House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 25 November 1696

Mercurii, 25 die Novembris;

Octavo Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Tavistock Election.

A PETITION of Ambrose Mannaton Esquire was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, on the 10th Day of November last, the Petitioner was duly chosen a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Tavistock, in the County of Devon; and an Indenture was made, and sealed, by the legal Electors, and tendered to Richard Doidge, the Fort-reeve there; but he absolutely refused to receive it, or to return the Petitioner; and hath returned Sir Fran. Drake; to the Petitioner's Prejudice: And praying Relief in the Premises; and that the Matter may be put to Examination.

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.

Relief of Creditors.

A Bill for Relief of Creditors was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Supply Bill: Payment of Tallies.

An ingrossed Bill to explain that Part of the Act, lately passed, for laying several Duties on low Wines, and Spirits of the first Extraction; and for preventing Frauds and Abuses of Brewers, Distillers, and other Persons chargeable with the Duties of Excise; which relates to the Payment of Tallies, and the Interest thereof; was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act to explain that Part of the Act, passed the last Session of Parliament, for laying several Duties on low Wines and Spirits of the first Extraction; and for preventing Frauds and Abuses of Brewers, Distillers, and other Persons chargeable with the Duties of Excise; which relates to the Payment of Tallies, and the Interest thereof.

Ordered, That Mr. Clark do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

State of Trade.

Mr. Blathwaite, from the Commissioners appointed to look after the Trade of England, presented the Answer of the said Commissioners, in Obedience to the Order of the House, requiring them to lay before this House the present State of our Trade.

And the said Answer was read; and is as followeth; viz.

THAT, in our Inquiries into the State of the Trade of this Kingdom, we could not avoid fixing our View, in the First Place, upon what we had to carry to Market, as the Foundation of our Commerce; neither Money, nor Commodities, being to be had from any foreign Parts, but in Exchange for something carried thither.

The Woollen Manufacture of England has been so many Ages past known to be the staple Commodity of this Kingdom; whereby it has supported itself in an equal Degree of Strength and Riches with any of its Neighbours; that That could not but rightly deserve the First Care of those who were any way concerned to look after the Trade of England: The Advantages that Nature hath given us, in so plentiful a Production of the best Wool, for the making of Cloth and Stuffs: and in our Situation for the distributing them easily all over the World; does so plainly put the Trade of this Commodity into our Hands, that we can scarce lose it, whilst any reasonable Care is taken to preserve it.

Whatever Decay, or Difficulties, our Woollen Manufacture does or may labour under, will, we humbly conceive, upon Examination, be found to arise chiefly from these Two Sources; The not working up of our Wool here at home; and the carrying of it unwrought abroad: These are Two Causes so nearly allied, that they mutually beget and increase one another: But, on the other Side, in proportion as either of these Causes are removed, it does so far abate the ill Effects from the other; for, if none were transported, there must and would be Ways found to work it up here; or, if all were taken up by a lively and vigorous Manufacture at home, there would be a great deal less Occasion, or Temptation, to carry any unwrought Wool abroad.

This Honourable House need not be told, That the Rise and Fall of a great Part of the Rents of England depend on the Rate of Wool: The Clothier who buys it, will never grudge paying a good Rate for it, when the Vent of his Cloth will reimburse him with reasonable Profit: But if the Merchant, who buys it of him, cannot have it as so moderate a Price, as to afford it in foreign Markets at so cheap a Rate, as to under-sell all other things that may come in Competition with it there, he will lose the Vent of it, and England lose that Trade; for that which makes a sure Market, and secures the Sale of any Commodity, is the being able to afford it so good a Penyworth, that the Buyer may be tempted to take it off your Hands, as the best and cheapest he can make use of.

