Other acts of this Assembly are then
mentioned; and its proceedings are among the most interesting and
important events in English history, not only from their forming a
precedent in a conjuncture of affairs for which no express provision
is to be found in the constitution, but from the first regular offer
of the throne to the Prince of Orange having emanated from this
Convention. No Record of its proceedings has, it is presumed, been
hitherto known to exist; and the fact that so valuable a Document is
extant, cannot be too generally stated, for it is obvious that it has
high claims to the attention of historians.
"Sir Thomas Miller possesses the original Minutes of this Assembly of
the Peers in the handwriting of a Mr. Glyn, who acted as secretary.
His appointment to that situation is also preserved; and, as it is
signed by all the Lords who were present, it affords evidence of the
names of the Peers who took part in the business of the Assembly, and
contains a very interesting collection of autographs.
"The MS. itself is a small folio, but not above fifty pages are
filled. It comprises the period between the 11th and the 28th
December, 1688, both days inclusive, and appears to be a perfect
Record of every act of that memorable Assembly. The indorsement on the
cover merits notice: it states with singular minuteness the precise
hour of James's abdication, namely at _one in the morning_ of the 11th
of December, 1688."
Sir Thomas Miller also possessed a manuscript, containing an "Account
of the Earl of Rochester, Captain Kendall, and the Narrator's Journey
to Salisbury with King James, Monday, Nov. 19. to Friday, Nov. 23.
1688, inclusive."
In connection with this subject, it may be noticed that there is no
entry of any payment in the _Issue Books_ of the clerks of the Pells
between Tuesday, 11th December, and Monday, 24th December, 1688. J.E.
[Perhaps some of our correspondents could inform us where the MSS.
in question are now deposited.]
[5] After mentioning the excesses committed by the mob, and the
arrest of Judge Jefferies, Bishop Burnet says: "The Lord Mayor
was so struck with the terror of this rude populace, and with the
disgrace of a man who had made all people tremble before him, that
he fell into fits upon it, of which he died soon after.
"To prevent the further growth of such disasters, he called
a Meeting of the Privy Councillors and Peers, who meet at
G
|