Lords Sitting of 12 July 1805

DUKE OF ATHOLL'S CLAIM.
—The Lord Chancellor stated the result of the deliberations
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of the committee respecting the message sent by the commons, in answer to a message from their lordships, of the 5th instant, desiring that they would communicate the evidence on which the facts stated in the duke of Atholl's compensation bill were founded, and which the commons refused. His lordship moved, in consequence, that a message should be sent to the commons, stating, that the message sent by their lordships on the 5th instant, appeared to them to be conformable to the practice of parliament, such practice having been for the commons to communicate to the lords evidence touching facts stated in any bill sent up from the commons to their lordships house. This mode of proceeding the noble and learned lord conceived to be the best, as it evidently appeared by a precedent in 1786, that the commons then considered that though they could not communicate information generally with respect to the reasons on which they had grounded a bill, that they could and did then communicate evidence relating to the facts stated in such bill. He conceived therefore that the message which he had moved to be sent to the commons would be satisfactory explanation of the opinion of the house upon this subject, whilst it would at the same time save their lordships privileges.—The message was immediately sent to the house of commons.

KING'S SPEECH.
—The Lord Chancellor then stated that his majesty had been pleased to issue two commissions, one for giving the royal assent to certain bills, and the other for proroguing parliament. The house was adjourned for a short time, after which the archbishop of Canterbury, the lord Chancellor, earl Camden, and lord Hawkesbury came in in their robes, and took their seats and his majesty's commissioners. The deputy usher of the black rod was sent to require the attendance of the commons. After some time had elapsed, the speaker, attended by the whole house, appeared at the bar, when the royal assent was given by commission to the Consolidated Fund bill, the duke of Atholl's Compensation bill, the Plate Glass Duty bill, the Members of Parliament Bankrupt Privilege bill, the Impeachment Proceedings Continuation bill, Trotter's Indemnity bill, the Smuggling Prevention bill, the Townleian Collection bill, the Camberwell Water Works bill, the Thames Tunnel bill, the Paddington Canal Coal bill, the Maidstone Poor bill, and four private bills.
The Lord Chancellor then, in his majesty's

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name, delivered the following speech.
"My Lords and Gentlemen,
We have it in command from his majesty to express the satisfaction with which he has observed the proofs you have given in the present session of your constant regard for the honour of his crown, and the interests of his dominions; and particularly the measures which you have adopted for strengthening his majesty's hands at this important conjuncture, by the augmentation of the disposable military force of the kingdom."
"Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
His majesty has directed us particularly to thank you in his majesty's name, for the zeal and liberality with which you have granted the large supplies which the necessity of the public service has required.
"My Lords and Gentlemen,
His majesty has not yet been enabled to communicate to you the result of the negotiations in which he is engaged with powers on the continent; but you may rest assured that no step will be omitted on his majesty's part, for promoting such a concert as may afford the best prospect of restoring general and permanent tranquillity; or may, if necessary, furnish the means of repelling with vigour the continued encroachments on the part of the French government, which threaten, every day more and more, the liberty and independence of all the nations of Europe."
Then the commission for proroguing the parliament was read. After which
The Lord Chancellor said:
"My Lords and Gentlemen,
By virtue of his majesty's commission under the great seal, to us and other lords directed, and now read, we do, in his majesty's name, and in obedience to his commands, prorogue this parliament to Thursday the 22d day of August next, to be then here holden; and this parliament is accordingly prorogued to Thursday the 22d day of August next."—The commons then withdrew from the bar, and their lordships retired.