House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 20 February 1699

Journal of the House of Commons: Volume 12, 1697-1699. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1803.

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'House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 20 February 1699', in Journal of the House of Commons: Volume 12, 1697-1699, (London, 1803) pp. 518-519. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/commons-jrnl/vol12/pp518-519 [accessed 24 March 2024]

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In this section

Lunœ, 20 die Februarii;

11° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Young's Estate.

A BILL to enable John Young Gentleman to sell Lands for Payment of Debts and Legacies, was, according to Order, read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Trenchard, Sir Richard Farrington, Mr. Molyneux, Mr. Battiscomb, Mr. Carter, Mr. Thornhagh, Mr. Hayes, Mr. York, Sir Wm. York, Mr. Miller, Mr. Mason, Lord Cornbury, Mr. Clayton, Sir Rowland Gwynn, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. England, Mr. Osborne, Sir Robert Eden, Mr. Hughes, Sir John Rogers, and all the Members that serve for the Counties of Dorset and Devon: And they are to meet at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers.

Abuses in King's Bench and Fleet Prisons.

A Petition of Thomas Hammersley, and Henry Caldecott, Citizens, and Linen-drapers, of London, which was presented to the House upon Friday last, was read; setting forth, That Gerrard Lodowick being indebted to the Petitioners, and others, for whom the Petitioners are Trustees, in about 2,000 l. they caused him to be arrested; who turned himself over to the Fleet; but the Warden of the Fleet letting him have his Liberty, he will not pay his Creditors; which, they believe, he would do, if he were kept a close Prisoner, as by Law he ought; the Petitioners having obtained Two Judgments against the said Lodowick, for 412 l.: And praying, That the Warden of the Fleet may keep the said Lodowick a close Prisoner; or that the Warden may be obliged to make the Petitioners Satisfaction for their said Debts.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of John Goodall is referred; and who are to inquire into the ill Practices and Abuses of the Prisons of the Fleet and King's-Bench: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Exporting Wool.

A Petition of several of the Traders, Dealers, and others concerned in the Woollen Manufacture, of the City of Coventry, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there being a Bill presented, or intended to be presented, to the House, to prevent the Exportation of Wool by an Inspection and Register of Sheep and Wool round the Coasts of England, the Petioners are of Opinion, the same will be effectual for the Ends intended: And praying, That a Bill may pass for that Purpose.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, who are to consider which way to prevent the Exportation of Wool from England and Ireland to foreign Parts; and to consider of the properest Ways to encourage the Woollen Manufactures of this Kingdom.

Billingsgate Fish-Market.

Ordered, That the Lord Wm. Powlet, and Mr. Thornhagh, be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill for making Billingsgate a free Market, for Sale of Fish, is committed.

Ledgingham's newinvented Fire-Engine.

The Lord Cornbury reported from the Committee, to whom the Petition of Robert Ledgingham is referred, for the Encouragement of the Petitioner's Invention of Pumps, That they had heard the Members of Trinityhouse, touching the same; and that they had conceived it necessary, That an Experiment should be made of the Petitioner's Pumps, in order to their better Proceeding; and that they had directed him to move the House, That the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty may appoint a Ship for that Purpose, and that the Petitioner may have a convenient Number of Seamen to help him therein.

Ordered, That the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty do appoint One of his Majesty's Ships, together with a convenient Number of Seamen, for the Purpose aforesaid.

Encouraging the Fishery.

A Petition of the Company of the Royal Fishery of England was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the best Nursery for breeding able and hardy Seamen, is the Fishing Trade; and all Nations and States are stronger and weaker at Sea, as the Fishery is more or less encouraged: That King Charles the IId, by his Letters Patents of the 25th of September, 29th of his Reign, constituted the said Company, with several Privileges, for their Encouragement; who have been since at great Expence to regain the said Trade; and, about Two Years since, opened Books for Subscriptions, to 300,000 l. Value, for a Stock; and a considerable Sum was subscribed; but most of the Subscribers are unwilling to perform their Subscriptions, unless established by Parliament, with further necessary Privileges for carrying on the said Trade; which will effectually turn the Balance of Trade to the Advantage of England, which otherwise will be taken from us by Ireland: And praying the Consideration of the House, for regaining the Fishing Trade, so as this Kingdom may enjoy the Benefit thereof.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the Encouragement of the Royal Fishery of England: And that Sir Rowland Gwyn, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Scobell, and Mr. Moor, do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Irish Arrears.

