House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 21 March 1699

Martis, 21 die Martii;

Undecimo Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

MARY Anthony Terson and Samuel Masse took the Oaths appointed, in order to their Naturalization.

Browne's Nat.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to naturalize Captain Thomas Browne, was read the Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir Beville Granville, Mr. Clerke, Lord Cornbury, Mr. Worsly, Mr. Trelawny, Sir Godfrey Coply, Mr. Henly, Sir Fran. Windham, Sir Ja. Oxenden, Mr. Moor, Mr. Hervy, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Bernardiston, Mr. Hoar, Mr. Mounstevens, Mr. England, Mr. Philips, Mr. Stringer, Captain Dyot, Colonel Morgan, Major Holmes, Mr. Blofeild, Sir Jacob Astley: And they are to meet To-morrow Morning at Eight a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Worsley have Leave to go into the ountry, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Duty on Leather.

A Petition of the Tanners, Curriers, Shoemakers, Skinners, Glovers, Dressers, and other Dealers in Leather, resorting to the Market holden at the Town of Wakefeild, in the West Riding of the County of York, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, by reason of the great Duties imposed upon Leather, and the Penalties the Petitioners are liable unto, the harsh Dealings of the Officers, and Inconvenience and Expence of carrying their Wares so many Miles to be charged, they are forced to implore the Consideration of the House in the Premises: And praying the said Act may be repealed, or some other Method found out for the vending their Commodities with less Inconvenience; which may be a means to increase their Trade, which, since the Making of the said Act, hath very much decayed.

Ordered, That the Petition do lie upon the Table.

Prosecutions on Highway Act.

A Petition of the Carriers and Waggoners travelling several Roads of this Kingdom, in behalf of themselves, and others, was presented to the House; and read; seting forth, That, upon a Petition formerly presented to this House against John Littlehales and others, pretended Deputy-Surveyors, and Informers of Abuses committed on his Majesty's Road, for extorting several Sums of Money from his Majesty's Subjects, to permit and tolerate them to drive with as many Horses as they thought fit, the House was pleased to pass an Act for the better amending and repairing the Highways, and Explanation of the Laws relating thereunto; whereby it was enacted, That all Carriers and Waggoners should be obliged to draw with double Shafts, and a Pole between their Wheel-Horses; which, by Experience, hath been found impossible to be done: Notwithstanding which, the said John Littlehale and others, since the Passing of the said Act have prosecuted the Petitioners more intolerably than before, by seizing their Horses, and forcing them to leave their Waggons in open Fields and Roads, or by payting them such Money as they do most unreasonably demand: And praying some further Law may be made in the Premises; or that their Grievances may be otherwise redressed.

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

And it is referred to Mr. George, Mr. Gerrard, Mr. Pye, Sir Will. Cook, Sir Richard Farrington, Sir Jacob Ashly, Mr. Morgan, Lord Cornbury, Mr. Harvey, Sir Cha. Windham, Sir Abstr. Danby, Mr. Cox, Sir Robert Edon, Sir Thomas Davall, Sir Henry Parker, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Moor, Mr. Perry, Mr. Blaak, Mr. Shackerly, Mr. Yates, Mr. England; and all that serve for the Counties of Somerset, Decon, Cornwall, and Hereford: And they are to meet To-morrow Morning at Eight a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Posthumous Children to inherit.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill, That a posthumous Son may inherit his Father's Estate: And that the Lord Cornbury and Sir James Oxenden do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Mr. Smalwood to preach on Fast-Day.

Ordered, That Mr. Smalwood be desired to preach before this House, at St. Margaret's, Westminster, upon the First-Day appointed by his Majesty's Royal Proclamation: And that Mr. Gerrard and Mr. Mountague do acquaint him therewith.

Prohibition of foreign Bone-lace.