We humbly conceive, we speak within Compass, when we say, That Labour makes Nine Parts of Ten of the Price of our Woollen Manufactures: 'Tis upon that therefore, chiefly, that its Vent depends, and the Prefervation of that Trade; for if the Labour of those that are employed in that Manufacture be dear, it is not to be avoided, but that others, who work cheaper, shall, by cheaper Penyworths of that kind, beat us out of the Vent of that Commodity in all the Markets whither it is carried.

'Tis strange, that in a Country where we have so universal a Material to employ the Hands of the Poor, any one should complain, that he wants Work: And yet this is the Pretence, upon which People go about begging, and the Poors Rates do every Day increase: The Root of this fundamental Decay appearing to us, upon Consideration, to lie here; we thought the First Step towards a Cure, was to look into the Bottom of it: And, accordingly, we made it one of our earliest Inquiries, What the Poors Rates were all through England: The Sum that is generally presumed to be, and we are inclined to think it, is so great, that less than what is now raised, we suppose, would afford a Stock sufficient to carry on the Woollen Manufacture, where such a publick Stock is needed for it; and to employ all the Hands of those who live idly upon the Charge of the Parish; as well as to maintain those, who, being really impotent, and unable to work, have a Right to be maintained by the Labour of others; so that the Charge of the Parishes may be considerably lessened.

When we have got an Account of the Poors Tax from all Parts, which is now a making, but is not yet come to our Hands, we shall be better enabled to go further into the State of this main, and most considerable, Branch of our Trade; and to give a fuller Account of it: For till this be thoroughly looked into, and the State of the Poor so well known, and considered, that the Kingdom lose none of their Labour who are able to work; we are humbly of Opinion, all other Attempts about the Support and Improvement of our Woollen Manufacture, will prove superficial, and ineffectual.

The other Thing, wherein the State of our Woollen Manufacture is very much concerned, is the Exportation of our Wool unwrought: The French King, amongst his other Endeavours to advance the Trade of his Dominions, being very intent to settle, and carry on, in France, a Woollen Manufacture, hath used all Means possible to shut out our Cloth, and other Stuffs; and to get in our Wool raw, and unwrought, to mix with that of his own Country; which is so unfit to be wrought up by itself alone, that it would be almost wholly useless, and lost, unless they had of ours to mix with it: And to obtain our Wool, so necessary to his, and so prejudicial to our, Woollen Manufacture, it is visible he hath used no ordinary Endeavours:

The First of these; viz. The Exclusion of our Woollen Draperies; the French King hath effectually attained, many Years since, by high Imposition laid upon them, and by limiting their Importations only to a few such Ports, as, by their Situation, hindered the Distribution of these Manufactures of ours, to those in his Country, who might be willing to buy them: The latter; viz. The Procuring of our Wool; he hath been also too successful in, by the Strength of his Purse; sparing no Cost for this necessary Support of his Woollen Manufacture.

The Temptation of Gain has found Men amongst us so ready to sell the Trade, instead of the Commodities, of this Kingdom, that neither the Shame of doing so great an Injury to their native Country, nor the severest Penalties of Laws, made on purpose, have been able to restrain them from this criminal Commerce with France: Rumney Marsh, and the Coast of Sussex, are famous for a Sort of People, called Owlers; who are so well encouraged, and supported, by the (fn. 1) [Money and] Contrivance of France, that the Transporting our Wool thither hath been carried on, even during this present War; though Military Guards, added to the Civil Officers, have watched these Avenues, to hinder the Exportation of our Wool; every Pound whereof, thus carried out of England, unwrought, is a Prejudice to our Cloathing-Trade, and tends to the Decay of this most beneficial Manufacture of England.

'Tis principally, therefore, upon the Account of these Two; viz. The Dearness of Labour, and the Exportation of our Wool; that, we humbly conceive, the present State of our Trade, comprehended in that great Branch of it, the Woollen Manufacture, is not in so flourishing a Condition as we could wish, and as, we are humbly of Opinion, it might be.

