House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 6 May 1698

Veneris, 6 die Maii;

Decimo Gulielmi.

Prayers.

Colchester Work-houses.

THE House took into Consideration the Amendments, made by the Lords, to the Bill, intituled, An Act for erecting Hospitals and Work-houses within the Town of Colchester, in the County of Essex, for the better employing and maintaining the Poor thereof:

And the said Amendments were read; and are as follow; viz.

At the End of the Bill, add the Clauses marked A, B, C.

Clause A: "And be it further Enacted, That in case the said Mayor and Aldermen shall neglect or refuse to call or hold a Court for the Elections or Removal of any Guardian or Guardians, Officer or Officers, for the Space of Fourteen Days, after it shall be demanded by the said Guardians, or the Majority of them, that then the said Guardians, or the Majority of them, are hereby required and impowered to call and hold the said Court, to the same Intents and Ends, and to do all things as if the said Court had been held and called by the said Mayor and Aldermen, as aforesaid."

Clause B: "Provided always, and be it further Enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, That to the end Landlords, Under-tenants, or Occupiers of Houses, may not escape to be rateably taxed to the said Workhouses, and also to the Poor, by letting out their Houses in Lodgings, and other Apartments, in Farm, to poor People, where such Landlords either pay themselves, or are paid, out of the Poor-Rates; that every such Landlord shall be rated, and pay towards the said Work-houses, and also to the Poor, rateably and proportionably, as the Landlords, Under-tenants, or Occupiers of other Houses, are or ought to be rated, or do or ought to pay."

Clause C: "Be it further Enacted, That this Act, or any thing therein contained, shall not be construed to ratify and confirm any Rates or Taxes, whereof any Person or Persons had any just Cause of Complaint before this Act; but that every Person shall have such Remedy, as the Laws in force, for the Relief of the Poor, already provide."

Clause A, being read a Second time, was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Clause B being read;

And the Question being put, That the House do agree with the Lords in the said Amendment;

It passed in the Negative.

Clause C being read;

And the Question being put, That the House do agree with the Lords in the same Amendment;

It passed in the Negative.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to draw up Reasons, to be offered to the Lords at a Conference, for disagreeing to the said Amendments:

And it is referred to Sir Isaac Rebow, Sir Fran. Massam, Mr. Baldwyn, Sir Eliab Harvey, Serjeant Bond, Mr. Colt, Sir Wm. Drake, Mr. Palmes, Mr. York, Mr. Mason, Sir Wm. Lowther, Sir John Kay, Mr. Travers, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Mountstevens, Mr. Fleming, Mr. Bromly, Mr. Manly, Sir Tho. Barnardiston, Mr. Clark, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Osborne, Sir John Elwell, Mr. Norris, Sir Matth. Andrews, Sir Wm. St. Quintin, Sir Ra. Delavall, Mr. Perry, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Fuller; or any Five of them: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Marshal of King's Bench.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Petition of Mr. Seviar was referred, be taken into Consideration To morrow Morning: And that the Report from the Committee, to whom the Prison-Bill was committed, be then made.

Wiredrawers Trade.

A Bill for the settling and adjusting the Proportions of fine Silver and Silk, for the better making of Silver and Gold Thread; and to prevent the Abuses of the Wiredrawers; was read a Second Time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir Henry Hobart, Mr. Morgan, Mr. Boscawen, Mr. Yorke, Mr. Arnold, Sir John Bueknall, Mr. Clark, Mr. Bohun, Mr. Farrer, Sir Rowland Gwyn, Sir Wm. Lowther, Sir Henry Goodrick, Mr. Thornhaugh, Mr. Manley, Sir Jacob Astley, Sir Ralph Dutton, Mr. Maudit, Sir Edward Ayscough, Mr. Sandford, Sir Samuel Barnardiston, Colonel Osborne, Mr. Yates, Sir John Kaye, Sir Scroop Howe, Mr. Fleming, Mr. Monckton, Sir Wm. Honywood, Mr. Battiscombe, Mr. Jennings, Sir Wm. St. Quintin, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Hedger, Mr. Gery, Mr. Monson, Mr. Serjeant Bond, Mr. Heveningham, Mr. Staynes, Mr. White, Mr. Palmes, Mr. Mountstevens, Sir Matth. Andrews, Mr. Sherrard, Mr. Blofeild, Sir John Bolls, Mr. Moore; and all ........... for London, Kent, and Norfolk: And they are to meet at Five a Clock this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Bail of Persons impeached.

