House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 1 April 1699

Sabbati, 1 die Aprilis;

Undecimo Gulielmi 3tii.

Prayers.

Guy's, &c. Nat.

THE House took into Consideration the Amendments, made by the Lords, to the Bill, intituled, An Act to naturalize Scipio Guy, and others:

Which, being read, are as follow; viz.

2 Pr. 37 L. leave out "John Preston, Son of Severine Rauzith Preston, by Anne his Wife, born in Denmark:"

3 Pr. 29 L. after "France," insert "Envertre do Meansse Saurency, Son of Jacob de Meansse Saurency, by Mary de Jolleret his Wife, born at Orleans, in France; and Paul Margaret, Son of John Margaret, by Eleanor his Wife:"

4 Pr. 7 L. leave out "John Preston:"

13 L. after "Hurry," insert "Envertre de Meansse Saurency and Paul Margaret:"

38, 39 L. leave out "John Preston:"

5 Pr. L. L. after "Hurry," insert "Envertre de Meansse Saurency, and Paul Margaret:"

6 Pr. 23 L. leave out "John Preston:"

8 L. after "Hurry," add "Envertre de Meansse Saurency, and Paul Margaret."

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

Ordered, That Mr. Johnson do carry the Bill to the Lords, and acquaint them, That this House hath agreed to the said Amendments.

Prohibition of foreign Bone-lace.

A Petition of several Dealers in, and Makers of, Bonelace, inhabiting in the Town of Colyton, in the Behalf of themselves, and many others, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That they have been greatly relieved by the Act of Parliament for the Prohibition of foreign Bone-lace; and are informed, there is a Petition presented to the House, desiring the said Act may be repealed: And praying to be heard against the Repeal of the said Act.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Gentlemen, Clothiers, Clothworkers, Traders in the Woollen Manufactures, and other the Inhabitants, of the Town of Ratchdale, in the County Palatine of Lancaster, is referred.

Seliard's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for vesting certain Lands of Sir Tho. Seliard Baronet, in the County of Kent, in Trustees, to be sold, for the Payment of his Sisters Portions charged therewith, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Tredenham, Mr. Brewer, Sir Wm. Cowper, Sir Ja. Oxenden, Mr. Sloan, Sir Rich. Farrington, Sir Robert Davers, Mr. Freeman, Sir Wm. Ashurst, Mr. England, Lord Cornbury, Sir Richard Cocks, Sir John Mordant, Mr. Ashurst, Mr. Champneys, Mr. Campion, Sir Henry Goffe, Mr. Freeke, Sir Wm. Husler, Sir Jo. Leveson Gower, Sir Thomas Wagstaffe, Sir Henry Ashurst, Mr. Blofeild, Sir Robert Edon, Mr. Hancock, Mr. Osbourne, Mr. Mounstevens, Lord Farefax, Mr. Dyott; and all that serve for the Counties of Kent and Sussex: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Lafcell's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for vesting the real Estate of Thomas Lascells, Esquire, in Trustees, to be sold, for Payment of his Debts, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir Wm. Hustler, Mr. Conyers, Sir James Oxenden, Mr. Vane, Sir John Leveson, Sir Richard Farrington, Mr. Jervois, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Clerk, Sir Robert Eden, Sir Richard Cocks, Sir Barth. Shower, Mr. Dyott, Sir Philip Butler, Mr. York, Mr. Blofeild, Sir Wm. Wogan, Mr. Yates, Sir Wm. St. Quintin, Lord Cornbury, Mr. Campion, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Sir Wm. Ashurst, Mr. Osborne, Mr. Sloane, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Hancock, Mr. Hamond, Mr. Slater, Sir Fran. Molyneux, Mr. Thornhagh, Mr. Philips; and all that serve for the County of York: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir John Rogers have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Transport Debt.

A Petition of William Beswick Master, and Richard Holden Merchant, both of them Part-owners of the Ship Mary, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the said Ship Mary was, in January 1693, employed, by the Commissioners for Transportation, to transport several Officers, and Foot-Soldiers, of Colonel Hamilton's Regiment, from Deptford to Ostend: That going into Ostend Harbour, his Majesty's Ship Julian, and other Ships, pressing to get in, forced the Master to drop Anchor without Harbour; but the Officers, being impatient to get ashore, cut the Cable; and the Ship immediately drove ashore, and was utterly lost, though the Men were saved: That the said Petitioners have applied themselves to the Commissioners for Transportation; who were pleased to report, That the Owners ought to have Satisfaction: And praying they may be paid, with the rest of the Transport-Debts.

