House of Lords Journal Volume 15: 9 February 1695

DIE Sabbati, 9 Februarii.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt.

PRAYERS.

Land Tax, &c. Bill.

Hodie 2^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for granting to His Majesty an Aid of Four Shillings in the Pound, for One Year; and for applying the Yearly Sum of Three Hundred Thousand Pounds for Five Years, out of the Duties of Tonnage and Poundage, and other Sums of Money payable upon Merchandizes exported and imported, for carrying on the War against France with Vigour."

ORDERED, That the said Bill shall be committed to a Committee of the whole House, presently.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure, and put into a Committee upon the said Bill.

After some Time, the House was resumed.

And the Lord Godolphin reported, "That the Committee had gone through the said Bill; and think it fit to pass, without any Amendment."

To which the House agreed.

E. of Rochester's Estate for settling, Bill.

Hodie 2^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for the dividing and settling the Estate of the Coheirs of John late Earl of Rochester deceased, and for discharging the Trusts thereupon."

ORDERED, That the Consideration of the said Bill be committed to the Lords following: (videlicet,)

Their Lordships, or any Five of them; to meet on Tuesday next, at Nine of the Clock in the Forenoon, in the Prince's Lodgings near the House of Peers; and to adjourn as they please.

Smith, to deliver Accompt of Money for Lancashire Trials.

Whereas this Day was appointed for Mr. Aaron Smith to give an Account, in Writing, upon Oath, to this House, of what Monies he has received for carrying on the Prosecutions in Lancashire:

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the said Aaron Smith hath hereby Time given him for doing thereof, until Saturday the Sixteenth Day of this Instant February, at Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon.

Apothecaries, to exempt from Parish Offices, Bill:

The Earl of Bridgewater reported from the Committee, the Bill, intituled, "An Act for exempting Apothecaries from serving the Offices of Constable, Scavenger, and other Parish and Ward Offices, and from serving upon Juries," as fit to pass, with some Amendments.

Which were read Twice, and agreed to.

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for exempting Apothecaries from serving the Offices of Constable, Scavenger, and other Parish and Ward Offices, and from serving upon Juries."

The Question was put, "Whether this Bill, with the Amendments, shall pass?"

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Message to H. C. with Amendments to it.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Miles Cooke and Mr. Meredith:

To return the said Bill, and desire their Concurrence to the said Amendments.

Proxies, Lords voting who have any, whether obliged to vote for them also.

Whereas this Day was appointed to consider whether Lord voting in the Question, and having a Proxy, obliged to give his Vote in respect of such Proxy:

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Consideration there of shall be resumed on Monday next, the First Business.

Commissioners of the Admiralty Answers to the Questions sent them:

The Commissioners of the Admiralty, at the Bar, delivered their Answers to the Questions sent them the Seventh Instant.

The Paper concerning the Victuals and Stores sent to the Fleet was read, as followeth (pursuant to the Order of the 31th January last); (videlicet,)

"Admiralty Office, 8° Februarii, 169 4/5.

Concerning Stores and Provisions sent to the Fleet.

"In Pursuance of an Order from the Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, requiring an Account, under the Hands of the Commissioners of the Admiralty and of the Navy, Whether, supposing that the Stores and Provisions that have been already sent to the Fleet in The Mediterranean, and those designed to be sent, shall arrive all in Safety, they conceive that Fleet will be sufficiently supplied to continue there till the First Day of September next, or to return Home by that Time if it be thought fit; the Accidents of an Engagement with an Enemy, or of Wind and Weather, excepted?

"We have taken the same into Consideration; and, finding the said Fleet was ordered to have Four Months Provision complete on-board, and in Victualling Ships to proceed with them, the First of May last; that Two Months more is arrived with them, and Six Months gone and going to them; which, though but Twelve at whole, makes Eighteen Months at short, Allowance; we have no Reason to doubt, if the said Six Months Provisions ordered for the said Fleet arrives timely and safely with them, but they will be sufficiently supplied to the First of September next, at short Allowance.