Mr. Speaker acquainted the House, That he had, by the Hands of the Serjeant at Arms attending the House, received from Mr. Seignores, Mr. Baudovin, Mr. Santari, Mr. Di Hearce, Mr. Longueville, Mr. Goudet, and Mr. Barrau, a Lift of Persons, proposed by them to be their Sureties: Which was read; and is as followeth; viz.

For Messieurs Seignores, Baudovin, and Santini.
Mr. Robert Lancashire Merchant.
Mr. Wm. Shepphard Goldsmith.
Mr. John Hulls Pewterer.
Mr. Peter Gray Gentleman.
Mr. Noah Houssay Merchant.
Mr. Isaac Barnard wholesale Haberdasher.

For Mr. Peter Di Hearce. Mr. William Pate Draper.
Mr. Thomas Payne Goldsmith.
Mr. Claudius Denize Gentleman.
Mr. John James David Merchant.
Mr. Edward Harris a Packer.

For Mr. Peter Longueville.
Mr. David Prole Merchant.
Mr. Nicolas Tourton Merchant.
Mr. Samuel Guiguir Merchant.
Mr. John Coxe Clothworker.
Mr. Henry Barnsley Packer.

For Messieurs Goudet and Barrau.
Thomas Garraway Esquire.
Mr. Daniel Matet Merchant.
Mr. Peter Faget a Draper.
Mr. John Baptist Peters Attorney.
Mr. William Murray Merchant.
Mr. Edward Harris a Packer.
Mr. David Bosanquett Merchant.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Lift be referred to the Committee, who are to prepare Articles of Impeachment against the said Persons; and to report to the House, which of the said Persons shall be Sureties.

Suffolk Place Southwark.

A Petition of several Landlords of Suffolke Place, within the Parish of Saint George, Southwark, in the County of Surrey, in the Name of themselves, and the rest of the Landlords of that Place, was offered to be presented to the House:

And the Question being put, That the said Petition be received;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

The Petition was received, and read; setting forth, That, by an Act of Parliament, passed against the Corruptions of Prisons, and pretended privileged Places, it was made lawful for Sheriff's Officers to break open Doors, in order to execute any Process; and the Penalty of resisting an Officer, 50 l. Pillory, and Imprisonment; and in case of a Rescue, 500 l. or Transportation; Upon which, all the Inhabitants of the Place have deserted; and none will, for the Reasons aforesaid, inhabit there: So that some Thousand per Annum remain uninhabited: And praying, That Power of breaking open Houses may be taken away.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to a Committee: And that they do examine the Matter of Fact; and report the same to the House:

And it is referred to Mr. Harcourt, Mr. Harley, Mr. Colt, Mr. Manley, Mr. Bickerstaffe, Mr. Bromley, Mr. Thornhaugh, Mr. Ryder, Mr. Arnold, Sir Henry Hobart, Mr. Mounstevens, Sir Isaac Rebow, Sir Matth. Andrews, Sir Wm. Ashurst, Sir Edward Ernly, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Baldwyn, Sir Fran. Massam, Mr. Serjeant Bond, Mr. Thompson, Sir John Phillips, Mr. Bowyer, Mr. Jennings, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Rowney, Sir Cha. Wyndham, Mr. Foley, Sir John Kaye, Mr. Farrer, Mr. Onslow, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Brofeild, Sir Samuel Barnardiston: And they are to meet at Five a Clock this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber: And have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Ledgingham's Ship Pumps.

Mr. Manley reported, from the Committee, to whom the Petition of Robert Ledgingham Merchant, was referred, the Matter, as it appeared to the said Committee; and the Resolution of the Committee thereupon; which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was read; and is as followeth; viz.

That the Committee thought it for their Service to have the Judgment of Trinity-house, upon the Petitioner's Invention of a new Pump, and other Engines, mentioned in the Representation annexed to his Petition; and accordingly ordered them to inspect the Petitioner's Draughts, and Models, and to make an Experiment; and report their Opinion thereof to the Committee:

Pursuant to which Order, the Members of Trinityhouse did report, in Writing, to the Committee, That they had made an Experiment of the Petitioner's said Inventions.

