Anno 11 Ann. Bills. After which her Majefty made the following Speech to both Houses of Parliament: 1712. The Queen's ( My Lords and Gentlemen, HE laft Time I was here, I fpoke fo fully, and Tafterwards received from both Houfes fuch fatis factory Addreffes, that there remains little more for me to 6 fay at the Clofe of this meeting of Parliament, but to repeat my hearty Thanks for your late folemn Affurances. They will give me Strength to ftruggle with any Difficulties which may yet be raised; and I hope, that neither they who envy the making a good Peace, nor who think it their Intereft to continue the War, will be able to defeat our joint Endeavours for the Honour and Advantage of Britain, and the Security of all our Allies. • Gentlemen of the House of Commons, At the fame time that I thank you moft kindly for the Supplies you have chearfully granted, I cannot but let you know my Satisfaction in the near View I have of a Peace, ⚫ fince it will, in fome measure, recompence my Subjects for their vaft Expences, and alfo lighten that heavy Burden ་ they have borne during the War. My Lords and Gentlemen, You have expreffed how fenfible you are of the Advantage and Security which accrue to Great-Britain, and our Allies, by the Terms propofed for a Peace. And I need · not mention to you the Mifchiefs which muft follow the breaking off this Treaty. Our Burdens will be at least • continued, if not increafed; the prefent Opportunity would be irrecoverably loft, of Britain's eftablishing a real Balance ' of Power in Europe and improving our own Commerce; and if any one of our Allies fhould gain fomething by fuch a Proceeding, the reft would fuffer in the common Calamity. But I hope, by God's Bleffing, fuch fatal Designs will be difappointed. 4 You are now returning into your refpective Countries, and I perfuade myfelf, you will not be wanting in your Endeavours, to obviate the Defigns of any ill-minded Perfons, who may attempt to fow Sedition amongft my Sub"jects, and under fpecious Pretences, carry on Defigns they dare not own. I hope, at your next Meeting, there will be an Opportunity of perfecting what I have recommended to you, ⚫ which you have left unfinished in this Seffion. I cannot conclude without affuring you, that nothing 'fhall move me from fteadily pursuing the true Intereft of fo dutiful and affectionate a People. After Both Houses Afterwards, the Lord-Keeper of the Great-Seal fignify'd Anno 12 Ann. her Majesty's Pleasure, that both Houfes fhould forthwith 1713. feverally adjourn, until Tuesday the Sth day of July next, which they did accordingly. And were then prorogued. April 9. 1713. After several Prorogations (no less than five of them in March only) the Parliament met, and her Majefty delivered the following Speech to both Houses. I My Lords and Gentlemen, adjourn to the 8th of July, whereby Mr. Walpole and others are con tinued in Cufto dy Ended the laft Seffions with my hearty Thanks for the folemn Affurances you had given me, by which I hare Third Seffion 'been enabled to overcome the Difficulties contriv'd to ob- of the third Parftruct the general Peace. liament of Great-Britain. The Queen's I have deferred opening the Seffion until now, being very defirous to communicate to you, at your firft meeting, Speech to both the Succefs of this important Affair: It is therefore with Houtes. great Pleasure I tell you the Treaty is figned, and in a few Days the Ratifications will be exchanged. The Negotiation has been drawn into fo great a length, that all our Allies have had fufficient Opportunity to adjuft their feveral Interefts, though the public Charge has been thereby much encreased; yet I hope my People will be eafy under it, fince we have happily obtain'd the End < we propofed. 