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Temporal, and to the feveral Counties, Boroughs, &c. for calling a Convention to meet on the two and twentieth of January next." And an Addrefs was ordered to be drawn up accordingly. The Affociation entered into by feveral Lords and Gentlemen at Exeter, December 19, was afterwards brought in, and figned by all the Members prefent.

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Wednesday, December 26. In the Afternoon.

The Address above-mentioned was brought in by Mr Hampden, and agreed to by the Affembly, (fee it in the Journal,) and on

Thursday, December 27.

It was presented by the Chairman to the Prince of Orange; for which his Highnefs returned them his hearty Thanks, but deferred his Answer till the next day,

Friday, December 28.

When he promised them to endeavour to fecure the Peace of the Nation, till the meeting of the Convention, for the Election whereof he would forthwith iffue out Letters, &c." Such Letters were accordingly iffued; and on

Tuesday, January 22, 1688-9,

The Convention met at Westminster *; when, after Mr Powle had been chofen Speaker, the following Letter was presented to the House by Mr Jephfon, the Prince's Secretary, and read by Mr Speaker:

["Gentlemen,

"I have endeavoured, to the utmost of my power, to perform what was defired from me, in order to the public Peace and Safety; and I do not know that any thing hath been omitted,

It was upon the appointed time, the longed for 22d day of January, that the Grand Convention met; not only with the expectations of the British dominions, but of all the neighbouring Kingdoms and Nations. Being divided into two Houles, as ufual in Parliament, (of whofe rules they were ftrictly obfervant) they immediately proceeded to the choice of their Speakers. In the Houfe of Peers, the

Marquefs of Halifax carried it again the Earl of Denbigh; and in the Lower Houfe, Mr Poule was unanimously chofen; though it was expected that Sir Edward Seymour, who had fo early joined the Prince at Exeter, would have stood in competition with him. Both Houses had their Clerks, and feveral Officers, as in a regular Parliament.

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which might tend to their Prefervation, fince the Adminiftration of Affairs was put into my hands: It now lieth upon you to lay the foundations of a firm Security for your Religion, your Laws, and your Liberties.

"I do not doubt but that, by fuch a full and free Representative of the Nation as is now met, the ends of my Declaration will be attained: And fince it hath pleased God, hitherto, to bless my good intentions with fo great fuccefs, I truft in him that he will complete his own work, by fending a Spirit of Peace and Union to influence your Councils, that no interruption may be given to a happy and lafting fettlement.

"The dangerous condition of the Proteftant Interest in Ireland requiring a large and speedy Succour, and the present state of things abroad, oblige me to tell you, that, next to the danger of unfeasonable Divifions amongst yourselves, nothing can be fo fatal as too great Delay in your Confultations.

"The States, by whom I have been enabled to rescue this Nation, may fuddenly feel the ill effects of it, both by being too long deprived of the fervice of their Troops, which are now here, and of your early affiftance against a powerful enemy, who hath declared War against them: And as England is, by Treaty, already engaged to help them upon any fuch exigencies, fo I am confident, that their chearful concurrence to preferve this Kingdom, with fo much hazard to themselves, will meet with all the returns of friendship and affiftarice, which may be expected from you as Proteftants and Englishmen, whenever their condition fhall require it."]

[Debate.]

R Garroway.] All England is fenfible of the great deliverance that we have had from Popery and Slavery by this generous Expedition of the Prince of Orange. I need not urge Arguments to give him Thanks; and, in the mean time, till we can proceed to a Settlement of the Nation, and till the Lords and Common's shall make farther application to him, defire" that he will be pleased to take the Administration of the Government upon him."

Mr Hampden.] I do concur in the Motion. As the Prince's Letter requires hafte, so I would have no time loft in confidering it, fo as things may not be precipitated which require due deliberation. Be pleafed, in the mean time, to thank the Prince, &c. for the great

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action he has done in delivering the Nation from Popery and Slavery; and, in the fame words, to defire him to continue the Administration of the Government, till the Lords and Commons fhall make farther application to him.

Col. Birch.] "That Thanks fhould be returned to the Prince, for his Deliverance of us, &c." I would not have it fo; but, "that God has done it by his means." I could never have believed, fome months fince, what God, by his hand, hath wrought for this Kingdom.

Several other Motions were made for an Addition to the Queftion.

