House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 17 April 1696

Veneris, 17 die Aprilis;

8° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Charitable Gifts.

An ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the Encouragement of charitable Gifts and Dispositions, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Conyers, Mr. Duncomb, Sir Robert Cotton, Mr. Mawdit, Mr. Moyle, Sir Walter Yonge, Sir Gero. Elwes, Sir Edw. Abney, Sir Sa. Barnardiston, Sir Herbert Crofts, Sir Robert Davers, Mr. Mason, Mr. Burrington, Mr. Daniel, Sir Tho. Day, Mr. Gery, Mr. Paget, Sir Wm. Coriton, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Arnold, Sir Geo. Hungerford, Sir Math. Andrews, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Hedger, Mr. Baldwyn, Mr. Elwell: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Mr. Barton thanked.

Ordered, That the Thanks of this House be given to Mr. Barton, for the Sermon preached before them Yesterday, at St. Margaret's, Westminster: And that he be desired to print the same: And that Mr. Conyers do acquaint him therewith.

Greenland Trade.

Sir Henry Hobart reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for the better Encouragement of the Greenland Trade was committed, That they had made some Amendments thereunto; which they 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 once read throughout; and then a Second time, one by one; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments, be ingrossed.

Garbling Spices.

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Bill for regulating Abuses relating to garbling Spices, Drugs, and other Merchandize, was committed, be now received;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Then Sir Samuel Barnardiston reported, That the said Committee had heard the Counsel for the City of London, and the Garbler, upon the several Petitions, the Consideration whereof was referred to the said Committee; and had made several Amendments to the said Bill; which they 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 a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the further Consideration of the said Report be adjourned until Tuesday Morning next;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Quakers Affirmation.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cook and Sir John Hockins:

Mr. Speaker,

The Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act That the solemn Affirmation and Declaration of the People called Quakers shall be accepted instead of an Oath. with some Amendments: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Ordered, That the said Amendments be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Hoar have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Supply Bill; Duties on Low Wines.

Sir Thomas Littleton, according to the Order of the Day, reported, from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for laying several Duties on low Wines, or Spirits of the first Extraction; and for preventing the Frauds and Abuses of Brewers, Distillers, and other Persons chargeable with the Duties of Excise; was committed; the Amendments, made by the Committee, to the said Bill; which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were once read throughout; and then a Second time, one by one; and, upon the Question, severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

A Clause was offered, to be added to the Bill, That the Gauger shall leave a Note, containing the Quantity and Quality of their Gauge, if demanded, upon the Forfeiture of 40 s. in case of Refusal:

And the same was twice read; and amended; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House, to be made Part of the Bill.

Another Clause was offered, to be added to the Bill, For the making void Charters:

And the same was once read; and, by Leave of the House, withdrawn.

Another Clause was offered, to be added to the Bill, That after the Monies, intended to be borrowed by the Act, shall be paid, it shall not prejudice the Claim of any Person to the Hereditary Excise, by virtue of several Letters Patents granted by King Charles the Second; but that the said Revenue shall then stand charged therewith, in like manner as it was before the Passing of the Act:

Resolved, That the Clause be brought up to the Table.

The same was brought up, and once read:

And the Question being put, That the Clause be read a Second time;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

The Voices being equal, Mr. Speaker declared with the Noes.

So it passed in the Negative.

Another Clause was offered to be added to the Bill, That any of the Commissioners of Accounts, who shall qualify themselves according to the Laws of this Realm, may act in the Execution of their Office:

Resolved, That the Clause be brought up to the Table.

The same was brought up, and read the First time; and withdrawn by Leave of the House.

Another Clause was offered, to be added to the Bill, against Brewing upon a Sunday:

And the same was once read; and, by Leave of the House, withdrawn:

And other Amendments were made to the Bill.

Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments, be ingrossed.

Supply Bill; Salt Duties and Land Bank.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, after the Report of the Bill for confirming a Grant, under the Great Seal of England, to Arthur Earl of Torrington, by King William and Queen Mary, of several Parcels of Land, Part of the great Level of the Fens, called Bedford Level; and for the better enabling the said Earl to recover the . . . . Mesne Profits; is considered; resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Bill for continuing to his Majesty certain Rates and Duties upon Salt, for carrying on the War against France; and for taking off the Duties of Tonage upon Ships, and upon Coals; and for establishing a National Land-Bank.

Supply Bill; Post Office.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for supplying several Defects in the Act for erecting and establishing a Post-Office.

And then the House adjourned till To-morrow Morning, Nine a Clock.