Thing that is farther requir'd in and by the Laws of this Kingdom, for the Punishment of fuch who shall conceal the fame. Given at the Council-Chamber in his Majesty's Castle of Will. Dublin, Kildare, Abercorn, W. Kildare, Shelburne, Cha. Fielding, P. Savage, William Stuart, Sem. Dopping, C. O Neill. GOD Save the KING. We return now to England. The Day the Queen dy'd, the Lords Juftices being in Council at Kensington, an Order was made, for making the following Alterations in the Book of Common-Prayer, niz. inftead of Lady Queen AN NE, read Lord King GEORGE; inftead of Her, read His; and instead of the Elector of BRUNSWICK, read his Royal Highness the PRINCE, &C. Let us now attend the Proceedings of the Parliament upon the Death of the Queen. Proceedings of the Second and laft Seffion of the Fourth Parliament of Great Britain, being the laft of Queen Anne's Reign. Urfuant to the Act 6 A. cap. 7. par. 6. (which fee in the Introduction, Page iv.) the Parliament met at Westminster in the Afternoon of the very Day the Queen dy'd; but the Speaker of the Houfe of Commons, Sir Thomas Hanmer, being abfent in the Country, fuch of the Members of both Houfes as were prefent, only qualify'd themselves by taking the Oaths, making and fubfcribing the Declaration, and taking and fubfcribing the Oath of Abjuration; other Members, as fast as they came up to Town, repair'd to their respective Houfes to do the like, the 2d and 3d of Auguft; as the Speaker himself, being come to Town, did on the 4th. The next Day, the Lords Juftices came to the Houfe of Peers, and fent a Meffage to the Commons by Sir William Oldes, Gentleman-Ufher of the Black Rod, requiring their immediate Attendance. The Commons went up accordingly, and the Lord Chancellor, being one of the Lords Juftices, in their Name, made the following Speech to both Houfes of Parlia ment. My I My Lords and Gentlemen, T having pleas'd Almighty God to take to himself our late moft gracious Queen, of bleffed Memory, we hope that nothing has been omitted, which might contribute to the Safety of thefe Realms, and the Prefervation of our Religion, Laws, and Liberties in this great Conjuncture. As thefe invaluable Bleffings have been fecur'd to us by thofe Acts of Parliament, which have fettled the Succeffion of thefe Kingdoms in the moft illuftrious Houfe of Hanover, we have regulated our Proceedings by thofe Rules which are therein prefcrib'd. The Privy Council, foon after the Demife of the late Queen, affembled at St. James's, where, according to the faid Acts, the Three Inftruments were produc'd and open'd, which had been depofited in the Hands of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, and the Refident of Brunswick. Thofe, who either by their Offices, or by Virtue of these Inftruments, had the Honour of being appointed Lords Juftices, did, in Conjunction with the Council, immediately proceed to the proclaiming of our lawful and rightful Sovereign King George, taking, at the fame Time, the neceffary Care to maintain the Publick Peace, In Pursuance of the Acts before-mention'd, this Parlia ment is now affembled; and we are perfwaded, you all bring with you fo hearty a Difpofition for his Majesty's Service, and the Publick Good, that we cannot doubt of your Afiftance in every Thing which may promote those great Ends. Gentlemen of the House of Commons, We find it neceffary to put you in Mind, that feveral Branches of the Publick Revenue are expir'd by the Demife of her late Majefty; and to recommend to you, the making fuch Provifions, in that Refpect, as may be requifite to fupport the Honour and Dignity of the Crown: And we affure ourselves, you will not be wanting in any Thing that may conduce to the establishing and advancing of the Publick Gredit. My Lords and Gentlemen, We forbear laying before you any Thing that does not require your immediate Confideration, not having receiv'd his Majesty's Pleasure; we shall only exhort you, with the greatest Earneftnefs, to a perfect Unanimity, and a firm Adherence to our Sovereign's Intereft, as being the only Means to continue among us our prefent happy Tranquillity. The The Commons being return'd to their House, and their Speaker having made a Report of the Lords Juftices Speech, it was refolv'd, Nemine Contradicente, That art humble Addrefs be prefented to his Majefty, to condole with his Majefty, upon the fad Occafion of the Death of our late moft gracious Sovereign; to congratulate his Majefty's happy Acceffion to the Throne; and to affure his Majefty of the utmost Affiftance of this House, to fupport his Majefty's undoubted Right to the Imperial Crown of thefe Realms, against the Pretender, and all other Perfons whatsoever And also to exprefs the impatient Defires of his faithful Commons, for his Majesty's fafe Arrival and Prefence in Great Britain; and the unanimous Refolutions of this Houfe to maintain the Publick Credit, and effectually make good all Funds which have been granted by Parliament, for the Security of any Sums of Money, which have been, or fhall be advanc'd for the Publick Service; and that they will use their utmost Endeavours, by all other Means, to make his Majefty's Reign happy and glorious. After this, a Committee was appointed to draw up the