House of Lords Journal Volume 15: 25 April 1696

DIE Sabbati, 25 Aprilis.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

Message from H. C. for a Conference on the Greenland Trade, Bill.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Heveningham and others:

To desire a Conference, upon the Subject-matter of the Amendments made by this House to the Bill, intituled, "An Act for the better Encouragement of the Greenland Trade."

To which the House agreed.

Answer.

Then the Commons were called in; and told, "That the Lords agree to a Conference; and appoint it presently, in the Painted Chamber."

Reporters of the Conference.

And the Lords following were named Reporters of the said Conference:

The Commons being come to the Conference; the House was adjourned during Pleasure, and the Lords went to the Conference.

Which being ended, the House was resumed.

Conference reported.

And the Earl of Bridgewater reported, "That they had attended the Conference; and received the Commons Reasons for disagreeing with their Lordships in their Amendments made to the Bill."

Which Reasons were read, as follow; (videlicet,)

"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 Second, and the Act of 1° Will'i et 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 Difficulties 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 14th Line of the Second Skin, for the Reasons aforesaid."

Then the House, upon Consideration of the Reasons aforesaid, agreed, not to insist on their Amendments made to the said Bill; and ORDERED, That the Commons have Notice thereof.

Message from H. C. to return the Bill for encouraging Charitable Gifts.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Henry Hobart and others:

To return the Bill, intituled, "An Act for the Encouragement of Charitable Gifts and Dispositions;" to which they have agreed, without any Amendment.

Message from thence, with a Bill.

A Message from the House of Commons, by Sir Thomas Littleton and others:

Who brought up a Bill, intituled, "An Act for continuing to His Majesty certain Duties upon Salt, Glass Wares, Stone and Earthen Bottles; and for granting several Duties upon Tobacco Pipes, and other Earthen Wares, for carrying on the War against France; and for establishing a National Land Bank; and for taking off the Duties upon Tonnage of Ships and upon Coals;" to which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

Salt, Glass, &c. to continue the Duties on, and for establishing a Land Bank, Bill.

Hodie 1^a et 2^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for continuing to His Majesty certain Duties upon Salt, Glass Wares, Stone and Earthen Bottles; and for granting several Duties upon Tobacco Pipes, and other Earthern Wares, for carrying on the War against France; and for establishing a National Land Bank; and for taking off the Duties upon Tonnage of Ships and upon Coals."

ORDERED, That the said Bill be committed to a Committee of the whole House, presently.

Then the House was adjourned during Pleasure, and put into a Committee upon the said Bill.

After some Time, the House was resumed.

And the Earl of Bridgewater reported, "That the Committee had gone through the said Bill, without any Amendment."

E. Peterborow, E. Litchfield, L. Gerard of Bromley, supected by the King.

The Earl of Bridgewater (by Command from His Majesty) acquainted the House, "That he hath some Suspicion of the Earl of Peterburgh, the Earl of Litchfield, and the Lord Gerard of Gerard's Bromley; and that, in Regard to this House, the King had commanded him to acquaint the House thereof, before they were committed to Prison."

Juries, for better regulating, Bill:

The House was adjourned during Pleasure, and put into a Committee upon the Bill, intituled, "An Act for the Ease of Jurors, and better regulating of Juries."

After some Time, the House was resumed.

And the Earl of Manchester reported, "That the Committee had gone through the said Bill, with some Amendments."

To the Amendment, 4 Press, 21 Line, leave out ["not exceding Forty Shillings"]:

The Question was put, "Whether to agree with the Committee in this Amendment?"

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

The other Amendments were read, and agreed to.

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for the Ease of Jurors, and better regulating of Juries."

A Clause was offered, to be added to the Bill.

And, being read Three Times, was agreed to.

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

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Message to H. C. with Amendments to it.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Richard Holford and Mr. Pitts:

To return the said Bill, and desire their Concurrence to the Amendments.

Adjourn.

Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque ad et in diem Lunæ, (videlicet,) vicesimum septimum diem instantis Aprilis, hora decima Aurora, Dominis sic decernentibus.