House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 10 April 1695

Mercurii, 10 die Aprilis;

7° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Improvement of Free-hold Estates.

ORDERED, That Mr. Bertie, Mr. Mawdit, Mr. Freke, Mr. Christie, Mr. Bickerstaff, Mr. Frewen, be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill for the Improvement of the Freehold Estates of England; and the Encouragement of Trade; is committed.

Punishing T. and E. Pauncefort.

A Petition of Tracy Pauncefort, late Agent to Brigadier Hastings, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, The Petitioner is informed, there is a Bill depending in the House against him, for corrapt Practices, in withholding Money from the Officers of the Army: That the Petitioner never acted in any thing therein but by the Direction and Command of Brigadier Hastings, and the Consent of several other Officers: That he has given an Account of the Disposal of the said Money to the House, as far as he knows, of which he is ready to make Oath; and that he has many other Reasons to offer against the Passing of the said Bill: And praying, That he may be heard by his Counsel, at the Bar of the House, before the Bill against him do pass.

Ordered, That the said Mr. Pauncefort be heard by his Counsel, at the Bar of this House, upon his Petition.

Duties on Paper, &c.

Mr. Bowyer, according to the Order of the Day, reported, from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred to consider of the Report from the Committee, who were to consider of the Act, made the last Session, for laying several Duties upon Vellum, Parchment, and Paper; and the Doubts and Complaints relating thereunto; the Resolutions agreed upon by the said Committee; 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.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Penalty of 500l. mentioned in the Act for laying several Duties upon Vellum, Parchment, and Paper, be reduced to 5l.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That Warrants granted by, or Recognizances taken before, any Justices of the Peace, are not chargeable by the said Act.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That Surrenders of Copyhold Estates, or Copies for such Estates, are not chargeable by the said Act.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That no Certificate of Marriage for the Widow of any Seaman be charged with the Duty of 5s.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That an Indemnity be granted, to all Persons, from the Penalty of 500l. for the time past.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Prices of all Vellum, Parchment, and Paper, stamped, be once, in every Year, set by the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Prices be stamped upon the said Vellum, Parchment, or Paper, by the Commissioners for putting in Execution the said Act.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That after the Rate of 6l. per Cent. be allowed to all Persons bringing Vellum, Parchment, or Paper, to be stampt for every Sum of 10l. and upwards, paid.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the like Allowance of 6l. per Cent. be made to all Persons buying any stamped Vellum, Parchment, or Paper, of the Commissioners, or their Agents.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Admittances of any annual Officer, in any Corporation, or inferior Court, whose Office is under the Value of 10l. per Annum in Salary, Fees, or otherwise, be not chargeable with the Duty of 40s. in the said Act mentioned.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Degree of Bachelor of Arts in the Universities be not charged with the Duty of 40s. for Registry or Entry of such Degree.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Act do not extend to lay any Duty on any Proceedings at Court-Martials, relating to common Soldiers.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Officers at Sea do pay only the same Duty as Officers for Land-Service.

Resolved, That . . is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Clause in the Act, for charging of Letters Pasents; do not extend to charge Commissions of Rebellion, in Process.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Act do not extend to charge any Orders, Decrecs, or Proceedings, before the Commissioners of Sewers.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Act do not extend to charge any Orders, Decrees, or Proceedings, in the Courts of Stannaries.

The said Resolutions, being severally read a Second time, were, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in upon the said Resolutions: And that Mr. Bowyer and Mr. Waller do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Thames Watermen.

A Petition of the Rulers and Overseers of the Company of Watermen, of the River of Thames, in behalf of themselves, and others of the said Company, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners are obliged, by the Act of 2d and 3d of Philip and Mary, to be all registered, as now they are: But, by a Bill now depending in this House, for the Encouragement and Increase of Seamen, the Petitioners are compelled into a general Registry, upon Forfeiture of their Livelihood, though Seamen are at Liberty to register themselves or not; and Lightermen and Bargemen are not under any Regulation, nor comprehended within the said Bill; which if they were, it would be an additional Supply to the Navy, of several thousand able Seamen: And praying, That the Registry of their own Company may be continued; and that all Persons working upon the River of Thames may be incorporated with, and registered in, the Watermens Company.

