House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 3 April 1695

Mercurii, 3 die Aprilis;

7° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Punishing Mutiny and Desertion.

ORDERED, That the Committee for preparing a Clause, to be added to the Bill for punishing Mutineers and Deserters, have Leave to sit during the Sitting of the House.

Regulating Printing and Printing-Presses.

Ordered, That the Committee, to whom the Bill for Regulating of Printing, and Printing-Presses, is committed, have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Woollaston's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Hannah Woollaston Widow, and Jonathan her Son, an Infant, to sell certain Lands and Tenements in Warneford, in the County of Southampton, for Payment of Debts and Legacies, according to the Will of Richard Woollaston, Esquire, deceased, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass.

Ordered, That Mr. Waller do carry the Bill to the Lords, and acquaint them, That this House hath agreed to the same, with an Amendment: To which they desire their Lordships Concurrence.

Foreign Seamen's Nat.

An ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act for naturalizing foreign Seamen, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time after Eleven a Clock.

Preventing counterseiting Coin.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to prevent counterfeiting and clipping the Coin of this Kingdom, was, according to Order; read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir Eliab Harvey, Sir Tho. Vernon, Mr. Neale, Mr. Godolphin, Sir Rowland Gwyn, Mr. Lutterell, Mr. Christy, Mr. Colston, Mr. Papillion, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Bedingfeild, Mr. Travers, Mr. Scobell, Mr. Waller, Doctor Barbon, Mr. Freke, Mr. Morris, Mr. Clark, Mr. Booth, Mr. Rudge, Mr. Trelawny, Mr. Stokes, Mr. Cook, Sir Fra. Massam, Sir Tho. Littleton, Mr. Foley, Sir Tho. Clarges, Mr. Pigot, Mr. Solicitor-General, Mr. Palmes, Mr. Blofeild, Sir Jerv. Elwes, Mr. Bickerstaffe, Mr. Boyle, Mr. Stonehouse, Mr. Harley, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Bale, Mr. Boscawen, Sir John Barker, Sir John Banks, Mr. Biddulph, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Kenyon, Mr. Frewen, Mr. Harvey, Mr. Bulkley, Sir Chr. Musgrave, Sir Sam. Barnardiston: And all that come are to have Voices: And they are to meet To-morrow in the Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber: And are to have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Clipping the Coin.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee appointed to receive Proposals, to prevent the clipping the Silver Coin of this Kingdom, be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning.

West Thorock Inundation.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Poor of Cobham College, and of the Proprietors of Lands now under Water, in WestThorock, in the County of Essex, was committed, be taken into Consideration upon Friday Morning next.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cook and Sir John Franklyn:

Mr. Speaker,

Pierce's Estate.

The Lords have agreed to the Amendments, made by this House, to the Bill, intituled, An Act for vesting certain Lands and Tenements, the Estate of George Gilbert Pierce, of the Middle Temple, London, Esquire, in Trustees, for raising Monies for the Payment of his Debts: And also.

Making Salt Water Fresh.

To the Amendments, made by this House, to the Bill, intituled, An Act for making Salt Water fresh: And also,

Hare's Estate.

To the Amendments, made by this House, to the Bill, intituled, An Act for the better enabling the Executors and Trustees of Sir Thomas Hare Baronet, lately deceased, to raise Portions and Maintenance for his younger Children: And also,

Gollop's Estate.

To the Amendments, made by this House, to the Bill, intituled, An Act to enable Peter Gollop Gentleman to sell a Farm; and certain Lands, called Wantsley; and to vest the Inheritance thereof, in Fee-simple, in such Person or Persons who shall be Purchaser or Purchasers thereof from him, subject only to the Payment of the Sum of One thousand Pounds Principal Money, with the Interest thereof due, and to grow due upon the executory Estate of Robert Merefeild Gentleman, deceased.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Ways and Means.

Sir Thomas Littleton reported from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred to consider of Ways and Means for raising the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for Payment of such Persons whose Ships were employed for the Reducing of Ireland, the Resolutions of the said Committee; which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were read; and are as follow; viz.

1. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That there is a Debt due to his Majesty's Subjects, whose Ships were employed in the Reducing of Ireland, amounting to the Sum of 330,769l. 10s. 7d. as appears by a Report from the Commissioners for taking and stating the publick Accounts.

2. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That a Fund, not exceeding the Sum of 20,000l. per Ann. be granted to, and vested in, his Majesty, for the Payment of Interest, at 5l. per Cent. per Ann. to those Persons whose Ships were employed in the Reducing of Ireland.

3. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards raising the said Sum of 20,000l. per Ann. a Duty of 56s. per Hundred Weight be laid upon all Coffee imported, over and above what is now payable for the same.

4. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards the raising the said Sum of 20,000l. per Ann. a Duty of 6d. per Pound Weight be laid upon all Cocoa-nuts imported from any the Plantations belonging to the Crown of England, over and above what is now payable for the same.

5. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards raising the said Sum of 20,000l. per Ann. a Duty of Nine-pence per Pound Weight be laid upon all Cocoa-nuts imported from any other, foreign, Plantations, over and above what is now payable for the same.

6. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards raising the said Sum of 20,000l. per Annum, a Duty of 12d. per Pound Weight be laid upon all Chocolate imported, over and above what is now payable for the same.

7. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards raising the said Sum of 20,000l. per Annum, a Duty of 2s. per Pound Weight be laid upon all Cocoa-paste imported, over and above what is now payable for the same.

8. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That towards raising the said Sum of 20,000l. per Ann. a Duty of 1s. per Pound Weight be laid upon all Tea imported, over and above what is now payable for the same.

9. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards raising the said Sum of Twenty Thousand Pounds per Annum, a Duty of 5 s. per Pound Weight be laid upon all Tea imported from Holland, or any other Country, not the Place of its Growth, over and above what is now payable for the same.

10. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards raising the said Sum of 20,000l. per Ann. a Duty of double the Sums charged in the Book of Rates, be laid upon all Nutmegs, Cinnamon, Cloves, and Mace.

11. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards raising the said Sum of 20,000l. per Ann. a Duty of 20l. per Cent. ad valorem, be laid upon all Pictures imported.

12. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Duties be granted to his Majesty for the Term of Three Years.

The first Four of the said Resolutions, being severally read a Second time, were, upon the Question severally put therepon, agreed unto by the House.

The Fifth Resolution being read a Second time;

An Amendment was proposed to be made, by inserting, after "Plantation," "from whence by Law they may now be imported:"

And the same was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Resolved, That the House do agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, so amended, That, towards raising the said Sum of Twenty thousand Pounds per Annum, a Duty of Nine-pence per Pound Weight be laid upon all Cocoa-nuts imported from any other, foreign, Plantations, from whence by Law they may now be imported, over and above what is now payable for the same.

The Sixth, and Seventh Resolutions, being severally read a Second time, were, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

The Eighth Resolution being read a Second time;

An Amendment was proposed to be made, by inserting, after "Tea," "regularly:"

And the same was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Resolved, That the House do agree with the Committee, in the said Resolution so amended, That, towards raising the said Sum of 20,000l. a Duty of 1s. per Pound Weight be laid upon all Tea regularly imported, over and above what is now payable for the same.

The Ninth Resolution being read a Second time;

Some Amendments were proposed to be made; viz. by leaving out "5s." and inserting, instead thereof, "2s. 6d.;" and by inserting, after "Growth," "or usual Shipping."

And the same were, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Resolved, That the House do agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, so amended, That, towards raising the said Sum of 20,000l. per Annum, a Duty of 2s. 6d. per Pound Weight be laid upon all Tea imported from Holland, or any other Country not the Place of its Growth, or usual Shipping, over and above what is now payable for the same.

The Tenth Resolution being read a Second time;

An Amendment was proposed to be made, by leaving out "double the Sums," and inserting, instead thereof, "5l. per Cent. over and above what is now:"

And the same was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Resolved, That the House do agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, so amended, That, towards raising the said Sum of 20,000l. per Annum, a Duty of 5l. per Cent. over and above what is now charged in the Book of Rates, be laid upon all Nutmegs, Cinnamon, Cloves, and Mace.

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

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in upon the said Resolutions.

Ordered, That Mr. Solicitor-General, Mr. Godolphin, and Mr. Perry, do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Ordered, That it be an Instruction, That a Clause be brought into the Bill, for the Redemption of such of the said Debts as may have been assigned.

Ordered, That it be an Instruction also, That a Clause be brought into the Bill, for dispensing with the Act of Navigation, for the Importation of Nutmegs, Cloves, Cinnamon, Mace, and Tea, during the said Three Years.

Punishing Mutiny and Desertion.

The House resumed the adjourned Debate upon the Bill for continuing Two former Acts for punishing Officers and Soldiers who shall mutiny, or desert his Majesty's Service; and for punishing false Musters; and for Payment of Quarters; for One Year longer:

And Sir Thomas Clarges reported, That the Committee appointed to prepare a Clause, for preventing Officers taking Money from Persons to excuse Quartering of Officers and Soldiers upon publick Houses, had prepared the same accordingly, and directed him to report the same to the House; and he read it in his Place; and afterwards delivered it in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was twice read; and, with some Amendments made by the House, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed to be made Part of the Bill.

Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments, be ingrossed.

Tryals for Treason.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, proceeded to take into Consideration the Report of the Conference with the Lords, upon the Amendments made to the Bill for regulating of Tryals in Cases of High Treason, and Misprision of Treason:

And the said Report was read.

And the Amendments, made by the Lords, were severally read; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon.

Resolved, That this House doth insist upon their disagreeing with the Lords in the said Amendments.

Ordered, That a free Conference be desired with the Lords, upon the Subject-matter of the last Conference.

Conference desired with Lords.

Ordered, That Mr. Boyle do go to the Lords, and desire the said free Conference.

Compelling Sir T. Cooke to account.

Mr. Bridges, according to the Order of the Day, reported, from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill to oblige Sir Tho. Cooke to give an Account to whom he paid and distributed the several Sums of Money, mentioned, in the Report from the Committee appointed to inspect the Books of the East-India Company, to be received and distributed by him, was committed, the Amendments made by the Committee to the said Bill; which he read in his Place, and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were once read throughout; and then a Second time, one by one; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House; and the Bill amended, by leaving out "take," and inserting "receive," in Two Places.

A Clause was offered to be added to the Bill, with Blanks, That in case the Commissioners of Account shall, upon the Discovery to be made by Sir Thomas Cook, adjudge, that any of the Monies received by Sir Tho. Cook, was paid to any Member of either House, or to any Privy-Counsellor, or other Officer whatsoever, such Persons shall be for ever incapacitated to serve in Parliament, or hold any Office under his Majesty; and shall also suffer Imprisonment: And the same was received.

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

It passed in the Negative.

Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments, be ingrossed.

Duties on Paper, &c.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning at Eleven a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Report from the Committee, to whom it was referred to consider of the Act, passed the last Session, for laying several Duties upon Vellum, Parchment, and Paper; and the Doubts and Complaints relating thereunto.

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