# The Statutes of the Realm/Volume 1/Second Record Commission

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SECOND
RECORD COMMISSION.
23d May 1806.
GEORGE R.
Whereas the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, and Commissioners of Shires and Boroughs in Our Parliament of Great Britain assembled, having taken into their Consideration the State of the Public Records of this Kingdom, and the necessity of providing for the better arrangement, preservation, and more convenient use of the same, have heretofore humbly laid before Us a Report of their Proceedings thereon, and also humbly represented unto Us that the Public Records of the Kingdom are in many Offices unarranged, undescribed, unascertained; that many of them are exposed to erasure, alteration, and embezzlement, and are lodged in Buildings incommodious and insecure; and that it would be beneficial for the Public Service that the Records and Papers contained in many of the principal Offices and Repositories should be methodized, and that certain of the more antient and valuable amongst them should be printed; and humbly besought Us that We would be graciously pleased to give such directions thereupon, as We in Our wisdom should think fit:
Now Know Ye, That We, considering the premises, and earnestly desiring further and more effectually to provide for he better arrangement, preservation, and more convenient use of the said Records and Papers, and reposing great trust and confidence in your fidelity, discretion, and integrity, have authorized and appointed, and by these Presents Do authorize and appoint, you the said William Wyndham Baron Grenville, George John Earl Spencer, Charles James Fox, William Windham, Charles Abbot, Sir William Grant, Henry Erskine, Henry Viscount Sidmouth, Frederick Campbell Esquire (commonly called Lord Frederick Campbell), Sylvester Baron Glenbervie, John Baron Redesdale, John Lord Bishop of Oxford, Charles Bathurst, William Wickham, and Nathaniel Bond, and any Three or more of you, (whereof the said First Commissioner of Our Treasury, one of Our Principal Secretaries of State, The Speaker of the House of Commons, The Master of the Rolls, or Our Advocate for Scotland, severally and respectively for the time being, to be one,) further to make a diligent and particular Inquiry into the several Matters which our Faithful Commons have, in the above-mentioned Report of their Proceedings, represented as fitting to be provided for by Our royal Authority:
And furthermore We do by these Presents give and grant unto you, Our said Commissioners and any Three or more of you, (whereof the said First Commissioner of Our Treasury, one of Our Principal Secretaries of State, The Speaker of the House of Commons, The Master of the Rolls, or Our Advocate for Scotland, severally and respectively for the time being, to be one,) full power and authority to cause all and singular the Officers, Clerks, and Ministers of the said Offices and Repositories respectively, to bring and produce upon Oath, before you or any Three or more of you, all and singular Rolls, Records, Books, and Papers, or other Writings belonging to the said Offices or Repositories, or any of them, or any Officers within the same, and which shall be in the custody of them or any of them respectively:
And Our further Will and Pleasure is, That ye or any Three or more of you, (whereof the said First Commissioner of Our Treasury, one of Our Principal Secretaries or State, The Speaker of the House of Commons, The Master of the Rolls, or Our Advocate for Scotland, severally and respectively for the Time being, to be one,) upon due examination of the premises, shall cause such Matters to be duly and speedily executed, as ye shall judge fitting and proper to be done for the more effectual executin of the several Matters recommended by Our Faithful Commons, in the said Report of their Proceedings relative thereto.
And We further will and command, and by these Presents ordain, That ye, or any Three or more of you, (whereof the said First Commissioner of Our Treasury, one of Our Principal Secretaries of State, The Speaker of the House of Commons, The Master of the Rolls, or Our Advocate for Scotland, severally and respectively for the time being, to be one,) shall from Time to Time certify under your Hands and Seals, unto Our Lord High Treasurer, or unto the Commissioners of Our Treasury for the time being, what shall be a fit and suitable recompence to the above-mentioned Clerk or Secretary, and Sub-Commissioners respectively, for their pains and services in the execution of the duties hereby required to be by them performed which said recompence it is Our Will and Pleasure shall thereupon be paid to them respectively and accordingly.
And Our Further Will and Pleasure is, that ye, or any Three or more of you, (whereof the said First Commissioner of Our Treasury, one of Our Principal Secretaries of State, The Speaker of the House of Commons, The Master of the Rolls, or Our Advocate for Scotland, severally and respectively for the time being, to be one,) do and shall, on or before the Twenty-fifth day of March in the year of our Lord 1807, and so from year to year, on or before the Twenty-fifth day of March in each year respectively, so long as this Commission shall continue in force, certify unto Us in our Privy Council, under your Hands and Seals respectively, all and every of the several Proceedings of yourselves and of the said Sub-Commissioners, had by virtue of these Presents, together with such other Matters (if any) as may be deserving of Our Royal Consideration touching or concerning the premises; and what further Measures (if any) ye shall think fit to propose thereupon. And Lastly, We do by these Presents ordain, That this Our Commission shall continue in full force and virtue, and that ye Our said Commissioners or any Three or more of you, (whereof the said First Commissioner of Our Treasury, one of Our Principal Secretaries of State, The Speaker of the House of Commons, The Master of the Rolls, or Our Advocate for Scotland, severally and respectively for the Time being, to be one,) shall and may from time to time, and at any place or places, proceed in the Execution thereof, and of every matter and thing therein contained, although the same be not continued from time to time by Adjournment.
By His MAJESTY’s Command.
(Signed)Spencer.