House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 4 December 1695

Mercurii, 4 die Decembris;

Septimo Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Shaftsbury Election.

A PETITION of Henry Cornish 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 Shaftsbury, in the County of Dorset, Sir Math. Andrews, Sir John Moreton, Edward Nicholas Esquire, and the Petitioner, stood as Candidates; where Sir Math. Andrews, and the Petitioner, were duly elected by the Majority of those that had a Right to vote; but the Mayor of the said Borough shewed himself partial for Mr. Nicholas, and refused to poll many of the Petitioner's Votes, who had a Right, and admitted many to poll for Mr. Nicholas, who had no Right to poll; and hath returned the said Mr. Nicholas, with Sir Mathew, to the Petitioner's Wrong: And praying, That the House will give him such Relief in the Premises, as they shall think 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 Opinion therein, to the House.

Recovery of small Tythes.

Mr. Bickerstaffe presented to the House, according to Order, a Bill for the more easy Recovery of small Tythes:

And the Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

State of the Navy.

Sir John Lowther, from the Commissioners of the Admiralty, presented to the House a List of the Ships and Vessels of the Royal Navy of England, with their Establishment of Men and Guns; and also an Account of Cruisers, according to the Act of Parliament; signed by the said Commissioners: And also,

An Account of what Men of War have been lost, and cast away; and by what means.

And the Titles of the said List and Accounts were read.

Ordered, That the said List and Accounts do lie upon the Table, to be perused by the Members of the House.

The Account of the Cruisers is a Book of itself.

The List of the Ships and Vessels, and Account of what have been lost, and cast away, are as followeth; viz.

Admiralty-Office 3 Decemb. 95.

The LIST of the Ships and Vessels of the Royal Navy of England.

By Command of the Commissioners,

Wm. Bridgman.

The ACCOUNT of what Men of War have been lost, and cast away; and by what Means.

By Command of the Commissioners, Wm. Bridgeman.

Middlesex and Portsmouth Writs.

Edward Russell Esquire, being elected a Knight to serve in this present Parliament for the County of Cambridge; and also for the County of Middlesex; and also a Burgess for the Borough of Portsmouth, in the County of Southampton; made his Election to serve for the County of Cambridge.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for the electing a Knight to serve in this present Parliament for the County of Middlesex, in the room of Edward Russell Esquire, who hath elected to serve for the County of Cambridge.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for the electing a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Portsmouth, in the County of Southampton, in the room of Edward Russell Esquire, who hath elected to serve for the County of Cambridge.

Challenging Jury.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to supply some Defects in an Act, or Ordinance, made in the 33th Year of King Edward the 1st, Statute the 4th, intituled, He that challengeth a Jury or Juror for the King, shall shew his Cause; and to make it more beneficial for the Liberty of the Subject: And that Mr. Brotherton do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Stamford Election.

A Petition of Sir Pury Cust Knight 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 Stamford, in the County of Lincoln, Charles Bertie Esquire, Philip Bertie Esquire, and the Petitioner, stood Candidates to be elected; but the said Berties, by Gifts, and other unlawful Practices, procured themselves to be returned as Members for the said Borough, in Wrong to the Petitioner, who ought to have been returned instead of one of them: 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.

Tryals for Treason.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Saturday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, upon the Bill for Regulating of Tryals in Cases of High Treason, and Misprision of Treason.

State of the Nation.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of 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 said Committee, That they had made a further 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 Friday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider 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.