House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 18 January 1697

Lunæ, 18 die Januarii ;

8° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Russia Company.

ORDERED, That Mr. Brewer, Mr. Price, Sir Wm. Ashurst, Sir Thomas Travell, be added to the Committee, to whom the Petition of divers Merchants of London, relating to the Russia Company, is referred.

Whitby Harbour.

Ordered, That Sir Edward Aiscough, Sir ^* Estcourt, Sir Ralph Delavall, Sir Wm. Ashurst, Mr. Egerton, Sir Thomas Travell, be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill for Repair of the Piers of the Harbour of Whitby, in the North Riding of the County of York, is committed.

Letters of Marque.

Ordered, That Sir Geo. Hungerford, Sir Sam. Barnardiston, Mr. Bertie, Mr. Gwynn, Mr. Winington, Sir Tho. Travell, Sir Ra. Delavall, Sir Wm. Williams, Colonel Thompson, Mr. Serjeant Bond, Mr.Arnold, be added to the Committee, to whom the Petition of several Merchants of London, relating to Letters of Marque, is referred.

Courtney's Estate.

A Petition of William and Tristram Arscott, of Norton, in the County of Cornwall, and Peter Courtney, and Basilea Durban, Widow, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there is a Bill depending in the House, to enable Trustees to sell the Estate of Humphry Courtney, late of Tremeere, in the County of Cornwall, Esquire, deceased, for the Payment of his Debts; and that the Petitioners stand bound for the said Mr. Courtny, who also is indebted to the Petitioners, by Bonds, Judgements, and other Securities, in several great Sums of Money, which, the Petitioners are advised, are not sufficiently secured by the said Bill: And praying, That such Provision may be made in the said Bill, as may relieve the Petitioners in the Premises.

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

Preventing Exportation of Wool.

Mr. Brewer reported from the Committee appointed to inspect the Laws for preventing the Exportation of Wool; and to consider of the most effectual Means for preventing the Exportation of Wool; and to whom the Consideration of the Petition of the principal Gentry, Freeholders, and others, now or late, Inhabitants of the CinquePorts, and Places adjacent, in behalf of themselves, and many others having Estates near the Sea-coasts, within the Counties of Kent and Sussex; and also the Petition of the Merchants, and Cloth-makers, Cloth-workers, and Staplers, of the West-Riding of the County of York; was referred; That they had inspected the Laws, and considered the other Matters to them referred; and had come to several Resolutions; which they had directed him to report; and which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were read; and are as follow; viz.

That the Committee had met several times, and examined several Gentlemen, and Officers belonging to the Customs; by whose Testimony it fully appeared, That the Penalties inflicted upon the several Hundreds within Five Miles of the Sea-coasts, out of, or through, which, any Wool is conveyed by the Transporters thereof, hath caused the chief Inhabitants to remove from thence, and settle themselves elsewhere; which hath encouraged the Offenders more freely to export Wool: And that, since the Act, which inflicts the Punishment against the Hundredors, the French Shallops have more infested, and lain in greater Numbers about the Sea-coasts than heretofore: And that more Wool hath been exported; it appearing to the Committee, That it is the Interest of the Officers of the Customs, employed to suppress the Exporters of Wool, to permit the real Offenders, who, for the most part, are Persons of small Substance, to escape without Prosecution, and to sue the Hundreds only.

And, upon Consideration of the several Laws relating to the Exportation of Wool, the Committee, upon the whole Matter, came to these Resolutions; viz.

1. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Petitioners, having fully proved the Allegations in their Petition, are worthy the Relief of this House; and that so much of the Act within the Petition mentioned, as relates to the Prosecution or Punishment of any the Hundredors, for the Offences of others, ought to be repealed; it appearing to have been a great Means for a more free Exportation of Wool.

2. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, to enforce the present Laws, and make them more effectual to prevent the Exportation of Wool, all Persons, having any Wool within Five Miles of the Sea-coasts, shall be obliged to make true Entries thereof, according to Law, under the Penalty of being seized, as forfeited, wheresoever it shall be found.

3. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, after such due Entry made, and before any Removal of such Wool be allowed, that such Person shall certify the Name, and Place of Abode, of such Person to whom he sells or disposes of it; and the certain Day when the same shall be removed; and, in case of Neglect or Refusal, such Wool may be seized, as forfeited, whereever it shall be found.

4. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Officers of the Customs, appointed to make such Entries, shall keep an exact Registry of all Entries of Wool; and return a true Copy thereof, under his Hand, to the next respective Quarter-Sessions of such County; and, in case of Neglect or Refusal, such Officer shall forfeit his Office, and be incapable to serve therein, or any other Place relating to the Customs.

5. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That for the better Execution of the present Laws, and preventing the Frauds hitherto practised, in Evasion thereof, that all Wool shipped from Ireland to any Port in England, or from one Port to another in England, the Person to whom such Wool is consigned or sold, shall make a Certificate of the Receipt thereof, upon Oath, before the Master of the Vessel shall have any Return to discharge his Bond; which Affidavit shall be annexed to such Master's Certificate, in order to discharge his Bond.

6. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Commanders of the armed Sloops, appointed, by the late Act, to cruise from off the North Foreland to the Isle of Wight, to prevent the Exportation of Wool, shall, once in Two Days, if the Weather permit, send their Boat to Shore, to the Surveyor, within his Station, to receive such Informations and Intelligence from them as may best tend to the seizing such French Boats, or any others, bringing or carrying prohibited Goods.

