and that your Majesty will be graciously pleased, to shew this indulgence to your faithful Commons, am I, Sir, an humblé suitor to you, for their sakes and my own, that their debates, the order, the decorum, and the dignity of their assembly, and thereby the great affairs of the kingdom, may not suffer through my inabilities; nor I sink under the weight of so unequal a burthen, but to be left to perform my duty to your Majesty and the public, in a way more suited to my capacity. But what, Sir, above all renders me most improper for this high station, and creates the greatest dread on my mind, is my unfitness to approach your sacred person, and to represent your Commons as they ought ever to appear before the Majesty of their Sovereign.

"It is, Sir, for these reasons, that I once more crave leave to implore your Majesty's goodness, to command your Commons to do what they can very easily perform; to make choice of another person, more proper for them to present to your Majesty on this great @ccasion."

The Lord Chancellor, receiving directions from his Majesty, said,

"Mr. Onslow,

"I am commanded by his Majesty to acquaint you, that he well approves of the decent and modest manner of excusing yourself: but doth not admit the excuse; for, being perfectly satisfied with the choice the House of Commons have made, his Majesty does allow and confirm you to be their Speaker."

Then Mr. Speaker said,

And

"Your Majesty having been pleased to approve the Choice your Commons have made, is a command upon me, and makes it my duty to submit. I do, therefore, Sir, with all thankfulness, acknowledge your Majesty's grace, in conferring this undeserved honour upon me; and do here beg leave to assure your Majesty of my best endeavours to discharge, if I cannot with ability, yet with impartiality and uprightness of heart, this great trust, which the Commons have committed to me, and which has now received your royal confirmation. for my encouragement herein, permit me, great Sir, to beseech your Majesty's pardon on my failings and infirmities; at least, that your Majesty will not impute them in any wise to your faithful Commons. And, that they may be the better enabled to do their duty to your Majesty and their country, I do, in their name, and on their behalf, by humble petition to your Majesty, lay claim to all their ancient Rights and Privileges: particularly, That their persons, their servants, and their estates, may be 'free from arrests and all molestations: That they may enjoy freedom of speech, for the better management of their debates; and have liberty of access to your royal person, when 6 occasion shall require it. And that all their 'proceedings may receive from your Majesty "the most favourable construction.'

The Lord Chancellor, by his Majesty's further commands, said,

"Mr. Speaker,

"His Majesty is graciously pleased to grant to the House of Commons all the privileges you have asked in their name, in the most full, ample, and beneficial manner, they have been at any time granted or allowed by any of his royal predecessors; and as to yourself, his Majesty is so entirely satisfied of your dutiful affection to his service, that he will, on all occasions, make the best and most favourable construction of all your words and actions, in the execution and performance of this great trust, as Speaker of the House of Commons."

Then his Majesty was pleased to speak as folThe King's Speech on Opening the Session.]

lows:

"My Lords, and Gentlemen;

"It is a great satisfaction to me, that, at the meeting the first parliament summoned and convened by my authority, I am able to give you hopes of seeing the public peace and tranquillity very soon restored. I.very much wished that the first period of my reign might have been distinguished by putting an immediate end to the troubles and disorders of Europe, by a reduction of some part of my forces, a diminution of taxes, and all the happy consequences of an honourable and established peace, to which my endeavours have in no manner heen wanting, as far as was consistent with maintaining the possessions, rights, und privileges, of my kingdom; and, I promise myself, not without great probability of success.

"I am very sensible of the disagreeable and uneasy situation in which our affairs have been for some time; and have been extremely concerned to see many of the inconveniencies of a war attending us, without any, opportunity of resenting the injuries we sustained, or gaining of those advantages in return, which the vigorous prosecution of so just a cause, and the success of our arms, might probably have secured to us.

"But you are sufficiently apprized that Preliminary Articles for a general pacification were some time ago signed and accepted by the contracting parties on both sides; and although the ratifications of them had been exchanged by me and my allies with his Imperial Majesty, the good effects expected from them were retarded by the refusal on the part of Spain to execute some of the most material points contained in them, and by endeavours to alter and explain some articles in such a manner as immediately affected the possessions and the just rights of my kingdom. I therefore jointly with my allies, declined exchanging the ratifications of the preliminaries with the court of Spain; and rejected all such propositions as were detrimental and injurious to my honour, and the interest of my people.

