pened, we must respect the spirit and principles operating in thefe commotions; our wifh is to regulate, not to deftroy them. For though differing in fome circumftances, thofe very principles evidently bear fo exact an analogy with those which fupport the most valuable part of our own conftitution, that it is impoffible, with any appearance of juftice, to think of wholly extirpating them by the fword in any part of his majesty's dominions, without admitting confequences, and establishing precedents the most dangerous to the liberties of this kingdom. Richmond, Devonshire, Portland, Craven, Fitzwilliam, Abingdon, Manchester, De Ferrars, Rockingham, Effingham, Abergavenny, Ponsonby." Scarborough, King, far, as to make them openly renounce all allegiance to the crown, and all political connexion with this country, and in direct terms to prefume to fet up their rebellious confederacies for independent states. We confider their rejection of the gracious and condescending means of reconciliation, held out to them, under the authority of your majefty's commiffion, as a fresh and convincing proof that the object of thefe men has always been power and dominion; but we can impute the circumftances of indignity and infult accompanying this proceeding to no other motive than a refentment of your majefty's firm and conftant adherence to the maintenance of the constitutional rights of parliament, divefted of every poffible view of any feparate interests of the crown and we beg leave to affure your majefty, that the fame attachment of your majefty to the The humble Address of the Houfe of parliamentary authority of Great Commons to the King. Moft gracious Sovereign, WER E, your majefty's moft dutiful and loyal fubjects, the commons of Great Britain in parliament affembled, beg leave to return your majefty the humble thanks of this houfe, for your most gracious fpeech from the throne. While we lament the continuance of the troubles which have fo long distracted your majefty's colonies in North America, and of the calamities and oppreffions which our unhappy fellow fubjects are ftill fuffering under the arbitrary tyranny of their leaders; we cannot for bear to exprefs our deteftation and abhorrence of the audacious and defperate fpirit of ambition, which has at laft carried thofe leaders fo Britain, which hath provoked the infolence of the chiefs of this rebellion, cannot but operate, as it ought to do, in fixing your majefty ftill deeper, if poffible, in the affections of a British house of com mons. With reverence and gratitude to Divine Providence, permit us to exprefs our unfeigned joy, and to offer our fincere congratulations to your majefty, on the fuccefs which has attended the good conduct and valour of your majefty's officers and forces both by fea and land, and the zeal and bravery of the auxiliary troops in your fervice, in the recovery of Canada, and in the important operations in the province of New York, which give the ftrongest hopes of the most decifive good confequences. It is with much fatisfaction' we learn, that your majefty continues to receive affurances of amity from the feveral courts of Europe: and we thankfully acknowledge your majefty's goodnefs and paternal concern for the happiness of your people, in your conftant attention to preferve the general tranquillity; and it is our most earnest with that, by your majefty's interpofition, all mifunderstandings and differences between two neighbouring powers may be happily reconciled, and Europe ftill enjoy the bleflings of peace. Your faithful commons confider it as a duty which they owe to your majesty, and to thofe they reprefent, to grant your majesty fuch fupplies as the weighty confiderations, which your majefty has been pleafed to ftate to us, fhall be found to require; and we have a well-grounded confidence, that, at this time, when the object of the rebels is openly avowed and clearly understood, the general convic your majesty's measures muft unite tion of the juftice and neceffity of all ranks of your faithful fubjects in fupporting your majefty with one mind and heart in the great national cause in which you are engaged. On the 10th day of April the following meffage from the King was delivered to the House of Moft gracious Sovereign, lords fpiritual and temporal, in tiful and loyal fubjects, the parliament affembled, beg leave to return your majefty the thanks of this, houfe for your majefty's moft gracious meffage, by which your majefty has been pleafed to inform this house of the exceedings of the expences of your majefty's household and civil fettled on your majefty for defraying government, beyond the revenue the fame; and to affure your majefty of the grateful fenfe this house entertains of your majefty's wellfounded reliance on the loyal and affectionate attachment of this houfe to your majefty's perfon and government; and that, fully convinced of the tender and difinter. efted attachment which your majefty has fhewn, through the whole your majefty's moft du courfe courfe of your reign, to the eafe and welfare of your faithful people, this house will most readily concur in enabling your majefty to discharge the debts which occafion your majefty's prefent difficulties, and in making fome further provifion for the better fupport of your majefty's household, and the honour and dignity of the crown." UPON Proteft of the Lords. Die Mercurii, 16° Apr. 1777. PON the motion for the above address, an amendment was moved by the Marquis of Rockingham, and feconded; when, after a warm debate, the queftion being put, the house divided; Contents 20 Non-contents 96 The Duke of Grafton then moved the previous queftion, when the house again divided; Contents Proxies 26 2 28 with the decrease of British empire; manifeftly required the utmost conomy in the management of the revenues of the crown, we cannot behold, without aftonishment and indignation, a profufion in his majefty's minifters, which the greatest profperity of our affairs could fcarcely excufe. "That this house, with the moft zealous devotion to your majefty's true interefts, beg leave to represent to your majefty, that we humbly apprehend the clear revenue of 800,000 a year, which fupported your majey's grandfather, of happy memory, in great authority and magnificence, is fully fufficient (if managed by your majefty's' fervants with the fame integrity and economy) to maintain alfo the honour and dignity of your majefty's crown, in that reverence in which we wish, as much, at least, as those who have fquandered away the revenues, to fee it