House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 14 December 1698

Mercurii, 14 die Decembris;

10° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Malmsbury Election.

A PETITION of Sir Thomas Skipwith Baronet was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That at the late Election of Burgesses to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Malmsbury, in the County of Wilts, Mr. Michael Weeks, and Mr. Edward Pansford, did, by divers illegal and corrupt Practices of William Adye, an Officer of the said Borough, procure themselves to be returned as Members for the said Borough, in Prejudice to the Petitioner's Right: And praying the House to examine into the said corrupt Practices, and to do the Petitioner Right in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Litchfield Election.

A Petition of Humphry Wirly Esquire was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner stood a Candidate at the late Election of Members to serve in this present Parliament for the City of Litchfield; but, by Menaces and divers illegal Practices, many of the Petitioner's Electors were discouraged and hindered from voting for him, and others were gained to Mr. Dyot, and Sir Michael Biddulph; whereby, they are returned to serve for the said City, to the great Injury of the Petitioner: And praying the Relief of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Newark upon Trent Election.

A Petition of several Inhabitants of the Borough of Newark upon Trent, in the County of Nottingham, paying Scot and Lot, in behalf of themselves, and divers others so qualified, inhabiting within the said Borough, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That at the late Election of Members to serve in this present Parliament for the said Borough, the greatest Part of the legal Voters appeared to vote for John Rayner Esquire and demanded to be polled; but Edward Hobson, Mayor of the said Borough, refused to poll them; and polled others, that were not qualified, for Sir Francis Molyneux; and by other undue Practices, hath returned him, with James Saunderson Esquire; in great Violation of the Rights of the Petitioners, and the said Mr. Rayner, who ought to have been returned their Representative in this Parliament: And praying the Consideration of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

St. Ives Election.

A Petition of several Persons, Inhabitants within the Borough of Saint Ives, in the County of Cornwall, in behalf of themselves, and divers others inhabiting within the said Borough, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Right of Election of Members to serve in Parliament for the said Borough is in the Inhabitants not receiving Alms; and the Petitioners, as such demanded to be polled, at the last Election, for Sir Henry Hobart; but the Mayor, in an arbitrary manner, refused to let them be polled; declaring, That, by the late King James's Charter, the Right of Election was in the Mayor, Capital Burgesses, and Assistants, only; and that he would suffer no other Persons to be polled, who, with himself, are but Ten in Number; and thereupon, did make an illegal Return of Sir Charles Windham, and James Praed Esquire, in great Violation of the Petitioners Rights: And praying the House to do them Justice in the Premises, as they shall think fit.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Bridgnorth Election.

A Petition of Roger Pope Esquire was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner stood a Candidate at the last Election for the Borough of Bridgnorth, in the County of Salop, and ought to have been returned a Burgess to serve in this Parliament for the said Borough; but Sir Edward Acton, by corrupt and undue Practices at the said Election, procured himself to be returned, in Wrong to the Petitioner: And praying the Relief of the House therein.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Regulating of Elections.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for Qualifying of Members to sit in Parliament; and further regulating Elections: And that Mr. How, and the Lord Cheine, do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Preventing Export of Corn, &c.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the more effectual preventing the Exportation of Corn, Meal, and Bread, for One Year: And that Mr. Heveningham, and Mr. Lowndes do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Distillation from Corn.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to prevent the Distilling of low Wines, and Spirits, from Corn: And that Mr. Heveningham and Mr. Lowndes do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Westminster Election.

A Petition of Sir Henry Dutton Colt was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner was invited by a considerable Number of Voters of the City of Westminster, to stand as their Representative in this Parliament; for which Purpose, the Petitioner stood a Candidate at the last Election; but, by the manifest Partiality of the Head Bailiff of the said City; and by Votes procured by Entertainment and Menaces, and of others not qualified, the said Bailiff hath returned James Vernon Esquire, and Charles Mountagu Esquire, as chosen, Representatives for the said City; although Mr. Mountagu was otherwise uncapable of being chosen to serve in Parliament: And praying the House to consider his Case, and to relieve him as they shall think fit.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: And that they do examine the Matter thereof: and report the same with their Opinion therein to the House.

Ordered, That the said Committee do hear the Matter of the said Petition in the First Place.

Ease of Sheriffs.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the greater Ease of Sheriffs in Execution of their Offices, and passing their Accounts: And that Mr. Harley do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

The King's Speech considered.

The House, according to Order, proceeded to take into Consideration his Majesty's most gracious Speech:

And the same was again read.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Friday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of his Majesty's Speech.

Ordered, That his Majesty's Speech be referred to the Consideration of the said Committee.

Forces in England.

Ordered, That the Earl of Ranelagh do lay before this House an Account of all the Forces now in England; and of what Forces are in English Pay.

Forces in Ireland.

Ordered, That the Lord Coningsby do lay before this House an Account of all the Forces in Ireland.

And then the House adjourned till Friday Morning, Eight a Clock.