regard which the British fubjects had on every occafion fhewn for them that their high mightineffes muft be greatly aftonifhed to hear, by this memorial, of that extraordinary and unexpected event; but that they would be much more fo on reading the piece annexed to it, containing a minute account, drawn up with the ftrictest regard to truth, of the irregularity of the behaviour of the Dutch, at a time when they enjoyed all the fweets of peace, and all the advantages of an unmolefted trade; at a time, in thort, when his majefty, from his great regard to their high mightinelles, carefully avoided giving them the leaft umbrage. That his Britannic majefty was greatly ftruck to hear of the monftrous proceedings of the Dutch in the East-Indies, and their mifchievous defigns to deftroy the fettlements of his fubjects there, which they would certainly have effected, had not his majesty's victorious arms brought them to reafon, though only three of his fhips engaged feven Dutch fhips, and obliged them to conclude an accommodation: that his majefty would willingly believe that their high mightineffes gave no order for coming to fuch extremities, and that the directors of the India company had no hand therein; that, nevertheless, he (Mr. Yorke) was ordered to demand, in the name of the king his mafter, fignal fatisfaction; and that all who fhall be found to have had any fhare in this offence, which manifeftly tended to the deftruction of the British fettlements in that country, fhould be exemplarily punished; and that their high mightineffes should morcover give orders, that the ftipulation agreed on the day after the action, between the directors of the respective companies, in confideration of which the Dutch had their fhips reftored, after they had acknowledged their fault, and that they were the aggreffors, fhould be ftrictly complied with. The fubftance of the ftates general's anfwer was as follows: "That nothing had as yet come to the knowledge of their high mightinefies, of what their fubjects were charged with: that they requested his Britannic majefty to fufpend his judgment till he fhould be exactly informed of the grounds of thofe difputes; and that his majefty fhould have reafon to be fatisfied with the exemplary punishment of all who fhould be found to be concerned in that affair.". The Speech of the Lords Commiffioners appointed by his Majesty, for bolding this Parliament; delivered by the Lord Keeper to both Houses of Par·liament, on Thursday the 2nd of May 1760. My Lords, and Gentlemen, WE E have received the king's commands to put an end to this feffion of parliament; and, upon this occafion, to affure you, that his majefty looks back, with entire fatisfaction, on your proceedings during the courfe of it. The duty and affection which you have expreffed for his perfon and government, and the zeal and unanimity which you have fhewn in maintaining the true intereft of your country, can only be equalled by what his majefty has formerly experienced froin his parliament. His majefty has commanded us to acquaint you, that it would have His majefty has difpofed his fquadrons in fuch a manner as may best conduce to the annoyance of his enemies; to the defence of his dominions both in Europe and America; and to the preferving and purfuing his conquefts, as well as to the protection of the trade of his fubjects, which he has extremely at heart. given him the moft fenfible pleasure We are further commanded to acquaint you, that his majefty has taken the moft effectual care to augment the combined army in Germany; and, at the fame time, to keep up fuch a force at home, as may fruftrate any attempts of the enemy to invade these kingdoms, which have hitherto ended only in their own confufion. The royal navy was never in a more flourishing and refpectable condition; and the fignal victory obtained laft winter over the French fleet, on their own coafts, as it has added luftre to his majefty's arms, has given fresh fpirit to the maritime forces, and reduced the naval ftrength of France to a very low ebb. Gentlemen of the houfe of Commons, Nothing could relieve his majefty's royal mind, under the anxiety which he feels for the burdens of his faithful fubjects, but the publicfpirited chearfulness with which you have granted him fuch large fupplies, and his conviction that they are neceffary for the fecurity and effential interefts of his kingdoms. The king has enjoined us to return you his hearty thanks for them; and to affure you of their due application to the purposes for which they have been given. My Lords and Gentlemen, We have nothing further in command from his majefty, but to recommend to you the continuance and improvement of that union and good harmony which he has obferved with fo much pleasure, and from which he has derived fuch important effects. Make it your study to promote thefe defirable objects; to fupport the king's government, and the good order of your refpective counties; and to confult your own real happinef's and profperity. This behaviour, his majefty gracioufly affures you, will be the most acceptable demonftration of your duty to him, After which the lord keeper faid; My Lords, and Gentlemen, "It is his majefty's royal will and pleasure, that this parliament be prorogued to Thurfday the feven teenth So fudden and momentous an event, in this very critical juncture, would indeed be feverely felt by Great Britain, and her magnanimous ally, had not the goodness of Almighty God placed her fcepter in the hands of a prince, who, by his firft declaration in council, has moft graciously confirmed all the pleafing hopes which had been early entertained of his virtue, wisdom, and fortitude, as well as of his tender affection to this his native country, and regard for her most excellent conftitution, both in church and ftate. It is, therefore, with the fincereft and warmest love and veneration, that we congratulate your majesty's moft happy acceffion to the government of a free, loyal, and united people. And although we are fenfible how To the KING's Moft Excellent painful it must be to your majefty, Majefty. The humble addrefs of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons, of the city of London, in common-council affembled. Moft Gracious. Sovereign, to find your kingdoms engaged in a bloody and expenfive war, we doubt not but your majefty, jealous of the honour of