House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 17 June 1678

Lunæ, 17 die Junii, 1678.

Prayers.

Stannary Laws.

A BILL concerning the Stannaries in Cornwall and Devon, was read the First time.

Resolved, &c. That the Bill be read a Second time, after Ten of the Clock.

Burglaries, &c.

A Bill to prevent Burglaries, and robbing Houses, in London, and the Weekly Bills of Mortality, was read the Second time.

Resolved, &c. That the Bill be committed to Alderman Love, Sir Hen. Ford, Sir Trevor Williams, Sir Anth. Irby, Mr. Greenvile, Col. Kirkby, Col. Birch, Alderman Bence, Sir Phil. Warwick, Sir Sam. Bernardiston, Sir Edw. Deering, Sir Anth. Irby, Sir Geo. Downing, Sir John Coryton, Mr. Papillon, Sir Court. Poole, Sir Gilbert Talbot, Mr. Treby, Sir Wm. Lowther, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Sir Tho. Stringer, Mr. Crouch, Sir Edw. Hungerford, Sir John Knight, Sir Giles Hungerford, Mr. Goreing, Sir John Pettus, Sir John Barnaby, Sir Rob. Markham, Mr. Trelawney, Mr. Stawell, Mr. Westfaling, Sir John Berkenhead, Sir Rich. Temple, Sir John Mallet, Sir Ro. Berkley, Mr. Mallet, Mr. Wright, Mr. Foote, Sir Wm. Blacket, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Prideux, Mr. Sparks, Sir Ric. Corbet: And they are to meet To-morrow at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Inner Court of Wards.

Ditto.

A Petition of several Artificers and Handicraftsmen, living in and about the City of London, was read.

Resolved, &c. That the said Petition be referred to the Consideration of the Committee last appointed.

Gresham's Debts.

An ingrossed Bill, sent from the Lords, intituled, An Act for vesting the Rectory of Westerham in the County of Kent in Trustees, to be sold for the Payment of the Debts of Edward Gresham Esquire, was read the Second time.

Resolved, &c. That the Bill be commited to Lord Gorge, Sir Court. Poole, Sir John Bramston, Sir John Elwes, Sir Wm. Hickman, Col. Phillips, Col. Howard, Mr. Price, Sir Cyril Wyche, Sir Edm. Jenings, Sir Wm. Haward, Mr. Weld, Sir Anth. Irby, Mr. Mainard, Mr. Packer, Sir Hen. Ford, Sir Ric. Wiseman, Mr. Henly, Mr. Onslow, Mr. Dalmahoy, Mr. Wright, Sir John Coryton, Sir Nich. Slaning, Mr. Man, Sir Ad. Browne, Sir Fr. Clarke, Sir Robert Can, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Mr. Neale, Sir John Barnaby, Sir John Reresby, Mr. Noseworthy, Mr. Boreman, Mr. Goreing, Mr. Aldworth, Mr. Spry, Mr. May, Sir Gilbert Talbot, Sir Jon. Trelawney, Sir Ch. Wheeler, Sir Rich. Everard, Mr. Osborne, Mr. Buscawen, Sir Rog. Bradshaw, Sir Wm. Blacket, Mr. Crouch, Sir Edw. Deering: And they are to meet To-morrow at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Dean of St. Paul's Estates.

Sir John Mallett reports from the Committee, to whom the Bill, sent from the Lords, intituled, An Act for increasing the Revenue of the Dean of St. Paul's, and for assuring the Estates of his Tenants in Shadwell in the County of Middlesex, with an Amendment agreed by the Committee to be made to the Bill: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was twice read; and, upon the Question, agreed.

And the Bill, with the Amendment, being read a Third time;

Resolved, &c. That the Bill so amended, do pass: And that the Title be agreed.

Exporting Leather.

A Bill to export Leather was read the Third time.

The Question being put, That the Bill do pass;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

And so it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Resolved, &c. That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act to revive and continue an Act for giving Liberty to buy and export Leather, and Skins tanned or dressed: And that Sir Henry Ford do carry up the Bill to the Lords for their Concurrence: And also the Bill, with the Amendment, on the Behalf of the Dean of St. Paul's.

Cave's Will.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Timothy Baldwyn and Sir Edw. Low;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords have sent you down a Bill, intituled, An Act for the better Enabling the Trustees of Sir Tho. Cave Knight and Baronet, deceased, for the Selling of Lands for the Performance of the Will of the said Sir Thomas Cave; and likewise for the vesting and settling other Lands: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

Navy and Army Estimates.

