Page:William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England (3rd ed, 1768, vol I).djvu/202

186 adjournment is no more than a continuance of the eion from one day to another, as the word itelf ignifies: and this is done by the authority of each houe eparately every day; and ometimes for a fortnight or a month together, as at Chritmas or Eater, or upon other particular occaions. But the adjournment of one houe is no adjournment of the other. It hath alo been uual, when his majety hath ignified his pleaure that both or either of the houes hould adjourn themselves to a certain day, to obey the king’s pleaure o ignified, and to adjourn accordingly. Otherwie, beides the indecorum of a refual, a prorogation would auredly follow; which would often be very inconvenient to both public and private buines. For prorogation puts an end to the eion; and then uch bills, as are only begun and not perfected, mut be reumed  (if at all) in a ubequent eion: whereas, after an adjournment, all things continue in the ame tate as at the time of the adjournment made, and may be proceeded on without any freh commencement.

is the continuance of the parliament from one eion to another, as an adjournment is a continuation of the eion from day to day. This is done by the royal authority, expreed either by the lord chancellor in his majety’s preence, or by commiion from the crown, or frequently by proclamation. Both houes are necearily prorogued at the ame time; it not being a prorogation of the houe of lords, or commons, but of the parliament. The eion is never undertood to be at an end, until a prorogation: though, unles ome act be paed or ome judgment given in parliament, it is in truth no eion at all. And formerly the uage was, for the king to give the royal aent to all uch bills as he approved, at the end of every eion, and then to prorogue the parliament; though ometimes only