House of Lords Journal Volume 32: September 1768

DIE Martis, 13^o Septembris 1768.

Domini tam (fn. 1) Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

D. Newcastle takes the Oaths.

Thomas Holles. Duke of Newcastle 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 Lord President on his Right Hand, and the Lord Harwich 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 Parchment

George the Third, by the Grace or 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; Our Well-beloved-and Faithful Counseilor, Charles Lord Camden, Our Chancellor of Great Britain; the Most Reverend Father in God, and Our Faithful Counseilor, 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 of Bedford, George Duke of Marlborough, John Duke of Rutland, John Juke of Argyll, Peregrine Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven, Great Chamberlain of England; Thomas Holles 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 Notingham, 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 Albemarle, William Earl of Ferey, George Earl of Cholmondeley, Thomas Earl or 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 Ilchester, 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 Counseilor, 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 Despenser, 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, and John Lord Lovell 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 be held at Our City of Westminster, the Tenth Day of May last past, 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 Tuesday the Thirteenth 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 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 Thirteenth 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 Eighth 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 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 Seventh Day of September, in tie Eighth Year of Our Reign.

By the King Himself, signed with His own Hand.

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