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

Okeover's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Thomas Okeover Gentleman, Son and Heir apparent of Rowland Okeover, of Okeover, in the County of Stafford, Esquire, together with the said Rowland Okeover, to make a Jointure and Settlement, upon the Marriage of the said Thomas Okeover, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Leeke's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Catherine Leeke, an Infant under the Age of One-and-twenty Years, to settle and dispose of her Estate upon her Marriage, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Army Arrears.

A Petition of Michael Heyn, and divers other Protestant Foreigners, who were under the Command of Brigadier Cholmondeley, and disbanded, according to the late Act of Parliament, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners have served, during the War in Flanders, under the Command of the said Brigadier Cholmondley, and have great Sums due to them for their Arrears, and Subsistence; and though they have several times applied themselves to the said Brigadier, and his inferior Officers, for their Money, yet cannot get the same; but once, under Pretence of paying them, and giving them the full Value for their Horses, ordered the Petitioners to bring their said Horses to the Horse-Guard; where they still detain them, without any Satisfaction made, either in respect of their Money due, or for their Horses: And praying Relief in the Premises.

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

Imprisonment of Counter, &c.

An ingrossed Bill for the continuing the Imprisonment of * Counter, and others, for the late horrid Conspiracy to assassinate the Person of his Sacred Majesty, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for the continuing the Imprisonment of * Counter, and others, for the late horrid Conspiracy to assassinate the Person of his Sacred Majesty.

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

Ship Hope.

Sir Richard Farrington, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to enable the Ship Hope, of a great Length, and very serviceable for bringing Masts into this Kingdom, to trade as an English-built Ship: And the same was received.

Ordered, That the Bill be read upon Monday Morning.

Privilege of a Witness.

A Complaint being made to the House, That one John Stanton being summoned to attend the Committee, to whom the Petition of * Raily is referred, he was arrested by * Randall, a Bailiff, at the Suit of * Pargiter, Goldsmith; in Breach of the Privilege of this House;

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

Duties on Glass.

Mr. Freeman, according to Order, reported, from the Committee, to whom the several Petitions relating to the Duties still remaining upon Glass-wares 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.

That the Committee had considered of the several Petitions to them referred, complaining of their Sufferings under the Duty which is laid upon the Glass Manufactures; and did examine a few Witnesses attending, to make good the Allegations therein; viz.

Cha. Jones, Master-worker, said, That, before the Duty was laid, he used to work 40 or 45 Weeks in a Year; but, since, has not worked a Year in the Whole; and not above Nine Weeks since the Half-Duty was taken off.

John Colt said, That he has worked but very little since the Whole Duty; and not Two Months since the Half Duty was off; has been forced, for want of Work, to pawn all his Goods, except his Bed, which his Landlord threatens to seize for Rent.

Jacob Vihitelly said, That he hath not worked One Year since the Duty has been laid; and but Nine Weeks since the Half-Duty was off; and verily believes, That, if the Duty be continued, he shall have no Employment.

Mr. Pilling said, That he hath had but very little Employment since the Duty was laid.

Fra. Jackson said, That he was forced to lay down his Glass-Works at Lynn-Regis, so soon as the Duty was at first laid; and since the Half-Duty was off, has only set his Flint-house to work, only for working up his present Stock; but must be forced to leave it off again, if the remaining Duty be not taken off:

That the Collection of the Duty is very grievous to those Manufacturers that pay the Duty upon Coals; and is much more uneasy to them than the Duty upon Coals:

That the Duty upon Glass prevents the Consumption upon Coals, to that Degree, That there is much more lost by the former, than is gained by the latter, to the Crown; and, if the Glass-Duty be continued, that Manufacture must be lost; and then the Duty upon Coals will be very much lessened; whereas, if the Glass-Duty be taken off, the Consumption of Coals will be so greatly increased, as to bring in a much greater Duty by the extraordinary Consumption of Coals, than the present Duty doth now produce:

And further said, That all the Glass that is broken after the Duty is paid, is lost to the Manufacturers; for the Duty is paid, or secured, as soon as made; and Breakage of Glass is very great in all Works:

That the Difficulties of Drawbacks on Exportation is a great Inconveniency; and many will rather lose it, than be at the Trouble and Charge of drawing back, especially for small Quantities:

That their best Workmen are sollicited to go into foreign Parts, where there is great Encouragement given: Many are already gone; and more will soon go, if the Duty be not taken off.

