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acquifitions, in various parts of the world; particularly the entire reduction of Canada, a conqueft of the utmost importance to the fecurity of our colonies in North America, and to the extenfion of the commerce and navigation of my subjects.

May God Almighty grant continuance to thefe fucceffes! The ufe which I propose to make of them is, to fecure and promote the welfare of my kingdoms, and to carry on the war with vigour, in order to procure to them the bleffings of peace, on fafe and honourable conditions for me and my allies; to which I have been always ready to hearken.

Firm in these refolutions, I do, with entire confidence, rely on the good difpofitions of my faithful fubjects in the choice of their reprefenCatives; and I make no doubt but they will thereby demonftrate, the fincerity of thofe affurances, which have been fo cordially and univerfally given me, in the loyal, affectionate, and unanimous addreffes of my people.

Then the lord chancellor, by his majefty's command, faid,

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My lords and gentlemen,

It is his majefty's royal will and pleasure, that this parliament be prorogued to Tuesday the feventh day of April next, to be then here held; and this parliament is accordingly prorogued to Tuesday the feventh day of April next.

His majesty's most gracious Speech on opening the prefent parliament, Novem. 6, 1761.

My lords and gentlemen,

Aliament, nummoned and electT the opening of the firft par

ed under my authority, I with pleafure take notice of an event, which has made me compleatly happy, and given univerfal joy to my loving fubjects. My marriage with a princefs, eminently diftinguished by every virtue and amiable endowment, whilft it affords me all poffible domeftick comfort, cannot but highly contribute to the happiness of my kingdoms; which has been, and always fhall be, my first object in every action of my life.

It has been my earneft with, that this firft period of my reign might be marked with another felicity; the restoring of the bleffings of peace to my people, and putting an end to the calamities of war, under which fo great a part of Europe fuffers. But though overtures were made to me, and my good brother and ally the king of Pruffia, by the feveral belligerant powers, in order to a general pacification, for which purpofe a congrefs was appointed; and propofitions were made to me by France for a particular peace with that crown, which were followed by an actual negotiation; yet that congrefs hath not hitherto taken place, and that negotiation with France is entirely broken off.

The fincerity of my difpofition to effectuate this good work, has been manifefted in the progrefs of it; and I have the confolation to reflect, that the continuance of the war, and the farther effufion of chriftian blood, to which it was the defire of my heart to put a ftop, cannot with juftice be imputed to me.

Our military operations have been in no degree fufpended or delayed; and it has pleased God to grant us farther important fucceffes, Belleifle and Dominica; and by the by the conquefts of the islands of

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reduction of Pondicherry, which hath in a manner annihilated the French power in the Eaft Indies. In other parts, where the enemy's numbers were greatly fuperior, their principal defigns and projects have been generally disappointed, by a conduct which does the highest honour to the diftinguifhed capacity of my general prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, and by the valour of troops. The magnanimity and ability of the king of Pruffia have eminently appeared, in refifting fuch numerous armies, and furmounting fo great difficulties.

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In this fituation, I am glad to have an opportunity of receiving the trueft information of the fenfe of my people, by a new choice of their reprefentatives. I am fully perfuaded you will agree with me in opinion, that the fteady exertion of our most vigorous efforts, in every part where the enemy may still be attacked with advantage, is the only means that can be productive of fuch a peace, as may with reafon be expected from our fucceffes. It is therefore my fixt refolution, with your concurrence and fupport, to carry on the war in the most effectual manner for the intereft and advantage of my kingdoms; and to maintain, to the utmost of my power, the good faith and honour of my crown, by adhering firmly to the engagements entered into with my allies. In this I will perfevere, until my enemies, moved by their own loffes and diftreffes, and touched with the miseries of fo many nations, fhall yield to the equitable conditions of an honourable peace; in which case, as well as in the pro

fecution of the war, I do affure you no confideration whatever fhall make me depart from the true interefts of thefe my kingdoms, and the honour and dignity of my

crown.

Gentlemen of the boufe of commons,

I am heartily forry, that the neceffity of large fupplies appears fo clearly from what has already been mentioned. The proper eftimates for the fervices of the enfuing year fhall be laid before you; and I defire you to grant me fuch fupplies, as may enable me to profecute the war with vigour, and as your own welfare and fecurity, in the present critical conjuncture, require; that we may happily put the laft hand to this great work. Whatfoever you give, fhall be duly and faithfully applied.

