JB/096/374/001

Click Here To Edit 1) Explanatory Observations. Decr. 1771.

The proposed general Index to the Journals of the House
of Commons has two principal objects in view.

First, It specifies and refers to every case,* whether of a public
or private nature, that has come before the House either
in it's legislative or judicial capacity. It in general refers
to these several cases under their proper Heads or Titles.
of subject matter, standing in alphabetical order; which-
Heads we have endeavoured to reduce to as small a number
as possible; that all those Cases which have any -
connexion with each other may be brought together, and
seen at one view. Thus all Cases of controverted Election
will be classed under the general Head "Elections —
Controverted." all Privilege Cases under "Privilege"; every
Proceeding that relates to Members will be found under the

* note.

By the term, Case, in the course of this observation we
understand any matter or business of any kind upon which
there has been any Proceeding. Thus Accounts ordered
to be referred, or lie upon the Table, Addresses to be
presented and the like, are included in this Idea, as -
well as, what are more properly so called, Cases of Election,
Privilege, Inclosure &c. And we consider the whole
matter or substance of the Journals as made up of
and consequently resolvable into so many distinct
and separate Cases.

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Proceeding that relates to Members will be found under
the Head "Members'; and the whole business of supply
will be referred to under "Supply." It is however to be -
observed, that the fewer in number our general Heads
are, the more numerous will necessarily be the several
Decisions and Classes arising out of them. And it
will perhaps be matter of consideration after the execution
of the work (for it can hardly in all instances
be determined before hand) whether many of these —
subordinate Branches will not more naturally stand
as general Heads in the Index.

To this general rule of arrangement there are several
exceptions; more so however in appearance than reality.
Under the Head "Accounts" for instance are collected
all Accounts whatever that have been presented
to the House, classed however under the several Heads
of subject matter to which they relate. The same —
method is pursued with respect to Addresses —
Speaches, Standing Orders, Previous Questions, and
Petitions relating to public Money; as will appear
from bare inspection of the several Tables. It has
been supposed, that it might be of use in the way -
of Precedent to see these several Classes thus collected
into one view. And we do not apprehend, that
any inconvenience will arise from a departure in
these instances from our general method; as each of these
classes will be referred to from it's proper Head of subject
matter in the Index. They may indeed any or all of

FOSTER Explanatory Observs.to the Index to the Journals [1]

Identifier: | JB/096/374/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 96.
Date_1	1771-12	Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	096	Main Headings	legislation
Folio number	374	Info in main headings field	foster explanatory observs to the index to the journals
Image	001	Titles	explanatory observations
Category	copy/fair copy sheet	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	a1 / c1
Penner		Watermarks	[[watermarks::gr [crown motif] [britannia with shield motif]]]
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year
Notes public		ID Number	31378
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