House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 29 November 1695

Veneris, 29 die Novembris;

Septimo Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

East-Grinsted Election.

THE Petition of several of the Inhabitants of the Borough of East-Grinsted, in the County of Sussex, which lay on the Table, was read.

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

Totnesse Election.

A Petition of Sir Richard Gipps Knight, and James Bateman Esquire, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That at the Election of Burgesses to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Tottnesse, in the County of Devon, Sir Edward Seymour Baronet, and Edward Yard Esquire, and the Petitioners, stood as Candidates; and the Majority of Persons, who had a Right to vote, did choose, and were polled for, the Petitioners: Notwithstanding which, the Mayor of the said Borough hath returned Sir Edward Seymour and Mr. Yard as Burgesses, in Wrong to the Petitioners: And praying Relief in the Premises.

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

Tavistock Election.

A Petition of Ambrose Manaton Esquire was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, on the 19th Day of October last, the Petitioner was duly elected a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Tavistock, in the County of Devon, by the major Part of the Burgesses who had a Right to elect there; and who signed and sealed an Indenture, and tendered it to the Portreeve, the proper Officer there; but he refused to receive the same, or to return the Petitioner; but hath returned the Lord James Russell as a Burgess to serve for the said Borough: And praying, That the House will take the Matter into Examination, and do therein as they shall think fit.

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

Southampton Election.

A Petition of John Smith Esquire was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner is duly elected a Member to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Southampton; but by the undue Practices of Sir Benjamin Newland, and his Friends, they have obtained an undue Return for him; which the Petitioner is ready to prove: And praying, That the House will examine and consider the Premises, and do him Justice therein.

Buckingham Election.

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

A Petition of divers of the Inhabitants of the Borough of Buckingham, in the County of Bucks, on behalf of themselves, and the rest of the Inhabitants within the said Borough, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the said Borough is a Borough by Prescription; and that Sir Richard Atkins and James Tyrrell Esquire were unanimously chosen Members to serve in this present Parliament, by the Inhabitants of the said Borough: That the Bailiff, and Twelve capital Burgesses, have, without the Consent of the Inhabitants, taken upon them to return Sir Richard Temple and Alexander Denton Esquire as Representatives for the said Borough, to the manifest Prejudice of the Petitioners Right: And praying, That the House will take the Premises into Consideration.

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

Pontefract Election.

A Petition of Sir John Bland was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That at the Election of Members to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Pontefract; in the County of York, Sir William Lowther, Mr. Muncton, and the Petitioner, stood Candidates to be elected: That several undue Practices were used by the Mayor, and others, in threatening several that would have voted for the Petitioner; and denying others; and by setting down several for the Sitting Members who were not qualified to vote; to the great Injury of the Petitioner: And praying the House to consider of the Premises, and to do therein as to them shall seem meet.

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

Colchester Election.

A Petition of several of the Freemen and Burgesses of the Borough of Colchester, in the County of Essex, on behalf of themselves, and the major Part of the said Burgesses, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That at an Election for Members to serve in this present Parliament for the said Borough, the Candidates were Sir John Morden, Sir Isaac Rebow, Sir Tho. Cooke, and Doctor John Harrison: That, at the Election, the then Mayor used many illegal Practices to prevent the Election of Sir Thomas Cook, by refusing several Persons to poll, who were duly qualified; and admitting divers for Sir John Morden, who had no Right to poll; by refusing a Scrutiny, when demanded by one of the Candidates; and by returning Sir John Morden as one of their Burgesses; though Sir Thomas Cooke had more Votes than Sir John; as will appear by the Poll Books: Which Practices of the Mayor tend to deprive the Petitioners of their Right of Election: And praying, That the House will consider of the Premises, and give them such Relief as the House shall think fit.

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

Answer so Address.

Mr. Speaker reported, That he, with the House, did Yesterday present their Address to his Majesty: And that his Majesty was pleased to express himself to this effect; viz.

Gentlemen,

I Heartily thank you for the Marks you give me of your Affection: Our Interests are inseparable; and there is nothing I wish so much as the Happiness of this Country, where God has placed me.

Blount's Estate.

Sir Robert Cotton presented to the House, according to Order, a Bill to enable Sir Thomas Pope Blount Baronet to make Provision for his younger Children, upon the Marriage of his eldest Son: And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Regulating Printing and Printing Presses.

Mr. Clark presented to the House, according to Order, a Bill for the regulating of Printing and Printing-Presses:

And the same was received.

Answer to Address.

Mr. Secretary Trumball acquainted the House, That their Address, That his Majesty would please to appoint a Day of Fasting and Humiliation, had been presented to his Majesty; and that his Majesty was pleased to say, He would appoint a Day accordingly.

Dr. Haley to preach on Fast-day.

Ordered, That Doctor Haley, Rector of St. Giles's in the Fields, be desired to preach before this House, at St. Margaret's, Westminster, in the Morning, upon the Day of Fasting and Humiliation: And that Mr. Secretary Trumball do acquaint him therewith.

Dr. Williams to preach on Fast-day.

Ordered, That Doctor Williams be desired to preach before this House, at St. Margaret's, Westminster, in the Afternoon, upon the Day of Fasting and Humiliation: And that Mr. Papillon do acquaint him therewith.

State of the Navy.

Ordered, That the Commissioners of the Admiralty do lay before this House a State of the Navy, and a State of the Cruisers this Year, according to the Act of Parliament, signed by them.

Ordered, That they do also lay before this House an Account of what Men of War have been lost, or cast away; and by what means.

Truro Return.

The House being informed, That the Election for the Borough of Truro, in the County of Cornwall, was so late, that the Return of it was not sent up with the Return from the Sheriff for the said County; and that now the Indenture, and Return of the Sheriff for the said Borough, is sent to the Clerk of the Crown; and the Sheriff desires it may be annexed to the Writ; but that the Clerk of the Crown desires the Direction of this House touching his receiving the same;

Ordered, That the Clerk of the Crown do receive the said Return for the said Borough of Truro, and annex it to the Writ for the said County of Cornwall.

National Debt.

Ordered, That the Commissioners for taking and stating the publick Accounts do lay before this House a State of the Debt of the Nation, so far as it appears before them.

Tryals for Treason.

A Bill for the Regulating of Tryals in Cases of High Treason, and Misprision of Treason, was, according to the Order of the Day, read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to a Committee of the whole House.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Wednesday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, upon the said Bill.

State of the Nation.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to take into Consideration the State of the Nation.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Colonel Granvill took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Colonel Granvill reported from the Committee, That they had made some Progress in the Matter to them referred; and had directed him to move, That they may have Leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Monday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the State of the Nation.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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