A Petition of the Non-commission Officers, and private Horsemen, of Colonel Theodore Russell's Regiment, who are unpaid their Arrears, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That their said Colonel hath a great deal more Money in his Hands, than belongs to him; yet he refuses to pay the Petitioners, or make up their Accounts; though he has fully paid the CommissionOfficers, and such Soldiers as were wholly discharged the Service, upon breaking the said Regiment, in 1690; but the Petitioners being about 140, and disposed into other Regiments, could never get their Accounts made up: And praying such Relief therein, as the House shall think meet.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Soldiers of Colonel Coot's Regiment is referred: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

King appoints to be attended.

Mr. Secretary Vernon acquainted the House, That his Majesty had been pleased to appoint to be attended by this House To-morrow at Four a Clock in the Afternoon, at Kensington.

Elections— preventing Irregularity in Returns.

Ordered, That the Bill for preventing irregular Proceedings of Sheriffs, and other Officers, in making the Returns of Members to serve in Parliament, be read a Second time To-morrow Morning.

Members summoned.

Ordered, That the Serjeant do go with the Mace into Westminster-hall, and summon the Members there to attend the Service of the House.

And he went accordingly.

And, being returned;

Darwent Navigation.

A Bill for making the River Darwent, in the County of Derby, navigable, was, according to Order, read a Second time.

And a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Bill be committed;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

Tellers for the Yeas, Mr. Ash,
Mr. Molyneux:
140.
Tellers for the Noes, Mr. Heveningham,
Mr. Carter:
161.

So it passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That the Bill be rejected.

Newfoundland Trade.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for encouraging the Trade to Newfoundland: And that Sir Edward Seymour, Mr. Gwyn, and Mr. Scobell, do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Officers sitting in the House.

Sir Richard Onslow, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to restrain the Number of Officers sitting in the House of Commons: And the same was received; and read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time, upon Friday next, after Twelve a Clock.

Call of the House.

Ordered, That the House be called upon this Day Sevennight: And that such Members of this House as shall not then attend be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House.

Papists Protestant Heirs.

Ordered, That the Bill to prevent Settlements made by Papists, for disinheriting their Protestant Heirs, be read a Second time upon Friday Morning next.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Robert Legard and Mr. Meredith:

Mr. Speaker,

Yarmouth Harbour.

The Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act for the clearing, repairing, preserving, and maintaining, the Haven and Piers of Great Yarmouth, in the County of Norfolk, without any Amendment. Also,

St. Piere's Nat.

The Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act to naturalize James St. Piere, with some Amendments: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House Also,

Ships Margaret and Friendship.

They have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act for the Ships Margaret and Friendship of Bristoll, to trade as free Ships, without any Amendment: Also,

Sibourg's, &c. Nat.

They have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act to naturalize Charles de Sibourg and Francis St. George, without any Amendment.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Privilege of a Member in a Suit.

Mr. Boulter attending, in his Place, according to Order;

The Petition of the Earl of Radnor was again read:

And Mr. Boulter was heard thereunto.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections, to examine the Matter of Fact; and report the same to the House.

A Member expelled for accepting a Place.

The House, according to Order, proceeded to take into Consideration the Report from the Committee, to whom it was referred to examine the Lists of the Receivers, and Names of the Commissioners of the Treasury, Customs, and Excise, at the Time of the making the Act, made in the 5th and 6th Years of his Majesty's Reign, for granting to his Majesty certain Rates upon Salt, and upon Beer, Ale, and other Liquors; and of the present Commissioners:

And Mr. Woolaston, attending in his Place, was heard.

And then withdrew.

And a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That Richard Woolaston Esquire, being a Member of the House of Commons, and having since been concerned, and acted, as a Receiver of the Duties upon Houses, as also upon Births, Marriages, and Burials, contrary to the Act, made in the 5th and 6th Years of his Majesty's Reign, for granting several Duties upon Salt, Beer, Ale, and other Liquors, be expelled this House;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

Tellers for the Yeas, Mr. Tredenham,
Mr. Foley:
184.
Tellers for the Noes, Mr. Ireton,
Mr. Chace:
133.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Whitchurch Writ.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for the electing a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Whitchurch, in the County of Southampton, in the room of Richard Woollaston Esquire, expelled this House.

State of the Navy.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Friday 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 revived.

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