I dare fay your affectionate regard for me and the queen, makes you go before me in what I am next to mention: the making an adequate and honourable provifion for her support, in cafe she should furvive me. This is what not only her royal dignity, but her own merit calls for; and I earnestly recommend it to your confideration

My lords and gentlemen,

I have fuch a confidence in the zeal and good affections of this parliament, that I think it quite fu perfluous to ufe any exhortations to excite you to a right conduct. I will only add, that there never was a fituation in which unanimity, firmnefs, and dispatch were more neceffary for the fafety, honour, and true intereft of Great Bri

tain.

The grant to the late queen, in cafe fhe fhould furvive his majesty, was 100,000 1. per annam, with Somerfet-house, and the lodge in Bichmond-park.

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It is impoffible to approach your royal prefence at this time, without making our firft offering to your majesty, of our moft joyful congratulations on the aufpicious occafion of your royal nuptials. We want words to defcribe how warmly we are affected with an event fo highly interefting to your majefty, and to all your faithful fubjects; or to express our gratitude to your majefty for giving us a queen, who, whilft the compleats your happiness, promifes, by every virtue and amiable accomplishment, the greatest addition to that of your people. May heaven grant the longest duration to this felicity, and may it be attended with a numerous progeny, to tranfmit the great examples of their illuftrious parents, and perpetuate the bleffings of your reign to future ages.

We thankfully acknowledge your majesty's goodness in communicating to us that overtures had been made by the feveral belligerant powers, in order to a general pacification; and by France, for a particular peace between your majefty and that crown, whereupon a negotiation had followed, which is fince entirely broke off. No other proof could be wanting to us, that the continuance of the war, and the

effufion of chriftian blood, cannot with any fhadow of juftice, be imputed to your majetty, befides the known generofity and benevolence of your innate difpofition.

Your royal wildom has appeared in nothing more, than in not fuffering your military operations to be fufpended or delayed: and we beg leave to congratulate your majefty on the prefent fignal fucceffes of your arms. Befides the important conquefts with which they have. been bleffed, your enemies have, in other parts, been made once. more to feel, that fuperior numbers: cannot avail them againft the fuperior capacity and conduct of your confummate general prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, and the unfhaken bravery of your officers and troops. We cannot fee, without admiration, thofe repeated proofs of magnanimity and ability, which your great ally, the king of Pruffia, though furrounded with fo many difficulties, has given to the world.

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Your majefty's fentiments cannot fail to have the greatest weight with us, because we are fure that they proceed upon wife principles, founded in the love of your people. is therefore from conviction, that. we declare our humble concurrence in your opinion, that it is neceffary fteadily to exert our most vigorous efforts in every part, where the enemy may fill be attacked with advantage.

We beg your majefty to accept the ftrongeft and molt affectionate affurances, that we will, with the greatest zeal and ardour, and at the hazard of every thing that is dear to us, ftand by and fupport your majesty in profecuting the war in the moft effectual manner, for the intereft of your kingdoms, and in

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performing, to the utmost of your power, your engagements to your allies; nothing being more evident than that this is the only method to procure fuch equitable and honourable conditions of peace, as may, with reason, be expected from our fucceffes.

We should be greatly wanting to ourselves, as well as to your majefty, if we did not teftify our particular thanks for your paternal goodness, in having fo exprefly declared, that both in carrying on the war, and in making peace, no confideration whatsoever fhall make you depart from the true interests of thefe your kingdoms, and the honour of your crown.

This refolution, fo truly worthy of a British monarch, and fo engaging to all your loyal fubjects, calls for adequate returns on our part. Penetrated with the livelieft fense of your unbounded tendernefs and concern for our welfare, we do, from the bottom of our hearts, affure your majefty, that we will, with the utmoft duty and zeal, correfpond to that confidence which. your majefty repofes in us, being fully perfuaded of the neceffity of unanimity, firmnefs, and difpatch, in the prefent critical fituation; and animated. thereto by the gracious admonition of the beft of kings.

