Martis, 16 die Martii;

9° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Raising the Militia.

A BILL for raising the Militia for the Year 1697, although the Month's Pay, formerly advanced, be not repaid, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to a Committee of the whole House.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Friday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Bill.

Preservation of Fish.

A Petition of the Deputy-Lieutenants, Justices of the Peace, Gentlemen, and Freeholders, of the County of Durham, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the said County formerly received much Benesit by the great Plenty of Salmon, and other Fish, in the several Rivers thereof; but now, by reason of the many high Weirs erected thereon, the Fish are obstructed in their free Course; and the Spawn and Fry thereof shamefully destroyed; to the Prejudice of the whole County: And praying such Redress of those great Abuses as the House shall think fit.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the Report be made from the Committee, to whom the Bill for the better Relief of the Subject against Weirs and Dams, which take and destroy Fish, and the Fry of Fish, within the Rivers of this Kingdom, is committed.

Paving and cleansing Streets.

Sir Henry Colt, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to explain and enforce the Act, made in the 2d Year of his Majesty's Reign, for paving and cleansing the Streets within the weekly Bills of Mortality, and the Streets adjoining thereunto: And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Privilege— A person petitions for Discharge.

A Petition of Richard Vaughan, Prisoner in the Gatehouse, by Order of this House, and before in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, for a Breach of Privilege, committed against Robert Moncton Esquire, a Member of this House, was presented to the House, and read; whereby he acknowleged his Offence, and begged Pardon for the same: And prayed to be discharged.

Ordered, That the said Richard Vaughan be discharged out of Custody, paying his Fees to the Officers of this House, and the Gatehouse.

Preservation of Fish.

Sir William Bowes reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for the better Relief of the Subject against Weirs and Dams, which take and destroy Fish, and the Fry of Fish, within the Rivers of this Kingdom, was committed, That they had made several Amendments to the Bill; which they had directed him to report to the House; and which he read in his Place, with the Coherence; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table.

Ordered, That the said Report be taken into Consideration upon Friday Morning next.

Punishing' Mutiny and Desertion.

An ingrossed Bill for continuing several 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; was read the Third time.

An ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider, That the Marine Regiments shall be under, and subject to, the like Penalties as the Land-Soldiers are:

And the same was twice read; and amended by the House:

And then the same was read the Third time; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House to be made Part of the Bill.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for continuing several 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.

Ordered, That Colonel Wharton do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Lustring Manufacture.

Sir Rowland Gwyn reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for the further Encouragement of the Lustring Company in England was committed, That they had made several Amendments to the Bill; 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 once read throughout; and then a Second time, one by one; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

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

Duty on Leather.

A Petition of the Company of Cordwainers, London, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there is a Bill depending in the House, for laying a Duty upon Leather, for the Term of Three Years, to raise Money for answering the Deficiencies as well of the late Duties upon Coals and Culm, and the Tonage of Ships, as of the Duties upon Salt; and that, the Petitioners are informed, a Clause is offered, to be added thereto, for drawing back the Duty on Exportation; which will not only lessen the said Duty, but prejudice the Petitioners, and ruin other Artificers working in Leather: And praying, That they may be heard by the Committee of the whole House, to whom the said Bill is committed, to make out their Objections against the said Clause.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the said Bill is committed.

Preventing the purchase and sale of Offices.

The House proceeded to take into Consideration the Amendments, made by the Lords, to the Bill, intituled, An Act to prevent the buying and selling Offices and Places of Trust:

And the same were read; and are as follow; viz. * * * *

The 1st and 2d of the said Amendments, being severally read a Second time, were, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Clause A being read a Second time;

And the Question being put, That the House do agree with the Lords in the said Amendment;

It passed in the Negative.

Clause B being read a Second time;

An Amendment was proposed to be made therein, by adding, after "Assize,"these Words "the Court of Chancery, the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, Commonalty, and Citizens, of the City of London, and all other Cities and Corporations:"

The same was agreed unto by the House:

Then the Question being put, That the House do agree with the Lords in the said Amendment, so amended;

It passed in the Negative.

Clause C being read a Second time;

And the Question being put, That the House do agree with the Lords in the said Amendment;

It passed in the Negative.

The last Amendment being read a Second time;

And the Question being put, That the House do agree with the Lords in the said Amendments;

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That a Conference be desired with the Lords, upon the Subject-matter of the said Amendments.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to draw up Reasons, to be offered to the Lords at the said Conference.