But the said Report not being in favour of the Petitioner's new-invented Hand-Pump, he desired to be heard touching the same:

Ledgingham's Ship-Pumps.

Mr. Ledgingham said, That the Brethren of Trinityhouse had not inspected his Draughts; and that Captain Wright, who was appointed by them to manage the Experiment, obliged him, under his Hand, to make his Hand-pump of certain Dimensions, that he might cause another of the like Dimensions to be made, for the Service of Trinity-house, to prove the Experiment; and desired the Petitioner not to vary, because a true Judgment might be given upon the Operation between them.

That the Petitioner made his Hand-pump accordingly: but, when the Trial came to be made Captain Wright had not pursued the Agreement; the Chain-pump prepared by him being of larger Dimensions; and, besides, had an Addition borrowed from the Petitioner's Invention: So that when Six Men employed to work the said Chain-pump, against the Petitioner's Hand-pump with Two Men, the Six Men could not work above two Minutes and a Half; whenas two Men could have wrought the Petitioner's Hand-pump an Hour: That the Petitioner desired, that the Chain-pump might be wrought half an Hour, but the Men could not stand it.

Captain Tho. Graves said, That Mr. Ledgingham demanded of Captain Wright, that the Men at the Chainpump might work it half an Hour, against his Handpump, the better to experiment the same; but he refused to let them; for no other Reason, as he believes, but that the Men were not able to hold it longer than Two Minutes and an Half; though Two Men might have wrought Mr. Ledgingham's said Pump an Hour.

That he was on board the Southampton, when the Experiment was made between Mr. Ledgingham's Handpump, and the common Hand-pump set up by Trinityhouse; and that the common Hand-pump, in Five Minutes and an Half, filled a Cistern, containing Two Tuns and Four Gallons of Water, within half an Inch; and Mr. Ledgingham's Hand-pump filled the same Cistern in Four Minutes and Three Quarters.

That Captain Graves took the Dimensions of those Pumps; and the Bore of the common Hand-pump exceeded Mr. Ledgingham's Half an Inch in the Diameter, in the Chamber of the Pump; besides Two Inches in the Neck of the Brake, or Handle.

That the Force-work of the said Hand-pump is of great Use for extinguishing Fire, without the Help of Buckets, either aloft or below.

Mr. Stokes said, That he made Mr. Ledgingham's Hand-pump, and took the Dimensions of that and the Chain-pump, which wrought against it, and which exceeded the Dimensions of the Hand-pump: That the Chain-pump was new, and made with a Brass Roll, not formerly used with the old common Chain-pumps.

That there was on board the Southampton, when the said Experiment was made, an old common Chain-pump, which was not tried against Mr. Ledgingham's Handpump, though Mr. Ledgingham objected against the Use of the new Chain-pumps.

Captain Lucas said, That he was on board the Southampton, when one Mr. Ogden was setting up the Chainpump; by Order of Trinity-house, that wrought against Mr. Ledgingham's Hand-pump; and, observing that there was a Brass Roll to it, which was not usual to the common Chain-pump, the Informant told Mr. Ogden, That he made use of Mr. Ledgingham's Invention, and over-leathered his Pump; To which he answered, He wrought according to his Directions.

That, on the 31st of March last, he was on board his Majesty's Ship the Winchester, and saw an Experiment made between an old common Chain-pump, and Mr. Ledgingham's new Chain-pump, both fixed at an equal Height; and the common Chain-pump, at one Spell, with six Men, filled a Cistern of Two Tuns Four Gallons, in Three Minutes and an Half and One Eighth of a Minute; and Mr. Ledgingham's Pump filled the same Cistern in Two Minutes an Half and One Eighth, at one Spell, with four Men; but the Bore of Mr. Ledgingham's Pump was half a Quarter of an Inch wider in the Diameter than the common Chain-Pump: And that Captain Wright, Captain Saunders, Mr. Miller, Mr. Hardeng, and others, saw this Experiment made.

That he conceives Mr. Ledgingham's Invention of the Plug, for cleansing the Sucker of the Pump, is of very great Service; for that it may be done in any Weather, in Two Minutes time, without hoisting up the Pump; which otherwise could not be done in a much longer time, and with a great deal more Trouble and Hazard, especially in Storms, or time of Fight.