His majefty's most gracious anfwer.
My lords,
I Thank you for this very dutiful
and loyal addrefs. The joy which
you exprefs upon my marriage, and
your affectionate regard for the queen,
give me the highest fatisfaction. I
make no doubt but your ready concur-
rence in my fentiments, and the be-
coming zeal which you have fo
unanimously declared for carrying on

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the war with vigour, will have a
good effect both upon our friends and
enemies, and firengthen my hands, to
pursue fuch measures as may be most
conducive to the true interests of my
kingdoms.

The address of the house of commons,
prefented Nov. 16.
Moft gracious fovereign,

tiful and loyal fubjects, E, your majelly's moft du

the commons of Great Britain in parliament affembled, beg leave to return your majefty the most humble and hearty thanks of this houfe for your most gracious fpeech from the throne.

Permit us, at this fame time, to offer to your majefty our warmest congratulations on the joyful and aufpicious event of your royal nup tials, with a princefs defcended from an illuftrious proteftant line, dif tinguifhed by the most eminent graces and endowments, and worthy to be the royal partner of your throne, by poffeffing every virtue that can adorn it.

We beg leave also to exprefs our juft fenfe of that affectionate regard which your majefty has fhewn for your people, by confulting, on this most important and interefting occafion, as on every other, their happiness, and that of their pofterity. And we affure your majefty that, with hearts, full of gratitude, for this fignal inftance of your royal attention to the welfare of your fubjects, and thoroughly fenfible of the exalted merit of your illuftrious confort, your faithful commons will not fail to make fuch honourable and ample provifion, as may enable her to fupport her royal dignity with proper luftre, in cafe the fhould furvive your ma

jefty;

jefty; for the long continuance of whofe life we fhall never cease to offer up to the divine providence our moft ardent vows.

Allow us, Sir, to return our fincere and humble thanks to your majefty, for your tender concern for the profperity of your people, in withing to reftore to them the bleflings of peace; and to declare that we cannot too much admire that humanity, fo becoming your royal breaft, which, amidst the fucceffes of your own kingdoms, feels for the calamities of other nations.

We are fully persuaded, that those beneficent difpofitions which induced your majefty to confent to the appointment of a congrefs, for a general pacification, and to enter into a negotiation with France for a particular peace, could not have failed of the defired effect, if the enemy, influenced by the fame mo. tives, had fhewn the fame good intentions, and would have complied with fuch conditions as were requifite for the accomplishment of that falutary work.

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We do most gratefully acknowledge your majefty's vigilance and firmnefs in not fuffering the hopes or expectations of peace to produce the leaft fufpenfe or relaxation in the exertion of your arms. And congratulate your majefty on thofe happy fucceffes, which, under the good providence of God, we muft afcribe to the wifdom and vigour of your majefty's measures, to which we owe the reduction of Dominica, the conquest of Belleifle, atchieved with fo much reputation to the British arms, and the deftruction of the enemy's power in the Eaft-Indies, by the acquifition of Pondicherry, their laft remaining fettlement of any ftrength in thofe countries.

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The wife and able conduct of his ferene highness prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, whereby he hath fucceffively defeated the projects of the enemy, and hath prevented their making that progrefs, which, from their fuperior numbers, they expected, together with that gracious approbation which your majefty hath been pleased to express of the valour of your troops, cannot but give the highest fatisfaction to your faithful commons; and they fee, with juft admiration, the repeated proofs, in every campaign, of that unfhaken refolution, and of those aftonishing efforts which, alone, could have enabled your majefty's great ally, the king of Pruffia, to refift the numerous forces of his enemies.

We beg leave to affure your ma jefty, of our intire concurrence and fupport in the most effectual profecution of the war, for the intereft and advantage of these kingdoms; and in maintaining, to the utmost of our power, the good faith and honour of your majefty's crown, and the engagements entered into with your allies; and that we are truly fenfible, that the conftant care and attention of your majefty to pursue the moft vigorous measures in every part where any fuccefsful impreffion can ftill be made upon the enemy, are the only means to attain that defirable object, an honourable and a lafting peace.

We receive, with the deepest gratitude, that moft endearing expreffion of your majesty's unbounded goodness and affection towards this your native country, in the folemn declaration which your majefty has been pleafed to make, that, as well in the prosecution of the war, as in

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