The Smuggling-Trade, carried on by the Owlers, in the Exportation of Wool to France, hath a great Influence on another Branch of our Trade, by the secret and forbidden Importation of French Silks: His Majesty hath been pleased, by his Letters Patents, to incorporate a Company, under the Name of the Royal Lustring Company; who have so successfully used their Industry and Skill, in making Lustrings and Alamodes, that they have employed several Thousands of our Poor in that Manufacture; and brought the making of those Silks here to that Perfection, that that Part of our Trade would be in a thriving Condition, and this new Manufacture gain to England several Hundred thousand Pounds a Year, which usually went to France for those Commodities, if the Importation of those Silks from France were but effectually hindered: Of what Advantage the Continuance and Support of this Company is to England, and Prejudice to France, is easily to be observed, in the restless Endeavours of France, by all manner of Ways, to oppose it; and in the continual Attempts, at any Rate of Hazard, and Cost, to get those Silks into England; thereby to hinder the Sale of what is made by the Company here, and so sink it: And the French have Reason to do so; the Diligence and Watchfulness of this Company, to keep out their wrought Silks, having mightily contributed to interrupt the Exportation of our unwrought Wool, by the Owlers, who are serviceable to the Designs of France both ways; and do unspeakable Damage to the Trade of England, by what they bring from France, as well as by what they carry thither.

The pernicious Art of Stock-jobbing hath, of late, so wholly perverted the End and Design of Companies and Corporations, erected for the introducing, or carrying on, of Manufactures, to the private Profit of the first Projectors, that the Privileges granted to them have, commonly, been made no other Use of, by the First Procurers and Subscribers, but to sell again, with Advantage, to ignorant Men, drawn in by the Reputation, falsly raised, and artfully spread, concerning the thriving State of their Stock: Thus the first Undertakers, getting quit of the Company, by selling their Shares for much more than they are really worth, to Men allured by the Noise of great Profit, the Management of that Trade and Stock comes to fall into unskilful Hands; whereby the Manufactures, intended to be promoted by such Grants, and put into the Management of Companies, for their better Improvement, come, from very promising Beginnings, to dwindle away to nothing, and be in a worse Condition than if they were perfectly left free, and unassisted with such Laws, or Patents; an Instance whereof, we humbly conceive, is to be found in the Paper and Linen Manufactures, which, we fear, feel the Effects of this Stock-jobbing Management; and are not in so thriving a Condition, as they might have been, had they not fallen under this kind of Misfortune.

This likewise is that, which seems to us to lay a mighty Obstacle in the Way to the Raising and Recovering again of our Home-fishery; which is; with Reason, thought to require more than a private Stock, and the scattered Endeavours of Men acting separately, to set it a going, and make it subsist: If, therefore, that Part of our Trade be not in so good and stourishing an Estate, as it could be wished, we are humbly of Opinion, it is in some Danger to remain so, till the Hands of the Poor be all brought to Labour, and till a common Stock can be raised, and a Company erected, upon such Terms, as may secure the Management of it from the destructive Shuffling of the Stock-jobbing.

There is another thing, which the Complaints of Merchants have given us Occasion carefully to employ our Thoughts about: 'Tis a Clog to our Trade, arising within ourselves, from the Difficulties which Controversies between Merchants, concerning Accounts, meet with, in the ordinary Way of Decision: The easing of Merchants, in this Part, by a shorter Way of Determination, would, we humbly conceive, be a great Furtherance to Trade.

Besides the Commodities which we have here at home, to carry to Market, the Plantations furnish us with others: But if the Trades of Sugars and Tobacco are not altogether so thriving in a time of War, as they would be in a time of Peace, it is not at all to be wondered, that it is so now; which always was, and always will be.

State of Trade.

