House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 2 June 1698

Jovis, 2 die Junii;

Decimo Gulielmi.

Prayers.

Backwell's Creditors.

AN ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the Relief of the Creditors of Edward Backwell Esquire, deceased, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir John Walter, Mr. Bohun, Mr. Shackerly, Mr. Foley, Sir Wm. Drake, Sir Wm. Hustler, Mr. Boscawen, Mr. Pagitt, Mr. Mounstevens, Mr. Ja. Mountague, Sir Herbert Crofts, Sir Robert Cotton, Colonel Lee, Mr. Mawdit, Mr. Greville, Sir Tho. Lee, Mr. Christopher Mountague, Sir Henry Colt, Mr. Bertie, Mr. Gery, Mr. Fleming, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Yates, Mr. Colt, Mr. Foley, Mr. Methwen, Mr. Henly, Sir Tho. Day, Mr. Fox, Mr. Archer, Sir Marm. Wyvell, Lord Digby, Sir Samuel Barnardiston, Mr. Farrer, Mr. Nicholas, Sir John Manwaring, Sir Fran. Massam, Sir William Lowther, Colonel Granville, Mr. Culliford, Mr. Jennings, Mr. Harcourt, Colonel King, Mr. Hammond, Mr. Osborne, Lord Spencer, Sir Cha. Hotham, Mr. Beke, Sir Tho. Roberts, Mr. Holt, Sir Wm. Cooper, Mr. Hoar, Mr. Moor, Sir Cha. Carteret, Mr. Done, Mr. Bere, Sir Tho. Travell; and all that are Merchants of the House; and that serve for the City of London: And they are to meet this Afternoon, at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers.

Irish Arrears.

A Petition of Colonel Adam Murray, in behalf of himself and the Regiment he had in Londonderry, during the Siege thereof, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner was one of the Eight Colonels, who, with their Regiments, defended that City, during the Seige there: That the Petitioner, nor his Regiment, have received any Pay for their Services therein: And praying the House to take the Premises into Consideration; and that some Care may be had of him, and his Regiment.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of Colonel John Michellburn is referred: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same to the House.

Prevention of Gaming.

A Petition of Catharine and Mary Armstrong was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners having a Grant, from his present Majesty, of 200l. a Year, issuing out of the Royal Oak Lottery: And praying to be heard, before the Bill, now depending before this House, to prevent Gaming, pass into an Act.

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

Duties on Low Wines.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to prevent the Frauds and Abuses of Distillers, and others concerned in, or chargeable with, the Duties upon Low Wines and Spirits: And that Mr. Clarke do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Supply Bill; Duties on Vellum, &c.

A Bill for granting to his Majesty, his Heirs and Successors, further Duties upon stamped Vellum, Parchment, and Paper, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to a Committee of the whole House.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Bill.

Supply Bill; Duties on Salt.

A Bill for granting to his Majesty, his Heirs and Successors, several additional Duties on Salt, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to the said Committee of the whole House.

Duties on Salt.

A Petition of the Bailiffs, Burgesses, and other Inhabitants, of the Borough of Aldborough, in the County of Suffolke, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners, together with those of Dunwych and Southwold, in the said County, are the only Persons in England who make Red Sprats: That there is a Drawback of 3s. and 4d. upon every Barrel of Red Herrings exported: That the Consumption of Salt, on which there is likely to be a Duty laid, for curing each Last of Sprats, is equal to a Barrel of Red Herrings: And praying the same Allowance may be granted on the Exportation of Red Sprats.

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

Duties on Salt.

A Petition of Thomas Johnson, John Cleeveland, Richard Norris, and John Case, on behalf of themselves, and several other Persons, Melters and Refiners of Rock Salt, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, by an Act of 4th and 5th of his Majesty's Reign, there is a Duty of One Shilling per Bushel laid on Salt, with a Drawback of the said Duty on the Melting and Refining of Rock Salt: That, by another Act of 8th and 9th, there is a further Duty of One Peny per Gallon laid upon all Salt, with the like Allowance of a Drawback: That the Commissioners have made the Petitioners pay One Peny per Gallon for the Rock, and another for the Salt thereof, contrary to the Meaning of the said Act: And praying some Provision may be made for the said last Duty, with a Drawback, as the former is; and to grant them other Relief 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.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Refiners of Rock Salt within the City of Bristoll was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners have, at great Expence, erected Work-houses, and all Sorts of Conveniencies, for melting and refining the Salt Rock, brought by Sea from Leverpoole to Bristoll; in which, many Ships and Families are employed, and depend on, for a Livelihood: That the Petitioners are forced to pay, or secure, One Peny per Gallon, for the Salt made of such Salt Rock, and denied to draw-back, though the same is before paid at Liverpoole; which is contrary to the Meaning of Two Acts, made for that Purpose: And praying they may not be charged with any higher Duty than other Refiners of English Salt are.

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 Jonathan Blackburn Gentleman, and John Blackburn Gentleman, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, since the Duty of One Peny per Gallon, was laid upon Salt, the Excise-Officers have refused to allow the Petitioners a Drawback of the said Duty on Salt refined, as they did, and yet do, for the other of Twelve-pence per Bushel of Rock, so melted; whereby the Petitioners are discouraged from making Salt: And praying the said late Act may be explained; and they have other Relief, as shall be thought fit.

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 Mayor, Aldermen, and CommonCouncil, &c. of the Corporation of Liverpoole, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That his Majesty's Commissioners of Excise have made the Undertakers of the Salt drawn from Rock pay a double Duty, of One Peny per Gallon; viz. for the Rock, and for the Salt thereof made; contrary to the Intent of the Act of Parliament: And praying Relief therein.

