House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 13 February 1673

Jovis, 13 die Februarii, 1672.

Prayers.

Committee of Privileges.

ORDERED, That Sir Henry Herbert, Sir John Mounson Sir John Elwayes, Colonel Kirby, Sir Humph. Winch, Sir John Norton, Sir Kinsmill Lucy, Sir John Knight, be added to the Committee of Privileges.

Child-stealing.

A Bill to prevent the Stealing away and Selling of Children, and others, into Parts beyond the Seas, was read the Second time.

Resolved, &c. That the Bill be committed to Mr. Crouch, Mr. Otway, Sir John Moreton, Sir Richard Everard, Mr. Maynard, Sir Richard Francklyn, Colonel Gilby, Sir Edw. Masters, Alderman Backwell, Sir Thom. Meeres, Mr. King, Mr. Westphaling, Sir Anthony Irby, Lord Richardson, Sir Edw. Massey, Sir Geo. Downing, Mr. Rigby, Sir John Holland, Sir John Knight, Sir Thomas Allen, Mr. Daniell, Sir Charles Harbord, Sir Trevor Williams, Sir John Covert, Sir Geo. Reeve, Sir Geo. Downing, Sir Edmond Windham, Colonel Birch, Sir John Talbott, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Mr. Tho. Morrice, and all the Members that serve for any Port Towns, and Merchants of the House: And they are to meet in the Speaker's Chamber, on Saturday next, at Three of the Clock in the Afternoon: And to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Abuses in Elections.

A Bill to prevent Corruption and Abuses in electing Members to serve in Parliament was read the Second time.

Resolved, &c. That the Bill be committed to Sir John Covert, Sir Richard Everard, Sir Edward Massey, Sir Anthony Irby, Sir Edw. Masters, Sir John Moreton, Sir Rich. Francklyn, Sir John Barnaby, Mr. King, Sir Trevor Williams, Sir John Holland, Sir Thomas Allen, Sir Charles Harbord, Mr. Otway, Sir Robert Carre, Mr. Hobby, Sir John Birkenhead, Sir Edward Deering, Mr. Reeves, Sir Gilbert Talbot, Sir Thomas Bludworth, Mr. Culliford, Sir Thomas Lee, Sir Edw. Hungerford, Mr. Dalton, Mr. Herbert, Sir John Talbott, Sir John Mallett, Mr. Newport, Sir John Knight, Mr. Rigby, Colonel Birch, Sir John Elwayes, Mr. Cheyney, Sir Solomon Swale, Sir John Lowther, Mr. Devereux, Mr. Ashburnham, Lord Ashley, Mr. Johnson, Sir James Smith, Sir Jos. Tredinham, Mr. Onslow: And they are to meet on Monday next, at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Chippenham Election.

A Petition of Vere Bartu Esquire was read, complaining of an undue Return made by the Baliff of the Corporation of Chippenham in the County of Wiltes, of Mr. Francis Winne to serve for that Place; whereas the Petitioner was legally and duly elected.

Ordered, That this Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections, to take it into Consideration; and report the Matter, with their Opinions herein: And that they do sit this Afternoon.

Preservation of Timber.

Ordered, That the Bill for the Preservation and Increase of Timber be brought in To-morrow Morning: And that Mr. Birch do bring in the Bill.

Members to prepare Address.

Ordered, That the Gentlemen appointed to prepare a Petition and Address to his Majesty do withdraw into the Speaker's Chamber for that Purpose:

Which they did.

Supply Bill; Eighteen Months Assessment.

The Bill for granting a Supply to his Majesty of Eighteen Months Assessment, according to the Proportion of the last Royal Aid, not exceeding Seventy thousand Pound a Month, the whole amounting to One million Two hundred thirty-eight thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Pound, and the monthly Proportion to Sixty-eight thouand Eight hundred and Nineteen Pound, was read.

Ordered, That the Bill for his Majesty's Supply be read a Second time, on Saturday Morning next, Ten of the Clock.

Greenland, &c. Trade.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to inquire into the Reasons of the Decay of the Muscovy, Eastland, and Greenland Trade; and by what Means those Trades may be advanced and improved; and to prepare and bring in a Bill if they find Cause; and report the Matter, with their Opinions therein, to the House: And that it be referred to Sir George Downing, Mr. Wood, Sir Will. Lowther, Mr. Love, Sir Will. Doyley, Mr. Jones, Sir Thomas Allen, Sir Edw. Massey, Sir John Pettus, Sir Thom. Meeres, Sir John Knight, Colonel Birch, Sir Charles Harbord, Mr. Ford, Mr. Musgrave, Sir Thomas Bludworth, Mr. Garraway, Colonel Titus, Sir Philip Musgrave, Sir Humph. Winch, and all the Members of this House that are Merchants, or serve for any Port Town; and those that are of the Council of Trade, and the Customs; or any Five of them: And they are to meet on Saturday, at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber: And to send for Charters, Persons, Papers, and Records.

A Motion being made, and a Debate arising, for securing and improving the Plantation Trade to Virginia, and other Places;

Ordered, That it be referred to the same Committee appointed to inquire into the Reasons of the Decay of the Muscovy, Eastland, and Greenland Trade, to consider also of Ways and Means for securing and improving the Trade of Virginia, and other Plantations; and to prepare and bring in a Bill; or report the Matter, with their Opinions therein, to the House, as they shall see Cause: And all the Members that are of the Council of Trade, and the Members that are Commissioners of the Customs, are added to the Committee: With like Power to them, or any of them, to make Report, or bring in a Bill, in this Matter, as they are in the former.

Coinage.

Ordered, That it be referred to Sir Geo. Downing, Sir Will. Thompson, Sir Will. Lowther, or any one of them, to prepare and bring in a Bill for continuing the Act concerning Coinage; with such Additions as they shall think fit.

Expiring Laws.

Resolved, &c. That a Committee be appointed to inspect and consider the Laws expired, and near expiring; and report their Opinions to the House, what is fit to be continued or revived, and what not: And the said Committee are also to peruse the Clause in the Act for laying Impositions on Proceedings at Law concerning trivial Actions; and consider wherein the same is defective; and report their Opinions how it may be made effectual; viz. Mr. Crouch, Mr. Rigby, Mr. Johnson, Sir Will. Lowther, Sir Anthony Irby, Sir George Downing, Mr. Wood, Serjeant Seys, Sir Francis Goodricke, Sir Charles Harbord, Sir Phil. Musgrave, Sir John Knight, Sir John Barnaby, Mr. Will. Mountague, Sir John Covert, Sir John Fagg, Sir William Hickman, and all the Members of the Long Robe: And all that come are to have Voices: And they have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records: And they are to meet To-morrow at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Report on Address.

Ordered, That the Report of the Petition and Address to be presented to his Majesty be made To-morrow Morning.

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