THE Parliamentary Register ; O R, HISTORY OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS; CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF The moft interefting SPEECHES, MOTIONS, DURING ΤΗΣ FOURTH SESSION of the FOURTEENTH PARLIAMENT O F GREAT BRITAIN: VOL. X. LONDON: Printed for J. ALMON, oppofite BURLINGTON-HOUSE, M,DCC,LXXVIII. THE HISTORY OF THE PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES Of the FOURTH SESSION of the HOUS E of LORDS OF THE Fourteenth Parliament of Great-Britain; Appointed to be held at Westminster, on Thursday the 18th day of THE King came to the Houfe of Lords, and having fent for the Commons, delivered the following fpeech to both Houses. My Lords and Gentlemen, It is a great fatisfaction to me, that I can have recourfe The King's to the wildom and fupport of my, Parliament, in this con- Speech. juncture, when the continuance of the rebellion in North America demands our moft ferious attention. The powers, which you have entrusted me with for the fuppreffion of this revolt, have been faithfully exerted; and I have a juft confidence, that the conduct and courage of my officers, and the spirit and intrepidity of my forces, both by fea and land, will, under the bleffing of Divine Providence, be attended with important fuccefs: but as I am perfuaded, that you will fee the neceffity of preparing for fuch further operations, as the contingencics of the war, and the obftinacy of the rebels may render expedient, I am for that purpofe, purfuing the proper measures for keeping my land forces complete to their prefent eftablishment; and if I fhould have occafion to increase them, by contracting any new engagements, I rely on your zeal and public fpirit to enable me to make them good. VOL. IX. B I receive I receive repeated affurances from foreign powers, of their pacific difpofitions. My own cannot be doubted: but, at this time, when the armaments in the ports of France and Spain continue, I have thought it adviseable to make a confiderable augmentation to my naval force, as well to keep my kingdoms in a respectable state of fecurity, as to provide an adequate protection for the extenfive commerce of my fubjects; and as, on the one hand, I am determined that the peace of Europe fhall not be difturbed by me, fo, on the other, I will always be a faithful guardian of the honour of the crown of Great-Britain. Gentlemen of the House of Commons, I have ordered the estimates for the enfuing year to be laid before you. The various fervices which I have mentioned to you will unavoidably require large fupplies; and nothing could relieve my mind from the concern which I feel for the heavy charge which they muft bring on my faithful people, but the perfect conviction that they are neceffary for the welfare and the effential interefts of my kingdoms. Lord Percy. My Lords and Gentlemen, I will fteadily purfue the measures in which we are engaged for the re-establishment of that conftitutional fubordination, which, with the bleffing of God, I will maintain through the feveral parts of my dominions: but I fhall ever be watchful for an opportunity of putting a ftop to the effufion of the blood of my fubje&ts, and the calamities which are infeparable from a state of war, And I ftill hope, that the deluded and unhappy multitude will return to their allegiance; and that the remembrance of what they once enjoyed, the regret for what they have loft, and the feelings of what they now fuffer, under the arbitrary tyranny of their leaders, will rekindle in their hearts a fpirit of loyalty to their fovereign, and of attachment to their mother country; and that they will enable me, with the concurrence and fupport of my Parliament, to accomplish, what 1 fhall confider as the greateft happiness of my life, and the greatest glory of my reign, the refteration of peace, order, and confidence to my American colonies. The fpeech being twice read, as usual, from the woolfack, and then by the deputy clerk of the crown, Lord Percy acquainted the House, that it had fallen to his lot to have the honour of moving an addrefs, in anfwer to the most gracious fpeech now read. He acknowledged par his own infufficiency for an undertaking which called for the moft zealous and energetic language that Houfe was capable of expreffing itfelf in. His Lordship obferved, an event had happened fince they laft fat there, which ought to give every noble Lord prefent the moft heart-felt pleasure; that was, the birth of a princess, as it was an additional fecurity to the Proteftant religion, and the enjoyment of thofe conftitutional rights which were known to be fo peculiarly the care of the amiable and virtuous fovereign on the throne, and were likely to be tranfmitted to the lateft pofterity, through his illuftrious houfe. He then applied himself ticularly to the contents of the fpeech, and paffed the higheft encomiums on the humane but firm fpirit with which it was fraught. He acknowledged his obligations in common with the officers ferving in America, for the very gracious teftimony which has been given to their fervices by their royal mafter, and the high confidence he expreffed, in the fpirit and intrepidity of his forces, both by fea and land. He lamented, as a profeffional man, what a difagreeable fituation perfons ferving in high commands ftood in, when accidents, which it was frequently not in the power of the greatest military skill or forefight to defcry or prevent, were attributed to neglect or incapacity. He lamented the fate of those brave and able men, who were thus liable to fuffer under unjust cenfures; and whofe absence in a distant country, neceffarily prevented them from having an opportunity to defend themselves. From his own knowledge, he could affirm, that they were as cruel as ill founded. It was impoffible, at this diftance, to pafs a judgment on the operations of war; it was injudicious and unfair to eftimate their propriety by the events. It was with particular fatisfaction, therefore, that he perceived his Majefty and his minifters, and he believed a very great majority of the nation, entertained fentiments of a very different kind. A great deal had been already done, confidering what great obftacles were to be furmounted; and he had the beft founded hope, he faid, that the iffue would be no lefs profperous, than the measures hitherto adopted were wife, and the execution of them honourable and glorious to thofe to whom it was entrusted. His Lordship expreffed great forrow for the occafion of the war, and the effufion of human blood, which was infeparable from fuch a flate; but he was convinced, how much foever his Majefty, the Parliament, and the nation might feel on the occafion, the temper of America made it necef B 2 fary; |