House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 18 April 1699

Martis, 18 die Aprilis;

Undecimo Gulielmi 3tii.

Prayers.

Bernardeau's &c. Nat.

ORDERED, That the ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for naturalizing Samuel Bernardeau, Peter Chantreau des Gaudre, and others, private Gentlemen belonging to his Majesty's Three Troops of Guards and Grenadiers, be read the First time To-morrow, at Twelve a Clock.

Penalties under Act of Navigation.

A Bill to discharge several Ships from the Penalties of the Act of Navigation, who, by reason of their Men being pressed at Sea into his Majesty's Service, during the late War, were disabled from performing their Voyages, according to the Direction of the said Act, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Gwyn, Sir James Houblon, Mr. Moore, Sir Richard Cocks, Captain Clayton, Mr. Bagot, Mr. Drake, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Bridges, Dr. Davenant, Sir Henry Johnson, Sir John Fleet, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Nicholson, Sir Thomas Cooke, Mr. Hammond, Sir Charles Hedges, Mr. Thornaugh, Mr. Topham, Mr. Rudge, Sir William Villers, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Lowther, Sir Jacob Astly, Sir John Mordant, Mr. Hoar, Mr. Parkhurst, Sir Jacob Banks, Mr. Scobell, Sir Tho. Wagstaffe, Colonel Perry, Sir Robert Cotton; and all for the Sea-Ports: And they are to meet at Five a Clock this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Ships Hawke and Rainbow.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the Ships Hawke and Rainbow to trade as Englishbuilt Ships, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Major Stringer, Sir Abstr. Danby, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Asgill, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Barnardiston, Sir Tho. Wagstaffe, Mr. Drake, Mr. White, Sir Robert Cotton, Doctor Davenant, Sir Wm. Drake, Mr. Moor, Mr. Campion, Mr. Onslow, Colonel Kirkby, Mr. Ash, Sir Richard Cocks, Mr. Parkhurst, Sir Wm. Phibbard, Sir Robert Nappier, Colonel Lee, Mr. Hughes, Sir Tho. Mompesson, Sir Ja. Houblon, Lord Fairfax, Sir Richard Onslow, Sir John Bland, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Sergison, Sir Godfrey Copley, Mr. Shallot, Captain Clayton, Mr. Slaughter, Mr. Hays, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Hancock, Mr. Hisham: And they are to meet at Five a Clock this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Poor Laws.

A Petition of the Mayor, Churchwardens, Overseers, of the Poor, and other Inhabitants of the Borough and Parish of New Windsor, in the County of Berks, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That they are informed a Bill is brought into this House for the providing for the Poor: That there are several of the poor Soldiers of Chelsey College sent to keep Garison at Windsor, who bring their Families with them, may become burdensome to their said Parish: And praying some Provision may be made in the said Bill to prevent the same.

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

Savery's Fire Engine.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the Encouragement of a new Invention, by Thomas Savery, for raising Water, and occasioning Motion to all Sorts of Mill-work, by the impellent Force of Fire, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Scobell, Mr. Thornhaugh, Mr. Moor, Captain Clayton, Sir Godfrey Copley, Mr. Varney, Major-General Erle, Mr. Drake, Mr. Hoar, Sir Chr. Hales, Sir Tho. Wagstaffe, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Hammond, Sir Cha. Shuckburgh, Sir Robert Nappier, Sir John Cope, Mr. Cholmondley, Mr. Dymock, Mr. Shackerly, Sir Wm. Hustler, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Asgill, Mr. Lowther, Sir Robert Davers, Sir Samuel Barnardiston, Mr. Cox, Sir John Fleet, Mr. Perry, Mr. Thurland, Mr. Bartie, Sir Wm. Drake, Mr. Brereton, Sir Wm. Coryton; and all that serve for Devon, Cornwall, and Sea-Ports; and all the Merchants of the House: And they are to meet . . . Five a Clock this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Disbanded Soldiers.

A Petition of Andrew Cragg, Henry Vesel, and Suckman Brandhurst, in behalf of themselves, and others, being Foreigners, lately disbanded out of the Right Honourable the Earl of Macclesfield's Regiment of Horse, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That they have served his Majesty several Years, in all due Obedience; and are now disbanded, and barbarously used by their Officers, having their Horses and Accoutrements taken from them, which was given them by the King, and themselves stripped from the Waist upwards: That, being Aliens, and forced to leave this Kingdom; and having not One Peny to buy them Bread withal; pray their deplorable Condition may be taken into Consideration, and some Relief afforded them.

