House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 18 June 1698

Sabbati, 18 die Junii;

Decimo Gulielmi 3tii.

Prayers.

Preventing false Election Returns.

SIR Henry Colt, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for the more effectual preventing false and double Returns: And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir John Hoskyns and Sir Robert Legard:

Mr. Speaker,

Lords desire a Conference.

The Lords do desire a Conference with this House, in the painted Chamber, on Monday next, at One a Clock, upon the Subject-matter of their Clauses added to the Bill, 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 Water-works there; and for improving the same. Also,

Relief of Creditors.

The Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, . . . . . to repeal an Act, made the last Session of Parliament, 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 they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Resolved, That this House do agree to a Conference with the Lords, as their Lordships do desire.

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

Wire-drawers Trade.

Mr. Heveningham reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for settling and adjusting the Proportions of fine Silver and Silk; and for the better making of Silver and Gold Thread; and to prevent the Abuses of the Wire-drawers; was committed; That they had made several Amendments to the Bill; which they had directed him to report to the House; which he read in his Place; 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, agreed unto by the House.

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

Answer to Address.

Mr. Secretary Vernon acquainted the House, That his Majesty had been attended with their Address, That he would please to bestow some Preferment in the Church upon Dr. Hallifax, Chaplain to this House; and that his Majesty was pleased to say, He will provide for him as soon as he can.

Cecill's Estate.

Ordered, That Mr. Manley, Mr. Yates, Colonel King, Sir Fr. Massam, Mr. Mawdit, Sir Marm. Wyvell, Sir Tho. Day, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Jennings, Mr. Thompson, Sir Wm. St. Quintin, Mr. Speake, Sir Wm. Forrester, Mr. Norris, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Machell, Mr. Frewen, be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill, intituled, An Act for vesting certain Lands and Hereditaments in Maidstone, and elsewhere, in the County of Kent, in Trustees, for the Benefit of Diana Cecill, and her Heirs . . . . .

Ship Gloucester.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill, That the Ships Panther, and St. Andrew now called the Glocester Frigate, taken as Prizes, may have a Freedom of trading as English Ships: And that Sir Tho. Littleton do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Registring Ships.

Mr. Jeffreys reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for enlarging the Time for Registring of Ships, pursuant to the Act for preventing Frauds, and regulating Abuses, in the Plantation-Trade, was committed, That they had made several Amendments to the Bill; which they had directed him to report to the House; which he read in his Place; 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, agreed unto by the House.

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

Preservation of Naval Stores.

A Bill for the reviving and continuing several Acts of Parliament expired, and near expiring, for the Preservation of his Majesty's Naval Stores, and preventing Disturbances of Seamen, and others, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Farrer, Mr. Lowther, Lord Conningsby, Mr. Smith, Mr. Thornhaugh, Mr. Mountstevens, Mr. Yates, Sir Wm. Cooper, Mr. Mawditt, Mr. Fuller, Sir Jos. Jekill, Mr. Fleming, Sir Samuel Grimston, Mr. Baldwyn, Mr. Austin, Mr. Culliford, Mr. Perry, Sir Wm. Scawen, Sir John Ellwill, Colonel King, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Machell, Sir Tho. Hussey, Mr. Manly, Sir John Bolls; and all the Members of the House that serve for the Fleet, or for Sea-port Towns: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Supply Bills; raising Annuities. [New E. I. Co. incorporated.]

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That Leave be given to bring in a Clause, upon the Report of the Bills for granting to his Majesty, his Heirs and Successors, several additional Duties upon Salt; and for raising a Sum, not exceeding 2,000,000l. by settling a perpetual Fund for Payment of certain Annuities, after the Rate of 8l. per Annum for every 100l. and by further Advantages therein mentioned, redeemable by Parliament; to impower the Commissioners of the Treasury, if they think fit, to allow the Tellers of the Exchequer to take Bank-Bills in Payments, until the end of the next Session of Parliament:

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Ordered, That Provision be made in the said Clause, That no Bills shall be taken at a Discount.

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That, in the same Clause, Care be taken to enforce the Payment of such Bank-Bills, in case, on Demand, they be not paid;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

The House proceeded, according to Order, to take into Consideration the Report from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bills for granting to his Majesty, his Heirs and Successors, several additional Duties upon Salt; and for raising a Sum not exceeding 2,000,000l. by settling a perpetual Fund for Payment of certain Annuities, after the Rate of 8l. per Annum for every 100l. and by further Advantages therein mentioned, redeemable by Parliament; were committed:

And the Amendments, made by the said Committee, to the said Bills, were once read throughout; and then several of them a Second time, one by one; and several of them, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House:

Amendment, Fol. * L. *, being read a Second time; the same being for the Drawback of 1s. 8d. per Bushel on Rock Salt;

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

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

Then a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Drawback be 2s. 4d. per Bushel;

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

Several other of the Amendments to the Bill being severally read a Second time; some of them were agreed, and others disagreed, unto by the House, upon the Question severally put thereupon.

Ordered, That the further Consideration of the said Report be adjourned till Monday Morning next.

And then the House adjourned till Monday Morning, Nine a Clock.