House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 25 April 1696

Sabbati, 25 die Aprilis;

8° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Greenland Trade.

Sir Henry Hobart reported from the Committee, to whom it was referred to draw up Reasons, to be offered at a Conference with the Lords, for disagreeing to the Amendments, made by them, to the Bill, intituled, An Act for the better Encouragement of the Greenland Trade, That they had drawn the same accordingly; which they had directed him to report to the House; and which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Table: Where the same were twice read; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House, and are as follow; viz.

The Commons cannot agree to your Lordships Amendment, in the 26th Line of the First Skin:

Because by the Act of the 25th of Charles the 2d, and the Act of 1° Willielmi & Mariæ, for the Encouragement of the Greenland Trade, it is provided, That neither Oil, Blubber, nor Fins, shall pay any Custom: And, this Act being for the further Encouragement of the said Trade, the Commons do think, the Company ought to have as much or more Encouragement now than ever, by reason of the great Losses they have sustained, and the Difficulty they now labour under by reason of the War; and, without such Encouragement, the Commons apprehend, this beneficial Trade will be entirely lost.

The Commons cannot agree to your Lordships Amendment, in the 14 Line of the 2d Skin, for the Reasons aforesaid.

Ordered, That Mr. Heveningham do go to the Lords, and desire the said Conference.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cook and Sir Richard Holford:

Mr. Speaker,

Linen Manufacture.

The Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act for encouraging the Linen Manufacture of Ireland; and bringing Flax and Hemp into, and making of Sail-cloth in, this Kingdom; without any Amendments:

Laws registring Marriages.

And also to the Bill, intituled, An Act for the enforcing the Laws which restrain Marriages without Licence, or Bans; and for the better registring Marriages Births, and Burials; without any Amendments:

Supply Bill; Duties on Low Wines.

And also to the Bill, intituled, An Act for laying several Duties upon Low Wines, and Spirits, of the first Extraction; and for preventing the Frauds and Abuses of Brewers, Distillers, and other Persons chargeable with the Duties of Excise; without any Amendments.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Charitable Gifts.

Sir Henry Hobart reported from the Committee, to whom the ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the Encouragement of charitable Gifts and Dispositions, was committed, That they had examined the same; and had directed him to report the same to the House, without any Amendments: And he delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table.

The Bill was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass.

Ordered, That Sir Henry Hobart do carry the Bill to the Lords, and acquaint them, That this House hath agreed to the same, without any Amendments.

Conference with Lords.

Mr. Heveningham reported, That he having, according to Order, been at the Lords to desire a Conference, they do agree to the same, presently, in the Painted Chamber.

Ordered, That the Members who prepared the Reasons for the said Conference do manage the said Conference.

And the Managers went to the Conference.

And, being returned;

Sir Henry Hobart, reported, That they had given the Lords the Reasons for disagreeing to the Amendments, made by their Lordships, to the Bill, intituled, An Act for the better Encouragement of the Greenland Trade; and left the Bill, and Amendments, with the Lords.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cooke and Mr. Pitt:

Mr. Speaker,

Greenland Trade.

We are commanded by the Lords to acquaint this House, That they do not insist upon their Amendments made to the Bill, intituled, An Act for the better Encouragement of the Greenland Trade.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Address respecting Coinage.

Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, by such Members of this House as are of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council, That he will please to appoint One or more Mills and Presses to be solely employed for the speedy coining such Plate as shall be brought in to be coined, on the Encouragement of the Act for bringing Plate into the Mint, to be coined; to the end the Publick-houses may be thereby the sooner supplied with new Money for such Plate, as, by the said Act, is made useless to them.

Privilege of a Member in a Suit.

Sir Nathaniel Nappier, according to Order, attending in his Place;

The Petition of the Lord Francis Powlet, presented to the House Yesterday, was read; setting forth, That the said Sir Nathaniel detains from the Petitioner a Farm in Dorsetshire, of 600 l. per Annum Value; though Sir Nathaniel's Interest therein determined in May 1694; and, by virtue of his Privilege, protects William Masterman, the present Occupier of the said Farm; who commits great Waste; suffering the Walls to fall down; and is now letting the ancient Pastures and Sheep-Leases to be burnt, beaked, and ploughed up, to the Destruction of the Inheritance: And the Petitioner cannot get any Lawyer to act for him, to recover his Right, or to stay Wastes: And praying the Direction of the House in the Premises.

And Sir Nathaniel Nappier declared, That he is content to wave his Privilege, so that there may be an Injunction to stay Wastes upon the Estate in the Petition mentioned.

And then the House adjourned till Monday Morning, Nine a Clock.