House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 27 February 1699

Lunæ, 27 die Februarii;

11° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

GODFREY Lloyd, Cornelius D'Witt, Cutts Hussan, William Lloyd, Henry Folleville, Francis Browne, Abraham Delivron, William Gyon, James Dejoye, Isaac Gouyquett, James Wybault, James Baudouin, Richard Haymmaker, Andrew Samazon, John du Tertre de Copham, Wm. Lower, Daniel Crespin, Wm. Darnell, John James Dabbadie, Peter Godby, Stephen Lacoste, Sampson de Lalo, took the Oaths appointed, in order to their Naturalization.

Woollen Manufacture.

A Petition of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses, of the Borough of Newbery, in the County of Berks, and other the chief Inhabitants of the said Borough, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Increase of their Poor is so great, by the Stop of the Cloathing-Trade, that they are become very burdensome to the Inhabitants of the said Borough: And praying, That some Care may be taken to prevent the setting up of the Woollen Manufacture in other Countries; and for reviving the same in England; whereby the Poor may be employed therein.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Gentlemen, Clothiers, Clothworkers, Traders in the Woollen Manufactures, and other the Inhabitants of the Town of Ratchdale, in the County Palatine of Lancaster, is referred.

Claims for Prizes.

Mr. Parkhurst, from the Commissioners of Prizes, presented to the House their Answer to the Petition of Captain Carleton.

The Title whereof was read: And the Answer is as followeth; viz.

About May 1697, The Wheel of Fortune loaded at Bourdeaux, in France.

Latter-end of June 1697. Was seized by the Post-Boy, Captain Carleton Commander.

2 July 1697. Brought into Plymouth.

9 September 1697. All the Goods condemned in the Admiralty Court.

15 September 1697. The Ship restored, by Decree of the High Court of Admiralty, as belonging and appertaining to the Subjects of the most Serene King of Sweden.

18 September 1697. An Order sent down to unload, inventory, and appraise, the said Goods.

26 October 1697. An Order was delivered out to the Claimers for her Restitution; which was delivered them as soon as they brought up the Decree.

12 October 1697. There was an Appraisement returned, upon Oath of Five Men, One of whom was the Collector of the Customs, of the several Goods following; viz.

41 Tuns of Claret.

21½ Tuns of White-wine.

6 Hogsheads of Stum.

4 Casks of Molosses.

6 Hogsheads of Brandy.

24 Half-Puncheons of Prunes.

82 Bales of Paper, computed to contain 1,374 Reams sound: And,

458 Reams of damaged Paper.

3d November 1697. The said Goods were put up for Sale, by Inch of Candle, as the Act of Parliament for Encouragement of Privateers directs, after due Notice having been given, as well on the Royal Exchange in London, as in Plymouth, where the Goods then lay: And there was then sold, viz.

4 Casks of Molosses.

6 Hogsheads of Brandy.

24 Half-Puncheons of Prunes.

458 Reams of damaged Paper, at the Prices mentioned in the Account; which was with Advance upon the Appraisement.

The Remainder of the Cargo there was nothing bid for.

10 November 1697. The Remainder of the Cargo was again put up for Sale, by Inch of Candle; and then there was sold the following Goods, at the Prices, and to the Persons, mentioned likewise in the Account; viz.

41 Tuns of Claret.

21½ Tuns of White Wine.

82 Bales of Paper, containing, by Computation, about 1,374 Reams.

20 November 1697. There being then nothing remaining of this Cargo, but the Stum, Mr. Sam. Sheppard offered to take them at the highest Price, which was 4 l. per Tun; which was sold him accordingly.

3d January 1697/8. A Return was made of the Delivery of the Goods following, to the Buyers; viz.

40 Tuns of Claret.

20¼ Tuns of White Wine.

5 Hogsheads of Stum.

4 Casks of Molosses.

6 Hogsheads of Brandy.

24 Half Puncheons of Prunes.

1,396 Reams of sound Paper: And

458 Reams of damaged Paper.

A Certificate was returned of the Quantities of Goods landed out of her, before they were filled up, by which the Freight was paid; being, viz.

303 Hhds. 12 Half Hhds. of Wine and Stum.

4 Hhds. of Molosses.

24 Half Puncheons of Prunes.

6 Hogsheads of Brandy.

82 Bales of Paper.

Note, The Loss in Quantity proceeds from their so long lying on board; whereby the Hoops were rotted, and some of them flying, occasioned great Leakage; so that a great Part of them came out but a Quarter, others One-third, and, in general, every one of them wanting considerably of being full; so that it took up about 13 Tuns of Wine and Stum, to fill up the rest; for which we were obliged to pay Freight, it being always the Custom of Merchants so to do.

The Loss between Filling up, and Delivery, is but 2½ Tuns; which is but small Leakage, considering the Time they had lain in the Cellars, and the Waste in Tasting, in order to Sale, &c.

Note further, From her first coming in, until she was delivered, there was always Waiters on board, as well for the Custom-house, as Excise and PrizeOffice, and Links kept on the Cellar-doors, by all Three Sets of Officers, until the Delivery to the Buyer; which was in the Presence of them all; and the Quantities, by all Three Accounts, agreed as made good.

There was also Directions given, That the Captains, or their Agents, might put a Waiter or Waiters on board, join One or Two in the Appraisement, be present at the Sale, put Locks on the Cellar-doors, until Delivery, if they were so pleased.

It may be further observed, That the 8 l. 5s. for Red, and 6 l. 5s. per Tun for the White, with the Customs, makes near 36 and 34 l. per Tun; and that for Wines lying at Plymouth, which is, at least, 10 l. per Tun different from the Market at London; which, if considered, is a very good Price, for such Wines as had lain so long in a perishing Condition, and unfilled up.

Dated the 27th of February 1698/9.

Michael Cole,
Jo. Parkhurst,
John Paschal.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition, and Answer, be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of Captain Crow, and the Answer of the Commissioners of Prizes thereunto is referred: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Debtors Petition.

A Petition of the poor and lamentable distressed Prisoners, Debtors in the Castle of Lancaster, by Losses and Misfortunes rendering them incapable to pay their Debts, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That many of them have, for several Years last past, been kept close Prisoners, even on Mesne Process, not being able to make any Composition, or Satisfaction, to their Creditors: And, despairing to see an End of their Troubles, which are worse than Death, not being allowed, as formerly, the Liberty of going out of the Castle-gate, to buy necessary Food; and the Charity of well-disposed Persons daily decreasing, by reason the Charge upon the County, in respect of the Prisoners Allowance, is increased; the Petitioners pray the House, to consider their miserable Condition, and grant them some Relief therein.

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

Burnett's Nat.

Brigadier Trelawney, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for naturalizing George Burnett: And the same was received; and read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time, Tomorrow Morning.

Young's Estate.

Mr. Trenchard reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for enabling John Young Gentleman to sell Lands, for Payment of Debts and Legacies, 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.

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

Price's Estate.

Mr. Price reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill to enable Edward Price Esquire to transfer a Charge of One thousand Pounds, for the Use of his younger Children, from an Estate in the County of Montgomery, to an Estate in the Counties of Hereford and Radnor, of a better Value, was committed, That they had examined and considered the same, and had 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.

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

Montargier's &c. Nat.

A Bill to naturalize John de Philiponeau, Sieur de Montargier, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Lord Cavendish, Marquis Hartington, Mr. Morgan, Mr. How, Mr. Ogle, Mr. Pye, Brigadier Trelawny, Mr. Bulkley, Colonel Kirkby, Lord Spencer, Mr. Cowper, Lord Cornbury, Mr. York, Mr. Gerrard, Mr. Foley, Mr. Stringer, Mr. Saunderson, Mr. Osborne, Sir Robert Eden, Colonel Godfrey, Mr. Vane, Sir Theop. Oglethorp, Colonel Churchill, Mr. Thornhagh, Mr. Boyle, Sir Robert Davers, Mr. Hamond, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Trelawney, Mr. Heveningham: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers.

Methwold's Estate.

