House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 1 April 1697

Jovis, 1 die Aprilis;

9° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Thompson's Estate.

AN ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the speedy Payment of the Debts of Sir William Thompson Knight, and Serjeant at Law, deceased, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Foley, Sir Charles Windham, Lord Ashley, Mr. Henly, Sir John Bolls, Mr. Monstevens Sir Tho. Dyke, Sir John Parsons, Sir Wm. Cowper, Mr. Clerk, Mr. Manley, Sir John Bucknall, Mr. Done, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Guy, Mr. Lyddall, Sir Hen. Colt, Sir Wm. Ashurst, Mr. Cowper, Mr. Newport, Sir Sam. Barnardiston, Mr. Tho. Freke, Sir Math. Andrews, Mr. Jennings, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Machell, Mr. Norris, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Freke, Mr. Munson, Mr. Berty, Mr. Stonehouse, Mr. Cox, Mr. Moyle, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Shackerley, Mr. Evelyn, Mr. Ashley, Sir Edward Aiscough, Sir Mar. Wyvell, Mr. Morgan, Mr. Boyle, Mr. Colt, Sir Rowland Gwyn, Mr. Palmes, Sir Tho. Roberts, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Osborn, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Pocklington, Sir John Robinson, Mr. Stockdale, Mr. Blofeild, Sir Jervas Elwes, Lord Pawlet, Mr. Travers, Sir Jacob Ashley: And they are to meet at Five a Clock this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Seamens Pay.

Ordered, That Sir Math. Andrews, Sir John Bolls, Sir Wm. Ashurst, Mr. Waller, Colonel Granville, Mr. Morgan, Sir Sam. Barnardiston, Mr. Manley, Sir Mar. Wyvel; and all that serve for the Sea-Ports; be added to the Committee, to whom the Petition of several Hundreds of Seamen, their Wives and Relations, is referred: And that the said Committee have Power to send for Persons, Papers and Records.

Warburton's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Trustees to sell the Estate of Richard Warburton Clerk, for Payment of his Debts; and for raising Portions for his Children; was read the Third time.

And a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Bill do pass;

It passed in the Negative.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Charles Windham have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Ordered, That Colonel Kirby have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Duty on Leather.

A Petition of the Fraternity of Skinners and Glovers of the Corporation of Ludlow, in the County of Salop, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Trade of making Gloves, and Dressing of Leather, within the said Town, hath been, for many Years last past, a great Support to the poor People dwelling in and near the said Town, by being thereby employed and kept at work; but, of late, the great Taxes laid upon Salt, Alum, and Oil, with which the said Leather is dressed, hath so diminished the said Trade, that Half the working Glovers are already like to starve, for want of Work; and, if there should any further Tax be laid upon Leather it would prove almost, if not a total Destruction thereunto: And praying, That there may not be any further Duty laid upon Leather, but rather that the Trade of Skinners and Glovers may, for the future, be supported, and not destroyed.

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

Duty on Tin.

Sir Thomas Littleton, according to Order, reported, from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred to consider of the Matter relating to the Duty upon Tin exported, the Resolution of the said Committee; 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 was read; and is as followeth; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That if the Subsidy upon all Drugs, imported directly from the Place of their Growth, in English-built Shipping, were laid at the Rate of 5l. per Cent. according to the full Value, and not according to the Abatement in the Book of Rates; and all Drugs otherwise imported, at treble the said full Value; it will be an Equivalent for the taking off Four Shillings and Four-pence per Hundred Weight upon Tin exported.

The said Resolution being read a Second time;

An Amendment was proposed to be made, by adding "and Pewter," after "Tin:"

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

Resolved, That the House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, so amended, That if the Subsidy upon all Drugs, imported directly from the Place of their Growth, in English-built Shipping, were laid at the Rate of 5l. per Cent. according to the full Value, and not according to the Abatement in the Book of Rates; and all Drugs otherwise imported, at treble the said full Value; it will be an Equivalent for the taking off 4s. 4d. per Hundred Weight upon Tin and Pewter exported.

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in upon the said Resolution: And that Mr. Boscawen and Mr. AttorneyGeneral do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cook and Sir John Franklyn:

Mr. Speaker,

Rygate, &c. Roads.

The Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act for repairing the Highway between Rygate, in the County of Surrey, and Crawly, in the County of Sussex, without any Amendment:

Party Guiles in Brewing.

And also to the Bill, intituled, An Act for repealing a Clause in a former Act, relating to party Guiles; and for the better preventing the Frauds and Abuses of Brewers, and others chargeable with the Duties of Excise; without any Amendment:

Crowle's Estate.

And also to the Bill, intituled, An Act for vesting Part of the Estate of Roger Crowle Esquire, deceased, in Trustees, for raising Portions for his younger Children; in regard he, being a Lunatick, could not execute the Power in his Marriage-Settlement for that Purpose; without any Amendment:

Supply Bill; Deficiencies & Bank-Stock, &c.

