Sabbati, 20 die Martii;

9° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Tinners Trade.

MR. Boscawen reported from the Committee, to whom the Consideration of the Petition of the Tinners of Cornwall was referred, That they had examined the Matter thereof; and had come to several Resolutions; 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.

That they do find, that many good Laws have been made, and intended, in favour of the Petitioners; and, among the rest, Two in this present Reign, prohibiting the Sale of Wine, by Retail, otherwise than in sealed Pewter Measures; which, if extended to other Liquors, would not only prove an Encouragement to the Petitioners, but be of great Advantage to several Branches of the publick Revenue, and prevent many Frauds and Abuses to his Majesty's Subjects; yet, that the Laws hitherto made have not had that Effect, in advancing the Price of Tin; but that it remains at present under very great Discouragements; being sold in Cornwall for Fifty Shillings the Hundred Weight, after having paid a Coinage-Duty of 4s. to the Crown, and liable to 7s. 4d. more upon Exportation; all which, together, is near 25l. per Cent. of the present Value to the Tinners; whereas, when the Book of Rates was settled, Tin was then really sold for above 6l. the Hundred Weight; and most other Species of the Product of England, except Coals and Lead, pay not above 5l. per Cent. of the real Value; and the Woollen Manufacture, generally, not near so much.

The Committee had likewise an Account, from the Custom-house, of the Quantity of Tin exported; and, from a Medium of Four Years, did observe, it was about a Thousand Ton, communibus Annis:

According to which Reckoning, it would require 1,000l. per Annum to compensate the Revenue for every 12d. which should be taken off, in case the House, out of Compassion to the Disproportion which the Petitioners are under in respect of Duties, should be willing to accept of an Equivalent for so much of the ExportationDuty on Tin, as might reduce it to a Par with other Goods of the Product of England; and the rather, on Occasion of great Quantities of Tin, which have, in some late Years, been imported from the East-Indies; from whence no considerable Quantity was observed to have been imported into Europe when this Duty was first established; which may, in time, endanger the Loss of that beneficial Trade to this Nation.

And that, upon the whole Matter, the Committee came to these Resolutions;

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, for encouraging the Consumption of Tin, and advancing the Price thereof, no Wine, Beer, Ale, Mum, Brandy, or other Spirits, be sold, by Retail, in any Tavern, or other Publick-house, but in sealed Measures made of Pewter.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Duty upon Tin exported is higher, in proportion, than other Goods generally of the Product of England; and deserves the Consideration of this House; the rather by reason of the Coinage-Duty; which, being an ancient Revenue of the Duke of Cornwall, the Petitioners must be distinctly subject to.

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

The Second Resolution being read a Second time:

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Resolution 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: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report their Opinion what Part of the Duties laid upon Tin is fit to be taken off.

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in upon the said First Resolution: And that Mr. Boscawen and Mr. Godolphin do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Raising the Militia.

The Lord Coningsby, according to Order, reported, from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for raising the Militia for the Year 1697, although the Month's Pay, formerly advanced, be not repaid, was committed, the Amendments, made by the Committee, to the said Bill; 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, agreed unto by the House.

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

Increase of Seamen.

Mr. Kendall, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to enforce the Act, passed the last Session, for the Increase and Encouragement of Seamen.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Grosvenor have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Ordered, That Mr. Michael Harvey have Leave to go into the Country, for Recovery of his Health.

Privilege— Riot about a Member's House.

The House being informed, That a great Number of People, in a tumultuous Manner, did, last Night, assault the House of Mr. Bohun, a Member of this House, near Spittle-Fields; and, with Iron Bars, Pick-axes, and other Instruments, broke the same, and threatened to kill him, and his Family; and that although they were dispersed afterwards, yet there are a much greater Number this Day got together.

Address thereon.

Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, by such Members of this House as are of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy-Council, That he will please to take effectual Care, by the Militia, or other Forces, for the suppressing the same; and for preventing the like for the future.

Complaint of a Member arguing against a Bill, at a Conference.

A Complaint being made to the House, That a Member of this House, appointed a Manager at the last free Conference with the Lords, on the Subject-matter of the last Conference, did argue against the Bill, sent up by this House, to restrain the Wearing of all wrought Silks and Bengals, imported into this Kingdom from Persia and East-India, and all Callicoes printed or stained there;

And a Motion being made, and the Question being proposed, That the said Member complained of be now named;

The previous 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 was put, That the said Member be now named:

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Whereupon, Sir Samuel Barnardiston was named.

Upon which, an Account was given to the House of what he said of the Bill, and how he argued against it.

And Sir Samuel Barnardiston was heard thereupon, in his Place.

And then withdrew.

Reprimanded in his Place.

Resolved, That Sir Samuel Barnardiston, in Consideration of his great Age and Infirmities, and of his Sufferings and Services, formerly, in maintaining the Rights of this House, be called in, and, in his Place, only reprimanded by Mr. Speaker.

Accordingly, he was called in, and, in his Place, reprimanded by Mr. Speaker.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Richard Holford and Mr. Meredeth:

Mr. Speaker,

Lords desire Leave for Members to attend them.

The Lords do desire, That such Members of this House as are Commissioners of the Admiralty, may have Leave to attend the Lords Committes, when desired, appointed to make an Inquiry concerning the Thoulon Squadron's getting into Brest, without any Opposition, in April 1696.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Resolved, That this House will send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

And the Messengers were called in again; and Mr. Speaker acquainted them therewith.

Supply Bill; Duties on Salt.

A Bill for granting to his Majesty certain additional Duties upon Salt, for Payment of Interest-money, and other Purposes therein mentioned, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for making good the Deficiencies of several Funds, therein mentioned; and for inlarging the Capital Stock of the Bank of England; and for raising the publick Credit; is committed: And that they have Power to join both Bills together.

African Company.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Thursday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Bill for regulating and settling the Trade to Africa.

Letters of Marque.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Petition of several Merchants, relating to Letters of Marque, . . . . . . be made upon this Day Sevennight.

Supply Bill; Deficiencies, and Bank Stock, &c.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Monday 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 inlarging the Capital Stock of the Bank of England; and for raising the publick Credit.

Supply Bill; Duty on Leather.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Tuesday 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, for answering the Deficiencies, 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 the Duties upon Salt; and to consider of Ways and Means for raising an effectual Security for paying the 840,000l. charged upon the Duties upon Stone, Glass, and Earthen Wares, Coals, and Culm, Tonage of Ships, and Salt.

A Member to attend.

Ordered, That Sir John Parsons do attend, in his Place, upon Tuesday Morning next: And that the Petition relating to him be then read.

Preservation of Fish.

Ordered, That the further Consideration of the Report 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, be adjourned until this Day Month.

And then the House adjourned till Monday Morning, Nine a Clock.