Mr. Harvey, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for vesting Part of the Estate of Thomas Methwold Esquire in Trustees, for raising the Sum of 1,200 l. expended in the Improvement of the said Estate: And the same was received.

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

Aliens Children to inherit.

An ingrossed Bill to enable his Majesty's natural-born Subjects to inherit the Estate of their Ancestors, lineal or collateral, notwithstanding their Father or Mother were Aliens, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act to enable his Majesty's natural-born Subjects to inherit the Estate of their Ancestors, lineal or collateral, notwithstanding their Father or Mother were Aliens.

Ordered, That Sir Edward Hussey do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Darey's Estate.

Mr. Hammond reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for Sale of some Part of the Estate late Sir Tho. Darcy's, deceased, for Payment of Debts, was committed, That they had examined and considered the same; and had directed him to report the same to the House, without any Amendments: And he delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table.

Ordered, That the Bill be ingrossed.

Chenevix's, &c. Nat.

A Bill for naturalizing Philip Chenevix, and others, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to the Lord Hartington, Mr. Poultney, Sir Edw. Hussey, Mr. Harvey, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Dyott, Sir Robert Eden, Mr. Wharton, Lord Cornbury, Mr. Blysse, Mr. Thornhagh, Lord Spencer, Mr. Stringer, Sir Richard Onslow, Mr. Ash, Mr. Morgan, Lord Cavendish, Sir Theoph. Oglethorp, Colonel Churchill, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Eyre, Colonel Byerley, Lord Hide, Colonel Godfrey, Mr. Lowther, Sir Rowland Gwynn, Mr. Vane: And they are to meet To-morrow at Five a Clock in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Ayre and Calder Navigation.

Ordered, That Sir Theop. Oglethorp, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Shackerly, Mr. Thursby, Mr. Fleming, Mr. Price, Sir Wm. Drake, Mr. Devereux, be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill for making the Rivers Ayre and Calder, in the County of York, navigable, is committed.

Sudbury Election.

A Petition of John Catesby and William Cook Gentlemen, and others, free Burgesses of the Borough of Sudbury, in the County of Suffolk, on behalf of themselves, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That Sir Jervas Elwes and Mr. Gourdon stood Candidates at the Election of a Burgess to serve in this Parliament for the said Borough, in the room of Sir Tho. Barnardiston, deceased; and Mr. Gourdon, by Bribery, and other undue Practices, procured himself to be returned, in Wrong to the Petitioners: And praying Relief in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Lloyd's, &c. Nat.

A Bill to naturalize William Lloyd, Cornelius de Witt, and Godfrey Lloyd, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir Bevill Granvill, Sir Edward Hussey, Sir John Thorold, Mr. Eyre, Sir Robert Marsham, Mr. Campion, Sir Theo. Oglethorp, Mr. Bridges, Mr. Brereton, Mr. Harvey, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Pye, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Stringer, Mr. Hamond, Colonel Godfrey, Sir Robert Eden, Sir Fra. Molyneux, Mr. York, Lord Cornbury, Mr. Moor, Mr. Hughes, Colonel Churchill, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Wharton, Mr. Dyott, Mr. Crocker: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers.

Registering Deeds.

Ordered, That the Bill for the better Security of Purchasers, by a voluntary Register of Memorials of future Deeds and Conveyances, be read a Second time upon Friday next, at Twelve a Clock.

Distillation from Corn.

The House, according to Order, proceeded to take into Consideration the Amendments, made by the Lords, to the Bill to prohibit the excessive Distilling of Spirits, and low Wines, from Corn; and against the Exporting of Beer and Ale; and to prevent Frauds in Distillers:

And the same were read; and are as follow; viz.

