Sabbati, 27 die Decembris; 2° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Mildmay's Estate.

A BILL to enable Henry Mildmay, Esquire, to sell Lands for Payment of Debts, was read the Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir Wm. Wogan, Mr. Christie, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Thornhaugh, Sir Jerv. Elwes, Mr. Price, Major Vincent, Sir Wilf. Lawson, Sir Robert Davers, Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. Harcourt, Sir John Guise, Mr. Dolben, Lord Commissioner Hutchins, Mr. Bowyer, Sir Edw. Hussey, Sir Sam. Bernadiston, Mr. Burdet, Sir Fra. Massam, Mr. Foley, and all the Members that serve for the Counties of Suffolke, Hampshire, and Middlesex: And they are to meet on Monday next, at Four of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber: And are impowered to send for Persons, Papers, and Records: And it is to be an Instruction to the Committee, That they report specially to this House, How they find the Matter upon the Bill.

Trade with France.

Major Vincent reports from the Committee appointed to prepare and bring in a Bill for the more effectual putting in Execution the Act for prohibiting all Trade and Commerce with France, That they had prepared a Bill accordingly: Which he presented to the House: And the same was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Raising Revenue by Fines, &c.

Sir John Guise reports from the Committee to whom was referred to hear and examine the Proposals of Percivall Brunskil, Gentleman, for raising the Revenue of the Crown by Fines and Forfeitures, and Disposition of Offices, That the Committee had heard and examined the same accordingly; and conceive, that the Laws are defective to prevent the Sale of Offices; and that they had agreed upon several Resolutions: Which they had directed him to report to the House: And which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was read; and are as followeth; viz.

Resolutions respecting Sale of Offices, &c.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the House be moved to give Leave to bring in a Bill for the Hindrance of the Sale of Offices for the future.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the House be moved to give Leave to bring in a Bill to ascertain the Fees of Attornies, Solicitors, Clerks, and Officers, in all Courts of Law and Equity.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the House be moved to give Leave to bring in a Bill, That their Majesties shall have the First Year's Profits of all Offices as they become void by Death or Removal, payable in Two Years.

And that the Committee had directed, That Mr. Brunskell's Case be mentioned, and reported to the House, as left out in the Order, and laid before them.

The First Resolution being read a Second time;

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the Hindrance of the Sale of Offices for the future.

The Second Resolution being read a Second time; and several Amendments being proposed to be made thereunto; viz. by adding, before "Attornies," "Counsellors at Law;" and, after "Equity," by adding, "and of all Advocates and Proctors in all Ecclesiastical and Civil Law Courts;" the same were, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to ascertain the Fees of Counsellors at Law, Attornies, Solicitors, Clerks, and Officers in all Courts of Law and Equity, and of all Advocates and Proctors in all Ecclesiastical and Civil Law Courts.

The Third Resolution being read a Second time;

Resolved, That the said Resolution be taken into Consideration upon This-day-fortnight.

Irish and French Protestants.

A Motion being made, for the Relief of the poor Irish and French Protestants:

Resolved, That this House will, upon Tuesday Morning next, take into Consideration the said Motion.

Determining Elections.

Mr. Price reports from the Committee to whom the Bill for the speedier determining Elections to serve in Parliament, was committed, That they had agreed upon several Amendments to be made thereunto; which they had directed him to report to the House: And which he read in his Place, with the Coherence; and afterwards, delivered at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were once read throughout.

And the First of the said Amendments being read a Second time; the same was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Then the Second Amendment being read a Second time; it being to leave out all from "that" in Line 12, to the First "the," in Line 15; and, instead thereof, to insert "from and after the Determination of this present Parliament, all Double Returns, and other Matters relating to Elections of Members to serve in Parliament, shall be heard and determined at the Bar of the House of Commons, before they proceed upon any other Business then;"

And the Question being put, That the House do agree with the Committee in the said Amendment;

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Then the rest of the Amendments being read a Second time; the same were, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

A Proviso was offered to be made Part of the Bill, That if, at any time during the Sitting of Parliament, any Member of this House shall, without Leave, withdraw or absent himself from his Service, for the Space of , he shall be disabled from sitting again in that Parliament; and a new Writ shall issue forth to choose another Member in his place.

And the same was read the First time.

And the Question being put, That the same be read a Second time;

It passed in the Negative.

Then the Question being put, That the Bill, with the Amendments, be ingrossed;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Raising Militia.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee to whom the Bill for raising the Militia of this Kingdom the next Year, although the Month's Pay formerly advanced and paid be not yet repaid, was committed to, be made upon Monday Morning next.

Ways and Means.

Then the House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of Ways and Means for raising the Supply to be granted to their Majesties for the Building of Ships.
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 a Resolution; which they had directed him to report to the House: And 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 Five hundred and Seventy thousand Pounds, to be given to their Majesties for Building of Ships, be raised by the additional Duties of Excise upon Beer, Ale, and other Liquors, mentioned in an Act of the First Year of their Majesties Reign, intituled, "An Act for an additional Duty of Excise upon Beer, Ale, and other Liquors," from and after the Time that the States General of the United Provinces shall be paid the Sum of Six hundred thousand Pounds, mentioned in an Act, intituled, "An Act for appropriating certain Duties for paying the States General of the United Provinces their Charges for his Majesty's Expedition into this Kingdom, and for other Uses;" and by doubling the said additional Duty.

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

Ordered, That an Enacting Clause or Clauses be prepared and brought in, pursuant to the said Resolution: And it is recommended to Mr. Solicitor General, Sir Thomas Clarges, and the Commissioners of the Customs, who are Members of the House, to prepare and bring in the same.

Ordered, That the Commissioners of the Excise do, upon Monday Morning next, bring into this House an Accompt, What the additional Duties of Excise have produced neat, since the same were granted.

Ordered, That the Commissioners of the Customs do, upon Monday Morning next, bring into this House an Accompt, What the Customs appropriated to pay the States General of the United Provinces the Six hundred thousand Pounds for their Charges for his Majesties Expedition into this Kingdom, have produced, since the same were granted.

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