The Sun.
London, England, 1831-12-20 00:00:00

DIVISION ON THE REFORM BILL.

Some of our correspondents have expressed a I
very unreasonable and unfounded anxiety respecting
the accidental circumstance of the division on the
Reform Bill having taken place on a Sunday. One
worthy person actually inquires whether the vote
may not be invalidated, on the ground that it passed
on Sunday morning. Our readers may be quite
easy on this head. There is nothing to prevent the
two Houses of Parliament sitting on a Sunday if
they please, and they have frequently even met for
discussion and the transaction of business on that
day. In the following passage from " Ilatsell's
Precedents," &c., most of these Sunday sittings are
enumerated :

" Though it has been very unusual for the House of
Commons to sit on Sunday, it has sometimes happened.
On the Bth of August, 164.1, both Houses met and sat
on Sunday ; but this was considered as so extraordinary a
proceeding, that, besides a resolution of the House of
Commons, g That they would enter into consideration of
no business whatsoever upon that day, but such as shall
immediately concern the good and advancement of re-
ligion, and the safety of the kingdom,' both Houses
came to the following unanimous declaration, which
they not only specially ordered to he entered in their
respective journals, but directed that it should be printed,
that the reasons might appear publicly, and that it
might remain to all posterity what were the true masons
and grounds why the two Houses sat in Parliament upon
the Lord's Day Whereas both Houses of Parliament
found it fit to sit in Parliament on the Bth day of August,
164.1, being the Lord's Day, for many urgent and un•
expected occasions concerning the safety of the kingdom ;
and being so straited in time (by reason of his Majesty's
resolution to begin his journey towards Scotland on Mon-
day following, early in the morning), it was not possible
so to settle and order the affairs of the kingdom, either for
the Government thereof in the King's absence, or for the
present safety as requisite. Upon those pressing neces-
sities, though the Houses thought it necessary to sit, yet
the Lords and Commons now assembled think it meet to
declare, that they would not have done this but upon in.
evitable necessity ; the peace and safety both of Church
and State being so deeply concerned ; which they do
hereby declare, to the end that neither any other inferior
Court or Council, or any other person, may draw this into
example, or make use of it for their encouragement in
neglecting the due observance of the Lord's Day.'
" Both Houses also sat on Sunday the 11th of May,

1679, upon a resolution of the House of Commons of the
Sth of May, That they would sit ou Sunday next, to take
into consideration that part of the King's speech which
relates to the best ways and means for preserving the life
of his sacred Majesty, and for securing the Protestant re-
ligion, both in the reign of his Majesty and his successors.'
On Sunday, the 11th of May, the House, after many in-
terruptions, which, as stated in Grey's debates,' vol. vii.,
p. 236, were supposed to be introduced on purpose to im-
pede the great business of the day, resolve, ' That a Bill be
brought in to disable the Duke of York to inherit the im-
perial crown of this realm.'
" It having been enacted by the 7th and Bth of Wil-
ham 111. ch. 15, that in case of the demise of the King,
his heirs, and successors, the Parliament should not be de-
termined or dissolved by such demise, but required ' im-
mediately' to meet, convene, and sit ; and King William
dying on Sunday, the Bth of March, 1702, both Houses
met and sat upon that day. It appears, indeed, from the
journals of both Houses, that they had, probably from the
expectation of this event, adjourned upon the day be-
fore to this day. By the 6th of Queen Anue, ch. 7,
see. 4 and 5, these directions for the immediate meeting
and sitting of Parliament are re-enacted, with this
addition, ' That if there be a Parliament in being, at the
time of the death of her Majesty, her heirs, or successors,
but the same happens to be separated by adjournment or
prorogation, such Parliament shall, immediately after such
demise, meet, convene, and sit; and shall act, notwith-
standing such demise, for six months, unless it should be
prorogued or dissolved. And in ease there is no Parlia-
ment in being at the time of such demise, that bath met
and sat, then the last preceding Parliament shall imme-
diately convene and sit, and be a Parliament to continue
as aforesaid.'

" Queen Anne died on Sunday, the Ist of August,

1714, upon which day both Houses of Parliament met
and sat according to the I lirection4 of the Statute, though

they were then separated by a prorogation, and were not
to have met till the 10th of August. So upon the de-
mise of George 11., which happened on the 25th of
October, 1760, both Houses met on the next day, Sunday,
the 26th of October, for the purpose of taking the oaths,
though the Parliament was at that time separated by
a prorogation till the 13th of November. I was then in
• - •

the service of the House of Commons as Clerk Assistant,
and remember this latter event. The Speaker and such
Members as were in town met in what was then called
the Court of Wards; but the Duke of Rutland, the Lord
Steward, being in the country, and not returning till
Wednesday, and there being no deputation existing from
his Grace to enable any other person to administer the
malls, the Speaker and Members met on Sunday, Monday,
and Tuesday, and, hiving waited till four o'clock each
day, departed. See further upon this subject in this vo-
lume under title—' King calls the Parliament.' (The
Act of 6 Anne has, since the first publication of this
work, been repealed, and replaced by another Act in
37 Geo. 11l , c. 127, by which only fourteen days of
notice are required for Parliament to meet fur despatch
of business.') The House of Commons have upon other
occasions also met and sat upoa Sunday. See the 10th
of November and Ist of December, 1678, and 27th of
April, 1679."