House of Lords Journal Volume 20: 6 April 1717

DIE Sabbati, 6 Aprilis.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

Mierop, Nat. Bill:

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for naturalizing Isaac Kuyckvan Mierop."

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

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Message to H. C. that the Lords agree to it.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Mr. Orlebar and Mr. Bennet:

To acquaint them, that the Lords have agreed to the said Bill, without any Amendment.

Kirwan versus French.

The House being moved, "That a Day may be appointed, for hearing the Appeal of John Kirwan Esquire, commonly called Sir John Kirwan, and Simon Kirwan Esquire, depending in this House, whereunto Christopher French Gentleman is Respondent:"

It is Ordered, That this House will hear the said Cause, by Counsel, at the Bar, on Wednesday the First Day of May next, at Eleven a Clock.

Authors and Printers of News Papers examined:

This Day being appointed, for J. Baker, R. Tookey, and S. Popping, mentioned to be the Printers and Publishers of the News Papers Yesterday complained of, to attend, to be examined touching the said Complaint.

The House was informed, "That the said Tookey and Popping, as also one Thomas Walker, attended."

Whereupon the said Thomas Walker was called in; and acquainted the House, "That he is the Author of The St. James's Post and St. James's Evening Post; and that the said Baker, for whom those Papers are printed, is so ill, that he is not able to attend."

The said Walker was thereupon examined, upon Oath, in relation to the Illness of the said Baker, and to the Paragraphs complained of in the said Papers.

And withdrew.

Then Sarah Popping was called in; and examined, upon Oath, concerning the Paper, intituled, "The Flying Post," and the Paragraph therein complained of.

Also Robert Tookey was called in; and examined, upon Oath, in relation to the same Matter.

Who owned, "He printed the said Paper; and that George Ridpath and Stephen Whatley his Clerk were the Authors thereof; and that the Paragraph complained of, giving an Account that a certain Prelate had thought fit to grant Ordination to Two Officers of the Excise, One or both of them in Yorkshire, who were discharged for their Disaffection to the Government, was taken out of The St. James's Post; and the Copy from which it was printed was written by the said Whatley."

Which differing from the printed Paper; the said Tookey was examined touching the same; and alledged, "It was a Mistake or Blunder of the Compositors Moses Brudenall or Nathaniel Dodd; and that the First Sheet or Proof of that Paper is not, as he believes, now extant."

And then he was directed to mark the said Copy from which the Paragraph was printed, and deliver it in at the Bar.

Which he did accordingly, and withdrew.

And the following Orders were made:

Walker, Tookey, & al. attached:

"Ordered, That the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, his Deputy or Deputies, do forthwith attach the Body of the said Thomas Walker, for his Contempt in writing and publishing the said St. James's Post, and St. James's Evening Post: And that the said Gentleman Usher do likewise attach the Body of the said Robert Tookey, for his Contempt in printing the said Flying Post; as also the Bodies of the said George Ridpath and Stephen Whatley, being charged upon Oath, as the Authors of the said Paper; and keep the said several Persons in safe Custody, until the further Order of this House.

"To Sir William Oldes, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, his Deputy or Deputies, and every of them."

Brudenall and Dodd to attend.

Ordered, That the said Moses Brudenall and Nathaniel Dodd do attend this House on Tuesday next, at Twelve a Clock.

Land Tax Bill.

The House (according to Order) was adjourned during Pleasure, and put into a Committee of the whole House upon the Bill, intituled, "An Act for granting an Aid to His Majesty, by a Land Tax in Great Britain, for the Service of the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventeen."

And, after some Time spent therein, the House was resumed.

And the Earl of Clarendon reported from the said Committee, "That they had gone through the Bill; and directed him to report the same to the House, without any Amendment."

Barnardiston & al. versus Carter.

Upon reading the Petition and Appeal of Sir Robert Barnardiston Baronet, Samuel Barnardiston Esquire, and John Coppin Esquire; complaining of a Decree made by the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, on the Second Day of March in the First Year of His present Majesty, in a Cause wherein William Carter Esquire was Plaintiff, and the Appellants and others Defendants; and praying, "That the same may be reversed and set aside, and the Plaintiff's Bill dismissed as against the Appellants:"

It is Ordered, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the said William Carter may have a Copy of the said Appeal; and shall and is hereby required to put in his Answer thereunto, in Writing, on or before Saturday the Twentieth Day of this Instant April.

Adjourn.

Dominus Cancellarius declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque ad et in diem Martis, nonum diem instantis Aprilis, hora undecima Aurora, Dominis sic decernentibus.