There is another Part of our Trade, which, though not of immediate Profit, yet it is of absolute Necessity; and may be said to be the Foundation and Support of all the rest: Naval Stores, for all Kind of Shipping, especially the Royal Navy of England, are what we can neither trade or subsist without: This, we thought, was another Branch of our Trade, which deserved an immediate Consideration; and therefore we made it one of our first Endeavours to look into it: His Majesty's Care, we found, had been early turned this Way; and, by his Order, a Ship had been sent to bring Samples of all those Materials from his own Dominions in the West-Indies: This, though it happened not to be so carefully executed, by those who undertook it, that a perfect Judgment could be made, by the Loading brought from thence, at his Majesty's Charge, what Naval Stores were to be had from thence, fit for the Use of his Majesty's Fleet; yet, the promising Hopes of being supplied with Commodities of that Moment from our own Plantations, in the Northern America, is not thereby lost, or laid aside: Exacter Ways of Trial, what may be done herein, have been proposed, and are resolved on: And we are inclined to think, the Return will answer Expectation; and lay Foundations for the Opening of a new Trade to England, as it were, within itself; since, whatever may, at the Beginning, be the Increase of Charge to the Buyer here, the Whole will circulate amongst the Subjects of the Crown of England; and, in Effect, cost the Kingdom nothing; which will be no small Improvement of our Trade, when it comes thus to cut off so large an Article of Expences.

The State of our present Trade, as it lies in these great Branches, which, by their Weightiness, and Concern to this Kingdom, we judged had a Right to our first Thoughts; we, in Obedience to your Commands, humbly lay before this Honourable House: When longer time shall have given us Opportunities of looking further into a Subject of so vast an Extent, we doubt not but other Parts of Trade will offer Variety of things worthy of Consideration.

Whitehall, November, 24th, 1696.

J. Bridgwater,
Tankerville,
Ph. Meadows,
William Blathwaite,
John Pollexfen,
Abr. Hill.

Ordered, That the said Answer do lie upon the Table, to be perused by the Members of the House.

Deficiencies of Funds.

Sir Thomas Littleton, according to Order, reported, from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred to consider of a Motion for a Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for making good the Deficiencies of Parliamentary Funds, the Resolution of the said Committee, which they had directed him to report to the House; which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was once read; and is as followeth; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That a Supply be granted to his Majesty, for making good the Deficiencies of Parliamentary Funds.

The said Resolution being read a Second time;

Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, That a Supply be granted to his Majesty, for making good the Deficiencies of Parliamentary Funds.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for making good the Deficiencies of Parliamentary Funds.

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

Ordered, That the Returns, from the Commissioners for taking and stating the public Accounts, of the Deficiencies of the Funds, be referred to the Consideration of the said Committee of the whole House.

Failure of Salt Duties, &c.

Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, according to Order, presented to the House, from the Lords of the Treasury, an Account how the Two millions Five hundred Sixtyfour thousand Pounds, designed to be raised by the Act, passed the last Session, for laying Duties upon Salt, Glass, and Tobacco-pipes, came to fail.

And the same was read; and is as followeth; viz.

An Account of the Proceedings upon the Act, passed in the last Session of Parliament, for laying Duties upon Salt, Glass, and Tobacco-pipes, in reference to the National Land-Bank, which was thereby intended to be established.

27 April 1696. The said Bill passed the Royal Assent.

30 Ditto, The Draught of a Commission for taking Subscriptions was brought to the Lords of the Treasury by some Gentlemen; and immediately referred, at their Desire, to the Attorney or Solicitor General.

1 May 1696. The Warrant, containing the Commission, and intended Charter, at large, was signed by the King, and the Commissioners Names inserted; making, all to gether, a Bill which filled more than Twenty Skins of Parchment; and the same was forthwith countersigned by the Lords of the Treasury.

8 Ditto, A Letter was signed by the Lords of the Treasury, directed to the Attorney and Solicitor-General, relating to some Improprieties, or Defects, in the Warrant for the Commission; as followeth, viz.

