Veneris, 6 die Decembris; Septimo Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Taunton Election.

A PETITION of Henry Portman Esquire was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner was duly elected, by the Majority of Voices, to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Taunton, in the County of Somerset; yet Hugh Speke Esquire, by Bribery, and other undue Practices, hath procured himself to be returned as a Member for the said Borough to the Petitioner's Prejudice: And praying, That the House will examine the Premises, and relieve him therein.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Shaftesbury Election.

A Petition of Sir John Moreton Baronet was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That at the Election of Burgesses to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Shaftesbury, in the County of Dorset, the Petitioner and Edward Nicholas Esquire were duly chosen, by the Majority of legal Electors; but the Mayor of the said Borough, shewing himself partial at the Election, on the behalf of Sir Mathew Andrews, admitted several Persons to poll for him, that had no Right; and refused to poll divers for the Petitioner, that had a Right to poll; by reason of which partial and indirect Poll, the Majority of Voices fell out to be for the said Sir Mathew Andrews, and the said Mayor hath returned him as one of the Burgesses to serve for the said Borough, with the said Mr. Nicholas; when he ought to have returned the Petitioner and Mr. Nicholas: And praying, That the House will take the Matter into Consideration, and do therein as they shall think fit.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Woollen Manufactures.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the Encouragement of the Woollen Manufactures of this Kingdom: And that Mr. Sandford and Mr. Blofeild do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Elections—Double Returns.

Mr. Clark presented to the House, according to Order, a Bill to prevent false and double Returns of Members to serve in Parliament.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Frivolous Election Petitions and false Returns.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to search Precedents, what Course hath been taken in case of frivolous Petitions, and false Returns, touching Elections of Members to serve in this House; and report the same to the House:

And it is referred to Mr. Harley, Mr. How, Mr. Clark, Sir Math. Andrews, Mr. Blofeild, Sir Robert Rich, Sir Edward Seymour, Mr. Woodroffe, Mr. Dolben, Lord Fitzharding, Mr. Palmes, Sir Godfry Copley, Lord Marquis Winton, Serjeant Bond, Sir S. Barnardiston, Doctor Oxenden, Mr. Gardner, Sir Gerv. Elwes, Sir Gilbert Clarke, Mr. Freke, Sir Chr. Musgrove, Mr. Lowther, Sir Tho. Littleton, Mr. England, Sir John Bolles, Sir Wm. Coriton, Mr. Tredenham, Mr. Morley, Mr. Sandford, Colonel Granville, Sir Henry Goff, Sir Wm. Ellis, Mr. Finch, Mr. Norris, Sir Tho. Pope Blount, Lord Digby, Mr. Heveningham, Mr. Parker, Sir Wm. Williams, Mr. Molesworth, Sir John Key; or any Five of them: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Four a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers; and sit de die in diem.

Supply.

Sir Thomas Littleton reported, from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred to consider of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for carrying on the War against France with Vigour, the Resolutions of the said Committee; which they had directed him to report to the House; and which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were read; and are as followeth; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards the carrying on the War against France with Vigour, a Supply be granted to his Majesty, for maintaining Forty thousand Seamen for Thirteen Months, for the Service of the Year 1696.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Sum of 4 l. 5s. per Man per Month be allowed for the said Forty thousand Seamen.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Sum of Eighty-five thousand Seven hundred and Forty Pounds be allowed for the Ordinary of the Navy.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, for the Sum remaining to be supplied for the Four Ninety-Gun Ships, ordered last Year to be set up, there be allowed the Sum of 65,835 l. 18s. 11d.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards the Building, and furnishing with Rigging, Sea Stores, Ordnance, and Gunners Stores, Four Thirdrate Ships of Seventy Guns, and Eight Fourth-rate Ships of Fifty Guns, there be allowed the Sum of 138,424 l. 1s. 1d.

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

Resolved, That a Sum, not exceeding the Sum of Two Millions Five hundred thousand Pounds, be granted to his Majesty, for the Maintenance of the Navy, for the Year 1696, for the carrying on the War against France with Vigour.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to inspect the Journals of the House, and report the Methods for granting of Money:

And it is referred to Mr. Mountague, Mr. Harley, Mr. Smith, Mr. Slater, Mr. Clark, Sir Godf. Copley, Sir Edward Seymour, Mr. Rowney, Mr. Bethell, Lord Digby, Sir John Kay, Mr. Parker, Mr. Gwyn, Sir Wm. Williams, Sir Wm. Lowther, Sir Wm. Coriton, Mr. Moyle, Sir Richard Onslow, Lord Coningsby, Sir Chr. Musgrove, Sir Robert Rich, Mr. Molesworth, Mr. Boyle, Lord Ashley, Lord Ranelagh, Colonel Granvill, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Serjeant Bond, Mr. Pelham, Sir Fra. Winington, Sir Walter Yonge, Sir Tho. Pope Blount, Mr. Onslow, Sir Fra. Windham, Mr. Tilney, Sir Row. Gwyn, Mr. Norris, Mr. Henly, Mr. Palmes, Mr. Hooper, Sir Wm. Ashurst, Sir Robert Cotton, Sir Eliab Harvey, Mr. Bromley, Sir Fra. Massam, Mr. Foley, Mr. Farrar, Sir Wm. Hustler, Mr. Pepys, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Preston, Mr. Mansell, Sir Hen. Goff, Mr. How, Mr. Winington, Mr. Freke; or any Five of them: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers.

Regulating Elections.

Ordered, That the Bill to prevent Charge and Expence in Elections of Members to serve in Parliament be read a Second time To-morrow Morning.

State of the Coin.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, proceeded to take into Consideration the Report of the Conference with the Lords, Yesterday, concerning the ill State of the Coin of this Kingdom:

And the Report was again read.

And a Debate arising upon the Address to his Majesty, to which their Lordships desire the Concurrence of this House;

Resolved, That the Debate be adjourned till To-morrow Morning.

State of the Nation.

Then the Order, for the House to resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the State of the Nation, was read.

Resolved, That it be an Instruction to the said Committee, That they do proceed upon the Matter of the Coin.

Resolved, That it be an Instruction also to the said Committee, That they have Power to consider of a Fund to make good the Deficiency of the clipped Money.

Then the House resolved itself into the said Committee of the whole House.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Colonel Granvill took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

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

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning at Ten a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the State of the Nation; and, in particular, in relation to the Coin.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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