'What I have done for fecuring the Proteftant Succeffion, and the perfect Friendship there is between me and the 'House of Hanover may convince fuch who wish well to both, and defire the Quiet and Safety of their Country, how vain all Attempts are to divide us, and those who would make a Merit by feparating our Interefts, will ne ver attain their ill Ends. ་ • Gentlemen of the Houfe of Commons, As great a Progrefs has been made in reducing the public Expence, as the Circumftances of Affairs would admit. What Force may be neceffary for fecuring our Commerce by Sea, and for Guards and Garrifons, I leave entirely to my Parliament. Make your felves fafe, and I fhall be fatisfied. Next to the Protection of the Divine Providence, I depend upon the Loyalty and Affection of my People. I want no other Guaranty. I recommend to your Care those brave Men who have ferved well by Sea or Land this War, and cannot be im· ploy'd in Time of Peace. Í defire you to provide the Supplies you fhall judge requifite, and to give fuch Difpatch as may be neceffary for ⚫ your own Eafe and the public Service. • My Anno 12 Ann. 1713. Thanks voted, My Lords and Gentlemen, The many Advantages I have obtained for my own Subjects, have occafioned much Oppofition, and long De'lay to this Peace. It affords me great Satisfaction, that my People will have it in their power by degrees to repair what they have fuf⚫fered during fo long and burdensome a War. The eafing of our foreign Trade, as far as is confiftent ⚫ with National Credit, will deferve your Care. And to think of proper Methods for improving and en · couraging our home Trade and Manufactures, particularly the Fishery, which may be carried on to employ all our fpare Hands and be a mighty Benefit even to the remotest ♦ Parts of this Kingdom. Several Matters were laid before you laft Seffion, which the Weight and Multiplicity of other Bufinefs would not ⚫ permit you to perfect; I hope you will take a proper Opportunity to give them a due Confideration. I cannot however but exprefly mention my Difpleasure at the unparallel'd Licentioufhefs in publishing feditious ⚫ and fcandalous Libels. • The Impunity fuch Practices have met with, encourages the blafpheming every thing facred, and the propagating • Opinions tending to the Overthrow of all Religion and • Government. • Prosecutions have been ordered, but it will require fomé new Law to put a stop to this growing Evil, and your best • Endeavours in your refpective Stations to difcourage it. The impious Practice of Duelling requires fome speedy and effectual Remedy. Now we are entering upon Peace abroad, let me conjure you all to use your utmoft Endeavours for calming Men's Minds at home, that the Arts of Peace may be cul⚫tivated. Let not groundlefs Jealoufies, contrived by a Faction, ⚫ and fomented by Party-Rage, effect that which our foreign • Enemies could not. I pray God to direct all your Confultations for his Glory and the Welfare of my People." The Commons being returned to their Houfe, and their Speaker having reported to them the Queen's Speech, as ufual; Mr. Pitts made a Motion for an Addrefs of Thanks, which was carried Nemine Contradicente; and the Motion for a Claufe, That the Treaties of Peace and Commerce might be communicated to the Houfe, waved. The next Day, Mr. Pitts, Chairman of the Committee appointed to draw up the Address of Thanks, reported the fame to the House, and after after a small Debate, about the Words, to fee accomplished, Anno 12 Ann, which by a great Majority were voted to ftand, the Addrefs was agreed to; and on the 11th prefented by the whole Houfe to the Queen, as follows: 1713. Moft gracious Sovereign, we your Majefty's most dutiful The Commons and loyal Subjects, the Commons of Great-Britain in Parlia- Addrefs. ment affembled, beg leave, with all Humility, to approach your Royal Perfon with our Unanimous Acknowledgments for all the Benefits we enjoy under your Majesty's most Aufpicious Reign. The many and great Succeffes which have attended your Majefty's Arms, had left nothing to be wifhed, but fuch a Peace as might be conducted by your Councils, which now we have the Happiness to fee accomplished; and as we are truly fenfible of your Majefty's gracious and generous Intentions, in undertaking that great Work, fo we have all poffible Reason to admire your Steadiness in carrying it on, and overcoming the many Difficulties contrived to obftruct it; and it is with the higheft Satisfaction, we congratulate your Majesty upon the happy Conclufion of this Treaty: for we are fo much convinced of your Majefty's tender Regard to the public Welfare; and the many Inftances of your Wif dom have taught us to have fo perfect a Reliance upon it, that