House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 4 March 1699

Journal of the House of Commons: Volume 12, 1697-1699. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1803.

'House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 4 March 1699', in Journal of the House of Commons: Volume 12, 1697-1699, (London, 1803) pp. 547-551. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/commons-jrnl/vol12/pp547-551 [accessed 19 April 2024]

Sabbati, 4 die Martii;

11° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

SCIPIO Guy, James Peltier, Francis Deurune, Bartholomew Arabine, Elias Neau, took the Oaths appointed, in order to their Naturalization.

Ship Nazareth.

A Bill for the Ship Nazareth to trade as a free Ship was read a Second time,

And a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Bill be committed;

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That the Bill be rejected.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Harcourt have Leave to go into the Country, for a Month, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Chenevix's, &c. Nat.

An ingrossed Bill to naturalize Philip Chenevix was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act to naturalize Peter Chenevix, and others.

Ordered, That the Lord Hartington do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Duty on Glass.

A Petition of several Persons, in behalf of themselves, and other poor working Glass-makers, in the City of Gloucester, and Town of Newenham, in the County of Gloucester, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That they petitioned this House, the last Session of Parliament, to redress their Grievances, by reason of the Duty upon Glass-wares; whereby the Petitioners lost their Employment for Two Years, and the House took off Half the Duty; but the remaining Half is such a Discouragement to that Manufacture, that they are not like to have above Three Months Work, to work off an old Stock; there being very little or no Profit, above the Half-Duty, to be gained, unless the Duty be quite taken off; which does not now amount to above 1,000l. per Annum, above the Charge of Collection; though the same is the Ruin of the Petitioners, and Loss of the Glass Manufacture: And praying, That the said remaining Half-Duty may be taken off.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of several poor labouring Artificers in the Glass Manufacture, in and about the City of London, is referred.

Army Arrears.

A Petition of the Serjeants, Corporals, Drummers, and private Centinels, of the Regiment under the Command of the late Colonel John Foulks, and General of the Forces of the Expedition to the West-Indies, in the Year 1692, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there is a considerable Sum of Money due to the Petitioners; who were never discounted with; but are reduced to a starying Condition: And praying, That Colonel Lillingston, who succeeded Colonel Fulks, together with Agent Paine, and John Thruston Esquire, Agent, may be ordered to balance the Petitioners Accounts, and pay them what is justly their Due.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Soldiers of Colonel Coot's Regiment is referred.

Duty on Leather.

A Petition of the Wardens, and Masters, of the Glovers Occupation, of the Town of Brecon, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the great Duty upon Leather, and more especially, upon Alum and Salt, is a Cause of the Decay of the Petitioners Trade; the which, with the great Duties on Leather imported, and the late Death of Sheep, renders Leather so scarce and dear, that they cannot get sufficient to carry on that little Trade they have; because that which used to come hither from Ireland is sent into foreign Parts; neither can the Petitioners sell, by their wholesale Trade to London, near so dear as before the said Impositions; to the utter Ruin of some, and Impoverishment of the whole Trade: And praying the House to take the Premises into Consideration, That the Clause, in the Act for laying a Duty upon Leather, concerning Alum-Leather, may be repealed.

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

Ditto.

A Petition of the Tanners, and Leather-cutters, within the Town of Beverly, in the County of York, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, out of a Sense of Duty to his Majesty, they have endeavoured to pay the Duty of 15 l. per Cent. upon Leather hitherto, though it has been very burdensome to the Petitioners; the which they are no longer able to bear; and, if the same be continued, it will be their utter Ruin: And praying, That the said Duty may be taken off.

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

Ditto.

A Petition of the Cordwainers within the Town of Beverly, in the County of York, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners are very much impoverished, by the Duty of 15 l. per Cent. laid upon Leather; to which the Transportation of tanned Leather, which causes it to be scarce and dear, does not a little add; both which have reduced the Petitioners to great Exigencies: And praying, That the said Duty may not only be taken off; but also, that the Transportation of all tanned Leather may be prohibited.

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

Army Arrears.

A Petition of the Inhabitants of Plymouth was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That Major-General Erle's Regiment being quartered at Plymouth, for several Years, the Officers contracted many considerable Debts to the Inhabitants, for which they gave them Bills upon their Arrears; but the said Regiment hath, some time since, been disbanded; yet the Petitioners can get no Satisfaction of the Officers; who still say they have not received their Arrears: And praying the Relief of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Petition do lie upon the Table.

