during the course of it. The zeal you have fhewn for the honour of my crown, as well as for my true interest, and that of your country, which are ever the fame, is the clearelt demonftration of that duty and affection to my perlon and government, of which you fo unanimoufly affured me at your first meeting. Nothing could fo much add to the pleasure which thefe confiderations afford me, as that I am now able to acquaint you with the great progrefs made of late by the combined army in Germany, under the command of prince Ferdinand of Brunfwick. I formerly told you, that the nature of the war, in thofe parts, had kept the campaign there ftill depending; and it now appears, to the furprize of my enemies, that the fuperior ability, and indefatigable activity of my general, and the fpirit and ardour of my officers and troops, have greatly profited of this perfeverance, notwithstanding all the difficulties arifing from the feafon.

By your affistance, I have taken the belt care to recruit that army in an effectual manner; and have made fuch a difpofition of my fleet for the next fummer, as may molt advantageously defend my kingdoms; protect the commerce of my fubjects; maintain and extend our poffeffions, and acquifitions; and annoy the enemy.

As in all my measures I have nothing in view but the fecurity and felicity of my dominions, the fup. port of my allies, and the reftoring of the public tranquillity, I truft in the divine providence to give a hap. py iffue to our farther operations.

Gentlemen of the house of commons. "I cannot fufficiently thank you for your unanimity and difpatch, in providing for the expences of my civil government, and the honour

and dignity of the crown and I think myfelf as much obliged to you, for the prudent ufe, which, in framing that provifion, you have made of my confent to leave my own hereditary revenues to fuch dif-, pofition of parliament, as might beft conduce to the utility and fatisfaction of the public, as for what. more immediately concerns myfelf.

In making my acknowledgments, for the large and extenfive fupplies which you have granted me this feffion, I am at a lofs whether moit to applaud your chearfulness in giving, or your wifdom in proportioning them to the extraordinary occafions of the public, notwithstanding thofe uncommon burthens, which I heartily regret, No care fhall be

wanting on my part, to fee them duly applied to the national ends for which you intended them.

My lords and gentlemen,

The expiration of this parliament now drawing very near, I will forthwith give the neceffary orders for calling a new one: but I cannot take my leave of you, without returning my thanks for the many eminent proofs you have given of your fidelity and affection to my family and government, and of your zeal for this happy and excellent conftitution.

During this parliament, the flame of war was kindled by the injurious encroachments and ufurpations of our enemies; and therefore it became juft and neceffary on our part. In the profecution of it you have given fuch fupport to my royal grandfather and myself, and fuch affistance to our allies, as have manifefted your publick-fpirited concern for the honour of the nation, and the maintenance of its undoubted rights and poffeffions, and been attended with glorious fucceffes, and great

[R] 3

acqui

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 fubjects.

May God Almighty grant continuance to thefe fucceffes! The ufe which I propofe to make of them is, to fecure and promote the welfare of my kingdoms, and to carry on the war with vigour, in or der 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 thefe refolutions, I do, with entire confidence, rely on the good difpofitions of my faithful fubjects in the choice of their reprefentatives; 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, My lords and gentlemen, It is his majefty's royal will and pleafure, 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.

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 distinguished 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 earnest wish, that this first period of my reign might be marked with another felicity; the reftoring 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 pleafed God to grant us farther important fucceffes, by the conquefts of the islands of Belleifle and Dominica; and by the reduction

reduction of Pondicherry, which hath in a manner annihilated the French power in the East 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 diftinguished capacity of my general prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, and by the valour of my troops. The magnanimity and ability of the king of Pruffia have eminently appeared, in refifting fuch numerous armies, and furmounting fo great difficulties,

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 ftill 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 utmoft 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 cafe, 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 these my kingdoms, and the honour and dignity of my crown.

Gentlemen of the house 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 prefent 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 fupport, in cafe fhe fhould furvive me. This is what not only her royal dignity, but her own merit calls for; and I earnefly recommend it to your confideration *.

[R] 4

The

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 reafon, be expected from our fucceffes.

We should be greatly wanting to ourfelves, as well as to your majelly, if we did not teflify our particular thanks for your paternal goodnefs, in having fo exprefly declared, that both in carrying on the war, and in making peace, no confideration whatfoever shall make you depart from the true interefts 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 fenfe of your unbounded tenderness and concern for our welfare, we do, from the bottom of our hearts, affure your majefty, that we will, with the utmost duty and zeal, correfpond to that confidence which your majefly repofes in us, being fully perfuaded of the neceflity of unanimity, firmness, and difpatch, in the prefent critical fituation; and animated thereto by the gracious admonition of the beft of kings.

His majesty's most gracious anfwer. My lords,

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 interefts of my kingdoms.

The address of the house of commons, prefented Nov. 16.

Moft gracious fovereign,

tiful and loyal_fubjects, E, your majetty'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 house for your most gracious speech 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 nuptials, with a princefs defcended from an illuftrious proteftant line, diftinguished 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 express our juft fenfe of that affectionate regard which your majefty has fhewn for your people, by confulting, on this most important and interesting occafion, as on every other, their happiness, and that of their pofterity. And we affure your majesty 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 provision, as may enable her to fupport her royal dignity with proper luftre, in cafe fhe fhould furvive your ma

jesty;