Geo. I. Before the feffion ended, the king fent a meffage to the 1717-18. commons, which was read by the fpeaker, as follows: The king's meffage to the commons. want of our commodities, particularly corn and falt, they are Pr. H. C. inclined to facilitate to us, underhand, the purchafe of their iron; whereas, if the prohibition of trade with them was taken off, they would immediately provide themselves with what they want; and, knowing at the fame time, that there are amongit us a fet of men, who make it their study and bufinefs to embarrass the government, the court of Sweden would be more ftiff than ever, and render the purchase of their iron more difficult to us. Some members of the house being offended at Mr. Jackson's reflection on a fet of men (by which it was plain he meant the Tory-party) cried out, Cuftody, Cuftody: But the more moderate contented themfelves with putting him upon explaining himself. Hereupon Mr. Jackfon replied, That he meant the merchants, who prefented unreasonable petitions. This being by fome looked upon rather as an aggravation than an excufe, the cry of Cuftody, Cuftody, was repeated; but Mr. Walpole brought him off, by fuggefting, That that gentleman had lived fo long in a defpotic government, where petitions and reprefentations of that nature are accounted capital crimes, that he had forgot the rights and privileges of his countrymen; and therefore moved, that his unguarded expreffions might be excufed; and, nobody oppofing Mr. Walpole, Mr. Jackfon . • His withdrew. Then, the pețitioners and fome other merchants being called in, and farther heard, they represented, among other particulars, That, fince the prohibition of trade with Sweden, they bought Swe. dish iron of the Dutch, 41. per ton dearer than before; and that, whereas the English were formerly about 30,000l. per annum gainers by the trade with Sweden, they now loft about 90,000 l.' But this was contradicted by Mr. Craggs, who fug. gefted, That the exports from Stockholm for England had never amounted to 120,000l. in one year; and therefore the difference of the profit and lofs could not come up to this laft fum. After fome other fpeeches, the debate was adjourned till that day month, before which the feffion ended. There was another debate about a bill for erecting Hofpitals and Workhouses in Bristol, in which there was a remarkable claufe, abrogating the Sacramental Teft in the cafe of the guardianship of the charities. However, the bill paffed with the claufe. A bill, directing that St. Giles's church fhould be rebuilt, inftead of one of the fifty new churches, occafioned a debate in the houfe of lords, and was oppofed by fome of the bishops, as a mifapplication of the money granted for pious ufes. They alfo propofed that the words of Pious Memory fhould be added in the preamble after the queen's name; His majesty being at present engaged in several negotia- Geo. I. tions of the utmoft concern to the welfare of these kingdoms, 1717-18. and the tranquillity of Europe; and having lately received information from abroad, which makes him judge that it will give weight to his endeavours, if a naval force be employed where it fhall be neceflary, does think fit to acquaint this house therewith; not doubting, but that, in cafe he fhould be obliged, at this critical juncture, to exceed the number of men granted this year for the fea-fervice, the house will, at their next meeting, provide for fuch exceeding.' This meffage was well received, and it was unanimously refolved to present an addrefs to the king for his unwearied endeavours to promote the welfare of his kingdoms, and to preferve the tranquillity of Europe; and to affure him, that they would make good fuch exceedings of feamen, as he fhould find neceffary to obtain thofe ends. On the 21st of March, the bufinefs of the feffion being over, the king went to the house of peers, and, having passed all the bills, ordered the lord chancellor to read the following fpeech to both houses: I "My lords and gentlemen, Cannot put an end to this feffion, without returning my hearty thanks to fo good a parliament, for the "dispatch which has been given to the public bufinefs. You " will, I hope, in your private capacities, feel the conve"nience of an early recefs; and, I am perfuaded, the pub"lic will receive great benefit, by the seasonable zeal and "vigour of your refolutions in fupport of my govern ❝ment. "Nothing can add so much to the credit and influence of "this crown, both at home and abroad, as the repeated in"ftances of your affection to me. This fteadiness and re"folution of yours will, I hope, inable me to procure, "against your next meeting, fuch treaties to be concluded, "as will fettle peace and tranquillity among our neigh << bours. "If, through the bleffing of God, my endeavours to this "end prove fuccefsful, I fhall have the fatisfaction to filence ❝ even those, who will never own themselves convinced; name; but the bill paffed with- by five bishops and feveral N 4 "and Geo. I. 1718. Changes in and to let all the world fee plainly, that what I have moft at heart, is the good and welfare of my people, who may "then be eased in their taxes, and enriched by their trade. "Gentlemen of the house of commons, "I must return you my particular thanks for the fupplies "your have fo chearfully granted, and for the late inftance " of your confidence in me. I promise you, that my endea"yours fhall not be wanting to make use of both to the best advantage, for the good of my people. "My lords and gentlemen, "The practices which are daily used by a most restless "and unhappy fet of men, to disturb a government, by "whose clemency they are protected, require our utmost "attention and vigilance. I muft therefore recommend it to 66 you, that, in your feveral ftations and countries, you will "endeavour to quell that fpirit of difaffection, which our ❝common enemies are fo induftrious to foment." Then the lord chancellor prorogued the parliament to the 20th of May; and afterwards, by feveral prorogations, to the 11th of November, About this time there were fome changes in the ministry. the miniftry. Sir Edward Northey was removed, and Mr. Lechmere was made attorney-general