Die Lunæ, 18 Martii.
Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:
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Epus. Exon.
Epus. Sarum.
Epus. Petriburg.
Epus. Bangor.
Epus. Lincoln. |
Ds. Custos Magni Sigilli.
Ds. Godolphin, Thesaurarius.
Comes Pembroke, Præses.
Dux Devonshire, Senescallus.
Dux Somerset.
Dux Bolton.
Dux Marlborough.
Comes Kent, Camerarius.
Comes Derby.
Comes Westmorland.
Comes Rivers.
Comes Stamford.
Comes Kingston.
Comes Thanet.
Comes Sunderland.
Comes Scarsdale.
Comes Essex.
Comes Anglesey.
Comes Nottingham.
Comes Portland.
Comes Torrington.
Comes Bradford.
Comes Jersey.
Viscount Townshend.
Viscount Weymouth. |
Ds. Berkeley Ber.
Ds. Fitzwalter.
Ds. Wharton.
Ds. North & Grey.
Ds. Poulett.
Ds. Vaughan.
Ds. Colepeper.
Ds. Dartmouth.
Ds. Guilford.
Ds. Cholmondeley.
Ds. Herbert.
Ds. Sommers.
Ds. Halifax. |
Prayers.
Fairfax's Bill.
The Earl of Stamford reported from the Lords Committees, the Bill, intituled, "An Act for Sale of the
Manor of Eastevening, and other Lands and Hereditaments, in Swineshead, in the County of Lincolne,
late the Estate of Christopher Fairfax Gentleman, deceased, for Payment of Debts, and Benefit of his
Children," as fit to pass, without any Amendment.
Hodie 3a
vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for
Sale of the Manor of Eastevening, and other Lands
and Hereditaments, in Swineshead, in the County of
Lincolne, late the Estate of Christopher Fairfax Gentleman, deceased, for Payment of Debts, and Benefit
of his Children."
The Question was put, "Whether this Bill shall
pass?"
It was Resolved in the Affirmative.
Ordered, The Commons have Notice, that the
Lords have agreed to the said Bill, without any Amendment.
Queen's Answer to Address about Papists.
The Lord Chamberlain reported Her Majesty's Answer to the Address concerning Papists; (videlicet,)
"I am fully convinced, that the insolent Behaviour
of the Papists hath made what you advise necessary
to be done, for the Safety of My Person and Government, and the Welfare of My People.
"I thank you for your Care in this Matter; and will
give, as soon as possible, the necessary Orders for
every Thing you desire of Me in this Address."
Address and Answer to be printed.
It is Ordered, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Lord Keeper
of the Great Seal of England do give Order, that the
Address of this House of the Fourteenth Instant, presented to her Majesty, and Her Majesty's most Gracious Answer thereunto, shall be forthwith printed and
published.
Address for the Purchase of Cotton house, to keep the Library in.
The Lord Halifax reported from the Lords Committees for preserving Records, an Address drawn by
them, relating to the Cottonian Library.
Which was read, and agreed to, as follows; (videlicet,)
"We, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, having appointed a Committee, to
consider of the Methods of keeping Records and
Public Papers in Offices, and how they are kept,
and to consider of Ways to remedy what shall be
found amiss: They reported to us, That they had taken
into Consideration the State and Condition of the
Cotton Library, which, by an Act passed in the Twelfth
Year of the late King, is settled and vested in Trustees, for the Use of the Public; that they sent for
some of the Trustees; and, upon Inquiry, they found
that nothing had yet been done in Pursuance of the
Act, to make the said Library useful to the Public;
that there is no Way or Passage to it set out, as the
Act did direct, so that no Persons can resort to it;
that there is no Library-keeper appointed, to inspect
and take Care of the Manuscripts; nor any Orders
or Rules appointed, for the reading or using the
same; and that the Public is wholly deprived of
the Benefit and Advantage that was designed by the
Act.
"The Committee, thinking it did deserve their utmost Care, that this Library should not continue in
this useless State, went themselves to view the Room
where it is kept, and to see what convenient Way
might be set out for a Passage to it. The Place wherein
the Library is contained is a narrow little Room,
damp, and improper for preserving the Books and
Papers; there is only One Window at each End, and
the Arch over One of them in a ruinous Condition,
and ready to fall, as is also the Arch upon which
the Room is built; that there can be no Passage to
it but through the best Rooms of the House, which
would be very inconvenient, and make the House
wholly useless to the Family. This being the Situation of Things in respect to this Library, the Committee found, that either it would be impossible for
the Public to have any convenient Use of it, or it
must become so manifestly prejudicial to the Family
of the Benefactor; and therefore they proposed to
some of the Relations, to set a moderate Price upon
the House and Garden (which are adjoining to the
Two Houses of Parliament, and might be of great
Use to the Public upon many accounts, as well as for
a Repository of the said Library), in order that the
same might be again vested in the Crown.
