Lunæ, 14 die Decembris;

8° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Petition relating to a Member.

A PETITION of Archibald Lowrimor, Jacob Smith, and others, in behalf of themselves, and other the Soldiers, under the Command of Colonel Byerly and Colonel Wyndham, for Reducing of Ireland, was presented to the House:

And, Colonel Byerly not being in the House;

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

Ease of Sheriffs.

A Petition of the several Officers in the Exchequer, concerned in passing Sheriffs Accounts, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Bill, depending in the House, for the more easy Passing of Sheriffs Accounts, and Execution of their Offices, is, in several Parts thereof, contrary to the Constitution of the Exchequer, and prejudicial to the Petitioners: And praying, That they may be heard, by Counsel, before the said Bill do pass.

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

Rede's, &c. Nat.

A Bill to naturalize Frederick Christiaen Baron de Rede, Lord Agrim, and Godart Adrian Baron de Rede, Sons of the Earl of Athlone; and others; was presented to the House.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Duty on Glass.

Ordered, That Sir William Bowes, Mr. Liddell, Mr. Dowdeswell, Sir Robert Davers, Mr. Mountague, Mr. How, Mr. Hammond, Mr. Morris, Mr. Lambton, Sir Cha. Carterett, Mr. Bickerstaff, Mr. Bertie, Mr. Morgan, be added to the Committee, to whom the Petition of Thomas Cardo and Edward Baughton, on behalf of themselves, and others, Glass-makers, in and about Stourbridge, in the County of Worcester, is referred.

Vexatious Suits.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to prevent vexatious Suits in Law and Equity: And that Mr. Harcourt do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Bringing in Plate to be coined.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Thursday Sevennight, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill to encourage the bringing Plate into the Mint, to be coined.

Coinage.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, take into Consideration that Part of his Majesty's Speech, which relates to the ill State of the Coin of the Kingdom.

Relief of Creditors.

Mr. Brotherton reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for Relief of Creditors was committed, That they had made several Amendments; which they had directed him to report to the House; and 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 put upon all of them, but Clause A, severally agreed unto by the House.

Clause A being read a Second time; the Purport whereof was, That, whereas many Places within this Kingdom do pretend a Privilege exempt from the Power of the Sheriffs, it shall be lawful for the Sheriffs, and their Officers, to execute any legal Process within such Places, any Custom to the contrary notwithstanding;

And the Question being put, That the House do agree with the Committee in the said Amendment;

It passed in the Negative.

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

Excise Duties.

A Petition of John Bryan, and others, on behalf of themselves, and the rest of the common Brewers, inhabiting within the City of Rochester, and Parish of Chatham, and Places adjacent, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners have, with great Difficulty, paid several Duties of Excise, pursuant to divers Acts of Parliament; but by reason of several Clauses in the said Acts, they have endured great Hardships; but, more particularly, by reason of some Clauses in a late Act, for laying several Duties upon low Wines, &c.; which are so very grievous, that the Petitioners cannot exercise their Trades if the same be continued: And praying, That they may be heard to make out their Grievances; and that they may be relieved therein.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Company of Brewers of the City of London is referred.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir William Thomas have Leave to go into the Country, his Lady being very ill.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Stanley have Leave to go into the Country, his Lady and Family being very ill.

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 fit again.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, 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.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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