Veneris, 17 die Februarii; 5° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Seymour's Estate.

AN ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the better Assurance of the Manor of Woodlands, and Hundred of Knolton, unto Edward Seymour, Esquire, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Leasing Bangor House.

An ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Humphrey Lord Bishop of Bangor to make a Lease of Bangor House, with the Appurtenances, in the Parish of St. Andrew's Holborne, London, for a competent Term of Years, in Order to the New-building, and improving the Rent thereof, for the Benefit of his Successors, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Lord Shannon's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act for settling the Estate of Francis Boyle Lord Viscount Shannon in the Kingdom of Ireland, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Williams' Estate.

An ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Sir John Williams, of Langibby Castle in the County of Monmouth, Baronet, to sell the Manor of Ewyas, Lacy, Waterston and Treschaillan, and other Lands, in the County of Hereford, and the Manor of Carewent, and other Lands, in the County of Monmouth, for Payment of Debts, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Regulating Printing, &c.

A Petition of the Booksellers, Printers, and Bookbinders, and other Dealers in the ancient Trade and Mystery of Printing, was read; setting forth, That the Petitioners, having been prevented from the free Exercise of their Trades, which all other their Majesties Subjects enjoy of any other Profession, by an Act made 13th and 14th Car. II^di, intituled, An Act for preventing Abuses in printing seditious, treasonable, and unlicensed Books and Pamphlets, and for regulating Printing and Printing Presses; which Act was, 1° Jac. II. revived, and enacted to continue from the 24th June 1685, for Seven Years, and from thence to the End of the next Session of Parliament; which will expire at the End of this Session: And that this House having, Three-and-twentieth December last, voted, That the said Act be continued, and praying, That they may be heard, as to such Part of the said Act as they conceive to be prejudicial to their Majesties Interest, as well as the Petitioners, before the Passing thereof.

Ordered, That the said Petition be taken into Consideration, when the Report from the Committee to whom the said Bill is committed shall be made.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cook and Sir James Astrey;

Mr. Speaker,

Apprehending Highwaymen.

The Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act for encouraging the Apprehending of Highwaymen, without any Amendments:

Royal Mines.

And also to the Bill, intituled, An Act for removing Doubts, and preventing Disputes, touching Royal Mines, and that their Majesties may have the Pre-emption, without any Amendments.

Malicious Informations.

Also the Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act to prevent malicious Informations in the Court of King's Bench, and for the more easy Reversal of Outlawries in the same Court; with some Amendments; to which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

London Orphans.

Mr. Harcourt, according to the Order of the Day, reported from the Committee of the whole House to whom was referred the Consideration of the Petition of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council of the City of London, touching the Orphans of the said City, That they had considered the same, and also the Petition of the said Orphans, and the Petition of William Goodwyn, Henry Goodwyn, Katherine Goodwyn, and Audrey Beale, the Consideration whereof was also referred to the said Committee; and 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 read; and are as followeth; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That there be, in the first place, charged on, and allowed out of the whole Revenues of the City of London, the Sum of Ten thousand Pounds per Annum, to support the necessary Charge of the Government of the said City, and the Magistracy thereof.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That an equal Consideration shall be had of William Goodwyn, Henry Goodwyn, Katherine Goodwyn, and Audre Beale, upon their Petition, as of the Orphans of the City of London.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, over and above the said Sum of Ten thousand Pounds per Annum, the whole Revenues of the City of London, in Possession and Reversion, with all Improvements thereof, and other Contingencies in Lands, Disposition of Offices, or otherwise, be applied towards raising a Fund of perpetual Interest of Four Pounds per Cent. to satisfy the Debts due to the Orphans of the City of London.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards raising a Fund of perpetual Interest, for satisfying the Debts due to the Orphans of the City of London, there be yearly paid by every Alderman Five Pounds, by every Common Councilman Forty Shillings, and by every Liveryman Twenty Shillings.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards raising a Fund of perpetual Interest, for satisfying the Debts due to the Orphans of the City of London, there be yearly paid, during their Lives, by all such who have or shall fine for Sheriff or Alderman, Five Pounds; and every one who has or shall fine for Common Council or Liveryman, the same respective Sums with such Persons who yearly serve in those Places.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards the raising a further Fund of perpetual Interest, there be paid, by every Person to be bound an Apprentice in the City of London, Two Shillings and Six Pence; and, by every Person to be made free of the said City, Five Shillings, over and above what is now paid.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards the raising a further Fund of perpetual Interest, there be yearly paid Four Pounds, by every unfree and foreign Merchant, trading beyond the Seas, from the said City, who do inhabit within the said City, or Ten Miles thereof.

