House of Lords Journal Volume 32: September 1769

DIE Mercurii, 20^o Septembris 1769.

Domini praesentes fuerunt:

V. Stormont took the Oaths.

David Viscount Stormont 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 Archbishop of Canterbury on his Right Hand, and the Lord Viscount Stormont 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:

Commission for proroging 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 Brothers and faithful Counsellors, William Duke of Gloucester, Henry Duke of Cumberland, the Most Reverend Father in God, and Our faithful Counsellor Frederick Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate and Metropolitan of all England; Our Well-beloved and faithful Counsellor 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; George William Earl of Bristol, Keeper of Our Privy Seal; Charles Duke of Richmond, Augustus Henry Duke of Grafton, Harry Duke of Boston, Thomas Duke of Leeds, John Duke of Bedford, George Duke of Marlborough, John Duke of Rutland, John Duke of Argyll, Peregrine Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven, Great Chamberlain of England; William Henry Duke of Portland, Henry Duke of Newcastle, 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, 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, One of Our Principal Secretaries of State; George Earl of Albemarle, George Bussy 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 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 Ilchester, Robert Earl of Northington, William Earl of Chatham, John Earl Ligonier, George Viscount Townshend, Thomas Viscount Weymouth, One other 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 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, William Lord Wycombe, Thomas Lord Grantham, Thomas Lord Pelham, John Lord Lovel and Holland, and Henry Lord Holland, 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 Tenth Day of May, in the Eighth Year of Our Reign, on which Day Our said Parliament was begun and held, and from thence, by several Adjournments and Prorogations, was adjourned and prorogued to and until Wednesday the Twentieth Day of this instant September, 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, 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 Twentieth Day of this instant September in Our Name, further to prorogue and continue Our present Parliament at Our City of Westminster aforesaid, until and unto Tuesday the Fourteenth Day of November 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 Angular Our Archbishops, Dukes, Marquisses, Earls, Viscounts, Viscounts, Bishops, Barons, Knights, Citizens; Burgesses, and Commissioners, for Our Counties and Boroughs, and ail 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 Fifteenth Day of September, in the Ninth Year of Our Reign.

By the King himself, signed with His own Hand.

“Yorke and Yorke”

Then the Lord Chancellor said,

My Lords and Gentlemen,

parliament prorogued.

“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 Tuesday the 14th Day of November next, to be then here held; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Tuesday the 14th Day of November next.”