House of Lords Journal Volume 30: June 1764

June 1764

Anno 4^o Georgii Tertii.

DIE Jovis, 21^o Junii.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

E. of Northington introduced:

The Earl of Halifax signified to the House, "That His Majesty had been pleased to create Robert Lord Henley, Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, an Earl of Great Britain, by the Stile and Title of Earl of Northington."

Whereupon his Lordship, taking in his Hand the Purse with the Great Seal, retired to the lower End of the House; and, having there put on his Robes, was introduced between the Earl Talbot Lord Steward and the Earl of Sandwich, also in their Robes; the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, Norroy King at Arms (who, in the Absence of Garter, officiated upon this Occasion) in his Coat of Arms carrying his Lordship's Patent (which he delivered to him at the Steps before the Throne); the Deputy Earl Marshal and the Lord Great Chamberlain of England, preceding.

His Lordship (after Three Obeisances) laid down his Letters Patent upon the Chair of State, and from thence took and delivered them to the Clerk; who read the same at the Table.

The said Letters Patent bear Date the 19th Day of May, in the Fourth Year of the Reign of His present Majesty.

His Lordship's Writ of Summons was also read, as follows:

His Writ of Summons.

"George the Third, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, and so forth; To Our Right Trusty and Right Well-beloved Cousin and Counsellor Robert Earl of Northington, Greeting. Whereas, by reason of certain arduous and urgent Affairs, concerning Us, the State and Defence of Our Kingdom of Great Britain and the Church, We did lately, with the Advice and Consent of Our Council, ordain Our present Parliament to be holden, at Our City of Westminster, on the Nineteenth Day of May, in the First Year of Our Reign; which Parliament hath been from that Time, by several Adjournments and Prorogations, adjourned, prorogued, and continued, to and until the Twenty-first Day of this Instant June, at Our City aforesaid, to be then there held; We, strictly enjoining, command you, under the Faith and Allegiance by which you are bound to Us, that, considering the Difficulty of the said Affairs and Dangers impending, all Excuses being laid aside, you be personally present at the said Day and Place, with Us, and with the Prelates, Nobles, and Peers, of Our said Kingdom, to treat of the aforesaid Affairs, and to give your Advice; and this you may in no wise omit, as you tender Us and Our Honour, and the Safety and Defence of the said Kingdom and Church, and the Dispatch of the said Affairs."

"Witness Ourself, at Westminster, the Twentieth Day of June, in the Fourth Year of Our Reign.

"Yorke and Yorke.

Which done; his Lordship came to the Table, and took the Oaths, and made and subscribed the Declaration, and also took and subscribed the Oath of Abjuration, pursuant to the Statutes; and was afterwards placed on the lower End of the Earls Bench, and from thence went to the upper End of the same Bench, and sat there as Lord Chancellor; and then his Lordship returned to the Woolsack.

The Lord Chancellor acquainted the House, "That His Majesty had been pleased to issue a Commission under the Great Seal, for the further Prorogation of the Parliament."

Then Eight of the Lords Commissioners, being in their Robes, and seated on a Form placed between the Throne and the Woolsack; the Lord Chancellor in the Middle; with the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Steward, the Earl of Marchmont, and the Lord Lovel and Holland, on his Right Hand; and the Duke of Ancaster, the Earl of Sandwich, and the Earl of Halifax, on his Left; commanded the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod to let the Commons know, "The Lords Commissioners desire their immediate Attendance in this House, to hear the Commission read."

Who being come, with their Speaker; the Commission was read, by the Clerk, as follows:

Commission for proroguing the Parliament.

"GEORGE R.

