House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 9 December 1696

Mercurii, 9 die Decembris;

8° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Rede's, &c. Nat.

ORDERED, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for naturalizing Frederick Christian Baron de Rede, Lord Agrim, and Godart Adriaen Baron de Rede, Sons of the Earl of Athlone: And that Mr. Bridges do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Newfoundland Trade.

A Petition of several Merchants of London, and Owners of Ships, trading to Newfoundland, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Trade to Newfoundland hath been always accounted very beneficial to England; to destroy which, the French have lately taken and burnt several of our Harbours and Ships there, to the Loss of the Lives of many of the King's Subjects, and the Ruin of many Thousands more; and it is feared the French will utterly extirpate our Trade there, for the future, unless some considerable Force, both of Ships and Men, be sent thither early the next Spring, to re-establish our Trade: And praying the Care of the House in the Premises, for the Preservation of the Trade to Newfoundland, for the Benefit of this Nation.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Mayor, Magistrates, and Common-Council, together with the Merchants, and other Traders to the Newfoundland, of and from the Town of Dartmouth, and Parts adjacent is referred.

Cruisers.

Ordered, That the Account of Cruisers for this Year, delivered in from the Commissioners of the Admiralty, be referred to the Consideration of the Committee, to whom the Petition of several Merchants of London, relating to Letters of Marque, is referred: And they are to have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Promissory Notes.

A Petition of several Merchants, and others, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That at present, there is a great Obstruction in Trade, for want of ready Money; which might be supplied, if the Buyers of Goods, of above 10 l. Value, were obliged to give a Note, on stamped Paper, for the same, payable at a time certain; which Notes to be assignable from one to another; and, if not punctually paid when due, to be obligatory as Bonds, and to carry Interest; by which means Credit will be the better established, and Debts secured: And praying Leave to bring in a Bill for the obliging Buyers of Goods to give Notes for Payment at certain times, and to be assignable: and, if not paid when due, to be obligatory as Bonds, with legal Interest.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill, according to the Prayer of the said Petition: And that Sir William St. Quintin and Mr. Palmes do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Minors' Estate.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir John Franklyn and Sir Richard Holford:

Mr. Speaker,

The Lords have passed a Bill, intituled, An Act for the Settlement of the Manor of Treyagoe, in the County of Hereford, and other the Lands late of Crompton Minors Esquire, deceased; and for raising and increasing the Portion of Theodosia Minors, the Daughter of the said Crompton, she being an Infant of the Age of Seventeen Years: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Abuses in Fleet Prison.

A Petition of John Praed was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, about Four Years since, he obtained a Decree in Chancery against one William War, for 6,404 l. besides Costs; and War, being in Contempt of the Court for Non-payment, was committed to the Fleet Prison; but, being at Liberty, the Petitioner sent to the Fleet about it; and Mr. Tilly, reputed Farmer thereof, owned, that he let him out for a considerable Gratuity: after which, on Petition, the Lord Keeper ordered Warr's Confinement; yet he had his Liberty; and then, upon Petition, the Lord Keeper ordered the Warden of the Fleet, who is a Prisoner himself, to pay the Petitioner 50 l. in Part of his Cost, which he has not done, or to stand suspended: And praying the Consideration of the House, and Relief in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Bill for the better preventing and prosecuting Escapes is committed.

Excise Duties.

A Petition of the Company of Brewers of the City of London was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners have always submitted to the Payment of great Sums of Money for Excise, and might hope for all the Favour that consists with Justice; but, instead thereof, they daily suffer very unjust Exactions, as the Commissioners of Excise construe some Clauses in a late Act of Parliament, intended for the Petitioners Advantage: And praying, That they may be heard to make out their Hardships; or be otherwise relieved, as the House shall think fit.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to a Committee: And that they do examine the Matter; and report the same to the House:

And it is referred to Sir John Bucknall, Sir Gerv. Elwes, Sir Jo. Wolstenholm, Sir Just. Isham, Sir Tho. Davall, Sir Tho. Roberts, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Stonehouse, Mr. Rider, Mr. Gery, Mr. Mountague, Sir Wm. Ashurst, Sir Wm. Ellis, Sir John Banks, Sir John Kay, Mr. Palmes, Mr. Morgan, Mr. Harcourt, Sir Sam. Barnardiston, Mr. White, Mr. Pocklington, Mr. Ash, Sir Wm. Bowes, Mr. Perry, Sir Francis Molyneux, Sir Walt. Yong, Mr. Mason, Mr. Bromley, Mr. Foley, Mr. Methwin, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Pitts, Mr. Bagnold, Mr. Hoblyn, Mr. Stockdale, Sir John Parsons, Mr. Cornwallis, Sir Hen. Hobart, Mr. Rowney, Mr. Osborne, Mr. Molyneux, Sir Cha. Sidley, Sir Robert Burdet, Mr. Gardner: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers: And are impowered to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Deficiencies by failure of Land-Bank.

A Petition of several Persons, in behalf of themselves, and many others, who advanced and lent Money on the Credit and Security of the Duties upon Glass-wares, Coals, and Culm, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, upon the Credit of an Act of Parliament, made in the 6 and 7th Years of his Majesty's Reign, for laying a Duty upon Glass-wares, Coals, and Culm, &c. the Petitioners did advance the Sum of 564,700 l.; but by another Act, of the last Session, for continuing to his Majesty certain Duties upon Salt; and establishing a National Land-Bank; the said Duties upon Glass-wares, Coals, and Culm, which were a sufficient Fund, were taken off; and the Petitioners were to be paid out of the Sum of 2,564,000 l. to be raised by a National Land-Bank, which did not take Effect; so that the Petitioners are unpaid their Money, and deprived of their Security; and ruined, if not otherwise provided for by the House: And praying, That they may be restored to their former Securities, or that their Debt may be transferred upon the next Aids granted by Parliament, according to a Proviso in the first-mentioned Act.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee appointed to consider, and state to the House, the Nature of the Deficiencies of Parliamentary Funds; and of the Duties voted; and how the said Deficiencies may be best provided for by the said Duties: And that they do examine the Matter of the said Petition; and report the same, specially, to the House.

Enquiry concerning the Fleet.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, proceeded to take into Consideration the Books and Papers, laid before the House, relating to the Fleet; and to inquire how it came to pass, that the French Thoulon Fleet was not intercepted in going into Brest.

And Vice-Admiral Mitchell, attending, was called in, and examined:

And he produced to the House, a List of the Fleet left with him at Cadiz.

And then he withdrew.

The said List was read.

The Letters of Admiral Russell, dated the 29th of September 1695, were read.

And Admiral Russell produced a Copy of a Letter from the Duke of Shrewsbury, dated the 17th of April 1696:

Which was read.

And, after some time spent in Consideration of the said Matters;

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That Candles be brought in;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

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