Mercurii, 24 die Decembris; 2° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Earl of Ailesbury's Estate.

AN ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Thomas Earl of Ailesbury, and Eliz. Countess of Ailesbury, his Wife, to make Provision for Payment of Debts, and make Leases of their Estates, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Lords remind House of a Bill.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Robert Legard and Sir James Astry;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords do put this House in mind of a Bill, some time since sent down to this House, intituled, An Act for preventing vexatious Suits against such as acted for their Majesties Service in Defence of the Kingdom.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

York Buildings Water Company.

An ingrossed Bill for incorporating the Proprietors of the Waterworks in York Buildings; and for encouraging, carrying on, and settling the said Waterworks; was read the Third time.

And an ingrossed Proviso was offered, as a Rider; That * * * *

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

Another ingrossed Proviso was offered, as a Rider; That the said Act should not restrain the Commissioners of Sewers, or Justices of the Peace, but that they may act and proceed in all Cases, as they might lawfully heretofore have done.

And the same was twice read.

And several Amendments being proposed to be made thereunto; the same were, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Then the said Proviso was read the Third time,

Resolved, That the same be made Part of the Bill.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for incorporating the Proprietors of the Waterworks in York Buildings; and for the encouraging, carrying on, and settling the said Waterworks.

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

Raising Militia.

A Bill for raising the Militia of this Kingdom the next Year, although the Month's Pay, formerly advanced and paid, is not yet repaid, was read the Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed, upon the Debate of the House, to Sir Tho. Clarges, Lord Marquis Winchester, Sir Rob. Howard, Mr. Gilbert, Major Vincent, Sir John Wynne, Sir John Guise, Sir John Manwareing, Mr. Hutchinson, Sir Wm. Leveson Gower, Sir John Key, Sir Tho. Tayler, Serjeant Wogan, Colonel Lee, Mr. Christie, Colonel Austen, Mr. Harcourt, Sir Wm. Strickland, Sir Rob. Cotton, Mr. Lewis, Serjeant Hutchins, Mr. Glemham, Colonel Kirby, Colonel Beaumont, Mr. John Howe, Mr. Brownlow, Mr. Shackerly, Sir Rob. Davers, Mr. Brereton, Lord Colchester, Lord Brandon, Mr. Arnold, Lord Wm. Pawlet, Major General Trelawny, Sir Vere Vane, Lord Ranelagh, Sir Rob. Rich, Sir Sam. Bernadiston, Sir Chr. Musgrave, Mr. Bale: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Four of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Vexatious Suits for acting in Defence of the Kingdom.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Friday Morning next, at Ten of the Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the preventing vexatious Suits against such as acted for their Majesties Service, and in Defence of the Kingdom.

Rights of Election.

A Bill for asserting the Rights of Election of Members to serve in Parliament for the respective Counties, Cities, Boroughs, and Cinque Ports within this Kingdom, was, according to Order, presented to the House; and received.

Supply Bill; Low Wines.

Mr. Solicitor General, according to the Order of the Day, reported from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for laying several Duties upon Low Wines, or Spirits of the first Extraction, was committed, That they had agreed upon several Amendments to be made to the Bill: Which they had directed him to report to the House; and which he read in his Place, with the Coherence; 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.

Distillation of Brandy.

A Petition of the Refiners of Sugar was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That by a Bill brought into this House, to encourage the making Brandy from Corn, it is intended, That there be a Prohibition or Discouragement of the Use of Melasses by the Distiller, thereby, as is supposed, to consume greater Quantities of Corn than now is consumed by the Distillers: Which Bill, should it pass, will certainly abate the Revenue of the Crown, lessen the Consumption of Corn, and ruin the Petitioners, and be advantageous only to some few French Merchants; who have monopolized great Quantities of Melasses made in England, the Price whereof they will greatly advance, if the Distiller be discouraged: And praying to be heard by their Counsel, at the Bar of this House, before the said Bill do pass.

And the Question being put, That the Petitioners be heard;

It passed in the Negative.

Then a Clause was offered to be added to the Bill, That all Strong Waters, Brandy, Aqua Vitæ, or Spirits brought from the Islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Sark, or Alderney, shall be charged with the Duty of Eight Shillings per Gallon, to be paid upon Entry before Landing.

And the same was twice read; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House, to be made Part of the Bill.

Then another Clause was offered to be added to the Bill, That all Charters, and Letters Patents, already or to be granted, for the sole Making of Brandy, Spirits, or Strong Waters, from Corn of any Sort, shall be adjudged void.

And the same was twice read; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House, to be made Part of the Bill.

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

Commissioners of Accompts.

Then the several Members of the House did, according to Order, put into Glasses, at the Table, their several Lists of Nine Persons Names to be Commissioners in the Bill for appointing and enabling Commissioners for taking the publick Accompts.

And having so done;

Ordered, That Mr. Papillion, Sir John Guise, Colonel Birch, Sir Rob. Cotton, Sir Rob. Rich, Sir Tho. Vernon, do withdraw into the Speaker's Chamber, and view the Lists given in by the Members of the House; and report to the House, upon which Nine Persons Names, mentioned in the said Lists, the Majority falls.

Ordered, That the Report thereof be made to the House on Friday Morning next, at Eight of the Clock.

Supply.

Then the House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Motion for a Supply to be granted to their Majesties for the Augmenting of the Navy, and Building of some new Ships of War.
Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
Mr. Solicitor General took the Chair of the Committee.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.
Mr. Solicitor General reports from the said Committee, That they had agreed upon Two Resolutions: Which they had directed him to report to the House: And which he read in his Place; and delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were read; and are as followeth; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That a Supply be given to their Majesties for the Building of Ships of War, not exceeding the Sum of Five hundred and Seventy thousand Pounds.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Supply, so to be given to their Majesties, be for the Building of Seventeen Third Rate Ships of Eighty Guns apiece, and Ten Fourth Rate Ships of Sixty Guns apiece, to be added to the Ships, in the Estimate, already provided to be built.

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

Ways and Means.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Friday Morning next, at Ten of the Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of Ways and Means for raising the said Supplies to be granted to their Majesties for Building of Ships.

Supply Bill; Excise.

Ordered, That the Bill for doubling the additional Duty of Excise upon Beer, Ale, and other Liquors, to begin from the Time the Act for doubling the Duty of Excise for one Year doth expire, be read a Second time on Friday Morning next, at Nine of the Clock.

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