendments: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Judicial Proceedings in Ireland.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the Continuing of judicial Proceedings in Ireland, which have been discontinued by reason of the late Troubles there.

London Orphans.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Wednesday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of Ways to satisfy the Debts due to the Orphans of the City of London.

Supply Bill; Duties on Low Wines.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the better ordering and collecting the Duties upon Low Wines and Strong Waters, and preventing the Abuses therein.

Copyholds subject to Debts.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the Subjecting of Copyhold Estates to the Payment of Debts, and for the better enabling the Lords of Manors to recover their Fines.

Duties on Spirits from Melasses.

Ordered, That Mr. Deane and Mr. Brent be added to the Committee to whom the Petition of the Refiners of Sugar in England, is referred.

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