After our hearty Commendations:

Whereas his Majesty, just before his going to Flanders, did sign a Warrant, directed to you, to prepare a Bill for the Commission relating to the intended National Land-Bank, with a Schedule of a Draught of a Charter, to be thereunto annexed; but, upon our Countersigning thereof, we take notice, That there are some Improprieties, or Defects, therein, which we suppose to have happened through the Haste of getting it dispatched before his Majesty's Departure; and though perhaps they may not be very material, yet we desire you will rectify or supply the same in your Bill, as follows;

1st, Whereas we are inserted in the Warrant to be Commissioners; and divers Matters relating to this Commission may, or will, be transacted between us and the said Commissioners; we therefore think it improper, and desire you to omit our Names in the Bill.

2dly, That you will take care, in the naming the Commissioners in the Bill, to give them their proper Additions, as is usual in Commissions, or Charters, though the same be omitted in the Warrant.

3dly, That Two Provisoes, which are contained in the Commission for the Bank of England, That Subscribers should not vote in the Election of the First Governor, Deputy-Governor, and Directors, unless they took an Oath, or, being Quakers, made a Declaration, That the 500 l. a Man, subscribed, was their own Money, are omitted in the Warrant; but we, thinking the like Provisoes proper to be inserted in the Commission now to pass, desire they may be contained in your Bill.

4. That the Words which should have been in the Warrant, Fo. 24. importing, That the Governor, or Deputy Governor, is to be One of the Court of Trustees, is omitted; which we think fit to be in the Commission; and desire you to insert it accordingly.

We remain

Your most humble Servants,

S. Fox,
Cha. Mountague,
John Smith.

20 Ditto, After those Alterations, and several others made in Council, the Commission, and Tenour of the Charter, passed under the Great Seal.

22 Ditto, Some of the Commissioners for the National Land-Bank attended the Lords of the Treasury; and proposed, by way of Discourse, That clipped Money might be taken for Subscriptions till 24th June 1696; and that an Allowance, after the Rate of 10 per Cent. should be made for prompt Payment of Guineas, milled or broad Money, before the 24 June 1696. The Lords of the Treasury desired their Proposal in Writing.

25 D°, The Commissioners for the National LandBank presented to the Lords of the Treasury a Proposal in Writing; as followeth; viz.

1. That the Subscriptions will not be completed, unless, at least, 641,000 l. shall be received in clipped Money, if tendered before the 24th of June 1696.

2. And, as an Encouragement for the Subscribers to advance and pay in Guineas, milled and unclipped Money, it is humbly proposed, That there be an Allowance, of 10 l. per Cent. for prompt Payment, for all such Guineas, milled and unclipped Money, that shall be so advanced on the respective Payments.

3. That Bank of England Bills and Notes may be received as Part of Payment.

4. That Plate will be brought in on Account of these Subscriptions, in case a Mint, Mill, and Press, be set apart to coin the same, and the Allowance of Sixpence an Ounce settled.

5. It is humbly desired, That your Lordships would be pleased to direct, That the National Land-Bank Bills, payable upon Demand, may be received in Payment for all such Guineas, milled and current Money, as shall be so advanced: And that all other Encouragements may be given by your Lordships for the Passing of their Bills in all his Majesty's general Receipts and Payments, as was done in the Case of the Bank of England.

26 May 1696. The Lords of the Treasury laid the said Proposal before the Lords Justices; and their Excellencies brought it to Council; where the Commissioners for the Land-Bank were acquainted, That their Excellencies were advised, they could not by Law comply with the First Article of their Proposal; but recommended to the Lords of the Treasury, to give them all reasonable Encouragement.

