House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 20 June 1698

Lunæ, 20 die Junii;

Decimo Gulielmi 3tii.

Prayers.

Walrond's Estate

MR. Burrington, reported from the Committee, to whom the ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Humphrey Walrond Gentleman to sell Part of his Estate, for the making Provision for his eldest Son, and Elizabeth his Daughter, who are Lunaticks; and Payment of his Debts; and raising Portions for his younger Children; was committed; That they had examined and considered the same; and made some Amendments thereunto; 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; and are as follow; viz.

Skin 2. L. 17, after "Issue," insert "then to the Heirs Male of the Body of the said Humphrey, lawfully to be begotten; and, for Default of such Issue."

Sk. 5. L. 5. after "Charity," insert "and Elizabeth;" and leave out the Word "Daughter," and insert, instead thereof, "Daughters."

L. 14. after "Charity," insert "and Elizabeth," and leave out "Daughter," and, instead thereof, insert "Daughters."

Relief of Creditors.

The House proceeded to take into Consideration the Amendments, made by the Lords, to the Bill, intituled, An Act to repeal an Act, made the last Session of Parliament, intituled, An Act for Relief of Creditors, by making Composition with their Debtors, in case Two-thirds in Number and Value do agree:

And the same, being twice read, were, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House; and are as follow; viz.

* * * *

Ordered, That Mr. Farrer do carry the Bill to the Lords, and acquaint them, That this House hath agreed to the said Amendments.

Preventing false Election Returns.

A Bill for the more effectual preventing false and double Returns was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to a Committee of the whole House.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Bill.

Ordered, That the said Committee have Power to receive a Clause, for the Sheriff to adjourn the Poll, for the more easy Election of Knights of the Shire.

A Member excused his non attendance.

Mr. Speaker acquainted the House, That he had received a Letter from the Lord Cornbury, That he was ill, and could not attend the House at present; but hoped he might be able in a Week.

Ordered, That the Lord Cornbury do attend in his Place upon this Day Sevennight.

Abolishing Payments of Smoke-silver, &c.

An ingrossed Bill for taking away the Payments of Smoke-silver, Peter-pence, or Common-fine, payable at the Sheriff-Turn, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act to take away the Payments of Smoke-silver, Peter-pence, and Common-fine, at the Sheriff-Turn.

Ordered, That Mr. Francis Godolphin do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Ways and Means.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, for Ways and Means for raising the Supply granted to his Majesty; in order to consider of the Report from the Committee, to whom the Petitions of the Glass-makers and Tobacco-pipe-makers were referred.

Members summoned.

Ordered, That the Serjeant do go with the Mace into Westminster-hall, and Court of Requests, and summon the Members of the House there, to attend the Service of the House.

And he went.

And, being returned with the Mace;

Wire-drawers Trade.

An ingrossed Bill for the 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 read the Third time.

And an ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider, That the said Act shall continue for Three Years, and from thence to the End of the next Session of Parliament, and no longer.

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

And other Amendments were proposed to be made to the Bill, by leaving out "June," and inserting "July," instead thereof, in several Places:

And the same were, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House; and the Bill amended at the Table accordingly.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for 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 Wire-drawers.

Ordered, That Mr. Heveningham do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Ship Gloucester.

Sir Thomas Littleton, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill, That the Ships Panther, and St. Andrew, now called the Gloucester Frigat, taken as Prizes, may have a Freedom of trading as English Ships: And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time To-morrow Morning.

Cecill's Estate.

Ordered, That the Committee, to whom the ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, 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, is committed, have Leave to sit To-morrow Morning: And that Mr. Norris be added to the said Committee.

Registering Ships.

An ingrossed Bill, for enlarging the Time for Registring of Ships, pursuant to the Act for preventing Frauds, and regulating Abuses, in the Plantation-Trade, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for enlarging the Time for Registering of Ships, pursuant to the Act for preventing Frauds, and regulating Abuses, in the Plantation-Trade.

Ordered, That Mr. Jeffryes do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Impeachment of Goudett, &c.

Resolved, That this House will be present at the Tryal of John Goudett, and others, upon the Impeachments against them, as a Committee of the whole House; in regard the Matter is of great Consequence to the Trade of the Kingdom.

Conference with Lords not desired.

Sir Rowland Gwyn acquainted the House, That he had not, as yet, desired a free Conference with the Lords, upon the Subject-matter of the last Conference; by reason the Lords did, upon Friday last, adjourn till this Day.

