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land revenue, to whose skill, diligence, and integrity, no exception has been made.(Signed)-Loughborough, Carlisle, Port

ing to the Crown, which is neither conformable to the usual course of parliamentary proceeding, nor consistent with the respect due to the immediate possessions of the Crown.

2. "Because the sale directed by the Bill is injurious to the Crown, without being beneficial to the subject; it is not restrained to the rents remaining unsold (if there be any such), under the directions of the Acts 22d and 23d of Cha. 2. But these Acts are by this Bill expressly repealed, a new power is created for the sale of Crown-rents under the survey of the Exchequer, without any exception of rents within the principality of Wales, or those paid in name of tithe by the ecclesiastical persons; of those charged with the support of schools, hospitals, bridges, of those paid by freehold or copyhold tenants of manors belonging to the Crown; neither is there any saving of the rights of the Queen's majesty, nor do any protect the subject against the claim of rents not put in charge within 40 years; all which exceptions and reservations were inserted in the Acts now repealed.

3. "Because the powers of survey given to the commissioners are dangerous to the quiet of the subject, and derogatory to the honour of the Crown. Commissions of inquiry are directed to be issued by the Court of Exchequer on the mere motion of the commissioners, without any other form of judicial proceeding, or any at tention to the ancient Court of the Exchequer, whereby all estates contiguous to any forest or lands belonging to the Crown, are subject, at their pleasure, to an inquisition into ancient boundaries, supposed encroachments, and concealed titles; by the powers of inspection and control, which on a supposition of abuses not stated, are given to these commissioners. The tenants of the Crown may be restrained from their accustomed privileges, in the occupation and renewal of their estates, and the management of the Crown lands, which, with a just and becoming confidence, is in the most ample terms reserved to his Majesty, by the first act of his reign, in the 9th and 10th sections, is submitted to the censure of the commissioners, not appointed or removable by the Crown.

4. "Because every just purpose which the appointment of commissioners can reach, might, without expense to the public, have been attained, by calling for the reports of the officers of his Majesty's [VOL. XXVI. ]

land, Sandwich, Chr. Bristol."

The King's Speech at the Close of the Session.] July 11. The King went to the House of Lords, and made the following Speech to both Houses:

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My Lords, and Gentlemen;

"I cannot close this session of parliament without expressing the particular satisfaction with which I have observed your diligent attention to the public business, and the measures you have adopted for improving the resources of the country. "Gentlemen of the House of Commons;

"I thank you for the supplies which you have granted for the service of the current year, and for the provision you have made for discharging the incumbrances on the revenue applicable to the uses of my civil government: the most salutary effects are to be expected from the plan adopted for the reduction of the national debt; an object which I consider as inseparably connected with the essential interests of the public.

"My Lords, and Gentlemen;

"The assurances which I continue to receive from abroad promise the continuance of general tranquillity. The happy effects of peace have already appeared in the extension of the national commerce; and no measures shall be wanting on my part which can tend to confirm these advantages, and to give additional encouragement to the manufactures and industry of my people."

The Parliament was then prorogued to the 14th of September; and was afterwards further prorogued to the 23d of January, 1787.

FOURTH SESSION

OF THE

SIXTEENTH PARLIAMENT

OF

GREAT BRITAIN.

King's Speech on Opening the Session.] January 23, 1787. His Majesty came to the House of Peers, and opened the session with the following Speech to both Houses:

"My Lords and Gentlemen; "I have particular satisfaction in acquainting you, that, since I last met you [P]

in parliament, the tranquillity of Europe has remained uninterrupted, and that all foreign powers continue to express their friendly disposition to this country.

"I have concluded a treaty of navigation and commerce with the Most Christian King; a copy of which shall be laid before you. I must recommend it to you to take such measures as you shall judge proper for carrying it into effect; and I trust you will find that the provisions contained in it are calculated for the encouragement of industry, and the extension of lawful commerce in both countries, and by promoting a beneficial intercourse between our respective subjects, appear likely to give additional permanence to the blessings of peace. I shall keep the same salutary objects in view, in the commercial arrangements which I am negociating with other powers.

"I have also given directions for laying before you a copy of a convention agreed upon between me and the Catholic King, for carrying into effect the sixth article of the last treaty of peace.

"Gentlemen of the House of Commons; "I have ordered the estimates for the present year to be laid before you, and I have the fullest reliance on your readiness to make due provision for the several branches of the public service.

