House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 5 February 1695

Martis, 5 die Februarii;

Sexto Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

JOHN Reinhold Brandt, and John Warneke, took the Oaths appointed, in order to their Naturalization.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Bridges have Leave to go into the Country for a Fortnight only, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Roberts have Leave to go into the Country, for a Week only, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Christ-Church Minister's Maintenance.

Sir Richard Onslow, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for enabling the Inhabitants of the Parish of Christ-Church, in the County of Surrey, to make Rates for Raising a Maintenance for a good and able Minister; and for impowering the Trustees of Mr. Marshall's Will to employ Monies for erecting a Steeple to the said Church, and furnishing the same with Bells: And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Bishop's Castle Writ.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for electing a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Bishops-Castle, in the County of Salop, in the room of William Oakley Esquire, deceased.

Suppression of Cursing and Swearing.

Mr. Bowyer, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for the more effectual suppressing prosane Swearing and Cursing: And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Importing Portugal Wines.

Mr. Papillon, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for the importing Wines, and other Goods, from Spaine, Portugal, and Italy, of the Growth of those Countries, in English and English-built Ships, manned with Seamen of those Countries: And the same was received.

Ordered, That the Bill be read the First time upon Friday Morning next.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Gott have Leave to go into the Country, for a Week only, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Tonage Duties.

A Petition of the Inhabitants of the Isle of Wight was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, under Colour of some Words in a late Act, for granting several Duties upon the Tonage of Ships and Vessels, the Officers of the Customs do compel the Masters of the Passage-Boats, and Hoys, of the said Island, to pay Sixpence per Ton for the full Burden of their Vessels, for the smallest Parcels of Goods brought from London, or other Parts, by Waggons, or otherwise, to Southampton, Portsmouth, or other Parts of the County, for the said Island, which is in the same Port; and so likewise for Commodities the Product of the said Island, which are conveyed for Markets to Southampton and Portsmouth: Which is very grievous to the Inhabitants of the said Island; and as they conceive, contrary to the Meaning of the said Act: And praying Relief in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Examination and Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee appointed to consider of the said Act, as it relates to the Isle of Wight, and Town and County of Southampton, and Town of Portsmouth, and to all the Coasting-Trade; and of the Doubts and Complaints . . . . . thereunto.

And that Mr. Colt, Mr. Moreland, Mr. Morgan, Sir Wm. Stevens, Mr. Mansell, Colonel Tempest, Mr. Fenwick, Mr. Arnold, Sir Tho. Vernon, Sir Matth. Andrews, Mr. Kenyon, Mr. Stonehouse, Mr. Mawdit, Sir John Knight, Mr. Lutterell, Mr. Cook, Mr. Bale, be added to the said Committee.

Tonage Duties.

A Petition of the Watermen, Boatmen, and Bargemen, and other Inhabitants, who belong to the River Wye, in the Counties of Monmouth and Gloucester, that only trade between the City of Bristoll and Town of Monmouth, on behalf of themselves, and several others, was also presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners have, as they conceive, been very much injured by the Officers of the Customs, by reason of the doubtful Construction of a late Act for laying several Duties upon Tonage of Ships and Vessels; for that they compel the Petitioners to pay the full Tonage of their small Market-Boats, and Troughs, in which the Petitioners use to carry sometimes Corn, Fagots, empty Casks, and sometimes but a Ton or Two of Commodities; when, perhaps, the Boat may contain 10 or 20 Tons: By which strict Usage, the Petitioners are almost ruined; and the Trade of the Town of Monmouth, and other Villages bordering on the River Wye, very much damnified: And praying the Consideration of the House, and Relief in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Examination and Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee appointed to consider of the said Act, as it relates to the Isle of Wight, and Town and County of Southampton, and Town of Portsmouth; and to all the Coasting Trade; and of the Doubts and Complaints relating thereunto.

Preventing Export of Wool, &c.

A Petition of the President and Governors of Christ's Hospital, London, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there is a Bill depending in this House, for the better preventing the Exportation of Wool, by altering the Penalty; and for the Preservation of the public Market at Blackwell-hall; and for the Relief of the Workmen employed in the Woollen Manufactures, in Payment of their Wages: Which Bill, if it should pass, the Petitioners conceive, will be very prejudicial both to the said Hospital, and St. Bartholomew's Hospital: And praying to be heard as to such Part of the said Bill as concerns the Petitioners.

Ordered, That the Examination and Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the said Bill is committed.

Kerridge's Estate.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir John Hoskins and Mr. Meredeth:

Mr. Speaker,

The Lords have passed a Bill, intituled, An Act to enable Thomas Kerridge Esquire, a Minor, to purchase divers Manors, Lands, and Tenements, that lie adjacent to his Estate in the County of Suffolke: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Tryals in Lancashire, &c.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, proceeded in the further Examination and Consideration of the late Proceedings and Tryals in Lancashire and Cheshire:

And Mr. Thomas Mosse, Mr. James Green, Mr. John Goulding, Mr. Gilbert Lancaster, Mr. Tho. Ridley, and Captain Croke, attending according to Order, were severally called in; and examined.

And then withdrew.

Ordered, That John Faireclough, Porter at the Castle Inn in Wood-street, to attend this House immediately.

Oliver Peirson, attending, was called in; and examined.

And then withdrew.

Edward Brown, attending according to Order, was called in; and examined.

And then withdrew.

Miles Law, attending, was called in; and examined.

And then withdrew.

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That Mr. Standish, of Standish-hall, in the County of Lancaster, be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Ordered, That the said Oliver Peirson do attend the Lord Chief Justice of the King's-Bench, in order to his being examined upon Oath.

The said John Fairclough, attending according to Order, was called in; and examined.

And then withdrew.

Resolved, That this House will now proceed in the reading the Informations and Papers delivered into the House by Mr. Aaron Smith.

And Part of the Information of Mr. Lunt was read.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, proceed in the reading the said Informations and Papers.

Elections—incapacitating Persons refusing Oaths.

Ordered, That the Bill to disable all Persons from voting in Elections of Members to serve in Parliament, who shall refuse to take the Oaths to the Government, be read the Second time upon Thursday Morning next.

Tryals in Lancashire, &c.

Ordered, That all the Persons who were this Day examined. touching the said Proceedings and Tryals in Lancashire and Cheshire, be discharged from their further Attendance.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees, except such as are by Adjournment to sit To-morrow Morning, be adjourned.

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