House of Lords Journal Volume 19: 12 June 1711

DIE Martis, 12 Junii.

REGINA.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

Report of Commissioners of Customs on the American Trade Bill.

The House being informed, "That some of the Commissioners of the Customs attended," they were called in; and delivered, at the Bar, pursuant to the Order of this House of Saturday last, their Report, in relation to the Bill for the Encouragement of the Trade to America.

And, being withdrawn, the same was read, as follows; (videlicet,)

To the Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled.

May it please your Lordships,

In Obedience to your Lordships Commands, by your Order of the 9th Instant, directing that the Commissioners of the Customs shall have a Copy of the Bill, intituled, "An Act for the Encouragement of the Trade to America," and to lay their Opinion thereupon, in Writing, before your Lordships as on this Day;

The Commissioners crave Leave to inform your Lordships, that, upon several Memorials to Her Majesty, of the Owners and Commanders of Private Men of War belonging to Jamaica, and of the Merchants and Traders, Inhabitants of the said Island, which were referred to this Board, they did, in their Reports in May and August 1710, lay before the Treasury the several Steps that had been taken, for putting in Execution the Act made in the Sixth Year of Her Majesty's Reign, intituled, "An Act for the Encouragement of the Trade to America," with respect to the Duties charged by that Act on Prize Goods taken in America; and therein acquainted the Treasury, "That the Commissioners were informed, by several Letters they received from the Officers of the Customs in the Plantations, of the Difficulty the said Officers found, and the Obstructions they met with, in putting the said Act in Execution, particularly at Jamaica; where the Collector at first received about £. 1200. for the Duties; but was afterwards obliged, by an Order of the Council there, to take Security: That the said Duty being so great a Discouragement to the Captors, it occasioned great Numbers of the Seamen to desert the Ships set out at Jamaica for annoying the Enemy, which reduced them from Twenty-five to Two Sail, and likewise occasioned divers of the Inhabitants to leave the said Island: Upon which, this Board were of Opinion, That, if Security could be taken to answer the said Duties till the Persons concerned had an Opportunity of applying to Parliament, it would very much conduce to the Encouragement of Captors, the Benefit of the Trade, and Security of that Island."

And, as the Design of this Bill is, to release Prize Goods from Payment of the Duties in America, charged by the said Act of the Sixth of the Queen, and to subject all Prize Goods imported into Great Britain to the Payment of the same Duties as the said Goods would have paid in case they had not been Prize; we are humbly of Opinion, that this Bill will not only be a great Encouragement to the Captors in America, but also put the Trade at Home upon a more equal Foot, and be an Advantage to Her Majesty's Revenue.

"All which is humbly submitted to your Lordships Consideration.

"Custom-house, London, 12th June, 1711.

"T. Newport.

"Will.Culliford.

"Jo. Werden.

"M. Dudley.

"J. Stanley."

Trade to America, Bill:

Then the House was adjourned during Pleasure, and put into a Committee upon the Bill, intituled, "An Act for the Encouragement of the Trade to America."

And, after some Time spent therein, the House was resumed.

And the Earl of Winchilsea reported, "That the Committee had gone through the said Bill; and think it fit to pass, without any Amendment."

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for the Encouragement of the Trade to America."

The Question was put, "Whether this Bill shall pass?"

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Message to H. C. that the Lords have agreed to it.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Mr. Meller and Mr. Orlebar:

To let them know, that the Lords have agreed to the said Bill, without any Amendment.

Message from thence, for the Passages to be cleared.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Gilbert Dolben and others:

To desire that this House will direct the Painted Chamber, and the Lobby, and the Passages to this House, to be cleared from any Crowd, when the Commons shall come up thither, by Her Majesty's Command, to attend Her there.

Ordered, That the Officers attending this House do clear the Painted Chamber, the Lobby, and Passages, accordingly.

Then the Messengers were called in; and told, "That the Lords have given Order for the clearing the Painted Chamber, the Lobby, and Passages, according to the Desire of the Commons."

The House was adjourned during Pleasure, to robe.

The House was resumed.

Queen present:

Her Majesty, being seated on Her Royal Throne, adorned with Her Crown and Regal Ornaments, attended with Her Officers of State (the Lords being in their Robes); commanded the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod to let the House of Commons know, "That it is Her Majesty's Pleasure, they attend Her presently, in the House of Peers."

Who being come, with their Speaker; he, after a Speech to Her Majesty, delivered the Money Bills to the Clerk of the Parliaments, who brought them to the Table; where the Clerk of the Crown read the Titles of them, as also the Titles of the other Bills to be passed, severally, as follows; (videlicet,)

Bills passed.

"1. An Act for making good Deficiencies, and satisfying the Public Debts; and for erecting a Corporation to carry on a Trade to The South Seas; and for the Encouragement of the Fishery; and for Liberty to trade in unwrought Iron with the Subjects of Spain; and to repeal the Acts for registering Seamen."

"2. An Act for licensing and regulating Hackney Coaches and Chairs; and for charging certain new Duties on Stamped Vellum, Parchment, and Paper, and on Cards and Dice, and on the Exportation of Rock Salt for Ireland; and for securing thereby, and by a Weekly Payment out of the Post-office, and by several Duties on Hides and Skins, a Yearly Fund of One Hundred Eighty-six Thousand Six Hundred and Seventy Pounds, for Thirty-two Years, to be applied to the Satisfaction of such Orders as are therein mentioned, to the Contributors of any Sum, not exceeding Two Millions, to be raised for carrying on the War, and other Her Majesty's Occasions."