"George the Third, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, and so forth; To Our most Dear Brother and Faithful Counsellor Edward Duke of York; Our most Dear Uncle and Faithful Counsellor William Duke of Cumberland; the most Reverend Father in God and Our Faithful Counsellor Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury Primate and Metropolitan of all England; Our most Dear Cousin and Counsellor Robert Earl of Northington Our Chancellor of Great Britain; the most Reverend Father in God and Our Faithful Counsellor Robert Archbishop of York Primate and Metropolitan of England; Our most Dear Cousins and Counsellors John Duke of Bedford President of Our Council, George Duke of Marlborough Keeper of Our Privy Seal, Charles Duke of Bolton, Thomas Duke of Leeds, John Duke of Rutland, John Duke of Argyll, Peregrine Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven Great Chamberlain of England, Thomas Holles Duke of Newcastle, Lionel Duke of Dorset; William Earl Talbot Steward of Our Household, Granville Earl Gower Chamberlain of our Household, Francis Earl of Huntingdon, Basil Earl of Denbigh, Daniel Earl of Winchelsea and Nottingham, Philip Earl of Chesterfield, John Earl of Sandwich One of Our Principal Secretaries of State, Anthony Earl of Shaftesbury, George Henry Earl of Litchfield, Robert Earl of Holdernesse, William Henry Earl of Rochford, George Earl of Albemarle, William Earl of Jersey, Francis Earl of Godolphin, George Earl of Cholmondeley, Thomas Earl of Kinnoul, Hugh Earl of Marchmont, John Earl of Hyndford, John Earl of Bute, George Dunk Earl of Halifax One other of Our Principal Secretaries of State, William Earl of Bath, John Earl of Buckinghamshire, Henry Arthur Earl of Powis Treasurer of Our Household, Hugh Earl of Northumberland, Richard Earl Temple, Simon Earl Harcourt, Francis Earl of Hertford, Philip Earl of Hardwicke, Stephen Earl of Ilchester, John Earl Delawar, George Viscount Townshend, David Viscount Stormont, Hugh Viscount Falmouth; and Our Well-beloved and Faithful Counsellors Francis Lord Le Despencer, John Lord Berkeley of Stratton, Allen Lord Bathurst, Samuel Lord Sandys, Thomas Lord Hyde, William Lord Mansfield Our Chief Justice assigned to hold Pleas before Us, Wills Lord Harwich, George Lord Lyttelton, William Lord Wycombe, Thomas Lord Grantham, John Lord Lovel and Holland, Henry Lord Holland, and John Lord Ligonier, Greeting. Whereas We did lately, for divers difficult and pressing Affairs, concerning Us, the State and Defence of Our Kingdom of Great Britain and the Church, ordain this Our present Parliament to begin, and to be held at Our City of Westminster, the Nineteenth Day of May, in the First Year of Our Reign; which Our Parliament from thenceforth was prorogued, by Our several Writs, until and to the Third Day of November, in the Second Year of Our Reign, and there lately holden; and from thence, by several Adjournments and Prorogations, was adjourned and prorogued to and until Thursday the Twenty-first Day of this Instant June, then to be held, and sit at Our City of Westminster aforesaid: Know ye nevertheless that, for certain pressing Causes and Considerations Us especially moving, We have thought sit further to prorogue Our said Parliament: Therefore We, considing very much in your Fidelity, Prudence, and Circumspection, have, by the Advice and Consent of Our Council, assigned you Our Commissioners; giving to you, or to any Three or more of you, by virtue of these Presents, full Power and Authority, from the said Twenty-first Day of this Instant June, in Our Name, further to prorogue and continue Our present Parliament, at Our City of Westminster aforesaid, until and unto Thursday the Sixteenth Day of August now next following, there then to be held and sit; and therefore We command you, that you diligently attend to the Premises, and effectually fulfil them in the Manner aforesaid. We also strictly command all and singular Our Archbishops, Dukes, Marquises, Earls, Viscounts, Bishops, Barons, Knights, Citizens, Burgesses, and Commissioners for Our Counties and Boroughs, and all others whom it concerns to meet at Our said Parliament, by virtue of these Presents, that they observe, obey, and assist you, in executing the Premises, as they ought to do. In Witness whereof, We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent.

"Witness Ourself, at Westminster, the Sixth Day of June in the Fourth Year of Our Reign.

"By the King Himself, signed with His own Hand.

"Yorke & Yorke."

Then the Lord Chancellor said,

Parliament prorogued.

"My Lords, and Gentlemen,

"By virtue of His Majesty's Commission under the Great Seal, to us and other Lords directed, and now read; we do, in His Majesty's Name, and in Obedience to His Commands, prorogue this Parliament to Thursday the Sixteenth Day of August next, to be then here held: And this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Thursday the Sixteenth Day of August next."