House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 9 February 1699

Jovis, 9 die Februarii;

10° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Darwent Navigation.

A PETITION of the Gentlemen, Tradesmen, and others, inhabiting in and near the Town of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the making the River Darwent navigable, within the County of Derby, will be of great Advantage not only to the Petitioners, but the Generality of the Counties of Stafford and Warwick, by the easy Conveyance of their ponderous Commodities, which they send yearly to London: And praying, That the Bill, depending in the House, for making the said River navigable, may pass into a Law.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the Bill for making the said River navigable be read a Second time.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Mayor, Aldermen, Bailiffs, Burgesses, and other Inhabitants of the Town of Northampton, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Bill, depending in the House for making the River Darwent, in the County of Derby, navigable, if it should pass, will greatly prejudice the Petitioners; who are supplied, by Land-carriage, with Coals, Cheese, and Butter, &c.; but then the same will be carried into other Parts, by Water; whereby the Prices will be raised at Northampton: And praying, That they may be heard against the said Bill.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the said Bill be read a Second time.

Young's Estate.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to enable John Young Gentleman to sell Lands, for Payment of Debts and Legacies: And that Mr. Trenchard do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Sibourg's Nat.

An ingrossed Bill to naturalize Charles de Sibourg was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act to naturalize Charles de Sibourg and Francis St. George.

Ordered, That Mr. Cook do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

St. Piere's Nat.

An ingrossed Bill to naturalize James St. Piere was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act to naturalize James St. Piere.

Ordered, That Mr. Carter do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Aliens Children to inherit.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to enable his Majesty's natural-born Subjects to inherit the Estate of their Ancestors, either lineal or collateral, notwithstanding their Father and Mother were Aliens: And that Sir Edward Hussey and Mr. Thursby do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Suppressing Vice and Immorality.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Bill for the more effectual Suppressing of Vice and Immorality.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Sir John Philips took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Haslemere Election.

Sir Rowland Gwyn reported, from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, the Matter, as it appeared to the said Committee, touching the Election for the Borough of Haslemere, in the County of Surry, 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.

Upon the Petition of George Rodney Bridges Esquire, complaining of an undue Return of Sir Theophilus Oglethorp Knight, to serve for the Borough of Haslemere

That, upon the Poll, there was,

But the Petitioner's Counsel insisted, That several Persons were polled for Sir Theophilus that had no Right; and that several of his Votes were procured by Gifts and Promises.

That the Right of Election was agreed to be in the Freeholders resient within the Borough.

That as to the Persons that had no Right to poll, they called,

William Captaine, Robert Billinghurst: Who said, That Edmund Upton had no Freehold in the Borough but in Right of his Wite: But that he had voted in former Elections.

John Tanner said, That William Jackson had only a small Piece of Garden, of Two or Three Rod: But he said, The Garden had been divided Nine or Ten Years; and Jackson had voted before.

Robert Billinghurst said, That John Carter senior, and John Carter junior, had but 20s. a Year between them; and Carter junior's Part was but Two or Three Yards over in the inside, not worth above 2 or 3s. a Year: But both Carters had voted, at a former Election, for Mr. Bridges and Mr. Woodroffe.

Mr. Tanner, Mr. Markes, said; That Richard Valler senior, has a Garden, called a Cabbage-garden, about Three or Four Rod of Ground; out of which he made his Sons, Richard and Thomas, Freeholders, about 20 Years ago: And that the Father and Richard polled at the last Election.

William Morley said, That Edward Ryde and Matth. Hull bought the House wherein he, the said Morley, lived, and had several Interests: That he could not say when they bought the House; but they took Possession the Day the Writ was proclaimed.

Wm. Markes said, That Ryde and Hull's House was drawn within the Bounds of the Borough, by Gresham, and Sir William Moore; which Sir William Moor died about a Dozen or Fourteen Years ago:

That he also testified, That Robert Ryde had only Part of a Field within the Borough; and was not a settled Housekeeper within the Borough; But did acknowledge, That Robert Ryde rented a Shop within the Borough.

Wm. Captaine said, William Ryde did agree with him for the Tythes of the Fields supposed to be in Robert Ryde's Possession.

That as to the Gifts and Promises; they called,

Eliz. Downes: Who said, That, she going by Carter the Elder's Door, before the Election, she saw Sir Theoph. Oglethorp discoursing with Carter's Wife, in the House; and Sir Theop. desired her Husband's Vote: Whereupon she answering, She should anger her Friends; Sir Theophilus replied, Mother, never fear; you shall never want.

That it was opened by the Counsel, That Sir Theophil. had paid 122 l. 18s. 3d. upon a Decree in Chancery, wherein Ryde, and Baxter, and Valor, were Plaintiffs, to procure Votes; but the same was not made out.

That then the Petitioner's Counsel called.

Eliz. Tudman: Who said, Sir Theophilus, last Godlyman Fair, gave her and Goodman Shud's Daughter, each of them a Straw-hat; and said, He hoped they would be his Friends, and their Fathers gave him their Votes: and Sir Theophilus then told her a great many had promised him their Votes:

That her Father voted for the Petitioner; and Shud's Father voted for Sir Theophilus.

Thomas Tudman said, That he and his Brother divided a Cow between them, which his Brother had of Sir Theophilus; and that Sir Theophilus was to have Beef for it again: That he sent Sir Theophilus Six Stone of Beef, and his Brother had the rest; but what he did with it, he did not know.

That the Counsel for Sir Theophilus Oglethorp said, They were ready to have made their Defence; but did not suppose the Evidence given for the Petitioner required any Answer.

Whereupon the Committee came to these Resolutions:

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That Sir Theophilus Oglethorp Knight is duly elected a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Haslemere, in the County of Surry.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Petition of George Rodney Bridges Esquire, against Sir Theophilus Oglethorp, is frivolous and vexatious.

The First Resolution being read a Second time;

And the Question being put, That the House do agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, That Sir Theophilus Oglethorp Knight is duly elected a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Haslemere, in the County of Surry;

Resolved, thatt the House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution.

The Second Resolution being read a Second time;

And the Question being put, That the House do agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, That the Petition of George Rodney Bridges Esquire, against Sir Theophilus Oglethorp, is frivolous and vexatious;

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Ludgershall Election.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, touching the Election for the Borough of Ludgershall in the County of Wilts, be made To-morrow Morning.

A person to attend.

The House being informed, That Captain Price attended, according to Order;

Ordered, That the said Captain Price do attend the Committee of the whole House, who are to consider further . . . the State of the Navy: And that the Examination of him be referred to the said Committee.

State of the Navy.

Then the House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into the said Committee of the whole House.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Boyle took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Boyle reported from the said Committee, That they had made a further 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 State of the Navy.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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