House of Lords Journal Volume 31: September 1766

Die Martis, 16 ^o Septembris.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales prsentes fuerunt:

The Lord Chancellor acquainted the House, That His Majesty had been pleased to, issune a Commission under the Great Seal, for the further Prorogation of the Parliament.

Then Five of the Lords Commissioners, being in their Robes, and seated on a Form placed between the Throne and the Woolsack, the Lord Chancellor in the Middle; with the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury and the Earl of Cholmondeley on his Right Hand, and the Lord Archbishop of York and the Earl of Harcourt on his Left; commanded the Deputy Gentleman 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:

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 Edward Duke of York, William Duke of Gloucester; the most Reverend Father in God and Our Faithful Counsellor Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury Primate and Metropolitan of all England; Our Well-beloved and Faithful Counsellors Charles Lord Camden Our Chancellor of Great Britain; the most Reverend Father in God and Our Faithful Counsellor Robert Archbishop of York Primate and Metropolitan of England; Our most Dear Cousins and Counsellors Robert Earl of Northington President of Our Council, William Earl of Chatham Keeper of Our Privy Seal, Henry Duke of Portland Chamberlain of Our Household, Charles Duke of Richmond Augustus Henry Duke of Grafton, Thomas Duke of Leeds, John Duke of Bedford, George Duke of Marlborough, John Duke of Rutland, John Duke of Argyll, Peregrine Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven Great Chamberlain of England, Thomas Holles Duke of Newcastle, Charles Duke of Dorset Charles Marquis of Rockingham; William Earl Talbot Steward of Our Household, Francis Earl of Huntingdon, Basil Earl of Denbigh, Daniel Earl of Winchelsea & Nottingham, Philip Earl of Chesterfield, John Earl of Sandwich, Anthony Earl of Shaftesbury, George Henry Earl of Litchfield, Robert Earl of Holdernesse, Richard Earl of Scarborough, William Henry Earl of Rochford, George Earl of Albemarle, William Earl of Jersey, George Earl of Cholmondeley, Thomas Earl of Kinnoul, John Earl of Breadalbane, Hugh Earl of Marchmont, John Earl of Hyndford, John Earl of Bute, Willam Earl of Dartmouth, George Dunk Earl of Halifax, John Earl of Ashburnham, Granville Earl Gower, John Earl of Buckinghamshire, Henry Arthur Earl of Powis, Hugh Earl of Northumberland, Richard Earl Temple, Simon Earl Harcourt, Francis Earl of Hertford, Philip Earl of Hardwicke, Stephen Earl of Ilchester; George Viscount Townshend, Thomas Viscount Weymouth, David Viscount Stormont, Hugh Viscount Falmouth; the Right Reverend Father m God and Our Faithful Counsellor Richard Lord Bishop of London; and Our Well-beloved and Faithful Counsellors Francis Lord Le Despencer, John Lord Berkeley of Stratton, Allen Lord Bathurst, George Lord Edgecumbe, Samuel Lord Sandys, William Lord Ponsonby, Thomas Lord Hyde, William Lord Mansfield Our Chief Justice assigned to hold Pleas before Us, Wills Lord Harwich, George Lord Lyttelton, William Lord Wycombe, Thomas Lord Grantham, John Lord Lovel & Holland, Henry Lord Holland, and John Lord Ligonier, 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 holden at Our City of Westminster, the Nineteenth Day of May in the First Year of Our Reign; which Our Parliament from thenceforth was prorogued, by Our several Writs, until and to the Third Day of November, in the Second Year of Our Reign, and there lately holden; and from thence, by several Adjournments and Progations, was adjourned and prorogued to and until Tuesday the Sixteenth Day or 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 Council, assigned you Our Commissioners; giving to yon, or to any Three or more of you, by virtue of these Presents, full Power and Authority, from the said Sixteenth 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 Tuesday the Eleventh Day of November now next following, there then to be held and fit. And therefore We commend 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, Marguises, 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 Tenth Day of September, in the Sixth Year of Our Reign.
By the King Himself, signed with His own Hand.
Yorke & Yorke.

Then the Lord Chancellor said,

Parliament prorogued.

My Lords, and Gentlemen,
By virtue of His Majestys Commission under the Great Seal, to us and other Lords directed, and now read, we do, in His Majestys Name, and in Obedience to His Commands, prorogue this Parliament to Tuesday the Eleventh Day of November next, to be then here held: And this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Tuesday the Eleventh Day of November next.