Burnet's Nat.

An ingrossed Bill to naturalize George Burnet was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act to naturalize George Burnet.

Ordered, That Mr. Trelawney do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Trent Navigation.

Mr. Pagit, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for making the River Trent, in the Counties of Leicester, Derby, and Stafford, navigable: Which was, according to Order, read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time, upon Thursday Morning next.

Woollen Manufacture

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Bill for the better Improvement of the Woollen Manufacture, by making the Act, in the 8th and 9th Years of his Majesty's Reign, to restore the Market at Blackwell-hall to the Clothiers, and regulate the Factors there, more effectual, was committed, be now received.

Mr. Eyres, accordingly reported from the said Committee, That they had made several Amendments to the said Bill; 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.

Ordered, That the said Report be taken into Consideration upon Tuesday Morning next, at Ten a Clock.

Papists Protestant Heirs.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Bill to prevent Papists from disinheriting their Protestant Heirs was committed, be made upon Monday Sevennight.

Writs of Error.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Bill for limiting a certain Time for bringing Writs of Error to reverse Fines and Recoveries, and ancient Judgments, be made upon Monday Morning next.

Making Militia more useful.

A Bill for making the Militia of this Kingdom more useful was, according to Order, read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time, upon Monday Sevennight; and nothing to intervene.

Deficient Parliamentary Funds.

Mr. Lowndes, according to Order, presented to the House an Account of such Parliamentary Funds as are deficient, for which no Provision is made: And also,

An Account of the Monies given in the Session of Parliament holden on the 3d Day of December 1697; and how the same have been applied.

The Titles whereof were read.

The First Account is as followeth; viz.



