House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 23 November 1696

Lunæ, 23 die Novembris;

8° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Committees.

ORDERED, That all Committees be revived.

Members summoned.

Ordered, That the Serjeant at Arms attending this House do go with the Mace into Westminster-hall, and the Courts there, and Court of Requests, and summon the Members there to attend the Service of the House immediately.

And he went accordingly.

And, being returned with the Mace;

Regulating Elections.

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Bill for the further regulating Elections of Members to serve in Parliament be now read a Second time;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

The Bill was read a Second time.

And a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Bill be committed;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

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

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

Enquiry concerning the Fleet.

Sir George Rook, attending, according to Order, was called in; and presented to the House Two Books; the One, of Copies of Letters by him sent to the Secretary of State; and the other, of Copies of Letters by him received from the Secretary of State; from the 1st of January 1695, to the 27th of May 1696.

And then withdrew.

He was afterwards called in again; and examined to several Matters relating to the Fleet under his Command.

And then withdrew.

Ordered, That the said Books do lie upon the Table, to be perused by the Members of the House.

Ordered, That Sir Cloudesly Shovell do, upon Thursday Morning next, lay before this House, Copies of all such Orders as he received, in order to the joining Sir George Rook, for the intercepting the French Thoulon Squadron in going into Brest.

Ordered, . . . . Commissioners of the Admiralty do, upon Thursday Morning next, lay before this House Copies of all Orders sent to Sir George Rook, and Sir Cloudesly Shovell, or in relation to the Fleet in general, between the First Day of January last and the time the Thoulon Squadron got into Brest.

Ordered, That the Commissioners of the Admiralty do, upon Thursday Morning next, lay before this House an Account of what Intelligences they received, from time to time, of the French Thoulon Squadron's sitting out, and their Motions towards Brest.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Monday Morning next, proceed to take into Consideration the Papers which have been laid, and ordered to be laid, before this House, relating to the Fleet; and inquire how it came to pass, that the French Thoulon Fleet was not intercepted in going into Brest.

Ordered, That Vice-Admiral Michell do attend this House upon Monday Morning next.

Ordered, That Sir George Rook do attend this House again upon Monday Morning next.

Privilege—Prosecution for Evidence before a Committee.

A Complaint being made to the House, That Sir George Meggott had prosecuted at Law several Persons for what they testified, the last Sessions, at the Committee of Privileges and Elections, upon the hearing the Matter touching the Election for the Borough of Southwark;

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections, to examine the Matter of the said Complaint; and to report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Deficiencies of Funds.

The House, according to Order, proceeded to take into Consideration that Part of his Majesty's Speech, which relates to the Deficiencies of the Funds.

And his Majesty's Speech was read.

And a Motion being made, That a Supply be granted to his Majesty, for making good the Deficiencies of Parliamentary Funds;

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of that Motion.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir John Smith have Leave to go into the Country, his Lady being ill.

Fenwick's Attainder.

Mr. Norris, according to the Order of the Day, reported, from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill to attaint Sir John Fenwick Baronet of High Treason was committed, the Amendment, made by the Committee, to the said Bill; which he read in his Place, with the Coherence; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was twice read, and agreed unto by the House.

Then a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Bill, with the Amendment, be ingrossed;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Ordered, That the said Bill be read the Third time upon Wednesday next, at Twelve a Clock.

Ordered, That all the Members of the House do then attend, upon Pain of incurring the Displeasure of the House.

Ways and Means.

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 granted to his Majesty, for carrying on the War against France, for the Service of the Year 697.

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