ing Men, and thereby have afforded me the Opportunity which I defir'd, of following the natural Bent of my own Inclinations to Lenity, by opening this Seffion with an Act of Grace; but fuch is the obftinate and inveterate Rancour of a Faction amongst us, that it hath again prompted them to animate and ftir up foreign Powers, to disturb the Peace of their native Country: They will choose rather to make Britain a Scene of Blood and Confufion, and to venture even the putting this Kingdom under a foreign Yoke, than give over their darling Defign impofing a Papi Pretender.

I have order'd to be laid before you Copies of Letters which have pass'd between the Swedish Minifters on this Occafion, which contain a certain Account of the projected Invafion and I promife my feif, from your experiene'd Zeal and Affection to my Perfon and Government, that you will come to fuch Refolu tions as will enable me, by the Bleffing of God, to defeat all the Defigns of our Enemies against us....

Gentlemen of the Houfe of Commons,

I did hope, the putting an End to the late Rebellion, would have fo far fecur'd the Peace and Tranquillity of the Nation, that I might, confiftently with the Safety of my People, have made a confiderable Reduction of the Forces; but the Prepara-, tions which are making from Abroad to invade us, oblige me, to ask fuch Supplies as you shall find abfolutely necessary for the Defence of the Kingdom.

You are all fenfible of the insupportable Weight of the Nati onal Debts, which the Publick became engaged for from the Neceffity of the Times, the Preffures of a long and expenfive War, and the languishing State of Publick Credit, but the Scene being now Jo happily chang'd, if no new Difturbances fball plunge us again into Streights and Difficulties, the general Expectation feems to require of you, that you should turn jour, Thoughts towards fome Method of extricating your felves, by. reducing, by Degrees, the Debts of the Nation

My Lords and Gentlemen,

I have an entire Confidence in you, and have therefore nohing to ask, but that you would take fuch Measures as will beft fecure your Religion and Liberties: While you preferve thofe inestimable Bleffings, I shall fit eafy and safe on my Throne, having no other View but the Happiness and Profperity of my People.

The Commons being return'd to their Houfe, Mr. Secretary Stanhope, by his Majefty's Command, laid before them Copies of Letters which pafs'd between Count Gyl

H 2

lenborg,

lenborg, the Barons Gortz and Sparre, and others, relating to the Defign of raifing a Rebellion in his Majefty's Dominions, to be fupported by a Force from Sweden; and the faid Copies were read in the Houfe: After which, they refolv❜d to present an Addrefs of Thanks to his Majesty, appointed a Committee to draw it up, and order'd their Votes to be printed.

Feb. 21, they made the Orders, and came to the Refo lutions that are ufual at the opening of a new Seflion, and then order'd the Speaker to iffue Warrants to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out new Writs for electing Members for the Places following, viz. For Midhurst in Suffex, in the Room of Sir John Fortefcue Aland, Knight, who' was made one of the Barons of the Exchequer : For Seaford in Sufex, in the Room of Sir William Ashburnham, Bart. who, after his Electión, had accepted the Office of one of the Commiffioners of Alienation: For Richmond in Yorkshire, in the Room of Thomas Tork, Efq; deceas'd For Kingston upon Hull, in the Room of William Maifter, Efq; deceas'd: For the County of Hereford, in the Room of Sir Thomas Morgan, Bart, deceas'd: For the City of Hereford, in the Room of the Lord Viscount Scudamore, deceas'd: For-Ipfwick in Suffolk, in the Room of Sir William Thompson, Knight, who, after his Election, accepted the Office of Solicitor-General to his Majefty: For Ryegate in Surrey, in the Room of Sir John Parsons, Knight, deceas'd : For Weymouth and Melcombe-Regis in Dorfetfbire, in the Room of James Baker, Efq; deceas'd. The fame Day two Petitions were read; one of Sir Theodore Janffen and Colotel Anthony Morgan, the other of Felix Calvert, Efq; both complaining of undue Elections and Returns; the first of them for the Borough of South Yarmouth in the Ifle of Wight, the laft for the Borough of Reading in Berks: Both which Petitions were referr'd to the Committee of Privileges and Elections. Then Mr. Onflow reported the Address to his Majefty, which was read and agreed to by the Houfe; after which, they order'd, nemine contradicente, that a Bill fhould be brought in to authorize his Majefty to prohibit Commerce with Sweden during fuch Time as his Majefty fhould think it neceffary for the Safety and Peace of his Kingdom, and that Mr. Secretary Stanhope, Mr. Craggs, and Mr. Lowndes, fhould prepare and bring it in.

Feb. 22, a Petition of William Wallis, Efq; complaining of an undue Election and Return for the Borough of Steyning in Suffex, being read, was refer'd to the Commit

tee

tee of Privileges and Elections. Then a new Writ was order'd to elect a Burgefs for Chrift-Church in Hampshire, in the Room of William Ettricke, Efq; deceas'd. The fame Day both Houfes feverally prefented the following Addreffes to his Majesty.

The humble Addrefs of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament affembled.

Moft Gracious Sovereign,

WE

E your Majefty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament affembled, beg Leave to return your Majefly our most humble and hearty Thanks for your Majesty's most gracious Speech from the Throne; and to congratulate your Majefty on your Safe and happy Return to thefe your Dominions; and on the prudent Adminiftration of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, under your Majefty, and the great Care he took of the Peace and Security of the Kingdom during your Majesty's Abfence.

