House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 23 March 1697

Martis, 23 die Martii;

9° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Warburton's Estate.

AN ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Trustees to sell the Estate of Richard Warburton Clerk, for Payment of his Debts; and for raising Portions for his Children; was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Clark, Mr. Heveningham, Mr. Colt, Mr. Newport, Sir Robert Cotton, Mr. Norris, Sir Jos. Tily, Sir Hen. Colt, Mr. Bertie, Mr. Foley, Mr. Morgan, Mr. Evelyn, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Boscawen, Sir Wm. Lowther, Mr. Lowther, Sir Math. Andrews, Mr. Bulkly, Sir John Bucknall, Mr. Arnold, Mr. White, Mr. Lambton, Mr. Gery, Mr. Ash, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Sturt, Lord Coningsby, Mr. Done, Mr. Stringer; and all the Members that serve for the Counties of Chester and Lancaster: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Duty on Woollen Manufactures.

A Petition of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses, and other substantial Inhabitants, and Clothiers, within the Corporation of Taunton, 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. is intended to be laid upon the Woollen Manufactures of this Kingdom; which already labours under such Discouragements, that many Families are gone into Ireland; where they can undersell us; and particularly in Serges, where they can now make one 6s. cheaper than can be made here: That, in case the said Duty be laid, it will further encourage that Trade in Ireland, and much increase our Poor here, for want of Employment; for the Supply of whose Necessities the Petitioners Lands are rated at 4s. in the Pound: And praying the House to proceed so as to promote, rather than discourage, the English 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 the Merchants, Weavers, Fullers, Shearmen, Grocers, Dyers, and others, concerned in, and depending upon, the Woollen Manufacture of Serges, in and about the City of Exon, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the said Manufacture is the main Support of many Thousand People in those Parts, who lie under many Discouragements in their Trade, by reason the same is carried on in Ireland; where they already are able to undersell the Petitioners near 30l. per Cent.; and, if the House should lay a Duty of 10l. per Cent. ad Valorem, upon all Goods made of, or mixed with, Wool, Silk, or Hair, those in Ireland will undersell the Petitioners in so great a Sum, that it will utterly ruin the said Manufacture made by the Petitioners: And praying, That the Manufacture of Serges may be preserved to this Nation.

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

Privilege—Persons petition for Discharge.

A Petition of Anthony Morin and James Anderson, in the Gatehouse, by Order of this House, for abusing the Messengers belonging to the Serjeant, was presented to the House, and read; by which they acknowledged their Offence, and begged Pardon for the same: And prayed to be discharged.

Ordered, That the said Anthony Morin and James Anderson be discharged from their Imprisonment, paying their Fees.

Gratwick's, &c. Petition.

A Petition of Thomas Gratwick, and others, Shopkeepers within the Cities of London and Westminster, and their Liberties, in the Name of themselves, and others within the said Limits, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That * * * *

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

Drawback on Leather.

A Petition of many Shoemakers, within the City of New Sarum, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners are very sensible, that a Drawback of the Duty upon Leather on Exportation will be very prejudicial, and, probably, the Ruin of our native Manufacturers therein: And praying, That no Drawback of the Duty on Exportation may be allowed.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for laying a Duty upon Leather, for the Term of Three Years, for answering the Deficiencies, as well of the late Duties upon Coals and Culm, as for paying the Annuities on the Lotteries, and for Lives, charged on the Tonage of Ships, and the Duties upon Salt . . . . . .

Party Guiles in Brewing.

A Petition of the Master, Wardens, and Assistants, of the Company of Distillers of London, on behalf of themselves, and all the free Distillers of London, Middlesex, and Surrey, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there is a Clause brought in, to be made Part of the Bill for repealing a Clause in a former Act, relating to party Guiles, which gives a Liberty to all Persons to distil Spirits from Corn or Cyder; which Clause will enable all People to work privately in the Night, without paying any Duty; who may under-sell and ruin the Petitioners, who do and must pay the same: And praying, That they may be heard, by Counsel, or otherwise, touching the said Clause, before the said Bill do pass into a Law.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table.

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

Privilege not allowed against payments of Taxes.

Sir John Parsons attending, in his Place, according to Order:

The Petition relating to him was read; setting forth, That the Parish of St. John, Wapping, was, by a late Act of Parliament, constituted, and the Bounds thereby limited; within which is included the now Dwelling-house of Sir John Parsons, a Member of this House, who refuseth to pay the Poor's Rate, and other Parish-Duties assessed on the Inhabitants, upon Pretence that he is no Parishioner; the contrary of which they desire Leave of the House to prove: And praying, That Sir John Parsons may be ordered to wave his Privilege; that so they may have Liberty to recover their Parish Duties.

And he was heard thereupon.

Declared and Resolved, That no Member of this House hath any Privilege against Payment of any Aids, Supplies, or Taxes, granted to his Majesty, or any Parish Duties.

