REASONS humbly Offered for Passing the Bill now tendered, for encouraging the Taking of Prizes from the French King, and for explaining an Act made in the First Year of Their now Majesties Reign, for Prohibiting all Trade and Commerce with France.  
THE intent of the said Act was to impoverish the French King, and disable his Subjects; for which purpose, the granting of private Commissions and Letters of Mart, for taking the Enemies Ships, Men, and Merchandises, &c.( as is usual in War) was always deemed a very necessary Expedient: but for want of due encouragement, all persons are discouraged from acting under such private Commissions.  

The Benefits that will arise from this, are,  
I. Many Privateers will ●t out upon this account and thereby the number of Seamen will be much increased, and ready and experienced to serve His Majesty's Occasions.  
II. Many French Prisoners will be taken in the Prizes they shall bring in, which being exchanged for our English Prisoners in France, will bring home many Seamen for His Majesty's Service; as may appear by the Example of one small Privateer of ten Guns, which in fifteen days time brought into Guernsey and Dartmouth near an hundred Prisoners.  
III. For want of this encouragement, many able and experienced Seamen, that are and may be taken, will be utterly lost, and condemned to the Galleys, for want of French Prisoners to exchange for them; which emboldens the Enemy, and will increase their number, to the empairing of the Courage of His Majesty's Subjects, who are under the dreadful apprehensions that there is no Redemption from Slavery and the Galleys, for want of Prisoners to exchange.  
IV. These Privateers will so infest the Trade and Commerce of France, that one part of France will not be able to supply the others wants. As for Example: gascon and Poicton will not be able to supply Britanny, Normandy, Piccardy, and their Conquests in Flanders, with Brandy, Wines, Vinegar, Salt, Pruans, and such-like Commodities, which they can have from no other part; and moreover, They will be able to obstruct the French King's Salt-Trade, by which he furnishes his gables, and by consequence lessen his Revenues  
V. Privateers often serve for Convoys, being always at Command, and will secure the Trade of our own Co●ts, which for want of them are infested by our Enemies-Men of War and Privateers.  
VI. The Goods taken by prise will turn to great Advantage to His Majesty in the Tenths and Customs thereof, and will be a present fund for the raising Fory or Fifty thousand pounds.   
It may be objected, That in allowing the Privateers Demands, under such colour many private Contracts may be made to bring in French Goods under the notion of prise.  
For Answer: 

I. If any prise be brought in, she must be condemned, which will cost Ten per Cent. of her value, comprehending what will be embezled, and other Charges.  
II. The King must have Ten per Cent. for his Tenth.  
III. The Privateers men must have one Third, which is Thirty-three per Cent.  
IV. For Victualling and Fitting-out the Privateer Ten per Cent. more at least may be added; so the whole Charge amounts to Sixty-three per Cent. And forasmuch as nothing but the expectation of great Profit could make a man propose bringing in his Goods after this manner; Who, is it to be supposed, would adventure, when the Charge is so great as Sixty-three per Cent. besides the hazard of the Seas, Customs, and other Duties?  
V. The smallest Privateer must have Twenty men, or more; and altho the Captain and one or two more may be in a Confederacy with you, yet nevertheless you cannot expect to silence the Tongues of the others, who upon the least quarrel will discover the Design, to the loss of all, besides the being liable to the Penalty of the Act.  
VI. Some Road or River must be appointed where the Ship is to be taken and brought in by consent; and may not another Privateer come there and take cin, and so deprive you of all?    
And as a further discouragement to such Importation, it may be so provided, That if there be proved any connivance in bringing in any Goods under the notion of prise, that then the Privateers Ship and the prise shall be both forfeited; one part to the Informer, and the other to the King, besides all the other Penalties in the Act of Prohibition.  
Therefore it is hoped the Bill will pass, which is only for encouraging the taking of French Pr●zes by Their Majesties Ships of War and Privateers, whose Services may be so conducing to the advantage of Their Majesties, Preservation of their Subjects, and the annoying and dispoiling of their Enemies; which are so high Considerations and Inducements, as not to be departed from for fear of an imaginary inconvenience of driving a covert Trade with France; which, for the Reasons abovesaid,( as matters now stand) cannot ensue without great expense and Hazard, and may be additionally provided against, so as to strengthen it beyond all question.