House of Lords Journal Volume 18: 7 January 1708

DIE Mercurii, 7 Januarii.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

Lords take the Oaths.

This Day the Lords following took the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, and the Oath of Abjuration, and also made and subscribed the Declaration, pursuant to the Statutes; (videlicet,)

Thomas Earl of Pembroke, Lord President.

William Lord Bishop of Carlisle.

Robert Lord Lexington.

Vanfunden et al. Petition for Nat.

Upon reading the Petitions of Jadeus Vanfunden, Henry Power, and Peter Drelincourt; praying Leave to be added to the Bill of Naturalization now depending in this House:

It is Ordered, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Petitioners may be added to the Bill of Naturalization now depending in this House, according to the Prayer of their said Petitions.

Queen's Answer to Address about Spain.

The Lord Chancellor reported Her Majesty's Answer to the Address of both Houses of Parliament, presented to Her Majesty the Twenty-third Day of December last, as follows; (videlicet,)

"My Lords, and Gentlemen,

"I am fully of your Opinion, that no Peace can be honourable or safe, for us or for our Allies, till the entire Monarchy of Spain be restored to the House of Austria; and very well pleased to find, that the Measures I have concerted, for the Succour of the King of Spain, are so well approved by both Houses of Parliament.

"I shall continue My most pressing Instances with the Emperor, for the hastening of further Succours, and that they may be commanded by Prince Eugene; as also upon all other Particulars mentioned in your Address."

Report concerning the Coal Trade, and Protection of Seamen:

The Lord Viscount Townshend reported from the Lords Committees, appointed to consider the Inconveniencies arising by a late Act, made in relation to the Coal Trade, as it respects a Protection of Seamen, and the best Means of preventing such Inconveniencies for the future; and likewise of what Provisions may be fit to be made for the better manning of the Fleet, as follows; (videlicet,)

"That their Lordships are of Opinion, That a Bill be brought in, for repealing the Fifteenth and Twentieth Paragraphs, in the Statute of the Second and Third of the Queen, Chap. 6th, relating to the Coal Trade.

"That there shall be Two Fourth Rates and Two Fifth Rates Ships of War, at the least, appropriated for constant Convoys to the Coal Trade.

"That, for Encouragement of such Foreign Seamen as shall enter themselves in the Service of the Merchants, they shall not at any Time be impressed into Her Majesty's Service; and if such Foreign Seamen shall, at any Time, voluntarily enter themselves into the Service of the Royal Navy, and shall serve Twelve Months therein, they shall, on Request, be discharged by the Captain on Board whose Ship they shall so serve.

"That no Man, at any Time, be turned over from Ship to Ship, in Her Majesty's Service, that has voluntarily entered himself therein.

"That the Lord Mayor, Court of Aldermen, and Watermen's Hall, shall furnish such Number of able Watermen as Her Majesty in Council shall direct; and that no Protection of any Peer, or other Person whatsoever, to Watermen or Seamen, shall be good during this present War; and that such Watermen as do abscond from their usual Habitations, to avoid the Service, do lose the Freedom of the River.

"That any Person, who shall serve Her Majesty in the Royal Navy Three Years, shall have Liberty to exercise any Trade he shall think fit to set up, in any Town or Place whatsoever."

Which said Resolutions, being severally read, were agreed to by the House.

Bill to be prepared, pursuant to the Report.

It is Ordered, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Lord Viscount Townshend shall and he is hereby desired to prepare, and bring in, a Bill, upon the Report by him this Day made from the Lords Committees, appointed to consider the Inconveniencies arising by a late Act relating to the Coal Trade.

Wort versus Perne.

It is Ordered, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That this House will hear the Cause wherein William Worts is Appellant, and John Perne Respondent, on Friday the Sixteenth Day of this Instant January, at Eleven a Clock.

Report concerning Trade:

The Lord Halifax reported from the Lords Committees, appointed to examine a State of the Trade of this Kingdom, received from the Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, as followeth; (videlicet,)

"That an humble Address be made to Her Majesty, That She will please to cause to be laid before this House, what Estimate hath been made of the Charge of fortifying Crook-Haven, in Ireland.

"And what Application hath been made to the Court of Vienna, to take off the Prohibition that hath been laid on the Woollen Manufactures in Austria, and for Relief of the Merchants trading to Geneva.

"And for obtaining Relief to Mr. Fisher and the other Merchants, for the Violence offered to them by the Prince of Hannault Dessau.

"And whether the Four and Half per Cent. has been applied in Barbados, in the making Fortifications there, and the establishing and maintaining a Regiment, pursuant to the Representation of the said Commissioners for Trade, on the Fourteenth of January last: And whether any Thing hath been done in a Proposition of Colonel Dudley's, for destroying Quebeck and Port Royal, communicated to Mr. Secretary Hedges, by the Commissioners of Trade, on the Second of March One Thousand Seven Hundred and Four."

Which said Heads, being severally read, were agreed to by the House.

Address to be drawn, pursuant to the Report.

Upon Report from the Lords Committees, appointed to consider a State of the Trade of this Kingdom, received from the Commissioners for Trade and Plantations:

It is Ordered, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the said Committee do meet To-morrow, at Ten a Clock, to draw an Address to Her Majesty, pursuant to the said Report agreed to this Day; and report to the House.

Killingworth's Petition referred to Judges.

Upon reading the Petition of Anne Killingworth Widow, Relict and Administratrix of John Killingworth, late of The Middle Temple, London, Esquire, deceased, and Elizabeth Killingworth, who hath attained the Age of One and Twenty Years, in Behalf of themselves, and of Mary, Anne, Katherine, Frances, and Lucy Killingworth, being under Age, and Daughters of the said John Killingworth; praying Leave to bring in a Bill, for the Sale of a Piece or Parcel of Ground, in Shug Lane, in the Parish of St. James's, Westminster, on which were several decayed Tenements; and the Monies arising thereby to be applied to the Purposes in the Petition mentioned:

It is Ordered, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Consideration of the said Petition shall be, and is hereby, referred to Mr. Justice Gould and Mr. Baron Price; who are forthwith to summon all Parties that are to be concerned in the Bill; and, after hearing them, to report to the House the State of the Case, with their Opinion thereupon under their Hands, and whether all Parties concerned in the Consequences of the Bill have signed the Petition; and also that the Judges, having perused the Bill, do sign the same.

Adjourn.

Dominus Cancellarius declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque ad et in diem Jovis, octavum diem instantis Januarii, hora undecima Auroræ, Dominis sic decernentibus.