That then the Committee took into their Consideration several Accounts, which were sent for, by them, from the Commissioners of the Customs, and the Commissioners for managing the Glass-Duty, in order to find a true State of what the said Duties have amounted to: And,

That it appeared, by an Account from the Commissioners of the Glass-Duty, That from Michaelmas 1695, to the First of August 1698, the net Produce of the entire Duties upon Glass wares, Stone and Earthen Bottles, paid into the Exchequer, amount to 13,500 l.:

That it appeared, by an Account from the Commissioners of the Customs, That the Produce of the Duty upon Whale-Fins, for Six Months past, amounted to 3,679 l. 12s. 9½d.:

That the Duty upon Scotch Linen, for the same time, amounted to 4,288 l. 10s. 1d.; which makes, in the Whole, 7,968 l. 2s. 10½d.

And that, upon the whole Matter, the Committee came to the several Resolutions following: viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the remaining Duties on Glass-wares are very prejudicial to the said Manufacturers, are vexatious and chargeable in the Collection, and of small Advantage to the Crown.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the remaining Duties upon Glass-wares, if continued, will lessen the Duty on Coals, to the Prejudice of the Crown, much more than the Duties on Glass-wares will amount to; will hinder the employing great Numbers of Poor; and, in great measure, lose the Glass Manufactures of this Kingdom.

And, that as to the Petition of John Bellingham, and others, for the Continuance of the present Duty;

It appeared to the Committee, That the said Petition was procured by the Commissioners of the Glass-Duty, and made use of for Delay only, in the Proceedings upon the other Petitions: For which, and divers other Reasons, the Committee came to the Resolution following; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Petition is groundless.

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

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for taking off the remaining Duties upon Glass-wares: And that Mr. Freeman, Sir John Packington, and Mr. Hamond, do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Supply.

Mr. Cowper, 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, another 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 Fifty thousand Pounds, be allowed for the Charge of the Office of Ordnance, for Land-Service, 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 Fifty thousand Pounds, be allowed for the Charge of the Office of Ordnance, for Land-Service, for the Year 1699.

Half-Pay Officers.

Ordered, That the Commissioners of the Admiralty do lay before the House the Establishment of Half-Pay for the Officers of the old Marine Regiments.

Ditto.

Ordered, That the Names of Captain William Wilkinson, Lieutenant Stremer Thomas, Lieutenant Henry Holland, Ensign John Medan, Ensign Adams, Captain William Davison, Captain John Bellingham, and Captain Francis Sanderson; the Consideration of whom were referred to the Committee of the whole House, who were to consider of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty; be added to the List of the Officers, who are to have Half-Pay.

Bernardeau's &c. Nat.

A Petition of Samuel Bernardeau, Peter Chantreau Desgaudres, and others, private Gentlemen belonging to his Majesty's Three Troops of Guards, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That they being Refugees from their native Country, upon Account of their Religion, and having quitted All upon Account of the same; and being married to English Women, and having great Families, and nothing to support them withal but their Posts; that there being a Bill sent down from the Lords, for the Naturalization of your Petitioners: And praying the Circumstances may be considered, and the Bill permitted to pass.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the said Bill be read.

Navy Estimate

Sir George Rooke, from the Commissioners of the Admiralty, presented to the House an Estimate of the Debt of his Majesty's Navy, upon the several Heads thereof, as it stood the One-and-thirtieth of December 1698.

The Title whereof was read;

And the said Estimate is as followeth; viz.

An ESTIMATE of the Debt of his Majesty's Navy, on the Heads under mentioned, as it stood on the 31th of December 1698.

Viz. Two Millions Two hundred forty-five thousand Nine hundred Fifty-seven Pounds.

Memorandum: The Debt of the Marine Regiments for Service on Shore is not included in this Estimate; the proper Accounts for adjusting the same being not yet delivered in.

Ordered, That the said Estimate do lie upon the Table, to be perused by the Members of the House.

Supply Bill; Land Tax.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Bill for granting to his Majesty the Sum of One million Four hundred Eighty-four thousand and Fifteen Pounds One Shilling Eleven-pence Three Farthings, for disbanding the Army, providing for the Navy, and for other necessary Occasions.

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 made a further Progress in the Matter to them referred; and had directed him to move, That they may have Leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Monday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, notwithstanding any Order to the contrary, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the said Bill.

Suppressing Lotteries.

Ordered, That the Bill for suppressing the Royal Oak Lottery, and all other Lotteries, be read a Second time on Monday Morning.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

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