Th

SCOTLAND.

HE General Affembly of the Kirk of this Part of the united Kingdom of Great Britain, being by their Annual Appointment to meet on the ad of May, the King made the Earl of Rothes his Commiffioner to hold the Affembly. Accordingly his Lordthip went on that Day with the ufual Ceremony to the Hall of the Affembly in Edinburgh; from whence they proceeded in a Body, to the great Kirk, where, according to Cuftom, the Moderator of the former Affembly, Mr. Hamilton, Profeffor of Divinity in the College of Edinburgh, and the King's Almoner in Scotland, preach'd a Sermon before the Affembly; who, returning afterwards to the Hall, chofe for their Moderator, Mr. William Mitchel, a Minifter in Edinburgh, and Chaplain in Ordinary to the King in Scotland: After which his Majesty's Commiffion to the Earl of Rothes was read, and order'd to be register'd in the Books of the Affembly. This done, the Lord Commiffioner deliver'd the King's Letter, and at the fame Time made a Speech to them, as ufual; which the Moderator having anfwer'd with the accuftom'd Civility, Committees were appointed; one to draw up an Anfwer to his Majefty's Letter, and others for Kirk-Affairs, peculiar to themselves, The Lord Commiffioner's and the Moderator's Speeches being merely Matter of Form and Compliment, we omit them, to fave Room; but the King's Letter and the Affembly's Anfwer being of more Importance, and effential to the Hiftory of this Tranfaction, we think fit to infert them. The King's Letter is as follows.

George R.

Reverend and Well-beloved

well. The conftant Zeal and Affection of the Church of Scotland to our Perfon and Government, which neither the Forces and Violence of our open Enemies, nor the artful Contrivances of Factious and ill-defigning Men, has been able to alter, give us great Satisfaction; and as we expect from you renew'd Proofs of the fame good Difpofition, we willingly countenance your General Affembly, and give you

freth

Fresh Affurances of our firm Refolution to promote the Intereft, and inviolably maintain the Rights and Privileges of the Prefbyterian Church of Scot

land.

We have again made Choice of our trufty and entirely beloved Coufin, John Earl of Rothes, to be our Commiffioner, and to reprefent our Royal Person in this prefent Affembly; being confident that none can be more acceptable to you, than he, whofe Concern for the Church of Scotland, as well as Zeal for our Service, is fo well known: As there is nothing we can have more at Heart, than the promoting of true Religion and Piety, the fuppreffing of Vice and Immorality, and the preventing the Growth of Popery; fo we doubt not but you, on your Parts, will do every Thing that may contribute to these great and good Ends; and as we have had great Satisfaction in your former good Conduct, fo we are confident, on this Occafion, you will act with that Moderation, Prudence, and Unanimity, as moft becometh Men of your Character, which will moft effectually entitle you to our Countenance and Favour. So we bid you heartily Farewell.

Given at our Court at St. James's the 17th Day of
April 1717, in the third Year of our Reign.
By his Majesty's Command,

Roxburgh.

To this Letter the Affembly return'd the following Anfwer, which being tranfmitted to London, was prefented to his Majefty the 12th of May..

I

May it pleafe your Majesty,

T is with the greateft Satisfaction we have the Honour of your Majefty's moft gracious Letter. Your great Goodness in taking Notice of the conftant and unalterable Zeal of the Church of Scotland for your Royal Perfon and Government, in Oppofition to the Violence of open Enemies, and the artful Contrivances of factious and ill-defigning Men, doth animate us to exert our felves with the utmoft Vigour, in all Acts of Duty and Loyalty to your Majefty; to which we are under the strongest Ties, and are much encourag'd by the freth Affurances your Maefty gives us of your firm Refolution to promote

A a 2

the

the Intereft, as well as maintain inviolably the Rights and Privileges of this Church.

The Earl of Rothes his known Abilities for this high Truft; his Zeal and Faithfulness in your Majefty's Service, and the frequent and unquestionable Proofs he hath given of his good Affection to our Church, particularly in former Affemblies, render your Majefty's Choice of him to reprefent your Royal Perfon in this Affembly, moft acceptable to us.

We thould be most inexcufable, if we were wanting to contribute our beft and utmoft Endeavours for promoting true Religion and Piety, fuppreffing Vice and Immorality, and preventing the Growth of Popery, when we find our felves plac'd in fuch happy Circumftances, as to have all Encouragement to profecute thofe great and good Ends, from a Prince upon the Throne who hath them fo much at Heart; of which we have a particular Inftance in your Majefty's Care to promote the pious Defign of erecting Schools in thofe Places where Ignorance and Popery do moft prevail.