A Petition of the Mayor, Capital Burgesses, Freemen, and other Dealers in, and Makers of, Bone-lace, inhabiting in the Town of Lyme-Regis, and Parts adjacent in behalf of themselves, and many others, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners have found great Benefit by the Act for Prohibiting of foreign Bone-lace; and are informed, That a Petition is presented to this House, to consider whether it may be convenient to repeal the said Act; which, if done, would ruin the Petitioners: And praying to be heard before the said Act is repealed.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Gentlemen, Clothiers, Clothworkers, Traders in the Woollen Manufactures, and other the Inhabitants, of the Town of Ratchdale, in the County Palatine of Lancaster, is referred.

Ditto.

A Petition of several Bone-lace-makers in and about the City of Chester was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petition, depending in this Honourable House, of the Inhabitants of the Town of Ratchdale, in the County of Lancaster, prays a Repeal of the Act for prohibiting the Importation of foreign Bone-lace into this Kingdom: And praying the Consideration of the House in the Premises; and that they would do nothing therein to the Prejudice of the Petitioners.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Gentlemen, Clothiers, Clothworkers, Traders in the Woollen Manufactures, and other the Inhabitants, of the Town of Ratchdale, in the County Palatine of Lancaster, is referred.

Transport Debt.

A Petition of the Master, Wardens, Assistants, and Commonalty, of the Company of Merchants Adventurers in Bristoll, in behalf of themselves, and others, Owners of Ships hired for the Reducing of Ireland, and other Transport-Service, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners, with several others, did, at the Beginning of the War, lett to Freight, to the Commissioners of Transports, for his Majesty's Service, divers Ships, to be employed in reducing the Kingdom of Ireland; for the Hire whereof they have waited several Years: And praying Relief in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, who are to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty.

Ditto.

A Petition of several Merchants in London, for themselves, and others, of the Town of Biddiford, concerned in the Transport Debt of 1693, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners did lett to Freight their several Ships for his Majesty's Service; and, by Contract, were to be paid within a Month after their Discharge, and, in case of Non-payment, to have Interest: That they remain yet unpaid, to their very great Prejudice: And praying Relief in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, who are to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty.

Leave of Absence.

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

Aliens Children to inherit.

Ordered, That a Message be sent to the Lords to put them in mind of the Bill to enable his Majesty's naturalborn Subjects to inherit the Estate of their Ancestors, lineal or collateral, notwithstanding their Fathers or Mothers were Aliens.

Ordered, That Sir Edward Hussey do carry the said Message.

Imprisonment of Counter, &c.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to continue in Prison * Counter, John Bernardi, Robert Cassells, Robert Meldrum, James Chambers, and Robert Blackburn, who were concerned in the late horrid Conspiracy to assassinate his Majesty: And that Mr. Solicitor and Mr. Cowper do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

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 upon Friday next, at Four a Clock in the Afternoon, at Kensington.

Node's Estate.

Mr. Freeman, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to enable Richard Nodes to sell Lands and Tenements, in the County of Hertford, to make Provision for his Wife and Children, and for Payment of his Debts: And the same was received; and read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Defective Titles.

Ordered, That a Message be sent to the Lords, to put them in mind of the Bill, intituled, An Act for the general Quiet of the Subject, against all Pretences of Concealments, Encroachments, or other defective Titles.

Ordered, That Sir Richard Cocks do carry the said Message.

Methold's Estate.

Mr. Hoar reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for vesting Part of the Estate of Thomas Methold Esquire in Trustees, for raising the Sum of 1,200 l. expended in the Improvement of the said Estate, was committed, That they had examined and considered the same, and had made some Amendments thereunto; 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 ingrossed.

Claims for Prizes.

Ordered, That Mr. Osborne, Sir Richard Cocks, Mr. Philips, Colonel Kirkby, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Rogers, Sir Edward Hungerford, be added to the Committee, to whom the Petition of John Reily, John Stanton, and James Rogers, is referred.

Qualifying Justices of Peace, &c.

Mr. Topham, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for qualifying Justices of the Peace, and Deputy-Lieutenants: And the same was received; and read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Suppressing Lotteries.

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Bill to suppress the Royal Oak Lottery, and other Lotteries, be now read a Second time;

It passed in the Negative.

Billingsgate Fish Market.

An ingrossed Bill for making Billingsgate a free Market for Sale of Fish was read the Third time.

