House of Lords Journal Volume 18: 6 November 1707

DIE Jovis, 6 Novembris.

REGINA.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

Prayers.

Lords take the Oaths.

This Day the Lords following took the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, and the Oath of Abjuration, and also made and subscribed the Declaration, pursuant to the Statutes; (videlicet,)

Then the House was adjourned during Pleasure, to robe.

The House was resumed.

Queen presents.

Her Majesty, being seated on Her Royal Throne, adorned with Her Crown and Regal Ornaments, attended with Her Officers of State (the Peers being in their Robes), commanded the Deputy Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod to let the Commons know, "It is Her Majesty's Pleasure, that they attend Her presently, in the House of Peers."

Who being come, with their Speaker; Her Majesty was pleased to say as followeth:

Her Majesty's Speech.

"My Lords, and Gentlemen,

"It is with all humble Thankfulness to Almighty God, and with entire Satisfaction to Myself, that I meet you here, in this First Parliament of Great Britain; not doubting, but you come with Hearts prepared, as Mine is, to make this Union so prosperous, as may answer the well-grounded Hopes of all My good Subjects, and the reasonable Apprehensions of our Enemies.

"To this End, nothing is so immediately material, as to convince, as soon as is possible, both our Friends and our Enemies, that the uniting of our Interests has not only improved our Abilities, but our Resolutions also, to prosecute this just and necessary War, till we obtain a safe and honourable Peace for ourselves, and for our Allies.

"In so great and extensive a War, as this is, many Things may be usefully undertaken, which are not fit to be communicated before-hand: The Attempt upon Toulon was of this Nature; and, though it had not wholly its desired Effect, has, nevertheless, been attended with many great and obvious Advantages to the common Cause in this Year; and has made our Way more easy, I hope, to greater in the next.

"As the French have gained Ground upon us in Spain, so they have been wholly driven out of Italy; by which it is become more easy for all the Allies to join their Assistance, next Year, for enabling the King of Spain to recover His Affairs in that Kingdom, and to reduce the whole Spanish Monarchy to His Obedience.

"The Weakness and ill Posture of Affairs upon The Rhine, in the Beginning of the Year, has given an Opportunity to the French, to make themselves stronger in all other Parts; but this Defect seems in a very promising Way of being fully remedied, against next Campaign, by the Conduct and Authority of the Elector of Hannover, whose seasonable Acceptance of that Command has strengthened, and obliged, the whole Confederacy.

"Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

"The just Application of the Supplies, given Me by former Parliaments, the plain Necessity of continuing this War, the reasonable Prospect of putting a good End to it, if we be not wanting to ourselves; and the Honour of the First Parliament of Great Britain, are, I make no Doubt, sufficient Arguments to invite you to provide the necessary Supplies, which I am obliged to desire of you, for the ensuing Campaign in all Parts, and particularly for the timely Support of the King of Spain, and the making good our Treaty with Portugal; as also for strengthening the Confederate Army under the Command of the Duke of Savoy: All which Services I do not doubt but you will think so necessary, that they ought not to be neglected, even though they should require an Augmentation.

"The Sums already expended in this War, have been very great; and they are sufficient Proofs, how well satisfied My Subjects have always been with the Ends of My Government; of which I am so sensible, as never to ask any Supplies from them, but what are absolutely necessary for the Preservation of their Religion and Liberty; and I look upon it as My great Happiness, that I have not the least Interest separate from that of all My good Subjects.

"My Lords, and Gentlemen,

"In a Work so great, and new in its Kind, as that of the Union, it is impossible but that some Doubts and Difficulties must have arisen; which, however, I hope, are so far overcome, as to have defeated the Designs of those who would have made Use of that Handle to foment Disturbances.

"There are several Matters expressly made liable, by the Articles of the Union, to the Consideration of the Parliament of Great Britain; which, together with such others as may reasonably produce those Advantages, that, with due Care, must certainly arise from that Treaty, I earnestly recommend to your serious Consideration.

"On My Part, nothing shall be wanting to procure to My People, all the Blessings which can follow from this happy Circumstance of My Reign; and, to extinguish, by all proper Means, the least Occasions of Jealousy, that either the Civil or Religious Rights of any Part of this My United Kingdom can suffer by the Consequences of this Union.