29 Ditto, The Commissioners for the Land-Bank presented a Memorial to the Treasury; as followeth;

That whereas the Committee formerly appointed by the said Commissioners did, by your Lordships Command, on the 25 Instant, deliver to your Lordships some Proposals, as the Opinion of the said Committee, concerning the taking the said Subscriptions; it is now further humbly offered by the said Commissioners;

1st, That they were advised by Counsel, That the Money by the said Act authorized to be borrowed in the Exchequer, by Tallies, or Bills, upon Security of the said Act, are Loans within the Act of Parliament, for remedying the ill State of the Coin of the Kingdom; and may be received into the Exchequer in clipped Monies, any time before the 24th of June next, if your Lordships will please to order the same to be delivered to such Persons as will subscribe, and pay the same Tallies, or Bills, to the said Commissioners, as Subscription-Monies.

2. That your Lordships will be pleased to signify, in Writing, your Pleasure, relating to this and the former Proposals; with such other Directions as your Lordships shall think fit, for the Instruction of the Commissioners, in taking the Subscriptions.

All which is humbly submitted to your Lordships.

3 June 1696. In the Forenoon, the Commissioners for the Land-Bank attended the Treasury with a Memorial; as follows:

Whereas your Lordships did signify your Pleasure, That the Committee for the Land-Bank, that attended your Lordships Yesterday, should recommend to the rest of the Commissioners, to consider of proper Times for prompt Payment, and making proportionable Allowances for the same; and of any other Matters that might occur to them; in order to encourage Subscriptions; they have, accordingly, obeyed your Lordships Commands; and are desired to signify to your Lordships, That it is the Opinion of the said Commissioners, That they should entirely submit to your Lordships Directions in all things relating to the said Subscriptions; they having already proposed to your Lordships what they humbly conceive might best conduce to the perfecting the intended Bank.

And they humbly desire, That your Lordships will be pleased to give your Directions this Day; because the said Commissioners have given publick Notice, That they will open their Books To-morrow.

The same Day, in the Afternoon, the Commissioners for the Land-Bank presented to the Lord Commissioners of the Treasury another Proposal; as followeth; viz.

The Commissioners for taking Subscriptions to the National Land-Bank, having received your Lordships Answer to the First Article of their former Proposals, in Obedience to your Lordships Commands, concerning the subsequent Articles, do humbly offer, as their Opinion;

1st, That the following Discounts may be allowed for all Monies paid to the Commissioners, or Corporation, before the respective Days following, and by them paid into the Exchequer within Ten Days after; viz.

2dly, That all Bank of England Bills and Notes be received in Payment.

3d, That all standard Plate, which has been tried and marked at Goldsmiths-hall, may be received, as it is in Payment, at . . . . . .

4. That the Tallies for 840,000 l. or any Part of them, which is to be paid off by Direction of the Act of Parliament, Part of the 2,564,000 l. may be received in Payment for the Payments that will become due the 1st of January.

5th. That as soon as they are a Bank, and incorporated, your Lordships would be pleased to direct, That their Bills, payable on Demand, may be received in Payment in the Exchequer, and other his Majesty's Receipts and Payments, as was done in the Case of the Bank of England.

All which is humbly submitted to your Lordships.

And the Commissioners of the Land-Bank were answered, That their Lordships supposed 5 per Cent. for Prompt Payment would be a sufficient Encouragement: And that their Lordships would represent it, the next Morning, to their Excellencies the Lords Justices in Council: Accordingly, (a) [the next Morning] the Proposal of the Commissioners, and the Opinion of the Treasury, were laid before the Lords Justices; and the Premium of 5 per Centum approved.

5 June, The Books being opened, at Exeter Exchange, the Lords of the Treasury went and Subscribed 5,000 l. on the King's behalf.

9 D°, the Commissioners for the Land-Bank attended the Treasury, and acquainted their Lordships, That no more than 1,600 l. had been subscribed since their Lordships were at Exeter Exchange; and that they had taken Bank-Bills, because they would not turn the Subscribers away: The Gentlemen of the Bank desired a Copy in Writing of the Order for allowing 5 per Cent. for prompt Payment; and were told, That they need not doubt but that it should be made good to them; it being what the Lords Justices, and their Lordships, had thought reasonable.

