first Time, and order'd to be read a fecond Time. It was alfo order'd, That the Agent for Taxes do lay before the Houfe, an Account of what Money has been paid in for the first half Year of the Land Tax and Window Tax for the Year 1714, and what remains in Arrear of former Years, diftinguifh'd under proper Heads, c. Then the Houfe having refolv'd itself into a Committee of the whole Houfe on the Supply, and confider'd of feveral Efti mates, made fome Progrefs in that Matter, and after wards adjourn'd the further Confideration of the Supply to the 8th. April. After the fecond Reading of the Land-Tax Bill, and committing the fame to a Committee of the whole Houfe, the Commons refolv'd to addrefs his Majefty, for an Account of the Deficiency at Michaelmas 1714, of the yearly Fund of 186670. of the Claffis Lottery of Two Millions in the Year 1711; as alfo for an Account of the Deficiency at Michaelmas 1714, of the yearly Fund of 1680031. for the Claffis Lottery of 1800000 l. in the Year 1712. Then the Clerk of the Crown attending, according to Order, with the Return for the Burghs of Eigine, Bamf, Cullen, Kintore, and Inverurie, the fame was. read; and the Minutes of the Sederunt, taken at Kintore the 16th Day of February last, at the electing a Burgefs to ferve in this prefent Parliament for the faid Burghs, hav ing been left with the Clerk, and afterwards read, the Queftion was pur, whether the Honourable James Murray, Efq; was duly return'd a Burgefs for the faid Burghs, which being carry'd in the Negative, it was refolv'd, that John Campbell of Mamore, Efq; ought to have been return'd a Burgefs for the faid District of Burghs. Then ic was order'd, that the Clerk of the Crown should amend with the faid Return, which he did immediately; and that the Honourable James Murray, Efq; have Liberty to petition the Houfe within fourteen Days next, if he thought fit, in Relation to the Election for the faid District of Burghs. On the 8th of April, the Commons, in a grand Com mittee on the Supply, refolv'd, if, That there be allow'd 9956 Men (Commiflion and Non-Commiffion Officers included) for Guards and GarriFons in Great Britain, ferfey, and Guernsey, and for his Majefty's Plantations in America, for the Year 1715, over and above the twelve Companies of Invalids, and cbree independent Companies in Norah Britain. ady, That 2dly, That there be granted to his Majesty, the Sum of 4259001. 14s. 6 d. for maintaining Guards and Garrisons in Great Britain, Jersey, and Guernsey, the Forces in Americe, and the twelve Companies of Invalids, and three independent Companies in North Britain, for the Year 1715. 3dly, The Sum of $77591. 175. 7d. for maintaining his Majefty's Forces and Garrifons in Minorca for the Year 1715. 4thly, 371921. 145. 9 d. for maintaining his Majefty's Forces and Garrifons in Gibraltar, for the Year 1715. And 5thly, 359121. 19s. 2d. for maintaining the three Regiments in Flanders for the Year 1715. Which Refolutions were the next Day (April 9.) reported, and agreed to by the House. The fame Day, upon a Motion made by Mr. Pulteney, Secretary at War, a Bill was order'd to be brought in, for punishing Mutiny and Defertion and falfe Mufiers, and for the better Payment of the Army and Quarters. After this, Mr. Secretary Stanhope prefented to the Houfe, pursuant to their Address to his Majefty for that Purpose, all the Powers, Inftructions, Memorials, Letters, and Papers relating to the late Negociation of Peace and Commerce, and to the Cessation of Arms, which he deliver'd in at the Table in twelve Volumes, bound up and number'd, and three other small Books. He took this Occafion to tell the House, That เ nothing had been omitted, that might either answer the Defire they had exprefs'd of being throughly in'form'd of what had pafs'd in thofe important Negocia tions,or to fatisfy the whole World,that the present Miniftry acted with the utmost Fairness and Candour, and defign'd to take no Manner of Advantage over the late 'Managers in the intended Enquiries: That, indeed, the Papers now laid before the House were only Copies, but 'that the Originals would be produc'd if Occafion requir'd: Concluding, That those Papers being too many, and too Voluminous to be perus'd and examin'd by all 'the Members of the Houfe, he thought it more convenient, and therefore mov'd, that the faid Books and 、 Papers be referr'd to a felect Committee of twenty Perfons, who fhould digeft the Subftance of them under proper Heads, and report the fame, with their Obferva tions thereupon to the House. Mr. Ward, a Lawyer, Aid, Nothing could be fairer. That for his own Part, ! tho' his Principle was that Kings can do no Wrong, yet he was was of Opinion, that Ministers are accountable for their Male-Adminiftration. The Earl of Oxford who had been out of Town for fome Days, being come to Town the Night before, his Brother, Mr. Auditor (Edward) Harley, a Member of the House of Commons, took that Opportunity to fay, That 'twas eafy to fee that one of his nearest Relations was principally aim'd at, in the intended Inquiries; but he might assure the Houfe, that the faid Perfon, notwithstanding the various Reports had been spread concerning him, would neither Ay his Country, nor conceal him felf, but be forth-coming whenever he fhould be call'd upon to juftify his Conduct. That he hop'd he would be able, up< on the fevereft Trial, to make his Innocence appear to all the World; but if he should be fo unhappy as to have been guilty of the Crimes that were laid to his Charge, he would think all his Blood too fmall a Sacrifice to attone for them." No body oppos'd Mr. Secretary Stanhope's Motion: Mr. Hungerford only excepted against the Number of Twenty, and moved that One more might be added; which being readily agreed to, it was refolv'd, 1. That the Books and Papers before-mention'd be referr'd to a Committee. 