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the said Petition be rejected;

It passed in the Negative.

Relief of Creditors,

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cooke and Sir Lacon William Child:

Mr. Speaker,

The Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act for Relief of Creditors, by making Compositions with their Debtors, in case Two-thirds in Number and Value do agree, with some Amendments: To which Amendments they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Transport Debt.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for a further Provision for Payment of the Interest of the Transport-Debt, for the Reducing of Ireland.

Duties on Glass, &c.

A Petition of the poor Glass-makers, Tobacco-pipemakers, and Makers of Earthen-wares, on behalf of themselves and others concerned in the said Manufactures, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, for many Years past, the Petitioners have, by their several Trades, maintained their Families, and paid Taxes; but, by reason of the great Duties laid upon the said Manufactures, they are uncapable to do either; the Duty having occasioned so great a Decay in Trade, that most of the Petitioners have been unemployed for Twelve Months past; and are in no Expectation of Employ, if the Duties be continued; That the Petitioners understand the House was not pleased to refer the Report concerning them to the Committee of the whole House, for making good the Deficiencies: They therefore pray Relief in such manner as the House shall think fit.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for laying a Duty upon Leather, for the Term of Three Years, for answering the Deficiencies, as well of the late Duties upon Coals and Culm, as for paying the Annuities on the Lotteries, and for Lives, charged on the Tonage of Ships, and the Duties upon Salt . . . . .

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Petitions of the Glass makers were referred, be referred to the Consideration of the said Committee.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir William York have Leave to go into the Country for Recovery of his Health.

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

Mr. Speaker,

Punishing Mutiny and Desertion.

The Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act for continuing several former Acts for punishing Officers and Soldiers who shall mutiny, or desert his Majesty's Service; and for punishing false Musters; and for Payment of Quarters; for One Year longer; without any Amendment. Also,

Conference with Lords.

The Lords desire a present free Conference with this House, in the Painted Chamber, upon the Subject-matter of the last free Conference.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Resolved, That the House doth agree to a present free Conference, as the Lords do desire.

And the Messengers were called in again; and Mr. Speaker acquainted them therewith.

Ordered, That the Members who managed the last free Conference, do manage this free Conference.

And the Managers went to the Conference.

And, being returned;

Mr. Methwin reported the free Conference; and that it was managed only by the Marquis of Normanby: And that he acquainted them, the Lords had considered the Reasons offered at the last free Conference; and that they did not depart from their Amendments to the Bill, intituled, An Act to restrain the Wearing of all wrought Silks and Bengals, imported into this Kingdom from Persia and East India, and all Callicoes printed or stained there, for Reasons the Lords acquainted the Managers with, but adhered to their Amendments; and had delivered back the Bill with the Amendments.

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

Sir Thomas Littleton, according to Order, reported, from the Committee of the whole House, to whom was committed the Bill for making good the Defeciencies of several Funds, therein mentioned; and for enlarging the Capital Stock of the Bank of England; and for raising the publick Credit; and to which they had joined the Bill for granting to his Majesty certain additional Duties upon Salt, for Payment of Interest-monies, and other Purposes therein mentioned; the Amendments, 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 were once read throughout; and then a Second time, one by one; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, with some other Amendments, agreed unto by the House.

A Clause was offered, to be added to the Bill, with Blanks, for choosing a new Governor, and 24 Directors, whereof not above Two-thirds of those that served for the preceding Year shall be chosen:

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

Another Clause was offered, to be added to the Bill, That the Allowance to be made of the First Duty for every Bushel, of 120 Pounds, of Rock Salt, made into White Salt, shall be charged on Two Bushels of 56 Pounds each, and so in proportion; to prevent Frauds:

And the same was once read:

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

It passed in the Negative.

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

Duties on Tin.

Ordered, That the Report from the said Committee of the whole House, relating to the Duties upon Tin, be made To-morrow Morning.

Supply Bill; Duty on Leather.

A Motion being made, That this House will, Tomorrow Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Bill for laying a Duty upon Leather, for the Term of Three Years, for answering the Deficiencies, as well of the late Duties upon Coals and Culm, as for paying the Annuities on the Lotteries, and for Lives, charged on the Tonage of Ships, and the Duties upon Salt; and to consider of Ways and Means for raising an effectual Security for paying the 840,000l. charged upon Stone, Glass, and Earthen Wares, Coals and Culm, Tonage of Ships, and Salt;

And the Question being proposed, That it be after the Committee for the Transport-Debt;

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Bill for laying a Duty upon Leather, for the Term of Three Years, for answering the Deficiencies, as well of the late Duties upon Coals and Culm, as for paying the Annuities on the Lotteries, and for Lives, charged on the Tonage of Ships, and the Duties upon Salt; and to consider of Ways and Means for raising an effectual Security for paying the 840,000l. charged upon Stone, Glass, and Earthen Wares, Coals and Culm, Tonage of Ships, and Salt.

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