sion to the crown of
Scotland in the house of Hanover. These votes were signified to the
queen in an address; and they promised, that when the succession should
be thus settled, they would endeavour to promote the union of the two
kingdoms upon just and reasonable terms. Then they composed another
representation in answer to the second address of the commons touching
their proceedings. They charged the lower house with want of zeal in
the whole progress of this inquiry. They produced a great number
of precedents to prove that their conduct had been regular and
parliamentary; and they, in their turn, accused the commons of
partiality and injustice in vacating legal elections. The queen, in
answer to this remonstrance, said, she looked upon any misunderstanding
between the two houses as a very great misfortune to the kingdom;
and that she should never omit anything in her power to prevent all
occasions of them for the future.

DISPUTES BETWEEN THE TWO HOUSES.

The lords and commons, animated by such opposite principles, seized
every opportunity of thwarting each other. An action having been brought
by one Matthew Ashby against William White and the other constables of
Aylesbury, for having denied him the privilege of voting in the last
election, the cause was tried at the assizes, and the constables were
cast with damages. But an order was given in the queen's bench to quash
all the proceedings, since no action had ever been brought on that
account. The cause being moved by writ of error into the house of
lords, was argued with great warmth; at length it was carried by a great
majority, that the order of the queen's bench should be set aside, and
judgment pronounced according to the verdict given at the assizes. The
commons considered these proceedings as encroaching on their privileges.
They passed five different resolutions, importing, That the commons
of England, in parliament assembled, had the sole right to examine and
determine all matters relating to the right of election of their own
members; that the practice of determining the qualifications of electors
in any court of law would expose all mayors, bailiffs, and returning
officers, to a multiplicity of vexatious suits and insupportable
expenses, and subject them to different and independent jurisdictions,
as well as to inconsistent determinations in the same case, without
relief; that Matthew Ashby was guilty of a breach of privilege, as
were all attorney