Mr. James Wass Surgeon, said, That he believes the Stench of the Bilgewater, in the Hold of a Ship, contributes much to the Sickness and Mortality of Seamen; and that Mr. Ledgingham's Invention of an Air-pipe, for conveying Air into any Part of a Ship, will greatly prevent those Inconveniencies; for that he has often observed, when sick Men have been removed from the Lower to the Upper-deck, they have soon after amended; which he attributes chiefly to the more wholesome Air.

Mr. Robinson, late Surgeon to the Lord Berkley, and Sir George Rook, and now to Sir Cloudesly Shovell's Marine Regiment, said, That he went to see the Experiment made of Mr. Ledgingham's Air-Pipe; and thinks it very useful and necessary, for the Preservation of Seamens Health and Lives.

That he wrought Mr. Ledgingham's Hand-pump with one Hand, with much Ease, and thinks it much better than the common Hand-pump; and if he goes to Sea again, as he thinks he shall next Year, he will be at the Charge of one of them himself, together with the Air-pipe, rather than to go without; for that he should save the Charge thereof in the Expence of his Medicines; the Stink of the Bilgewater being undoubtedly very unhealthful.

Mr. Emery Surgeon, said, That he saw the said Airpump experienced; which will convey Air into all Parts of a Ship; which must be a great Means to preserve the Health of the Seamen from the unwholesome Stench of the Bilgewater: That the common Way of letting in fresh Water, by making a Hole in the Hold of the Ship, to purify the Bilgewater, is often very dangerous, and cannot be done where Ships are sheathed: So he thinks the Air-pipe much safer, and better for that Purpose; or than the Use of Wind-sails.

That it was admitted, by several Members of Trinityhouse, That the Petitioner's new invented Chain-pump is much better, and more useful, than any other Chainpumps heretofore used.

And it appeared to the Committee, by his Majesty's Royal Letters Patents under the Great Seal, That his Majesty has been graciously pleased, for Encouragement of the said Inventions, to grant the sole Benefit and Use thereof to the said Mr. Ledgingham, for the Term of Fourteen Years; about Four Years whereof are past, the said Mr. Ledgingham having, hitherto, made no Advantage of his said Inventions, but been at great Expence and Trouble in bringing the same to Perfection.

And that, upon the whole Matter, the Committee came to the Resolution following; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Inventions of the Petitioner's Chain-pump, and Hand-pump, may be of great Use and Benefit to Navigation; and deserves the Favour and Encouragement of this House.

The said Resolution being read a Second time;

Resolved, That the House do agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, That the Inventions of the Petitioner's Chain-pump, and Hand-pump, may be of great Use and Benefit to Navigation; and deserves the Favour and Encouragement of this House.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the Encouragement of the said Invention: And that Mr. Manley, and Mr. Bertie do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Suppressing Profaneness, &c.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Richard Holford and Mr. Pitt:

Mr. Speaker,

The Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act for the more effectual suppressing of Blasphemy and Profaneness, with some Amendments: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Bishop of Winchester's Leasing.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for confirming a Lease, granted by the Lord Bishop of Winchester, of a Parcel of waste Ground in Alverstock, in the County of Southampton, for the erecting of Waterworks there, and for improving the same, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill, with the Amendments, do pass.

Ordered, That Sir Matthew Andrews do carry the Bill to the Lords, and acquaint them, That this House hath agreed to the same, with some Amendments: To which they desire their Lordships Concurrence.

Sir T. Cooke's Accounts.

The Clerk, according to Order, having brought in the Letter from Sir Thomas Cooke, to the Commissioners for taking and stating the publick Accounts; the same was opened and read; and is as followeth; viz.

Tower of London, August the 31th, 1695.

Gentlemen,

The Act, made the last Session of Parliament, confining me to remain in Custody, in the Tower of London, without Bail or Mainprize, until the End of the next Sessions of Parliament, unless sooner discharged, has thereby incapacited me to wait upon you: Therefore I did, on the 28th Instant, by Letter, earnestly intreat, That you would give yourselves the Trouble to receive from me me Account of the Distribution and Disposal of several Sums of Money, which another Act, made in the said Sessions, directed me to discover unto you, upon Oath, on or before the First of September next; and also impowered and required you to examine me thereupon: And having an Answer to my Letter, That I should hear from you within the Time limited by the said Act, I have been constantly expecting when you would please to take my Discovery and Examination: But it being now Saturday the 31st August, and not having heard from you, I am necessitated to send you the inclosed Discovery, upon Oath, pursuant to the Act; because, otherwise, I am in Doubt, whether I can reap the Benefit granted me by the said Act, upon such my Discovery, unless I do what in me lies, to answer the Intent thereof.
I remain

Your obedient and humble Servant,

P. S. Having just written the foregoing, I have since received your Answer, That you have considered of my Letter, of 28th Instant; and don't think fit to examine me.

