5. That the fum of oue thousand three hundred and ninety-one pounds, and feven pence, out of fuch monies remaining in the receipt of the exchequer as have arifen by the duties and revenues which have been directed to be referved for the difpofition of parliament, towards defraying the neceffary expences of defending, protecting, and fecuring, the British colonies and plantations in America, be applied towards making good fuch part of the fupply as hath been granted to his majefty for maintaining his majefty's forces and garrifons in the plantations, and for provifions for the forces in North America, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and the Ceded Iflands, for the year 1777 6. That fuch of the monies as fhall be paid into the receipt of the exchequer after the 5th day of April, 1777, and on or before the 5th day of April, 1778, of the produce of the duties charged by two acts, made in the fifth and fourteenth years of his prefent majefty's reign, upon the importation and exportation of gum fenega and gum arabic, be applied towards making good the fupply granted to his majesty MAY 28. That fuch fum or fums of money, as fhall be paid into the exchequer by the executors of the late Henry Lord Holland, formerly paymafter of his majefty's forces, be applied towards making good the fupply granted to his majefty 1,391 07 1,391 0 0 200,000 O O Total of Ways and Means 12,952,534 12 12,895,543 O 2 56,991 12 63 Excels of Ways and Means Note, the vote of credit for one million, granted this feffion, for the future army extras, and expence of, and lofs by, coinage, is charged on the next aids. It appears from the above refolutions, that the additional public debt funded this year amounts to five millions, the intereft of which, at 4 per cent. per annum Together with the additional annuity of 10s. per cent. per annum, for the term of ten years (by the 1ft refolution of May 15, 1777) 200,000 25,000 225,000 This This fum (by acts paffed, in purfuance of feveral refolutions of May 15, 1777) is to be raised in the following manner: By a tax of one guinea each on all male fervants not employed in agriculture, husbandry, or trade By additional duties on glass By additional ftamp duties By a duty on auctioneers, and on goods fold by auction ICO,000 45,000 55,000 37,500 237,500 12,000 Total of new taxes From this is to be deducted the annual produce of the plate duty, which is repealed STATE STATE PAPERS. His Majesty's most gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament, on Thursday the 31st Day of October, 1776. My Lords and Gentlemen, OTHING could have afforded me fo much fatisfaction as to have been able to inform you, at the opening of this feffion, that the troubles which have fo long diftracted my colonies in North America, were at an end; and that my unhappy people, recovered from their delufion, had delivered themselves from the oppreffion of their leaders, and returned to their duty but fo daring and defperate is the fpirit of thofe leaders, whofe object has always been dominion and power, that they have now openly renounced all allegiance to the crown, and all political connection with this country they have rejected, with circumstances of indignity and infult, the means of conciliation held out to them under the authority of our commiffion; and have prefumed to fet up their rebellious confederacies for independent ftates. If their treafon be fuffered to take root, much mischief muft grow from it, to the fafety of my loyal colonies, to the commerce of my kingdoms, and indeed to the prefent fyftem of all Europe. One great advantage, however, will be derived from the object of the rebels being openly avowed, and clearly understood; we fhall have unanimity at home, founded in the general conviction of the juftice and neceffity of our measures. I am happy to inform you, that by the bleffing of Divine Providence on the good conduct and valour of my officers and forces by fea and land, and on the zeal and bravery of the auxiliary troops in my fervice, Canada is recovered; and although, from unavoidable delays, the operations at New York could not begin before the month of August, the fuccefs in that province has been fo important as to give the strongest hopes of the most decifive good confequences: but, notwithstanding this fair profpect, we muft, at all events, prepare for another campaign. I continue to receive affurances of amity from the feveral courts of Europe; and am ufing my utmost endeavours to conciliate unhappy differences between two neighbouring powers; and I ftill hope, that all misunderstandings may be removed, and Europe continue to enjoy the ineftimable bleffings of peace: I think nevertheless that, in the prefent fituation of affairs, it is expedient that we should be in a refpectable state of defence at lords fpiritual and temporal, in home. parliament affembled, beg leave to return your majefty our humble Gentlemen of the Houfe of thanks for your most gracious fpeech from the throne. Commons, I will order the estimates for the enfuing year to be laid before you. It is matter of real concern to me, that the important