"Such a Suggestion shall never, in My Time, have any Foundation; how restless soever our Enemies may be in their Endeavours, and Artifices, to disturb our Peace and Happiness. Those great and valuable Blessings cannot but be always secure to us, if we heartily endeavour to confirm and improve our present Union: I hope, therefore, you will suffer nothing to prevail with you to disunite among yourselves, or abate your Zeal in opposing the Common Enemy."

Then Her Majesty was pleased to withdraw; and the Commons returned to their House.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure, to unrobe.

The House was resumed.

Queen's Speech reported.

The Lord Chancellor reported Her Majesty's Speech.

Receivers and Triers of Petitions.

The Names of the Receivers and Triers of Petitions were read, as follows; (videlicet,)

Les Receivours des Peticons de la Grand Britaigne et d' Ireland.

Messire Jean Holt, Chivalier et Cheif Justicer.

Messire Jean Powell, Chivalier et Justicer.

Messire Jean Edisbury, Docteur au Droit Civil.

Et ceux qui veulent deliver leur Petitions, eux baillent dedans Six Jours procheinment ensueant.

Les Receivours des Peticons de Gascoigne, et des autres Terres et Pais de par le Mer et des Isles.

Messire Thomas Trevor, Chivalier et Chief Justicer de Banc Comune.

Messire Edward Ward, Chivalier et Chief Baron de I'Exchequer de la Reine.

Messire Lacon William Child, Chivalier.

Messire Richard Holford, Chivalier.

Et ceux qui veulent deliver leur Peticons, eux baillent dedans Six Jours procheinment ensueant.

Les Triours des Peticons de la Grand Britaigne et d'Ireland.

Touts eux ensemble, ou Quatres de Seigneurs avanditz; appellants aux eux les Serjeants de la Reine, quant sera Besoigne; tiendront leur Place en le Chamber de Tresorier.

Les Triours des Peticons de Gascoigne, et des autres Terres et Pais de par le Mer et des Isles.

Touts eux ensemble, ou Quatre de Seigneours avanditz; appellant aux eux les Serjeants de la Reine, quant serra Besoigne; tiendront leur Place en la Chambre de Chamberlein.

Poor's Bill.

Hodie 1^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for the preventing of the Poor's being defrauded, and Redress of several other Abuses."

Committee, Privileges.

Lords Committees appointed to consider of the Customs and Orders of the House, and the Privileges of Parliament, and of the Peers of Great Britain and Lords of Parliament; (videlicet,)

Their Lordships, or any Seven of them; to meet on Monday next, at Ten a Clock in the Forenoon, in the House of Peers; and to adjourn from Time to Time as they please.

Committee for the Journal.

Lords Sub-committees appointed to consider of the Orders and Customs of the House, and Privileges of the Peers of Great Britain and Lords of Parliament; and to peruse and perfect the Journals of the last Parliament, and also the Journal of this Parliament.

Their Lordships, or any Three of them; to meet when, where, and as often as, they please.

Stoppages in Streets, Order to prevent.

The House taking Notice, that there is such an Interruption, by Hackney Coaches, Carts, and Drays, in King-street, and the Passages to the Old Palace-yard, in Westminster, that the Lords, and others, are frequently hindered from coming to this House, to the great Inconveniency of the Members of both Houses:

It is thereupon Ordered, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, that the High Steward of the City of Westminster, or his Deputy, together with the Justices of the Peace for the said City, shall, by their Care and Directions to the Constables and other Officers within the said Limits, take special Order, that no empty Hackney Coaches be suffered to make any Stay, between Whitehall and The Old Palace-yard, in Westminster, from Eleven a Clock in the Forenoon until Three a Clock in the Afternoon of the same Day, during the sitting of this Parliament; and that no Carriages, Carts, or Drays, be permitted to pass through the said Streets and Passages, between the Hours aforesaid, during the Sitting of this Parliament; and herein special Care is to be taken, by the said Deputy Steward, Justices of the Peace, Constables, and all other Officers herein concerned, as the contrary will be answered to this House.

Ordered, That the Roll of Standing Orders shall be read To-morrow, at Twelve a Clock.

Adjourn.

Dominus Cancellarius declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque ad et in diem Veneris septimum diem instantis Novembris, hora undecima Auroræ, Dominis sic decernentibus.