House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 9 March 1699

Jovis, 9 die Martii;

11° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

THEOPHILUS Duchesne, Revixit Van Naerssen, and Isaac Francis Petitt, took the Oaths appointed, in Order to their Naturalization.

Ordnance Estimate.

Sir Henry Goodrick, according to Order, presented to the House an Estimate of the Charge of the Office of his Majesty's Ordnance, for Land-Service, for the Year 1699.

And the Title thereof was read.

The Estimate is as followeth; viz.

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

Andrews' Estate.

Sir Charles Barrington reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for Sale of the Manor of Downham, in the County of Essex, the Estate of Sir Francis Andrews; and for buying and settling other Lands, to the same Uses; was committed; That they had examined and considered the same, and had made some Amendments thereunto; 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 once read throughout; and then a Second time, one by one; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

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

Vesey's Estate.

A Bill to enable Dudley Vesey, an Infant, to sell hi Estate in Hintlesham, in the County of Suffolk, for the Payment of his Debts, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Russian Trade.

The House proceeded to take into Consideration the Amendment, made by the Lords, to the Bill for enlarging the Trade to Russia:

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

At the End of the Bill, add Clause, marked A; viz.

That the Commissioners of the Customs shall, at every Session of Parliament, lay before both Houses a true Account, in Writing, under their Hands, of what Naval Stores have been imported into this Kingdom, by any Persons trading to Russia:

The said Amendment, being read a Second time, was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Davall do carry the Bill to the Lords, and acquaint them, That this House hath agreed to the said Amendment.

Duty on Leather.

A Petition of the Tanners, Shoemakers, Curriers, Glovers, Leather-dressers, Whit-tawers, Sadlers, and other Artificers in Leather, within the ancient Town and Borough of Alnwick, in the County of Northumberland, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, by reason of the late great Duties laid upon Leather, most of the Petitioners have been ruined, and forced to give over their Trades; and, if the same should be continued, it will, in all Probability, tend to the Impoverishment of the rest, and their Families: And praying the House, by some Ways and Means, to redress the Petitioners Grievances.

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

Duty on Glass.

A Petition of the Masters and poor working Glassmakers, in and about the Town of Newcastle upon Tyne, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the House, taking off Half the Duty upon Glass, encouraged the Petitioners to carry on their Employments; and yet they have scarce been able to get Bread thereby, for their Families, by reason of the remaining Duty, and the great Encouragement the said Manufacture has in Scotland, and other foreign Countries; by being supplied with Wood, Ashes, and Clay, from England, they will be enabled not only to furnish foreign Markets, and undersell the Petitioners, but also to import Glass into this Kingdom, to the Ruin of the Petitioners, and Extirpation of the said Manufacture: And praying, That the remaining Duty upon Glass may be taken off, for the Petitioners Relief in the Premises.

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.

Apprehending Felons.

Ordered, That the Committee, to whom the Bill for the better Apprehending, Prosecuting, and Punishing, of Felons, that commit Burglary, or House-breaking, or Robbery in Shops or Warehouses, is committed, have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Army Arrears.

A Petition of Peter Moudet, in the behalf of himself, and several others, Merchants and Tradesmen, who have trusted several Sums to several Officers of the Earl of Portland's Regiment, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners Debts were put off to be paid at the Clearing of the said Regiment, which, in time, is near to be paid off; and if Mr. Vanderess, the Paymaster of the Dutch Forces, is not ordered to satisfy the Petitioners before the Money falls into the Officers Hands, or if the Payment should be made beyond Sea, the Petitioners fear they shall lose their just Debts: And praying the Relief of the House in the Premises; the Petitioners having sought it at the Horse-Guards, of the General Officers there, but have had no Relief therein.

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

Ditto.

A Petition of John Armstrong, Edmund Marshall, and Alexander Bease, in behalf of themselves, and others, Troopers, reduced out of his Majesty's Regiment of Horse, commanded by the Honourable Brigadier Francis Langston, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, when they were reduced, their Horses, which they brought into the Service, were detained from them, contrary to the King's Order; and though they never had any Horse from their Officers, yet they stopped, out of their Subsistence-Money, Six Stivers a Day per Man, for Mounting-Money, during the Campaigns in 1693, 94, 95, and 1696; 2s. 10d. out of every 20 s. for Returns; and many other great Deductions; amounting to 8 or 10 l. a Man, per Annum; which have brought the Petitioners to a very low and miserable Condition: And praying, That the House will relieve them in their Necessities, and just Complaints.

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.

