House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 22 March 1697

Lunæ, 22 die Martii;

9° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Increase of Seamen.

A BILL to enforce the Act, passed the last Session, for the Increase and Encouragement of Seamen, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Colonel Kendall, Sir Rowland Gwyn, Sir Tho. Dyke, Mr. Sandford, Sir Cloudsly Shovell, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Moyle, Mr. Frewen, Lord Coningsby, Sir Wm. Lowther, Sir Richard Onslow, Mr. Rowney, Sir Wm. Drake, Sir Math. Andrews, Sir John Lowther, Colonel Osborne, Mr. Foley, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Hedger, Sir Rob. Clayton, Mr. Bertie, Mr. Evelyn, Sir Robert Cotton, Colonel Kirkby, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Machell, Mr. Mountstevens, Mr. Papillon, Mr. Blake, Mr. Methwyn, Mr. Daniel, Mr. Travers; and all the Members for the Cinque and Sea-Ports: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers.

Answer to Address.

Sir Henry Goodrick reported, That the Address ordered, on Saturday last, to be presented to his Majesty, That he would please to take effectual Care for the suppressing the Tumult therein mentioned; and for preventing the like for the future; having been presented to his Majesty; his Majesty was pleased thereupon to say, That he would take care to suppress all such riotous Assemblies, as was desired in that Address.

Regulating Printing and Printing-Presses.

Ordered, That the Lord Coningsby, Sir Wm. St. Quintin, Mr. Arnold, Sir Wm. Hustler, Sir Tho. Dyke, Mr. Freke, Sir Tho. Mompesson, Mr. Gardner, Sir Marm. Wivell, Mr. Stonehouse, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Mountague, Lord Cavendish, Sir Edw. Abney, Mr. Shackerlt, Mr. Foley, Mr. Machell, Mr. Moyle, Mr. Molyneux, Mr. Culliford, be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill for Regulating of Printing, and Printing-Presses, is committed.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Hobby have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Ordered, That Sir Richard Middleton have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Ordered, That Colonel Nanny have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Raising the Militia.

An ingrossed Bill for raising the Militia for the Year 1697, although the Month's Pay, formerly advanced, be not repaid, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for raising the Militia for the Year 1697, although the Month's Pay, formerly advanced, be not repaid.

Ordered, That the Lord Coningsby do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Duty on Woollen Manufactures.

A Petition of the Clothiers, Clothworkers, Sergemakers, and others, concerned in the Woollen Manufacture, in and about the Borough of Minehead, in the County of Somerset, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners find, by the printed Votes of the House, that a Duty of 10l. per Cent. ad Valorem, is like to be laid on the Woollen Manufacture of this Kingdom; which will not only be very prejudicial, by lessening that Trade, but by augmenting Poverty in the Nation: And praying, That they may be heard, as the House shall think fit, to shew their Reasons against laying a Duty upon the Woollen Manufactures.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the Bill for the said Duties be brought in.

Ditto.

A Petition of all the Clothiers in Reading, Newbery, and other Places, in the County of Berks, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the CloathingTrade hath already received such Damage, by the Scarcity of Money, the great Discount of Bank-Bills, and the great Advance of all foreign Commodities used in making of Cloth, that if a Duty should be laid upon the Woollen Manufactures, the Petitioners fear it will not only cut off our foreign Trade therein, by reason our own Plantations, as well as foreign Markets, will be cheaper supplied therewith by the Irish, Dutch, French, &c. than we can afford them here, but it will also lessen the Consumption at home; whereby many Makers will be necessitated to lay down their Trade, and Multitudes of the Poor be unemployed, who now get a competent Living: And praying the Consideration of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the Bill for the said Duties be brought in.

Supply Bill; Malt Duties.

Ordered, That the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for granting to his Majesty certain Duties upon Malt and Mum, Sweets, Cyder, and Perry, as well towards carrying on the War against France, as for the necessary Expence of his Majesty's Houshold, and other Occasions, is committed, have Liberty to receive a Clause for the further Encouragement of the making Sail-Cloth in England.

Supply Bill; Duties on Salt.

Ordered, That the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for granting to his Majesty certain additional Duties upon Salt, for Payment of Interest-money, and other Purposes therein mentioned, is committed, have Power to receive a Clause, or Clauses, for the Duty upon Salt-Rock to be paid, or secured, before the same be removed from the Pits, Storehouses, or Warehouses, adjoining to the Pits; and for the taking off the Allowance and Abatement of One Shilling upon melting, or refining, the same.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

Supply Bill; Wine Duties.

Mr. Lowndes, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for granting to his Majesty certain Duties upon Wines, for carrying on the War against France: And the same was received.

Ordered, That the Bill be read To-morrow Morning.

Supply Bill; Deficiencies, and Bank Stock. &c.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Bill for making good the Deficiencies of several Funds, therein mentioned; and for inlarging the Capital Stock of the Bank of England; and for raising the publick Credit: And also, of the Bill for granting to his Majesty certain additional Duties upon Salt, for Payment of Interest-money, and other Purposes therein mentioned.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
Sir Thomas Littleton took the Chair of the Committee.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir Thomas Littleton reported from the said Committee, That they had gone through the Matters to them referred; and joined both the Bills together; and made several Amendments to them; and had directed him to report the same to the House, when the House will please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the said Report be made To-morrow Morning.

Duties on Tin.

Sir Thomas Littleton also reported from the said Committee, That they had considered the Matter to them referred, relating to the Duties upon Tin; and had come to a Resolution; which they had also directed him to report, when the House will please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the said Report be made also To-morrow Morning, after the said other Report.

Supply Bill; Malt Duties.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Thursday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for granting to his Majesty certain Duties upon Malt and Mum, Sweets, Cyder, and Perry, as well towards carrying on the War against France, as for the necessary Expence of his Majesty's Houshold, and other Occasions.

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