"The state of the revenue will, I am persuaded, continue to engage your constant attention, as being essentially connected with the national credit, and the prosperity and safety of my dominions.

"My Lords and Gentlemen; "A plan has been formed, by my direction, for transporting a number of convicts, in order to remove the inconvenience which arose from the crowded state of the gaols in different parts of the kingdom; and you will, I doubt not, take such farther measures as may be necessary for this purpose.

"I trust you will be able, in this session, to carry into effect regulations for the ease of the merchants, and for simplifying the public accounts in the various branches of the revenue; and I rely upon the uniform continuance of your exertions in pursuit of such objects as may tend still farther to improve the national resources, and to promote and confirm the welfare and happiness of my people."

Debate in the Lords on the Address of Thanks.] His Majesty having retired,

The Earl of Rochford rising, remarked,

that whilst he presumed to trespass upon the time and patience of their lordships, he was not in the least unconscious that if the business of the present day required support from powers of argument or strokes of eloquence, it would much more become him to preserve a modest silence, and leave the task of deep investigation and mature decision to those possessed of influence and abilities, which he must constantly despair of reaching. But the occasion carried with it a full apology for his intrusion; and certainly if ever a moment could arise to countenance his speaking, it was the present, when the grateful voice of an affectionate and loyal people became unanimously busied to express their exultatfon at the escape which his Majesty, protected by Providence, had made from the hand of assassination, and when all men must perceive with satisfaction and joy, that the valuable and dear life, thus providentially preserved, was still graciously employed for the welfare of these kingdoms. The objects to which his Majesty had turned his attention, and to which he called theirs, were important and necessary. That the prosperity of this commercial country might still farther be promoted, his Majesty had availed himself of peace with the Most Christian King, to secure and extend the happiness and glory of his dominions by a commercial treaty, of which he would only say at this time, that when its merit should be made a subject of investigation and discussion, it would, he doubted not, meet with their lordships approbation and applause. The steps taken for carrying into execution the sixth article of the convention with Spain, were a part of the same liberal plan, which embraced the security and extension of commerce, so essential to the interests of a great and trading nation. And the measures pursued for clearing the gaols of the number of felons with which they were crowded, would shew, that no object connected with the safety and happiness of the nation escaped his Majesty's attention. With regard to the finances and revenues of the country, it was needless to observe how important the right management, improvement, and application of these were to the public good. But the object which, on the present occasion, naturally claimed a preference before all others, and in which all other considerations would for a moment be suspended and lost, was the calamity with which the nation had been threatened,

but which had been happily averted. He alluded to his Majesty's escape from assassination: a matter which demanded, in the first place, their dutiful congratulations. The very first day and hour of their meeting was the proper season for carrying such loyal and affectionate congratulations to the foot of the throne. The death of that excellent and amiable princess, his Majesty's aunt, the princess Amelia, was as fit a subject of condolence as the preservation of his Majesty's life was of congratulation. Both were proper and natural occasions for their lordships to approach the throne, with those sentiments of loyal and grateful affection which pervaded the whole nation. Under the recollection of these circumstances, he would beg leave to move the following Address:

"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 our humble thanks for your gracious Speech from the throne. "Permit us to express to your Majesty the eagerness with which we take the earliest opportunity offered to us of joining the unanimous voice of our fellowsubjects, in congratulating your Majesty on the late providential interposition of the Almighty in the preservation of a life so valuable to your people. We acknowledge, with reverence and gratitude, the divine goodness in averting the calamity with which we were threatened. We join in the general admiration of those virtues which compose your Majesty's character, and humbly beg leave to assure your Majesty, that we are happy in testifying the share we take in the loyal and affectionate attachment to your sacred person, which pervades the breasts of your Majesty's subjects in every part of your dominions.

"It is with most sincere concern that we condole with your Majesty upon the loss which you have sustained by the unfortunate death of that illustrious and excellent princess your Majesty's aunt, her royal highness the princess Amelia.

"The present appearances of the preservation of the public tranquillity, as well as the assurances given to your Majesty by foreign powers of their friendly disposition to this country, gives us the greatest satisfaction.