"3. An Act for granting to Her Majesty several Duties upon Coals, for building Fifty new Churches in and about the Cities of London and Westminster, and Suburbs thereof, and other Purposes therein mentioned."

To these Bills the Clerk of the Parliaments pronounced the Royal Assent, severally, in these Words; (videlicet,)

"La Reyne remercie ses bons Subjects, accepte leur Benevolence, (fn. 1) et. ainsi le veult."

"4. An Act for the Encouragement of the Trade to America."

"5. An Act for making the Act of the Fifth Year of Her Majesty's Reign, for the Preservation of the Game, perpetual; and for making the same more effectual."

"6. An Act for raising the Militia for the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eleven, although the Month's Pay formerly advanced be not re-paid."

"7. An Act for the better Preservation and Improvement of the Fishery within the River of Thames; and for regulating and governing the Company of Fishermen of the said River."

"8. An Act to dissolve the present, and prevent the future, Combination of Coal Owners, Lightermen, Masters of Ships, and others, to advance the Price of Coals, in Prejudice of the Navigation, Trade, and Manufactures, of this Kingdom; and for the further Encouragement of the Coal Trade."

"9. An Act for reviving and continuing an Act made in the First Year of Her Majesty's Reign, for the more effectual preventing Abuses and Frauds of Persons employed in the working up the Woollen, Linen, Fustian, Cotton, and Iron Manufactures of this Kingdom."

"10. An Act for Relief of the Creditors and Proprietors of the Company of Mine Adventurers, by establishing a Method for settling the Differences between the Company and their Creditors; and for uniting them, in order to an effectual working the Mines of the said Company."

To these Bills the Clerk of the Parliaments pronounced the Royal Assent, severally, in these Words; (videlicet,)

"La Reyne le veult."

"11. An Act for enabling Charles Lord Viscount Cullen to sell the Manor and Advowson of the Church of Elmsthorp, in the County of Leicester, for the Payment of his Debts."

"12. An Act for Sale of Part of the Estate of Theophilus Biddulph Esquire, for Payment of his Debts."

"13. An Act to enable Trustees to make Building Leases of Part of the Estate late of John Lovett deceased, lying in the City of Dublin."

"14. An Act for Sale of Timber upon the Estate of Thomas Skeffington Esquire, an Infant, for Payment of his Father's Debts."

"15. An Act for confirming an Agreement made between Philip Saltmarshe and Thomas Bennet Esquires, for a Partition, Division, and Exchange, of several Estates, in the Counties of Nottingham and Dorset, and other Purposes therein mentioned."

"16. An Act for Sale of Part of the Estate of Richard Brideoake Esquire, in the County of Oxon (and charging other Part thereof with Two Annuities), for Payment and Satisfaction of several Incumbrances affecting his whole Estate; and for confirming an Agreement made between the said Richard Brideoake and others, claiming Common in Hook-Norton Warren and Hook-Norton Layes, in the same County."

"17. An Act for the Sale of the Manor of Frognall, and other Lands and Hereditaments, in the County of Kent, the Estate of George Clerk Esquire, for Payment of Debts; and settling an Estate, in the County of Leicester and City of London, to the same Uses as the Estate in Kent was settled."

To these Bills the Clerk of the Parliaments pronounced the Royal Assent, severally, in these Words; (videlicet,)

"Soit fait come il est desire."

Then Her Majesty spake as follows:

Queen's Speech.

My Lords, and Gentlemen,

"It is with great Pleasure I tell you, at the End of this Session, that you have fully made good all the Assurances you gave Me at the Beginning of it.

"This I look upon as a further Pledge of My Subjects Duty and Affection; which is the firmest Support of My Throne.

"I thank you, Gentlemen of the House of Commons, in a particular Manner, for what you have done: You have complied with My Desire, in granting a Supply for building many new Churches; and you have not only enabled Me to carry on the War, but have made effectual Provision for paying those heavy Debts which were almost grown an insupportable Burthen on the Public; and this at a Time when our Enemies, every where, pleased themselves with the Hopes that the Supplies for the Service of the current Year could not have been found. You have disappointed them in all respects; and, by the great Sums you have raised, the greatest ever granted to any Prince in One Session, you have restored the Public Credit; which I will take Care to preserve, by a frugal Management.

"The World must now be satisfied, that nothing can be too difficult for a Parliament filled with so much Zeal for the true Interest of the Nation, in Church and State.

"My Lords, and Gentlemen,

"The Satisfaction I take in the Power with which God has intrusted Me, is to employ it for the Protection and Good of all My People; whose Prosperity I have as much at Heart as ever any of My Predecessors had.

"You see the happy Effects of a mutual Confidence between Me and My Subjects: I shall look upon any Attempt to lessen it, as a Step towards dissolving My Government.

"The Temper you have shewn, will, I hope, convince those who have the Misfortune to differ from our Church, that their Liberty is not in Danger.

"It is needless for Me to repeat the Assurances of My earnest Concern for the Succession in the House of Hanover, and of My fixed Resolution to support and encourage the Church of England as by Law established.

"You are now returning to your several Countries; and I expect from you, that you will further recommend yourselves to Me, by studying to promote the Public Peace and Quiet."

And then the Lord Keeper, by Her Majesty's Command, said,

Parliament prorogued.

"My Lords, and Gentlemen,

"It is Her Majesty's Royal Will and Pleasure, that this Parliament be prorogued to Tuesday the Tenth Day of July next: And this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Tuesday the Tenth Day of July next."

Examined by us,
Clarendon.
H. Rochester.
Say & Seale.
Hatton.
Jo. Lichfield & Cov.
Jo. Bangor.