But standing orders of both Houses, often renewed, strictly forbade all publication of the debates which took place in either.

To a certain extent, these orders had come to be disregarded and evaded.

Almost ever since the accession of the House of Brunswick, a London publisher had given to the world an annual account of the Parliamentary proceedings and most interesting discussions of the year; and before the middle of the reign of George II, two monthly magazines had given sketches of speeches made by leading members of each party.

The reporters, however, did not venture to give the names of the speakers at full length, but either disguised them under some general description, or at most gave their initials; and sometimes found that even this profession of deference to the standing orders did not insure them impunity.

As late as the year 1747, Cave, the proprietor and editor of the _Gentleman's Magazine_, was brought to the bar of the House of Commons for publishing an account of a recent debate, and only obtained his release by expressions of humble submission and the payment of heavy fees.