House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 4 June 1698

Sabbati, 4 die Junii;

Decimo Gulielmi.

Prayers.

Supply Bill; Building Ships.

A BILL for the applying to the Use of his Majesty's Navy and Ordnance, the Overplus of the Money and Stores, which were provided for the Sevenand-twenty Ships of War, was read a Second time.

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

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for granting to his Majesty, his Heirs and Successors, several additional Duties on Salt, is committed.

Ordered, That the Accounts of the said Money and Stores, which have been laid before the House, be referred to the Consideration of the said Committee.

Ship Jeffryes.

A Petition of James Denew, Anthony Stratton, and Thomas Stark, of London, Merchants, in behalf of themselves, and other Owners of the Ship Jeffryes, Captain William Cooper Commander, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the said Ship sailed for Virginia the 16th of January 1696, with a considerable Cargo of Woollen Manufactures, and was expected back in Eight Months; but, by contrary Winds, and the Severity of the Winter, was prevented, and is not yet returned; That, by an Act for preventing Frauds, and regulating Abuses, in the Plantation-Trade, and for want of a Certificate of her being registred according to the said Act, the said Ship cannot come in: And praying a Clause to the Bill, now passing, concerning the Ship Mariland Merchant, of Bristoll, may be added, for bringing the said Ship in, without incurring the Penalty of the said Act.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for Relief of the Petitioners, touching the said Ship: And that Sir Henry Colt do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Supply Bill; purchasing Annuities.

An ingrossed Bill for inlarging the Time for purchasing certain Estates, or Interests, in several Annuities, therein mentioned, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for enlarging the Time for purchasing certain Estates, or Interests, in several Annuities, therein mentioned.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Littleton do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Lustring Trade.

An ingrossed Bill for the Encouragement of the Lustring Company, and the more effectual preventing the Importation of Lustrings and Alamodes; was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for increasing his Majesty's Duties upon Lustrings and Alamodes.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Littleton do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Duties on Marriages, &c.

Ordered, That Leave be given, upon the Third Reading the ingrossed Bill to prevent Frauds and Abuses in the charging, collecting, and paying, the Duties upon Marriages, births, Burials, Bachelors, and Widowers; and for better answering the Produce thereof into the Exchequer, for or towards the Satisfaction of the Principal and Interest-money charged thereupon; to offer a Clause to repeal a Clause, in the former Act for granting the said Duties, whereby Ministers are to read the Certificates of the Rates and Assessments upon Marriages, Births, Burials, Bachelors, and Widowers in the Churches.

Impeachment of Goudet, &c.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cooke and Sir John Hoskyns:

Mr. Speaker,

The Lords have appointed Thursday next for the Tryal of John Goudet, David Barrau, Peter Longueville, Stephen Seignoret, Rene Baudovin, Nicholas Santini, Peter Diharce, and John Pearse, at the Bar of the House of Lords.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Impeachment of Dumaistre, &c.

Sir Rowland Gwyn reported from the Committee appointed to draw up the Articles of Impeachment against John Dumaistre and John Auriall, That they had drawn up the same accordingly; which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were twice read; and agreed unto by the House; and are as follow; viz.

Articles of Impeachment, exhibited by the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, in Parliament assembled, in the Name of themselves, and of all the Commons of England, against John Dumaistre and John Auriall, in Maintenance of the several Impeachments against them for High Crimes and Misdemeanors.

1st Article.

That the said John Dumaistre and John Auriall, not weighing, or considering, the Protection and Privileges they have enjoyed under this Government; nor any-ways regarding the many good and wholesome Laws and Statutes, made for encouraging the Manufactures, and preventing the Exportation of the Coin and Wool, of this Kingdom, and the holding Correspondence with France, during the late War; but minding and intending, for their own private Lucre and Advantage, to render all those good and beneficial Laws of no Force or Effect; did, between the 24th Day of August, which was in the Year of our Lord 1689, and the 10th Day of December, which was in the Year of our Lord 1697, associate, combine, and confederate, with Stephen Seignoret, John Goudet, Ferdinand Ravaud, Peter Baraelleau, and divers other evil-disposed Persons, to carry on a Traffick with France, during the late War; thereby to exhaust the Treasure of the Nation, to lessen the Value of the native Commodities, and to destroy the Manufactures thereof; to the general Detriment of this Kingdom.

