Veneris, 16 die Decembris;

10° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Tone Navigation.

A PETITION of divers of the principal Inhabitants of the Town and Borough of Taunton in the County of Somerset, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the bringing of Sea-coal, and other heavy Goods, from the Town of Bridgwater, in the said County, to Taunton, by Water-carriage, would be a great Benefit to the Inhabitants of Taunton, and Parts adjacent; by encouraging Trade, and employing great Numbers of the Poor, who daily increase, and are become very burdensome: And praying, That Leave may be given to bring in a Bill for making the River Tone navigable from Bridgwater to the Town of Taunton; making Satisfaction to such Persons as shall be prejudiced thereby.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill, according to the Prayer of the said Petition: And that Mr. Clark do prepare, and bring, in the Bill.

Boralston Writ.

Sir Rowland Gwyn, being elected to serve in this present Parliament as a Knight for the County of Brecon; and also a Burgess for the Borough of Boralston, in the County of Devon; elected to serve for the County of Brecon.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for electing a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Borulston, in the County of Devon, in the room of Sir Rowland Gwyn, who has elected to serve for the County of Brecon.

Barailleau's, &c. Nat.

Ordered, That Leave may-be given to bring in a Bill for naturalizing Peter Barailleau, and others: And that Sir Rowland Gwyn do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Seizuresupon Outlawries.

A Bill for the speedier and more easy Discharging of Seizures in the Exchequer, upon Outlawries in Civil Actions, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Boscawen, Sir John Walter, Mr. Hoblyn, Mr. Duke, Sir Wm. Norris, Mr. Foley, Sir Hen. Parker, Mr. Mounsteven, Mr. Morgan, Mr. Clayton, Mr. How, Mr. Kendall, Mr. Vaughan, Sir Wm. Coriton, Mr. Blaake, Mr. England, Mr. Harley, Lord Downe; Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Mountague, Mr. Boyle, Mr. Nicolson, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Heveningham, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Hughes, Sir Abstr. Danby, Mr. Sloane, Mr. White, Mr. Pierpoint; and all the Gentlemen of the Long Robe: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers.

Liverpoole Election.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to enable the Town of Liverpoole to build a Church, and endow the same, by their own Contributions, and otherwise; and for making the said Town, and Liberties thereof, a Parish of itself, distinct from Walton: And that Sir Wm. Norris, Mr. Clayton, and Mr. Harley, do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Cricklade Election.

A Petition of Joseph Stiles Esquire was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That Charles Fo Esquire and the Petitioner were duly chosen to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Cricklade, in the County of Wilts; but instead of the Petitioner, the Bailiff hath returned Edward Pleydall Esquire, to the Petitioner's great Wrong: And praying Relief in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein to the House.

Aylesbury Election.

A Petition of Robert Dormer Esquire was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner was One of the Four Candidates at the last Election of Members to serve in this Parliament for the Borough of Aylesbury; where by divers illegal Practices in behalf of Sir Thomas Lee, a Sitting Member, and Simon Nayne Esquire, a Majority of Votes was procured for Sir Tho. Lee, who was thereupon returned, to the Petitioner's Prejudice: And praying the House to take the Premises into Consideration.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Pontefract Election.

A Petition of Robert Monkton Esquire was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner was duly chosen a Burgess to serve in this Parliament for the Borough of Pontefract, in the County of York, and ought to have been returned as such; but, by corrupt and illegal Methods, John Bright Esquire, procured himself to be returned, in Wrong to the Petitioner: And praying Relief therein.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

York Election.

A Petition of Edward Thompson Esquire was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That at the Election of Citizens to serve in this present Parliament for the City of York, the Petitioner, Sir Wm. Robinson, and Tobias Jenkins Esquire, stood Candidates; and many illegal Practices were used to gain Votes against the Petitioner, by giving Money to purchase their Freedoms, since the Dissolution of the last Parliament, and after the Order for calling the present Parliament: That the Mayor of York denied the Petitioner a Sight of the Names of those that were so made free; and threatened several who said they would vote for the Petitioner, to quarter Dragoons upon them; and did so, though contrary to Law; and turned others out of their Places, for saying, They were obliged to vote for the Petitioner: And that he was denied the Scrutiny of the Poll, though he did demand it, before the Books were closed; and, by many other illegal Practices, Mr. Jenkins procured himself to be returned, in Wrong to the Petitioner, who, upon a fair Election, would have had the Majority of legal Votes: And praying such Relief in the Premises as the House shall think just.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Speaker's Chamber to be locked.

Ordered, That the Serjeant do, every Morning at Ten a Clock, lock up the Back-doors of the Speaker's Chamber, and bring the Keys, and lay them upon the Table.

Privilege.

A Complaint being made to the House, That Mr. Robert Thompson and Samuel Robinson, with others, had, the last Day but One of the last Session of Parliament, entered upon Wood-hall Park and House, which was in the Possession of Richard Woollaston Esquire, a Member of this House, and seized his Goods, in Breach of the Privileges of this House;

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections, to examine the Matter of the said Complaint: And that they do report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Forces in England.

The Earl of Ranelagh, according to Order, presented to the House a List of all the Land Forces now in England; and of what other Forces are in English Pay:

And the same was read; and is as followeth; viz.

Memorandum: Over and above the aforesaid Numbers, there are Four Companies formed of maimed and decrepit Soldiers, each Company consisting of 150 private Men, besides Officers; which are quartered at Windsor, Hampton-Court, Tinmouth, and Chester; and who are allowed Five-pence a Day each, besides Cloaths once in Two Years: Besides which, the following Forces are in English Pay in the West-Indies, viz.

Ordered, That the said List be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Consideration of his Majesty's Speech is referred.

Distillation from Corn.

Ordered, That it be an Instruction to the Gentlemen, who are to prepare the Bill to prevent the distilling low Wines, and Spirits, from Corn, That they make Provision to prevent Frauds in Distillers of low Wines, and Spirits.

Forces in Ireland.

The Lord Coningsby, according to Order, presented to the House a List of his Majesty's Forces upon the Establishment of Ireland, in the Year 1698.

And the same was read; and is as followeth; viz.

English reformed Officers, upon the Establishment of Ireland, 420. Coningsby.

Ordered, That the said List be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Consideration of his Majesty's Speech is referred.

Members summoned.

Ordered, That the Serjeant do go with the Mace into Westminster-hall, and Court of Requests, and summon the Members there to attend the Service of the House.

And he went accordingly.

And, being returned;

The King's Speech considered.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to take into Consideration his Majesty's most gracious Speech.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Conyers took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Conyers reported from the said Committee, That they had come to a Resolution, which they had directed him to report, when the House will please to receive the same.

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

Mr. Conyers also acquainted the House, That he was directed by the said Committee to move, That they may have Leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, after the said Report, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of his Majesty's Speech.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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