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Election of Members to ferve in Parliament for the faid Borough.

4. That John Comyns, Serjeant at Law, having, at the lare Election of Members to ferve in Parliament for the Borough of Malden in the County of Effex, wilfully refus'd to take the Oath of Qualification, as is directed by an Act of Parliament of the ninth Year of the late Queen, (entitled, An Act for fecuring the Freedom of Parliaments, by the farther qualifying the Members to fit in the House of Commons) though duly requir'd fo to do; and not having, at any Time before the meeting of this Parliament taken the faid Oath, his Election is thereby void.

5. That it is the Opinion of this Committee, that Thomas Brampton, Efq; is duly elected a Burgefs to ferve in this prefent Parliament for the Borough of Malden in the County of Effex.

6. That Samuel Tuffnel, Efq; is duly elected a Burgess to ferve in this prefent Parliament for the faid Borough of Malden.

The faid Refolutions being feverally read a fecond Time, and the Queftion being feverally put upon the three first, that the Houfe do agree with the Committee in the faid Refolutions, it pafs'd in the Negative; but the reft of the Refolutions being feverally read a fecond Time, were, upon the Queftion feverally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

On the 21st of May, the Commons refolv'd to prefent four Addreffes to his Majesty,

ift, For an Account how the 3000l. given by the laft Parliament to the Chaplains of the Fleet, unprovided for, had been diftributed.

2dly, For an Account of what Quantities of Wool had been imported into this Kingdom from Spain, from Chriftmas 1708 to Christmas 1714.

3dly, For an Account of what Quantities of Cochineal had been imported from Christmas 1708 to Christmas 1714, and from thence to the 1ft of May 1715, diftinguishing the Places from whence the faid Cochineal came, c.

And 4thly, An Account of what Quantities of Wines have been imported from France or Spain, from Chriftmas 1708 to Christmas 1714, together with the Account of the Duties of fuch French and Spanish Wines.

The fame Day, after fome Time spent in the farther. Hearing the Merits of the Election for the Borough of Hertford, the fame was again adjourn'd to the 24th of May.

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The Honour of doing Juftice to a Gentleman, who, on feveral Occafions, had done fignal Service to the English Nation, and who for many Years had suffer'd, chiefly by the Envy of fome of his own Countrymen, the Scots, feem'd referv'd to this Parliament. For on Monday, the 23d of May, Mr. Broderick reported from the Committee to whom the Petition of William Paterfon, Efq; was referr❜d, the Matter as it appear'd to them, and the Refolutions of the Committee thereupon; which he read in his Place, and afterwards deliver'd in at the table, where the fame were read; and after reading of this Report, a Bill was order'd to be brought in, For relieving William Paterfon, Efq; out of the Equivalent Money, for what is due to him. The fame Day, the Commons, in a grand Committee on the Supply, came to this Refolution, viz. That to enable his Majefty to fupport the Dignity of the Crown, and to make an honourable Provifion for the Royal Family, there be granted to his Majefty, during his Life, (which God long preferve) an additional Revenue of One hundred and twenty thousand Pounds per Annum; which, together with the neat Produce of the Civil List Branches, may make up the clear yearly Sum of Seven Hundred Thoufand Pounds for the Service of his Majefty's Houthold and Family, and other his neceffary Expences and Occafions. This Refolution was the next Day reported, and agreed to by the House: After which, a Bill was order'd to be brought in, For shortening the Time for future publick Mournings; and the Bill for continuing the Imprisonment of Robert Blackburne, and others, for the horrid Confpiracy, to affaffinate the Perfon of his late Sacred Majesty King William the Third, was read the third Time, pafs'd, and fent up to the Lords. Then the Houfe proceeded to the farther Hearing the Merits of the Election for the Borough of Hertford; and after a long Examination and Debate, that lafted till nine in the Evening, it was refolv'd, that Charles Cafar, Efq; and Richard Goufton, Efq; fitting Members, were not duly elected, and, on the contrary, that Sir Thomas Clerk, Kt. and John Boteler, Efq; Petitio ners, were duly elected for the faid Borough; as alfo refolv'd, That Jofeph Calton, Mayor of the Borough of Hertford, is guilty of acting in an illegal and arbitrary Manner in the late Election of Burgeffes to serve in Parliament for the Borough of Hertford, in Contempt of the Act to prevent faife and double Returns of Members to ferva in Parliament, and in Breach of the Privilege of this House, and order'd, that the said Jofeph Calton be, for the said

Breach

Breach of Privilege, taken into the Cuftody of the Serjeant at Arms. Mr. Cafar bore fo impatiently his being thrown out, that he could not forbear reflecting on the Proceedings of this Houfe of Commons, comparing them to thofe of the Parliament of 1641; but the House took no Notice of his Afperfion.

May 25. Several Papers that had been call'd for were laid before the Commons, who, upon the Reading of fe veral Petitions, complaining of the exporting of Wooll and Yarn from Ireland to France, appointed a Committee to confider of the Laws in being for preventing the exporting of Wooll from Great Britain and Ireland; but rejected the Petition of the Shoemakers, Curriers, c. of Colchiefer, praying that the Drawback of one Penny in the Pound, upon Leather exported, might be taken off.

On the 26th of May, the Quakers Bill was order'd to be engrofs'd; and after fome other Bufinefs of lefs Importance, the Houfe proceeded to the Hearing the Merits of the Election for the City of New Sarum, which was adjourn'd to the laft Day of this Month; and order'd, that the Call of the House be farther adjourn'd to that Day Fortnight, being the 9th of June.

