House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 24 April 1699

Lunæ, 24 die Aprilis;

Undecimo Gulielmi 3tii.

Prayers.

Cowslade's Estate.

ANTHONY Kidwell, Gover Vanderburgh, and Abraham Vanderburgh, took the Oaths appointed, in order to their Naturalization.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for selling divers Freehold and Leasehold Houses, the Estate of Thomas Cowslade, an Infant, and others, to discharge a Mortgage; and to purchase other Lands, to be settled to the like Uses; was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Scobell, Sir Henry Seymour, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Mounstevens, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Carter, Mr. Osborne, Mr. Blisse, Mr. Lutterell, Mr. Blaake, Sir Jo. Cope, Mr. Campion, Mr. Trelawny, Mr. Pendarvis, Mr. Freeman, Mr. England, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Tregagle, Mr. Eyre, Mr. Rudge, Mr. Harley, Mr. Drake, Mr. Bartie, Lord Norryes, Mr. Brereton, Mr. Vincent, Sir Robert Devereux, Lord Cornbury, Sir Wm. Hustler, Mr. Yates, Mr. Nicholas, Mr. Buckly, Mr. Morgan, Sir Robert Nappier, Mr. Hancock: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Wake's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Samuel Wake, alias Jones, to sell Lands, to pay Debts, and to purchase other Lands adjoining to, and formerly Parcel of, his Manor of Waltham, alias Waltham Holy-Cross, in the County of Essex, to be settled to the same Uses, was read the Third time.

An ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider, That * * * *

The same was thrice read; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

An Amendment was proposed to be made in the Title, by leaving out "his," and inserting "the," instead thereof:

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

Resolved, That the Bill, with the Amendments, do pass,

Ordered, That Mr. Conyers do carry the Bill to the Lords, and acquaint them, That this House hath agreed to the same, with some Amendments: To which they desire their Lordships Concurrence.

Newfoundland Trade.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Bill for encouraging the Trade to Newfoundland was committed, be made To-morrow Morning.

Claims for Prizes.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Petition of Captain Crow was referred, relating to Prizes, be taken into Consideration upon Wednesday Morning next.

Needwood Forest Rights.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Gentlemen, Freeholders, and other Inhabitants, who have Right of Estovers, and Common, in the Forest and Chace of Needwood, in the County of Stafford, Parcel of the Duchy of Lancaster, on behalf of themselves, and others, was referred, be made upon Friday Morning next.

Bull's Estate.

Colonel Lee reported from the Committee, to whom the ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable John Bull an Infant, to sell his Lands in Kent, for the Payment of his Debts, and Annuities charged thereon, and for Provision of younger Children, was committed, That they had examined the same, and found the Allegations therein to be true; and that the Parties concerned had given their Consent thereunto, to the Satisfaction of the Committee; and that the Committee had made One 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 agreed unto by the House; and is as followeth; viz.

Pr. 3. L. 8. after "by," leave out "and with."

Ordered, That the Bill be read the Third time Tomorrow Morning.

Ship Hope.

An ingrossed Bill to enable the Ship Hope, of great Length, for bringing Masts into this Kingdom, to trade as an English Ship, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act to enable the Ship Hope, of great Length, and very serviceable for bringing Masts into this Kingdom, to trade as an English-built Ship.

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

Forestallers, &c. of Corn.

Mr. Offley reported, from the Committee, to whom the Petition of Robert Barton, Master of a Ship called the Adventure, was referred, the Matter, as it appeared to the said Committee, 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.

That the Petitioner was heard, but could not prove any One Allegation contained in the said Petition:

That it appeared to the Committee, That John Lofting, One of the Persons complained of in November last, hired the Ship called the Adventure; and, by Charter party with the said Petitioner, the said Ship was to sail to Falmouth or Plymouth, there to take in Wheat, or other Goods, to carry for Rotterdam, Ostend, or London; but the Petitioner being a long time in his Voyage, and the said John Lofting being otherwise provided, he did assign the Freight to Peter and William Kesterman; who ordered their Factor, George Lapthorn, at Plymouth, to load on board the said Ship 322 Quarters of Wheat; which he accordingly did, and consigned the same to them at London; and was there landed, and put into Granaries:

That the Petitioner Barton was never ordered to go into any Port but London; and Bond was given, by the said George Lapthorn, for so doing:

That the said Corn, ever since the Arrival, has been, from time to time, offered to Sale at the Market at BearKey; and the greatest Part thereof is sold.

That as to the Petitioner's Complaint, That he is wrongfully kept in Prison, on purpose to hinder him from giving the House an Account of the ill Practices of the aforesaid Persons;

That it appeared to the Committee to be utterly false; for that the Petitioner is arrested, and now a Prisoner in the Compter, for a just Debt; viz. 30 l. which he borrowed of one Mr. Book; and also 18 l. which he borrowed of George Lapthorn, for which he gave a Note of his Hand, and did promise, on his Arrival at London, to allow out of his Freight; which he after refused to allow, or pay:

That it likewise appeared, That the Persons complained of are Merchants of considerable Substance, and of very good Credit and Reputation.

