Annoro. Geo.II. fent Majefty when Prince of Wales, out of a Civil Lift not 1736-7. exceeding 700,000 /. a Year. 4. Because his present Majesty had granted him by Parliament feveral Funds to compofe a Civil Lift of 800,000 1. a Year, which we have very good Reafon to believe bring in at least 900,000 /. and are more likely to encrease than to diminish. 5. Because out of this extraordinary and growing Civil Lift, we humbly conceive his Majefty may be able to make an honourable Provifion for the rest of his Royal Family, without any Neceffity of leffening that Revenue which, in his own Cafe, when he was Prince of Wales, the Wifdom of Parliament adjudged to be a proper Maintenance for the firstborn Son, and Heir apparent of the Crown. 6. Because it is the undoubted Right of Parliament to explain the Intention of their own Acts, and to offer their Advice in Purfuance thereof. And tho', in the inferior Courts of Westminster-hall, the Judges can only confider an A& of Parliament according to the Letter and exprefs Words of the Act, the Parliament itself may proceed in a higher Way, by declaring what was their Senfe in paffing it, and on what Grounds, especially in a Matter recent, and within the Memory of many in the Houfe, as well as out of it. 7. Because there were many obvious and good Reasons, why the Sum of 100,000 1. per Annum for the Prince, was not specified in the Act paffed at that Time, particularly his being a Minor, and unmarried. But we do apprehend, that it is obvious that the Parliament would not have granted to his Majefty fo great a Revenue above that of the late King, but with an Intention that 100,000 l. a Year fhould at a proper Time be fettled on the Prince, in the fame Manner as it was enjoyed by his royal Father when he was Prince of Wales: And his Royal Highnefs being now thirty Years old, and most happily married, we apprehend it can no longer be delayed, without Prejudice to the Honour of the Family, the Right of the Prince of Wales, and Intention of the Parliament. And as in many Cafes the Crown is known to ftand as Trustee for the Public, upon Grants in Parliament; fo we humbly conceive, that in this Cafe, according to the Intention of Parliament, the Crown ftands as Trustee for the Prince, for the aforesaid Sum. 8. Because we do conceive, that the prefent Princess of Wales ought to have the like Jointure that her present Majesty had when she was Princess of Wales, and that it would be for the Honour of the Crown, that no Distinction whatfoever should be made between Perfons of equal Rank and Dignity. 9. Becaufe 1736-7. 9. Because we apprehend, that it has always been the Annoro.Geo. IL, Policy of this Country, and Care of Parliament, that a fuitable Provifion, independent of the Crown, should be made for the Heir apparent, that by fhewing him early the Eafe and Dignity of Independence, he may learn by his own Experience, how a great and free People fhould be governed. And as we are convinced in our Confciences, that if this Queftion had been paffed in the Affirmative, it would have prevented all future Uneafinefs that may unhappily arife upon this Subject, by removing the Caufe of fuch Uneafiness, and giving his Royal Highness what we apprehend to be his Right; we make use of the Privileges inherent in Members of this House, to clear ourselves to all Pofterity, from being concerned in laying it afide. 10. Laitly, we thought it more incumbent upon us to infift upon this Motion, for the Sake of this Royal Family, under which alone we are fully convinced we can live free, and under this Royal Family we are fully determined we will live free. Winchelsea and Nottingham, Berkshire, Cobham, Chef- There happened likewise a Debate in relation to Form, occafioned by the former Debate, which being fomething curious, we fhall give a fhort Account of it. The Duke of Newcafle, who was the first that spoke in Debate about that House against the Motion, concluded his Speech with jefty's Meffage. reading his Maacquainting their Lordships, that he had a Meffage from his Duke of NewMajefty to communicate to them; and after reading it in his castle. Place, the fame Message which had before been communicated to the House of Commons, he delivered to the House, and the Earl of Strafford moved it might be read a second Time by Earl of Strafford. the noble Lord on the Wool-lack; whereupon the Lord Carteret ftood up and faid, That, by the conftant Form and Method of Proceeding, it had always been deemed inconfiftent with the Honour and Dignity of that House, to have any Papers or Writings read a fecond Time by the noble Lord on the Wool-fack, except Speeches or Meffages made or fent by his Majesty in Writing directly to that House: That as for all other Writings, or Papers, delivered or communicated at any Time to that Houfe, if they were to be read a fecond Time, the conftant Custom had been, to have 1736-7. X them Lord Carteret. 1736-7. Annoro. Geo. II them read a fecond Time by the Clerk at the Table. That he was not against having that Paper read a fecond Time, which the noble Duke had, by his Majefty's Command, communicated to them; but as it was no Meffage, in Writing from his Majefty directly to that Houfe, but only an Account of a Meffage his Majefty had been pleased to fend to his Royal Highnefs the Prince of Wales, and of the Anfwer his Royal Highness had returned to that Meffage, therefore he thought it ought to be read a fecond Time, not by the noble Lord on the Wool-fack, but by the Clerk at the Table. Lord Delawar. Earl of Chol- Lord Bathurst, To which it was anfwered by the Lord Delawar, the Earl of Cholmondeley, and the Earl of Ilay, in Substance, That as the Paper communicated to them was of the utmoft Importance, and fo very long, that no Lord of that Houfe could judge rightly about it, upon hearing it only once read, it would be abfolutely neceffary to have it read a fecond Time. That if any foreign Potentate fhould fend a Letter or Memorial to his Majefty, and he fhould think fit to communicate the fame to that Houfe, every one of their Lordships had a Privilege to defire it might be read a fecond Time, before the Houle could enter into any Confideration relating to it; and as the Meffage then delivered to them in Writing, was of as great Importance as any fuch Letter or Memorial could well