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 Philip Doubt, Antony Julliot, Robert Wren, John Adams, and Robert Earle, Makers, Melters, and Refiners, of Salt, Inhabitants in the Borough of Biddeford, in the County of Devon, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That by an Act of Parliament, made in the 5th and 6th Years of his present Majesty, a Duty of Twelve-pence per Bushel was laid on Rock Salt, with an Allowance of a Drawback of the said Duty, on the same being melted and refined into White Salt: That, by a late Act, a further Duty of One Peny per Gallon is laid on Rock and White Salt; which the Officers will not allow shall be drawn back, as the said Twelve-pence per Bushel is: And praying Relief 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.

East India Company.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Saturday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the State of the East-India Company.

East India Company's Charter.

Ordered, That the East-India Company do lay before this House their last Charter, of One thousand Six hundred and Ninety-three.

Committee to inspect East India Company's Books.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to go to the East-India House, and to inspect the East-India Company's Books; and see what Dividends have been made since the Year 1689; and who subscribed since their last Charter; and which of them continue of the Company; and who particularly are interested in the present Capital, and their several Shares therein:

And it is referred to Sir John Bolls, Sir John Elwell, Lord Spencer, Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Henry Hobart, Lord Conningsby, Mr. Lowndes, Mr. Hoar, Sir Wm. Blacket, Sir Robert Rich, Sir Rowland Gwyn, Mr. Poultney, Lord Wm. Pawlett, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Norris, Sir Tho. Davall, Sir Walter Young, Sir Herbert Crofts; or any Three of them.

Sir T. Cooke's Account.

Ordered, That the Consideration of Sir Tho. Cooke's Letter and Papers, which were laid upon the Table, to be perused by the Members of the House, be referred to the Committee of the whole House, who are to consider of the State of the East-India Company.

Sir T. Cooke, &c. to attend.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Cooke and Sir Bazill Firebrasse do attend the said Committee of the whole House upon Saturday Morning next.

Coinage of Money.

Sir Marmaduke Wyvell reported from the Committee, to whom the Petitions of Andrew Perrot, and others, Inhabitants of the City of York; and the Petition of divers Tradesmen of the City of London; were referred; the Matter, as it appeared to the said Committee, and the Resolutions of the Committee thereupon; which they had directed him to report to the House; 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.

And that, upon the whole Matter, the Committee came to these Resolutions; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Sum of 18,833l. 16s. 7d. Part of the Sum of 29,209l. 16s. 7d. due to clear all the Mints, is necessary to be forthwith supplied, for clearing the Money due to public and private Importers, and for preserving the public Credit of the Mint.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Sum of 2,500l. in further Part of 29,209l. 16s. 7d. due to clear all the Mints, is necessary to be forthwith applied to the Country Mints, for discharging Artificers, and saving a further Expence to the Publick.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That about the Sum of 7,876l. which is claimed to complete the Sum due to clear all the Mints, ought to be raised; so as it may be paid in some reasonable time after the Bills are finally examined and allowed, for Satisfaction of the Buildings, and other Expences of the said Mints.

The First Resolution being read a Second time;

An Amendment was proposed to be made, by leaving out "necessary to be forthwith supplied," and inserting, instead thereof, "wanting:"

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 the Sum of 18,833l. 16s. 7d. Part of the Sum of 29,209l. 16s. 7d. due to clear all the Mints, is wanting, for clearing the Money due to publick and private Importers, and for preserving the publick Credit of the Mint.

The Second Resolution being read a Second time;

An Amendment was proposed to be made, by leaving out "necessary to be forthwith applied," and inserting, instead thereof, "wanting:"

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 the Sum of 2,500l. in further Part of 29,209l. 16s. 7d. due to clear all the Mints, is wanting to the Country Mints, for discharging Artificers, and saving a further Expence to the Publick.

The Third Resolution being read a Second time.

An Amendment was proposed to be made, by leaving out "which."—" to complete the Sum due to clear all the Mints, ought to be raised; so as it may be paid in some reasonable time after the Bills are finally examined and allowed (fn. 1) :"

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, . . . . . . . That about the Sum of 7,876l. is claimed, for satisfaction of the Buildings, and other Expences, of the said Mints.

Lustring Trade.

The House resumed the adjourned Debate, of Yesterday, upon Clause A, to the Bill for the Encouragement of the Lustring Company, and the more effectual preventing the fraudulent Importations of Lustrings and Alamodes:

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

And the Residue of the Amendments to the said Bill were read; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

A Clause was offered to be added to the Bill, That it shall not be lawful for any Landlord to seize or distrain any the Silk Looms, Harnesses, or other Utensils, for Rent, or Arrears of Rent, due from any Artificer working the Silk Manufacture.

And the same was twice read.

And the Question being put, That the Clause be made Part of the Bill;

It passed in the Negative.

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

Duties on Marriages, &c.

The House, according to Order, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, upon the Bill for preventing Frauds and Abuses in the charging, collecting, and paying, the Duties upon Marriages, Births, Burials, Bachelors, and Widowers; and for better answering the Produce thereof into the Exchequer, for or towards the Satisfaction of the Principal and Interest-money charged thereupon.

Mr. Speaker lest the Chair.

Sir Tho. Littleton took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir Thomas Littleton reported from the said Committee, That they had gone through the Bill, and made several Amendments thereunto; 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.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

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