House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 30 March 1699

Jovis, 30 die Martii;

Undecimo Gulielmi 3tii.

Prayers.

Posthumous Children to inherit.

THE Lord Cornbury reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill to enable posthumous Children to inherit their Father's Estate was committed, That they had examined and considered the same; and had directed him to report the same to the House, without any Amendment; and he delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: And an Amendment was made by the House to the Bill.

Ordered, That the Bill be ingrossed.

Suppressing Lotteries.

A Petition of Philip Howard Esquire was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That he is highly concerned in the Bill depending, relating to the Royal Oak Lottery: And praying to be heard before the said Bill do pass.

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

Byde's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Thomas Byde Esquire, an Infant, with the Consent of his Guardians and next Relations, to make a Contract for the buying-in his Mother's Jointure: and to sell a small Estate in Great Amwell, in the County of Hertford; and likewise for the securing and raising a Portion for Barbara Byde, Sister of the said Thomas Byde; and for other Purposes in the said Act mentioned; was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Leave of Absence.

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

Transport Service.

Mr. Duncomb, from the Commissioners of Transports, according to Order, presented to the House an Account of Money paid on Account of Transport-Service; and an Account of what remains unpaid; and of Cash that is now in the Transport-Office.

And the Title thereof was read:

And the said Account is as followeth; viz.

ACCOUNT of MONEY paid on Account of Transport-Service; and an Account of what remains unpaid; and of Cash that is now in the Transport-Office.

ACCOUNT of Cash in the Office.

Memorandum: The above Tallies and Malt-Tickets are to pay Freight that is due to several Ships, that carried Provisions to Newfoundland, in the Year 1697; which Ships going thence on foreign Voyages, the Papers by which their Accounts must be made up are not yet come to hand.

The 1,897 l;. 15s. 7d. in Money, is to pay Tradesmen for Provisions furnished for the Dutch Forces, lately failed to Holland; and to pay the last Half-Freight to the Ships that carried them, upon Return of their Certificates that they are landed.

March the 29th, 1699.

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

Abuses in King's Bench and Fleet Prisons.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom it was referred to inquire into the ill Practies and Abuses of the Prisons of the King's Bench and Fleet, be made upon Monday Morning next.

Duty on Irish Linen.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to take off the Duty of Irish Linen, to be imported into England: And that the Lord Coningsby do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Hough's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill for the Sale of the Estate of Zenobia Hough, for the Payment of the Debts of her Husband, and other Uses, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for the Sale of the Estate of Zenobia Hough, for the Payment of the Debts of her Husband, and other Uses.

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

Conway's Estates.

Mr. Sloan, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to enable Popham Conway Esquire, and his Two younger Brothers, to make Leases of their Estates; and the same was received; and read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Colonel Probert have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Ordered, That Sir Charles Lloyd have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions,

Penalties on pretence of Embezzlement of Prizes.

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, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Edward Seymour have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Petition from Portsmouth Garrison.

Major-General Erle being in the House, the Petition of the Gunners of the Garison of Portsmouth, which was presented to the House on Monday last, was read; setting forth * * * *

Of which Major-General Erle gave the House an Account.

Resolved, That the said Petition be rejected.

Copper Coinage.

Ordered, That Mr. Yates, Mr. Mountague, Mr. Foley, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Thornhagh, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Hoar; and all the Members for the Counties of Berks, Bucks, and Cornwall; be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill to prevent the Coining of Farthings and Halfpence was committed.

Capture of Ship St. Elizabeth.

A Petition of Sirquis de Mirza, and others, Armenian Merchants, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners, having made a Trading Voyage to Napoli de Romania, and designing homeward, for Turkey, did, in October 1690, embark themselves, as Passengers, on board a Vessel called St. Elizabeth, bound for Constantinople, wherein they had the Sum of 7,250 ..... of Eight, in Silver, besides Rings, Jewels Cloaths, and Arms, to above 300 l. besides their Books of Accounts: That in the said Voyage, Captain Lambert, Commander of the Ship called Newcastle, did take the said Ship St. Elizabeth, and barbarously stripped the Petitioners of Money and Goods, contrary to the Laws of the Nation: And praying, That the said Captain Lambert may make Restitution of what he hath unjustly taken from them.

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 to the House:

. . . . . . . . . Mr. Thursby, Mr. Moor, Mr. Newport, Mr.Cowper, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Sir Richard Farrington, Sir Rowl. Gwyn, Sir Charles Hedges, Mr. Dyot, Lord Conningsby, Sir James Hoblon, Mr. St. John, Mr. Heysham, Sir Barth. Shower, Sir Jo. Cope, Mr. Scobell, Mr. Clayton, Dr. Davenant, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Tredenham, Sir Chr. Musgrove, Mr. Freeke, Mr. Lowther, Sir Richard Cocks, Sir John Bolls, Sir John Wolstenholme, Sir Richard Onslow, Mr. Onslow, Lord Pawlett: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Suppressing Lotteries.

A Petition of the Justices of the Peace, and the Grand Jury, of the County of Middlesex, assembled at the General Sessions of the Peace, held for the said County the 27th of February 1698, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That several evil-disposed Persons have, for many Years, for their own private Lucre and Advantage, set up divers Lotteries, whereby they fraudulently get great Sums of Money from unwary Persons, to the Ruin of themselves and Families: And pray some Order may be made for Suppressing the said Lotteries.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the Bill for suppressing the Royal Oak Lottery, and all other Lotteries, be read.

The Bill was read the First time.

Ditto.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time, Tomorrow Morning.

Elections qualifying Votes.

Ordered, That the Bill for regulating the Method of Qualifying of Votes in Cities, Boroughs, and CinquePorts, for electing Members to serve in Parliament, be read upon Monday Morning next.

New Business not to be received.

Resolved, That this House will not receive any more new Business, but what is now depending, during this Session.

Duties on Salt.

Ordered, That the 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; be read To-morrow at Twelve a Clock.

Supply.

The House, according to Order, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Supply 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 several Resolutions; which they had directed him to report, when the House will please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the said Report be made To-morrow Morning.

Mr. Cowper also acquainted the House, That he was directed by the said Committee to move, That a List of the General Officers of the Army, who are his Majesty's . . . . born Subjects; and of their Pay, according to the Establishment; may be laid before the House.

Ordered, That the Secretary at War do lay before this House a List of the General Officers of the Army, who are of his Majesty's natural-born Subjects; and of their Pay, according to the Establishment.

Half-pay Officers

Ordered, That the Earl of Ranelagh do lay before this House a List of the Officers of the Army, who are to have Half-Pay; and what their Half-Pay is to be.

Supply Bill; Land Tax.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, after the Report of the Resolutions from the Committee of the whole House, who are to consider of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for granting to his Majesty the Sum of One Million Four hundred eighty-four thousand and Fifteen Pounds One Shilling Eleven-pence Three Farthings, for disbanding the Army, providing for the Navy, and for other necessary Occasions.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

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