In the First Session of the Parliament begun and holden, at Westminster, on the 22th Day of November 1695, several Duties on low Wines were granted, for Five Years, from Ladyday 1696; with Power to borrow any Sums thereupon not exceeding 70,000 l. at the Rates of Interest following; that is to say, Six per Cent. per Annum, for the First 40,000 l. and Seven per Cent. per Annum, for the remaining 30,000 l.: By virtue whereof, there was borrowed, at the Exchequer, the Sum of 69,959 l. 16 s. 6 d.; of which there is repaid the Sum of 26,750 l.; and there remains unpaid, of the Principal Money, 43,209 l. 16 s. 6d. the Term being more than half expired; and there being a Restraint intended, by a Bill, now depending, to limit the Quantities of Wines to be drawn from malted Corn, for One Year, it is likely, that this Fund will be deficient at Lady-day 1701, at least	£.	s.	d.
	* *	*	*
In the Second Session of the said Parliament holden, by Prorogation, upon the 20th Day of October 1696, several Powers were given to make forth Bills of Credit for 2,700,000 l. with Interest; which Bills were to be satisfied and cancelled, upon several Funds; whereupon the Deficiencies are computed, in the Paper hereunto annexed; amounting, besides Interest due, and to grow due, upon the Bills yet uncancelled, to the Sum of	923,244	12	8½
In the same Session, a Land-Tax of 3 s. in the Pound was granted to his Majesty, with a Clause of Credit for 1,500,000l. at 8 per Cent. Interest; which was borrowed; and 1,075,901 l. 0s. 9½d. of the Principal is repaid; and the Principal Monies, besides Interest, unpaid, upon the Register for this Tax, are 424,098 l. 19s. 2½d.; towards which, the Arrears standing out in the Hands of Receivers, or Collectors, do amount to about 8,000 l.: So the Deficiencies of this Tax, besides Interest, is	416,000	—	—
In the same Session, several Duties were granted upon Paper and Parchment, for Two Years, ended the 1st Day of March now last past, with a Clause of Credit; whereon (fn. 1) [30,000 l.] was borrowed, at 8 l. per Cent. to encourage bringing in Plate to be coined: The said Duties have paid off 14,600 l. besides Interest; and the Principal Money remaining unsatisfied, at 8 l. per Cent. per Annum Interest, is	15,400	—	—
In the same Session, certain Duties were imposed upon Leather, for Three Years, from the 20th April 1697, and appropriated to pay off 564,700 l. which had been lent on the Coal-Duties, taken away by another Act, and the Interest thereof; upon which principal Sum, there now remains unsatisfied 506,438 l.; and the gross Produce of the Duties upon Leather being about 90,000 l. per Annum, and the Charge of Management thereof being about 20,000 l. per Annum, the same may, by the 20th April 1700, produce, in net Money, about 70 or 80,000 l. more; and then the Deficiencies will be about	426,438	—	—
Memorandum: It is Enacted, Page 430, That, if the Duties on Leather fall short, the Deficiencies shall be made good out of the next Aid to be granted after the End of the said Three Years.
In the same Session, certain Duties were laid upon Malt, Mum, Sweets, Cyder, and Perry, from the 20th April 1697, to the 20th July 1699, and the said Malt-Duties were appropriated to pay off 200,000 l. borrowed at the Exchequer, with the Interest thereof, at 8 l. per Cent. and 1,200,000 l. in Tickets, with Interest thereof, at about 3 l. 15s. per Cent. per Annum: The said Malt-Duties have produced into the Exchequer sufficient to pay off the said 200,000 l. and Interest, and 390,000 l. and Interest upon the said Tickets; so that the Principal Money resting upon Tickets is 810,000 l.; and the Interest to be paid by the End of the Term will, by Estimation, amount to 115,000 l.; in both, 925,000 l.; towards which, the said Malt-Duties may yet produce, upon the present Grant thereof, 300,000 l.; and then there will be a Deficiency of	625,000	—	—
Memorandum: There is a Clause, Page 453, That if the Malt-Duties did not produce into the Exchequer, before 20th April 1698, the Sum of 800,000 l. then the Deficiency, to make up 800,000 l. should be supplied out of the First Aid to be granted after the 20th of April 1698; and if the Malt-Duties before the 29 of September 1699, with the Money in the mean time to be supplied, as aforesaid, should not amount to 1,515,000 l. then so much as would make up 1,515,000 l. should be made good out of the First Aid to be granted after the 29th of September 1699.
In the Session of Parliament holden, by Prorogation, on the 3d of December 1697, a Quarterly Poll, for One Year, was granted to his Majesty; and, by a Clause of Credit thereupon, the Sum of 500,000 l. hath been borrowed, at 7 l. per Cent. for the First 250,000 l. and 8 l. per Cent. for the remaining 250,000 l.: This Poll, by Estimation, will make about 320,000 l.; and then there will be wanting for Principal, besides Interest	180,000	—	—
There is due, to complete the Million Lottery Annuities to Michaelmas 1698, the Sum of 92,000 l.; and to complete 100,000 l. per Annum to the Bank of England, to the First of June 1698, the Sum of 31,771 l. 19s. 8 d.; and to complete the Annuities lately payable out of the Tonage-Duties, at Christmas 1699, about 30,000 l.: In all, for these Particulars, about 153,771 l. 19s. 8d.; which being supplied, the additional Excise would be sufficient for the growing Annuities	153,771	19	8
4 March 1698/9. In all £.	2,759,854	12	4½

Wm. Lowndes.



In the Session of Parliament holden, by Prorogation, on the 20th Day of October 1696, several Subsidies, commonly called the Capitation-Duties, were granted to his Majesty, for One Year; with Power to issue Bills thereupon, for any Sums not exceeding 1,500,000 l.; which Bills, to that Value, were made forth, and bear Interest at the Rate of 5 d. a Day for every Hundred Pounds, when they are not in the publick Receipts: The whole Sum arisen by the said Subsidies, or Capitation-Duties, into the Exchequer, to this time, doth amount to 560,309 l. 18s. 5½d.; and the Principal Money upon cancelled Bills, satisfied out of the same doth amount to 542,226 l. 10s. 4d.; and the Complement thereof, to the principal Sum of 1,500,000 l. is	957,773	9	8
In the same Session, there was granted to his Majesty an Aid of 1s. in the Pound upon Land, payable in the Year 97; and a further Subsidy of Tonage and Poundage, for Two Years and Three Quarters, ending the First of February 1699; with Power to make forth more Bills, for any Sums not exceeding 1,200,000 l. at the like Interest; which Bills were also issued; and the Money hitherto arisen into the Exchequer, by the said 1s. in the Pound upon Land, doth amount to 403,456 l. 5s. 5½d.; and by the Subsidy of Tonage and Poundage to 443,857 l. 16s. 8d.; out of which Two Sums last-mentioned, there have been cancelled as many Bills as, in principal Money, amount to 806,709 l.; and the Complement thereof, to 1,200,000 l. is	393,291	—	—
The Total is £.	1,351,064	9	8

Towards which, there doth remain the Particulars following; viz.



