House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 27 March 1699

Lunæ, 27 die Martii;

Undecimo Gulielmi 3tii.

Prayers.

Farrington Roads.

A BILL for the Repair of the Highways from the Stream in Farrington Port to St. John's Bridge, in the Parish of Burscott, in the County of Berks, was read a Second time.

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

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

Copper Coinage.

A Petition of the Mayor, Aldermen, and several of the Inhabitants, and Traders of the Borough of Chipping-Wicomb, on the Behalf of themselves, and the rest of the Traders there, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Trade of the said Town consists chiefly in buying of Corn, and sending the same to London, where their Factors are forced to take Five Pounds in Farthings and Halfpence in every Hundred Pounds; by reason whereof, the Country is so filled with such Money, that the same is become very burdensome to the Country: And praying the Consideration of the House; and Relief in the Premises.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the Bill to prevent the Coining of Farthings and Halfpence, for One Year, be read a Second time.

Posthumous Children to inherit.

A Bill to enable posthumous Children to inherit their Father's Estate was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Brewer, Sir Ja. Oxenden, Lord Cornbury, Mr. Freeman, Sir Wm. Hustler, Mr. Carteret, Sir John Cope, Colonel Godfrey, Sir Barth. Shower, Mr. Duke, Mr. Dyet, Mr. Hoar, Sir Richard Farrington, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Crane, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Thurland, Mr. Orm, Sir Cha. Sidley, Mr. Duncomb, Mr. Bertie, Mr. Harvy, Mr. England, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Bridges, Mr. Clerke, Mr. Hayes, Lord Norreys, Sir Richard Cocks, Mr. Hughes, Sir Edward Hussey, Sir Charles Hedges, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Stringer, Sir Wm. Villers, Sir John Mordant: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Lascell's Estate.

Ordered, That the ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for vesting the real Estate late of Thomas Lascells Esquire, deceased, in Trustees, to be sold, for the Payment of his Debts, be read To-morrow Morning.

Sophisticating Wines.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to prevent the corrupt Mixing and Sophisticating of Wines: And that Sir Charles Sidley, Mr. Wyld, Sir Theophilus Oglethorp, and Sir Bartholomew Shower, do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Newfoundland Trade.

A Bill for encouraging the Trade to Newfoundland was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir Edward Seymour, Sir Barth. Shower, Mr. Gwyn, Lord Cavendish, Mr. England, Mr. Hoar, Mr. Vaughan, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Duke, Mr. Vernon, Mr. Champneys, Mr. Carteret, Mr. Shackerly, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Mr. Clayton, Mr. Hays, Mr. Lee, Sir Rowl. Gwyn, Sir Walter Young, Mr. Gurdon, Sir Henry Ashurst, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Gorge, Sir Willoughby Hickman; and all that serve for the Counties of Cornwall, Devon, and Dorset, and for the Sea Ports; and all that are Merchants of the House: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers.

Raising the Militia.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for raising the Militia of this Kingdom for the Year 1699, although the Month's Pay, formerly advanced, be not repaid: And that Mr. Harley do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir John Fagg have Leave to go into the Country, for Recovery of his Health.

Petition from Portsmouth Garison.

A Petition of several of the Gunners of his Majesty's Garison of Portsmouth was presented to the House.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until Major-General Earle, Governor of Portsmouth, do come into the House.

Encouraging the Fishery.

A Bill for establishing and regaining the Fishery was, according to Order, read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time, upon this Day Sevennight in a full House.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir William Morley have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Claims for Prizes.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Petition of Captain Crow, relating to Prizes, was referred, be taken into Consideration upon Friday Morning next; and nothing to intervene.

Transport Arrears.

Ordered, That the Commissioners for Transports do lay before this House an Account of what is due for Transport-Service, during the War, and what paid; and what they have in Cash upon Account of TransportService.

Grants in Duchy of Lancaster.

The House being acquainted, That Mr. Bennet, Auditor of the Duchy of Lancaster, attended, according to Order;

He was called in; and, at the Bar, presented to the House an Account of all Grants since the 26th Day of January 1697, in his Majesty's Duchy of Lancaster, as well in the North as South Parts of the said Duchy.

And then withdrew.

Then the Title of the said Account was read;

And the said Account is as followeth; viz.

An ACCOUNT of all GRANTS since the 26th Day of January 1697, in his Majesty's Duchy of Lancaster, as well in the North as South Parts of the said Duchy.

Memorandum: The Herbage and Pannage of both the said Parks, and also the said Bailiwick, are granted to Trustees, for her Majesty the Queen Dowager, with Power to make Leases for One-and-thirty Years.

And I find a Lease of the Herbage and Pannage of Highling's Park to be granted by his Majesty, formerly for 99 Years, to commence from the Decease of the said Queen Dowager.

This, pursuant to an Order of the Honourable the House of Commons, dated the 22th Day of March instant, is humbly presented by 27 March 1699.

Jo. Bennett, Auditor.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Account be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Gentlemen, and Freeholders, living and bordering upon the Forest of Needwood, is referred.