The First Resolution, being read a Second time, was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

The Second Resolution being read a Second time;

An Amendment was proposed to be made therein, by adding "and Borders of Scotland," after "Sea-coasts:"

And the same was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, so amended, That, to enforce the present Laws, and make them more effectual to prevent the Exportation of Wool, all Persons, having any Wool within Five Miles of the Sea-coasts, and Borders of Scotland, shall be obliged to make true Entries thereof, according to Law, under the Penalty of being seized, as forfeited, wheresoever it shall be found.

The Third Resolution, being read a Second time, was upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

The Fourth Resolution, being read a Second time;

An Amendment was proposed to be made, after the last Word "Customs," by adding "or any other publick "Employment; and to remain in Gaol for One Year:"

And the same was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Resolved, That this House, doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, so amended, That the Officers of the Customs, appointed to make such Entries, shall keep an exact Registry of all Entries of Wool; and return a true Copy thereof, under his Hand, to the next respective Quarter-Sessions of such County; and in case of Neglect or Refusal, such Officer shall forfeit his Office, and be incapacitated to serve therein, or any other Place relating to the Customs, or any other publick Employment; and to remain in Gaol for One Year.

The Fifth Resolution being read a Second time;

An Amendment was proposed to be made, by adding "And that effectual Care be taken against the compounding for such Bonds; and that the Officers who shall neglect their Duty shall forfeit their Places, and suffer a Year's Imprisonment;" after the last Word Bond:"

And the same was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, so amended, That, for the better Execution of the present Laws, and preventing the Frauds hitherto practised, in Evasion thereof, That all Wool shipped from Ireland to any Port in England, or from one Port to another in England, the Person to whom such Wool is consigned, or sold, shall make a Certificate of the Receipt thereof, upon Oath, before the Master of the Vessel shall have any Return to discharge his Bond; which Affidavit shall be annexed to such Master's Certificate, in order to discharge his Bond: And that effectual Care be taken against the compounding for such Bonds; and that the Officers who shall neglect their Duty shall forfeit their Place, and suffer a Year's Imprisonment.

The Sixth and last Resolution, being read a Second time, was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in, according to the said Resolutions: And that Mr. Brewer, Sir Philip Butler, Mr. Culliford, and Sir Rowland Gwynn, do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Ordered, That it be an Instruction, That they do bring in a Clause to the said Bill, That such Persons as shall be convicted for being concerned in Exporting of Wool, who shall not be able to answer the Penalties, be transported to the Plantations.

St. Paul's Cathedral.

A Petition of the Commissioners, appointed by the late Acts of Parliament, for the Rebuilding of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul's, and Parochial Churches, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That great Care hath been taken for carrying on the said Building; but, by reason of the extraordinary Dearness of Materials, the same cannot be completed within the time allotted by the said Acts; and there is much Money owing to Workmen, and many Parochial Churches are not finished; besides which, a dreadful Accident happened at Portland, which has rendered the Harbours and Quarries there useless, and will cost much Money to repair the same: That the Duty given upon Coals, for carrying on the said Works, expires in the Year 1700, after which time 6d. per Chaldron is granted to the Orphans, towards Satisfaction of their Debt: And praying the Consideration of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for Relief of the Petitioners, by continuing the Duties charged upon Coals: And that Mr. Secretary Trumball and Sir William Ashurst do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Victualling Debt.

Ordered, That the Accounts from the Victuallers of the Navy, which lie upon the Table, be referred to the Consideration of a Committee: And that they do inspect and examine the same: and report the same to the House:

And it is referred to Sir Philip Butler, Sir Chr. Musgrave, Mr. Gwynn, Sir Gerv. Elwes, Sir Jos. Herne, Sir Marm. Wyvell, Mr. Henly, Sir John Parsons, Sir Rich. Onslow, Sir Edw. Abney, Mr. Moor, Sir Robert Cotton, Colonel Perry, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Whitaker, Mr. Ryder, Mr. Pocklington, Mr.Colt, Mr. Bridges, Sir Wm. Lowther, Lord Cornbury, Mr.Brewer, Sir Hen. Johnson, Mr. Watlington, Mr. Brotherton, Mr.Manley, Mr. Boscawen, Mr. Farrer, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Newport, Sir Rowland Gwynn, Mr. Denz. Onslow, Mr. Clarke Sir Fra. Massam, Mr. Trelawney, Mr. Bowyer, Mr. Taylor, Colonel Granville, Mr. Fuller; And all the Merchants of the House: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers: And have Power to send for Persons, Books, Papers, and Records.

Discount Bank-Bills.

A Petition of the Clothiers, Serge-makers, and Tradesmen, concerned in the Woollen Manufactures, in and about the Towns of Collompton, Bampton, and other Places adjacent, in the County of Devon, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners labour under very great Misfortunes, by reason of the Noncurrency of hammered Money, the Want of new Money, and the intolerable Discount of Bank-Bills; which, if continued, will inevitably ruin the Petitioners; and, consequently, increase the Number and Miseries of the Poor; whose Calamities already are beyond Expression for want of Work, and by reason of the Dearth of Corn: And praying the House to take the Premises into Consideration, and to relieve the Petitioners therein.

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

Call of the House.

The Order for the Call of the House being read;

And a Motion being made, and the Question being put,

That the House do now proceed to the Call thereof;

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

Ordered, That the Call of the House be adjourned until this Day Sevennight; and then nothing to intervene: And that such Members as shall not then attend be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House.

Supply Bill; Land-Tax.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Bill for granting an Aid to his Majesty, as well by a Land-Tax, as by Subsidies, and other Duties, payable for One Year.

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 Bill; 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 the said Bill.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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