"We return your Majesty our hearty thanks for your goodness in directing the

treaty of navigation and commerce with the Most Christian King, and the convention with his Catholic Majesty, to be laid before us; and we beg leave to assure your Majesty, that, in considering mea. sures of so important and interesting a nature, we shall be happy to find in them a tendency to give an additional permanency to the blessings of peace, the encouragement of industry, and the extension of lawful commerce between your Majesty's subjects and those of the Most Christian King, and that we shall with pleasure concur in any regulations calculated to insure those salutary purposes.

"We learn, with graat satisfaction, that your Majesty has taken measures for the transportation of a number of convicts, and for removing the inconveniencies which arise from the crowded state of the gaols; and we beg your Majesty will be assured that we shall be ready to concur in such farther provisions as may be found necessary for this purpose.

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"We shall with the same readiness cooperate in whatever regulations mny appear to be proper for the ease of the merchants, and for the simplifying the public accounts, in the various branches of the revenue; and your Majesty may depend upon our best and steadiest exertions in pursuit of such measures as may tend still farther to improve the national resources, and to promote and confirm what has ever been the first object of the parental care and attention of your Majesty, the welfare and happiness of your people."

Lord Dacre observed, that he flattered himself that their lordships would indul gently ascribe the presumption, if it deserved the appellation, with which he ventured to address them, to his sincere and cordial loyalty to his Majesty's person and government. He was happy in having an opportunity of expressing, in that public manner, his duty to his Sovereign; and equally happy in the reflection, that he only re-echoed the sentiments of the people of Great Britain at large, when he rose to second the motion. At a time when every sentiment was naturally absorbed in gratitude to Divine Providence and affection to his Majesty's person, it would ill become their lordships to waste their hours in debates, which might wear an ungracious aspect, and be liable to interpretations equally dishonourable and erroneous. As to the merit of the commercial treaty, and the salutary tendency of the other matters touched on in the

Speech from the throne, they would be discussed on a future day. For his part, he professed his entire approbation and confidence in the wisdom and the activity of Administration, whose measures he would be always ready to support, as long as they exerted their abilities with integrity and diligence, for the good of the public.

The Address was then agreed to, nem. diss.

"My Lords;

"Your expressions of affectionate attachment to my person and government, as well as your assurances of proceeding to the consideration of the important objects which I have recommended to you, give me the greatest satisfaction."

Debate in the Commons on the Address of Thanks.] The Commons being returned to their House, and his Majesty's Speech read by the Speaker,

sure of absolute necessity, arising from the crowded state of the gaols, and no penitentiary houses having been built, though an act had passed for their erection. Transportation, therefore, was the only remedy for an evil which required immediate redress.-He trusted that the House would certainly agree, that no plan could be more useful than that of simplifying the public accounts in the various branches of the public revenue; and with equal readiness would they admit the imThe King's Answer to the Lords' Ad-portance of increasing the national redress.] To the above Address his Ma- sources. On this occasion, they would jesty returned this answer: please to carry in their recollection, that two events had taken place since their last meeting, in which all who had any personal attachment to their Sovereign, were deeply interested, the attempt upon his life, and the death of the princess Amelia, It was therefore highly becoming in them to condole with his Majesty on the loss of his most excellent and illustrious aunt, and to join their congratulations to those of a grateful people, on an event which ascertained to him how much he was deserving of their affections. Whilst the House weighed all these circumstances in their minds, he felt the firmest confidence that they would unanimously support him in his motion, "That an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, to return his Majesty the thanks of this House for his gracious Speech from the throne:-To take the earliest opportunity of offering in our own name, and in that of all the Commons of Great Britain, our most hearty congratulations on the preservation of a life so justly dear to his people; and to express our sense of the peculiar favour of Providence in averting the danger to which we were exposed, and rendering it only the occasion of manifesting, in the fullest manner, those sentiments of duty and affectionate attachment to his sacred person, which are deeply rooted in the hearts of all his Majesty's subjects :-To condole with his Majesty on the unfortunate death of that most illustrious and excellent princess, his Majesty's aunt, the princess Amelia:-That we learn with great satisfaction that the tranquillity of Europe remains uninterrupted; and that his Majesty continues to receive assurances from all foreign powers of their friendly disposition towards this country: That we are sensible of his Majesty's goodness in having directed the treaty of commerce and navigation with the Most Christian King, and the convention agreed upon