Mr. Powle reports from the Committee to whom the Consideration of lessening the present Charge of the Fleet was referred; and to whom the Master of the Ordnance was to bring in his Estimates; That the Committee had taken the Matter, to them referred, into their Consideration; and agreed upon a Report; which they had ordered him to make to the House; as followeth:

Upon the Fourteenth of February last, this House did resolve upon the several Rates of the Ships, and Numbers of Men that were to be employed upon them, in the Service of a War against the French King.

The State of the Navy at that time was this:

There was abroad then, in the King's Service.

In all, 63.

The Number of Men upon all those Ships and Vessels, 6,334.

Upon the Thirtieth of May, when this House resolved the present Charge of the Navy should be lessened, there were actually set out.

77 of the King's Ships.
12 Merchant Ships.
2 Ketches.
13 Fire Ships.
6 Sloops.
16 Yachts.
29 Tenders.

In all, 89 Ships of War, 13 Fire Ships, and 53 small Vessels.

The Number of Men, upon all those Ships and Vessels, 15,609.

The Committee thought it reasonable, That all those Ships, that were abroad in his Majesty's Service upon the Fourteenth of February, and have so continued till this time, should remain upon the King's Charge; and the rest should be defrayed by this House.

So, the King's part being taken out of the whole Number, there remained to be discharged on the publick Account,

42 King's Ships, 12 Merchant Ships, 9 Fire Ships, and 29 Tenders.

That there is now remaining in Stores actually served in 39,000l. and 21,000l. contracted for, comprehended in the particular Sums presented in the Report; over and above what Stores are on Board the King's Part of the Ninety Ships; which are all fitted out, and Stores on Board for Six Months; and over and above what is provided for the Thirty Ships now in Building.

Disposition of Grants.

Mr. Powle reports from the Committee to whom it was referred to take an Account of the Disbursements of the 200,000l. That the Committee had taken the same into Consideration; and ordered him to make the Report following:

1677 and 1678.

Received out of the Exchequer, of the Loans upon the additional Excise, for the Service of his Majesty's Navy; viz.

90,000l. whereof was received out of the Seventeen Months Tax for building Ships.

And 90,000l. more was borrowed by Loan, on the Fifth-part of the additional Excise.

The Issues of the Navy during that time, were as followeth:

Out of this Sum there is to be deducted 90,000l. for the Expence of building the new Ships within that Time.

Besides which there is a Debt contracted within the said Time, for Wages earned, and Stores served in for the Use of the Navy, which hath been still paid off as the Money borrowed upon the Credit of the additional Excise came in: But a certain Estimate of that Debt they could not make, without more Time.

Neither could they give us a certain Estimate of the Debt which was due by the Navy, at the Beginning of the said Time.

They say the Navy was very much out of Repair at the Beginning of the said Time; and had been so ever since the End of the last Dutch War; and that this Money had been laid out upon repairing the Hulls and Tackle of the King's Ships, so as was fitting for them to lie in Harbour, when they were not intended to be set out to Sea.

That the ordinary Charge of the Navy, in times of Peace; viz. for Paying of the Navy Board, the Docks and Yards; and for the Summer and Winter Guard; was estimated to amount to about 360,000l. per Annum, besides the Ordnance.

That this was the best Account could be given by them at present, without examining their Books and Accounts; which would require much Time: Which the Committee did not think fit to allow.

They say, That this Money for Fortifications was laid out in the Year 1676.

They say, The Ordinary Charge of the Ordnance in Times of Peace, including both Land and Sea Service, is estimated to amount to about 72,000l. per Annum.

There was received by the Office of the Ordnance from the Exchequer, from the First of January 1676 / 7;, to the last of December 1677, the Sum of 74,200l.

That there was expended in the said time, for Land and Sea Service, the Sum of 67,880l. 11s. 10d. Farthing.

That at the Beginning of the last Year his Majesty's Stores were very ill furnished, there being not 4,000 Barrels of Powder at that Time in all the Magazines in England.

That they could not give a more particular Account, without searching into their Books and Accounts; which would take up a great deal of Time: Which the Committee thought not fit to allow.

The Question being put, That it does appear to the House, that 160,000l. has been borrowed upon the Credit of the Excise, and expended for the Extraordinary Use of the Navy;

The House divide.

The Noes go forth.

And so it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Resolved, &c. That it does appear to this House, that160,000l. has been borrowed upon the Credit of the Excise,and expended for the extraordinary Use of the Navy.

The Question being put, That it does appear tothe House, that there has been 40,000l. borrowed uponthe Credit of the additional Excise, and expended for theextraordinary Use of the Ordnance;

The House divide.

The Noes go forth.

And so it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Resolved, &c. That it does appear to this House, That there has been Forty thousand Pounds borrowed, upon the Credit of the additional Excise; and expended for the extraordinary Use of the Ordnance.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees, that were to sit this Afternoon, be adjourned.

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