And an Amendment was proposed to be made, Pr. 2, L. * after "except," to insert "nevertheless, that none but Fishmongers shall be permitted to sell:"

And the same was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House; and the Bill amended at the Table accordingly.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for making Billingsgate a free Market for Sale of Fish.

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

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Robert Legard and Sir Richard Holford:

Mr. Speaker,

Elections— Preventing Irregularity in Returns.

The Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act for preventing the irregular Proceedings of Sheriffs, and other Officers, in making the Returns of Members chosen to serve in Parliament, without any Amendments: And also,

Burnet's Nat.

To the Bill, intituled, An Act to naturalize George Burnet, without any Amendments: And also,

Lower's, &c. Nat.

To the Bill, intituled, An Act to naturalize Wm. Lower, William Darnell, and Peter Godby, without any Amendments.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Supply Bill; Land Tax.

Ordered, That the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for granting to his Majesty the Sum of One million Four hundred eighty-four thousand and Fifteen Pounds One Shilling and Eleven-pence Three Farthings, for disbanding the Army, providing for the Navy, and for other necessary Occasions, . . . . . . . have Power to receive a Clause of Appropriation of the Money given this Year for Sea and Land Service, and also of the Money and Effects in the Hands of the Treasurer of the Navy, to such-Uses as they shall direct.

Penalties on Embezzlement of Prizes.

Colonel Churchill, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to indemnify the Captains of his Majesty's Ships from such Penalties and Disabilities as have been inflicted upon them, upon Pretence of Embezzlements of Goods, taken as Prizes: And the same was received.

Poor Laws.

Mr. Hammond, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for the better providing for the Poor; and setting them on Work: And the same was received.

Ordered, That the Bill be read upon Thursday Morning.

Ayre and Calder Navigation.

An ingrossed Bill for making navigable the Rivers Ayre and Calder, in the County of York, at the Charge of such Persons as will undertake the same, was read the Third time.

An ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider, That nothing in the said Bill should abridge, or prejudice, the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses, of Pontefract, for the Time being, and their Successors, in demanding or receiving an ancient Toll of 4 d. for every Vessel having a Cock-boat, and passing upon any Part of the River Aire between Temple-Hurst and Knottingley-Mills; and a Toll of 2d. for every other Vessel or Boat, not having a Cock-Boat, passing between the said Places:

And the same was thrice read; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House to be made Part of the Bill.

Another ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider, That no Boat or Barge belonging to the Town of Knottingley, or any other Town or Place on the Banks of the River Aire, between the said Town and the Place where the Aire falls into the River Ouze, laden with Lime only, shall be liable to any Duty for passing through:

And the same was thrice read; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House to be made Part of the Bill.

Another ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider, That the First General Meeting of the Commissioners appointed to put this Act in Execution shall be at the Town of Pontefract, in the said County of York:

And the same was thrice read; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House to be made Part of the Bill.

Auother Amendment was proposed to be made, Pr. * L * by inserting Sir John Bolls Baronet, a Commissioner:

And the same was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House; and the Bill amended at the Table accordingly.

Ordered, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for making and keeping navigable the Rivers Ayre and Calder, in the County of York.

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

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. How have Leave to go into the Country, for Recovery of his Health.

Duties on Salt.

Mr. Clerk, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for the better ascertaining and collecting the Duties on Salt; and preventing the ill practices used to defraud the King of the said Duties: And the same was received.

Resolved, That the Bill be read To-morrow Morning.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Stockdale have Leave to go into the Country, his Family being ill.

Supply.

The House, according to Order, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Cowper took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Cowper reported from the said Committee, That they had come to a Resolution; which they had directed him to report, when the House will please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the Report be made upon Thursday Morning next.

Mr. Cowper also reported from the said Committee, That they had directed him to move, That they may have Leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Thursday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty.

Apprehending Felons.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Bill for the better Apprehending, Prosecuting, and Punishing, of Felons that commit Burglary or Housebreaking, or Robbery in Shops and Warehouses, be made To-morrow Morning.

Committees.

A Motion being made, and the Question being put That all Committees be revived;

It passed in the Negative.

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