House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 18 March 1697

Journal of the House of Commons: Volume 11, 1693-1697. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1803.

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'House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 18 March 1697', in Journal of the House of Commons: Volume 11, 1693-1697, (London, 1803) pp. 744-746. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/commons-jrnl/vol11/pp744-746 [accessed 19 March 2024]

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In this section

Jovis, 18 die Martii;

9° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Duty on Woollen Manufactures.

A PETITION of the Inhabitants of the Borough of Leicester, and Parts adjacent, who are Traders in the Woollen Manufactory, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners are informed, That it hath been proposed in the House to lay a Tax of 10l. per Cent. upon all the Woollen Manufactory of this Kingdom; which, the Petitioners conceive, will tend to the utter Destruction of the Woollen Trade in general, which already is reduced to so low an Ebb, that there is not a Tenth Part of the Wool wrought up in the Kingdom as used to be; and, consequently, a great Impoverishment must thereby fall upon the Manufacturers, who are very numerous, for want of Work; and, if the said Tax should be laid, much greater must attend them, as well as the Petitioners, who already labour under great Difficulties to pay their Workmen, through the Scarcity and Badness of Money: And praying, That the said Duty may not be granted; or that, if no other Way can be found to supply his Majesty's Occasions, the same may be paid by the Consumers of the Wollen Manufactory.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the Bill for the said Duties be brought in.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Gilbert Clerk have Leave to go into the Country upon extraordinary Occasions.

Irish Arrears.

Mr. Gery reported, from the Committee, to whom the Petition of John Hakewell, and others, Troopers, of Colonel Villers's Regiment, was referred, the Matter, as it appeared to the said Committee, upon the Petition of Peter Williams Gentleman, on behalf of himself and others of the Troopers, commanded by Major John Petry, of the Right Honourable the Earl of Arran's Regiment, and the Resolution of the Committee thereupon; which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was read; and is as followeth; viz.

That it appeared to the Committee, That the said Peter Williams was not able to make good the Suggestions of his said Petition: Several of the said Troop, on whose behalf he pretended to petition this House, appeared before the Committee, and denied that they ever gave the said Williams any Authority to make use of their Names, or any Consent to petition against their said Officer; but, on the contrary, declared their several Satisfactions in the Conduct of his Command over them: And thereupon the Committee came to the Resolution following; viz.

Petition declared frivolous.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Petition of the said Peter Williams, against Major John Petry, of the Right Honourable the Earl of Arran's Regiment of Horse, is frivolous, vexatious, and groundless.

The said Resolution, being read a Second time, was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Army Arrears.

Mr. Gery also reported, from the said Committee, the Matter, as it appeared to them, upon the Petition of Mary Prince, Widow of Captain James Prince; Eliz. Sterld, Widow of Lieutenant Sterld; Mary Cuningham, Widow of Lieutenant Cuningham; and Eliz. Dolman, Widow of Ensign Dolman; deceased; and the Resolution of the Committee thereupon; which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was read; and is as followeth; viz.

That it appeared to the Committee, That their said Husbands were Officers in the Regiment of Colonel Lillingston; with which said Regiment they went into Jamaica, in his Majesty's Service, the 14 January 1694; from which time to the times of their Deaths, there were several Sums due to them, upon Account of Arrears of Subsistence:

But that it likewise appeared, That what Sums, from time to time, came to Colonel Lillingston's Hands, for Subsistence of himself and Officers, he duly paid to the said Officers; and, among them, to the Petitioners Husbands, as far as the same did extend; and advanced several Sums out of his own Pocket, for that Purpose; which is yet unpaid him by the Crown: But that when the same, and also the remaining Arrears due to the Regiment shall be paid, the said Colonel is very desirous the Petitioners may have their just and full Proportions of the same, for their Husbands remaining Subsistence and Pay, to the times of their Deaths.

And that thereupon the Committee came to the following Resolution; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That there is an Arrear of Subsistence and Pay due to the Petitioners, in Right of their Husbands; but that, Colonel Lillingston never having received the same, the said Petition, as against the said Colonel, is groundless.

The said Resolution, being read a Second time, was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Irish Arrears.

Mr. Gery also reported, from the said Committee, the Matter, as it appeared to them, upon the Petition of the subaltern Officers and Troopers of his Grace the Duke of Schonburgh's Regiment of Horse; and the Resolutions of the Committee thereupon; which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were read; and are as follow; viz.

That it appeared to the Committee, That his Majesty hath paid all the Arrears due to this Regiment, whilst in the Irish Service; and yet there is an Arrear due to the Petitioners.

