House of Lords Journal Volume 32: August 1768

DIE Jovis, 11^o Augusti 1768.

Domini Temporales præsens fuerunt:

Ds. Camden, Cancel Ds. Willoughby Pa Larius.

Dux Argyll,

Comes Litchfield.

Viscount Falmouth.

D. Argyll takes the Oaths.

John Duke of Argyll took the Oaths, and made and subscribed the Declaration, and also took and subscribed the Oath of Abjuration, pursuant to the Statutes.

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

Then Three 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 Earl of Litchfield on his Right Hand, and the Lord Viscount Falmouth on His Left, commanded the Yeoman 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,

The Commission was read by the Clerk, as follows:

GEORGE R.

Commission for proroguing the Parliament.

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 Brothers and faithful Counsellors William Duke of Gloucester, Henry Duke of Cumberland; the Most Reverend Father in God, and Our faithful Counsellor Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate and Metropolitan of all England; Our Well-beloved and faithful Counsellors Charles Lord Camden, 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, Granville Earl Gower, President of Our Council; William Earl of Chatham, Keeper of Our Privy Seal; Charles Duke of Richmond, Augustus Henry Duke of Grafton, Harry Duke of Bolton, Thomas Duke of Leeds, John Duke o of Bedford, George Duke of Marlborough, John Duke of Rutland, John Duke of Argyll, Peregrine Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven, Great Chamberlain of England; Thomas Holies Duke of Newcastle, William Henry Duke of Portland, Charles Duke of Dorset, Hugh Duke of

Northumberland, Charles Marquis of Rockingham, William Earl Talbot, Steward of Our Household; Francis Seymour, Earl of Hertford, Chamberlain of Our Household; Francis Earl of Huntingdon, Basil Earl of Denbigh, Daniel Earl of Winchilsea and Nottingham, Philip Earl of Chesterfield, John Earl of Sandwich, Anthony Earl of Shaftesbury, George Henry Earl of Litchfield, Robert Earl of Holdernesse, Richard Earl of Scarborough, William Henry Earl of Rochford, George Earl of Albermarle, William Earl of Jersey, George Earl of Cholmondeley, Thomas Earl of Kinnoul, John Earl of Breadalbane, Hugh Earl of Marchmont, John Earl of Bute, William Earl of Dartmouth, George William Earl of Bristol, George Dunk Earl of Halifax, John Earl of Ashburnham, John Earl of Buckinghamshire, Henry Arthur Earl of Powis, Richard Earl Temple, Simon Earl Harcourt, Philip Earl of Hardwicke, Stephen Earl of llchester, Robert Earl of Northington, John Earl Ligonier, George Viscount Townshend, Thomas Viscount Weymouth, One of Our Principal Secretaries of State; David Viscount Stormont, Hugh Viscount Falmouth, The Right Reverend Father in God, and Our faithful Counsellor Richard Lord Bishop of London, and Our Well-beloved and faithful Counsellors William Lord Wycombe, One other of Our Principal Secretaries of State; Wills Lord Harwich, One other of Our Principal Secretaries of State; Francis Lord Le Despencer, John Lord Berkeley of Stratton, Charles Schaw Lord Cathcart, Allen Lord Bathurst, George Lord Edgecumbe, Samuel Lord Sandys, William Lord Ponsonby, Thomas Lord Hyde, William Lord Mansfield, Our Chief Justice assigned to hold Pleas before Us; George Lord Lyttelton, Thomas Lord Grantham, John Lord Lovell and Holland, and Henry Lord Holland, Greeting. Whereas by the Advice of Our Council for certain arduous and urgent Affairs concerning Us, the State and Defence of Our Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Church, We did order a certain Parliament to be holden at Our City of Westminster, on Tuesday the Tenth Day of May last past, on which Day Our said Parliament was begun and held, and from thence was adjourned and prorogued to and until Thursday the Eleventh Day of this instant August, then to be held and fit at Our City of Westminster aforesaid: And whereas, by Our Letters Patent, under Our Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing Date at Westminster the Sixth Day of the same Month of May, We did give and grant unto the said Archbishop of Canterbury, Our Chancellor of Great Britain, President of Our Council, Keeper of Our Privy Seal, Duke of Grafton, Duke of Leeds, Duke of Rutland, Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven, Duke of Northumberland, Steward of Our Household, Chamberlain of Our Household, Earl of Holdernesse, Earl of Marchmont, Earl of Bristol, Earl Harcourt, Earl Ligonier, Viscount Weymouth, Lord Harwich, Lord Wycombe, Lord Mansfield, Lord Grantham, and Lord Lovell and Holland, and any Three of them, full Power in Our Name to begin and hold Our said Parliament, and to proceed upon the said Affairs therein, and to do every Thing which for Us and by Us, for the good Government of Our said Kingdom of Great Britain, and other Our Dominions thereto belonging, should be there to be done; and also if necessary, to continue, adjourn, and prorogue Our said Parliament: Now know ye, That we have revoked and determined, and by these Presents do revoke and determine, Our said recited Letters Patent, and all Things therein contained: And further know ye, That for certain pressing Causes and Considerations Us especially moving, We have thought fit further to prorogue Our said Parliament; therefore We, confiding 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 Eleventh Day of this instant August, in Our Name, further to prorogue and continue Our present Parliament at Our City of Westminster aforesaid, until and unto Tuesday the Thirteenth Day of September now next following, there then to be held and fit; 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, Marquisses, 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 Fifth Day of August, in the Eighth Year of Our Reign.

“By the King Himself, signed with His own Hand.”

“Yorke and Yorke.”

Parliament prorogued.

Then the Lord Chancellor said.

My Lords, and Gentlemen,

“By virtue of His Majesty's Commission to us and other Lords directed and now read, we do, in His Majesty's Name, and in Obedience to His Royal Commands, prorogue this Parliament to Tuesday the Thirteenth Day of September next, to be then here held; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Tuesday the Thirteenth Day of September next.”