Die Mercurii, 17 Octobris, 18 Car. IIdi.

Atheism, &c.

ORDERED, That the Committee to which the Bill against Atheism and Profaneness is committed, be impowered to receive Information touching such Books as tend to Atheism, Blasphemy, or Profaneness, or against the Essence or Attributes of God; and, in particular, the Book published in the Name of one White; and the Book of Mr. Hobbs, called The Leviathan; and to report the Matter, with their Opinions, to the House.

Regulating the Press.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to inspect the Act for regulating the Press; and to consider, Wherein it is defective; and bring in a Bill for supplying the Defects, and for putting the Act in effectual Execution: And also to inquire, Whether there be any illegal Patent, or any Abuse, in the licensing or stopping the lawful Printing of Books:

And that it be referred to Mr. Millward, Sir Edm. Pearse, Sir Charles Harbord, Sir Robert Holt, Sir Wm. Lowther, Sir Solom. Swale, Mr. Westphaling, Mr. Crouch, Sir Rowland Berkley, Sir Thom. Allen, Sir Robert Barneham, Sir Robert Carre, Dr. Burwell, Colonel Reames, Mr. Daniell, Mr. Chetwin, Sir John Heath, Mr. Devereux, Mr. Cheyne, Sir Thom. Clifford, Sir Robert Atkins, Sir Wm. Lewis, Mr. Coventry, Sir Thom. Gower, Sir Jo. Lowther, Mr. Morice, Mr. Sandys, Mr. Prynn, Sir Edw. Masters, Colonel Birch, Sir Jo. Birkenhead, Sir Wm. Gaudy, Sir Wm. Doyley, Mr. Hobby, Sir Thom. Higgons, Mr. Mountague, Mr. St. John, Mr. Herbert, Sir Phill. Musgrave, Colonel Strangwaies, Sir Thom. Littleton, Mr. Seymour, Sir Richard Oateley: And they are to meet on Friday next, at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber: And to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Ways and Means.

The House then resolved into a Committee of the whole House, to proceed in the Debate of the effectual raising Eighteen hundred thousand Pounds for his Majesty's Supply.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair: And

Mr. Milward took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker took the Chair.

Mr. Milward reports that the Committee of the whole House had made some further Progress in Debate of the Manner of raising the King's Supply: And desired, that, as soon as the Message, sent from the Lords, was over, the House would again resolve into a Committee, to proceed in the Debate.

Resolved, &c. That the House will, after Order taken in Relation to the Message from the Lords, again resolve into a Committee of the whole House, to proceed in the Debate of the Manner of raising the King's Supply.

Lords desire a Conference.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Wm. Child and Sir Nathaniell Hobert;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords desire a present Conference with the House, in the Painted Chamber, upon the Vote of this House, to which the Concurrence of the Lords was desired, touching the prohibiting the Importation of French Manufactures and Commodities.

The Messengers being called in; Mr. Speaker acquaints them, That the House had agreed to a present Conference.

Ordered, . . . . Serjeant Charlton, Sir Robert Atkins, Sir Geo. Downing, Sir Thom. Clifford, Mr. Solicitor, Mr. Seymour, Mr. Millward, Sir Robert Howard, be appointed to manage the Conference.

Mr. Solicitor reports from the Conference, That they had attended the Lords: And that the Lord Anglesey did manage the Conference; and had delivered several Reasons in Answer to the Vote of this House: Which (to prevent Mistakes) he had also reduced into Writing; and delivered the Paper at the Conference: Which Mr. Solicitor read; and after, delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table.

And the Paper, containing the Lords Answer to the Vote of the House, being read;

Resolved, &c. That the Answer of the Lords to the Vote of this House, to which the Lords Concurrence was desired, be taken into Consideration on Friday Morning.

Ways and Means.

The House then resolved into a Committee of the whole House.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Millward took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Millward reports, That the Committee had made some further Progress in the Debate of the Way and Means for the effectual Raising of Eighteen hundred thousand Pounds Supply for his Majesty: But, coming to no Resolution, desires, that the House would resolve into a Committee again, at their next Sitting, to proceed in the further Debate thereof.

The Question being put, That the House do sit Tomorrow;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went out.

Tellers,

Mr. Williams, For the Yeas, 93. Mr. Mallet, Sir Robert Holt, For the Noes, 93. Colonel Strangwaies,

The Yeas and the Noes being even; Mr. Speaker declares with the Yeas.

And so it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Committees.

Resolved, &c. That all Committees that were to sit this Afternoon, be adjourned till Friday, Two of the Clock in the Afternoon: And that they sit in the respective Places formerly appointed.

And then the House adjourned till To-morrow Morning, Eight of the Clock.