"By these means, the negotiations were un

avoidably carried into a tedious length; which I endured with the greater patience, from an earnest desire to procure to my subjects a safe and honourable peace, and to see the tranquillity of Europe preserved and settled upon a solid and lasting foundation: during which time, I received from the most Christian King and the States General the greatest proofs of their sincerity, and a renewal of the strongest assurances imaginable, that they would effectually make good all their engagements in support of the common cause, and of our mutual interests; and I am very glad that I can acquaint you, that our joint endeavours have had so good an effect, that by the last advices from abroad, I have great reason to hope that the difficulties, which have hitherto retarded the execution of the preliminaries and the opening of the Congress, will soon be entirely removed. "However, it will in the mean time be absolutely necessary to continue, as our allies have already resolved to do, the preparations which have hitherto been our security, and prevented an open rupture in Europe, that we may not at once lose all the advantages which our former expences and vigour have so nearly procured, by not being in a condition, if that necessity should unexpectedly be brought upon us, to vindicate our honour, and assert our

rights and you may depend upon it, that my first care shall be, to reduce, from time to time, the expence of the public, as often and as soon as the interest and safety of my people will permit it.

"The Preliminary Articles, and such other Treaties and Conventions as have not yet been communicated to Parliament, and which may without manifest prejudice be exposed to public view, shall be laid before you.

"Gentlemen of the House of Commons; "I have given orders to the proper officers, to prepare and lay before you Estimates of the Expences for, the service of the current year; and you may be assured, that the Supplies, which I find myself obliged to demand of you, shall as certainly, as they do exceed my wishes and inclinations, be employed solely for the interest and security of the nation; and I make no doubt, but that if any method can be found out for raising the necessary supplies, less grievous to my people than another, that will have the preference in all your delibera

tions:

"I think myself obliged to recommend to you a consideration of the greatest importance, and I should look upon it as a great happiness, if, at the beginning of my reign, I could see the foundation laid of so great and necessary a work as the Increase and Encouragement of our Seamen in general, that they may be invited, rather than compelled by force and violence, to enter into the service of their country, as often as occasion shall require it; a consideration worthy of the representatives of a people great and flourishing in trade and navigation.

"This leads me to mention to you the case

of Greenwich Hospital, that care may be taken, by some addition to that Fund, to render comfortable and effectual that charitable provision for the support and maintenance of our Seamen, worn out and become decrepit by age and infirmities in the service of their country.

"My Lords, and Gentlemen;

"As I have great hopes that a general pacification will be now obtained, by a speedy execution of the Preliminaries; I am satisfied that nothing will more effectually contribute to, and secure, this desirable end, than such an unanimity, zeal, and dispatch of the public business in this parliament, as may convince the world, that none among you are capable, out of any views or considerations whatsoever, to wish the distress of their country, or to give an occasion, from the prospect of difficulties that may arise, and be fomented here at home, to interrupt or disappoint our present promising expectations: this it is in your power to defeat; and this I depend upon, from your known zeal and affection to my person and government, and your hearty concern for the interest and welfare of my people."

Which being ended; his Majesty was pleased to retire; and the Commons withdrew. The Lords' Address of Thanks.] The Lords which, on the 29th, was presented as follows: unanimously voted an Address of Thanks,

"Most Gracious Sovereign,

"We your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in parliament assembled, beg leave to return your Majesty the humble Thanks of this House, for your most gracious Speech from the throne, and to congratulate your Majesty upon the great hopes you have been pleased to communicate to us, of seeing the public peace and tranquillity very soon restored.

"These, we must humbly acknowledge, are the happy consequences of that spirit and resolution, with which your Majesty has asserted your rights as Sovereign of this kingdom, tempered with a noble self-denial of all the success and glory that might attend your Majesty's arms, in the prosecution of a just and necessary war, when put in balance with the ease, quiet, and prosperity of your subjects. It is a disposition of mind truly great in your Majesty, a Prince so early initiated in the art of war, and formed by nature for the greatest military achievements, to choose rather to procure peace for your subjects, than to lead them to victories; and to adorn your reign with the sincere and grateful acclamations of a happy people, rather than the splendour of triumphs.