And it is referred to Sir Chr. Musgrove, Mr. Attorney General, Colonel Wharton, Sir Joseph Tily, Sir Edward Seymour, Sir Rowland Gwynn, Mr. Newport, Mr. Waller, Mr. Methwyn, Mr. Moyle, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Bromley, Mr. Sloane, Mr. Foley, Mr. Harley, Lord Spencer, Sir Richard Temple, Lord Pawlet, Sir Tho. Littleton, Sir Tho. Dyke, Mr. Boyle, Sir Hen. Goodrick, Sir Cha. Sidley, Mr. Colt, Mr. Evelyn, Mr. Arnold: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Richard Temple have Leave to go into the Country, for Recovery of his Health.

Foreign Bills of Exchange.

A Petition of several Merchants of the City of London, on behalf of themselves, and others, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners look upon it as a great Inconvenience to Trade, that there is no publick Place appointed in the City of London for Payment of foreign Bills of Exchange; for want of which, Merchants are obliged to give a constant Attendance at Home, from Morning to Night, on the Day that the Bill falls due: And praying, That all publick Notaries may be enjoined to draw no Protest for Non-payment of foreign Bills of Exchange, unless Payment thereof be first demanded at the Bank of England, as well as at the Houses of the Persons that have accepted the Bills.

Resolved, That the said Petition be rejected.

Hawkers and Pedlars Duty.

Mr. Norris, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for laying a Duty upon Hawkers and Pedlars, for making good the Provision for Payment of the Interest of the Transport-Debt, for the Reducing of Ireland: And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cook and Mr. Pitt:

Mr. Speaker,

Warner's Estate.

The Lords have agreed to the Amendments, made by this House, to the Bill, intituled, An Act explaining a former Act of Parliament, intituled, An Act for enabling Trustees to sell Part of the Estate of Edmund Warner, deceased, for Payment of his Debts; and for preserving the rest for the Benefit of his Heir. Also,

Importing Goods from Turkey.

The Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act for importing several Goods and Merchandize, laden, in Turkey, on board the Ships called the Success and Dragon Gally, paying Customs as if imported by English Ships, without any Amendment.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Report of Conference with Lords.

The House, according to Order, proceeded to take into Consideration the Report of the Conference with the Lords, upon Saturday last, touching the Amendments, made by the Lords, to the Bill, intituled, An Act to restrain the Wearing of all wrought Silks and Bengals, im ported into this Kingdom from Persia and East-India, and all Callicoes printed or stained there:

And the 1st Amendment being read a Second time;

And the Question being put thereupon, That the House do insist upon their Disagreement with the Lords in the said Amendment;

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

The 2d Amendment being read a Second time;

And the Question being put thereupon, That the House do insist upon their Disagreement with the Lords in the said Amendment;

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

The Third Amendment being read a Second time;

And the Question being put, That the House do insist upon their Disagreement with the Lords in the said Amendment;

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

The 4th Amendment being read a Second time;

And the Question being put thereupon, That the House do insist upon their Disagreement with the Lords in the said Amendment;

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

The 5th Amendment being read a Second time;

And the Question being put thereupon, That the House do insist upon their Disagreement with the Lords in the said Amendment;

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

The 6th Amendment being read a Second time;

And the Question being put thereupon, That the House do insist upon their Disagreement with the Lords in the said Amendment;

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

The 7th Amendment being read a Second time;

And the Question being put thereupon, That the House do insist upon their Disagreement with the Lords in the said Amendment;

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

The 8th Amendment being read a Second time;

And the Question being put, That the House do insist upon their Disgreement with the Lords in the said Amendment;

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

The 9th Amendment being read a Second time;

And the Question being put thereupon, That the House do insist upon their Disagreement with the Lords in the said Amendment;

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

The 10th Amendment being read a Second time;

And the Question being put thereupon, That the House do insist upon their Disagreement with the Lords in the said Amendment;

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

The 11th Amendment being read a Second time;

And the Question being put, That the House do insist upon their Disagreement with the Lords in the said Amendment;

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

The last Amendment being read a Second time;

And the Question being put thereupon, That the House do insist upon their Disagreement with the Lords in the said Amendment;

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

Conference desired with Lords.

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

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

Mr. Heveningham reported, That be having, according to Order, been at the Lords, to desire a free Conference; they answered, That they would return an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Supply Bill; Duty on Leather.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Friday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Bill for laying a Duty upon Leather, for the Term of Three Years, to raise Money for answering the Deficiencies, as well of the late Duties upon Coals and Culm, and the Tonage of Ships, as the Duties upon Salt.

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