House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 28 February 1695

Jovis, 28 die Februarii;

Septimo Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Committees.

ORDERED, That all Committees be revived.

Marquis of Tavistock's Marriage Settlement.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for settling divers Manors and Lands upon the Marriage of the Marquis of Tavistock, Grandson of William Duke of Bedford, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Webb's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for Sale of Part of the Estate of Jonathan Webb Esquire, for discharging of Debts, and Incumbrances charged thereon, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Thames Locks and Weirs.

Sir Ralph Dutton reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for preventing Exactions of Occupiers of Locks and Weirs upon the River of Thames, westward of the City of London; and for ascertaining the Price of Water-carriage upon the said River; was committed; That they had considered the same; and made several Amendments to the Bill; which they had directed him to report; and which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were read.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Sevennight, take the said Report into Consideration.

London Carmen.

A Petition of the ancient free Carmen of the City of London was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That * * * *

* That the Examination and Consideration of the said Petition be referred to a Committee: And that they do report the Matter, with their Opinion therein, to the House:

And it is referred to Mr. Arnold, Sir John Moreton, Sir John Banks, Mr. Fownes, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Kenyon, Mr. Smith, Lord Digby, Mr. Stonehouse, Mr. Bromley, Mr. How, Mr. Foley, Mr. Hungerford, Mr. Clarke, Sir Cha. Cartaret, Mr. Cocks, Lord Pawlet, Sir John Bolles, Sir John Bland, Sir John Fagg, Mr. Gwynn, Mr. Lloyd, Mr. Lutterell, Mr. Bertie, Mr. Bickerstaff, Mr. Boyle, Sir Wm. Cooper, Mr. Tilney, Sir Matth. Andrews, Sir Sam. Dashwood, Colonel Perry, Colonel Lee, Mr. Cooke, Sir William Ellis, Sir Rowland Gwyn, Colonel Granvill, Mr. Christie, Mr. Fenwick, Mr. Bowyer, Sir Jervas Elwes, Sir Wm. Drake, Mr. Vincent, Serjeant Thurbane, Sir Fran. Massam, Lord Cornbury; and all the Members that serve for the Cities of London and Westminster, and County of Middlesex, and Borough of Southwarke: And they are to meet To-morrow in the Afternoon, at Four a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber: And are impowered to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Private Bills.

Ordered, That no Proceedings be had upon any other private Bills, until such as are now depending before the House be dispatched.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Grubb have Leave to go into the Country for Three Weeks, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Plantation Trade.

Sir John Knight reported from the Committee, to whom the Examination and Consideration of the Petition of the Merchants and Traders of the City of Bristoll to his Majesty's Plantations in America; and also the Petition of the Merchants and Traders of the Town and Borough of Leverpoole to his Majesty's Plantations; was referred; That they had examined and considered the Matter of the said several Petitions; and had directed him to report the same to the House; which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was read; and is as followeth; viz.

That Mr. Sanson, Secretary to the Commissioners of his Majesty's Customs, produced to the Committee several Papers and Informations laid before the said Commissioners of the Customs, proving, That there had been, for many Years past, a constant Trade carried on by divers Persons, contrary to the Act of Navigation, and other Laws for securing the Plantation-Trade, from Scotland to the Sugar and Tobacco-Plantations in America; and from the said Plantations back again to Scotland: And particularly,

That one Thomas Meech, who had been concerned in the said illegal Trade, had informed the Commissioners, That, in the Year 1693, Twelve Ships of the Kingdom of Scotland had laded Tobacco and Sugar in the said Plantations, and had returned directly to Scotland, and there unloaded: Besides which, there were then Eight more Ships upon the same Voyages.

And Mr. Sanson further declared to the Committee, That, by these illegal Practices, the King was damaged in his Customs at 50,000l. a Year.

That then several Merchants were called in; and examined: And, First,

Mr. Micajah Perry informed the Committee, That he had now Bills of Exchange, which were drawn in Virginea, payable to him for the Country Duties of Tobacco loaden on a Ship in Virginea, which was now actually discharged in Glasgow in Scotland; and that he had, for several Years past, received Returns from Scotland, for the Account of several Planters in Virginea, being the Produce of Tobacco loaden on Scottish Ships in Virginea, and landed in Glascow in Scotland:

That before this illegal Trade driven by the Scots, from the Tobacco-Plantations, he used yearly to ship from England to Scotland at least 800 Hogsheads of Tobacco; and of late he had not sent one:

That the like illegal Trade was carried on between Ireland and Virginea:

That one great means of carrying on this fraudulent Trade from Virginea to Scotland . . Ireland, did proceed from a late Practice of loading on Shipboard vast Quantities of Tobacco in Bulk, which they run on Shore in every Port they put into; thereby defrauding the King of his Customs, at least 60,000l. per Ann.; and abating at least a Sixth Part of the Shipping employed in that Trade; and causing the Price of Tobacco in all Places to abate so considerably, that the fair Traders cannot live by their Trade; and hath so discouraged the Planters in Virginea and Maryland from planting Tobacco, that they had Thoughts of giving over the same; and had already set up several Manufactures, which they were formerly supplied with from England; and were consulting how to set up more.

That several other Merchants appeared, and confirmed what Mr. Perry had informed the Committee, in relation to the fraudulent Trade between Scotland and Ireland, and the Tobacco-Plantations; and the great Damage the Kingdom sustains by loading of Tobacco in Bulk: And did believe, That if there were not some Law to prevent the same, the Plantation-Trade would be in Danger to be totally lost; to the great Decay of Navigation, and the Diminution of his Majesty's Customs.

And then Sir John Knight acquainted the House, That he was directed by the said Committee to move, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the better securing the Plantation-Trade; and preventing the Shipping of Tobacco in Bulk.

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in accordingly: And that Sir John Knight do prepare, and bring in, the same.

Recovery of Small Tythes.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the more easy Recovery of small Tythes, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Duties on Paper, &c.

Resolved, That this House will, upon this Day Sevennight, take into Consideration the Report from the Committee appointed to consider of the Act, made the last Session, for laying several Duties upon Vellum, Parchment and Paper; and of the Doubts and Complaints relating thereunto.

Earthen-ware.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Sevennight, take into Consideration the Report from the Committee, to whom the Bill for the more effectual prohibiting the Importation of Earthen-ware was committed.

Ways and Means.

The Order of the Day being read, for the Report to be made from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred 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;

And the Question being put, That the said Report be now taken;

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

Ordered, That the said Report be made upon Thursday Morning next.

Ditto.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved 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.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
Sir Thomas Littleton took the Chair of the Committee.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir Thomas Littleton reported from the said Committee, That they had made a further Progress in the Matter to them referred; and had directed him to move the House, That they may have Leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Saturday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole . . . ., 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.

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