Sir Thomas Lee.] Nothing will fave your time more than to let two or three Gentlemen withdraw, and pen you an Address, &c. upon the Debate of the House.

Mr John Howe.] I think it as proper for us to say, by whofe means we were brought into Popery and Slavery, as by whom we were delivered out.

The Lords fent a Meffage, with an Addrefs much of the fame nature with that above debated, for the Concurrence of the Houfe; which, with fome little variation, was agreed to by both Houses.

Sir Henry Capel.] This Affembly has been chosen with freedom. There has not been a better Election a great while, without force of the Lord-Lieutenants, You have done a great deal in one day, but this is not enough; fo confider the word "Adminiftration;" 'tis but a fmall Truft you repofe in the Prince; 'twill roll, and be uncertain. The Prince has told you who has helped him to come over hither, the Proteftants. I have feen quick Bills for Money pass here, to fight against Protestants: I hope we fhall now fight with them. His Troops are wanted in Holland. I hope you will not neglect a day to confider them: The Proteftants abroad are uneafy till they hear how we proceed. The whole thing of "an actual War with Frrace," which I have feen here debated, we could

never arrive at. I have obferved that we have not had above a hundred and fixty formerly, at giving great Sums; whereas, now we have no King, we are a full House. Therefore pray take the State of the Nation into confideration as foon as you please.

Sir Thomas Clarges.] The matter before you is of the greatest weight; therefore I hope you will proceed with prudence and wariness. Whole Counties, as yet, have no Members: And, that there may be no imputations upon us, and that all exceptions may be taken away, I would have this great affair debated in a full House.

[On filling up the Vacancies of the House.]

Mr Hampden.] 'Tis proper to refolve upon filling the Vacancies of the Houfe. I would not preclude the Motions for it; but 'tis the Order of the House, on a Vacancy, to fend your Letter for filling up that Vacancy, &c. If you apply to the proper Officer, he must have a Seal, but now he has none, fo cannot execute your Order. Make a general Rule for filling the Vacancies here, that, upon fuch a Motion, Application may be made to the Prince for his Letter to fill up that Vacancy.

Mr Seymour.] We are in fo unfortunate an age, that it has improved Precedents, especially on mistaken grounds. There never was a Letter fent to the Chancellor for a Writ to fill up a Vacancy, but by a Warrant from the Speaker of the Commons of England affembled. "You are to take care to chufe, &c." It must be first made known to you, and it is the easiest way by Warrant or Order from you, and not to trouble the Prince upon this occafion.

Sir Thomas Clarges.] A Warrant from this House is a Warrant for the Lord Keeper or Chancellor, and he has always obeyed it, and thought it fufficient authority to send out a Writ. Now you are here as a Convention, which is a resemblance of a Parliament. The King, before he calls a Parliament, fends his Writ to chufe Members: After you have fat here, then your Precept;

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cept; and now that we are fat here, you may send your Warrant or Letter to the Coroner.

The Speaker.] Anciently, you fent to the Lord Keeper or Chancellor, to iffue out his Writ, &c. There was, I remember, a great controversy [in 1672] about my Lord Chancellor Shaftesbury fending out Writs to fill Vacancies, on his own Motion, before he had notice from this House*. There are two ways now propofed; one for a Letter from the Prince to the Coroner, and the other for the Speaker to fend his Letter in your name, &c. I am ready to put the Question which way you please.

Ordered, That the Prince be defired to fend new Circulary Letters to fome places where the old ones have mifcarried.

[January 23, and 26, omitted.]

Monday, January 28.

[On the State of the Nation.]

Col. Birch.] It has been moved, by one or two, "that the Speaker leave the Chair." I have known it moved, in granting Money, and all ordinary business, "that the Speaker leave the Chair;" but to leave it now, in a great business, you will make it twice as long. I move you to confider, that, as it will hinder the work, fo it will lower the greatness of it, and make it lefs than it is.

Serjeant Maynard.] 'Tis a great Affair now upon you. 'Tis never done till debated firft in the House, How many propofitions will happen at a Grand Committee, without your directions first! You must, at a Committee, know whereupon to go. First confider of the business, and then refer it as occafion requires.

Sir Edward Seymour.] What refolution foever you take, I would not have you go out of the method of ufual proceedings. I know how ftrait-laced, in fuch a great matter, men will be in the Houfe, where they can speak but once. Twill look as if you were not wil* Sce Vol. II. p. 4.

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