tion had paffed in the Affirmative, that we might have had an Opportunity given us of knowing our fuppofed Crimes and Accufers, and, we hope, of juftifying ourselves to his Majefty and the World. Cobbam. Bolton, Die Mercurii 6° Martii, 1733. The Order of the Day being read for the House to take into Confideration Matters relating to the Election of the Peers of that Part of Great Britain called Scotland. Moved to refolve, That no Peer who hath claimed, or fhall claim Right by Succeffion to any Peerage of Scotland, other than a Defcendant of the Body of a Peer or Peerefs, who has been in the Poffeffion of the Peerage claimed fince the 25th of April, 1690, fhall be admitted to vote at any Election of a Peer or Peers to fit in Parliament for that. Part of Great Britain called Scotland, until his Right and Title be claimed and determined in this House. After Debate, ordered, That on Monday next this House shall be put into a Committee of the whole House, to take into Confideration Matters relating to the Election of the Peers of that Part of Great Britain called Scotland. Then it was moved to refolve, for the better fecuring the Freedom of the Election of a Peer or Peers to fit in Parliament of Great Britain on the Part of Scotland, That the Election fhall be by way of Ballot. And a Question being ftated thereupon, Contents 49 Proxies 18}63 Not cont. 75 After further Debate, The Question was put upon the faid Motion? And It was refolv'd in the Negative. ft, Because this Motion tending only to make a Variation in the Manner of electing the Peers for Scotland, Scotland, we apprehend it is entirely agreeable to the Intention of the 22d Article of the Union; for whatever can contribute to make the Election more free and independent, the more it answers the Defign of that Article; and we muft obferve, that this House has been so far from thinking the Manner of Election unalterable, that a Bill paffed this Houfe, by which the Election itfelf was entirely abolished. 2dly, Because in an Election of this Nature, the Method of voting by Ballot appears to us infinitely preferable on many Accounts; for as, it is well known, there are feveral Alliances amongst that Body of Nobility, many of the Peers may be put under great Difficulties, their Alliances drawing them one Way, and their Opinion and Inclination another Way: It is alfo poffible, that by Penfions from the Crown, or by Civil or Military Preferments, fome of them may lie under Obligations to a Court, and be reduced to the hard Neceffity (under the Power of an Arbitrary Minifter) either of lofing their Employments, or of voting against their nearest Relations and their own Opinions alfo : We apprehend that no Election can be called perfectly free, where any Number of the Electors are under any Influence whatfoever, by which they may be biaffed in the Freedom of their Choice. 3dly, Because we apprehend that this Houfe is, in a most effential Manner, concerned in the Freedom of this Election; for if Sixteen new Members are to be brought in every new Parliament, under any undue Influence, it may tend to fubvert the Independence of this Houfe, and of Confequence the Conftitution of the whole Kingdom; by Means of fuch an Election, an ambitious Minifter may make Ufe of the Power of the Crown, at one Time, to destroy the Intereft of the Crown; at another, to opprefs the Liberty of his Fellow Sub jects; jects; and, by different Turns, protect himself from the juft Refentment of both. 4thly, As this Houfe is the highest Court of Judicature, and the laft Refort in all Matters relating to the Properties of the Subjects of Great Britain and Ireland, we conceive, that every Person, who is Master of any Property, is concerned in the Confequence of this Motion; for if Sixteen of thefe Members, in whofe Hands this great Truft is vested, fhould ever be thought to be in the Nomination of a Minifter, the Subjects of thefe Kingdoms may have great Reafon to dread the Confequence of fuch unwarrantable Influence, by which their Liberties, Lives and Properties might be render'd precarious. Marlborough, Coventry, Bedford, Boyle, Carteret, Cardigan, Ker, Weymouth, Bolton, Wa. and Nottingham, Cobham, Chesterfield, Clinton, Montjoy, Haversham, Berkshire, Marchmont, Oxford and Mortimer, Aylesford, Bathurst, Warrington, Bristol, Foley, Northampton, Denbigh, Tadcaster, Montrofe, Willoughby de Broke, Die Lune 18° Martii, 1733. The Order of the Day being read for the taking into Confideration Matters relating to the Election of the Peers of that Part of Great Britain called Scotland, It was moved to refolve, That it is the Opinion of this Houfe, that any Person or Perfons taking upon him or them to engage any Peers of Scotland, by Threats, Promife of Place or Penfion, or any Reward or Gratuity whatfoever from the Crown, to vote for any Peer or Lift of Peers to reprefent the the Peerage of Scotland in Parliament, is an high Infult on the Juftice of the Crown, an Incroachment on the Freedom of Elections, and highly injurious to the Honour of the Peerage. And a Question being ftated thereupon, After Debate, it was moved to put the previous Question. Contents 8360 Proxies 175 Proxies 2699 And after further Debate, the previous Question was put, whether the faid ftated Question fhall be now put? And It was refolved in the Negative. Diffentient' ft, Because we apprehend, that this Resolution, being only declaratory of indeniable Truths, ought not to have been avoided by a previous Queftion, fince, we fear, the leaving it undetermined may tend to encourage Practices dangerous to our Conftitution in general, and to the Honour and Dignity of this Houfe in particular. 2dly, Because we think, this House cannot fhew too strong an Abhorrence of Practices which, whether they have been committed or not in former Elections, are yet of fuch a Nature as may poffibly be attempted hereafter by a Minifter, who may find it neceffary to try all the Methods to fecure a Majority in this Houfe, either to promote his future ambitious Views, or to screen his past criminal Conduct. Coventry, Marlborough, Berkshire, Northampton, Griffin, Willoughby de Broke. Die Martis 260 Martii, 1734. The House was moved, That the Select Committee appointed the Seventh Inftant to confider of the Representation of the Commiffioners for Trade and Plantations relating to the Laws made, Manufactures fet up, and Trade carried on in any of his Majefty's Colonies and Plantations in America, which may have affected the Trade, Navigation and Manufactures of this Kingdom, be impower'd to inquire of the proper Methods for the Encouragement and Security of all Trade and Manufactures in the faid Plantations, which no way interfere with the Trade of Great Britain, and for the better Security of the Plantations themselves. And a Question being stated thereupon, It was propofed after the Word [Encouragement] to leave out [and Security]. Which being objected to, and Debate had thereupon, Contents 28 Not Cont. 52 The Question was put, whether the Words [and Security] fhall ftand Part of the Queftion? It was refolved in the Negative. Then it was propofed, That these Words at the latter End of the Motion, viz [and for the better Security of the Plantations themselves] be left out. But the fame being objected to, The Question was put, whether thefe Words fhall stand Part of the Queftion? And It was refolved in the Negative. Diffentient' Because we apprehend, that if the Safety of the Plantations themselves is not thought a Matter worthy the Confideration of the Parliament, it is of |