	£.	s.	d.
Arrears standing out upon the Capitation-Act, in the Hands of Receivers and Collectors, about	5,000	—	—
(fn. 2) [And on the said 12 Pence in the Pound upon Land, about	4,000	—	—
The Subsidy of Tonage and Poundage to the 1st February next 1699, by Estimation about	180,000	—	—
There was a Credit given, on the Aid of 3s. in the Pound upon Land, payable Anno 1698, for 1,400,000 l.; and it was thereby Enacted, That, after the Sums therein mentioned should be satisfied, or transferred, the Loans for the remaining Part of the said 1,400,000 l. might be made in Exchequer-Bills, or in Money to buy Bills; and that such Bills should be cancelled: Which Remainder doth amount to 238,819 l. 16s. 11½d.	238,819	16	11½
In all, to be deducted				427,819	16	11½
So there is, and will be, deficient, to clear all the said Exchequer-Bills	£.			923,244	12	8½

Besides all Interest now due, and hereafter to grow due, upon the Bills remaining uncancelled.

Memorandum: In the Act for the 1,500,000l. Bills, there is a Clause, Page 132, That if the Aids or Supplies, therein mentioned should be deficient to raise the said 1,500,000l. such Deficiencies should be, in the First Place, made good and supplied out of any the Monies that should be raised by any Act or Acts of the then next Session of Parliament.

And, by another Clause in the Act for the said 1,200,000 l. Bills, Page 521, it is Enacted, That all the Bills which should not be cancelled, by the Produce of the Funds or Supplies therein mentioned, by the 25th Day of March 1698, should be satisfied, as well by the Arrears of those Funds, as out of the Money which should arise by any Aids to be granted in the then next Session of Parliament.

The 2nd Account is in a Book by itself.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Accounts be referred to the Committee of the whole House, who are to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty.

Supply.

Mr. Cooper according to Order, reported, from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred to consider of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, the Resolution, 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 was read; and is as followeth; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That a Sum, not exceeding the Sum of Three hundred thousand Pounds, be granted to his Majesty, for maintaining Guards and Garrisons for the Year 1699.

The said Resolution being read a Second time;

Resolved, That the House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, That a Sum, not exceeding the Sum of 300,000l. be granted to his Majesty, for maintaining Guards and Garrisons for the Year 1699.

Army Arrears.

The Earl of Ranelagh, according to Order, laid before the House an Abstract of the Accounts due to the several Garrisons, to the First Day of January 1698: And also,

An Abstract of the Arrears due to the several Regiments in Ireland, in Scotland, in the Service of the States of Holland, and in the West-Indies.

The Titles whereof were read.

And the said Abstracts are as follow; viz.

The said Abstract of Arrears due to the several Regiment following; viz.