in his room. The earl of Sunderland was made prefident of the council, and first commissioner of the treasury. The other commiffioners were, Aiflabie, Wallop, Baillie, and Clayton. Mr. Craggs, and the lord Stanhope (who and lord Cadogan were foon after created earls) were appointed fecretaries of ftate. The earl of Berkley was placed at the head of the admiralty, with Sir George Byng, Sir John Jennings, Mr. Cockburne, Mr. Chetwynd, Sir John Norris, and Sir Charles Wager. The earl of Holderness was made first commiffioner of the board of trade, In April, the lord chancellor Cowper (who had been made an earl) refigned the great feal, and went immediately into the country. Though it had been reported fome months that he defired to retire, yet his refigning his employment at that juncture, was a great furprife to the public, and no fmall grief to all unprejudiced perfons. The judges Tracy, Pratt, and Mountague, were made commiffioners of the great feal; but, about a month after, the lord Parker was made high-chancellor, and Sir John Pratt chief-juftice. The Spain. The great scene of action this fummer was in the Mediter- Geo. I. ranean. Though the king of Spain had promised to fufpend 1718. all operations, after the conqueft of Sardinia, and refer his differences with the emperor to the mediation of England, Great preFrance, and Holland, he rejected all their proposals for an parations in accommodation, and continued his warlike preparations by fea and land. By the care and diligence of his prime minifter, cardinal Alberoni, a formidable armament was ready, by the month of May, at Barcelona, confifting of thirty fhips of the line and frigates, feven galleys, four bomb-verfels, four hundred and forty transport-fhips, forty mortars, fifteen hundred mules, one hundred and fifty thousand fafcines, three hundred thousand stakes for entrenchments, a vaft quantity of warlike ftores, and provifions for many months. On board this fleet were embarked thirty-fix battalions, fix regiments of horse, four of dragoons, one thoufand artillery-men, a hundred and fifty carpenters and other mechanics, a company of fixty miners, and a brigade of fifty engineers. To furnish the supplies, the receivers of the revenue were ordered to pay in certain fums to the royal treafury: The grandees, prelates, provinces and cities, taxed themselves voluntarily for this expedition, and raised regiments at their own expence. These preparations had been the work of more than two years. This powerful fleet fet fail the beginning of June: The defign of it was not known but by the event. It was not doubted but the conqueft of the kingdom of Naples was aimed at, and all poffible measures had been taken to prevent it. Alberoni had deceived all Europe; for Sicily was what the cardinal intended to attack, and the reafons which determined him to it were very plaufible. In the first place, Sicily not belonging at that time to the emperor, this expedition feemed to give no handle to the courts of London and Paris, fince, by their late treaties, they had only engaged to affift the emperor, in cafe his dominions were attacked, and not the duke of Savoy, who was not supposed to be in danger. In the next place, the cardinal was informed of the duke's inclination to be reconciled with the emperor, and give him Sicily, without any regard to the rights of Spain. Laftly, Sicily not being in a ftate of defence, the conqueft would be eafy, and prepare the way for the others he intended to make. During these preparations in Spain, king George had or- A strong dered (as hath been faid) a ftrong fquadron to be fitted out fquadron in the fpring. The marquis de Monteleone, the Spanish fitted out, am Geo. I. ambaffador at the court of England, being alarmed at it. re1718. prefented, in a memorial dated the 18th of March, That The qua ance. fo powerful an armament, in time of peace, could not but cause umbrage to the king his mafter, and alter the good intelligence that reigned between the two crowns.' The king answered, It was not his intention to conceal the fubject of that armament: And he defigned foon to fend admiral Byng with a powerful squadron into the Mediterranean, in order to maintain the neutrality of Italy, against those who should feek to disturb it.' In the mean time, the negotiations were carried on with druple alli- all poffible diligence. The abbot du Bois, in the name of the duke of Orleans, agreed with the British minifters at London upon the terms for an accommodation between the emperor and the king of Spain, and had frequent and long conferences on that Subject with the king. These negotiations produced at length the treaty called at firft the Triple Alliance between Great Britain, France, and Holland, and, after the acceffion of the Emperor, ftiled the Quadruple Alliance. As this treaty is one of the most remarkable events of this reign, and an evident proof of the ascendant which two politic princes in conjunction may have over the reft, it will not be improper to infert the plan and principal articles. The defign of the negotiation was declared to be the prefervation of the public tranquillity, by removing the jealoufies which were increafing between fome of the princes of Europe. Then were fettled the terms of a peace between the kings of Spain and Sicily and the emperor. These terms, accepted by the emperor, were followed by a feparate treaty of alliance between him and the three powers, who so far concerned themselves in the peace, as to engage to compel, by force of arms, the kings of Spain and Sardinia to accept the conditions offered them. The terms impofed on the emperor and Spain were contained in eight articles: I. For quieting the difturbances raised contrary to the peace of Baden, and the neutrality of Italy, the king of Spain was to reftore to the emperor, within two months after the ratification of the treaty, the kingdom of Sardinia, and renounce all right and title to the fame. II. In confideration of this, and of king Philip's renunciation of the crown of France for himself and posterity, the emperor was also to renounce, for himself, heirs, and fucceffors, all right and pretenfions to any dominions, of which the |