be, therefore it ought to be read a fecond Time, before they proceeded to take it into their Confideration, efpecially, as the fecond Reading had been moved for by one of their Lordships. That the noble Duke had told them, he had exprefs Orders from his Majefty to communicate it to them, therefore it ought to be confidered as a direct Meffage from his Majefty to that Houfe, and confequently, as it was in Writing, it ought to be read a second Time, and that fecond Reading ought to be by the noble Lord on the Wool-fack, and not by the Clerk at the Table. To which it was replied by the Lord Bathurst, That the Queftion was not, whether or no the Meffage fhould be read a fecond Time, but whether it fhould be read a fecond Time by the Lord on the Wool-fack, or by the Clerk at the Table? As to which, he would defire no other Argument, for convincing him that it ought to be read a fecond Time by the Clerk at the Table, than that which had been mentioned by the noble Lords who feemed to be of a different Opinion; for if his Majefty fhould receive a Letter, Memorial, or other Writing, from any Potentate in Europe, and fhould think fit to communicate it to the Houfe, furely the Lord, who in that Cafe might be honoured with his Majef ty's 1736-7. ty's Commands, would tell the House he had exprefs Or-Anno 10.Geo. II ders from his Majefty to communicate fuch a Letter, Memorial or Writing, to the House; and yet in that Case, such a Letter, Memorial, or Writing, would not be read a fe cond Time by the Lord on the Wool-fack, it would be contrary to Precedent, and inconfiftent with the Dignity of the House to do fo; it would be read a fecond Time only by the Clerk at the Table, and then reported to the House by the Lord on the Wool-fack: That this had been their conftant Custom in all fuch Cafes; and the Reason was plain, because in fuch Cafes there is no Meffage in Writing fent by his Majefty directly to the Houfe; the only direct Meffage from his Majefty to the House, is a verbal Meffage, and that verbal Meffage is delivered by the noble Lord, when he tells them he has Orders from his Majesty to communicate fuch a Writing or Paper to them. That if his Majefty fhould order a long Treaty or Negotiation between him and a foreign Prince to be communicated to the House, there would be the fame Reason for having it read a fecond Time by the Lord on the Wool-fack, as there was, or could be pretended, for having his Majesty's Meffage to the Prince, and the Prince's Answer, read a fecond Time by the Lord on the Wool-fack; and as no fuch thing had ever been done in the former Cafe, therefore he thought it ought not to be done in the latter. This is the Subftance of what was faid upon this Head but the Question was not fully debated; for as many seemed to be impatient to have the Meffage read a fecond Time, the Lords who were for having it read only by the Clerk at the Table, fubmitted without a Divifion, and it was read a fecond Time by the noble Lord on the Wool-fack; after which they proceeded in the Debate upon the chief Motion; and at the End of that Debate, the Earl of Strafford, who Earl of Strafford, was the laft that spoke, faid, That, altho' he was, in his Opinion, against the Motion, and therefore obliged to differ from those with whom he had generally agreed, and would again agree, he believed, in all Matters where the Constitution or Liberties of his Country were concerned, neither of which, he thought, had any Concern in the Question then before them, yet, he thought it would be better, and more decent, to wave putting any Queftion upon the Motion; for which Reason, if any of their Lordships appeared to be of his Opinion, he would move, to adjourn till next Morning; but as no Lord feemed inclined to fecond this Motion, his Lordship waved making it; and the Queftion being put upon the principal Motion, it was carried in the Negative, as above related. 1736-7. X 2 The Annoro, Geo.II. 1736-7. Proceedings The Speakers were as follow, viz. For the Motion. Lord Carteret, Lord Gorver, Duke Against the Motion. Duke of Newcastle, Lord Visc. Thursday, March 3, the Duke of Newcastle prefented to in relation to the House, according to the fourth and fifth Refolutions of the Murder of Feb. 10. an authentic Copy of the Trial of Captain Porteous, Captain Porteous. and all the Proceedings relating thereunto; and alfo the Accounts tranfmitted hither of the Murder of Captain Porteous, and what paffed thereupon; together with the Orders and Directions fent from hence relating thereunto; as likewise a Copy of the Reprieve of the faid Captain, granted by her Majefty as Guardian of the Kingdom. And on Thursday, March 10, the feveral Perfons attended according to Order, and were called to the Bar and fworn: After which the House refolved itself into a Committee, to confider of the Affair, and agreed to fifteen feveral Queftions or Interrogatories, upon which the Lord Provost and four Bailiffs of the City of Edinburgh in the Year 1736, were examined. The fame Day a Meffage was fent to the House of Commons, defiring they would give Leave to Lieutenant-general Wade, and Patrick Lindsay, Efq; Members of that House, to attend, to be examined in relation to the Murder of Porteous; and Major Poole, whofe Name had been mentioned in the aforefaid Examination, was ordered to attend on Wednesday then next. On the 16th, Thomas Young, Treasurer of the City of Edinburgh in the Year 1736, whofe Name had likewise been mentioned in the aforefaid Examination, was ordered to attend, if in Town; and on the 17th, the House having, again, refolved itself into the faid Committee, agreed to eleven Questions or Interrogatories, upon which Captain Lynd, who was Captain of the City-Guard of Edinburgh, the Night Porteous was murdered, was examined; after which the Lord Provost was again called in, and examined as to any, and what Endeavours had been used by him, to discover those concerned in the Murder of Porteous; and as to fome other Matters, which had occurred after that Riot; and the abovementioned Patrick Lindsay, Efq; having had Leave from the House of Commons, did attend, and was examined as to his Knowledge, of what happened relating to this Affair; as was alfo General Moyle, Commander in chief of his Majesty's Forces in Scotland, at the Time this Affair happened. On |