Desborough's Share of Prize.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Petition of Captain Desborough was referred, be made upon Wednesday Morning next.

Duties on Low Wines.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Wednesday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill to prevent Frauds and Abuses of Distillers, and others chargeable with the Duties upon low Wines, and Spirits.

Privilege— Unconstitutional Publication.

Mr. Boscawen, according to Order, reported, from the Committee, to whom it was referred to examine into the printed Pamphlet, intituled, "the Case of Ireland's "being bound by Acts of Parliament in England stated," the Matter, as it appeared to the said Committee; 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.

Ordered, That the said Report do lie upon the Table, to be perused by the Members of the House, until Wednesday Morning next: And that the same be then read.

Bishop of Winchester's Leasing.

Sir Rowland Gwyn reported, That he having, according to Order, been at the Lords, to desire a free Conference, upon the Subject-matter of the last Conference, they do agree thereunto, To-morrow at One a Clock, in the Painted Chamber.

Ordered, That Sir John Bolls, Mr. Clerk, Mr. Boyle, Lord Pawlett, Mr. Norris, Mr. Sloane, Mr. Foley, Mr. Farrer, Mr. Price, Mr. Cooper; and the Committee, to whom the 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 improving the same, was committed; do manage the said Conference with the Lords, upon the Subject-matter of the 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 improving the same.

And they went to the Conference.

And, being returned;

Sir John Bolls reported the Conference: And that the Earl of Rochester managed the same: Who acquainted them, That the Lords disagree to the adding the Clause A, to the Bishop of Winchester's Bill, for the Reasons following;

Though the present Bishop of Winchester, in Consideration of the Expence in raising the Water-work; and that there may be no Delay in raising it, for the Service of the Navy, and those Towns which want fresh Water; was content to take a very small Fine; yet, since the Water-work may produce a considerable yearly Revenue, to him to whom it is, by Lease, granted, the restraining of the Fine may be very injurious to his Successors in that See:

And that the Lords disagree to the Clause B, for the Reason following;

The Bishop of Winchester makes great Condescensions in this Bill, for the Good of the Publick: Therefore it is not reasonable, That any of his, or his Successors, Right should be taken away.

Ordered, That the said Report be taken into Consideration upon Thursday Morning next, in a full House.

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

The House resumed the Consideration of 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 Two Millions, by settling a perpetual Fund for Payment of certain Annuities, after the Rate of 8l. per Annum for every Hundred Pounds, and by further Advantages therein mentioned, redeemable by Parliament; were committed:

And there being a Proposal presented to the House, from the East-India Company; the same was read; and is as followeth; viz.

E. I. Company's Proposal.

At a General Court of Adventurers in the General joint Stock to the East-Indies, holden the 20th of June 1698.

This Court having, on the 10th Instant, unanimously agreed upon a Proposal for the Advancing of a Sum of Money, for the Service of the Government, according to the Terms and Conditions therein mentioned; and being further desirous to give the Honourable House of Commons all possible Satisfaction, that the raising the Sum of Money, mentioned in the said Proposal, may be made certain; do resolve and agree to advance and pay 200,000l. in such manner as by the Act shall be directed, as the First Payment, subject to make good the subsequent Payment: And the Persons whose Names are hereunto subscribed do, in behalf of the said Company, undertake to make good the said First Payment of 200,000l. according to the Sums by them respectively and severally subscribed:

E. I. Company's Proposal.

New Subscribers.

Also, a Proposal of the new Subscribers being presented to the House, the same was likewise read; and is as followeth;

To the Honourable the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, in Parliament assembled.

To manifest to this Honourable House, That the Two Millions, intended to be raised by the Bill for settling the East-India Trade, will be effectually advanced and paid, pursuant to the said Bill; the Subscribers, having already underwritten the Sum of Thirteen hundred and Fifty thousand Pounds, do humbly desire they may have a Preference for their several Sums, so subscribed by them; and be obliged, by the Bill, as this Honourable House shall think fit, to make good the same; the Generality of them having importuned us, the Subscribers hereto, to ask it, as a Favour, from this Honourable House.

London, the 20th June 1698.

Resolved, That this House will now proceed in the further Consideration of the said Report.

And several of the Amendments, made by the Committee, to the Bill for raising a Sum, not exceeding Two Millions, by settling a perpetual Fund for Payment of certain Annuities, after the Rate of 8 l. per Annum for every Hundred Pounds, and by further Advantages therein mentioned, redeemable by Parliament, were read a Second time; and some of them 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 To-morrow Morning.

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