we cannot doubt but your Majefty hath procured all reasonable Satisfaction for your Allies, and eftablished the Intereft of your own Kingdoms in fuch a manner, as to make us not only. fecure for the future, but a flourishing and a happy People. Your Majefty can give no higher Proof of the Care you take of Pofterity, than by the Concern you are pleased to exprefs for the Proteftant Succeffion in the House of Hanover, upon which the future Happiness of this Kingdom fo much depends. We hope, and truft, that nothing will ever be able to interrupt the Friendship between your Majefty and that illuftrious Family, fince the wicked Designs of thofe who would endeavour to feparate your Interefts, muft be too plain ever to fucceed. Your faithful Commons can never enough express the grateful Senfe they have of the many gracious Affurances contained in your Majesty's Speech; and after what your Majefty hath done to ease your Subjects of the heavy Burden which before lay upon them, and after your unparallell'd Goodness in demanding nothing from them for the time to come, but what they themselves fhall judge requifite for their own Safety; the best Return they can make, will be a ready and dutiful Compliance with every thing you have been pleafed to recommend: and they cannot fiil most chearfully to fet about providing the Supplies neceflary for this TOME IV. U u Year's 1713. Anno 12 Ann. Year's Service. Your Majefty's repeated Condefcenfions must in the strongeft manner engage the Hearts and Affections of all your Subjects to your Majefty, and we are fatisfied we cannot more truly represent them, than by contributing our utmoft Endeavours to make your Reign as profperous, glorious and eafy to yourself, as it is beneficial and happy to your People.' Queen's An fwer. To this Addrefs the Queen was pleas'd to answer, Gentlemen, This Addrefs cannot but be very agreeable to me, as it comes from my loyal Commons; and as it is a Continuation of thofe Expreffions of Duty and Affection which you have fhewn through this whole Parliament." On the 10th, the Houfe proceeded to take into Confideration the Queen's Speech to both Houfes, and the fame being read by the Speaker, it was refolv'd, That an humble Addrefs be prefented to her Majefty, that the would be pleased to give Directions to the proper Officer, to lay before the Houfe an Account how the Money given by Parliament for the Service of the Year 1711 and 1712 had been difpos'd of. After this, a Motion being made for a Supply, the fame was put off 'till the Monday following, when in a Committee of the whole Houfe, who took her Majefty's Speech into Confideration, it was unanimoufly refolv'd, Refolution for a That a Supply be granted to her Majefty.' The Saturday Supply. before, the Commons order'd a Bill to be brought in to abolifh Tryals by fingle Combat, and to prevent the impious Prac tice of Duelling. After which, General Stanhope moved, Addrefs for the That an humble Addrefs be prefented to her Majefty, that Treaties of Peace and Commerce. fhe would be pleas'd (in due time) to communicate to the Houfe the Treaties of Peace and Commerce entred into by her Majefty with the Crown of France and Spain;' which was carried in the Affirmative, with the Addition of the Words, in due time. This Addrefs having been presented to the Queen by Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, her MaThe Queen's jefty was pleafed to anfwer, That the intended to communicate to her Parliament the Treaties this House desired, as foon as it was practicable: Which the Chancellor of the Exchequer reported to the Houfe on the 14th of April. Answer. Accounts laid before the Houfe. The Day before, Mr Lowndes prefented to the Commons, pursuant to their Addrefs to the Queen, I. An Account of the Supplies granted for 1712, and of the Ways and Means towards raifing the fame, and the Deficiency thereof. 2. An Account fhewing how the fame Supplies were appropriated, and what Iffues were made out of the fame until the 10th of April 1713; and the Remains thereof. 3. And an Account of the South-Sea Stock and Dividends thereupon, and of Moneys borrowed on South-Sea Stock 'till the 10th of April 1713. At the fame time acquainting the Houfe, That the Account of |