Sabbati, 22 die Januarii ;

Nono Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Duties on Leather.

A PETITION of the Master, Wardens, and Society of Tanners, within the City of Hereford, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, since a Duty has been laid upon Leather, the Petitioners have suffered very much in their Trade, by reason of the high Duties laid upon Leather: And praying Relief, and Encouragement in their Trade.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Aldermen, Stewards, and Company of Fellmongers, Leather-dressers, and Glovers, in the City of . . . . . is referred: And that they do examine the Matter; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Tanners of the Borough of Droitwich, Town of Bromsgrove, and Places adjacent, in the County of Worcester, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Duty laid upon Leather, and the Severity of the Officers in collecting it; the paying the Duty in Specie, and the Trust they give for their Goods; so much discourages their Trade, they must of Necessity lay it down, unless the House will take off the said Duty: And praying Relief therein.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Aldermen, Stewards, and Company of Fellmongers, Leather-dressers, and Glovers, in the City of . . . . . . is referred: And that they do examine the Matter; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Duties on Leather.

A Petition of several Tanners, of Shaw in the County of Berks, and adjacent Places, in behalf of themselves, and many others, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That by reason of the great Duty upon Leather, the Price thereof is much fallen, and Trade discouraged here; which occasions great Quantities of Leather to be sent from Ireland, whither our Workmen resort for Employment; so that, in time, Ireland will have the whole Trade for Exportation, if the said Duty be continued: And praying the Consideration of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Aldermen, Stewards, and Company of Fellmongers, Leather-dressers, and Glovers, in the City of Chester, is referred: And that they do examine the Matter; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Duties on Glass.

A Petition of John Cole, and others, Makers of Glass, and Glass-bottles, on behalf of themselves, and several other poor Families in the City of Bristoll, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the great Duties upon Glass has been and is a full Stop to that beneficial Manufacture; which has produced but small Advantage to the Crown, but hath occasioned the Impoverishment of many of the Petitioners, and brought them to live on the Charity of their respective Parishes: And praying, their miserable Condition may be considered.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Glass-makers of the Town of Stourbridge is referred: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Poor Relief.

A Bill for explaining an Act made in the last Session of Parliament, intituled, An Act for supplying some Defects in the Laws for the Relief of the Poor of this Kingdom, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Pagitt, Sir Robert Burdett, Mr. Baldwyn, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Hoare, Sir Robert Clayton, Mr. Rowney, Mr. Hedger, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Harrison, Sir Edward Ernly, Mr. How, Mr. Phillips, Sir Tho. Mompesson, Mr. Sands, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Culliford, Mr. Frewen, Mr. White, Mr. York, Sir Wm. Cooper, Mr. Chase, Mr. Thornhagh, Sir Henry Colt, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Colt, Sir John Elwell, Mr. Mountague, Sir Herbert Crofts, Mr. Morgan, Sir Jos. Tily, Sir Wm. Lowther, Mr. Foley, Mr. Austin, Lord Digby, Sir Matth. Andrews, Sir Sam. Barnardiston, Mr. Fuller, Serjeant Bond: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Maseacker's, &c. Nat.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the Naturalization of Gerrard Maesacker, and others, was read the Third time.

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

Ordered, That Sir Henry Colt 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.

Exporting Watches.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to explain the Act in the Seventh and Eighth Years of his Majesty's Reign, intituled, An Act to encourage the bringing Plate into the Mints to be coined, and for the further remedying the ill State of the Coin of the Kingdom; so as to give Leave for the exporting Watches, Sword-hilts, and other Manufactures of Silver: And that Sir Thomas Mompesson do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Vesting Interest in Judgments.

An ingrossed Bill to vest the Interest of Judgments, and other Securities, in the Assignees, was read the Third time.

And the Question being put, That the Bill do pass;

It passed in the Negative, Nemine contradicente.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Boyle have Leave to go into the Country, to the Funeral of his Grandfather.

Regulating Elections.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the further regulating Elections of Members to serve in Parliament: And that Mr. Cooper, Mr. Colt, and Mr. Edward Harley, do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Ordered, That it be an Instruction, That they do, in the said Bill, provide against Expences, in order to future Elections.

Persons summoned.

Ordered, That Mr. Hume, Mr. Cremer, Mr. Peters, Mr. Ferne, Mr. Herne, Mr. Abbot, and Mr. Isles, be summoned to attend this House immediately.

Supply.

Sir Thomas Littleton, 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, the Resolutions which the said Committee 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 were read; and are as follow; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Sum of 407,000 l. be granted to his Majesty, for making good the Deficiency of the Aid of Three Shillings in the Pound, granted to his Majesty the last Session of Parliament.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Sum of 940,000 l. be granted to his Majesty, for making good the Deficiency of the Subsidies, and other Duties, granted to his Majesty, together with the Aid of Three Shillings in the Pound, the last Session of Parliament.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Sum of 129,000 l. be granted to his Majesty, for making good the Deficiency of the Aid of One Shilling in the Pound, granted to his Majesty the last Session of Parliament.

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

Ways and Means.

Resolved, That it be an Instruction to the Committee of the whole House, who are to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, That they do consider of Ways and Means for making good the said Deficiencies, and disbanding the Army.

Million-Lottery Fund.

Ordered, That an Account be laid before this House of the Deficiency of the Provision made for Payment of the Sum of 280,000 l. due upon the Million-LotteryTickets, and several Annuities.

Preventing Corruption of Juries.

Ordered, That the Bill to prevent the Corrupting of Juries be read a Second time upon Wednesday Morning next.

False indorsing Exchequer Bills.

The House, according to Order, proceeded in the further Examination of the Matter relating to the false Indorsement of Exchequer-Bills:

And an Account of Money upon Excise; charged in May 1697, signed by Mr. Hume and Mr. Cremer, being presented to the House; the same was read; and is as followeth; viz.

Excise charged in May 1697.

The Tellers in their Bills do not insert the Name of the Receiver-General of the Excise; though it be otherwise in the Customs.

As to the Payments in Mr. Palmes and Mr Carew's Offices, Mr. Peters and Mr. Ferne are positive, That they were charged by the Receivers abovewritten.

In Mr. Howard's Office, the Clerks are not so certain: But, Mr. Duncomb having made no Payment in Mr. Palmes's Office after the 12th of May; and Mr. Burton's First Payment being on the 19th ditto in that Office, and in Mr. Carew's, on the 27° ditto; it is most probable, that those of the 27th and 28th of May, in Mr. Howard's, were also made by Mr. Burton; which may be cleared at the Excise-Office.

January 22d, 97.

Pet. Hume.
Tho. Cremer.

And Mr. Hume, Mr. Cremer, and Mr. Peters attending, according to Order;

They were called in; and examined to the same.

And then they withdrew.

Then Mr. Peters was called in; and examined.

And then he withdrew.

Then Mr. Ferne was called in; and examined.

And then he withdrew.

Then Mr. Hern was called in; and examined.

And then he withdrew.

Then Mr. Isles was called in; and examined.

And then he withdrew.

Candles.

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That Candles be brought in;

It passed in the Negative.

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