Tho. Cooke.

Sir Thomas Cooke Knight, maketh Oath, That the annexed Accounts of Sixty-seven thousand and Thirtyone Pounds Eighteen Shillings and Two-pence, Ninety thousand Pounds, and Ten thousand Two hundred Fifty-eight Pounds, are a true and full Discovery, to the best of his Knowlege, how, and in what Manner, and to what Person or Persons, and to what particular Uses, Intents, and Purposes, and on what Account, the Sums of Sixty-seven thousand Pounds, Ninety thousand Pounds, and Ten thousand Two hundred Fifty-eight Pounds, have been distributed, paid, applied, disposed, or made use of; which Discovery is in pursuance of an Act of the last Session of Parliament, relating to the said Sums.

Tho. Cooke.

Jurat' 31 die Augusti 1695. coram me.

Lucas.

The 23th of April 1695.

Sir T. Cooke's Accounts.

A true and full Discovery, upon Oath, made by Sir Thomas Cooke, to the best of his Knowledge, how, and in what Manner, and to what Person or Persons, and to what particular Uses, Intents, and Purposes, and on what Account, the Sum of Sixty-seven thousand Pounds, and the Sum of Ninety thousand

Pounds, have been distributed, paid, applied, disposed, or made use of; which Discovery is in pursuance of an Act of this present Session of Parliament; viz.

The 23th April 1695.

An ACCOUNT of the Disposition of the Ninety thousand Pounds mentioned in the said Bill, which was for East-India Stock bought of several Persons, for Account of the East-India Company; as by the Particulars below appears; viz.

The 23th of April 1695.

A true and full Discovery upon Oath, made by Sir Thomas Cooke, to the best of his Knowledge, how, and in what Manner, and to what Person or Persons, and to what particular Uses, Intents, and Purposes, and on what Account, the Sum of Ten thousand Two hundred fifty-eight Pounds hath been distributed, paid, applied, disposed, or made use of; which Discovery is in pursuance of an Act of this present Session of Parliament; the said 10,258 l. being the Remainder of the 77,258 l. mentioned in the said Act.

And I do hereby further declare, That none of the said Sums of 67,000 l. or 10,258 l. which came to my Hands, hath, to my Knowledge, been kept or detained for my own Use.

Gentlemen,

Sir T.Cooke's Accounts.

The foregoing being a true and full Discovery upon Oath, to the best of my Knowledge, of the Distribution and Disposal of the several Sums of 67,000 l. 90,000 l. and 10,258 l. as the Act directs, will, I hope, give sufficient Satisfaction: But, if any Persons, charged therein, should object to any Part thereof, or any other should be ready to think, or say, That I know of more than I have put down, I humbly desire Liberty to give my Answers to any Objections, before Reflections are cast upon me; not doubting, but that I shall be able to make it appear plain and evident, That I have dealt justly and faithfully, in every Particular, to the best of my Knowledge, to comply with the said Act; and therefore hope, upon the Perusal and Examination of the Account, and Persons therein charged, it will be found to be so just and true, in every Part thereof, that I may reasonably expect to have that severe Censure and Punishment taken off, which I now lie under, and to be released from the Penalties laid upon me by the Act for my Imprisonment; which, as my Circumstances have been, by what I have suffered from those who have taken Occasion, by this my Misfortune, to blast my Credit and Reputation, as well in my Correspondencies Abroad, as in my Affairs at Home, have had a natural Tendency to the utter Ruin of myself and Family; and how far the same will be effected, Time only can evidence: But that which yet makes my Burden yet more insupportable is, the Displeasure of both Houses of Parliament, which I am still so unhappy as to lie under: However, I leave all to the Divine Providence to direct herein, and shall submit with Patience; having this Support to my Mind, That what I did, in disposing of that Money, was faithfully designed for the Benefit of the East-India Company; and the preserving the Trade to the Nation, without Intention of giving Offence to any; and not One Peny thereof ever fraudulently converted to my own Use.

