House of Lords Journal Volume 36: September 1783

September 1783

Anno 23^o Georgii Tertii.

DIE Martis, 9^o Septembris 1783.

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 Duke of Portland on his Right Hand, and the Lord Grantham 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 Fathers in God and Our faithful Counsellors John Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate and Metropolitan of all England; William Archbishop of York, Primate and Metropolitan of England; Our most dear Cousins and Counsellors David Viscount Stormont, President of Our Council; Frederick Earl of Carlisle, 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, Charles Duke of Rutland, William Henry Duke of Portland, George Duke of Manchester, James Duke of Chandos, John Frederick Duke of Dorset, Henry Duke of Newcastle, Hugh Duke of Northumberland, George Duke of Montagu; William Earl of Dartmouth, Steward of Our Household; Francis Earl of Hertford, Chamberlain of Our Household; Edward Earl of Derby, Francis Earl of Huntingdon, James Earl of Salisbury, Basil Earl of Denbigh, John Earl of Sandwich, George Bussy Earl of Jersey, George James Earl of Cholmondeley, Thomas Earl of Kinnoul, Hugh Earl of Marchmont, John Earl of Bute, Charles Earl of Tankerville, George Earl of Pomfret, John Earl of Ashburnham, Thomas, Earl of Effingham, Granville Earl Gower, John Earl of Buckinghamshire, George Earl Temple, Charles Earl Cornwallis, Philip Earl of Hardwicke, Robert Earl of Northington, 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, George Viscount Mount Edgcumbe and Valletort, George Viscount Sackville, Richard Viscount Howe, Augustus Viscount Keppel, the Right Reverend Father in God and Our faithful Counsellor Robert Lord Bishop of London; and Our well-beloved and faithful Counsellors George Lord De Ferrars, Francis Lord Osborne, George Lord Onslow, William Lord Ponsonby, William Lord Wycombe, Thomas Lord Grantham, Thomas Lord Pelham, Charles Lord Camden, John Lord Cardiff, Jeffery Lord Amherst, Edward Lord Thurlow, Alexander Lord Loughborough, Chief Justice of Our Court of Common Pleas; Fletcher Lord Grantley, and Thomas Lord Sydney, 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 and Prorogations, was adjourned and prorogued to and until Tuesday the Ninth Day of this Instant September, then to be held and fit 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 Counsel, 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 Ninth 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 Sixteenth 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 Fifth Day of September, in the Twenty-third 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 16th Day of October next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Thursday the 16th Day of October next."