Carcassomett's, &c. Nat.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the Naturalization of John Carcassomet, and others, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Vyner's Creditors.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the Relief of the Creditors of Sir Robert Vyner Knight and Baronet, deceased, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir John Thorold, Sir John Conway, Sir Cha. Shuckborough, Mr. Mitchell, Sir William Villers, Sir Richard Farrington, Mr. Tredenham, Sir Theoph. Oglethorp, Mr. Gourdon, Sir Edw. Seymour, Mr. How, Mr. Cook, Mr. Foster, Mr. Hamond, Mr. Duncomb, Mr. Moor, Sir Rich. Cocks, Sir Robert Davers, Sir Hen. Pickering, Mr. Bulkley, Sir William Drake, Mr. Perry, Mr. Heveningham, Sir Robert Clayton, Mr. Poultney, Sir Wm. Cowper, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Sir Wm. Hustler, Mr. Palmes, Sir Edw. Ernly, Mr. Clark, Mr. Brotherton, Dr. Davenant, Sir Edw. Hussey, Mr. Cholmly, Mr. Selwyn, Mr. Cox, Sir John Cope, Mr. Thornhagh, Mr. Vane, Mr. Harvey, Mr. Hayes: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Augmenting Vicarages.

Mr. Onslow reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for settling Augmentations on some small Vicarages, for ever, was committed, That they had examined and considered the same; and had made some Amendments thereunto; 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 once read throughout; and then a Second time, one by one; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

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

Trent Navigation.

A Bill for making the River Trent, in the Counties of Leicester, Derby, and Stafford, navigable, was, according to Order, read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Pagitt, Sir Abstrupus Danby, Mr. Diott, Sir Cha. Barrington, Mr. Heveningham, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Bulkly, Mr. Osborne, Sir Rich. Farrington, Mr. Vernon, Sir Ja. Houblon, Mr. Bertie, Mr. England, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Mr. Tredenham, Mr. Thornhagh, Sir Richard Cocks, Mr. Cowper, Sir Edward Hussey, Mr. Henly, Sir John Bolles, Sir Row. Gwyn, Mr. Vaughan, Mr. Philips, Mr. Foley, Mr. Varney, Sir Edward Seymour, Mr. Gyon, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Stringer, Mr. Yates, Mr. Gott, Mr. Lake, Mr. Cox, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Gurdon, Mr. Carter, Sir Robert Eden; and all that serve for the Counties of Leicester, Derby, Stafford, and Warwick: And they are to meet To-morrow Morning at Eight a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Deficiency of Parliamentary Funds.

A Petition of several Persons, unto whom is now due great Sums of Money, upon the Credit of an Act for granting to his Majesty certain Duties upon Malt, Mum, Sweets, Cyder, and Perry, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, . . . . the said Duties were granted to his Majesty, from the 20th of April 1697, to the 20th of July 1699, with a Power for any Persons to contribute towards the advancing the Sum of 1,400,000 l.; and in case the said Duties should prove so deficient, as that the same, with the Monies brought into the Exchequer, before the 20th of April 1698, should not amount to the Sum of 800,000 l. then the Deficiency should be made good, and supplied, out of the First Aids to be granted in Parliament, after the said 20th of April 1698: That, on the said 20th of April 1698, the said Duties, so granted, produced into the Exchequer no more than the Sum of 343,904 l. 16s. 9d.; so that the Sum of 456,095 l. 3s. 3d. was then deficient: And praying, That the House will provide for the Deficiency of the said 80,000 l. according to the said Act.

Resolved, That the said Petition be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of the whole House, for granting the Supply to his Majesty; and to whom the Consideration of the Deficiency of Parliamentary Funds, for which no Provision is made, is referred.

Penne's Estate.

Ordered, That * * * * be added to the Committee, to whom the ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, for enabling George Penne Esquire to sell Lands, for the Payment of his Debts, and other Purposes therein mentioned, is committed.

Ways and Means.

Mr. Cowper, according to Order, reported, from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred to consider of Ways and Means for raising the Supply granted to his Majesty, the Resolutions 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.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee That for the disbanding the Army, providing for the Fleet, and other necessary Occasions, an Aid be granted to his Majesty, to be laid upon all Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments, for One Year.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee That an Aid be granted to his Majesty, to be laid upon all Pensions, Offices, and personal Estates whatsoever, for One Year.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Aids be a Sum not exceeding Three Shillings in the Pound, of the yearly Value of all such Lands, Tenements, Hereditaments, Pensions, Offices, and persoual Estates, to be rated, and levied, according to the Proportions laid upon the several Counties, Cities, Towns, and Places, by an Act of the last Session of Parliament, intituled, An Act for granting to his Majesty the Sum of 1,484,015 l. 1s. 11¾d. for disbanding Forces, paying Seamen, and other Uses therein mentioned.

The said Resolutions, being severally read a Second time, were, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in upon the said Resolutions: And that Mr. Sollicitor-General, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Cowper and Mr. Lowndes, do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Earl Orford's Account.

Ordered, That the Commissioners of the Navy do lay before this House the contingent Account of Admiral Russell, now Earl of Orford; and what passed between the said Earl and the said Commissioners of the Navy, in relation to the said Account.

East-India Company.

The Bill brought in upon the Petition of the Governor and Company of Merchants trading to the East-Indies was, according to Order, read the First time.

And a Motion being made, and the Question being put that the Bill be read a Second time;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

Then a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Bill be rejected;

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Supply.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Saturday 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 To-morrow Morning, Eight a Clock.