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

Supply Bill; Duties on Coffee, &c.

Sir Thomas Littleton, according to the Order of the Day, reported, from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for granting to his Majesty certain Rates and Duties upon Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate, and other Goods and Merchandizes therein mentioned, for the Term of Three Years, for the Purposes therein expressed, . . . the Amendments, made by the Committee to the said Bill; 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: And some other Amendments were made by the House to the Bill.

A Clause was offered to be added to the Bill, That any Officer of the Customs, duly employed on any extraordinary Service, not required by Law, may take such Recompence as the Commissioners of the Customs shall determine:

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

Another Clause was offered to be added to the Bill, for the Commissioners of Accounts to determine Differences: And the same was once read; and, by Leave of the House, withdrawn.

Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments, be ingrossed.

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

Mr. Speaker,

Wollaston's Estate.

The Lords have agreed to the Amendments, made by this House, to the Bill, intituled, An Act to enable Hannah Woollaston Widow, and Jonathan her Son, an Infant, to sell certain Lands and Tenements in Warnford, in the County of Southampton, for Payment of Debts and Legacies, according to the Will of Richard Woollaston Esquire, deceased: And also,

Kirk's Estate.

To the Amendments made by this House, to the Bill, intituled, An Act for selling the Estate of John Kirk, deceased, for Payment of his Debts. Also,

Lords desire Leave for Members to attend them.

The Lords desire, That Sir Robert Clayton and Mr. Maurice, Members of this House, may have Leave to appear, to declare their Knowledge in relation to a Grant of Lands from the City of London.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Ordered, That Leave be given, That Sir Robert Clayton and Mr. Maurice do appear, at the Lords House, to declare their Knowledge, as the Lords do desire.

And the Messengers were called in again: And Mr. Speaker acquainted them therewith.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cook and Sir Robert Legard:

Mr. Speaker,

Reversing Leisler's Attainder.

The Lords have passed a Bill, intituled, An Act for reversing the Attainder of Jacob Leisler, and others: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Privilege of a Member in a Suit.

A Complaint being made to the House, the 28th of March last, That Mr. Samuel Layton, Cursitor for London and Middlesex, had made, and delivered out, a Writ of Error, in an Action of Ejectment in the County of York, in a Cause wherein the Honourable Bernard Granvill Esquire, a Member of this House, is Defendant, in Breach of the Privilege of this House; whereupon, the said Mr. Layton was ordered to be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms, to answer the said Breach of Privilege; and the House being informed, That Mr. Layton was taken into Custody, and lay in Custody some time, accordingly; but had made his Escape out of the Hands of the Serjeant, so that he cannot be brought to answer the said Breach of Privilege; and that the said Writ of Error is in the Hands of the Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench;

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do write his Letter to the Lord Chief Justice, and acquaint him, That this House hath adjudged, the making, and delivering out, the said Writ of Error, wherein the said Mr. Granvill, a Member of this House, is concerned, to be a Breach of Privilege; and that all Proceedings be thereupon stopped.

Clipping and counterseiting Coin.

The Order of the Day, for the House to resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Report from the Committee appointed to receive Proposals for preventing the clipping the Silver Coin of this Kingdom, was read.

Resolved, That the ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to prevent counterfeiting and clipping the Coin of this Kingdom, which was committed to a select a Committee, be committed to the said Committee of the whole House.

Resolved, That the said Committee have Power to consider of a Fund for the Encouragement of the Mint.

Then the House resolved into the said Committee.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
Mr. Godolphin took the Chair of the Committee.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Godolphin 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 To-morrow Morning.

Mr. Godolphin also acquainted the House, That he was directed by the Committee to move, That they may have Leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, after the said Report, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Report from the Committee appointed to receive Proposals for preventing the Clipping the Silver Coin of this Kingdom; and of the Bill to them committed.

Tonage Duties.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Saturday Morning next, take into Consideration the Motion made from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred to consider of the Report from the Committee appointed to consider of the Act, passed the last Session for laying several Duties upon the Tonage of Ships, as it relates to the Isle of Wight, and Town and County of Southhampton, and the Town of Portsmouth, and to the Coasting-Trader; and of the Doubts and Complaints relating thereunto: And that afterwards, this House will resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the said Report.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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