Bridges' Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for vesting and settling the Estate of Anne Bridges, an Infant, in Bermudas, alias the Summer-Islands, in America, in and upon Trustees, to be sold; and laying out the Money, arising by such Sale, in England, for the Use of the said Anne Bridges; was according to Order, read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Imprisonment of Counter, &c.

Mr. Cowper reported from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill to continue the Imprisonment of * Counter, and others, for the late horrid Conspiracy to assassinate the Person of his Sacred Majesty, was committed, That the Committee had made an Amendment to the 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 was twice read; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

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

Duties on Salt.

Ordered, That the Bill for the better ascertaining and collecting the Duties on Salt, and preventing the ill Practices used to defraud the King of the said Duties, be read upon Thursday Morning next, in a full House.

Malmesbury Election.

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Report touching the Election for the Borough of Malmesbury, in the County of Wilts, be now received;

It passed in the Negative.

Ordered, That the said Report be made upon Wednesday Morning next.

State of the Navy.

Mr. Boyle, according to Order, reported, from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred to consider of the State of the Navy, the Resolutions of the said Committee; 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 the Straits Squadron not sailing till September last was prejudicial to England; and a great Mismanagement.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Order made by the Commissioners of the Admiralty, the 12th of September 1695, giving Henry Preistman Esquire an Allowance of Ten Shillings per Diem, from the Date of his Commission, as a Commander in Chief before Sally in the Year 1684, till the Ship Bona Adventure was paid off, over and above his Pay as Captain of the said Ship, was very unreasonable, and a Misapplication of the Publick Money.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Victualling any of his Majesty's Ships by others than by the Victuallers appointed for that Service, or their Agents, is contrary to the Course of the Navy, and may be of ill Consequence.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That many new and unnecessary Charges have, in an extraordinary manner, been introduced into the Navy, contrary to the Rules of the Navy; which is a great Mismanagement.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Deductions of Poundage, taken by the Paymaster of the Navy, for Slop-Cloaths, dead Mens Cloaths, Tobacco, Chest at Chatham, Chaplain, and Chirurgeon, is without Warrant, and ought to be accounted for.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That it is inconsistent with the Service of the Navy, for the same Person to be One of the Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral, and Treasurer of the Navy, at the same time.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Passing any Account of Monies impressed for the contingent Uses of the Navy, without regular Vouchers, or such other Proof as the Nature of the Service will admit, either with or without a Sign Manual, is contrary to the Rules and Methods of the Navy, and of dangerous Consequence.

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

The Third Resolution being read a Second time;

An Amendment was proposed to be made to the same, by adding "except only in Cases of absolute Necessity, happening abroad:"

And the Question being put, That the House do agree to the said Amendment;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That the House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution.

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

The Fifth Resolution being read a Second time;

An Amendment was proposed to be made therein, by leaving out "Paymaster," and inserting "Paymasters," instead thereof:

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

Another Amendment was proposed to be made, by leaving out "to be accounted for," and inserting, instead thereof, "not to be taken for the future:"

And the Question being put, That "to be accounted for" stand Part of the said Resolution;

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

Resolved That the House do agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, so amended, That the Deductions of Poundage, taken by the Paymasters of the Navy, for Slop-Cloaths, dead Mens Cloaths, Tobacco, Chest at Chatham, Chaplain, and Chirurgeon, is without Warrant, and ought to be accounted for.

The Sixth and Seventh Resolutions being read a Second time; the same were, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

A Motion being made, and the Question being proposed, That the said Resolutions be laid before his Majesty, in an humble Address, to be presented to his Majesty, desiring, That he will be graciously pleased to take care, that the Mismanagements therein complained of may be prevented for the future:

An Amendment was proposed to be made in the Question, by leaving out "take care," and, instead thereof, inserting "place the Administration of the Admiralty in such Hands:"

And the Question being put, That the Words "take care," stand Part of the said Resolution;

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Then the main Question being put;

Resolved, That the said Resolutions be laid before his Majesty, in an humble Address, to be presented to his Majesty, desiring, That he will be graciously pleased to take care, that the Mismanagements therein complained of may be prevented for the future.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to draw up the said Address:

And it is referred to Mr. Chancellor of Exchequer, Mr. Boyle, Sir Richard Onslow, Lord Hartington, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Heveningham, Mr. Harvey, Mr. Sloane, Sir Wa. Young, Mr. Welsh, Mr. Cowper, Sir Richard Temple, Sir Owen Buckingham, Sir Godfrey Copley, Mr. Harley, Lord Norris, Mr. Smith, Lord Ranelagh, Mr. Bridges, Sir Chr. Hales, Lord Spencer, Sir Wm. Robinson, Sir Barth. Shower, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Sir Cha. Hotham, Mr. P. Foley, Sir Wm. St. Quintin, Sir Edward Seymour, Mr. Hammond, Sir Christopher Musgrove, Mr. Thursby, Lord Powlet, Sir Richard Temple, Mr. Tilny, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Pagit: And they are to meet To-morrow Morning at Eight a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

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