House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 7 February 1695

Jovis, 7 die Februarii;

Sexto Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Expiring Laws.

RESOLVED, That this House will, upon Monday Morning next, at Eleven a Clock, take the Report from the Committee, to whom it was referred to inspect what Laws are lately expired and expiring; and to consider which are fit to be revived and continued.

A Person in Custody to be discharged.

Ordered, That Thomas Fitz-Harris, in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms, be discharged out of Custody, paying his Fees: And that he do, To-morrow Morning, attend the Committee, to whom the Examination and Consideration of the Petition of Thomas Kemp, and others of the ancient Four hundred Hackney Coachmen, was referred.

Kerridges's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Thomas Kerridge, a Minor, to purchase divers Manors, Lands, and Tenements, that lie adjacent to his Estate, in the County of Suffolke, was read the First time.

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

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That the Bill be rejected.

Petition relating to Act of Navigation.

A Petition of divers English Merchants, Owners, Builders, and Masters of Ships, and other Persons concerned in Shipping and Navigation, on behalf of themselves, and many Thousand Families, immediately depending upon the Foreign Trade and Commerce of this Kingdom, was presented to the House and read; setting forth, That the punctual performance of the Act of Navigation, made in the 12th Year of King Charles the IId, is of great Import to the Trade and Safety of this Kingdom: And that, of late Years, great Quantities of Merchandizes have been imported, contrary to the said Act; to the great Discouragement of such Merchants as import their Goods fairly; to the utter Ruin of our Trade here, and English Navigation; and to the Lessening of his Majesty's Customs; all which the Petitioners are ready to prove: Which will Practice proceeds from the Encouragement given to such unfair Traders, who import their Merchandize in Ships which are neither built nor manned as by that Law is required; so that the Shipping and Navigation of the Northern Crowns is much increased; and the foreign Trade must of Necessity be wholly lost to England; and the Shipping and Navigation of this Kingdom will be utterly ruined in a few Years, unless some speedy Care be taken: And praying, That they may be heard, touching the said Grievances; and that the House will take such Measures for preventing the Breach of the said Act of Navigation, as shall be thought necessary.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the Bill for the importing Wines and other Goods, from Spain, Portugal, and Italy, of the Growth of those Countries in English, and English-built Ships, manned with Seamen of those Countries, be read the First time.

Ways and Means.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Saturday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of Ways and Means for raising the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for carrying on the War against France with Vigour.

Encouragement of Privateers.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Monday Morning next, after the Consideration of the Report from the Committee appointed to inspect what Laws are lately expired and expiring; and to consider which are fit to be revived and continued is over; resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for the better Encouragement of Privateers.

Army Accounts.

A Petition of Grace Glover, Widow, Relict of Thomas Glover, late Lieutenant and Quarter-master of the Regiment commanded by Ferdinando Hastings, was presented to the House, and read; complaining of the said Colonel Hastings for not stating and adjusting her Husband's Accounts.

And also a Petition of William Durston, Clerk, was presented to the House, and read; complaining of the said Colonel Hastings, in respect of the Pay due to him, as Chaplain of the said Regiment.

Ordered, That the said Petitions do lie upon the Table until the said Colonel Hastings do attend this House: And that he have a Copy of the said Petitions in the mean time.

Abuses by Army Agents.

Ordered, That the further Consideration of the Complaint of the Inhabitants of Royston; and of the Observations, made by the Commissioners for taking and stating the publick Accounts, of the Abuses, and ill Practices, of the Agents of the Regiments of the Army; be further adjourned until Tuesday Morning next.

Ordered, That all such Persons as were ordered to attend this House this Day touching the said Complaint, do attend this House again upon Tuesday Morning next.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

Call of the House.

Ordered, That the Call of the House be further adjourned until this Day Sevennight: And that all such Members as shall not then attend, not having Leave to be absent, be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, according to former Orders,

Supply Bill; Land Tax.

An ingrossed Bill for granting to his Majesty an Aid of Four Shillings in the Pound, for One Year; and for applying the yearly Sum of Three hundred thousand Pounds, for Five Years, out of the Duties of Tonage and Poundage, and other Sums of Money, payable upon Merchandizes exported and imported; for carrying on the War against France with Vigour; was read the Third time.

An Amendment was proposed, by adding William Baron Gentleman, a Commissioner for the Town of Cambridge:

And the Question being put, That the said Name be inserted;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So, the Voices being equal.

Mr. Speaker declared with the Yeas.

And the said Name, with others, upon the Question put thereupon, were inserted in the Bill at the Table.

Another Amendment was proposed to be made in the Bill, by altering the Time appointed for the Meeting of the Commissioners; viz. to leave out "20th of February," and inserting "Eight-and-twentieth Day of February:"

And the same was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House; and the Bill amended at the Table.

Another Amendment was proposed to be made in the Clause touching Appeals, by inserting "or to any Members of the House of Commons, Commissioners for that Place:"

And the same was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House; and the Bill amended at the Table accordingly.

An ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider, for the excusing of empty Houses:

And the Question being put, That the Clause be brought up to the Table;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for granting to his Majesty an Aid of Four Shillings in the Pound, for One Year; and for applying the yearly Sum of Three hundred thousand Pounds, for Five Years, out of the Duties of Tonage and Poundage, and other Sums of Money payable upon Merchandizes exported and imported; for carrying on the War against France with Vigour.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Littleton do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire . . . . Concurrence thereunto.

Elections—incapacitating Persons refusing Oaths.

Ordered, That the Bill to disable all Persons from voting in Elections of Members to serve in Parliament, who shall refuse to take the Oaths to the Government, be read a Second time To-morrow Morning, at Eleven a Clock.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned, except such as are by Adjournment to sit To-morrow Morning.

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