Mr. Molyneux, the Agent for the Regiment, said, That by the general State of each Troop in the Regiment, it appeared, That he had paid 1,521l. 1s. more than the Charge of Cloathing, Accoutrements, and all manner of Contingencies, amounted to; and that, as to 600l. Part thereof, it remains stopped in the Pay-Office, as an Overcharge, by Mistake, upon that Office; and that, as to the Remainder 921l. and all other Sums, he had Vouchers for all Payments he made; which he did pursuant to the Colonel's Orders, whose Servant he was, and therefore not liable to any Account with the Petitioners; for that they ought to have their Satisfaction from the several Captains of their respective Troops, to whom the same was paid for them:

Whereas, the Committee observed, That the said 921l. has been taken out of the Pay of the Subaltern Officers and Troopers, over and above the Allowance of the Establishment of 6d. per diem, for answering all Contingencies; and therefore, in part, is the Occasion of the Arrear remaining due to the Petitioners:

And that, as the Pay of each commissioned Officer, for himself and Servants, does in no ways interfere with that due to the non-commissioned Officers, and private Troopers; and that therefore the Colonel, or the Agent for him, having received full Pay for each Officer, and his Servants, from his Majesty, ought to satisfy each of their just Demands, according as the Establishment directs; for that the Agent's Payments not having been made pursuant to the Establishment, has occasioned the Arrear of Pay that is now due to the Petitioners.

And that, upon the whole Matter, the Committee came to the Resolutions following; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, contrary to the Directions of his Majesty's Establishment, Mr. Molyneux, the Agent and Clothier of the said Regiment, has charged the Petitioners with the Sum of 921l. 10s.; which he ought not to have done; the said Sum being deducted out of the Pay for Cloathing, over and above the Off-reckoning of 6d. a Day; and which said Sum the said Agent does acknowledge to have received.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Agent being charged by the Petitioners with One other Sum of 600l. the same being doubly charged, by Mistake, in the Pay-Office, on Account of Horses pretended to be lost in Ireland, and so not received by the said Agent, he ought not to be charged therewith.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That several other Sums of Money are due to the Petitioners, as by their Petition is set forth; which the said Agent acknowledges to have received; but pretends to have paid the same, by Order of the Colonel, or the Officer commanding in Chief, to several Officers of the said Regiment, who ought not to have received the same.

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

A Prosecution ordered.

Ordered, That Mr. Attorney-General do prosecute the said Mr. Molyneux on the said Resolutions for defrauding the said Soldiers.

Cruisers.

Ordered, That the Committee to whom the Consideration of the Account of Cruisers, according to Act of Parliament, was referred, do examine the Matter thereof; and report their Opinion thereupon to the House:

And that Mr. Waller be added to the said Committee.

Party Guiles in brewing.

Mr. Hoar reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill to repeal a Clause in a former Act, relating to party Guiles, 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: Where the same were once read throughout; and then a Second time, one by one; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, with another Amendment, made by the House, agreed unto by the House.

A Clause was offered, to be added to the Bill, That the Commissioners of Excise, or any Justice of Peace, may issue their Warrant, to distrain the Beer, Ale, and Cask, not paid for to the Brewer, which shall be secretly conveyed away, wheresoever it shall be found, for Satisfaction of the Duty of Excise:

And the same was read the First time:

And the Question heing put, That the Clause be read a Second time;

It passed in the Negative.

Another Clause was offered, to be added to the Bill, That any Person who has already set up any Works for distilling any low Wines, or Spirits, from Drink brewed from malted Corn, or Cyder, may make use of the same, giving Notice to the Commissioners of Excise:

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

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

Irish Arrears.

Mr. Harley, according to Order, reported, from the Commissioners for taking and stating the publick Accounts, the Matter, upon the Petition of several Troopers, belonging to the Regiment of Horse, lately commanded by Colonel Byerly, and at present by Colonel Windham; which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table.

Ordered, That the said Report be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning.

Mr. Car, according to Order, attending in his Place;

Privilege of a Member in a Suit.

The Petition of Elizabeth Lilburn, and Eleanor Lilburne her Daugher, was read; setting forth, That William Lilburn Esquire, the Petitioner Eliz. late Husband, deceased, was seised of a Colliery and Lands at Kenton, of 400l. per Annum, Com' Northumberland; and made his last Will, and his Wife sole Executrix, charging the said Estate, which he gave to his Sons, with 700l. apiece to his Three eldest Daughters, the said Eleanor being his eldest Daughter, and, amongst other Bequests, to make up his Wife's Jointure 200l. per Ann; and died; leaving his said Estate much mortagaged: That, in January 1691, the Petitioner Eliz. leased the said Colliery to Mr. Car, a Member of this House, for 21 Years, under the yearly Rent if 210l. and 14s. for every Ton of Coals, above the yearly Quantity of 300 Tons: And, Mr. Carr having gotten Possession of the said Lands from her Sons, she did, in Michaelmas Term 1694, exhibit a Bill in Chancery against her Sons, Mr. Car, and others, to the End the Lands and Colliery might be sold, to pay Debts, and Childrens Portions; and that she might have an Account of the Mesne Profits, amounting to above 1,500l. and remaining in Mr. Car's Hands; but she cannot proceed thereon, Mr. Car insisting on his Privilege; to the Ruin of the Petitioners; who now lie in Prison, in great Want, for 400l. at the suit of Mrs. Car, Sister of the Petitioner Eliz. and Mother of the said Mr. Car; though the Petitioner Eliz. hath received but one Year's Rent, since the said Lease, and the Petitioner Eleanor not One Farthing: And praying the House to order, That Mr. Car may wave his Privilege.