Viscount Compton observed, that he believed it was scarcely necessary to remark with what patriotic joy every member of the House must have listened to an assurance from the highest authority, that the tranquillity of Europe was likely for years to continue perfectly uninterrupted. He considered it as a proof of the growing wisdom and humanity of nations, who had discovered that it was not merely the most serviceable policy, but the most meritorious conduct, to introduce and impart permanency to the various felicities of peace. With equal pleasure would the House . consider the just and liberal ideas which now prevailed throughout Europe with respect to commerce. Commerce could never exist under numerous and heavy restrictions. It was owing to our prejudices that restrictions had so long continued between England and France; two countries which, of all the European nations, were the best situated for commercial intercourse. It must consequently be grateful to every lover of his country to find that these prejudices no longer existed, and that a treaty of navigation and commerce was concluded, which would not only promote industry, and increase our wealth, but secure to us advantages far more interesting to humanity, by rendering permanent the blessings of peace. As to the transportation of convicts, it was a mea

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with the Catholic King, to be laid before present session was opened with the most > us :-That both these events, particularly joyful prospects of returning wealth and a measure so important and extensive as prosperity. He rejoiced that it was not a commercial arrangement between this his business to urge the House to renew country and France, must he highly in- the efforts of an unsuccessful war, or even teresting to us, and our constituents, and to join in the acclamations of victory. He that it will afford us the truest satisfaction contrasted the uncertainty and destruction to concur in any measure calculated for the attending schemes of conquest with the encouragement of industry, and the exten- solid advantages of peace and amity; the sion of lawful commerce, and which, by foundations of which were only to be laid promoting a beneficial intercourse between on the basis of mutual advantage.-The the two countries, shall appear likely to House, he believed, would form a similar give additional permanence to the bless-idea with himself of the losses to our ings of peace:-That his Majesty may trade by every successive war with France; rely on our readiness to make due provi-of the weight of debt incurred by disputes sion for the several branches of the public service; and that the state of the revenue, so nearly connected with the national credit, and the safety and prosperity of his Majesty's dominions, will continue to engage our unremitting attention:-That we shall be desirous of taking such measures as may be necessary for the transportation of convicts, in order to remedy the inconvenience which has arisen from the crowded state of the gaols in different parts of the kingdom :- That we shall diligently apply ourselves to the consideration of any regulations which can be adopted for the ease of the merchants, and for simplifying the public accounts in the various branches of the revenue; and that it will be equally our duty and inclination to use our utmost exertions in pursuit of such objects as may tend still farther to improve the national resources, and to second his Majesty's gracious and paternal wishes for the welfare and happiness of his people."

Mr. Matthew Montague observed, that previously to his seconding the motion, he must beg the indulgence of the House, whilst he adverted to those parts of the Address, which corresponded with the topics of his Majesty's gracious Speech. He wished to express his hearty concurrence with those sentiments of joy and congratulation which are so naturally excited by his Majesty's late happy deliverance: happy, indeed, might he call it, since the general horror and alarm had been fraught with no other consequence than the most earnest testimonies of the general love and veneration for his sacred person. Upon this interesting occasion, truly might he remark, that "We felt for our own danger, we rejoice in our own preservation."-For his own part, he could protest that he derived some degree of confidence from the assurance that the

with our rival neighbours, which nothing but the almost preternatural force of accumulated industry could surmount. The principle of the treaty, the expediency of the provisions, he left to be enlarged upon by those who were more competent to speak on such subjects; he expressed his own approbation, the result of what judgment he was capable of exercising on so extended a business. He enforced the necessity of such a treaty, at the present conjuncture, from the loss of our monopoly of the American market; and because the trading capital which had been forced towards that quarter by the extraordinary profits of the monopoly, must take some new direction. The present treaty only cleared and made free those channels through which the efforts of trade would tend to pass in spite of injudicious obstructions. He compared the monopoly of America to an annuity upon an uncertain ill-administered fund, the trade to France to a fee simple, with prompt and constant payment. After mentioning the necessity of a simplification of the customs, he concluded by asking the House, what was to be the consequence, if the present treaty receivedthe sanction of Parliament? The triumph of the successful warrior, was followed by the exulting eyes and hearts of his fellowcitizens; regardless of the hazards we have run, the dangers we have escaped, we think only of his services and his conquests; and should the laborious wisdom of political prudence, which reaches permanent ends without the intervention of chance, which secures the bloodless acquisition of endless wealth, the price of empire, the hope of public redemption, pass unnoticed, unpraised, unrewarded? Should the minister who enriches his country, inattentive to his own private emolument, be unrevered? No. To re

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