You cannot but be fenfible of the many Attempts C which have been fet on Foot to difturb the Peace of C Europe, and of thefe Kingdoms: They only pre tend not to fec, who are not afraid of them. But C as no Application has been wanting on my Part to preferve the publick Tranquillity, I have the PleaTure to find my good Offices have not been altogether unfuccefsful, and have Reafon to hope_they will, in the End, have their full and delir'd Effect. Gentlemen of the House of Commons, 1 queftion not but you are very well pleas'd to find that your Endeavours for leffening the National Debts, have at the fame Time raifed the publick Credit; and that whatever was propos'd for that End, is actually and compleatly effected. This Succefs muft chiefly be attributed to that juft and prudent Regard you have fhewn to Parliamentary Engagements. It was with the View of procuring and fettling a lafting Tranquillity, that I'demanded the extraor dinary Supply which you granted me laft Seffion. The Credit which this Confidence repos'd in me, hath given us Abroad, has already been fo far effectual, that I can acquaint you we have a much better Profpect than we had 1 have order'd an Account to be laid before you of the very fmall Part of that Supply which as yet has been expended; any farther Iffues that may be made of it, ihall be alfo laid before you: And you may be affur'd, that every Part of it fhall either be employ'd for your Service, or fav'd to the Publick. I have order'd to be laid before you a State of the Deficiencies of the prefent Year, and the feveral Eftimates for the Service of the next; which you will find confiderably diminifh'd. I rely upon your making the neceffary Provifion for them; not doubting of the Continuance of that Zeal for the Good of your Country, which hath been fo eminently confpicuous in every Seflion of this Parliament. I cannot in Juftice avoid putting you in Mind, that feveral Arcais of Pay and Subfidy, incurr'd before my Acceffion to the Crown, are claim'd by forcign Frinces and States: I thall order them to be laid before you, to the End you may put them in a Method of being examin'd and ftated; which will very much tend to the Honour and Credit of the • Nation. My My Lords and Gentlemen, 1 could heartily with, that at a Time when the common Enemies of our Religion are, by all Manner of Artifices, endeavouring to undermine and weaken it both at Home and Abroad, all thofe who are Friends to our prefent happy Eftablishment, might unanimoufly concur in fome proper Method for the greater ftrengthening the Proteftant Intereft; of which, as the Church of England is unquestionably the main Support and Bulwark, fo will the reap the principal Benefit of every Advantage accruing by the Union and mutual Charity of all Proteftants. As none can recommend themselves more effectually to my Favour and Countenance, than by a fincere Zeal for the juft Rights of the Crown, and the Liberties of the People; fo I am detcrmin'd to encourage all thofe who act agreeably to the Conftitution of thefe my Kingdoms, and confequently to the Principles on which my Government is foundced. The Eyes of all Europe are upon you at this critical Juncture: It is your Intereit; for which Reason I think it mine, that my Endeavours for procuring the Peace and Quiet of Chriftendom, fhould take Effect. Nothing can fo much contribute to this defirable End, as Unanimity, Difpatch, and Vigour <. of your Refolutions for the Support of my Govern ment. The King being retir'd, and the Commons return'd to their Houfe, both Lords and Commons unanimoufly voted Addreffes of Thanks to his Majefty. To avoid the unneceffary Repetition of the Formalities ufual on fuch Occafions, the faid Addreffes, and the King's Anfwers to them refpectively, are as follows. Moft Gracious Sovereign, Ε E your Majefty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parlament affembled, do return your Majefty our humble Thanks for your moft gracious Speech from the Throne, and for your Regard to the Conveniency of your Subjects, in meeting them fo early in Parliament; and beg Leave to exprefs to your Majefty the juft Senfe we have of your great Concern for the Eafe of your People, in difbanding fo confiderable a Number of your Forces; and of your Care, at the fame Time, in confulting their Safety. We return your Majefty our moft humble Thanks • for for your unweary'd Endeavours and Application towards preferving and fettling the Peace and Tranquillity of Europe, and of thefe your Kingdoms, < against the many Attempts of all Kinds to difturb them; and cannot fufficiently exprefs our Satisfaction, that there is a Profpect of Succefs: And do affure your Majefty, That as you have been pleas'd, in fo gracious a Manner, to declare your Interests and thofe of your People infeparable; fo nothing thall be wanting on our Parts, at this critical Juncture, towards fupporting your Majefty with the utmoft Zeal and Vigour, till your Majefty's Endeavours for the Quiet of Chriftendom, and the Good of your People, have