And Mr. Car was heard thereupon.

Resolved, That the said Petition be rejected.

Privilege of a Member in a Suit.

Also the Petition of John Doubleday Merchant, and Ann his Wife, was read; setting forth, That George Ellison, deceased, the Petitioner Ann's former Husband, being seised of an undivided Moiety of the Manor of Barmeston in the County of Durham, did settle an Annuity of 34l. per Annum out of it on the said Ann, for her Life: That since his Death his Moiety is come to James Clavering and John Rogers Esquires; and the other Moiety of the said Manor then was, and now is, vested in Wm. Car Esquire, a Member of this House; but the Manor is leased out by them in joint Leases, though at distinct Rents; and, the said Annuity being in Arrear, the Petitioner would not presume to distrain, for fear to incur the Displeasure of the House: And praying, That the House will give the Petitioners Leave to make Distress upon the said Manor, for the said Rent-Arrear, as upon the undivided Moiety in the Possession of the said Mr. Clavering and Mr. Rogers.

And Mr. Car was heard thereupon.

Resolved, That the said Petition be rejected.

Ways and Means.

Sir Thomas Littleton, according to Order, reported, from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred to consider of Ways and Means to make good the Interest of the 8l. per Cent. for all Tallies which have at present no Fund, if they shall be subscribed into the Bank, 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 follow; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, for making good the Interest of all Tallies upon the Deficiency of Parliamentary Funds, over and above the Duties already payable, a further Duty be laid upon all Salt.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Duty be Two-pence per Gallon upon all foreign Salt imported; to be paid by the Importer.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Duty be One Peny per Gallon upon all English Salt; to be paid as the present Duty is paid.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Duties be granted to his Majesty for the Term of Two Years and Three-Quarters.

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

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in, upon the said Resolutions: And that Mr. Attorney-General, Mr. Solicitor-General, and Mr. Lowndes, do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Supply Bill; Duty on Leather.

Sir Thomas Littleton also reported from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for laying a Duty upon Leather, for the Term of Three Years, for answering the Deficiences, as well of the late Duties upon Coals and Culm, as for paying the Duties on the Lotteries, and for Lives, charged on the Tonage of Ships, and of the Duties upon Salt, was committed; and to whom the Consideration of the Petition of several Persons who had lent Money upon the said Duties was referred; That they had considered the same accordingly; and had directed him to report the Matter thereupon specially to the House; which he did as followeth; viz.

That they had heard the Petitioners: Who insisted upon this Duty upon Leather not being a sufficient Fund to answer their Loans Principal; and prayed, either to have their old Funds restored again, or some further Provision, to make the Duty upon Leather a full Equivalent:

But that the Committee, after hearing the Petitioners, thought it not proper to come to any Resolutions thereupon; but proceeded upon the Bill, and finished the same; but directed no Report to be made thereof, with the Amendments, to the House, as yet.

Resolved, That the said Committee of the whole House have Power to consider of Ways and Means for raising an effectual Security for paying the 840,000l. charged upon the said Duties upon Stone, Glass, and Earthen Wares, Coals and Culm, Tonage of Ships, and Salt.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cook and Sir Richard Holford;

Mr. Speaker,

Highways.

The Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act for enlarging common Highways, without any Amendment. Also,

Lords agree to a Conference.

The Lords, having considered of the Message sent to their Lordships, by this House, on Tuesday last, do agree to a free Conference on the Subject-matter of the last Conference; and appoint it To-morrow at Twelve of the Clock in the Forenoon, in the Painted Chamber.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Duties on Glass, &c.

The Order for taking into Consideration the Report from the Committee, to whom the Petitions of the Glassmakers were referred, being read;

And a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Consideration of the said Report be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for making good the Deficiencies of several Funds, therein mentioned; and for enlarging the Capital Stock of the Bank of England; and for raising the publick Credit; is committed;

It passed in the Negative.

Supply Bill; Malt Duties.

A Bill for granting to his Majesty certain Duties upon Malt, Mum, Sweets, Cyder, and Perry, as well towards carrying on the War against France, as for the necessary Expence of his Majesty's Occasions, was, according to Order, read a Second time.

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

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

Ordered, That it be an Instruction to the said Committee, That they have Power to receive a Clause of Appropriation of the Money granted this Session for the Use of the Army and Navy, and Civil List.

Ordered, That it be an Instruction also to the said Committee, That they have Power to receive a Clause for a Drawback of the Duties, granted by the said Bill, upon Exportation.

Supply Bill; Deficiencies, BankStock, &c.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Saturday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Bill for making good the Deficiencies of several Funds, therein mentioned; and for enlaring the Capital Stock of the Bank of England; and for raising the publick Credit.

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