House of Lords Journal Volume 19: 25 May 1711

DIE Veneris, 25 Maii.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

L. Carteret takes his Seat.

This Day John Lord Carteret sat first in Parliament, after the Death of his Father George Lord Carteret; and took the Oaths, and made and subscribed the Declaration, and also took and subscribed the Oath of Abjuration, pursuant to the Statutes.

Biddulph's Bill:

The Earl of Clarendon reported from the Lords Committees, to whom the Bill, intituled, "An Act for Sale of Part of the Estate of Theophilus Biddulph Esquire, for Payment of his Debts, was committed: That they had considered the said Bill; and think it fit to pass, without any Amendment."

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for Sale of Part of the Estate of Theophilus Biddulph Esquire, for Payment of his Debts."

The Question was put, "Whether this Bill shall pass?"

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Message to H. C. that the Lords have agreed to it.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Mr. Fellows and Mr. Orlebar:

To let them know, that the Lords have agreed to the said Bill, without any Amendment.

Militia Bill.

Hodie 2^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for raising the Militia for the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eleven, although the Month's Pay formerly advanced be not re-paid."

Ordered, That the said Bill be committed to a Committee of the whole House, To-morrow, at Twelve a Clock.

E. of Oxford and Mortimer introduced:

Robert Harley Esquire, being, by Letters Patents, dated the Three and Twentieth Day of May One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eleven, created Baron Harley of Wigmore, and Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer, was this Day (in his Robes) introduced, between the Earl Rivers and Earl Poulet (also in their Robes); the Earl of Abingdon, in the Absence of the Lord Great Chamberlain, the Deputy Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, and One of the Heralds officiating in this Ceremony as Garter King at Arms, preceding. His Lordship presented his Patent to the Lord Keeper, on his Knee, at the Woolsack; who delivered it to the Clerk; and the same was read at the Table.

His Writ of Summons was also read; (videlicet,)

His Writ of Summons.

"Anna, Dei Gratia, Magnæ Britanniæ, Franciæ, et Hib'niæ Regina, Fidei Defensor, &c. Charissimo Consanguineo et Consiliario Nostro Rob'to Comiti de Oxon et Comiti Mortimer, Salutem. Cum nuper, de Avisamento et Assensu Concilii Nostri, pro quibusdam arduis et urgentibus Negotiis, Nos, Statum et Defensionem Regni Nostri Magnæ Britanniæ et Ecclesiæ concernentibus, præsens Parliamentum Nostrum apud Civitatem Nostram Westm. Vicesimo Quinto Die Novembris ult. præterit. teneri ordinaverimus; et ibidem, cum Prælatis, Magnatibus, et Proceribus dicti Regni Nostri, Colloquium habere et Tractum; cumque idem Parliamentum Nostrum ibidem modo tentum sit: Vobis, sub Fide et Ligeantia quibus Nobis tenemini, firmiter injungendo mandamus, quod, consideratis dictorum Negotiorum Arduitate, et Periculis imminentibus, cessante Excusatione quacunque, ad dictum Parliamentum Nostrum personaliter intersitis, Nobiscum, ac cum Prælatis, Magnatibus, et Proceribus prædictis, super dictis Negotiis tractatur. vestrumque Consilium impensur.; et hoc sicut Nos et Honorem Nostrum, ac Salvationem et Defensionem Regni et Ecclesiæ prædict. Expeditionemque dictorum Negotiorum diligitis, nullatenus omittatis.

"Teste Meipsa, apud Westmonaster. Vicesimo Quarto Die Maii, Anno Regni Nostri Decimo.

"Wrighte."

Then his Lordship took his Place on the Earls Bench; and came to the Table, and took the Oaths, and made and subscribed the Declaration, and also took and subscribed the Oath of Abjuration, pursuant to the Statutes.

Williams, a Negroe, Bill.

The House was (according to Order) adjourned during Pleasure, and put into a Committee upon the Bill, intituled, "An Act for enabling John Williams (a free Negroe of the Island of Jamaica), his Wife and Children (bred up in the Religion of the Church of England and naturalized), to be Witnesses in Civil Cases; and that no Slaves may be Evidences against them; and that they, on all Occasions, in the said Island and in other Her Majesty's Plantations, may be tried by a Jury, as other Her Majesty's Subjects are to be tried."

And, after some Time spent therein, the House was resumed.

And the Lord Delawar reported, "That the Committee had made some Progress in the said Bill."

L. Widdrington, against Coal Trade Bill.

Upon reading the Petition of the Right Honourable William Lord Widdrington; shewing, "That he, being possessed of divers Collieries, will be greatly prejudiced, in case the Bill, now depending in this House, relating to the Coal Trade, should pass; and praying to be heard, by his Counsel, before the Second Reading of the said Bill:"

It is Ordered, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Petitioner shall be heard, by his Counsel, To-morrow, before the Second Reading of the said Bill.

Adjourn.

Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque ad et in diem Sabbati, vicesimum sextum diem instantis Maii, hora undecima Auroræ, Dominis sic decernentibus.