"And the Accompts lately received from Admiral Russell of the Wants of the said Fleet, as to Stores, having been compared with the Accompts of Stores sent and going to it, and the latter appearing to exceed the former in all Things material; we humbly conceive, if those now ready to go in the Ships Benjamin, and Mary, shall timely and safely reach them (as we hear the others sent before have done), they will likewise be sufficiently supplied with Stores to that Time; Accidents of an Engagement, and Wind and Weather, excepted.

"J. Lowther. Rob't Austen.
H. Priestman. Jn° Houblon.
R. Rich. G. Rooke.
D. Lyddell.
Dumer. Cha. Sergisin.
R. Haddock.
John Hill, G. St Lo. P. Pett."

Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint the House whether they had Regard to Accidents, in sending out Stores.

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Commissioners of the Admiralty and Navy Board do lay before this House, in Writing, under their Hands, an Answer to the following Question, so soon as may be; videlicet,

"Whether, in the Quantity and Nature of the Stores sent, and intended to be sent, to the Fleet in The Mediterranean, they have had Regard to the Accidents of Weather, and of an Engagement, as well as to what may be necessary for the ordinary Repairs of the Fleet?"

Answers from them, to Questions concerning the last Summer's Fleet:

Then the Answers, to the Questions sent to the Admiralty the Seventh Instant, were read as followeth; (videlicet,)

QUESTIONS:

"1. What Force Sir George Rooke had in The Downes, at what Time, and what Stay that Fleet made in The Downes?"

"2. What Force Sir George Rooke had at Spithead, and at what Time?"

"3. What Time Mr. Russell received his First Instructions from the Admiralty this last Year?"

"4. What Movements the Fleet made till its Parting off of Brest?"

"5. If all the Ships now out of Repair are in a Way of being repaired as soon as may be?"

"6. What Number of Bomb Vessels were designed to go with Mr. Russell to The Streights, and what Number did go; and why the rest designed did not go, if more were designed?"

"7. What was the Strength of the Convoys that were sent with Stores and Provisions to The Streights, already arrived there; what Days those Convoys were ordered to sail, and when they did sail?"

ANSWERS:

"1. Sir George Rooke came to The Downes the 30th March, 1694; and had with him,

"2. On the 18th of April Sir George Rooke sailed for Spithead, and arrived there the 21th; and had with him,

"3. The Instructions to Mr. Russell were signed the 30th March, 1694. And though it does not appear in the Office when they were received by him, yet we presume it was within a Day or Two after."

"4. Mr. Russell sailed from St. Hellens the 5th of May 1694, and arrived the Ninth at the Station appointed for the Rendezvous of the Fleet, videlicet, 15 Leagues S. W. from The Lizard; was in the Soundings till the 17th; the 18th, at Night, he came to Torbay, and 22th to St. Hellens, and sailed again from thence with the whole Fleet on the 30th of the same Month; and on the 6th of June parted with the Fleet left under the Command of the Lord Berkeley, off Ushant."

"5. All the Ships wanting Repair are in a Way of being repaired as soon as may be."

"6. There did not any Bomb Vessels go with Admiral Russell to The Streights; nor do we know that any were designed to go with him thither."

"7. By the Copies of the Orders to the Convoys of the Store Ships and Victuallers that went to The Streights before Christmas last, which we have already given to your Lordships, bearing Date the 9th and 16th of August and 12th of November last, the Strength of the Convoys appears, and when they were ordered to sail; which accordingly the First of the said Convoys did on the 12th Day of September, and the other on the 25th Day of November."

"By Command of the Commissioners,

"Wm Bridgeman."

State of the Fleet.

ORDERED, That the further Consideration of the State of the Fleet shall be resumed on Monday next.

Adjourn.

Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque ad et in diem Lunæ, (videlicet,) undecimum diem instantis Februarii, hora decima Aurora, Dominis sic decernentibus.