In 1772, the House of Commons appointed a committee to investigate the state of records in the Rolls Chapel, which found that records were damaged by age, damp, heat and transportation.[2] The work of the committee led to the establishment of clerk of the Rolls Chappel records in 1784.[2]
By 1800, it was widely recognised that public record keeping was poor, with records disparate, undescribed and kept in bad conditions.[3] It had been 70-years since any parliamentary proceedings on public record keeping, during which time the volume of records had greatly increased.[1] Furthermore, no parliamentary inquiry had extended to courts (maritime or ecclesiastical), cathedrals, universities, bespoke collections (including the Royal, Slonian and Harleian collections), the British Museum or any public repositories in Scotland.[1]
The committee was established on 18 February 1800 to "Inquire into the State of the Public Records of the Kingdom, and other Public Instruments, Rolls, Books, and Papers, as they shall think proper; and to report to the House the Nature and Condition thereof, together with what they shall judge fit to be done for the better Arrangement, Preservation, and more convenient Use of the same."[5]
The committee was given the power to "send for persons, paper and records" and to freely search all offices and places where any records were kept, without paying any fees.[5]
Membership
The committee was appointed on 18 February 1800, consisting of 17 members with a quorum of five.[5]
The committee had its first meeting on 19 February 1800.[5] The committee proceeded by preparing a list of all the public repositories in England and Scotland, classed under "General Repositories", "Houses of Parliament", "Offices of State", "Courts of Justice", "Cathedrals and Universities", "Inns of Court" and "Public Libraries.[1] For each repository, the committee requested returns to ascertain the nature and condition of its contents.[1] The committee also visited principal repositories in London in person and conducted special searches, revealing previously unknown records.[1] Finally, the committee produced a systematic view of all public records, arranged under the divisions of "Constitution", "Government" and "Jurisprudence".
On 23 April 1800, on the motion of Charles Abbot, the committee requested all records and papers held under the care of the House of Lords.[6] On 18 June 1800, the Lords submitted an enumerated list and confirmed that records and papers held by them were in good condition, being methodically kept and arranged.[6] The Lords also confirmed that they were producing an Index to the Rolls of Parliament, to be ready Christmas 1801, and a Glossary of obsolete terms used in the rolls, on hold due to illness of the editor.[6]
The committee reported on 4 July 1800.[5][1] The first report covered the result of the committees inquiries, the proceedings of the committee and an examination of further measures to adopt for the future preservation, arrangement and publication of records.[1] The committee found that many public records dated back over 700 years, with some going back to the Domesday Book, though many were lost during periods of civil unrest. The committee identified serious issues with record storage, with many important documents kept in unsafe private buildings at risk of fire and damp The committee also found widespread problems with indexing and cataloguing, making many collections difficult to access and use, compounded by record-keeping practices varying widely between different repositories and offices. The committee made recommendations for the creation of purpose-built public record offices accessible for researchers, for the creation and printing of comprehensive calendars and indexes, for the standardisation of record keeping practices and for the improved administration and regulation of record offices. The committee paid particular attention to Scotland's system of public records, which they considered exemplary, noting its centralised General Register House and comprehensive registration system.
The second report provided analysis of the contents of all returns transmitted to The committee and arranged these records into two distinct tables, firstly a systematic classification under heads of "Constitution", "Government" and "Jurisprudence" and secondly an alphabetical list with explanatory notes and references.[1]
On 11 July 1800, the report was read a second time and the House of Commons resolved to present a humble address to King George III to execute the report's recommendations.[5] A Committee was appointed to draw up the address, consisting of Charles Abbot, Lord Viscount Belgrave, William Douglas, Charles Yorke, Charles Perceval, 2nd Baron Arden, John Smyth, John Eliot, George Rose, Sir John William Anderson, William Baker (1743–1824), George Manners-Sutton and Charles Bragge, which was reported and agreed to by the House of Commons the same day.[5] The Commons reported that while some public records were well preserved and organised, many important records were poorly arranged, undescribed, exposed to erasure, alteration or embezzlement, stored in damp conditions and at risk of fire. The address noted that it was approximately 70 years since the last parliamentary inquiry on the subject, during which changes in language and the increased complexity of proceedings had made it more difficult to organise and use records effectively. The Commons requested the Sovereign to issue directions for better preservation and organisation of public records and approve extraordinary expenses necessary for the undertaking. The address was confirmed as being presented to His Majesty on 17 July 1800.[5]
On 28 July 1800, the House of Commons resolved to pay Charles Abbot£1,000(equivalent to £101,984 in 2023) to cover staff and business expenses[5] This resolution was presented to His Majesty on 29 July 1800.[5]
Legacy
Re-publication
On 9 March 1801, the House of Lords requested a copy of the report from House of Commons,[7] which was received on 10 March,[8] agreed to on 11 March 1801,[8] and ordered to be printed on 13 March 1801.[7][9]
Record Commission
Following the report of the committee and humble address to the Sovereign from the House of Commons, the first Record Commission was established on 19 July 1800.[4] Successive commissions were issued in 1806, 1817, 1821, 1825, 1831 and 1837.[2]
In 1806, the Commission on Public Records passed a resolution requesting the production of a report on the best mode of reducing the volume of the statute book.[4] At their first sitting, the commissioners resolved "That a complete, and authentic collection of the Statutes of the realm be prepared, including every law, as well those repealed or expired as those now in force, with a chronological list of them, and tables of their principal matters".[4] From 1810 to 1825, The Statutes of the Realm was published, providing for the first time the authoritative collection of acts.[4]
Notes
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