The said several Resolutions, being severally read a Second time, one by one, were upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in according to the said Resolutions, and upon the Debate of the House.

And it is referred to Sir Edward Seymour, Sir Tho. Clarges, Sir Chr. Musgrave, Sir John Parsons, Mr. Harcourt, and the Members for the City of London, or any Three of them, to prepare and bring in the said Bill.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir William Drake have Leave to go into the Country for Three Weeks, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Ordered, That Mr. Brockman have Leave to go into the Country for a Fortnight, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Woolen Manufactures.

An ingrossed Bill for continuing Part of the Act, made in the First Year of their Majesties Reign, for the better preventing the Exportation of Wool, and encouraging the Woolen Manufactures of this Kingdom, was read the Third time.

An ingrossed Proviso was offered, as a Rider, That, during the Continuance of the Act, the like Tolls shall be paid by all Persons trading to Hamborough, as are paid by the Members of the Hamborough Company, for Goods, not exceeding Five Shillings for One hundred Pounds Value; which shall be applied towards paying the said Company's Debts.

And the same was read the First time.

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

It passed in the Negative.

Then the Question being put, That the Bill do pass;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

Commissioners of Accompts.

Then the House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for the examining, taking and stating, the publick Accompts of this Kingdom.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
Colonel Granville took the Chair of the Committee.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Colonel Granville reported from the said Committee, That they had gone through the Bill, and made several Amendments; which they had directed him to report to the House, when the House pleased to receive the same.

Ordered, That the said Report be made upon Monday Morning next, at Eleven a Clock.

Supply Bill; Impositions on Merchandize.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for granting to their Majesties several additional Impositions upon Merchandize, was committed, be made To-morrow Morning at Eleven a Clock.

Ways and Means.

Resolved, That this House will, after the said Report, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of Ways and Means for raising the Supply to be granted to their Majesties for the carrying on a vigorous War against France.

Expiring Laws.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee to whom the Bill for reviving and continuing several Laws expired, and near expiring, . . . . . be made upon Monday Morning next.

Importing Saltpetre.

A Petition of the Company for Making and Refining of Saltpetre was read; setting forth, that the Petitioners, being thereto encouraged by their Majesties, have, at their great Charge, built Works for making Saltpetre in this Kingdom, by Methods never yet practised by any of their Majesties Subjects: That the Petitioners have actually engaged to deliver to their Majesties Two hundred Tons of refined Saltpetre this Year, at Seventy Pounds per Ton, and One thousand Tons per Annum, for ever after, at the same Price; provided their Majesties cannot buy it cheaper of others; in which Case the Petitioners are to sell at the current Market, Price: And they have obliged themselves voluntarily to give One thousand Pounds per Annum, out of their Profits, towards the Maintainence of aged, maimed, and decayed Seamen; That there is a Bill depending in this House for importing Saltpetre, notwithstanding the Act of Navigation; which will only tend to the Advantage of some private Persons, who have engrossed Saltpetre in Holland; which will cause great Sums of Money to be carried out of the Nation; and will discourage the Petitioners in establishing the said Manufacture in this Kingdom: And praying to be heard what they have to offer against the Passing of the said Bill.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee to whom the said Bill is committed: And that Mr. Palmes, and Sir Walt. Young, be added to the said Committee: And that the said Committee do sit this Afternoon, at the Place formerly appointed.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

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