[5] A more
full account of the Convention {40} is, however, given in the Memoir
of James the Second published by Dr. Clarke: 'It seems, upon the
King's withdrawing from London, the lords about town met at Guildhall
to consult what was fit to be done. They looked upon the present state
of affairs as an interregnum, that the government was in a manner
devolved upon them, and were in great haste to make a present of it
to the Prince of Orange.'[6] Other acts of this Assembly are then
mentioned; and its proceedings are among the most interesting and
important events in English history, not only from their forming a
precedent in a conjuncture of affairs for which no express provision
is to be found in the constitution, but from the first regular offer
of the throne to the Prince of Orange having emanated from this
Convention. No Record of its proceedings has, it is presumed, been
hitherto known to exist; and the fact that so valuable a Document is
extant, cannot be too generally stated, for it is obvious that it has
high claims to the attention of historians.
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