faid Addrefs; and it was unanimously resolv'd to take the next Day into Confideration, the Lords Juftices Speech to both Houses. The fame Day the Houfe of Peers agreed upon the fol lowing Addrefs to his Majefty. Moft gracious Sovereign, WE E your Majefty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament affembled, tho' deeply fenfible of the great Lofs these Nations have fuftain'd by the Demife of her late Majefty, of bleffed Memory, think it our Duty, at the fame Time, with thankful Hearts to Almighty God, to congratulate your Majesty upon your happy and peaceable Acceffion to your Throne: And we do, with the utmost Loyalty and Duty, affure your Majefty of our zealous and firm Refolutions to fupport your undoubtedly rightful and lawful Title to the Crown, against all Enemies and Pretenders whatfoever. Our Zeal and Affection for your Majesty's Service, engage us to exert ourselves with all Vigour and Unanimity for fecuring the Publick Safety; and we will always, to the utmost of our Power, maintain the Honour and Dignity of your Crown: And we do with faithful Hearts Hearts befeech your Majefty, as foon as poffible, to give us your Royal Prefence, which we are perfwaded will be attended with all other Bleffings to your Kingdoms. This Addrefs having by the Lords Juftices been tranfmitted to the King, his Majefty was pleas'd to return this moft gracious Answer. GEORGE R. Take this firft Opportunity to return you my hearty Thanks for your Addrefs, and the Affurances you have given me therein. The Zeal and Unanimity you have shewn upon my Acceffion to the Crown, are great Encouragement to me, and I shall always efteem the Continuance of them, as one of the greatest Bleffings of my Reign. No one can be more truly fenfible than I am, of the Lofs fuftain'd by the Death of the late Queen, whofe exemplary Piety and Vertue fo much endear'd her to her People, and for whofe Memory I fhall always have a particular Regard. My beft Endeavours shall never be wanting to repair this Lofs to the Nation. I will make it my conftant Care to preferve your Religion, Laws, and Liberties inviolable, and to advance the Honour and Profperity of my Kingdoms. I am haftening to you, according to your Defire, fo affectio nately exprefs'd in your Addrefs. On the 6th of August, the Commons appointed the Grand Committeees, for Religion, Grievances, Courts of Juftice, Trade, and Privileges and Elections, came to the ufual Refolutions concerning Elections, and made the cuftomary Orders against Strangers coming into the House. of Commons, &c. This done, Mr. Secretary Bromley reported from the Committee appointed to draw up an Addrefs to be prefented to his Majefty, that they had drawn up the fame, which was read, and unanimously agreed to as follows: Moft gracious Sovereign, W E your Majesty's moft dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Commons of Great Britain in Parliament affembled, having a juft Senfe of the great Lofs the Nation has fuftain'd by the Death of our late Sovereign Lady Queen ANNE, of bleffed Memory, humbly crave crave Leave to condole with your Majesty on this fad Occafion. It would but aggravate our Sorrow, particularly to enumerate the Virtues of that pious and most excellent Princefs: The Duty we owe to your Majefty, and to our Country, oblige us to moderate our Grief, and heartily to congratulate your Majefty's Acceffion to the Throne, whofe princely Virtues give us a certain Profpect of future Happiness, in the Security of our Religion, Laws, and Liberties, and engage us to affure your Majesty, that we will, to our utmoft, fupport your undoubted Right to the Imperial Crown of this Realm, against the Pretender, and all other Perfons whatsoever. Your faithful Commons cannot but exprefs their impatient Defire for your Majefty's fafe Arrival and Prefence in Great Britain. In the mean time, we humbly lay before your Majesty, the unanimous Refolution of this Houfe, to maintain the Publick Credit of the Nation, and effectually to make good all Funds which have been granted by Parliament, for the Security of any Money which has been, or shall be advanc'd for the publick Service, and to endeavour, by every Thing in our Power, to make your Majefty's Reign happy and glorious. After this, the Members of the Houfe, who were of the Privy-Council, were order'd to prefent the faid Addrefs to the Lords Juftices, with the Defire of the House, that they would tranfmit the fame to his Majefty, with all convenient Speed. This their Excellencies did accordingly, and on the 25th of Auguft, Mr. Secretary Bromley acquainted the Houfe, that the Lords Juftices had receiv'd his Majefty's Answer to the humble Address of this House, as follows: GEORGE R. Y OUR dutiful and loyal Addrefs is very acceptable to me. The Unanimity and Affection my Commons have shewn upon my Acceffion to the Crown, are most agreeable Inftances and Pledges of their Fidelity to me. I have a just Senfe of your inexpreffible Lofs, by the Death of your late Sovereign. You may be affur'd of my conftant Endeavours to fecure to you the full Enjoyment of your Religion, Laws, and Liberties, and that it will always be my Aim, to make you an happy and flourishing People; to which your Refolution to maintain the Publick |