And also to the Bill intituled, An Act for making good the Deficiencies of several Funds therein mentioned; and for enlarging the Capital Stock of the Bank of England; and for raising the publick Credit; without any Amendment.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Brokers and Stock-jobbers.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to restrain the Number, and ill Practices, of Brokers, and Stockjobbers: And that Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Rowland Gwyn, and Sir Joseph Tiley, do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Ditto.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to inquire into the ill Practices of Brokers and Stockjobbers; and report the same, with their Opinion thereupon, to the House:

And it is referred to Lord Coningsby, Sir Jos. Tiley, Mr. Chancellor of Exchequer, Mr. Shackerly, Mr. Moor, Mr. Arnold, Sir Walter Young, Lord Spencer, Sir Wm. Hustler, Sir Hen. Colt, Mr. Chadwick, Mr. Blofeld, Mr. Foley, Sir John Elwell, Mr. Hoar, Mr. Perry, Sir Tho. Littleton, Mr. Molesworth, Sir Wm. Ashurst, Mr. Culliford, Mr. Mawdit, Sir John Parsons, Mr. Cowper, Mr. Gery, Mr. Methwin, Lord Pawlet, Sir John Fleet, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Bethell, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Berty, Sir Hen. Hobart, Serjeant Wogan, Mr. Colt, Sir Isaac Rebow, Sir Tho. Davall, Lord Ranelagh, Sir Jac. Ashley, Mr. Done, Sir Cha. Sidley, Mr. Sloan, Mr. Egerton, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Ogle, Mr. Boscawen, Sir Wm. Cowper, Sir Rowl. Gwyn, Mr. Sandford, Mr. Pocklington, Mr. Morgan: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber: And are to sit de die in diem: And are impowered to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Privilege—Obnoxious Publication.

A Complaint being made to the House, That in a printed Paper, published this Day, intituled, "The Flying Post, or Post-Master," printed by John Salusbury, at the Rising Sun, in Cornhill, it is said; "We hear that when the Exchequer-Notes are given out, upon the Capitation Fund, whoever shall desire Specie on them will have it at 5l. and Half per Cent. of the Society of Gentlemen, that have subscribed to advance some Hundred thousands of Pounds;"

Resolved, That the said printed Paper is a malicious Insinuation, in order to destroy the Credit and Currency of the Exchequer-Bills.

Ordered, That the said John Salusbury be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, for printing and publishing the said Paper.

Preventing Publication of News without Licence.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to prevent the Writing, Printing, and Publishing, any News without Licence: And that Mr. Poultney and Mr. Moor do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Abuses in the Mint.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee appointed to examine what Dyes have been got out of the Tower; and by what Means; and to inquire into the Miscarriages of the Officers of the Mint; be made upon Tuesday Morning next.

African Company.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Monday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Bill for regulating and settling the Trade to Africa.

Royal Assent to Bills.

A Message from his Majesty, by Sir Fleetwood Shepherd, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod:

Mr. Speaker,

The King commands this Honourable House to attend him, in the House of Peers, immediately.

Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, with the House, went up to attend his Majesty.

And, being returned;

Mr. Speaker reported to the House, That his Majesty had been pleased to give the Royal Assent to the several publick and private Bills following; viz.

An Act for making good the Deficiencies of several Funds, therein mentioned; and for enlarging the Capital Stock of the Bank of England; and for raising the publick Credit:

An Act for Repealing of a Clause in a former Act, relating to party Guiles; and for the better preventing Frauds and Abuses of Brewers, and others chargeable with the Duties of Excise:

An Act for enlarging common Highways:

An Act for continuing several former Acts for punishing Officers and Soldiers who shall mutiny, or desert his Majesty's Service; and for punishing false Musters; and for Payment of Quarters; for One Year longer:

An Act for the completing, building, and adorning, the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, London; and for repairing the Collegiate Church of St. Peter, Westminster:

An Act for Relief of Creditors, by making Compositions with their Debtors, in case Two-thirds in Number and Value do agree:

An Act for paving and regulating the Hay-market, in the Parishes of St. Martin's in the Fields, and St. James', within the Liberty of Westminster:

An Act for repairing the Highway between Rygate, in the County of Surrey, and Crawley, in the County of Sussex:

An Act for explaining a former Act of Parliament, intituled, An Act for enabling Trustees to sell Part of the Estate of Edmund Warner, deceased, for Payment of his Debts; and for preserving the rest for the Benefit of his Heir:

An Act to enable William Fallows, an Infant, to sell an Estate, in the County of Chester, to pay Debts secured by Mortgages:

An Act to vest certain Lands, late of Samuel Trotman Esquire, deceased, lying in Barking, Eastham, Westham, and Woolwich, in the Counties of Kent and Essex, in Trustees, to be sold; and to settle other Lands in lieu thereof:

An Act to supply a Defect in an Act for enabling Oliver Neve Esquire to sell Two Houses, in London; and for settling Lands, in the County of Norfolk, of greater Value, to the same Uses:

An Act for vesting Part of the Estate of Roger Crowle Esquire, deceased, in Trustees, for raising Portions for his younger Children; in regard he, being a Lunatick, could not execute a Power in his Marriage-Settlement for that Purpose:

An Act for importing several Goods and Merchandizes, laden, in Turkey, on board the Ship called The Success and Dragon Gally; paying Customs as if imported by English Ships.

Transport Debt.

Mr. Norris, according to the Order of the Day, reported, from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for a further Provision for Payment of the Interest of the Transport-Debt, for the Reducing of Ireland, was committed, the Amendments, made by the Committee, to the said Bill; which they had directed him to report to the House; and which he read in his Place, with the Coherence; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Report be adjourned until Saturday Morning next.

Supply Bill; Wine Duties.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for granting to his Majesty certain Duties upon Wines, for carrying on the War against France.

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

Sir Thomas Littleton 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 upon Saturday Morning next.

Supply Bill; Malt Duties.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Saturday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Bill for granting to his Majesty certain Duties upon Malt and Mum, Sweets, Cyder, and Perry, as well towards carrying on the War against France, as for the necessary Expence of his Majesty's Household, and other Occasions.

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