House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 19 February 1697

Veneris, 19 die Februarii;

9° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Dee Waste Lands.

A PETITION of the poor Commoners using and enjoying Saltney Marsh, and the Commons, in the County of Flint, adjoining to the River Dee, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners, and their Ancestors, have, Time out of Mind, enjoyed the Benefit of the said Common; without the Help of which they cannot support their indigent Families; being most of them Cottagers of small Holdings: That they are informed, Francis Gell Esquire hath gotten a Grant of the said Marsh and Commons, and intends to turn the Petitioners out of their Possessions: And praying such Relief in the Premises as the House shall think fit.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for making the River Dee, in the County of Chester, navigable, is committed.

Dee Navigation.

A Petition of the Gentlemen, and others, inhabiting in Worrall, in the County of Chester, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Bill, now depending in the House, for making the River Dee, in the County of Chester, navigable, will most certainly be a great Prejudice to the Petitioners, in case it should pass; and will undoubtedly divest them of their ancient Rights, enjoyed Time out of Mind: And praying, That the said Bill may not pass, so as to prejudice the Petitioners Rights.

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

Ditto.

Another Petition of the Gentlemen, and others, Inhabitants in the Hundred of Worrall, in the County of Chester, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there is a Bill under the Consideration of the House, for making navigable the River Dee, in the County of Chester; which Bill, if it should pass, will not only bring many Inconveniencies upon the Petitioners, but will also take away their ancient Rights, enjoyed by them, and their Ancestors, Time out of Mind: And praying, That the said Bill may not pass into a Law.

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

Ditto.

A Petition of the Gentlemen, Freeholders, and Inhabitants, of the County of Flint, on behalf of themselves, and others, Freeholders and Inhabitants, within the County of Flint, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners are informed, That Francis Gell Esquire hath obtained a Grant of all Commons in the said County, adjoining to the River Dee, extending about 24 Miles in Length, and 5 Miles in Breadth; which Commons the Petitioners, and their Ancestors, have quietly enjoyed, Time out of Mind: That there is a Bill before the House, for making navigable the River Dee, in the County of Chester; which will not only divest the Petitioners of their Titles to the said Commons, but is also to lay a Duty upon all Coals and Lime brought to Chester; which will be very oppressive: And praying the Consideration of the House in the Premises.

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

Dee Navigation.

A Petition of the Gentlemen, Freeholders, and other Inhabitants, of the Hundred of Broxton, in the Country of Chester, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Bill, depending in the House, for making navigable the River Dee, in the County of Chester, will procure great Advantages to the Petitioners, by the Increase of Trade, and Exportation of the Product of the Country, and Cheaper Importation of foreign Commodities: And praying, That the said Bill may pass, for the publick Good.

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

Ditto.

A Petition of the Gentlemen, Freeholders, and other the Inhabitants, within the Hundred of Worrall, in the County of Chester, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners are highly sensible, the Bill, depending in the House, for making the River Dee, in the county of Chester, navigable, will be of great and publick Advantage to the Petitioners, and all others inhabiting near the same, as well by the Increase of Seamen, as by Exportation of the Product of the Country: And praying the Consideration of the House in favour of the said Bill.

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

Ditto.

Resolved, That this House will, upon this Day Sevennight, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Bill.

St. Botolph's Church.

A Petition of the Rector, Churchwardens, and Members of the Vestry, of the Parish of St. Botolph, Bishopsgate, in London, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the said Parish Church is much decayed, and kept up by Cramps of Iron, and the Steeple is ready to fall; the said Church being adjudged to be in more Danger of falling than any other Church within the Bills of Mortality; and that the Parishioners, who are extremely burdened with Poor, are not able sufficiently to repair, or rebuild, the said Church: And praying, That some Allowance may be given towards rebuilding the said Church out of the . . . . . Coals imported into the Port of London; or in such other Manner, as the House shall think fit.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for the completing the building and adjorning the Cathedral Church of St. Paul's, London, is committed.

Call of the House.

Ordered, That the House be called over upon Monday Sevennight: And that such Members as shall not then attend, be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House; notwithstanding any former Leave given for their going into the Country.

Preventing the purchase and sale of Offices.

An ingrossed Bill to prevent the buying and selling of Offices and Places of Trust was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act to prevent the Buying and Selling of Offices and Places of Trust.

Ordered, That Colonel Wharton do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Lord Holles' Debts.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the speedy Satisfying of the Debts of Francis late Lord Holles, deceased, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill, with the Amendments, do pass.

Ordered, That Mr. Harley do carry the Bill to the Lords, and acquaint them, That this House hath agreed to the same, with some Amendments: To which Amendments they desire their Lordships Concurrence.

Capture of Ostend Ships.

A Petition of several Merchants trading to Ostend, and other Parts of Flanders, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there being a considerable Number of English Merchant Ships lately at Spithead, bound from Ireland and Topsham to Flanders, under Convoy of a Spanish Man of War, Notice was sent from Ostend to England, That many Privateers were gone out of Dunkirk to intercept them; which Advice was communicated to Mr. Bridgman, One of the Secretaries of the Admiralty, on the 8th instant; and on the 11th, the said Merchantships came to an Anchor in Dover Road, for Intelligence; but, finding none there, they failed away; and, on the 12th instant, sell into the Enemy's Hands, who have taken above 20 of them; which might have been prevented, if the Lords of the Admiralty had sent due Advice to the Downes, or Dover: And praying the House to inquire into the Loss of the said Fleet.

Ordered, That Mr. Paul Bowen, and Mr. Bridgman, Secretary to the Admiralty, do attend this House Tomorrow Morning, to give an Account of the Matter contained in the said Petition.

General Naturalization.

Colonel Wharton, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for a general Naturalization: And the same was received.

Bringing in Plate to be coined.

Resolved, That this House do immediately resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Bill for encouraging Persons to bring in their wrought Plate, to be coined.

And the House resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House accordingly.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

The Lord Coningsby took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

The Lord Coningsby reported from the said Committee, That they had gone through the Bill, and made several Amendments; 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.

Resolved, That this House will, upon this Day Sevennight, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of Ways and Means for raising the Supply granted to his Majesty, for making good the Deficiency of the Provision for Payment of the Interest of the Transport Debt, for the Reducing of Ireland.

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