Veneris, 18 die Decembris; 3° Gulielmi et Mariæ.
Prayers.
St. Anne's, Westminster, Church.
A BILL for supplying the Defects in an Act made in
the First Year of the late King James, for enabling
the Inhabitants of the Parish of St. Anne within the Liberties of Westminster to raise Money to build a Church to
be the Parish Church there, was read the Second time.
Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir Tho.
Clarges, Mr. Burdet, Sir Sam. Grimston, Mr. Cooke, Sir
Wm. Cooke, Mr. How, Mr. Christie, Mr. Mannaton, Mr.
Kenyon, Mr. Blowfeild, Mr. Bromly, Sir Thomas Darcy,
Mr. Waller, Mr. Lutterell, Mr. Hawtry, Sir Rob. Henley,
Major Vincent, Mr. Vincent, Mr. Lewes, Mr. Slater, Sir
Wilfred Lawson, Mr. Henley, Mr. Ash, Mr. Hedger, Colonel Lee, Sir John Dorrell, Mr. Bowyer, Mr. Bockenham,
Mr. Bedding field, Mr. Slater, Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. Foley,
and all the Members that serve for the County of Middlesex, and Cities of London and Westminster, and Borough
of Southwarke: And they are to meet this Afternoon at
Four of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.
Clandestine Mortgages.
Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to
prevent Frauds by clandestine Mortgages.
And the Bill was presented to the House by Mr.
Waller; and received.
Seamen.
Sir Richard Onslow, according to Order, presented to
the House, a Bill for the more speedy and effectual
furnishing their Majesties Navy and Merchant Ships
with Seamen. And the same was received.
Ordered, That the Bill be read To-morrow Morning.
Debtors Escapes.
A Bill for the better Relief of Creditors, and preventing Escapes, was read the First time.
Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.
Duties on Spirits from Melasses.
A Petition of several Merchants and Planters trading
to and interested in their Majesties Sugar Plantations, was
read; setting forth, That the Product of the Plantations
are much lessened by heavy Taxes; and that, the last Sessions of this Parliament, an Act passed, which imposed a
high Duty on Spirits drawn from Melasses, above what
was laid on Spirits drawn from other Materials, and is
interpreted to lay the Duty not only on Spirits made of
Melasses in Kind, but from Melasses produced from
Sugars wrought in England; which was a very great
Damage to the Plantations, and the Refining Trade of
this Nation: That the said Act has not answered the
Ends designed thereby, for that it has manifestly checked
the Increase of the growing Expence of Spirits, if not
much lessened the same: And praying the Consideration
of the House in the Premises; and that in regard of the
high Duties upon Spirits drawn from Melasses, more
than upon Spirits drawn from other Materials.
Resolved, That the Examination and Consideration of
the said Petition be referred to a Committee: And that
they do report the same, with their Opinions therein, to
the House.
And it is referred to Mr. Gwyn, Sir Sam. Dashwood,
Mr. Colt, Mr. Perry, Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. Carter, Sir
John Knight, Mr. Mansell, Mr. Slater, Colonel Lee, Sir
Jonath. Jennings, Sir John Dorrell, Sir Rob. Cotton, Sir
Rob. Edon, Sir James Rushout, Major Vincent, Sir Ralph
Dutton, Sir Robert Henley, Mr. Hawtry, Sir Tho. Dyke,
Mr. Onslow, Mr. Henley, Sir Rich. Temple, Mr. Burdet,
Mr. Dyot, Sir Wilfred Lawson, Mr. Blowfeild, Mr.
Christie, Mr. Thornhaugh, Mr. Slater, Sir Peter Colleton,
Mr. Vincent, Sir Rich. Onslow, Mr. Waller, Mr. Hobby,
Mr. Arnold, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Biddolph, Mr. Greenfeild,
Sir Jos. Tredenham: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Four of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber:
And it is to be an Instruction to the said Committee,
That they do consider of the Impositions upon Sugar
Outwards: and report the same, with their Opinions
therein, to the House.