"Accordingly, a Proposal was made, in Writing, by
Sir John Cotton, which we take Leave to annex to
this Address; which Proposal the Committee delivered
to Your Majesty's Surveyor General of the Lands,
and to the Surveyor General of the Buildings; who,
having viewed the Premises, made their Report, in
Writing, to the Committee, which is also annexed
to this Address.
'The Committee afterwards spoke with Sir John
Cotton and others of the Family, in hopes to bring
this Matter to some good Conclusion, for the Public
Service; and, upon discoursing with them, Sir John
offered a Second Proposal to the Committee, which is
likewise annexed to this Address.
"May it please Your Majesty,
"The House having approved of the Proceedings
of the Committee; we, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, do humbly lay this whole Matter before Your
Majesty; being very desirous that so great a Treasure
of Books and Manuscripts, so generously given for
the Public Service, might not remain any longer
useless, and in Danger of perishing for Want of due
Care. And we can have no other Resort but to Your
Majesty's Goodness upon this Occasion.
"We are not without Hopes, that Your Majesty
may be induced to order this Purchase to be made,
when we consider that it will be to the Honour of
Your Majesty's Reign, to have given thereby to Your
own Subjects, and to all Learned Strangers, the real
Use of this most valuable Collection; and that the
Ground may also be hereafter greatly improved, for
the Use and Convenience of both Houses of Parliament, who sit so very near this Place.
"We are sensible, that the last Proposal of Sir John
Cotton is higher than Your Majesty's Surveyors judge
reasonable: But we humbly hope that this will not
divert Your Majesty from any Gracious Purpose You
may have to hearken to this our humble Address; not
only upon the Account of what we have before
mentioned, but because the whole Advantage of
the Price will come to the Family, who have given
this great Treasure of Books to the Use of the
Public."
It is Ordered, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Lord High Treasurer of England do attend Her Majesty, with the Address of this House, agreed to this Day, relating to the
Cottonian Library.
Address concerning The Bahama Islands.
The Lord Halisax reported from the Lords Committees, an Address drawn by them, relating to The
Bahama Islands.
Which was read, and agreed to, as follows; (videlicet,)
"We, Your Majesty's most loyal and dutiful Subjects, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament
assembled, having received a Petition and Memorial
from John Graves, the Collector of Your Majesty's
Customs in The Bahama Islands, in Behalf of himself and other Your Majesty's distressed Subjects in
the said Islands; and having appointed a Committee,
to hear him, and others, who have lately been Inhabitants in the Isle of Providence, and have traded
thither; they have reported to us, That they do find,
that the French and Spaniards have Twice in this
War over-run and plundered the same; and that the
Governor hath deserted the Place; and that there is no
Form of Government remaining amongst them. They
find likewise, that the Situation of those Islands is
very convenient for protecting and securing our own
Ships, and annoying those of the Enemy; and that
the Harbour in the Island of New Providence may
easily be put in a Posture of Defence; and that it
would be of dangerous Consequence, if it should fall
into the Hands of the Enemy; and that the same
has been wholly neglected by the Proprietors for
some Time.
"May it please Your Most Excellent Majesty,
"We humbly beseech Your Majesty, That, as well
in Compassion to Your Majesty's distressed Subjects
in those Parts, as for the Security of the Trade in
general, You will be pleased to use such Methods
as Your Majesty shall think fit, for taking the said
Islands into Your Hands, in order to secure the same
to the Crown of England, and to the Safety and
Advantage of the Trade of Your Subjects."
It is Ordered, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Lords with
White Staves do humbly attend Her Majesty, with the
Address of this House, agreed to this Day, relating to
The Bahama Islands.
Militia Bill, Lords do not insist upon their Amendment to it:
The House proceeded to take into Consideration the
Amendment made by their Lordships to the Bill, intituled, "An Act for raising the Militia for the Year
One Thousand Seven Hundred and Six, notwithstanding the Month's Pay formerly advanced be not
re-paid; and for an Accompt to be made of Trophymonies."
And it being moved, "Not to insist on the said Amendment:"
It was agreed, not to insist thereon.
Message to H. C. to acquaint them with it.
Then, a Message was sent to the House of Commons,
by Sir John Francklyn and Sir Richard Holford:
To acquaint them, that the Lords do not insist on their
Amendment made to the said Bill.
Message from thence, with a Bill.
A Message from the House of Commons, by Mr.
Poulteney and others:
Who brought up a Bill, intituled, "An Act for the
Encouragement and Increase of Seamen; and for the
better and speedier manning Her Majesty's Fleet;"
to which they desire the Concurrence of this House.
Seamen, for Encouragement and Increase of, Bill:
Hodie 1a
vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for
the Encouragement and Increase of Seamen; and for
the better and speedier manning Her Majesty's
Fleet."
Admirals and Commissioners Navy to attend.
Ordered, That the said Bill be read a Second Time,
To-morrow; and that some of the Admirals of the
Fleet and some of the Commissioners of the Navy do
attend this House To-morrow, at Eleven a Clock; and
that all the Lords be summoned.
Adjourn.
Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque ad et in diem Martis,
decimum nonum diem instantis Martii, hora decima
Auroræ, Dominis sic decernentibus.