	Arrears of Subsistence in Flanders.			Arrears of Pay.			Totals.
In Ireland.	£.	s.	d.	£.	s.	d.	£.	s.	d.
Major General Leveson's, to the 19th September 1698	4,908	8	3¾	16,077	16	7	20,986	4	10¾
Brigadier Langston's, to 26 March 98.	4,661	12	7	15,440	9	9	20,102	2	4
Colonel Rosse's Dragoons, to the 27 April 98.	5,685	18	8	8,986	2	5	14,672	1	1
Colonel Webb's Regiment of Foot, to the 19 March 97.	3,083	18	6	13,796	4	9	16,880	3	3
Sir Bevill Granvill's, to the 13 August 98.	623	5	3	13,308	12	6	13,931	17	9
Colonel Brewer's, to the 1st of January 97.	2,592	4	—	11,184	11	7	13,776	15	7
Sir John Jacob's, to the 9th of April 1698				16,977	2	7	16,977	2	7
Colonel Tidcomb's, to 26 March 1698				12,333	2	5	12,333	2	5
Colonel How's, to the 12 March 1697	3,210	7	10	12,673	17	6	15,84	5	4
Sir Math. Bridges's, to the 10th December 97	2,644	5	11½	10,270	14	8	12,915	—	7½
Colonel Stanly's, to the 5 March 97.	2,457	11	1	10,382	1	2	12,839	12	3
Marquis de Puissar's, to the 11 December 97.	952	—	9½	12,137	19	2	13,088	19	11½
Brigadier Ingoldby's, to the 26 February 97	2,587	9	7¾	11,083	1	—	13,670	10	7¾
Brigadier Tiffin's, to the 10th December 97	3,205	6	9	10,725	17	9	13,931	4	6
Colonel Collumbin's, to the 30 July 1698	1,288	1	1½	11,662	2	7	12,950	3	8½
Brigadier Fairfax's, to the 13 August 1698	3,591	19	3	11,734	7	10	15,326	7	1
Colonel Fred. Hamilton's, to the 10 December 1697	2,838	11	6	8,149	18	5	10,988	9	11
Sir Henry Bellasis', to the 26 March 1698				10,370	9	8	10,370	9	8
Major General Stewart's, to the same Time				10,369	14	7	10,369	14	7
£.	44,330	1	3	227,664	6	11	271,994	8	2
In Scotland.
Troop of Scotch Guards, to 1st January 97, including their Arrear of Subsistence				13,351	2	6	13,351	2	6
Lord Tiviot's Dragoons, to 8 February 97.	6,213	8	5½	11,414	7	11	17,627	16	4½
Lord Jedbrough's Dragoons, to the 31 March 98.	6,723	11	4¼	8,822	14	3	15,546	5	7¼
Regiment of Scots Foot-Guards, to the 1st February 98.	3,165	12	9	11,908	9	6	15,074	2	3
Sir David Coljear's Regiment, to the 10 March 97	4,909	15	9	12,839	8	4	17,749	4	1
Colonel Row's, to the 11 January 97.	3,591	14	5	9,061	5	10	12,653	—	3
Brigadier Maitland's, to the 4th February 1697	4,380	15	6	10,075	—	7	14,455	16	1
Colonel Geo. Hamilton's, to the 21 December 97	2,622	7	6	6,148	19	6	8,771	7	—
£.	31,607	5	8¾	83,621	8	5	115,228	14	1¾
In the Service of the States of Holland.
Colonel Ferguson's Regiment, to the 21 December 1697, inclusive	2,541	18	9	9,612	15	2	12,154	13	11
Colonel Murry's, late Makay's, to that Time	946	—	10	10,536	15	4	11,482	16	2
Colonel Walt. Coljear's, to the same Time	4,064	5	9	9,601	11	10	13,665	17	7
Colonel Lander's, to the same Time	2,479	14	5	9,579	13	1	12,059	7	6
Lord Strathnaver's, to the same Time	2,473	9	7	6,132	6	6	8,605	16	1
Major-General Eppinger's Dragoons, to the 11th October 98	31,741	19	10	12,954	—	4	44,696	—	2
£.	44,247	9	2	58,417	2	3	102,664	11	5
In the West-Indies.
Colonel Collingwood's Foot, to the 1st January 98				11,781	4	10	11,781	4	10
Company at Barbadoes, to the same Time, including their Arrears of Subsistence				2,305	2	8	2,305	2	8
Company at the Leeward Islands, to the same Time, including their Arrears of Subsistence				4,219	—	2	4,219	—	2
£.				18,305	7	8	18,305	7	8

Memorandum: There is included in the Column of Arrears of Pay, in this Abstract, and the former Abstracts given into this House, the Off-reckonings (the Fund for Cloathing), from the First of January 1697, to which Time they are provided for by Parliament, to the 1st of January 1698, amounting to 125,799l. 18s. 5½d.

The other Abstract of Arrears due to the several Garisons.



	Arrears of Subsistence.			Arrears of Pay.
	£.	s.	d.	£.	s.	d.
From the 1st April 93, to the 1st April 1694				9,417	18	—
From the 1st April 94, to the 1st April 1695				9,410	—	—
From the 1 April 95, to the 1st April 1696				9,399	—	—
From the 1 April 96, to the 1 April 1697				9,447	18	—
From the 1 April 97, to the 1 April 1698				9,447	18	—
From the 1st April 98, to the 1st January 1698	3,786	15	5½	7,085	18	6
	3,786	15	5½	54,208	12	6
				3,786	15	5½
			Total £.	57,995	7	11½

(fn. 3) [Memorandum: Besides the above Arrear, the Garisons are in Arrear of Subsistence since the First of January 1698, to this Time.].

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Abstracts be referred to the Committee of the whole House, who are to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty.

Ways and Means.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Tuesday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of Ways and Means for raising the Supply granted to his Majesty.

Supply.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Cowper took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Cowper reported from the said Committee, That they had directed him to move, That they may have Leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Thursday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

And then the House adjourned till Monday Morning, Eight a Clock.