House of Lords Journal Volume 18: 31 March 1707

DIE Lunæ, 31 Martii.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

Wilts Highways, Bill.

The Lord Sommers reported from the Lords Committees, the Bill, intituled, "An Act for repairing the Highways between Sheppard Shord and the Devizes, and between the Top of Ashlington Hill and Rowdford, in the County of Wilts," as fit to pass, without any Amendment.

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for repairing the Highways between Sheppard Shord and The Devizes, and between the Top of Ashlington Hill and Rowdford, in the County of Wilts."

The Question was put, "Whether this Bill shall pass?"

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Ordered, The Commons have Notice, that the Lords have agreed to the said Bill, without any Amendment.

Orders to prevent Irregularities in the House, Report from the Committee of Privileges, about.

The Earl of Rochester reported from the Lords Committees for Privileges, to whom it was referred to consider of Methods or Orders to prevent the Irregularities that often happen in the House of Peers, as follows:

"That their Lordships have perused the Roll of Standing Orders; and conceive, that the Order therein, relating to the Lords sitting in the House as the Act of Parliament prescribes, hath not been of late Years observed, though it would be much for the Advantage of Proceedings in the House to have it duly observed: And therefore it is their Lordships Opinion, That, if any Lord be out of his Place, the Lord Keeper, or Speaker of the House, do call on him to return to his Place; and that if any Lord, at the Hearing of a Cause, be not on One of the Benches, the Lord Keeper do stop Proceedings until he return to some Place on One of the Benches; and that no One but a Lord, or the Heir Apparent of a Lord, who has a Right to succeed such Lord in his Place in this House, or such others as have Right to attend in the House, shall be in any Part of the House, while the House is sitting.

"Their Lordships are also of Opinion, That the Order which forbids "Lords speaking Twice to a Bill at One Time of reading it, or to any other Proposition, unless it be to explain himself in some material Point of his Speech, but no new Matter, and not without the Leave of the House first obtained," should be observed for the future.

"Their Lordships are likewise of Opinion, That the Order which appoints, "That Lords, when they have Occasion to speak with one another while the House is sitting, shall go below the Bar, or else the Speaker to stop the Business in Agitation," be punctually observed for the future.

"Their Lordships are of Opinion, That the Order be better observed, which directs, "That Lords, who come to the House with an Intent to take the Oaths, and subscribe the Declaration, pursuant to the Act for more effectual preserving the King's Person and Government, by disabling Papists from sitting in either House of Parliament, be present, for that Purpose, at the First Sitting of the House; or otherwise to withdraw from the Debates, for that Day."

"Their Lordships are of Opinion, That the Order be strictly observed, which directs, "That, when any Cause shall be appointed to be heard, no Private Bill shall be read that Day, before the Hearing of the Cause."

"Their Lordships are of Opinion, That the House be moved, "That, for the better Observation of these several Orders, the Lord on the Woolsack be directed by the House, when any Breaches are made in any of them, to stop the Business in Agitation till the Orders are complied with."

"It is their Lordships Opinion, That the House be moved, "To appoint a Day, to consider the Form of receiving into this House the Lords that are to represent the Peerage of Scotland."

"Their Lordships are of Opinion, That, on all Reports made from Committees, of Amendments to a Bill, the Lord that makes the Report do explain to the House the Effect and Coherence of each Amendment; and that, on the Clerk's Second Reading of the said Amendments, the Lord on the Woolsack do the same.

"Their Lordships are of Opinion, That the Order be duly observed, which prohibits all Persons, except the necessary Attendants of the House, to come into the Lobby, or Little Committee Chamber."

Upon Report from the Lords Committees for Privileges, to whom it was referred to consider of Methods or Orders to prevent the Irregularities that often happen in the House of Peers:

It is Ordered, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the several Resolutions of the Committee shall be taken into Consideration on Friday next, at Twelve a Clock; and also whether the Resolutions in the Report, concerning Reports from Committees, and the stopping Proceedings by the Lord on the Woolsack, when any Breaches are made of the Resolutions, shall be made Standing Orders; and also that, at the same Time, the House shall take into Consideration the Form of receiving into this House the Lords that are to represent the Peerage of Scotland; and that all the Lords be summoned to attend.

Brerewood and Pitkin's Bill.

After hearing Counsel and Witnesses, for and against the Bill, intituled, "An Act to subject the Estate of Thomas Brerewood to the Creditors of Thomas Pitkin, notwithstanding any Agreement or Composition made with the Creditors of the said Thomas Pitkin."

Hodie 2^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act to subject the Estate of Thomas Brerewood to the Creditors of Thomas Pitkin, notwithstanding any Agreement or Composition made with the Creditors of the said Thomas Pitkin."

Ordered, That the said Bill be committed to a Committee of the whole House, on Wednesday next, at Ten a Clock; at which Committee all Persons concerned in Interest, for or against any Part of, or Clauses in, the said Bill, shall be heard, by their Counsel, as desired.

Adjourn.

Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque ad & in diem Martis, primum diem Aprilis jam prox. futur. hora decima Auroræ, Dominis sic decernentibus.