2dly, That there be granted to his Majefty, the Sum of 4259001. 14s. 6d. for maintaining Guards and Garrifons in Great Britain, Jersey, and Guernsey, the Forces in America, and the twelve Companies of Invalids, and three independent Companies in North Britain, for the Year 1715. 3dly, The Sum of 577591. 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, 359127. 19s. 2 d. 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 Houfe. 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 Mufers, and for the better Payment of the Army and Quarters. After this, Mr. Secretary Stanhope prefented to the Houfe, pursuant to their Addrefs to his Majefty for that Purpofe, all the Powers, Inftructions, Memorials, Letters, and Papers relating to the late Negociation of Peace and Commerce, and to the Ceffation of Arms, which he deliver'd in at the Table in twelve Volumes, bound up and number'd, and three other fmall Books. He took this Occafion to tell the House, 'That nothing had been omitted, that might either anfwer the Defire they had exprefs'd of being throughly in'form'd of what had pafs'd in those important Negociations,or to fatisfy the whole World,that the present Miniftry acted with the utmoft Fairnefs 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 Occasion requir'd: Concluding, That thofe 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 select Committee of twenty Perfons, who fhould digeft the Subftance of them under proper Heads, and report the fame, with their Obfervations thereupon to the House. Mr. Ward, a Lawyer, faid, 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 Minifters are accountable for their Male-Administration. The Earl of Oxford who had been out of Town for some 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 affure the House, that the faid Perfon, notwithstanding the various Reports had been spread concerning him, would neither fly his Country, nor conceal himself, but be forth-coming whenever he fhould be call'd upon to juftify his Conduct. That he hop'd he would be able, upon the feverest Trial, to make his Innocence appear to all the World; but if he fhould be fo unhappy as 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. to 2. That the faid Committee be a Committee of Secrecy. 3. That the Number of the said Committee be One and Twenty. 4. That the faid Committee be chofen by Way of Ballotting. 5. That the Members of the House, should 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 Serjeant at Arms to attend the Service of the House, the Clerk and Clerk Affiftant went on each Side the House 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 immediately into the Speaker's Chamber; and that they should report to the Houfe, upon which One and Twenty Perfons 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 Fofeph 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 Joseph 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 remain 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 Dispatch Sake, subdivided themselves 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 Houfe of Commons, where, on his Knees, he receiv'd a Reprimand from Mr. Speaker, and was discharg'd out of Custody, paying his Fees. The fame Day, Mr. Baresby, the Under-Sheriff of the County of Leicester, 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 Witneffes, who were examin'd on his Behalf, and alfo feveral Witneffes 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 Leicester) 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 Houfe: And order'd, that the faid William Baresby be, for the faid Offence, committed to the Cuftody of the Serjeant at Arms attending the Houfe. The next Day, the Report touching the Election for the Borough of New Windfor, was put off till the 14th, when Mr. Hampden reported accordingly the Refolucions of the Committee of Privileges and Electionis, 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, Birt. and Samuel Travers, Efq; were duly elected Burgefles to ferve in this prefent Par liament for the faid 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; and an Account of the Proceedings at the Courts of the South Sea Company, relating to the Affiento and Sonth Sea Trade; which were referr'd to the Committee of Secrecy. Then it was order'd, ift. 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 fush 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 refolv'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, diftinguish'd under the feveral Heads thereof; as alfo, an Account what South-Sea Stock had at any Time between Christmas 1713, and Christwas 1714, been in the Hands of the Treafurer of the Navy, and how that Stock had been difpos'd of, might be laid before the House. Then Mr. Pulteney, Secretary at War, prefented to the Houfe a Lift of the Regimental Officers in Half-Pay, for the Year 1715; and also a List of the Half-Pay Officers, dead, or provided for within the Year 1714. After which it was order'd, That the Grand Committee on the Land-Tax Bill, have Power to receive two Claufes, viz. One of Credit, the other for transferring to the faid Bill the Deficiency of the Loans and Intereft upon the Act of the laft Parliament for granting an Aid to her Majefty to be raised by a Land-Tax in Great Britain for the Service of the Year 1714. And then, in a Committee of the whole House, a farther Progrefs was made in that Bill. April 26, Mr. Lowndes prefented to the Houfe Accounts of the Deficiencies of the refpective Funds of the Claffes Lotteries in the Years 1711, and 1712, at Michaelmas 1714. And then the Order of the Day being read, for hearing the Merits of the Election for the Borough of Shaftesbury in the County of Dorfer, the Counfel were call'd in, and the Petition complaining of the faid Election, was read.. The Petitioners Council having infifted upon Partialities, and indirect Practices, of the Mayor, examin'd feveral Witneffes relating thereunto, and afterwards examin'd several Witneffes, in order to difqualify feveral of the Voters for the fitting Members; and then the Council being directed to withdraw, the farther Hearing of the Merits of the faid Election was put off till the 28th. April 27, Upon a Petition of Thomas Crosby, UnderSheriff of the County of Cumberland, in Cuftody of the Serjeant at Arms, for neglecting to return the Writ for electing the Members of the faid County, expreffing his Sorrow for the Cenfure fo juftly incurr'd; begging Pardon for his Fault, and praying to be releas'd from his Confinement: It was order'd that the faid Thomas Crosby be brought to the Bar of the House, on the 29th, in order to his being discharg'd out of Cuftody: Which was done accordingly, after he had receiv'd a Reprimand from Mr. Speaker, and paid his Fees. April 28, The Commons proceeded to the further hearing the Merits of the Election for the Borough of Shaftesbury and then adjourn'd the fame to the last Day of this Month, when it was further adjourn'd. On the 28th alfo the Call of the Houfe was put off to that Day fortnight; and the next Day, in a grand Committee, the Commons went through the Land-Tax Bill, and made feveral Amendments thereunto, |