2. That the faid Committee be a Committee of Secrecy. 3. That the Number of the faid Committee be One and Twenty. 4. That the faid Committee be chofen by Way of Ballotting. 5. That the Members of the Houfe, fhould on the Monday following, at Twelve of the Clock, prepare Lifts to be put into Glaffes of One and Twenty Perfons Names to be the faid Committee; and order'd, that the faid Books do remain with the Clerk of this Houfe, feal'd as they were then, until the faid Committee were chofen. On the 11th of April, the Members in Weftminster-Hall, and Court of Requests, having been fummon'd by the Ser jeant at Arms to attend the Service of the House, the Clerk and Clerk-Affiftant went on each Side the Houfe with Glaffes, to receive from the Members the Lifts of Perfons Names to be the Committee of Secrecy; and the fame being receiv'd, and brought up to the Table, a Committee was appointed, and order'd to withdraw imme diately into the Speaker's Chamber; and that they should report to the Houfe, upon which One and Twenty Per fons the Majority fell. Two Days after, April 13, Mr. Bladen reported from that Committee, that the Majority had had fallen upon the One and Twenty Perfons following, viz. Sir Richard Onflow, Bart. John Aiflaby, Efq; Algernoon Earl of Hertford. An Objection being made by fome Members, to Sir Jo Seph Jekyll's being one of the faid Committee, he having not taken the Oaths at the Table; it was readily answer'd, that the fame was not owing to any voluntary neglect, Sir Joseph Jekyll being employ'd in the Circuits, as Judge of the County Palatine of Chefter. Whereupon it was refolv'd, That Sir Jofeph Jekyll being a Member of this Houfe, was capable of being chofen of the Committee of Secrecy; altho' he had not been fworn at the Table, and order'd, 'That the Books and Papers which were order'd to re'main in the Cuftody of the Clerk, 'till this Committee 'was chofen, be deliver'd to the faid Committee; and 'that they do examine the fame, and report to the House what they found material in them; and that they, or any five of them, do meet this Afternoon, and fit de die ' in diem; 2. That the faid Committee have Power to fend for Perfons, Papers, and Records, Accordingly, the Committee of Secrecy met that Evening, and chofe Robert Walpole, Efq; for their Chairman; but that Gentleman being the very next Day taken ill, the Committee chofe Mr. Secretary Stanhope to fupply his Place of Chairman, and for Difpatch Sake, fubdivided themfelves into three Committees, to each of which a certain Number of Books and Papers were allotted. April 11, The Mayor of Cambridge was, upon his Petition brought to the Bar of the House of Commons, where, on his Knees, he receiv'd a Reprimand from Mr. Speaker, and was discharg'd out of Cuftody, paying his Fees. The fame Day, Mr. Baresby, the Under-Sheriff of the County of Leicefter, attending (according to the Order of the 24th Day of March laft) he was brought in to the Bar, and the Return made by him for the faid County being read, he was was heard, and afterwards produced feveral Witnefles, who were examin'd on his Behalf, and alfo feveral Wi neffes were examin'd against him. The faid William Baref by and the Witneffes being withdrawn, it was refolv'd, That William Baresby, (Under-Sheriff for the County of Leicefter) having neglected to return two Knights of the Shire to ferve in Parliament for the faid County by the Seventeenth Day of March, (being the Day of the meeting this prefent Parliament) is guilty of a great ◄ Breach of the Privilege of this House : And order'd, that the faid William Baresby be, for the faid Offence, committed to the Cuftody of the Serjeant at Arms attending the House. The next Day, the Report touching the Election for the Borough of New Windsor, was put off 'till the 14th, when Mr. Hampden reported accordingly the Refolutions of the Committee of Privileges and Elections, which were agreed to as follows, viz. That Chriftopher Wren, Efq; and Robert Gayer, Efq; were not duly elected Burgeffes to ferve in this prefent Parliament for the Borough of New Windsor in the County of Berks: That Sir Henry Afhurst, Bart. and Samuel Travers, Efq; · were duly elected Burgefles to ferve in this prefent Par liament for the said Borough.” - And order'd, that the Clerk of the Crown fhould amend the Return for the Borough of New Windfor. The fame Day, Mr. Secretary Stanhope prefented to the Houfe Memorials and Papers of the Proceedings relating to the Demolition of Dunkirk; aud an Account of the Proceedings at the Courts of the South Sea Company, relating to the Affiento and South Sea Trade; which were referr'd to the Committee of Secrecy. Then it was order'd, rft, That the faid Committee of Se crecy have leave to fit during the Adjournment of the Houfe. 2dly, That all Committees be reviv'd. 3dly, That the Houfe be call'd over that Day Fortnight. And 4thly, That fuch Members as fhould not then attend, be fent for in Cuftody of the Serjeant at Arms. After which, the Houfe adjourn'd till Monday the 25th, by reafon of the Eafter Holidays. On the 25th of April, the Commons being met again, it was refoly'd to addrefs his Majefty, That an Account of the Moneys iffu'd for the Service of the Navy, out of the Funds granted by Parliament for the Service of the Year 1714, and to what Ufes apply'd, diftinguifh'd under the feveral Heads thereof; as alfo, an Account what South-Sea Stock had at any Time between Christmas 1713, and Chrift mes 1714, been in the Hands of the Treasurer of the Navy, |