House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 12 December 1696

Sabbati, 12 die Decembris;

8° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Mynors' Estate.

AN ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the Settlement of the Manor of Treyagoe, in the County of Hereford, and other the Lands, late of Crompton Mynors Esquire, deceased; and for raising and increasing of the Portion of Theodosia Mynors, the Daughter of the said Crompton, she being an Infant of the Age of Seventeen Years; was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Price, Sir Nath. Nappier, Sir Hen. Colt, Mr. Morgan, Sir Henry Hobart, Mr. Cornwallis, Mr. Newport, Sir Cha. Turner, Sir John Bolles, Mr. Thornhagh, Mr. Whitaker, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Heveningham, Mr. Colt, Lord Spencer, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Fleming, Mr. Norris, Mr. Fownes, Mr. Gery, Mr. Henly, Mr. Methwen, Mr. Bohun, Mr. Serjeant Bond, Mr. Mountstevens, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Baldwyn, Sir Tho. Roberts, Sir Wm. York, Mr. Sandford, Mr. Bethell, Mr. Slater, Mr. Hooper, Mr. Onslow; and all that serve for the Counties of Hereford, Worcester, and Salop: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Prohibiting India Silks, Callicoes, &c.

A Petition of the Churchwardens, Overseers of the Poor, and ancient Inhabitants, of the Hamlet of Spittle Fields, in the Parish of Stepney, in the County of Middlesex, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That their Poor are grown extremely numerous, by reason that many Weavers have left their Wives and Children, and gone into the King's Service, for want of Work; and many substantial Housekeepers, who used to pay to the Poors Rate, are now become Objects of Charity; but the Petitioners are not able to assist them; Trade, in a manner, being extinguished amongst them: And praying the House to consider of some effectual Means, whereby the Weaving Trade may be encouraged.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the Bill to restrain the Wearing of all wrought Silks and Bengals, imported into this Kingdom from Persia and East-India, and all Callicoes printed or stained there, be read a Second time.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Wiltshire and Gloucestershire Clothiers was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the East-India Company have of late Years, exported great Quantities of our Woollen Manufactures; and thereby preserved the Petitioners, and numerous Families depending on them, from very great Straits: That a Bill now in the House, to restrain the Wearing of all wrought Silks and Bengals, imported into this Kingdom from Persia and East India, and all Callicoes printed or stained there, will much hinder the Exportation of our Woollen Manufactures: And praying, That they may be heard, at the Bar of the House, against the said Bill.

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

Ditto.

A Petition of the Wardens and Assistants of the Company of Worsted-weavers in the City of Norwich, and County of Norfolk, on behalf of themselves, and the rest of the said Trade, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That their Livelihood depends upon the making of Woollen Stuffs, or Stuffs mixed with Wool and Silk; which Silk, for the most part, is the Return of our Woollen Manufactures exported; by which means many Thousand Families are employed: That this Trade was formerly much obstructed by the great Quantities of East-India Silks, Callicoes, &c. imported hither; but since the East-India Company have been under some Discouragements, the Weavers Trade has much increased; and they have attained to such an Art in making figured and other Stuffs, that they very well answer the Use of East-India Silks and Stuffs, and are used by almost all Sorts of Persons; by which means, a much greater Number of poor People were employed, and a much greater Consumption of our Wool was made: That vast Quantities of East-India Silks, and Commodities, have been lately imported; whereby the Petitioners said Trade is greatly lessened, and vast Numbers of poor Persons turned out of Work; and many Thousands more must shortly want Employment, unless the Importation of the said East-India Manufactures be restrained: And praying the Consideration of the House, and Relief in the Premises.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the Bill to restrain the Wearing of all wrought Silks and Bengals, imported into this Kingdom from Persia and East-India, and all Callicoes printed or stained there, be read a Second time.

Duty on Glass.

A Petition of the Masters and Servants belonging to the Glass-works in Lynn Regis, in the County of Norfolk, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners formerly supported themselves, and Families, by making and vending Glass-bottles; but since a Duty has been laid upon Glass-wares the Consumption of Glass-bottles is so lessened, that the Petitioners have not been employed since, nor are likely to be so, if the said Duty be not taken off: And praying a Discontinuance thereof.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Glass-makers in and about the Town of Stourbridge, in the County of Worcester, is referred.

Payment of Bank-Bills.

A Petition of the Gentlemen, Clothiers, Landholders, Weavers, and others, of Chippenham, and other adjacent Places, in the County of Wilts, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Clothing Trades, which is the chief Support of the Poor, is very much obstructed, by reason that almost all Returns are made by Bank-Bills; which are so ill paid, that such as take them are necessitated to sell them at great Loss; to the Diminishing their Stocks, and the Discouragement of their Trades; so that many Families are already reduced to great Necessities; and many more must be so, unless some speedy Relief be given: And praying the House to take their declining State into Consideration.

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:

And it is referred to Sir Henry Hobart, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. White, Mr. Clark, Lord Coningsby, Mr. How, Mr. Cornwallis, Mr. Pelham, Sir Tho. Littleton, Sir Marm. Wyvell, Sir Henry Colt, Mr. Blake, Sir Cha. Carterett, Mr. Thornhagh, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Methwyn, Mr. Manley, Sir Sam. Barnardiston, Sir John Parsons, Mr. Morgan, Mr. Norris, Mr. Colt, Mr. England, Mr. Price, Mr. Cooper, Sir Rowland Gwynn, Sir Wm. Bowes, Mr. Fleming, Lord Pawlet, Sir Walter Yong, Mr. Foley, Mr. Smith, Sir Robert Burdet, Mr. Perrey, Mr. Gwynn; and all that serve for the Counties of Wilts, Dorset, Somerset, and Gloucester: And all that come are to have Voices: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers: And have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

African Company Stock.

Ordered, That the Royal African Company do lay before this House an Account of the Value of their Stock as it now stands.

Hammered Money.

A Petition of sundry Merchants, and Traders, in behalf of themselves, and others, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Officers of the Mint have refused to coin several Parcels of hammered Money, pursuant to a late Act of Parliament for that Purpose; to the great Disappointment of the Petitioners, who want new Money to carry on their Trades: And praying the House to take the Matter into Consideration.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table.

Call of the House.

Ordered, That the House be called over upon Wednesday Sevennight: And that such Members as shall not then attend, be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House.

Ways and Means.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of Ways and Means for raising the Supply granted to his Majesty, for carrying on the War against France, for the Service of the Year 1697.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
Sir Thomas Littleton took the Chair of the Committee.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir Thomas Littleton 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 Monday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of Ways and Means for raising the Supply granted to his Majesty, for carrying . . . the War against France, for the Service of the Year 1697.

And then the House adjourned till Monday Morning, Nine a Clock.