House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 26 May 1698

Jovis, 26 die Maii;

Decimo Gulielmi.

Prayers.

Mitchelburne's Petition.

ORDERED, That Sir Henry Colt, Mr. Staines, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Yates, Sir Marm. Wyvall, Sir Edw. Hungerford, Mr. Speake, Mr. Thornhaugh, be added to the Committee, to whom the Petition of Colonel John Mitchelburne was referred.

Walter's Will.

An ingrossed Bill for securing the Portions intended by Sir William Walter Baronet, deceased, for his Children by the Lady Mary Walter his Second Wife; and for preventing all Doubts which might arise upon the Construction of the Articles and Will therein mentioned; was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for securing the Portions intended by Sir William Walter Baronet, deceased, for his Children by the Lady Mary Walter his Second Wife; and for preventing all Doubts which might arise upon the Construction of the Articles and Will therein mentioned.

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

Trafford's Estate.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for enabling Humphrey Trafford Esquire to raise the Sum of Four thousand Pounds upon his Estate, for Payment of his Debts: And that Mr. Brotherton do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

Relief of Creditors.

A Petition of George Moor, of London, Merchant, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That Six Years since, the Petitioner obtained a Judgment in the King's Bench, against William Lenthall Esquire for 2,000l. and 25l. Costs of Suit: That, in 1694, the Petitioner sued out an Elegit in the County of Oxon, on the said Judgment; and extended the Manor of Great Hasely, and other Lands of the said Lenthall's, thereon; and had Possession thereof for some time; but was afterwards put out of Possession by Edmund Boulter Esquire, Executor of Sir John Cutler, upon Pretence of a Security made to him by the said Lenthall: That the Petitioner is informed, there is a Clause in a Bill for the further Relief of Creditors, &c. to enable Mr. Boulter to sell the said Lands; whereby the Petitioner will be for ever excluded: And praying he may have a Saving Clause of his Right added to the said Bill.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the Report be made from the Committee, to whom the said Bill is re-committed.

Mascall's Debts.

Sir Henry Colt reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for the vesting a Copperas-work, Part of the Estate of Robert Mascall Esquire, deceased, in Trustees, to be sold, for Payment of Debts, and other Charges thereupon, was committed, That they had examined and considered the same, and made several Amendments to the Bill; 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 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 inssed.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That the Lord Ashly have Leave to go into the Country for Ten Days, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Supply Bill; Duties on Lustrings, &c.

Mr. Lowndes, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for increasing his Majesty's Duties upon Lustrings and Alamodes: And the same was received; and read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Andrews have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Supply Bill; Hawkers and Pedlars.

Mr. Norris, according to Order, reported from a Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for licensing Hawkers and Pedlars was committed, the Amendments, made by the Committee, to the said Bill; 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.

A Clause was offered, to be added to the Bill, "That Attornies at Law shall be deemed Hawkers:"

And the same was once read; and, by Leave of the House, withdrawn.

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

Ways and Means.

Sir Thomas Littleton, according to Order, reported from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred to consider further of Ways and Means for raising the Supply granted to his Majesty; and who were impowered to receive Proposals for settling the Trade to the East-Indies; the Resolutions 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 were read; and are as follow; viz.

New E. India Company established.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That his Majesty be impowered to name Commissioners, to take Subscriptions for advancing of Two Millions, upon an Interest of 8l. per Cent. per Annum, and the Liberty of Trading to the East-Indies, exclusive of all others.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That every Subscriber, for advancing the said Two Millions, may have Liberty of Trading yearly to the Amount of his respective Subscription; or may assign over such his Liberty of Trading to any other Person.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That his Majesty be impowered to incorporate such of the said Subscribers as shall desire the same.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Powers and Privileges, for carrying on the said East-India Trade, shall be settled by Parliament.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Subscribers shall enjoy the said 8l. per Cent. and Liberty of Trading to the East-Indies, exclusive of all others, for the Term of Ten Years, and until the same shall be redeemed by Parliament.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That every Person subscribing 500l. have a Vote; and no Person to have more Votes than one.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That all Ships laden in the East-Indies shall be obliged to deliver in England.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That no Person, that shall be a Member of any Corporation trading to the East-Indies, shall trade otherwise than in the joint Stock of such Corporation, of which he is a Member.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That 5l. per Cent. ad valorem, upon all Returns from the East-Indies, be paid by the Importer, to be placed to the Account of the Subscribers, towards the Charge of sending Embassadors, and other extraordinary Expences.

Resolved, That, it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, over and above the Duties now payable, a further Duty of One Shilling and Ten-pence per Pound Weight be laid upon all wrought Silks imported from India and Persia, to be paid by the Importer.

The First Resolution being read a Second time;

An Amendment was proposed to be made by leaving out "and the Liberty of Trading to the East-Indies, exclusive of all others:"

And the Question being put, That those Words stand Part of the Resolution;

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

So it was resolved in the Assirmative.

Resolved, That the House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, That his Majesty be impowered to name Commissioners, to take Subscriptions for advancing of Two Millions, upon an Interest of 8l. per Cent. per Annum, and the Liberty of Trading to the East-Indies, exclusive of all others.

The rest of 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.

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