The History and Proceedings of the House of Commons from the Restoration to the Present Time

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by Richard Chandler

The History and Proceedings of the House of Commons
HouseCommonsHistory1742TitlePageV1.jpg

Title page from The History and Proceedings of the House of Commons from the Restoration to the Present Time, volume one, George Wythe Collection, Wolf Law Library, College of William & Mary.

Author Richard Chandler
Editor {{{editor}}}
Translator {{{trans}}}
Published London: Printed for Richard Chandler
Date 1742-1744
Edition First
Language English
Volumes 14 volume set
Pages {{{pages}}}
Desc. 8vo (20 cm.)
Location Shelf E-2
  [[Shelf {{{shelf2}}}]]
Stamp of the Royal Historical Society, front pastedown, volume one.
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] Richard Chandler's (ca. 1713-1744) 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] The History and Proceedings of the House of Commons is complete with notes from and about significant lawmakers and other figures of the time, and includes 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, "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]

Bookplate of James Edward Colleton ,title page verso, volume one.

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 first edition (1742-1744) of The History and Proceedings of the House of Commons. The Wolf Law Library purchased the same edition.

Inscription from title page verso, volume one.

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 and front pastedowns. Volumes one through five and nine through fourteen include the armorial bookplate of James Edward Colleton on the title page verso. Volume thirteen signed "Rich Chandler" on title page verso. Purchased from Ziern-Hanon Galleries.

View the record for this book in William & Mary's online catalog.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 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.
  2. ↑ House of Commons Parliamentary Pages, s.v. “18th Century,” accessed September 27, 2013.
  3. ↑ C. Y. Ferdinand, "Richard (b. in or before 1713, d. 1744)" in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, accessed September 27, 2013.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ LibraryThing, s.v. "Member: George Wythe," accessed on June 28, 2013.
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