"Your Majesty's tender and indulgent care for the welfare of your kingdoms, has induced you to express so kind and affectionate a con

This Speech, which was, in general, looked upon as what the public called an honest one, and was acknowledged to be very little dashed with ministerial brewage, had a very good effect." Tindal.

sented on the 2nd of February as fol

lows:

"We are sensible of the unwearied and uninterrupted care with which your Majesty, ever since we have enjoyed the blessings of your reign, has laboured to put an end to the disputes, and restore the tranquillity of Europe; of the desire you have had to free your people from all the burthens occasioned by impending war, and to procure to them all the happy consequences of a safe, honourable, and established peace; and we think it as impossible that any difficulties should arise, to prevent us feeling the good effects to be expected from your prupence, as it is for any event to make us forget the marks we have already received of your affection.

"The firmness your Majesty has shewn in absolutely refusing to admit of any explanations of preliminaries, derogatory to the honour, or prejudicial to the interest of this na

on his late Majesty and his ministers; and thence he took occasion to launch out into many invectives, and among other things, taxed our squadrons with being useless and insignificant, for that we might have rifled the galleons at Carthagena, and plundered Portobello; and have had those riches in our hands to dispute with the Spaniards, &c. Sir W. Wyndham seconded him, and added that by our languid and lifeless way of proceeding, we did no more than remove the negociations from Paris and Madrid to Cambray, and that he could not see by this slow method, that we were any thing near getting out of our difficulties. But these declamations were received so ill by the House, and raised so much indignation, that the opposite party had not the courage to offer at any division, so that your lordship may be assured that the opening of this Parliament has been most auspicious for the King and his affairs, and there is no question but it will continue so: only your lordship will observe, and my lord thinks you may well take notice of it to the Cardinal, that instead of the vivacities some take us to have, how the King's ministers are accused of languidness and want of spirit. And as sir William Wyndham is an intimate friend of lord Bolingbroke's, my lord believes that they pass with him too as not having vivacity enough. I hope this will encourage your lordship and all our friends."-George Tilson (under Secretary of State) to the Earl of Waldegrave. Coxe's Walpole.

you to submit to the demands of others, or recede from your own in any point, where our possessions were invaded, our interest struck at, or our privileges disputed.

"And since this stand, which your Majesty, in justice to yourself and regard to your people, thought fit to make, has not broke off the accommodation, but only retarded it for our advantage; we beg leave to congratulate your Majesty upon the near prospect of that success in your negotiations, which cannot more effectually fulfil our wishes, as the earnest of our prosperity, than it answers our expectations in demonstrating your wisdom.

"But in case your Majesty's expectations of seeing the public peace and tranquillity soon restored, should still be disappointed; that your people may no longer continue in that uncertainty, in which the policy of others may endeavour to keep us; and that we may be in a condition to do ourselves justice, should that necessity unexpectedly be brought upon us, we are determined, out of regard to our own interest, as well as that we shall ever pay to your Majesty's honour, most effectually to enable you to do yourself right, and to assert and to maintain all the possessions, advantages, and privileges of your people.

"Whatever Supplies therefore may be wanted for the service of the current year, your Commons will, with the utmost chearfulness and unanimity, grant; being assured no Aid will ever be demanded by your Majesty of your subjects, but what you judge absolutely neces sary for their own interest and security. And as we are determined, in whatever Supplies we raise, to have regard to such methods as shall be least grievous to your people; so we have the greatest satisfaction in thinking we may en tirely depend on your Majesty's justice and wisdom, that whatever we do grant, will be constantly applied in the manner that will be most beneficial to them. Neither had we the least doubt, before we received your Majesty's most gracious promise, but that your Majesty, from your paternal goodness to your people, would, from time to time, take every opportunity to make all such reductions of the public expences, as should be for our present ease, without endangering our future safety.

