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

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COMMISSION
FOR EXECUTING THE MEASURES RECOMMENDED BY
TheHOUSEofCOMMONS.
19th July 1800.
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 unto Us, that the Public Records of the Kingdom are in many Offices unarranged, undescribed, and 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 to 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 have humbly besought Us, that We would be graciously pleased to give such Directions thereupon as We in Our wisdom shall think fit;
Now Know Ye, that We, considering the premises, and earnestly desiring more effectually to provide for the 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 Henry Cavendish Duke of Portland, William Wyndham Baron Grenville, Henry Dundas, Henry Addington, William Pitt, Sir Richard Pepper Arden, Frederick Campbell (commonly called Lord Frederick Campbell), Sylvester Douglas, Sir John Mitford, Sir William Grant, Robert Dundas, and Charles Abbot, and any Three or more of you, to make a diligent and particular inquiry into the several Matters which Our Faithful Commons have, in the abovementioned 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 to you Our said Commissioners, and any Three or more of you, 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, 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 execution of the several Measures recommended by Our faithful Commons, in the said Report of their Proceedings relative thereto.
And, to the end that Our Royal Will and Pleasure in the premises may be executed within the greater regularity and expedition, We further by these Presents will and command, and do hereby give full power and authority to you or any Three or more of you to nominate and appoint from time to time such Person of ability, care, and diligence, as ye shall think fit, to be and act as your Clerk or Secretary, for the purpose of aiding you in the execution of these Presents; and also to nominate and appoint in like manner such several Persons of ability, care, and diligence, as ye may think fit, to be Sub-Commissioners, to be employed under your direction and controul in the premises; and more especially to methodize, regulate, and digest the Records, Rolls, Instruments, Books, and Papers, in any of Our Public Offices and Repositories; and to cause such of the said Records, Rolls, Instruments, Books, and Papers as are decayed and in danger of being destroyed, to be bound and secured; and to make exact Calendars and Indexes thereof; and to superintend the printing of such Calendars and Indexes, and original Records and Papers as ye shall cause to be printed; which said Clerk or Secretary, and Sub-Commissioners, and every of them, shall and may be removed by you or any Three of you from time to time at your will and pleasure, full Power and Authority being hereby given to you to appoint others in their places respectively.
And We further will and command, and by these Presents ordain, That ye or any Three or more of you 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 do and shall, on or before the 25th Day of March in the year of our Lord 1801, and so from year to year on or before the 25th 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, 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)Portland.