House of Lords Journal Volume 36: September 1781

September 1781

Anno 21^o Georgii Tertii.

DIE Jovis, 13^o Septembris 1781.

Domini præsentes fuerunt:

The Earl of Mansfield sat Speaker by virtue of a former 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 Archbishop of Canterbury 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, Henry Earl Bathurst, President of Our Council; William Earl of Darthmouth, 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, William Henry Duke of Portland, James Duke of Chandos, Henry Duke of Newcastle, Hugh Duke of Northumberland, Charles 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, James Earl of Salisbury, Basil Earl of Denbigh, John Earl of Sandwich, Frederick Earl of Carlisle, Richard, Earl of Scarborough, William Henry Earl of Rochford, George Bussey Earl of Jersey, Thomas Earl of Kinnoul, John Earl of Breadalbane, Hugh Earl of Marchmont, John Earl of Bute, George Earl of Pomfret, John Earl of Ashburnham, Granville Earl Gower, John Earl of Buckinghamshire, Charles Earl Cornwallis, Philip Earl of Hardwicke, Wills Earl of Hillsborough, One of Our Principal Secretaries of State; 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, David Viscount Stormont, One other of Our Principal Secretaries of State; Hugh Viscount Falmouth, George Viscount Mount Edgcumbe and Valletort, the Right Reverend Father in God, and Our faithful Counsellor Robert Lord Bishop of London; and Our Well-beloved and faithful Counsell's, Francis Lord Le Despencer, Francis Lord Osborne, George Lord Onslow, William Lord Ponsonby, William Lord Wycombe, Thomas Lord Grantham, Thomas Lord Pelham, Charles Lord Camden, John Lord Cardiff, Edward Lord Hawke, Jeffery Lord Amherst, and Alexander Lord Loughborough, Chief Justice of Our Court of Common Pleas, 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 Thirty-First Day of October, in the Twenty-first Year of Our Reign, on which Day Our said Parliament was begun and held, and from thence by several Adjournments, was adjourned and prorogued to and until Thursday 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 Thursday the Eighteenth 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 Seventh Day of September, in the Twenty-first 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 Eighteenth Day of October next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Thursday the Eighteenth Day of October next."