House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 18 November 1696

Mercurii, 18die Novembris;

Octavo Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Coinage.

A PETITION of the Mayor, Aldermen, and capital Burgesses, and other Inhabitants, of the Town and Borough of Stamford, in the County of Lincolne, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners find, by the Votes of the House, that all hammered Money is to go by Weight only, at 5 s. 2 d. per Ounce; whereas the Currency of the unclipped Money hath been of great Advantage for carrying on of Trade, and relieving the Poor; the Alteration of which Course, the Petitioners fear, will prove of ill Consequence to the Subject: And praying the House to take such Care in the Premises as may be most beneficial to the Nation.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for the further remedying the ill State of the Coin of the Kingdom: and encouraging the bringing Plate into the Mints, to be coined; is committed.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Town and Borough of Cirencester, in the County of Gloucester, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Trade of the said Town doth chiefly depend upon the Woollen Manufacture, to which a total Stop is now put; the principal Cause whereof, the Petitioners conceive to be, is the Nonpayment of Bank Bills: And praying, That some speedy Care may be taken in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom it is referred to consider further of that Part of his Majesty's Speech, which relates to the Credit of the Nation.

Greibe's Complaint.

A Petition of Mary Greibe, Wife of Conrade Greibe, Gentleman, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That her said Husband was, by a Warrant under the Hand of Sir Wm. Trumball, One of the Secretaries of State, seized by one Kitson, a Messenger, on the 9th Day of March last, with all his Papers and Writings, for treasonable Practices; and continued in the said Messenger's Custody until the 27th of March, without ever being carried before the said Secretary, or examined, when, about Two a Clock in the Morning, the Petitioner's said Husband was, by an Order from the said Secretary, delivered to a Serjeant and File of Dutch Guards, who hurried him on board a Dutch Vessel, one Ingenhove Commander: That her said Husband was conveyed to Brussells, where he is a Prisoner in a Dungeon, living on Bread and Water, not being permitted to speak with, or write to, any Friend whatsoever: And praying the House to take the Premises into Consideration, that her Husband may be brought back again, and tried here by the same Laws whereby he was committed.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until Mr. Secretary Trumball shall be in the House, to give the House an Account of the Matter thereof.

Newfoundland Trade.

A Petition of the Mayor, Magistrates, and CommonCouncil, together with the Merchants, and other Traders to the Newfoundland, of and from the Town of Dartmouth, and Parts adjacent, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Trade to Newfoundland hath been anciently the sole Propriety of England, and a great Advantage to it: but the French have, in a great measure, possessed themselves of that Trade: That last Season, the French made great Devastations there to the English Fishery, carrying away their Ships out of the Harbours, and burning their Houses, to their utter Ruin: And praying, that some considerable Force may be sent thither early the next Spring, for the Security of our Trade for the future.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to a Committee: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion, what Remedies they shall conceive necessary to secure the said Trade for the future.

And it is referred to Mr. Boscawen, Mr. Vincent, Mr. Haynes, Sir John Lowther, Mr. Henley, Mr. Burrington, Sir Edward Seymour, Sir Henry Goodrick, Sir John Bolles, Mr. Foley, Sir Jos. Herne, Mr. Daniell, Sir Wm. Coriton, Mr. Mountague, Sir Wm. Honywood, Mr. Farrer, Mr. England, Mr. Baldwyn, Mr. Norris, Lord Coningsby, Mr. Stevens, Lord Spencer, Mr. Hoblyn, Mr. Morgan, Mr. Ash, Mr. How, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Harvey, Mr. Heveningham, Mr. Paggett, Sir Isaac Rebow, Mr. Perry, Sir Edward Aiscough, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Blofeild, Sir John Elwill, Sir Robert Cotton, Sir John Kay, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Mountstevens, Mr. Pocklington, Lord Ashley, Mr. Yard, Sir Wm. Cowper, Mr. Newport: and all that serve for the Western Counties; And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers: And have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Mayor, Aldermen, and CommonCouncil, together with the Merchants, and other Traders to Newfoundland, from the City of Exon, and Parts adjacent, was also presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That that Trade is so advantageous to his Majesty's Revenues, and the Education of Seamen, that no other can parallel; but if it be not supported by a considerable Force by Sea and Land, to be sent thither early in the ensuing Spring, all our Fishing-Harbours must inevitably fall into the Hands of the Enemy, who, this Year, took all the Traders Ships and Goods, and burnt their Houses, to the Ruin of some Thousands of his Majesty's Subjects: And praying the House to take some speedy Care, that so advantageous a Trade may not be lost to the Nation.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the said Petition of Dartmouth is referred.

Irish Arrears.

A Petition of Francis de Salles, Surgeon to Colonel Du Cambon's Regiment, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there is due to the Petitioner, for his Service in the said Regiment, above 600 l.; and the Petitioner hath often desired Mr. Bouniott, Agent to that Regiment, to make up an Account with him; which he refuses to do, drawing his Sword, and threatening the Petitioner: That he came over from Ireland on purpose to settle the said Account; and has been here about Fourteen Months in prosecuting the same; and obtained an Order for that Purpose from the General Court at the Horse-Guards; but Bouniott did not obey it: And then the Petitioner petitioned this House the last Session, which was referred to a Committee; but, by reason the Session was near expired, the Matter was not heard: And praying, That the House will take his Case into Consideration; and order the said Bouniott to make up his Accounts.

And the House being informed, That the Matter of the said Petition had been before the Commissioners for taking and stating the publick Accounts;

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the said Commissioners shall be in the House, to give an Account thereof.

Supply Bill Coinage.

Ordered, That the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for the further remedying the ill State of the Coin of the Kingdom; and encouraging the bringing Plate into the Mints, to be coined; is committed; have Power to receive a Clause for the Collectors of the Tax for making the Rivers of Wye and Lugg, in the County of Hereford, navigable, to receive hammered Money by Weight.

Ditto.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the said Bill.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Colonel Wharton took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Colonel Wharton reported from the said Committee, That they had gone through the Bill, and made several Amendments; which they had directed him to report, when the House will please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the said Report be made on Saturday next, at Twelve a Clock.

Colonel Wharton also acquainted the House, That he was directed by the said Committee to move, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the encouraging the bringing in of wrought Plate to the Mints, to be coined.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the encouraging the bringing in of wrought Plate to the Mints, to be coined: And that Colonel Wharton and Mr. Lowndes do prepare, and bring in, the same.

Regulating Elections.

Ordered, That the Bill for further regulating Elections of Members to serve in Parliament be read a Second time on Monday Morning next.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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