Mercurii 16 die Decembris;

8° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Irish Arrears.

A PETITION of Daniel Collins, Edward Thellwell, and several other Soldiers, discharged from the Right Honourable the Earl of Oxford's Regiment, in behalf of themselves, and others, now actually in the Regiment, complaining of Captain Robert Millington, Major Borde, Captain Johnson, Lieutenant Wroth, and other Officers of the said Regiment, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners have not yet received Satisfaction for their Irish Arrears, notwithstanding they made their Application to the House, the last Session, for the same; and 'tis highly presumed, that their Officers have received their Pay from his Majesty: However, it is reasonable, and the King's Proclamation requires them, to account so far as they have received; which they will not do; to the great Discouragement of the Soldiery: And praying the speedy Relief and Justice of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of John Hakewell, and other Soldiers of Colonel Villers' Regiment, is referred.

African Company's Stock.

The House being informed, That Mr. Yard, the Accountant of the Royal African Company, attended;

He was called in; and at the Bar, presented to the House, according to Order, an Account of the Value of their Stock.

And then withdrew.

Then the said Account was read; and is as followeth; viz.

THE STATE of the Royal African Company of England's Stock.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Account be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for settling and regulating the Trade to Africa is committed.

Prohibiting India Silks, Callicoes, &c.

A Petition of divers Wrought-Silk-Dyers, in behalf of themselves, and many others, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners served their Apprentices unto, and are employed in dyeing wrought Silks, and other Goods, imported from East-India: And, if the Bill, depending 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 painted or stained there, should pass, it will be the utter Ruin of the Petitioners; who must go into foreign Countries, where their Trade is encouraged, for a Livelihood: And praying, the Consideration of the House in the Premises.

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

Irish Transport Debt.

Sir Richard Onslow reported from the Committee appointed to consider and state the Nature of the Deficiencies of Parliamentary Funds, to whom the Consideration of the Petition of Arthur Shallett, John Travers, and Anthony Wilks, for themselves, and all others concerned in the Transport-Debt, for the Reduction of Ireland, was referred, That they had considered the Matter of the Petition; and had directed him to report the same to the House; which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was read; and is as followeth; viz.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, take into Consideration that Part of his Majesty's Speech, which relates to the Deficiency of Parliamentary Funds.

Courtny's Estate.

Mr. Hoblyn, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to enable Trustees to sell the Estate of Humphry Courtny, late of Tremere, in the County of Cornwall, Esquire, deceased, for the Payment of his Debts: And it was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. John How have Leave to go into the Country, for Recovery of his Health.

Ordered, That Sir Robert Dashwood have Leave to go into the Country for a Fortnight, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Ordered, That Mr. Stawell have Leave to go into the Country for Three Weeks, his Mother being very ill.

Duty on Glass.

A Petition of John Ely, and John Morris, and divers Glass-makers, on behalf of themselves, and many Families in and near the City of Gloucester, and Town of Newnham, in the County of Gloucester, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Art of making Glass hath of late been much improved, to the Advantage of the Nation, and Employment of abundance of the Poor; but, since a late Act of Parliament for laying a perpetual Duty upon all Glass-wares, the said Trade hath been much discouraged; insomuch that no Glass hath since been made in Gloucestershire; the Glasshouses being converted to other Uses; to the utter Ruin of the Petitioners: And praying the House to take off the said Duty, it being likely to be very inconsiderable to the Crown, whereby their said Trade may be revived and encouraged.

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.

Prisons and pretended privileged Places.

Ordered, That the Committee, to whom it is referred to consider how the Abuses of Prisons, and other pretended privileged Places, may be regulated, do sit de die in diem.

Supply; Deficiency of Coinage.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Motion, made Yesterday, for a Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for making good the Deficiency in re-coining hammered Money; and the Recompence to be given for bringing Plate into the Mints, to be coined.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Colonel Wharton took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Colonel Wharton reported from the said Committee, That they had considered the Matter to them referred; and had come to a Resolution; which they had directed him to report, when the House will please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the said Report be made To-morrow Morning.

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 To-morrow Morning, 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 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.