1 Skin, 20 L. leave out "which shall be:"

At the End of the Bill, add the Clauses A, B:

Clause A: Provided, That nothing in the Act shall extend to hinder Charles Bennet, Distiller, from drawing Spirits, or low Wines, from Wort, or Drink, brewed from malted Corn, from the last Day of January 1698. to the First Day of February 1699; so as the whole Quantity of the First Extraction to be distilled, or drawn, in his now Distillery, within the Time aforesaid, do not exceed Half the Quantity by him distilled, and extracted, in the Year already ended on the 30th of September 1698; and so as he performs, in all Things, what all other Distillers are by the Act obliged to perform:

Clause B: A Proviso, That the Act shall not extend to hinder Edward Parker, Thomas Dent, and John Hall, Distillers, from drawing Spirits, or low Wines, from Wort, or Drink, brewed from malted Corn; but that they may draw the same from any Malt, Corn, or Grain, or the Produce thereof, for a Year, commencing from the 1st of January 1698, and ending the 1st of February 1699, in proportion to their Distilleries, in such Quantities, and Manner, as the Commissioners of the Excise shall direct.

The First and Second Amendments, being severally read a Second time, were, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Clause B being read a Second time;

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

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That a Conference be desired with the Lords, upon the Subject-matter of the said Amendment.

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

And it is referred to Mr. Heveningham, Mr. Conyers, Sir Chr. Musgrove, Mr. Lowndes, Mr. Smith, Sir John Bolles, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Culliford, Mr. Dyott, Mr. Bridges, Sir Wm. Cowper, Sir Edward Hussey, Mr. Moor; or any Three of them: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Woollen Manufacture.

A Petition of the Factors of Blackwell-hall was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, by an Act of Parliament, made in the 8th and 9th Years of the King, to restore the Market of Blackwell-hall to the Clothiers; and for regulating the Factors there; the Petitioners are required to take, or demand, Notes of every Person, to whom they sell Cloth, for the Clothiers, under a Penalty of forfeiting double the Value of the Cloth sold; which is a very great and unprecedented Hardship upon the Petitioners, and may quite undo them; the Performance of which, though they have done, yet is impossible for them always to prove; and other Clauses there are in the said Act, which discourage the Sale of the Woollen Manufactures: That the Bill, now depending in the House, for the better Improvement of the Woollen Manufacture, by making the said Act more effectual, will not only lay further Hardships upon the Petitioners, but also greater Difficulties upon the said Manufactures: And praying, That they may be heard before the said Bill do pass.

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

Exporting Wool.

A Petition of the several Clothiers in Gloucestershire, living in Stroud, Bisly, and Rodbrow, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners are extremely impoverished by a Decay of Trade, and the Poor almost starved; And, being sensible, that the Exportation of our Wool is the great Cause thereof; and that the only Way to prevent it, is a Proposal intended to be offered to the House, by keeping a Register of all Sheep and Wool upon the Sea-coast of England, and the Borders of Scotland; the Petitioners pray, That the same, with such Regulations and Additions as the House shall think fit, may pass into an Act.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee appointed to consider which way to prevent the Exporting of Wool from England and Ireland to foreign Parts.

Army Arrears.

Ordered, That the Earl of Ranelagh do lay before this House, To-morrow Morning, an Account of what is due to the private Centinels, and Non-commission Officers, to be disbanded in England; and also, a distinct and separate Account of what is due to the CommissionOfficers to be disbanded in England.

Call of the House.

Ordered, That the House be called over upon this Day Sevennight; and nothing to intervene: And that such Members as shall not then attend, be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House.

Papists Protestant Heirs.

Ordered, That Sir Richard Farrington and Mr. Stringer be added to the Committee to whom the Bill to prevent Settlements made by Papists from disinheriting their Protestant Heirs is committed.

Old East-India Company.

The House, according to Order, took into Consideration the Petition of the Governor and Company of Merchants trading to the East-Indies:

And a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill, according to the Prayer of the said Petition;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Ordered, That Mr. Harcourt, Sir Thomas Cook, Sir Barth. Shower, Mr. Moor, Mr. Bullock, Mr. Cook, Mr. Perry, do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

State of the Navy.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Friday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the State of the Navy.

Poor Laws.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom it was referred to consider of Ways for the better providing for the Poor, and setting them on Work, be made To-morrow Morning.

Army Arrears.

Ordered, That the Earl of Ranelagh do, To-morrow Morning, lay before this House an Account of what is due to the Commission and Non-commission Officers, and private Soldiers, of the Marine Regiments.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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