19 June, The Commissioners for the National LandBank inform the Treasury, That 500 l. only had been subscribed since the 1,600 l. before represented to their Lordships; and desire 1,000 l. for their Charges: And acquainted their Lordships, That they intended to put off One of the Houses hired for that Service.

3 July 1696. The Commissioners for the Land-Bank attended the Lords of the Treasury, and acquainted them, That no Subscriptions had been made since their last Attendance: And that therefore they had met, and considered of such Methods as might be for his Majesty's Service: Which they presented in Writing; as followeth:

Mercers-hall.

At a general Meeting there held, on Friday 3d July, by the Commissioners for taking Subscriptions to the National Land-Bank:

Resolved, That it be humbly represented to the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury; as followeth;

That the exigent Occasions for Money and the great Advantages to be made thereof upon all Securities, as well publick as private, have left the Commissioners without hopes of receiving any more Subscriptions, upon the Allowance of 5 l. per Cent: And the Commissioners, having endeavoured to satisfy themselves upon what Allowance the Subscriptions may be expected, are humbly of Opinion, That an Allowance after the Rate of 300,000 l. for the whole Sum of 2,564,000 l. will yet bring in the Subscriptions: But, the Time limited for taking them drawing so near to an End, if the Adjusting thereof be deferred, it will render the Accomplishment to be very doubtful: The Commissioners do therefore humbly desire, That their Lordships Pleasure may speedily be declared herein; and, if their Lordships shall think fit to make the Allowance aforesaid, That the Commissioners may receive from their Lordships such Assurance thereof as may be a reasonable Security and Satisfaction to the Subscribers for the same: Upon Confidence whereof, and such other Favours and Conveniences as are in their Lordships Power to grant, the Commissioners have great Hopes of Success.

They were told by the Lords of the Treasury, That as they had hitherto laid all their Propositions before the Lords Justices, and had received their Directions in all the Particulars, from time to time; so they would lay this Proposal before their Excellencies, the next Morning, and receive Directions therein as soon as possible.

7 Ditto, The last Proposal was read in Council; and the Lords Justices answered, That they could not direct the Allowance of the 300,000 l. demanded; especially, since it would remain uncertain whether the whole Sum would be raised.

1st August 1696. The Time for taking Subscriptions determined: Soon after which Day the Commissioners delivered their Book into the Receipt of Exchequer; containing the Sums subscribed, which amounted to 7,100 l.; And the Sum of 1,775 l. hath been charged, at the said Receipt, for the First Payment thereof.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Account be referred to the Committee of the whole House, who are to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for making good the Deficiencies of Parliamentary Funds.

Regulating Elections.

A Petition of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses of the Borough of Bridgwater, in the County of Somerset, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there is a Bill now depending in the House, for further regulating Elections of Members to serve in Parliament; which hath a Tendency to restrain the ancient Liberty of Elections of many able Men from serving in Parliament: And praying, That the fundamental Rights and Privileges of the said Borough may be preserved.

And a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the said Bill is committed;

It passed in the Negative.

Speaker's Chamber to be cleared.

A Motion being made, and the Question being proposed, That the Serjeant do clear the Speaker's Chamber of all that are not Members of the House; and that he do lock up the Back-doors; and bring the Keys, and lay them upon the Table:

The Question was put, That That Question be now put:

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Then the main Question being put;

Ordered, That the Serjeant do clear the Speaker's Chamber of all that are not Members of the House; and that he do lock up the Back-doors, and bring the Keys and lay them upon the Table.

Fenwick's Attainder.

The ingrossed Bill to attaint Sir John Fenwick Baronet of High Treason was, according to the Order of the Day, read the Third time.

Candles.

Ordered, That Candles be brought in.

The Question being put, That the Bill do pass;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Ordered, That the Title be, An Act to attaint Sir John Fenwick Baronet of High Treason.

Ordered, That Mr. Norris do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

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