On the 27th, the Commons, in a grand Committee on Ways and Means, came to a Refolution, viz. That towards the Supply granted to his Majefty, the Duties laid by an Act of the ninth Year of her faid Majefty, entitled, An Alt for laying a Duty upon Hops, be continu'd from the ist Day of June to Michaelmas next, which was reported, and agreed to the Monday following. The fame Day, the Commons being inform'd, that both the Petitioners and fitting Members for the City of New Sarum, were willing, that the farther Hearing the Merits of the Election for the faid City at the Bar of the Houfe be discharg'd, the fame was order'd to be discharg'd accordingly. Then Mr. Hampden, from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, reported their Refolutions touching the Election for the Town of Cambridge, viz.

ift, That the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Burgeffes of the Town of Cambridge, may hold a fummon'd common Day-Court, and admit Freemen without fix Aldermen of the faid Town being then present.

adly, That Sir John Hynde Cotton, Bart. is duly elected a Burgefs for the faid Town.

3dly, That Thomas Sclater, Efq; alfo is duly elected for the faid Town.

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Upon a fecond Reading of these three Refolutions, the first and third were difagreed to, the fecond agreed to and farther refolv'd, that Samuel Shepheard, Jun. Efq; was duly elected for the faid Town of Cambridge. After this, the Houfe adjourn'd till the Monday following, by Reafon of the King's Birth-Day, which fell on the 28th.

Oh the 30th of May, after the Report of the Refolution before mention'd, for continuing the Tax upon Hops, a Claufe was order'd to be inferted in the Malt-Bill for that Purpofe, which was done accordingly the fame Day, after Mr. Farrer had reported from the Committee of the whole Houfe, the Amendments made to that Bill, which, with an Amendment to one of them, were agreed to; and fo the Bill was order'd to be engrofs'd.

After this, Mr. Chomly and Sir Richard Steele were order'd to give the Thanks of the Houfe to the Reverend Dr. Awbrey, for the Sermon by him preach'd before the Houfe at St. Margaret's, Weßminfier, the Day before. Then, in a Committee of the whole Houfe on the Supply, iť was refolv'd to grant his Majesty the following feveral Sums.

ift, 28321. 8s. 6d. for the Military Officers and Chap lains who have ferv'd in the Train of Artillery in Flan ders and Spain, and in feveral Expeditions, to compleat their Half Pay for the Year 1715.

2dly, 335257. Is. 8d. for the Pay of feven Battalions, confifting of the Royal Regiment of Foot, and the Regiments of Webb, Forfar, Hill, Orrery, and Sutton, brought lately from Flanders, from the 29th of September 1714, (to which Time they were provided for by Parliament) until the 25th of March 1715, at which Time they were transferr'd to the Eltablishment of Ireland.

3dly, 8461/. 13s. 8 d. for the Pay of the three Battalions of Harrifon, North and Grey, (now Grove) and Sterne, *now in Flanders, from the 29th of September 1714, to the 25th of December following.

4thly, 81831. gs. 4d. for the Charge of Officers Servants of the Regiments in Minorca and Gibraltar, from the 25th of June 1713, to the 24th of December 1715, being one Year and an half.

Sthly, 4681. for Bounty-Money to difbanded Men of feveral Regiments, which were reduc'd, in Order to be transferr'd to the Establishment of Ireland.

6thly, 20000l. for Support of the Royal Hospital at Chelsea, and Pay of the Out-Penfioners for the Year 1715,

over

over and above the feveral Poundages and Day's Pay, applicable thereunto.

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7thly, 533221. for fupplying the Deficiency of the Fund of the Claffes Lottery in the Year 1711, for the Year ending at Michaelmas, 1714.

And 8thly, 529381. 9s. 8d. for fupplying the Defici ency of the Fund for the Claffes Lottery, in the Year 1712, for the Year ending at Michaelmas 1714.

Thefe Refolutions were, the next Day, (May 31) reported, and agreed to by the Houfe; who afterwards proceeded to the Hearing the Merits of the Election for the Borough of Newcastle under Line, in the County of Staf ford, which was adjourn'd to the fecond Day of June

next.

Having done with the Proceedings of the Commons, let us now attend those of the Lords during this Month: On Tuesday the 3d of May, their Lordships, according to Order, confider'd of the Petition of Mrs. Mary Forester, and after fome Debates it was refolv'd, by a Majority only of two Voices, (viz. 50 against 48) that the faid Petition be rejected. It was obferv'd, that all the Bishops were against granting a Divorce; left thereby they should weaken the facred Bond of Matrimony.

Not many Days after, another Business of a very nice Nature came before the Houfe of Peers. The eldest Son of the Lord Digby (an Irish Baron) being a Lunatick, and having, as was fuggefted, made feveral Attempts on his Father's Life, his Lordship petition'd the House of Peers for Leave to bring in a Bill to difinherit him. Their Lordships finding, upon ftrict Examination, that he was extreme weak in his Understanding, order'd a Bill to be brought in, For appointing Perfors to take Care of the Perfon and Eftate of John Digby, Efq; elde Son and Heir apparent of William Lord Digby, in the Kingdom of Ireland; which was read the firft Time on the 16th of May; but was not finish'd till the Beginning of June.

On the 30th of May, the House of Peers, in a grand Committee, confider'd of the Bill for regulating the Land Forces; and there arofe a great Debate about a Claufe for confining the feveral Regiments to thofe Parts of his Majefty's Dominions for which they are allotted: As for Inftance, the 12000 Men that are on the Irish Establishment, to Ireland; and fo forth. The Duke of Buckingham, the Lord Trevor, the Lord North and Grey, the Bishop of Rochester; and fome others, fpoke for the faid Claufe; but the Duke of Marlborough, and fome other Lords, The w'd

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