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

And it is referred to Mr. Ro. Bertie, Mr. Varney, Sir Chr. Hales, Mr. Thurland, Mr. Hancock, Sir Wm. Villers, Sir John Bolls, Colonel Kirkby, Sir Tho. Wagstaffe, Mr. Philips, Sir Wm. Coryton, Sir Richard Cocks, Mr. Drake, Sir Samuel Barnardiston, Sir Robert Nappier, Mr. Hayes, Sir John Packington, Mr. Cholmondly, Mr. Smith, Sir Godfrey Copley, Mr. Gerrard, Mr. Moor, Mr. Berty, Mr. Bridges, Mr. Nicholson, Sir Charles Hedges, Mr. Scobell, Sir Richard Onslow, Lord Coningsby, Mr. Clerke, Mr. Mounstevens, Major Stringer, Mr. Offley: And they have Power to send for Papers, Persons, and Records: And they are to meet at Five a Clock this Afternoon.

Duties on Glass.

Sir John Packington reported from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for taking off the remaining Duties on Glass-wares, was committed, the Amendments, made by the said Committee, to the said 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.

Half-Pay.

A Petition of Captain Martin Laycock was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That he hath served his Majesty for several Years, in the late War, where he received many dangerous Wounds, Three whereof cost him above 300 l. the curing, besides the Fatigue of going 21 Months on Crutches: And praying he may be entered on the List of Officers appointed to receive Half-Pay.

Ordered, That the said Captain Laycock be added to the List of Officers who are to receive Half-Pay.

Duty on Whale fins.

A Petition of the Merchants in and about the City of London, trading to New-England, New-York, and Pensilvania, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, by the Act of 9° & 10° Gul. III. RS. a Duty of 3d. only for all Whale-Fins taken, caught, and imported, in or by any Ships belonging to the Greenland Company; and a Duty of 6d. for any other Ship or Vessel that shall do the like; that the Whale-Fin of Greenland is double the Value per Pound of that of the said Colonies; and therefore cannot bear to pay above Half the Duty charged upon the said Greenland Whale-Fin: And praying, That they may be admitted to enter Whale-Fins ad valorem, and pay Duties accordingly.

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

Blackwell Hall Woollen Market.

The House proceeded to take into Consideration the Amendments made by the Lords, to the Bill, intituled, An Act for the making more effectual an Act, intituled, An Act to restore the Market at Blackwell-hall to the Clothiers; and for regulating the Factors there:

And the said Amendments, being read, are as follow; viz.

3 P. L. 4. after "Merchandizes," add "made of, or mixed with, Wool:"

L. 5. after "Makers," add "Owners:"

L. 6. after "Makers" add "Owners:"

L. 8. after "Makers," add "Owners:"

At the End of the Bill, add "And that all such Goods as shall be brought to the City of London, or the Liberties thereof, be brought unto, pitched, and harboured, in Blackwell-hall, and the Welch-hall, or One of them; there to remain until the Hallage, and other Duties, for the Relief of the poor Children in Christ's Hospital, be paid or agreed and secured to be paid, for the same:"

And several of them, being again read, were agreed unto by the House.

The last Amendment being read, for adding, at the End of the Bill, "And that all such Goods as shall be brought to the City of London, or the Liberties thereof, be brought unto, pitched, and harboured in Blackwell-hall, and the Welch-hall, or One of them; there to remain until the Hallage, and other Duties, for the Relief of the poor Children in Christ's Hospital, be paid, or agreed and secured to be paid, for the same;"

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, touching 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. Moor, Mr. Dormer, Mr. Smith, Mr. Bertie, Sir Chr. Musgrove, Sir John Bolls, Lord Cornbury, Sir George Hungerford, Mr. Brotherton, Sir Francis Child, Mr. Mountague, Sir Barth. Shower, Sir Richard Onslow, Mr. Blake, Mr. Blofeild, Sir Richard Cocks, Mr. Clerke, Colonel Lee; or any Five of them.

Supply Bill; Duty on Sweets.

Ordered, That it be an Instruction to Mr. Cowper and Mr. Lowndes, who are to prepare, and bring in, a Bill, or Bills, upon the Resolutions Yesterday agreed unto by the House, That they do bring in a Clause therein, to empower the Justices of the Peace to determine the Penalties upon the Act for Duties upon Leather.

Copper Coinage.

An ingrossed Bill to prevent the Coining of Farthings and Halfpence, for One Year, was, according to Order, read the Third time.

An ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider, That the Accounts of the said Contractors, in relation to their coining Halfpence and Farthings, shall hereafter be settled by the Order and Direction of the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury:

And the same was read the First time:

And the Question being put, That the Clause be read a Second . . . .

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act to prevent the Coining of Farthings and Half. . . .for One Year longer.

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

Sophisticating Wine.

Sir Charles Sidley, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to prevent the corrupt Mixing and Sophisticating of Wine: And the same was received; and read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time, upon Thursday Morning next.

Wrayford's Estate.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir John Franklyn and Mr. Meredith:

Mr. Speaker,

The Lords have passed a Bill, intituled, An Act to enable William Wrayford Gentleman, and Dame Anne Rich Widow, to make Leases of Houses and Ground, in Covent-Garden, late the Estate of John Achy, Citizen, and Haberdasher of London: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Supply Bill; Land Tax.

The House, according to Order, proceeded in the further Consideration of the Report of the Bill for granting to his Majesty the Sum of One million Four hundred eighty-four thousand and Fifteen Pounds One Shilling Eleven-pence Three Farthings, for disbanding the Army, providing for the Navy, and for other necessary Occasions:

And other Amendments, made by the Committe to the said Bill, were severally read a Second time; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Clause O being read a Second time, being as followeth; viz. "And whereas the High Sheriff of each County was, by the Common Law of this Realm, heretofore, the proper Officer for collecting, receiving, and paying in to the Receipt of the Exchequer, not only the Revenues of the Crown, but also such Aids and Subsidies as were at any time granted by Parliament; and all other Monies accruing, or coming due, to the King, out of that respective County, whereof he was elected Sheriff: Be it therefore hereby Enacted, That every High Sheriff, at the Passing of this Act, of any County of this Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales, except the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex, is, and shall be, the ReceiversGeneral of this present Tax, for such respective County whereof he is now Sheriff; and shall give, or cause to be given, by Bond, to his Majesty, such reasonable Security as the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, or Lord High Treasurer for the Time being, shall direct and appoint, for making due Payment into the Exchequer, according to the Directions of this Act, all and every such Sum or Sums of Money as he shall, either by himself, Deputy, or Deputies, receive from time to time, by virtue of, and in pursuance of, the same: And the High Sheriff of each respective County, hereby appointed Receiver General, as aforesaid, shall, by himself, Deputy, or Deputies, do and perform all and every such Act and Service as shall be required of him or them to be done and performed as Receiver-General, according to the Directions of this present Act: Provided nevertheless, That if any Sheriff, appointed Receiver-General, as aforesaid, does not, on or before the Day of give or cause to be given, such reasonable Security, before such Persons, and in such manner, as is hereby directed to be given, either by himself, or Deputy; that then it shall be lawful for his Majesty to appoint, or cause to be appointed, a Receiver-General for such County; and in the usual and customary Form, in Place of such High Sheriff, so refusing or neglecting to give Security, as aforesaid;"

An Amendment was proposed to be made therein, by leaving out "except the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex:"

And the same was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

And the Blank therein was filled up.

Then the Question being put, That the House do agree with the Committee in the said Clause, so amended:

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

A Clause was offered, to be added to the Bill, That the Commissioners for the North Riding of the County of York may, at their First General Meeting, proportion the whole Sum, to be laid on that Riding, as usually they did:

And the same was read the First time:

And the Question being put, That the Clause be read a Second time;

It passed in the Negative.

Another Clause was offered, to be added to the Bill, with Blanks, That * * * *

And the same was twice read; and the Blanks filled up:

And then the Clause was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House to be made Part of the Bill.

Another Clause being offered, to be added to the Bill, for an Account to be taken of the forfeited Estates in Ireland;

The same was twice read:

And an Amendment being proposed to be made thereunto;

And a Debate arising in the House thereupon;

Ordered, That the said Debate be adjourned till Tomorrow Morning.

Claims for Prizes.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Petition of Captain Crow was referred, relating to Prizes, be taken into Consideration upon Friday Morning next.

Poor Laws.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Monday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for the better providing for the Poor, and setting them on Work; and nothing to intervene.

Ways and Means.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of Ways and Means for raising the Supply to be granted to his Majesty.

Disbanded Marines.

Ordered, That the Commissioners of the Admiralty do lay before this House a List of the Officers of the Four new Marine Regiments, which are to be disbanded.

Officers and Soldiers to exercise Trades.

Ordered, That it be an Instruction to the Committee, to whom the Bill to enable such Officers and Soldiers as have been in his Majesty's Service to exercise Trades is committed, That they have Power to receive a Clause to oblige the Paymasters to account with the Colonels.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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