had their full and defir'd Effect. We have a grateful Senfe of your Majefty's Concern for the Proteftant Religion, and the Church of England as by Law eftablish'd; which, as it has alC ways been the Chief of the Proteftant Churches, fo it can never be fo well fupported as by ftrengthening and uniting (as far as may be) the Proteftant Intereft. To which his Majesty answer'd, T My Lords, Thank you for this dutiful and loyal Addrefs. The Zeal you exprefs for the Support of my Government, cannot but have the best Effed upon our Affairs both at Home and Abroad. The fame Day the Lord Inchinbrooke reported to the House of Commons, the Addrefs of Thanks drawn up in the Committee, of which his Lordthip was Chairman; which was agreed to, and the next Day prefented to his Majefty, by the whole Houfe, as follows. Moft Gracious Sovereign, WE E your Majefty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Commons of Great Britain in Parliament affembled, crave Leave to express our Gratitude to your Majesty, for your most gracions Speech from the Throne. Our Minds are fill'd with the most lively Senfe of your Majefty's Regard to your People, in bringing the Sitting of Par liament into a more proper and ufual Seafon of the Year: And as your Majefty has been graciously pleas'd to confider the Convenience of our private Affairs in this early Meeting, we Shall endeavour to answer your Majefty's gracious Intentions, by improving it, as much as we are able, to the Benefit of the Publick. We are highly fenfible of the Concern your Majefty has fhewn for the Welfare of your People, by the Reductions you have been been pleas'd to make from Time to Time, of the Land Forces, fo foon as the Posture of Affairs render'd it safe to these your Kingdoms. It is our peculiar Happiness to fee our felves govern'd by a Sovereign who is not influenc'd by any Notions of Greatnefs that are inconfiflant with the Profperity of his Subjects; and who purposes to himself the Eafe of his People, as the chief Glory of his Reign. We acknowledge, with Hearts full of Duty and Gratitude, your Majesty's unweary'd Endeavours to prevent the many Attempts which have been fet on Foot to disturb the Peace of Europe, and the Quiet of thefe Kingdoms; and have the more Reafon to apprehend the ill Confequences of fuch Attempts, fence there are those who, as they would be thought to fee no Danger in them, give us Reafon to believe that they would not be troubled at their Success. We are therefore firmly refolv'd, in the most effectual Manner, to fupport your Majesty in fuch Measures as your Majefty, in your great Wisdom, fhall judge neceffary to procure the Eftablishment of the Tranquillity of Európe. We receive, with the greatest Satisfaction, your Majesty's gracious Expreffins and furances touching the extraordinary Supply granted aft Year; and will chearfully grant your Majefty Juch Supplies as shall effectually provide for the publick Service. It is with unspeakable Sorrow of Heart, that we observe the many Artifices which are made Ufe of by the common Enemies of our Religion, to undermine and weaken it both at Home and Abroad: And as we have the most grateful Senfe of the tender Concern which your Majefty has been pleas'd to express for the Proteftant Religion, and especially for the main Support of it, the Church of England as by Law establish'd; fo we are refolv'd, on our Part, to confider of the most effectuat Methods for ftrengthening the Proteftant Intereft of thefe Kingdoms. It is a Pleasure to us, that the Eyes of all Europe are turn'd upon us at this critical Functure, fince we have thereby an Opportunity of fhewing the World the just Confidence we repofe in your Majesty, and our unfhaken Refolutions to fupport your Government in fuch Manner as fhall enable your Majefty to fettle the Peace of Chriftendom. I To which the King return'd the following Anfwer. Thank you for the repeated Affurances you have given me in this dutiful and loyal Addrefs, of your affectionate Support and Affiftance in the prefent Juncture of Affairs. I expected no iefs from a Houfe of Commons fo affectionate to my Perfon, and fo zealous for the publick Welfare. TABLE 403 TABLE TO THЕ SECOND VOLUME. Abstract of the Act for his Majefty's General Pardon, Account of the publick Debts at the Exchequer, At anent the Clan Gregour, Addrefs of the House of Lords to the King, 65, the Houfe of Commons to the King, 256 Page 247 131 168, 400 62, 169, 345, 402 the Archbishop, Bishops, and Clergy, of the Province of Canterbury, in Convocation affembled, to the King, the Merchants and other Inhabitants of the Town of Kingston in the Iland of Jamaica, ton, Bolton, the Governor and Council of Jamaica, the House of Commons in Ireland to the House of Lords of Ireland to the 74 78 80. of Bol265, 396 the Duke of 270, 393 King, 267, 386, 338 the House of Commons of Ireland to the King, 268, 385,389, 39, 395 Bank of England, their Propofal to the House of Commons, Battel of Belgrade, Belgrade, Defeription of it, 274. Taken, p. 277. 210 275 |