Vol. IX.

On the 21st of March, Mr. Speal alone, and then the other Members, to the Oaths, and made and fubfcribed Declaration, and took and fubfcribed Oath of Abjuration, according to the La made for those Purposes: As did oth Members the 22d, 23d, and followi Bill to prevent Days. On the 23d a Bill for the more effec ftealing and al preventing and punishing the Stealing a unlawful kil Unlawful Killing of Cattle, was read the fi ling of Cattle. Time, and order'd a Second Reading; ter which Mr. Speaker having reported the House His Majefty's Speech, Rob Walpole, Efq; ftood up, and made a ve eloquent Speech, in which he fet forth lively Colours, the great Happiness thefe Nations by His Majefty's feafonal Acceffion to the Crown; ran thro' the M managements of the Four Laft precedi Mr. Walpole Years; and concluded with a Motion for moves an Ad- Addrefs of Thanks to the King, conform drefs of Thanks ble to the feveral Heads of His Majeft

Refolution for it.

Speech. He was feconded by the Lord
chingbroke; and none but Sir W---W-
-ke having rais'd any Objection again
Mr. Walpole's Motion, it was refolv'd,
'That an humble Address be prefent
to His Majesty, to exprefs our juft Sen
of the Divine Providence, in placi
His Majesty on the Throne of his And
• ftors:
To return, His Majefty t
Thanks of this Houfe for his Moft Gr
'cious Speech from the Throne; for h
Aflurances that the establish'd Conftit
tion in Church and State fhall be t
Rule of his Government; and for h
Goodness exprefs'd to thofe who difti

guifh'd themselves by their Zeal and Vol. IXFirmnefs for the Protestant Succeffion:

To exprefs our Concern, that any Conditions of the late Peace effential to the Se'curity and Trade of GREAT BRITAIN, " are not yet duely executed: That fuch Alliances have not been formed, as are neceflary to render the Peace durable; That our Manufactures and Navigation are in fuch hazard by the Difficulties 'brought upon our Commerce: And that the Publick Debts are greatly encreas'd even fince the Ceflation of Arms: To declare our highest Refentment against the prefumptuous Declaration of the Pretender, and the Encouragement he boasts L to have receiv'd from hence: And to af fure His Majefty, that we will demonftrate our juft Senfe of the great Bleffings ' derived to thefe Nations in the Perfon of the Prince of Wales and his Iffue, by en'abling His Majefty to fupport the Diguity ' of the Crown, and to make an honoura 'ble Provifion for the Royal Family And that we will likewife grant fuch Supplies as shall be neceflary for the Service of the Year, and for maintaining Parliamentary • Credit: And will fupport His Majefty in 'fuch Alliances as he fhall judge neceffary 'to make for preferving the Peace of

EUROPE.

This Vote being pafs'd, a Committee was appointed to draw up the faid Addrefs, of which Mr. Walpole was chofen Chairman: And then, according to Cuftom, the House appointed the Five Grand Committees for Religion, Grievances, Courts of

Vol. IX. and Fufice, Trade, Privileges, and Elections; pass'd several Resolutions about Elections; and made the ufual Regulations relating to the Sitting of the House.

March 24.

Houfe.

The nextDay, fome Commiffioners of the Cuftoms attended, and prefented to the Houfe, according to former Standing Orders, a Report of the Commiffioners of Accounts of the Cuftoms, with feveral Accounts of ProProhibited E. hibited Eaft India Goods. Then the India Goods Houfe taking notice, by the Book of Relaid before the turns, that the Sheriff of the County of Leicester had not return'd any Knights of the Shire to ferve in this Parliament, for the faid County, and that he had made a Special Return why he had not return'd fuch Knights; the faid Special Return was read, by which he certify'd, That he was affaulted in the Execution of the Writ, and that the Election was prevented by Riots. And the House being inform'd, that there had been Two Petitions left with the Clerk of the Houfe (pursuant to a Standing Order of the House) relating to the Proceedings in the Execution of the Writ, directed for the Election of Knights of the Shire for the faid County, viz. Ă Petition of George Astby, Efq; and Tho. Byrd, Efq; and alfo a Petition of Sir George Beaumont, Bart. James Winstanley, William Inge, and Samuel Bracebridge, Efqrs; on behalf of themfelves, and feveral other Freeholders of the County of Leicester: Thefe Petitions being read, it was order'd, That Mr. The Leicefter Speaker do iffue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a New Writ,

Election de

clared void.

for

for the electing Knights of the Shire for Vol. IX. the faid County of Leicester; 2. That the Matter of the faid Special Return be taken into confideration upon Monday Fortnight, and 3dly, That Mr. William Baresby, Under-Sheriff of the County of Leicester, do attend this Houfe upon that Day. After this the Houfe taking alfo notice by the Book of Returns, that there was no Return made for the County of Cumberland, order'd, That the Sheriff of that County Sheriff of the 'do forthwith attend this Houfe, to give C. of Cuman Account why there was no Return of der'd to give 'Members for the faid County.' Then an Account Mr. Walpole reported from the Committee why he rebeforemention'd, the Addrefs of Thanks turn'd no to be presented to His Majefty, as follows: Members for Molt Gracious Sovereign,

Y

berland or

that County. The Commons

Our Majesty's most dutiful and loyal Sub- Addrefs of jects, the Commons of Great Britain in Fhanks to the Parliament affembled, return Your Majesty King. their unfeigned Thanks for your Most Gracious Speech from the Throne.

'Tis with inexpreffible Foy, that we approach Your Majesty, peaceably feated upon the Throne of your Royal Ancestors; and being thoroughly fenfible of the many open and fecret Practices that have of late Years been used to defeat the Proteftant Succeffion, we cannot fufficiently adore the Divine Providence, That jo feafonably interpofed, and faved this Nation, by Your Majesty's happy Acceffion to the Crown.

Your faithful Commons receive, with the highest Gratitude, your most gracious Affurances, That the established Conftitution in Church and State fhall be the Rule of your Government; and the Safety, Eafe, and Profperity of your Ee2 People,

Vol. IX. People, the chief Care of your Life. We are fenfible of your Goodness expreffed to those wha have diftinguished themselves by their Zeal and Firmness for the Proteftant Succeffion: And as we doubt not but the Wisdom and Steddinefs of Jour Government will unite the Hearts of all your faithful Subjects in Duty and Affection to your facred Perfon, fo we most humbly beg leave to affure Your Majesty, that we not only highly refent the wicked Infinuations used to difquiet the Minds of your Subjects, but are refolved, to the utmost of our Power, to fupprefs and extinguish that evil Difpofition that is still at work to deprive Your Majesty of the Affections of your People.

We are fenfibly touched not only with the Difappointment, but with the Reproach brought upon the Nation by the unfuitable Conclufion of a War, which was carry'd on at fo vašt an Expence, and was attended with fuch unparallel'd Succeffes: But as that Dishonour cannot in Justice be imputed to the whole Nation, fo we firmly hope and believe, that thro' Your Majesty's great Wisdom, and the faithful Endeavours of your Commons, the Reputation of these your Kingdoms will in due time be vindicated and restored.

We are under Astonishment to find, that any. Conditions of the late Peace, effential to the Security and Trade of Great Britain, should not yet be duely executed; and that care was not taken to form fuch Alliances, as might have render'd that Peace not precarious. And as no Care fhall be wanting in your loyal Commons to enquire into thefe fatal Miscarriages, so we entirely rely on Tour Majesty's Wisdom, to enter into fuch Alliances as you fhall judge neceffary to

preferve