Extracts from the House of Commons Journal, vol 10 1688 - 1693.

31 March 1691

Adjournment.

Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer acquaints the House, That he was commanded by her Majesty to signify her Pleasure to the House, That both Houses should adjourn themselves to the Twenty-eighth Day of April now next ensuing.

And accordingly the House adjourned until Tuesday the Twenty-eighth Day of April now next ensuing, at Ten of the Clock in the Morning.

28 April

Adjournment.

Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer acquaints the House, That his Majesty had thought fit that the Parliament should be adjourned for a Month longer: And that therefore it was his Majesty's Desire, That this House would adjourn itself until Tuesday the Six-and-twentieth Day of May next.

And accordingly the House did adjourn until Tuesday the Twenty-sixth Day of May next, at Ten of the Clock in the Morning.

26 May

Parliament prorogued.

A Message by Sir Tho. Duppa, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod.

Mr. Speaker, the Lords, authorized by virtue of their Majesties Commission, desire the immediate Attendance of this honourable House in the House of Peers, to hear the said Commission read.

And accordingly Mr. Speaker, with the House, went up to the House of Peers; and heard the said Commission read: Which was, for proroguing this Parliament until the Thirtieth Day of June next.

And accordingly this Parliament was prorogued until the Thirtieth Day of June next.

30 June

Parliament further prorogued.

THE Parliament being prorogued to this Day; And the House being met;

A Message was delivered by Sir Thom. Duppa, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords, authorized by virtue of their Majesties Commission, desire the immediate Attendance of this honourable House, in the House of Peers, to hear the said Commission read.

And accordingly Mr. Speaker, with the House, went up to the House of Peers; and heard the said Commission read: Which was for the proroguing the Parliament until the Third Day of August next.

And accordingly the Parliament was prorogued until the Third Day of August next.

3 August

Parliament further prorogued.

THE Parliament being prorogued to this Day; And the House being met;

A Message was delivered, by Sir Thomas Duppa Gentleman.... of the Black Rod;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords, authorized by virtue of their Majesties Commission, desire the immediate Attendance of this honourable House, in the House of Peers, to hear the said Commission read.

And accordingly Mr. Speaker, with the House, went up to the House of Peers; and heard the said Commission read: Which was, for the proroguing the Parliament until the Fifth Day of October next.

And accordingly the Parliament was prorogued until Monday the Fifth Day of October next.

5 October

Parliament further prorogued.

THE Parliament being prorogued to this Day;

And their Majesties having, by their Royal Proclamation, signified their Pleasure, That there should be again a further Prorogation until the Two-and-twentieth of October instant;

And the House being met;

A Message was delivered, by Sir Thomas Duppa, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords, authorized by virtue of their Majesties Commission, desire the immediate Attendance of this honourable House, in the House of Peers, to hear the said Commission read.

And accordingly Mr. Speaker, with the House, went up to the House of Peers; and heard the said Commission read: Which was, for proroguing the Parliament until the Two-and-twentieth of October instant.

And accordingly the Parliament was prorogued until the Two-and-twentieth Day of October instant.

20 October

The King's Speech reported.

Mr. Speaker reports, That his Majesty had been pleased to make a Gracious Speech to both Houses: And to prevent any Mistake, in Reporting thereof, he had desired and obtained a Copy of it: Which he read to the House; and is as followeth; viz.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

I HAVE appointed this Meeting of Parliament, as soon as ever the Affairs abroad would admit of My Return into England, that you might have the more Time to consider of the best and most effectual Ways and Means for the Carrying on of the War against France this next Year.

I am willing to hope, That the good Success with which it hath pleased God to bless My Arms in Ireland this Summer, will not only be a great Encouragement to you to proceed the more cheerfully in this Work; but will be looked upon by you as an Earnest of future Successes, which your timely Assistance to Me may, by God's Blessing, procure to us all: And, as I do not doubt, but you will take care to pay the Arrears of that Army, which hath been so deserving and so prosperous in the Reducement of Ireland to a peaceable Condition, so, I do assure you, there shall no Care be wanting on My Part to keep that Kingdom, as far as it is possible, from being burdensome to England for the future.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

I do not doubt but you are all sensible, That it will be necessary we should have as strong a Fleet next Year, and as early at Sea, as we had this Summer: And I must tell you, That the great Power of France will as necessarily require, that we should maintain a very considerable Army, ready upon all Occasions, not only to desend ourselves from any Insult, but also to annoy the common Enemy, where it may be most sensible to them; and I do not see how it is possible to do this with less than Sixty-five thousand Men.

I shall only add, that by the Vigour and Dispatch of your Counsels, and Assistance to me in this Session of Parliament, you have now an Opportunity in your Hand (which, if neglected, you can never reasonably hope to see again); not only to establish the future Quiet and Prosperity of these Kingdoms, but the Peace and Security of all Europe.

27 October

Address to the King.

Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That a congratulatory Address be presented to his Majesty, for his safe and happy Return, after the many Hazards to which his Majesty has exposed his sacred Person; and for the Success of his Majesty's Arms in the reducing of Ireland; and to assure his Majesty, That this House will stand by, and assist him to the utmost of their Power, in carrying on a vigorous War against France.

And it is referred unto Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Comptroller, Sir Thomas Clarges, Lord Falkland, Sir Richard Temple, Sir Rich. Onslow, Sir Jos. Williamson, Sir Wm. Strickland, Sir JohnGuise, Colonel Austen, Sir Rob. Sawyer, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Mr. Boscawen, Mr. Dolben, Mr. Mountague, Sir Thomas Littleton, Mr. Solicitor General, Sir Rob. Cotton; or any Five of them: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Three a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Address to the Queen.

Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That an humble Address be presented to her Majesty, acknowledging her prudent Administration in the Absence of the King.

Ordered, That it be referred to the same Committee, to prepare the said Address also.

28 October

East India Company.

A Petition of divers Merchants and Traders in and about the City of London, and other their Majesties Subjects, was presented to the House: And several of the Petitioners were called in to the Bar: Who owned the same.

And being withdrawn;

The said Petition was read; setting forth, That the Trade to the East Indies is of very great Importance to this Nation; and yet, by the manifold Abuses of the present East India Company both at home and abroad (who have managed the same for their private Gain without any Regard to the publick Good), the Trade is like to be utterly lost to this Kingdom, and to fall into the Hands of Foreigners, unless timely prevented by some better Regulation thereof on a new joint Stock and Constitution: And praying, That this House, for preventing so national a Mischief, would take into Consideration the Establishing of a new East India Company, in such Manner, and with such Powers and Limitations, as to them shall be thought most conducing to the Preservation of so beneficial a Trade to the Kingdom. And also

Ditto.

A Petition of the East India Company was read; setting forth, That the Petitioners, and their Predecessors, upon the Encouragement of Queen Elizabeth, and succeeding Princes, by their several Royal Grants and Charters granted unto them, exclusive to all others, have adventured their Estates for the Discovery and carrying on a Traffick to those remote Parts, greatly to the Advantage of the Navigation of this Kingdom, and Enriching of the same; and have been always under a Belief, that, according to the Usage of their Predecessors, might legally manage their Trade within the Limits of their Charters, by virtue of their several Grants from the Crown: And that several Parliaments have had many Occasions to take Notice of their Charters without any Disallowance thereunto; but, on the contrary, rather implicitly approved thereof: But that the Petitioners have received great Damages and Discouragements in their Trade by several private Traders or Interlopers, who originally were the Cause of all those Troubles and Losses brought of late on the said Company: And that the Petitioners therefore humbly represent, That the said East India Trade cannot possibly be supported but in a joint Stock, exclusive to all others, nor without such Powers granted unto them equal to that of their Neighbours: And that, while Matters stand thus, the said Trade will not only suffer much, but other European Nations will make great Advantage thereof, to the Hazard, if not the Ruin, of the English Commerce to those Parts: And praying the Consideration of the House in the Premises: and to apply such seasonable Remedies for the Preservation of the said Trade, on which so many other foreign Trades, on a great measure, depend, as to settle the same by Act of Parliament, under such Methods or Regulations as the House shall think fit; and that, in the mean time, the Petitioners may be supported and encouraged in preserving the said Trade to the Nation.

Resolved, That the Consideration of the said several Petitions be referred to a Committee of the whole House.

29 October

East India Company.

Then the House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Petitions touching the East India Trade. The Speaker left the Chair. Sir John Guise took the Chair of the Committee. Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair: And Sir John Guise reported from the said Committee, That they had agreed upon several Resolutions; which they had directed him to report to the House: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards, delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were read; and are as follows; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the East India Trade is necessary and beneficial to this Kingdom.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the East India Trade will be best managed by a joint Stock, exclusive to all others:

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That a Company to trade to the East Indias in a joint Stock be established by Act of Parliament.

The First of the said Resolutions being read a Second time;

Resolved, That the House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, That the East India Trade is necessary, and beneficial to this Kingdom.

The Second Resolution being read the Second time;

Resolved, That the House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, That the East India Trade will be best managed by a joint Stock, exclusive to all others.

The Third Resolution being read a Second time;

Resolved, That the House doth agree with the Committee, That a Company to trade to the East Indias in a joint Stock be established by Act of Parliament.

Sir John Guise also acquainted the House, That he was directed by the Committee to move the House, That the present East India Company may be ordered to produce to this House, within Fourteen Days next ensuing, their Books, with a true State of their Stock and Debts at home and abroad.

Ordered, That the present East India Company do produce to this House, within Fourteen Days next ensuing, their Books, with a true State of their Stock and Debts at home and abroad.

Sir John Guise also acquainted the House, That he was directed by the Committee to move the House, That they would give Leave, that the said Committee may sit again.

Resolved, That this House will, upon This-day-fortnight at Ten of the Clock in the Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to proceed further in the Consideration of the Petitions concerning the East India Trade.

And then the House adjourned till Three of the Clock in the Afternoon.