"The assurances your Majesty has given us of the sincerity and steadiness, with which you are satisfied all your allies are determined, in all events to adhere to their engagements, and espouse the common.cause, gave us the greatest satisfaction; and let the future dangers and difficulties that may yet arise, impossible to be foreseen, be ever so formidable or ever so numerous, we do not imagine there can be any which your Majesty's prudence, caution, abi

"It is an indispensible duty of those, who have a just sense of the great importance of the Trade and Navigation of this kingdom, to provide proper encourageinents for our Seamen; and common justice requires that we should take a compassionate care of those, who by misfortunes in their brave and faithful services to their country, are become equally incapable of continuing those services, or providing for themselves: we beg leave therefore to assure your Majesty, that we will take this matter into our consideration, and on this, as well as every other occasion, pay the deference and regard due to your Majesty's most gracious recommendation.

"If there are any so ill informed of the steady affection of your Commons, as vainly to place their hopes on any disputes or differences that might arise amongst us, we are determined, by a hearty, zealous and general concurrence in all our deliberations, for your Majesty's interest and the public welfare, effectually to disappoint such ill grounded expectations; and we are satisfied we cannot give better evidence of our love to our country, than by constant demonstrations of our duty to the best of kings: And as your Majesty's endeavours have been, and, we are persuaded, ever will be, to preserve us a free, and establish us a happy people, so we should think ourselves undeserving all the benefits and blessings of your reign, were it possible we could ever be wanting in the least point, on our part, to make it as great, happy and glorious, as that of any of your royal predecessors."

whole House on the Supply, considered of the Estimate of the Charge of the Guards, Gar risons, and other his Majesty's Land Forces in Great Britain, for the year 1728; and a motion being made, That the number of effective men, be 22,955; the same met with opposition some members insisting, that the 8,000 Augmentation-troops, raised last year, should be

"Until the death of George the First, the component parts of this heterogeneous body, which consisted of a few disappointed Whigs, Tories, and Jacobites, did not cordially coalesce. Many of those Whigs and moderate Tories, who looked up to that event as a prelude to their own admission into the ministry, kept aloof from those who, as being professed Jacobites, or violent Tories, could not expect the same success. But no sooner had the continuance of Walpole in office annihilated their hopes, than the whole body became compact and united. In this respect the Whigs became Tories, the Tories Whigs; and the Jacobites assumed every shape which tended to promote their views, by distressing government, and harassing the minister, whom they considered as the great supporter of the house of Brunswick.

"Gentlemen;

"I give you my Thanks for this very loyal and affectionate Address. Such returns of duty and gratitude from my faithful Commons would add, if any thing possibly could, to my resolutions of promoting and consulting upon all occasions the welfare and prosperity of my people. The entire confidence you place in me will engage me more strictly to make use of the power and trust you shall repose in me, for your interest, and to your satisfaction; and you shall always find my readiness to ease and réduce the expences of the public to your expectations.'

"It was at this period, in which Walpole, confiding on the support of queen Caroline, took the lead in the administration, and became in reality the first minister, although lord Townshend still ostensibly retained the name; that the Opposition began to form itself into consistency, and to compose a firm and compact phalanx, which resisted all the efforts and influence of the minister to divide them, and which finally drove him from the helm. VOL. VIII.

their employments, because they were protected by the Hanover junto. This body of Whigs, small but of considerable eminence, remained his enemies to the time of the king's death, watching for every opportunity to ruin him; and from the accession of George the Second, commenced the opposition which became afterwards so troublesome and formidable. Pulteney was the great leader of this body; under him were ranged his kinsman Daniel Pulteney, sir John Barnard, Sandys, and afterwards lord Polwarth, Pitt, Littleton, and the Grenvilles. Sir William Wyndham was the great chief of the Tories, and William Shippen was at the head of the Jacobites, who did not form less than fifty members. Those who supported the minister were lord Hervey, whose character and talents have been scandalously depreciated by Pope, Henry Pelham, sir William Yonge, whom Johnson calls the best speaker in the House of Commons, Winnington and his brother Horace Walpole, whose talents for negotiation, indefatigable assiduity in business, and acquaintance with foreign transactions, rendered him an able coadjutor." Coxe's Walpole. 2 T

J