We are fenfible, that the grofs Defects and pernicious Confequences of the late Treaty of Utrecht, could not have been remedy'd, but by your Majesty's unweary'd Application for the Good of your Subjects, and by that just Regardwhich is paid by foreign Potentates to your known Wisdom and Integrity. It is with unspeakable Satisfaction, that we fee your Majesty's Endeavours fuccessful in fuch Conventions as have already given new Life to our Trade and Credit, and particularly in the Treaty lately concluded with France and the StatesGeneral, as your Majefty has by this Treaty recover'd to us, in fo great a Measure, thofe Advantages which might have been expected from a glorious and fuccefsful War, and were given up by a treacherous and dishonourable Peace, we beg... Leave to congratulate your Majesty upon an Alliance which opens to us fo fair a Profpect of an undisturb'd Succeffion, an equal Balance of Power, and a flourishing Commerce.

We return your Majefty our most humble Thanks for your Majefty's gracious Condefcenfion in having laid before your Parliament the Discoveries concerning the intended Invafion; and cannot but regard with the utmost Horror and Indignation, the Malice and Ingratitude of those who have encourag'd Such an Attempt against their King and Country.

We are forry to find that your Majefty's Lenity has been ineffectual towards the reclaiming a Faction who have render'd themselves jo obnoxious to your fuftice; and we do affure your Majefty, that we will, to the utmost of our Power, fupport your Majesty against the design'd Invafion, and all

Jour Enemies, both at Home and Abroad, in fuch a Manner, that, by the Bleffing of Almighty God, neither the Rafness of the one, nor the Wickedness of the other, fhall be ever able to prevail.

His Majefty's moft gracious Anfwer.

My Lords,

Thank you for this Addrefs, which is fo full of Expreffions

of Duty to me, and Zeal for your Country; and I make no Doubt, but that with your Support and Affiftance, under God, we fhall get the Better of all our Enemies, both at Home and Abroad.

The humble Addrefs of the Houfe of Commons to the King.

Moft gracious Sovereign,.

YOUR Mary's in Parliament allembled, return your OUR Majefty's dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Commons

Majefty their humbleft Thanks for your most gracious Speech from the Throne.

make

Your Majesty's fafe and happy Return into your Kingdoms, gave an univerfal Foy to all your People; and as the prudent Adminiftration of the Government by his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, under your Majesty, did in fome Degree the Want of your Royal Prefence more easy to us, we beg Leave to congratulate your Majesty upon the Peace and Security that, during your Majefty's Abfence, was, by the great Care of his Royal Highness, preferv'd in the Kingdom, to the general Satisfaction of all your Subjects.

We can never fufficiently acknowledge the repeated Infiances of your Majefty's Goodness, and unweary'd Concern for the Welfare of your Kingdoms; we fee with Admiration many of the fatal Defects of the Treaties at Utrecht, and the great Difadvantages that were impos'd upon this Nation, at the Head of a victorious Army and powerful Confederacy, happily remedy'd by your Majefty, even in the Midft of inteftine Dangers and Troubles. Your confummate Wisdom has renew'd thofe Alliances that were lafely betray'd and diffolv'd, and concluded fuch new Treaties as may render the Peace fafe and lafting; and we are at a Lufs to determine, whether in future Ages the fuffering the Demolition of the Port of Dunkirk to be fcandalously evaded, will be a greater Reproach, or the procuring the Defruction of the Sluices of Mardyke a greater Honour to the British Nation.

We cannot at the fame Time, but with the higheft Refentment and Indignation, look upon the obstinate and inveterate

Ran

Rancour of those who are again endeavouring to embroil their native Country in Blood and Confufion. It is astonishing to find, that any, who call themselves Protestants, can be jo infxible and restless in their Endeavours, to impofe upon us a Popish Pretender; and rather venture to fubject the Kingdom to a foreign Yoke, than depart from their darling and avow'd Defign of altering and fubverting the prefent happy Establish ment in the Protestant Succeffion.

We adore the watchful Eye of Heaven, that has fo wonder fully guarded and protected your facred Perfon, and cannot too much extol the Wisdom and Vigilance that has been us'd in fo early and feafonably difcovering this defperate Attempt. And in order most effectually to defeat it, your faithful Com mons, with Hearts fincerely zealous in the Caufe of their King and Country, affure your Majesty, that they will to the utmost stand by and [upport your Majesty against all your Enemies at Home and Abroad, that shall in any Manner prefume to aid or abet the Pretender to your Crown, and will most chearfully grant to your Majesty fuch Supplies as shall be found neceffary for the Safety of your Royal Perfon, and the Defence of the Kingdom.

We are all but top fenfible of the unsupportable Weight of the National Debts,and therefore will not neglect to apply our felves. with all poffible Diligence and Attention, to the great and ne ceffary Work of reducing and leffening, by Degrees, this heavy Burthen, which may prove the most effectual Means of preferving to the publick Funds a real and certain Security.

To this Addrefs, his Majefty was pleas'd to give the fol lowing moft gracious Anfwer.,.

Gentlemen,

HE Duty and Zeal which you express in this loyal Addrefsta my Perfon and Government, your affectionate Concern for the Welfare of your Country, your Promises of an effectual Support against all our Enemies at Home and Abroad, and your Refolution of applying your felves to eafe my People, by reducing gradually the heavy Load of the publick Debts, deferve my hearty Thanks. You shall never have Cause to repent of the Confidence you repofe in me; the Honour, Welfare, and Profper rity of the Nation being what I have chiefly at Heart,

Feb. 23. Mr. Craggs prefented to the Houfe a Bill to att thorize his Majefty to prohibit or reftrain Commerce with Sweden, c. which being then read a first and fecond, Time, was committed to a Commitee of the whole Houfe, for the 25th in the Morning. The fame Day two Peri

tions