Your Majefty's gracious Approbation of our former Conduct, and Confidence in our Moderation, Prudence, and Unanimity, adds to the Obligations whereby we judge our felves moft ftrictly bound to behave in fuch a Manner as may entitle us humbly to hope for the Continuance of your Majesty's Royal Favour and Countenance.

That God may long preferve your Majefty in Health and Profperity, and blefs you with an undifturb'd and happy Reign; and that he may eminently favour their Royal Highneffes the Prince and Princess of Wales, their Royal Iffue, and all your Royal Family; and that at last you may inherit a Crown of Glory, are the Prayers of, may it please your Majefty, your Majefty's moft faithful, molt obedient, and moft loyal Subjects, the Minifters and Elders met in this National Affembly of the Church of Scotland. Sign'd in our Prefence, in our Name, and at our Appointment, by

Edinb. May 32 1717.

William Mitchel, Moderator.

These

Thefe Things having pafs'd in the Affembly, they fell to work upon their Kirk-Bufinefs; which being finith'd in about fourteen Days, the Affembly broke up, having, as is the Ufage there, appointed Commiflioners, being a certain Number of their Members, to act upon all Occafions, with full Power, during the whole Time, 'till the calling the next Affembly, which is appointed for the 4th of May 1718. Thefe are call'd the Commiffion of the General Affembly of the Church of Scotland.

FOREIGN

AFFAIR S.

E come now to give fome Account of foreign Affairs; in doing of which, being ftraiten'd for want of Room, we will be as fhort as poffible, and mention only fuch Tranfactions as more particu larly relate to Great Britain; beginning with those of Italy, where nothing remarkable of that Nature has happen'd, except the Arrival of the Pretender at Pefaro, in the Ecclefiaftical State, and from thence at Rome, where he at prefent is, according to our laft Advices from thofe Parts; but the Manner of his Reception there, as well as at the other Places through which he pass'd, we refer to a more convenient Opportunity.

The Republick of Genoa exprefs'd unusual Civilities to Mr. D'Avenant, Envoy Extraordinary of Great Britain; who, upon his Arrival there, was complimented by four of the Nobles; and his first publick Audience, which he had on the 14th of December, was attended with fome very remarkable Circumftances; for he was accompany'd to it by all the Confuls refiding there, and their respective Nations, Germans and French, Roman Catholicks, as well as Proteftants, the Spaniards of King Philip's Party, as well as thofe in the Intereft of the Houfe of Auftria; and when he came to the Palace, he was receiv'd by a greater Number of Nobility than ever had been known on the like Occafion: Then being introduc'd to the Doge and Senate, he made to them the following Speech.

Moft

Moft ferene Duke, and moft excellent Senators, A Britain, was feated on the Throne of his power

S foon as his Majefty GEORG E, King of Great

ful Kingdoms, to which he was call'd by his undoubted Right, by the unanimous Confent of the Nobility and Commons, and by the Acclamations of all the World, he refolv'd to fhew in a folemn Manner, by an Envoy Extraordinary, his Friendship for this mot illuftrious and most flourishing Republick; a Friendthip which Great Britain has always had, and has, without Interruption, been tranfmitted to his Majesty, from his Royal Ancestors.

Having not been able 'till this Time, by Reafon of many publick and private Affairs, to discharge fo honourable a Commiffion, 'tis with a great deal of Pleafure and Satisfaction, that on this Day, before fo full a Senate, and fuch an Appearance of Nobles, I declare and confirm the Friendihip of the King my Mafter for this Republick.

The publick Peace and Tranquillity, which take up all his Majefty's Thoughts, the mutual Advantages of Commerce, the convenient Situation of Places, and the Industry of the Inhabitants, all contribute to form an Union, and a juft and honourable Amity, which will continue to the latest Pofterity.

While you are intent in preferving the Liberty and Advantages of your Republick, the Thoughts and Cares of the King my Mafter are wholly taken up with the Prefervation of the Peace, Liberty, and Safety of all Europe, which he has entirely at Heart.

His Majefty has juftly rais'd the Hopes of all the World, his imperial Crown being fo greatly ftrengthen'd, and fo happily fecur'd, by his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and his Iffue. He has, by his great Wifdom, the Juftice of the Laws, and the Force of his Arms, defeated the defperate and impions Defigns of the late Rebels and Parricides, and compell'd that fham Prince, the Pretender, to fly his King

dom.

From a King of Great Britain, fo wife, fo magnanimous, and adorn'd with all Royal Virtues, you have nothing to expect, but what is juft, gracious, and advantageous to your State. For my own Part, I promife, and chearfully offer to your moft Serene Republick, all my Endeavours and good Offices, and

will