House of Lords Journal Volume 35: September 1778

September 1778

DIE Martis, 1^o Septembris 1778.

Domini præsentes fuerunt:

The Earl of Mansfield sat Speaker by virtue of a fomer Commission.

The Earl of Mansfield acquainted the House, "That His Majesty had been pleased to issue 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 Earl of Mansfield in the Middle, with the Duke of Montagu on his Right Hand, and the Lord Amherst 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; (videlicet)

Commission for proroguing 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 Edward Lord Thurlow, Our Chancellor of Great Britain; the Most Reverend Father in God, and our faithful Counsellor William Archbishop of York, Primate and Metropolitan of England; Our Most dear Cousins and Counsellors Granville Earl Gower, President of Our Council; William Earl of Dartmouth, Keeper of Our Privy Seal; Edward Duke of Somerset, Charles Duke of Richmond, Augustus Henry Duke of Grafton, Harry Duke of Bolton, Thomas Duke of Leeds, George Duke of Marlborough, John Duke of Rutland, William Henry Duke of Portland, James Duke of Chandos, Henry Duke of Nowcastle, Hugh Duke of Northumberland, George Duke of Montagu, Charles Marquis of Rockingham, William Earl Talbot, Steward of Our Household; Francis Seymour Earl of Hertford, Chamberlain of Our Household; Francis Earl of Huntingdon, Henry Earl of Suffolk and Berkshire, One of Our Principal Secretaries of State; Basil Earl of Denbigh, John Earl of Sandwich, Frederick Earl of Carlisle, Richard Earl of Scarbrough, William Henry Earl of Rochford, George Bussy Earl of Jersey, Thomas Earl of Kinnoul, John Earl of Breadaibane, Hugh Earl of Marchmont, John Earl of Bute, George Earl of Pomfret, John Earl of Ashhurnham, John Earl of Buckinghamshire, Richard Earl Temple, Charles Earl Cornwallis, Philip Earl of Hardwicke, Henry Earl Bathurst, Wills Earl of Hillsborough, Thomas Earl of Ailesbury, Thomas Earl of Clarendon, William Earl of Mansfield, Our Chief Justice assigned to hold Pleas before Us; 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, Robert Lord Bishop of London; and Our Well-beloved and faithful Counsellors, Francis Lord Le Despencer, Francis Lord Osborne, George Lord Onslow, George Lord Edgcumbe, William Lord Ponsonby, Thomas Lord Lyttelton, William Lord Wycombe, Thomas Lord Grantham, Thomas Lord Pelham, Charles Lord Camden, Edward Lord Hawke, and Jeffery Lord Amherst, 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 Twenty-ninth Day of November, in the Fifteenth 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 Tuesday the First Day of September next, then to be held and sit at Our City of Westminster aforesaid: Know ye nevertheless, that for certain pressing Causes and Considerations Us espccially moving, We have thought sit further to prorogue Our said Parliament; therefore We, considing 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 First Day of September next, in Our Name further to prorogue and continue Our present Parliament, at Our City of Westminster aforesaid, until and unto Thursday the First Day of October 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 Twenty first Day of August, in the Eighteenth Year of our Reign.

"By the King Himself, signed with His own Hand.

"Yorke."

Then the Earl of Mansfield 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 Thursday the First Day of October next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Thursday the First Day of October next."