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PARLIAMENTARY

AND

POLITICAL MISCELLANIES.

NO. I.

Notice respecting this Publication.

THE present publication has its rise in a suggestion made to the

editor in the spring of 1838 by the late Mr. John Allen, "the friend of Lord Holland, who, for the latter and more important part of his life, shared all his thoughts, and never was a day apart from him."*

Other occupations prevented the editor from giving effect to Mr. Allen's suggestion, and it had almost escaped his recollection, when it was brought again to his mind by a recent conversation with a distinguished Peer. His Lordship said that members of both Houses of Parliament would, he thought, find a work upon the plan contemplated useful and, possibly, amusing.

A perusal of the present number will, it is apprehended, sufficiently explain the plan.

12, New Square, Lincoln's Inn,

1st May, 1851.

King Charles the Second's Declaration of Liberty to tender

Consciences.

THE declaration of King Charles the Second-Breda, 14th April, 1660-states that, because the passion and uncharitableness of the times had produced several opinions in religion, by which men were engaged in parties and animosities against each other (which, when they should thereafter unite in a freedom of conversation, would be composed, or better understood) his Majesty did declare a liberty to tender consciences, and that no man should be disquieted or called * Lord Brougham's Hist. Sketches of Statesmen. Third Series, vol. 3, p. 342. [B]

in question for differences of opinion in matters of religion, which did not disturb the peace of the kingdom. And his Majesty did declare that he should be ready to consent to such an Act of Parliament as, upon mature deliberation, should be offered to him for the full granting that indulgence.

The Authority of Parliaments and the Authority of the King. CHARLES II., in his letter to the Speaker of the House of Commons, dated Breda, 14th April, 1660, states that, in his judgment, he believed Parliaments to be so vital a part of the constitution of the kingdom, and so necessary for the government of it, that he well knew that neither prince nor people could be, in any tolerable degree, happy without them.

His Majesty then adds, "And as this is our opinion of Parliaments, that their authority is most necessary for the government of the kingdom, so we are most confident that you believe and find that the preservation of the King's authority is as necessary for the preservation of Parliaments; and that it is not the name but the right constitution of them, which can prepare and apply proper remedies for those evils which are grievous to the people, and which can thereby establish their peace and security; and therefore we have not the least doubt that you will be as tender in, and as jealous of, anything that may infringe our honour, or impair our authority, as of your own liberty and property, which is best preserved by preserving the other."

Peers present 25th April, 1660, being the first day that the House of Lords sat after its Abolition by the House of Commons, February, 1648.

THE peers who were present the 25th April, 1660, being the first day that the House of Lords sat after its abolition by the House of Commons, February, 1648,* were Edward Montagu, Earl of

*Feb. 6, 1648. House of Commons.

It was resolved without division that

the House of Peers in Parliament is useless and dangerous, and ought to be abolished, and that an Act be brought in to that purpose.

See Scobell's Acts, Anno 1648, cap. 17. The House of Peers taken away. "Whilst the Commons were thus passing sentence against the Lords, the latter were sitting in their own House; but did nothing more, after prayers,

than dispose of a rectory, and then adjourned to ten the next morning. But it proved an adjournment ad longum diem, for they never met again till the Restoration of Monarchy once more established the Peers of this realm in their antient seats and privileges.”—Parl. Hist. vol. 3, p. 1285.

Manchester, appointed to be speaker pro tempore; Algernon Percy, Earl of Northumberland; Theophilus Clinton, Earl of Lincoln; James Howard, Earl of Suffolk; Basil Fielding, Earl of Denbigh ; William Fienes, Viscount Say and Sele; Philip Wharton, Lord Wharton; Henry Carey, Lord Hunsdon; William Grey, Lord Grey de Werke; William Maynard, Lord Maynard.

Preamble of the Prince of Orange's first Declaration, 10th
October, 1688.

It is both certain and evident to all men, that the public peace and happiness of any state or kingdom cannot be preserved where the laws, liberties, and customs, established by the lawful authority in it, are openly transgressed and annulled; more especially where the alteration of religion is endeavoured, and a religion which is contrary to law is endeavoured to be introduced; upon which those who are most immediately concerned in it are indispensably bound to preserve and maintain the established laws, liberties, and customs, and above all the religion and worship of God, that is established among them; and to take such an effectual care that the inhabitants of the said state or kingdom may neither be deprived of their religion nor of their civil rights; which is so much the more necessary because the greatness and security both of kings, royal families, and of all such as are in authority, as well as the happiness of their subjects and people, depend in a most especial manner upon the exact observation and maintenance of these their laws, liberties, and

customs.