Resolved, That the Petition of Robert Barton against John Lofting, Peter Kesterman, Thomas Meritt, and Dinah Mason, wherein he accuseth them of forestalling, engrossing, and transporting Corn, is malicious, vexatious, and groundless.

An ingrossed Bill * * * *

Penalties under Act of Navigation.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act to discharge the Ships King William and Charles the Second, from the Penalties of the Act of Navigation.

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

Bernardeau's &c. Nat.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to naturalize Samuel Bernardeau, Peter Chantreau des Gaudre, and others, private Gentlemen belonging to his Majesty's Three Troops of Guards, and Grenadiers, was, according to Order, read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Morgan, Lord Hartington, Mr. Carter, Mr. White, Mr. St. John, Lord Hyde, Lord Coningsby, Sir B. Granville, Lord Fairfax, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Mountague, Mr. Vernon, Mr. Carteret, Sir Jos. Jekill, Mr. Heveningham, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Blaake, Mr. Campion, Mr. Ash, Sir Owen Buckingham, Sir William Ashurst, Mr. Ogle, Mr. Freeke, Mr. Gerrard, Mr. Crawford, Mr. Osborne, Colonel Godfry, Mr. Nicholas, Mr. Cox, Lord Henry Cavendish, Lord Pawlet, Mr. Philips, Lord Cornbury, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Cholmly: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Duty on Paper, &c.

A Petition of the Bookbinders in and about the City of London, on behalf of themselves, and divers others, of the same Trade, was presented to the House, and read, setting forth, That the Duty already laid upon Leather is a very great Burden upon their Trade; and should there be a further Duty laid upon Paper, it would so much discourage Printing, that they must, for want of Work, be maintained by the Parishes wherein they live: And praying to be heard before the passing the said Bill.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the said Bill is committed.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Booksellers in and about the Cities of London and Westminster was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That they do understand, by the Votes, that a further Duty is going to be laid on Paper; which highly concerneth them, and their Families: And praying they may be heard before the passing the same.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the said Bill is committed.

Frauds by Agent of Packet-boats.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Petition of John Russell, and others, relating to Daniel Gwyn, Agent for the Spanish Pacquet-boat, was referred, be made upon Wednesday Morning next.

Malmesbury Election.

Sir Rowland Gwyn reported, from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, the Resolution of the said Committee, touching the Election for the Borough of Malmesbury; 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 the Counsel for the Petitioners, declaring they cannot produce the Bond given to Edward Browne, ordered by this House to be produced, be not admitted to proceed in their Evidence touching the Election for the Borough of Malmesbury.

The said Resolution being read a Second time;

And the Question being put, That the House do agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, That the Counsel for the Petitioners, declaring they cannot produce the Bond given to Edward Browne, ordered by the House to be produced, be not admitted to proceed in their Evidence touching the Election for the Borough of Malmesbury;

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Half-pay.

A Petition of Colonel Leighton was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner did faithfully serve his Majesty in the Army, as Colonel and as Lieutenant-Colonel, until his Majesty was pleased to reduce those Regiments wherein he served: And praying to be inserted in the List of such Officers who are to have Half-Pay.

And a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the said Colonel Leighton be added to the List of the Officers who are to have Half-Pay;

It passed in the Negative.

Officers and Soldiers to exercise Trades.

An ingrossed Bill to enable such Officers and Soldiers, as have been in his Majesty's Service, to exercise Trades, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act to enable such Officers, and Soldiers, as have been in his Majesty's Service, during the late War, to exercise Trades; and for Officers to account with their Soldiers.

Ordered, That Sir Godfrey Copley do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Supply Bill; Salt Duties.

Mr. Lowndes, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for the more full and effectual Charging of the Duties upon Rock-Salt: And the same was received; and read the First time; and ordered to be read a Second time To-morrow Morning.

Duty on Paper, &c.

A Petition of the Printers, in and about the City of London, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners have served their Apprenticeships to the Trade of Printing, and have no other Way of getting their Livelihood but by their said Trade; and do understand, that a further Duty is likely to be laid on Paper; which will utterly ruin the Petitioners: And praying, That they may be heard before the Passing of the said Act.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the said Bill is committed.

Apprehending Felons.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Bill for the better Apprehending, Prosecuting, and Punishing, of Felons, that commit Burglary, and Housebreaking, or Robbery in Shops and Warehouses, is committed, be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning.

Supply Bill; Duty on Paper, &c.

Ordered, That it be an Instruction to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for laying a Duty upon Paper, Parchment, Vellom, and Pasteboard, is committed, have Power to receive a Clause of Loan upon the Duties upon Paper, Parchment, Vellom, and Pasteboard; and upon the Overplus of the Customs, and Duty on wrought Silks.

Ordered, That it be an Instruction also to the said Committee, That they have Power to receive a Clause, or Clauses, of Appropriation.

Privilege of a Member in a Suit.

Ordered, That Sir John Williams do attend this House, in his Place, To-morrow Morning: And that the Petition relating to him be then read.

Supply Bill; Duty on Paper, &c.

The House, according to Order, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for laying a Duty upon Paper, Parchment, Vellom, and Pasteboard.

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 some 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, To-morrow Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the said Bill.

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