Crips' Estate.
A Petition of John Crips, Gentleman, was read; setting
forth, That, upon the Petitioner's Marriage, the Manors of
Kersey, situate in River Ewell and Whitfeild in Com' Kent,
was settled on Trustees, in Trust to the Petitioner for Life;
Remainder to his Wife; Remainder to their Issue Male;
Remainder to the Petitioner's right Heirs: But that the
said Manor lies remote from other Part of the Petitioner's
Estate: And praying Leave to bring in a Bill to sell an
Estate in the County of Kent, lying remote from his
other Estate; and to settle another Estate, of greater
yearly Value, in lieu thereof, to the same Uses.
Resolved, That the Examination and Consideration of
the said Petition be referred to a Committee: And that
they do report the Matter specially to the House.
And it is referred unto Mr. Brewer, Mr. Blowfeild,
Mr. Ryder, Mr. Carter, Mr. Burdet, Sir Math. Andrewes,
Mr. St. John, Sir John Bancks, Mr. Campion, Mr.
Bridger, Colonel Lee, Mr. Price, Mr. Roberts, Major
Vincent, Mr. Greenfeild, Mr. Bancks, Sir Wm. Honeywood, Sir Tho. Roberts, Sir Rob. Cotton, Mr. Waller, Mr.
Parker, Mr. Beddingfeild, Sir Tho. Bernardiston: And
they are to meet this Afternoon at Four of the Clock, in
the Speaker's Chamber.
Debtors Relief.
Mr. Arnold, according to Order, presented to the House
a Bill for supplying the Defects in the late Act made for
Relief of Poor Prisoners. And the same was received.
Deer Stealers.
An ingrossed Bill for the more effectual Discovery and
Punishment of Deer-stealers, was read the Third time.
Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title
be, An Act for the more effectual Discovery and Punishment of Deer-stealers.
Ordered, That Sir Rob. Henley do carry the Bill to
the Lords; and desire their Concurrence thereunto.
Leave of Absence.
Ordered, That Mr. Fullford have Leave to go into
the Country, for Recovery of his Health.
Call of the House.
Ordered, That the House be called over upon Tuesdaysevennight: And that such Members of the House as
shall not then attend and appear, be sent for in Custody
of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House.
East India Company.
Then the House, according to the Order of the Day,
resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to
consider further of the Petitions concerning the East
India Trade.
Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
Sir John Guise took the Chair of the Committee.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.
Sir John Guise reported from the said Committee,
That they had come to several Resolutions; which they
had directed him to report to the House: And which
he read in his Place; and afterwards, delivered in at the
Clerk's Table: Where the same were once read throughout; and are as followeth; viz.
Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee,
That all Persons now having above the Sum of Five
thousand Pounds in Stock of the present East India Company, in their own or other Persons Names, be obliged
to sell so much thereof as shall exceed the aforesaid
Sum of Five thousand Pounds, at the Rate of One hundred Pounds for every One hundred Pounds.
Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee
That the Members of the Committee of the East India
Company be obliged to give Security, to be approved of
by the House, that the Stock and Estate they now have
shall be made good Seven hundred Forty-four thousand
Pounds, all Debts paid.
Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee,
That, Security being first given, an humble Address be
presented to his Majesty to incorporate the present East
India Company by Charter, according to the Regulations
agreed upon by the House, that the same may pass into
an Act of Parliament.
Ordered, That Candles be brought in.
Then the said Resolutions were severally read a Second
time; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon,
agreed unto by the House.
Ordered, That the Committee of the East India Company do attend this House upon Wednesday Morning
next, at Ten a Clock, to give Security, according to the
said Resolution.
Lymington, &c. Elections.
Ordered, That the Chairman of the Committee of Privileges and Elections do report the Matter touching the
several Elections for the Borough of Lymington in the
County of Southampton, and Calne in the County of Wilts,
To-morrow Morning at Ten of the Clock.
Committees.
Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.
And then the House adjourned till To-morrow
Morning, Eight of the Clock.