House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 26 January 1697

Martis, 26 die Januarii;

8° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Avon Navigation.

A BILL for making the River Avon, between Bath and Bristoll, navigable, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time, upon this Day Sevennight, in a full House.

A Member discharged from custody.

Ordered, That Sir Stephen Evance, in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms, for absenting himself from the Service of this House, be discharged out of Custody, paying his Fees.

Dee Navigation.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to make the River Dee, in the County of Chester, navigable: And that Sir John Manwaring and Sir Michael Biddulph, do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Neve's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for enabling Oliver Neve, of Great Witchingham, in the County of Norfolk, Esquire, to sell Two Houses in London; and for vesting other Lands, in the said County, of greater Value, to the same Uses; was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir Henry Hobart, Mr. Mountstevens, Mr. Blefeild, Mr. Colt, Lord Coningsby, Mr. White, Mr. Fuller, Sir Fran. Drake, Mr. Hoblyn, Mr. Moore, Sir Jacob Ashley, Sir Wm. Hustler, Mr. Bertie, Mr. Gardner, Sir Gervas Elwes, Mr. Taylor, Sir John Turner, Mr. Manly, Mr. Stockdale, Mr. Pocklington, Sir Walter Yonge, Sir Stephen Evance, Mr. Watlington, Sir Wm. Strickland, Mr. Sanford, Mr. Farrer, Mr. Foley, Mr. Woodrofe, Sir Tho. Dyke, Sir Tho. Roberts, Mr. Stonehouse, Sir Fran. Masham, Mr. Burrard, Mr. Morgan, Mr. Price, Mr. Sherrard, Sir John Phillips, Mr. Swift, Mr. Tilney, Mr. Thornhagh; and all the Members that serve for Norfolk and Suffolk: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Hill's Sinecure.

Sir Joseph Williamson, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for re-vesting the Sinecure of Llandinam, in the County of Montgomery, in John Spademan, in Trust for Joseph Hill: And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Prisons and pretended privileged Places.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee appointed to consider how the Abuses of Prisons, and other pretended privileged Places, might be regulated, which lies on the Table, be read To-morrow Morning.

Letters of Marque.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Merchants of London, relating to Letters of Marque, was referred, be made upon Thursday Morning next.

King's Lynn Port.

A Petition of the Mayor, Aldermen, and CommonCouncil, and principal Inhabitants, of the Borough of Thetford, in the County of Norfolk, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, by means of the great River Owze, and the navigable Rivers of Brandon and Thetford, a constant Commerce hath been maintained between Thetford, and the several Towns adjacent, and the Port of King's Lynn; from whence they have been supplied with all Sorts of Merchandize, and made Returns of their Corn and Grain, in Barges, and other Vessels of good Burden; but, by reason of a Dam set down cross the River Owze, near Denver, by the Adventurers for draining Bedford Level, below the Mouth of the said Rivers of Brandon and Thetford, the Stream is so stopped, and the Rivers so silted, that the smallest Vessels cannot pass without great Delay and Danger; and the whole Navigation is in great Danger of being lost: And praying, That the said Dam and Sluice may be removed, as the only Means to restore and preserve the said Navigation.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the Bill for the better Preservation of the Navigation of the Port of King's Lynn, in the County of Norfolk, be read a Second time.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Owners and Occupiers of Land in the South Level or Division of the Fens, called Bedford Level, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Adventurers for draining the said Level of the Fens, in Consideration of large Shares allotted to them, did oblige themselves to drain the said Level, without Prejudice to Navigation in the Rivers of Owze, Grant, Mildenhall, Brandon and Stoak; but the said Adventurers have erected a Dam and Sluice cross the Owze, at Denver, below the Mouths of all the said Rivers; which hath so weakened their Streams, that they are all filted, and the Navigation much prejudiced, and the Petitioners Lands lie drowned most Part of the Year; and very little Improvement is made, unless in those Lands purchased by particular Members of the Adventurers: That the Petitioners have made several Complaints to the said Adventurers; but can have no Relief, nor Appeal from them, in regard they are, by Act of Parliament, appointed Commissioners of Sewers for governing the said Level, and the Works thereof, exclusive of all others: And praying, That other Persons, having Lands in the said Level, may, according to their Proportions, be joined with the said Adventurers for governing the said Level.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the Bill for the better Preservation of the Navigation of the Port of King's Lynn, in the County of Norfolk, be read a Second time.

Courtney's Estate.

A Petition of Thomas Tatton Gentleman was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there is a Bill depending in the House, and committed, for enabling Trustees to sell the Estate of Humphry Courtney, late of Tremeere, in the County of Cornwall Esquire, deceased, for Payment of his Debts: That the said Humphry Courtney was indebted to the Petitioner, at the time of his Death, 150 l. upon Bond: And praying, That the Consideration of his Petition may be referred to the Committee, to whom the said Bill is committed.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the said Bill is committed.

Irish Arrears.

A Petition of Francis and John Marvejoll, Sons and Heirs of James Marvejoll, late Captain Reformade in Colonel Belcastle's Regiment of Foot, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there is above 100 l. due to the Petitioners, for their Father's Irish Arrears, which Mr. Teudebeufe, Agent to the said Regiment, hath received; yet denies to pay the Petitioners; who are not able to prosecute at Law for the Recovery thereof: And praying the Relief of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of John Hakewell, and other Troopers, is referred.

King's Lynn Port.

Ordered, That the Bill for the better Preservation of the Navigation of the Port of King's Lynn, in the County of Norfolk, be read a Second time upon Thursday Morning next: And that the Counsel for and against the said Bill be then heard, at the Bar of this House.

Supply Bill; Land-Tax.

An ingrossed Bill for granting an Aid to his Majesty, as well by a Land Tax, as by several Subsidies, and other Duties, payable for One Year, was read the Third time.

An ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider, That the Act shall not extend to charge uncovered Houses:

And the same was thrice read; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House to be made Part of the Bill.

Another ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider, That all hammered Money shall be current, after a certain time, at 5s. 2d. per Ounce, in all Payments:

And the same was thrice read; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House to be made Part of the Bill.

Another ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider, That it shall be Felony to counterfeit the Exchequer-Bills of Credit:

And the same was thrice read; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House to be made Part of the Bill.

Another ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider, That no Officer of the Excise shall be capable of acting as a Commissioner for the said Act:

And the same was read the First time.

And the Question being put, That the Clause be read a Second time;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

Another ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider, touching Qualifications for Members in Parliament:

And the Question being put, That the Clause be received:

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

And several Amendments were proposed to be made in the Bill; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House; and the Bill amended at the Table accordingly.

Then a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Bill do pass;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Ordered, That the Title be, An Act for granting an Aid to his Majesty, as well by a Land-Tax, as by several Subsidies, and other Duties, payable for One Year.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Littleton do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Mitchell Election.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, touching the Election for the Borough of Mitchell, in the County of Cornwall, be made upon Friday Morning next.

Tavistock Election.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, touching the Election for the Borough of Tavistock, in the County of Devon, be made upon Friday Morning next.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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