And I do, on this Occasion, humbly crave Leave to take notice, that it is generally reported, That Sir Bazil Firebrace, on his Examinations, did allege, I had a double Account; one made up with the Five thousand Guineas above mentioned, and another without; which Allegation hath been interpreted, as if the Account of the Discovery of the 67,000 l. was drawn out two Ways; and that I contrived thereby to stifle the Parliament's Inquiry: In Answer whereunto, I do solemnly declare, and am ready to make Oath, That I had no other Account of the Disposition of the 67,000 l. than that which I gave in to the Right Honourable the Committee of both Houses; But I was then ready to have given in the Account of the 10,258 l. both as to Persons and Sums, as is specified above, if I had been thereunto required; which, I thought, I could not properly do to the said Honourable Committee; the Act of Parliament, which appointed them to take my Accounts, extending, as I humbly conceived, only to the 67,000 l. But the said Honourable Committee having, after several Days time, gone through with their Examinations, and making Report thereof to the Honourable House of Commons, Saturday the 27th April, I did, on Monday following, by a Letter to the Honourable Speaker, offer to make a Discovery of the 10,258 l. pursuant to the Act; and humbly requested, That the Commissioners of Accounts would please, that Night, or the Morrow Morning, to send for and interrogate me thereupon; which not being as yet done, is the Occasion of this present Trouble.

And whereas I am informed, It is laid to my Charge, That Mr. Richard Acton should say, He had given me an Account to whom he distributed the Ten thousand Pounds I charged him with, in my former Account; I do humbly crave Leave to add the following Copy of an Affidavit, made before Sir William Ashurst, the 30th April 1695, occasioned by his hearing of the like Report; viz.

Richard Acton maketh Oath, That whereas he is informed, That there are Reports, as if this Deponent should depose, before the Honourable Committee of Lords and Commons, That the Account of several Sums of Money he disbursed to several Persons, and whereof he gave in the Particulars to the said Honourable Committee, was, by this Deponent, given to Sir Thomas Cooke; this Deponent doth solemnly declare, upon his Oath, That he never gave Sir Thomas Cooke an Account of the Distribution of the said Money, or any Part thereof; and if it be suggested, That he did say anything otherwise before the said Honourable Committee, he either misunderstood the Question, or was misapprehended in his Answer.

Which Affidavit of . . . . . . conceive, clears me of that Imputation, and corroborates what I answered at my Examination; viz. That I did not know who Mr. Acton employed in the Distribution of that Money.

I do further humbly beg you will also please to take notice, That the several other Persons charged, in my Account of the 67,000 l. to have received any Monies, who have been examined thereunto by the said Honourable Committee, do, all of them, as I am informed, upon their Oaths, acknowlege the Receipt thereof; and declare to the same Purpose as I before had done in my Examination; which, I persuade myself, will, in due time, take off that severe Censure I have lain under, as if I had not answered with that ingenuity and Truth, as becomes one who is speaking upon his Oath.

All which Premises, being seriously considered, I hope will, and I humbly intreat that they may, effectually prevail with you to represent to both Houses of Parliament, That I have, to the utmost of my Power, complied with the Intent and Meaning of the said Act; and that you will be pleased, in Answer to this my humble Request, to intercede with them, upon their next Meeting, to take my unfortunate Condition into their compassionate Consideration; and to give me such Relief as in their great Wisdom shall be thought meet; it being my firm Resolution, humbly to cast myself upon the publick Promise and Faith of both Houses, and to rely thereupon for my Security.

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

The House being informed, That Sir Thomas Cook attended, according to Order;

Ordered, That he be discharged from further attending.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Richard Holford and Mr. Pitt:

Mr. Speaker,

Hereford Work-houses.

The Lords have agreed to a Bill, intituled, An Act for erecting of Hospitals and Work-houses within the City of Hereford, for the better employing and maintaining the Poor there, with some Amendments: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House. Also,

Birdlip Roads.

The Lords have agreed to the Bill for repairing the Highways from the Town of Birdlip, and the Top of Crickley-hill, in the County of Gloucester, to the City of Gloucester, with an Amendment: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Ways and Means.

The House, according to Order, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of Ways and Means for raising the Supply granted to his Majesty.

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 come to several Resolutions; which they had directed him to report, when the House will please to receive the same.

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

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

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