House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 13 March 1699

Lunæ, 13 die Martii;

Undecimo Gulielmi 3tii.

Prayers.

Guy's, &c. Nat.

MR. Johnson reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for Naturalizing of Scipio Guy and James Peltier was committed, That they had examined and considered the same, and had made several 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.

Vyners Creditors.

Sir John Thorold reported from the Committee, to whom the ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the Relief of the Creditors of Sir Robert Vyner Knight and Baronet, deceased, 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 Clerks Table.

Ordered, That the Bill be read the Third time Tomorrow Morning.

Transport Debt.

A Petition of John Robinson, late Master of the Ship called the Hungerford, belonging to the Port of Scarborough, on the behalf of himself, and the rest of the Owners of the same Ship, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner, in the Year 1693, did contract with his Majesty's Transport-Commissioners, to be employed, with himself and Ship, in his Majesty's Service; by which Contract he was to be paid within One Month after his Discharge, or Interest from the Expiration of such Time of Payment, to the Time the Petitioner and Owners should receive their Debt: That the Petitioner was accordingly employed in such Service; for which there remains due to him, and Owners, a considerable Sum of Money; And praying the Consideration of the House, and Relief in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, who are to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Owners and Masters of Ships belonging to the Port of Great Yarmouth, in the County of Norfolk, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners being employed in his Majesty's Service, by the Commissioners of Transportation, were to be paid within One Month after their Ships were discharged, there remains due to them considerable Sums of Money: And praying Relief in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, who are to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty.

Ditto.

A Petition of several Merchants, and others, in and about the City of London, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, in the Year 1693, the Commissioners for Transportation hired several Ships of the Petitioners, for his Majesty's Service in the Descent on France; for which there is due to them the Sum of 75,552 l. 14s. 11d. as appears by an Account stated by the Commissioners, besides Interest accrued since: And praying the Consideration of the House, in making some Provision for Payment thereof.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, who are to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty.

Bone-lace makers.

A Petition of Edward Hooton and others, Bone-lacemakers, on the behalf of themselves, and great Numbers of other Persons in their Trade and Dealing, and selling, by Wholesale, residing in the Counties of Bucks, Bedford, . . . Northampton, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners, and their Agents, in travelling to sell their made Wares by Wholesale, unto Shopkeepers, who sell the same again by Retail, are frequently disturbed and oppressed by Informers, or pretended Officers of the Commissioners for Transportation; sometimes forcibly taking away their Goods, and refusing to deliver them, without considerable Sums; which they have been forced to comply with: And praying Relief therein.

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

And it is referred to Lord Cheney, Sir Charles Hotham, Mr. Paget, Mr. Povey, Mr. Clayton, Sir Wm. Phippard, Mr. Gerard, Mr. Shalot, Lord Downe, Sir Owen Buckingham, Sir Godfrey Copley, Dr. Davenant, Mr. Stringer, Mr. Osborne, Sir Robert Cotton, Sir Charles Carteret, Mr. Orme, Mr. Hayes, Sir Walter Young, Mr. Henley, Mr. Hughes, Sir Edward Hussey, Sir Richard Farrington, Sir Will. Drake, Mr. Lowndes, Lord Fairfax, Mr. Phillips: And they are to meet at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Woollen Manufacture.

A Petition of the Clothiers, within the Borough of Newberry, in the County of Berks, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, for many Years past, the greatest Part of our Woollen Cloth hath been transported into Flanders; and that the great Duties laid upon their Goods imported into this Kingdom, hath not only put a Stop to our Trade, for Eight Months past, but hath put them upon setting up the Cloathing-Trade there: And praying some Method may be taken for the preserving our Trade.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee appointed to consider how far, for advancing the Woollen Manufacture, it may be convenient to repeal the last Law of Prohibition of Lace from Flanders.

Carcassonet's, &c. Nat.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the Naturalization of John Francis Carcassonet, and others, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Gerrard, Dr. Davenant, Sir Richard Farrington, Mr. Holmes, Mr. Trenchard, Lord Cornbury, Mr. Stringer, Colonel Kirkby, Mr. Hayes, Mr. Lowther, Sir Godfrey Copley, Sir Charles Cartaret, Sir Samuel Barnardiston, Sir Edward Hungerford, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Orme, Mr. Dyot, Mr. Clayton, Mr. Cooper, Sir John Bland, Mr. Palmes, Mr. Barnardiston: And they are to meet at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Bedwin Election.

Ordered, That the Inhabitants of the Borough of Bedwin, in the County of Wilts, have Leave to withdraw their Petition, touching the Election for the said Borough.

Andrew's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill for Sale of the Manor of Downham, in the County of Essex, the Estate of Sir Francis Andrews; and for buying and settling other Lands to the same Uses; was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for sale of the Manor of Downham, in the County of Essex, the Estate of Sir Francis Andrews; and for buying and settling other Lands to the same Uses.

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

Ayre and Calder Navigation.

Resolved, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Bill for making navigable the Rivers of Ayre and Calder, in the County of York, at the Charge of such Persons as will undertake the same, was committed, be now received.

Accordingly, Sir John Bland reported from the said Committee, That they had examined and considered the same, and the several Petitions referred to the said Committee; and 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 several of them, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Clause B being read a Second time, That no Boat or Barge belonging to the Town of Knottingley, or other Town on the Banks of the River Ayre, between that and the River Ouze, laden with Lime only, shall be subject to any Duty for passing through any Locks or Weirs, to be erected by this Act; nor pay more than Twelve-pence per Ton, for any other Goods that shall be laden in any Boat or Vessel, passing between Knottingley Dam and the River Ouze only;

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

It passed in the Negative.

And other Amendments were made by the House to the Bill.

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

Action against a Returning Officer.

The House being acquainted, That John Buller Esquire, who was Candidate at the Election, for Choice of Members to serve in this present Parliament, for the Borough of Liscard, in the County of Cornwall, hath brought an Action, upon the Statute made in the 7th Year of his Majesty's Reign, against Mr. Richard Roberts, the Mayor of the said Borough, for the Sum of 500 l. for making a false Return of William Bridges Esquire, although the said Mr. Buller never petitioned against, or questioned, the said Return in this House;

And a Debate arising in the House thereupon:

Resolved, That the Debate be adjourned until Wednesday Morning next.

Felt-makers Trade.

Ordered, That Mr. Shackerly, Mr. Drake, be added to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Aldermen, and Stewards of the Company of Felt-makers, in the City of Chester, was referred.

Papists Protestant Heirs.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Bill for preventing Papists from disinheriting their Protestant Heirs was committed, be made upon Friday Morning next.

Making Militia more useful.

Ordered, That the Bill for making the Militia of this Kingdom more useful be read a Second time To-morrow Morning.

Regulating Elections.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Wednesday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for Qualifying of Members to fit in Parliament, and further regulating Elections.

Billinsgate Fish Market.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Bill for making Billingsgate a free Market for Sale of Fish was committed, be made upon Thursday Morning next.

Tamworth Election.

Ordered, That the Report, from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, touching the Election for the Borough of Tamworth, in the Counties of Stafford and Warwick, be made upon Friday Morning next.

State of the Navy.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the State of the Navy.

Mr. Speaker lest the Chair.

Mr. Boyle took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Boyle reported from the said Committee, That they had made a further Progress in the Matter to them referred; and had directed him to move, That they may have Leave to sit again.

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

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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