confiderations which I have ftated to you must neceffarily be followed by great expence: I doubt not, however, but that my faithful commons will readily and chearfully grant me fuch fupplies as the maintenance of the honour of my crown, the vindication of the just rights of parliament, and the public welfare, fhall be found to require. go My Lords and Gentlemen, In this arduous conteft I can have no other object but to promote the true interefts of all my fubjects. No people ever enjoyed more happinefs, or lived under a milder vernment, than thofe now revolted provinces the improvements in every art, of which they boaft, declare it their numbers, their wealth, their strength by fea and land, which they think fufficient to enable them to make head against the whole power of the mother-country, are irrefragable. proofs of it. My defire is to restore to them the bleffings of law and liberty, equally enjoyed by every British fubject, which they have fataily and defperately exchanged for all the calamities of war, and the arbitrary tyranny of their chiefs. Moft gracious Sovereign, It is with the trueft fatisfaction we congratulate your majesty on the fuccefs of your arms in the province of New-York, the recovery of Canada, and the fair profpect of decifive good confequences, which, under the bleffing of Divine Providence, is now opened by the firmness of your majefty's councils, the valour and good conduct of your majesty's officers and forces by fea and land, and by the zeal and bravery of the auxiliary troops your majefty's service. in We beg leave to affure your majefty, that nothing would have given us equal happiness to the having been informed by your ma that the troubles, which have fo jelly, at the opening of this feffion, long diftracted North America, had been at an end; that your majesty's unhappy people in those provinces had recovered from their delufion, and, awakened by a due fenfe of their misfortunes and mifdoings, had delivered themfelves from the oppreffion of their leaders, and were returned to their duty. While we lament that your ma jefty's humane and merciful intentions have been fruftrated by the neglect fhewn to the means of conciliation, notified under the authority of your majefty's royal commiffion, we feel the strongest indig nation at the infolent manner in which they were rejected; and we want words to exprefs our abhor. rence of the defperate fpirit of thofe overbearing men, who with an infatiable thirst of power and WE, your majesty's most du- dominion, which has uniformly tilul and loyal fubjects, re actuated all theirproceedings, have now now renounced allegiance to the crown, and all political connection with Great Britain; and, with an arrogance equal to the enormity of the attempt, left a doubt of their real defign fhould remain on the breast of any perfon whatever, have fet up their rebellious confederacies for independent ftates. We are fully aware of the mifchief which would accrue from the fuccefs of this treafon, to your majefty's loyal colonies, to the commerce of this nation, and, more remotely indeed, but not lefs certainly, to the fyftem of Europe, and to every state upon the continent of Europe poffeffed of diftant colonies. We reflect with pleasure on the folid advantage which will be derived from the object of the rebels being openly avowed and clearly understood, the unanimity which will prevail at home, founded in a conviction of the justice and neceffity of your majefty's meafures. Infpired with the fame zeal for the caufe of our country which animates the kingdom at large, we will fleadily fupport your majefty in the vindication of the honour of your crown, and the just rights of parliament, and will chearfully concur in making the neceffary provifions for thofe great purpofes. The affurances of amity, which your majefty continues to receive from the feveral courts of Europe, afford us great fatisfaction; we enter:ain the most grateful fenfe of the endeavours, which your majefty is exerting to conciliate unhappy differences between two neighbouring powers; and we trust that, by your majefty's aufpicious endeavours, these misunderstandings will be removed, and Europe continue to enjoy the ineftimable breffings of peace. Permit us, Sir, at the fame time to return your majesty our dutiful thanks for your provident attention in guarding against any events which may arise out of the prefent fituation of affairs, by keeping us in a respectable state of defence at home. With hearts full of duty and gratitude, we acknowledge the happinefs, which, under your majefty's mild government, is extended to every part of the British empire; of which the late flourishing itate of the revolted provinces, their numbers, their wealth, their ftrength by fea and land, which they think fufficient to enable them to make head against the whole power of the mother-country, fhew that they have abundantly participated. And we earneftly hope, that your majesty's paternal object of reftoring your diftracted colonies to the happy condition from which, by their own misconduct, they are wretchedly fallen, will be fpeedily attained. |