House of Lords Journal Volume 19: 31 May 1711

DIE Jovis, 31 Maii.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

Militia Bill.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure, and put into a Committee upon the Bill, intituled, "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."

After some Time, the House was resumed.

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

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "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."

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

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Ld. Viscount Cullen's Bill.

The Lord Delawar reported from the Lords Committees; to whom the Bill, intituled, "An Act for enabling Charles Lord Viscount Cullen, to sell the Manor and Advowson of the Church of Elmesthorp, in the County of Leicester, for the Payment of his Debts," was committed: "That they had considered the said Bill; and think it fit to pass, without any Amendment."

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for enabling Charles Lord Viscount Cullen to sell the Manor and Advowson of the Church of Elmesthorp, in the County of Leicester, for the Payment of his Debts."

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

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Message to H. C. that the Lords agree to it, and the Militia Bill.

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

To acquaint them, that the Lords have agreed to both the said Bills, without any Amendment.

Public Records, Report from Committee concerning.

The Lord Halifax reported from the Lords Committees, appointed to consider of the Method of keeping Records and public Papers in Offices, and what may be proper to remedy what shall be found to be amiss, as follows; videlicet,

"The Committee having, by former Reports, represented to your Lordships the ill State of the lower Treasury of the Court of Queen's Bench, which is so damp and noisome, that it is prejudicial to the Records, and dangerous to the Health of the Officers:

"They crave Leave now humbly to represent to your Lordships, that there is a large Room, fit for that Service, adjoining to Westminster Hall, which they have taken Notice of in their former Reports, as formerly belonging to the Court of Wards; which is at present of no Use, but to hold some Records and Books of the Court of Wards, which lie there in great Confusion.

"The Earl Marshal has proposed to the Committee, that those Books and Records should be removed to the Heralds Office; and the Committee is of Opinion, that the same should be done, and a Schedule of them made and laid before Her Majesty, and also before this House, by the First of February next, that it may be known what they are; and whether it may be proper to remove any of them to some other Place, or to have them remain in the Heralds Office, to enable them the better to make out the Descents and Pedigrees of the Nobility.

"There is likewise a little old House built up against the before-mentioned large Room, and which stops the Windows thereof: It belongs to Her Majesty's Fishmonger, or Yeoman of the Salt Stores; it is of small Value as it is, and seems to be an Encroachment, at least in that Part as far as it stops those Windows; and the present Fishmonger, or Yeoman of the Salt Stores, is very willing, for a small Allowance, to relinquish his Interest in the said House.

"If those Books and Writings were removed, the said Windows unstopt, and a Door made out of the said Room into Westminster Hall, there might, for a small Expence, be a Place made for a lower Treasury of the Queen's Bench; and a like Conveniency for the Judges of that Court as the Judges of the Common Pleas have in their Treasury, to meet and consult in, and receive Applications, for making general Rules and Orders for regulating the Practice of the Court, and preventing Abuses.

" Their Lordships beg Leave likewise to remind your Lordships of a Resolution of this House, of the Twentieth of April One Thousand Seven Hundred and Nine; whereby your Lordships applied to Her Majesty, that She would please to cause an Inquiry to be made into the Titles of the Persons that are possessed of the Houses or Rooms adjoining to Westminster Hall; the Committee having received several Informations and Papers, which make them of an Opinion, that such an Inquiry may be for Her Majesty's Service."

Which Report, being read by the Clerk, was agreed to by the House.

Report to be laid before the Queen.

And Ordered, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Lord High Treasurer of Great Britain do lay the said Report before Her Majesty.

Message from H. C. for a Conference on Game Bill:

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

To desire a Conference with this House, upon the Subject-matter of the last Conference.

To which the House agreed.

And the Commons were called in; and told, "That the Lords do agree to a Conference, as desired; and appoint the same immediately, in the Painted Chamber."

Ordered, That the same Lords who managed the last Conference be the Managers of this Conference.

The Commons being come to the Conference, the Managers Names were read.

Conference reported:

Then the House was adjourned during Pleasure, and the Lords went to the Conference.

Which being ended, the House was resumed.

And the Earl of Dorset reported, "That the Managers had been at the Conference; and that the Commons delivered the Bill, and gave further Reasons for their disagreeing to Clause (A.) added by this House thereunto."

Which being considered;

Lords do not insist on the Amendments to it:

It was agreed by the House, not to insist on the said Amendment.

Message to H. C. to acquaint them with it.

Then, a Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Mr. Hiccocks and Mr. Meller:

To acquaint them, that the Lords do not insist on their said Amendment.

Message from H.C. with a Bill.

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

With a Bill, intituled, "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;" to which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

Fishery in The Thames, Bill.

Hodie 1^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, " 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."

Insolvent Debtors Bill.

The Judges attending, according to Order, were heard, in relation to the Bill, intituled, "An Act for the Relief of poor Insolvent Debtors, who do not owe above Twenty Pounds Principal Money to any one Person."

And afterwards,

Ordered, That the said Bill do lie on the Table.

Scotch Linen, &c. Bill.

Hodie 2^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for the better ascertaining the Lengths and Breadths of Linen Cloth made in Scotland, and equal sorting of Yarn for the same; and to prevent the Exportation of Flax of the Growth of Scotland, and all Sorts of Linen Yarn to Foreign Parts."

Ordered, That the said Bill be committed to a Committee of the whole House, To-morrow, at Twelve a Clock; and all the Lords summoned.

Deficiencies, &c. to make good; and South Sea Company, Bill.

Hodie 2^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "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."

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 thereupon.

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

And the Lord Delawar 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 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."

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

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Duty on Coals, for building Churches, Bill.

Hodie 2^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "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."

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 thereupon.

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

And the Lord Bishop of Durham 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 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."

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

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Message to H.C. that the Lords agree to it, and the Deficiencies, &c. Bill.

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

To acquaint them, that the Lords have agreed to the Two last mentioned Bills, without any Amendment.

Assize of Bread, Bill, rejected.

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for explaining and amending an Act made in the Eighth Year of Her Majesty's Reign, intituled, An Act to regulate the Price and Assize of Bread."

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

It was Resolved in the Negative.

Ordered, That the said Bill be rejected.

Adjourn.

Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque ad et in diem Veneris, primum diem Junii jam prox. futur. hora undecima Auroræ, Dominis sic decernentibus.