Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of PRINTED FOR HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE And to be purchased, either directly or through any Bookseller, from OLIVER & BOYD, EDINBURGH; or E. PONSONBY, 116, GRAFTON STREET, DUBLIN. [Cd. 3475.] Price 1s. 10d. 1907. The work of editing this Report, on behalf of the Historical Manuscripts Commissioners, was commenced by Mr. ARTHUR MAXWELL-LYTE, B.A., and has been completed by Mrs. S. C. LOMAS. The Index has been compiled by Mr. M. C. B. DAWES, B.A. INTRODUCTION. The documents calendared in the present volume chiefly belong to the period from 1700 to 1708 (during which Robert Harley held successively the posts of Speaker of the House of Commons and Secretary of State) and may be broadly divided into three principal groups :-petitions and memorials; documents relating to the Navy, and papers on Scottish affairs. In addition to these, there are several papers (of an earlier date) on English ecclesiastical matters, and a certain number of miscellaneous letters and other documents. Of the above groups, the first is by far the largest. It comprises petitions and letters containing requests sent to Harley himself, as Speaker or as Secretary, and also a considerable number addressed to the Queen or to Parliament, which were, no doubt, handed over to him for his opinion or decision; the whole series forming an important supplement to those of the same period in official keeping. Their subject-matter is too varied for detailed description, but the two largest classes are requests for allowances, pensions, rewards or employments, and prayers for pardon, principally for petty theft, burglary and housebreaking, or horse-stealing, all which offences were, at that time, punishable by death. The majority of the culprits declare that they have been tempted from the paths of virtue by evil companions. One laments that, returning from a vain search for work, he met with a horse on the side of a common, which he "unadvisedly took to ride a mile or two homewards upon, to ease his weariness, intending to turn it loose in a very short time" (p. 328); another, that he has been seven years in Newgate, merely for a fine of 100l. for a misdemeanour of words " (p. 355). 66 Other groups of petitions relate to ships or seamen; to patents, passes or licences; to foreigners in England, or Englishmen abroad wishing to return; to officers' widows, their husbands' services and their own necessities, with many other miscellaneous matters. On p. 354, John Chamberlain, having for many years published the present State of England," prays for permission to publish the State of Great Britain." The "State of 66 |