your crown, and attentive to the rights and commercial interefts of your people, will ftedfattly purfue the wifdom and fpirit of thofe councils, by which cefsfully conducted, until your majefty fhall be enabled, by the divine afliftance, the tried and well regulated ardour of your fleets and armies, and the inexhauftible affection of all your fubjects, to eftablith peace upon a juft, honourable, and folid foundation. May your majefty graciously ac cept this earneft of our duty and inviolable attachment to your facred perfon and government, and our humble affurances, that as it will be our conftant prayer to the great ruler of princes, that your majesty's reign may may long continue over us, fo it fhall be always our ftudy and endeavour, by every act of zeal, gratitude, and obedience, to render it happy and glorious to your majetty. Signed by order of court, JAMES HODGES. To which addrefs his majefty was pleased to return this moft gracious anfwer. "I take very kindly your early, and warm affurances of affection for my perfon and government, and I give you my cordial thanks. Firmness of councils, fupported by fuch generous efforts of a free and united people, and feconded by fuch intrepidity and conduct in my fleets and armies, will, I truft, under the blefling of the Almighty, lead my kingdoms, in conjunction with my faithful allies, to a juft, honourable, and lafting peace. My good city of London fhall ever experience my watchful care for their liberties, commerce,, and happi nefs." They were all received very gracioufly, and had the honour to kifs his majesty's hand. careful, above all other things, to and fervice of Almighty God, and preferve and advance the honour to difcourage and fupprefs all vice, profanenefs, debauchery, and immorality, which are fo highly dif pleafing to God, fo great a reproach to our religion and government, examples of the practices thereof) and (by means of the frequent ill have fo fatal a tendency to the corruption of many of our loving fubtuoufly difpofed, and which (if not jects, otherwife religioufly and virtimely remedied) may juftly draw down the divine vengeance on us bly acknowledging, that we cannot and our kingdoms: We alfo humexpect the blefling and goodness of Almighty God (by whom kings reign, and on which we entirely rely) to make our reign happy and profperous to ourself and to our people, without a religious obfervance of God's holy laws: to the intent therefore that religion, piety, and good-manners may (according to our most hearty defire) flourish and increase under our adminiftrathought fit, by the advice of our tion and government, we have privy council, to iffue this our royal proclamation, and do hereby declare our royal purpofe and refolution to discountenance and punithall manner of vice, profanenefs, and immorality, in all perfons of whatfoever degree or quality, within this our realm, and particularly in fuch fon; and that for the encourageas are employed near our royal perment of religion and morality, we will, upon all occafions, diftin guith perfons of piety and virtue, by marks of our royal favour. And we do expect and require that all perfons of honour, or in place ample by their own virtue and of authority, will give good ex Γ piety, other diffolute, immoral, or diforderly practices; and that they take care alfo effectually to fupprefs all public gaming-houíes and places, and other lewd and diforderly houfes, and to put in execution the ftatute made in the twentyninth year of the reign of the late king Charles the Second, intituled, "An act for the better obferva"tion of the Lord's day, common" ly called Sunday:" and alfo an act of parliament made in the ninth year of the reign of the late king William the Third, intituled, "An act for the more effectual "fuppreffing of blafphemy and piety, and to their utmost contribute to the difcountenancing perfons of diffolute and debauched lives, that they, being reduced by that means to fhame and contempt, for their loofe and evil actions and behaviour, may be thereby also enforced the fooner to reform their ill habits and practices, and that the vifible difpleasure of good men towards them may (as far as it is poffible) fupply what the laws (probably) cannot altogether prevent. And we do hereby ftrictly enjoin and prohibit all our loving fubjects of what degree or quality foever, from playing on the Lord's day at dice, cards, or any other game what-." prophanenefs;" and all other laws ever, either in public or private houfes, or other places whatsoever; and we do hereby require and command them, and every of them, decently and reverently to attend the worthip of God on every Lord's day, on pain of our higheft difpleafure, and of being proceeded againft with the utmoft rigour that may be by law. And for the more effectual reforming all fuch perfons, who by reafon of their diffolute lives and converfations are a fcandal to our/kingdom, our further pleasure is, and we do hereby strictly charge and command all our judges, mayors, fheriffs, juftices of the peace, and all other our officers and minifters, both ecclefiaftical and civil, and all other our fubjects, whom it may concern, to be very vigilant and ftrict in the difcovery, and the effectual profecution and punithments of all perfons who fhall be guilty of exceffive drinking, blafphemy, profane fwearing and curting, lewdnefs, profanation of the Lord's day, or now in force for the punithing and fuppreffing any of the vices aforefaid; and alfo to fupprefs and prevent all gaming what foever in public or private houses on the Lord's day; and likewife, that they take effectual care to prevent all perfons keeping taverns, chocolate-houses, coffee-houses, or other public houfes whatsoever, from felling wine, chocolate, coffee, ale, beer, or other liquors, or receiving or permitting guests to be or remain in fuch their houfes in the time of Divine fervice on the Lord's day, as they will anfwer it to Almighty God, and upon pain of our highett difpleasure. And for the more effectual proceeding herein, we do hereby direct and command all our judges of aflizes and juftices of the peace, to give ftrict charges at their refpective aflizes and feflions, for the due profecution and punishment of all perfons that fhall prefume to offend in any of the kinds aforefaid; and alfo of all perfons, that, contrary to their duty, thall be remifs or |