Declaration of the Peers who met at Guildhall, 11th December, 1688. WE do unanimously resolve to apply ourselves to his Highness the Prince of Orange, who, with so great kindness to these kingdoms, such vast expense, and so much hazard to his own person, has undertaken, by endeavouring to procure a free parliament, to rescue us with as little effusion as possible of Christian blood from the imminent dangers of slavery and popery. And we do hereby declare that we will with our utmost endeavours assist his Highness in the obtaining such a parliament with all speed, wherein our laws, our liberties, and properties may be secured, and the Church of England in particular, with a due liberty to protestant Dissenters, and in general that the protestant religion and interest over the whole world may be supported and encouraged to the glory of God, the

happiness of the established government in these kingdoms, and the advantage of all princes and states in Christendom that may be herein concerned.

Names of the Peers who met at Guildhall, 11th December, 1688. DR. Sancroft, Archbishop of Canterbury; Dr. Lamplugh, Archbishop of York; Thomas Herbert, Earl of Pembroke; Charles Sackville Earl of Dorset; John Sheffield, Earl of Mulgrave; Thomas Tufton, Earl of Thanet; Edward Howard, Earl of Carlisle; William Craven, Earl of Craven; Thomas Bruce, Earl of Aylesbury; Richard Boyle, Earl of Burlington; George Berkeley, Earl of Berkeley; Lawrence Hyde, Earl of Rochester; Francis Newport, Viscount Newport; Thomas Thynne, Viscount Weymouth; Dr. Mew, Bishop of Winchester; Dr. Lloyd, Bishop of St. Asaph; Dr. Turner, Bishop of Ely; Dr. Sprat, Bishop of Rochester; Dr. White, Bishop of Peterborough; Philip Wharton, Lord Wharton; Charles North, Lord North and Grey; James Brydges, Lord Chandos; Ralph Montague, Lord Montague; Thomas Jermyn, Lord Jermyn; John Vaughan, Lord Vaughan, Earl of Carbery in Ireland; — Colepeper, Lord ColeCrew, Lord Crew; and John Bennet, Lord Ossulston.

peper;

Proclamation of 13th February, 1688-9, by which the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons, together with the Lord Mayor and Citizens of London, and others the Commons of the Realm, published and declared William and Mary, Prince and Princess of Orange, to be King and Queen.

:

WHEREAS it hath pleased Almighty God in His great mercy to this kingdom, to vouchsafe us a miraculous deliverance from Popery and arbitrary power and that our preservation is due, next under God, to the resolution and conduct of his Highness the Prince of Orange, whom God hath chosen to be the glorious instrument of such an inestimable happiness to us and our posterity: and being highly sensible, and fully persuaded of the great and eminent virtue of her Highness the Princess of Orange, whose zeal for the Protestant religion will, no doubt, bring a blessing along with her upon this nation: and whereas the Lords and Commons now assembled at Westminster have made a Declaration, and presented the same to the said Prince and Princess of Orange, and therein desired them to accept the Crown, who have accepted the same accordingly: we therefore, the Lords spiritual and

temporal, and Commons, together with the Lord Mayor and citizens of London, and others of the Commons of this realm, do with full consent publish and proclaim, according to the said Declaration, William and Mary, Prince and Princess of Orange, to be King and Queen of England, France, and Ireland, with all the dominions and territories thereunto belonging: who are accordingly so to be owned, deemed and taken, by all the people of the aforesaid realms and dominions, who are from henceforth bound to acknowledge and pay unto them all faith and true allegiance; beseeching God, by whom kings reign, to bless King William and Queen Mary, with long and happy years to reign over us.

Lord Russell's Attainder Reversal Bill.

:

HOUSE of Commons, March 8, 1688-9. A Bill from the Lords for annulling and making void Lord Russell's attainder was read the first time. In the debate on the bill Sir Thomas Clarges said :In one clause of the Bill there may be two or three words left out. It is said, "It is at the request of the Earl of Bedford and Lady Russell" only. The justice of the nation is greater to you than any particular person's inducement. This Bill is not ex gratia; all the nation is concerned in it.

Extract from an Essay on the State of the English Constitution, ascribed to Lord John Russell, published anonymously, 1820. THERE is no thing in human councils or human institutions which stands still. The letter of the law is changed to suit the occasion of the day; and the spirit of a government varies with the disposition of the rulers who govern, and the state of the people who are governed. It behoves us, then, as members of a free community, priding ourselves upon our liberty, and enjoying the benefits of a more unrestrained, more immediate, and more general discussion of all our interests, than any nation ever before possessed, to examine from time to time the condition of our state vessel, to overhaul her rigging, and to see that she has not sprung a leak upon the stormy voyages she has undergone.

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