always fupported. } Non-contents 99} 22 112 Proxies Diffentient, For the reafons contained in the amendment propofed and rejected, viz. To affure his majefty of the inviolable affection and loyalty of this houfe; and that it is with the fincereft affliction we find our duty to his majesty and our country entirely incompatible with our compliance with the request made to us in his majefty's meffage. "That at a time when the increase of public debt, attended Parliament has already, in confideration (we fuppofe) of fome expence in the beginning of your majefty's reign, difcharged the debts and incumbrances on the civil lift to a very great amount. Again to exceed the revenue granted by parliament, without its authority, and to abuse its indulgence in paying one debt, by contracting, in fo fhort a time, another and a greater, is, on the first view, a criminal act. Your majesty's minifters ought to have laid fome matter before this house, tending to fhew that your majesty's government could not be reputably fupported on the provifion made by parliament; whereas they have only laid before us the heads on which they have exceeded, without any thing which can tend ei ther ther to justify or excufe the excefs; and the only reason given to us for paying that debt is, that your majefty's minifters have incurred it. "With regard to the further increase of your majesty's civil lift revenues, we muft decline any concurrence therein, not folely from motives of œconomy (though at no time more strictly required) but from a dread alfo of the effect of fuch an augmentation on the ho nour and integrity of parliament, by vefting fuch large fums without account in the hands of minifters, when an opinion is known to prevail, and which we have no means of contradicting-that your majefty's civil lift revenues are employed in creating undue influence in parliament, it would be extremely unbecoming of us to vote, without manifeft reafons, great fums out of the property of your majesty's fubjects, which are supposed to be applied to our private emolument. It is our duty to attend to the reputation of parliament, and we beg leave to reprefent to your majefty, that a further increase of the prefent overgrown influence of the crown would be a treacherous gift from parliament, even to the crown itself; as it will enable the minifters to carry on those delufive fyftems which have been fatally adopted, and which, if pursued, muft lead to the ruin, as they have already produced the distraction, of this once great empire." Abingdon, Effingham, Abergavenny, Portland, The Speech made by the Speaker of the Houfe of Commons to his Majefty in the Houfe of Peers, on the 7th Day of May, upon prefenting the Bill for fettling an additional Revenue of 100,000l. per ann. upon his Majefty for the Services of the Civil Lift. Moft gracious Sovereign, T duty to prenent to y bill, which it is now my jefty, is intitled An act for the better fupport of his majesty's household, and of the honour and dignity of the crown of Great Britain;' to which your commons humbly beg your royal affent. By this bill, Sir, and the refpectful circumstances which preceded and accompanied it, your commons have given the fullest and cleareft proof of their zeal and affection for your majefty; for, in a time of public diftrefs, full of difficulty and danger, their conftituents labouring under burthens almost too heavy to be borne, your faithful commons poftponed all other business; and, with as much dispatch as the nature of their proceedings would admit, have not only granted to your majesty a large prefent fupply, but alfo a very great additional revenue; great, beyond example; great beyond your majefty's highest expence. But all this, Sir, they have done in a well-grounded confidence, that you will apply wifely what they have granted liberally; and feeling, what every good fubject muft feel with the greateft fatisfacFitzwilliam, tion, that, under the direction of Devonshire, your majesty's wisdom, the affluManchefter. ence and grandeur of the fovereign Archer, Richmond, King, Rockingham, Thanet, Torrington, will t Moft gracious Sovereign, OUR majefty's loyal commons have paffed five moneybills for the fervice of the current year. The firft, a bill for inabling your majefty to defray the extra expences of the American war, and to make good the deficiency of the gold coin; the fecond, for raifing five millions by annuities, and for eftablishing a lottery; another, for laying a tax upon fervants; another, for laying a tax upon auctions, and upon fales of eftates, leafes, and goods, by auction; and another, for granting to your majesty a certain fum out of the finking fund, and for appropriating the feveral fums, granted in this feffion, to ufes therein provided; to which your faithful commons, Sir, humbly defire your affent. Your commons, Sir, in the course of the prefent feffion, have applied themfelves, with all poffible diligence, to public bufinefs; and have done all in their power to procure the cafe, happiness, and profperity of your fubjects; and have granted the moft ample fupplies. They have ftrengthened the hands of government, and have done all in their power to promote a speedy and effectual reconciliation with America. They are fully confcious how neceffary it is, that the troubles in America fhould be amica bly fettled; and that the legislative authority of this country fhould be eftablished and maintained over all your majefty's dominions. Your faithful commons, firmly relying on your majefty's wifdom, and true regard to the intereft of all your fubjects, have ftrengthened your hands in the fulleft manner; and have every right to expect, that your majefty's fubjects in America will return to a proper sense of their duty; and that diforder and rebellion will give place to peace and reconciliation. His Majesty's most gracious Speech to both Houfes of Parliament, on the 6th of June, 1777. T pub. My Lords and Gentlemen, HE conclufion of the lic bufinefs, and the confideration of the inconvenience which, I fear, you must have suffered by fo long an attendance, call upon me to put an end to this feffion of parliament; but I cannot let you go into your feveral counties, without expreffing my intire approbation of your conduct, and without thanking you for the unqueftionable proofs you have given to me, and to all the world, of the continuance of your attachment to my perfon and government; of your clear difcernment of the true interefts of your country; and of your fteady perfeverance in maintaining the rights of the legifla |