2d.

That, to compass and effect these their pernicious Designs and Intentions, they, the said John Dumaistre and John Auriall; did, during the said War, set up, and carry on, a Correspondence with several Persons in France.

3d.

That they, the said John Dumaistre and John Auriall, did, during the said War, import, and cause to be imported, into this Kingdom, several great Quantities of Goods and Commodities, of the Growth, Product, and Manufacture, of France.

All which said Crimes and Offences were contrived, committed, perpetrated, and acted, against his Majesty, his Crown, and Dignity: And the said John Dumaistre and John Auriall, did, severally, voluntarily, and wilfully, contrive, commit, perpetrate, and act, the said Crimes and Offences, contrary to the Duty of their Allegiance, and against the Peace of our Sovereign Lord the King, his Crown and Dignity; and to the common Nuisance of all his Majesty's Liege People; and against the Good and Welfare of the whole Kingdom; and in open Violation of, and contrary to, the known Laws and Statutes of this Realm.

And the said Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, by Protestation, saving to themselves the Liberty of exhibiting, at any time hereafter, any further Articles, or other Accusations, or Impeachments, against the said John Dumaistre and John Auriall, and either of them; and also, of replying to the Answers that the said John Dumaistre and John Auriall, and either of them, shall make unto the said Articles, or any of them, and of, or in Proof of, the Premises, or any other Articles, Impeachments, or Accusations, that shall be exhibited by them, as the Cause shall, according to the Course of Parliament, require; do pray that the said John Dumaistre and John Auriall be put to answer the said Crimes and Misdemeanors; and that such Proceedings, Examinations, Tryals, and Judgments, may be, upon the said John Dumaistre and John Auriall, and either of them, had and used, as is agreeable to Law and Justice.

Ordered, That the said Articles be ingrossed.

Witnesses to be summoned.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant, for all Witnesses to attend, to make good the Evidence upon the Impeachments.

Supply Bill; Duties on Vellum, &c.

Sir Tho. Littleton, according to Order, reported, from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for granting to his Majesty, his Heirs and Successors, further Duties upon stamped Vellum, Parchment, and Paper, 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: And several other Amendments were made by the House to the Bill.

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

Answer to Address.

Mr. Secretary Vernon acquainted the House, That their Address having been presented to his Majesty, That he would be pleased to grant Mr. Reginald Marryott a Pardon for his Offences, relating to the Exchequer-Bills, That his Majesty had been pleased to give Order for a Warrant to be prepared for a Pardon accordingly.

Impeachment of Goudet, &c.

Resolved, That a Committee of Twenty be appointed to manage the Tryal of John Goudet, and others, upon their Impeachments:

And it is referred to Sir Rowland Gwyn, Mr. Clerk, Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Hen. Colt, Mr. Smith, Mr. Tho. Newport, Sir Tho. Littleton, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Attorney-General, Mr. Robert Harley, Mr. Solicitor-General, Sir Joseph Tily, Sir Richard Onslow, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Jam. Mountague, Sir John Bolls, Mr. Lowndes, Mr. Norris, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Sloane: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers: And are to instruct themselves in the Evidence, and take their Parts, for Managing the Tryal, upon the said Impeachments.

Duties on Salt.

A Petition of Evan Jones, in behalf of himself, and other Proprietors in Refining of Rock Salt, in the Borough of Flint, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners have been at extraordinary Expence, in sinking of Salt Rock Pits, erecting Work-houses, building of Quays for reception of Shipping, and other Conveniences, for making Rock Salt into White; and that, by one Act of Parliament, there is a Duty of One Shilling per Bushel, laid thereon; and One Peny by another; with a Drawback on the Refining thereof; and that, since the last Duty, the Officers refuse to allow the said Drawback of One Peny; whereby they pay for the Salt in two Kinds, before, and after refined: And praying they may not be so charged.

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

Supply Bill; Duties on Salt.

The House, according to Order, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Bill.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Sir Tho. Littleton took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir Tho. Littleton reported from the said Committee, That they had made some Progress in the Matter to them referred; and had directed him to move, That they may have Leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Monday Morning next, resolve itself, into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the said Bill; and the other Bill to them committed.

East India Company.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Tuesday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the State of the East-India Company and Trade.

Ordered, That Sir Tho. Cook and Sir Bazill Firebrasse do attend the said Committee.

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