The History and Proceedings of the House of Commons from the Restoration to the Present Time
by Richard Chandler
| The History and Proceedings of the House of Commons from the Restoration to the Present Time Containing the Most Remarkable Motions, Speeches, Resolves, Reports And Conferences to be Met With in That Interval. | |
 Title page from The History and Proceedings of the House of Commons from the Restoration to the Present Time Containing the Most Remarkable Motions, Speeches, Resolves, Reports And Conferences to be Met With in That Interval., volume one, George Wythe Collection, Wolf Law Library, College of William & Mary. | |
| Author | Great Britain, House of Commons |
| Published | London: Printed for Richard Chandler |
| Date | 1742-44 |
| Edition | First |
| Language | English |
| Volumes | 14 volume set |
The History and Proceedings of the House of Commons from the Restoration to the Present Time contains, "the most remarkable motions, speeches, resolves, reports and conferences to be met within that interval."[1] This fourteen-volume work addresses the most significant political and historical happenings within the House of Commons between the years 1660 and 1743. Between speeches from the throne, parliamentary proceedings, and analyses of issues such as the national debt and expenses of war, this work provides one of the most significant compilations of historical and political proceedings in the 17th and 18th centuries.[2] This work is complete with notes from many significant lawmakers and figures of the time and a detailed appendix.
Originally printed by Richard Chandler in 1742, The History and Proceedings of the House of Commons from the Restoration to the Present Time was thought to be an "ambitious project" which Chandler set about completing entirely on his own. The 1742 printing was the first of two which, despite being supported by the prince of Wales, suffered vast financial losses and, "Chandler's greatest achievement [proved to be] his downfall." The ambitious bookseller and entrepreneur took his own life as these financial problems began to bear down on him.[3]
Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library
Listed in the Jefferson Inventory of Wythe's Library as [Debates] in the H. of Commons. 13.v. 8vo. and given by Thomas Jefferson to his son-in-law, Thomas Mann Randolph. It later appeared on Randolph's 1832 estate inventory as "'Debates of Parliament' (19 vols., $20.50 value)." Both Brown's Bibliography[4] and George Wythe's Library[5] on LibraryThing include The History and Proceedings of the House of Commons.
Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy
Bound in full leather calf with original boards. Contains maroon leather label and gilt lettering on spine and purple stamp of the Royal Historical Society on the title pages. Purchased from Ziern-Hanon Galleries.
View this book in William & Mary's online catalog.
References
- ↑ Richard Chandler, The History and Proceedings of the House of Commons from the Restoration to the Present Time (London: Printed for Richard Chandler 1742), ii.
- ↑ House of Commons Parliamentary Pages, s.v. “18th Century,” accessed Sept. 27, 2013, http://parlipapers.chadwyck.com/collectionBrowse.do?expandtolevel=0&expand=I#I.
- ↑ C. Y. Ferdinand, "Chandler, Richard (b. in or before 1713, d. 1744)" in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2004- ), accessed Sept. 27, 2013. (Subscription required access.)
- ↑ Bennie Brown, "The Library of George Wythe of Williamsburg and Richmond," (unpublished manuscript, May, 2012) Microsoft Word file. Earlier edition available at: https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433
- ↑ LibraryThing, s. v. "Member: George Wythe," accessed on June 28, 2013, http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe
