His Majelly's most gracious Speech to both boufes of parliament, April 19, 1763.

I

My lords and gentlemen, Cannot put an end to this feffion of parliament, without expreffing my thanks for the fignal zeal and difpatch which you have manifested in your proceedings, and which make it unneceffary for for me to continue it any longer.

I informed you at your firft meet ing that preliminary articles were figned by my minifter and thofe of France and Spain; I ordered them to be laid before you, and the fatisfaction I felt at the approaching re-establishment of peace, upon conditions fo honourable to my crown, and fo beneficial to my people, was highly increased by my receiving from both houfes of parliament the Arongest and most grateful expreffions of their entire approbation. These articles have been established, and even rendered ftill more advantageous to my fubjects, by the deAnitive treaty, and my expectations have been fully answered by the happy effects which the feveral allies of my crown have derived from this falutary measure. The powers at war with my good brother the king of Pruffia, have been induced to agree to fuch terms of accommodation as that great prince has approved, and the fuccefs which has attended my negotiation has neseffarily and immediately diffufed

the bleffings of peace through every part of Europe.

I acquainted you with my firm refolution to form my government on a plan of strict economy. The reductions neceffary for this purpofe fhall be compleated with all poffible expedition; and although the army maintained in these kingdoms will be inferior in number to that ufually kept up in former times of peace, yet I trust that the force propofed, with the establishment of the national militia, (whofe fervices I have experienced, and cannot oo much commend) will prove a fufficient fecurity for the future.

Gentlemen of the house of com

mons,

I have feen with the highest concern the great anticipations of the revenue, and the heavy debts unprovided for during the late war, which have reduced you to the unhappy neceffity of impofing further burthens upon my people. Under thefe circumftances it is my earnest wish to contribute by every means to their relief. The utmost frugality fhall be obferved in the difpofition of the fapplies which you have granted; aad when the accounts of the money arifing from the fale of fuch prizes as are vested in the crown fhall be closed, it is my intention to direct that the produce fhall be applied to the public fervice.

My lords and gentlemen,
The extenfion of the commerce

of my fubjects; the improvement of the advantages we have obtained; and the increase of the public revenue, are the proper works of peace. To thefe important and neceffary objects my attention fhall be directed. I depend upon your conftant care to promote in your feveral counties that fpirit of concord and that obedience to law, which is effential to good order, and to the happinefs of my faithful fubjects. It is your part to difcourage every attempt of a contrary tendency; it shall be mine firmly to maintain the honour of my crown, and to protect the rights fo my people.

His Majefty's most gracious Speech to both boufes of parliament, November 15, 1763. My lords and gentlemen,

THE

re-establishment of the pub, lic tranquility, upon terms of honour and advantage to my kingdoms, was the first great object of my reign that falutary measure has received the approbation of my parliament, and has fince been happily compleated, and carried into execution, by the definitive treaty. It has been, and fhall be, my endeavour to enfure the continuance of the peace, by a faithful and steady adherence to the conditions upon which it was concluded: and I have the fatisfaction to acquaint you, that the feveral powers of Europe, who were engaged against us in the late war, have given me the ftrongest affurances of the fame good difpofition. Our principal care ought now to be employed to improve the valuable acquifitions, which we have made, and to cultivate the arts of peace

in fuch a manner, as may most effectually contribute to extend the commerce and to augment the happinefs of my kingdoms.

For thefe great purposes I have called you together. It will ever be my earnest with and endeavour to demonftrate to my people, by my actions, the love which I bear them; and I doubt not of receiving from them the grateful and juft returns of duty and affection,

Gentlemen of the houfe of commons,

I will order the proper estimates for the fervice of the year to be laid before you. The heavy debts

contracted in the courfe of the late war, for many of which no provifion is yet made, call for your ut. most attention and the ftricteft frugality. I must however earneftly recommend to you the fupport of my fleet, to which our paft fucceffes have been fo much owing, and upon which the future welfare and importance of Great Britain do moft effentially depend. To cafe my people of fome part of thofe burthens, I have directed, as I promifed at the end of laft feffion of parliament, that the money arifing from the fale of the prizes vefted in the crown, fhould be applied to the public fervice. It is my intention to referve, for the fame ufe, whatever fums fhall be produced by the fale of any of the lands belonging to me in the islands in the Weft Indies, which were ceded to us by the late treaty.

The improvement of the public revenue, by fuch regulations as fhall be judged moft expedient for that purpose, deferves your ferious confideration. This will be the fureft means of reducing the na tional debt, and of relieving my

fubjects

fubjects from thofe burthens, which the expence of the late war have brought upon them; and will, at the fame time, establish the public credit upon the moft folid foundation.

My lords and gentlemen, As the interefts and profperity, of my people are the fole objects of my care, I have only to defire, that you will purfue fuch meafures, as are conducive to thofe ends, with dispatch and unanimity. Domeftic union will be effentially neceffary to remedy thofe evils which are the confequences of war, to enable us to reap the most advanpermanent tages from the conclufion of the peace, and to difcourage that licentious fpirit, which is repugnant to the true principles of liberty, and of this happy conflitution. In this opinion I trust that my fubjects will be confirmed by your example; and that they will be taught by your proceedings, to unite their utmoft endeavours to fupport fuch meafures, as may equally tend to the honour and dignity of my crown, and to their own fecurity and happiness.

to your royal family, by the aufpicious birth of a fecond prince, and of expreffing our molt fincere wishes, that the fame divine bleïfing may be continued to your majefty's illuftrious houfe, on which the prefervation of our holy reli gion, and our rights and liberties, do, under God, fo effentially depend.

We beg leave alfo to declare our utmoft gratitude to your majefly,, for the re-establishment of the public tranquility upon terms of honour to your crown, and advantage to your people. We have the firmeft reliance on your majefty's most gracious affurances of your endeavours to fecure the continuance of a peace fo neceffary to the relief of your fubjects, who have long laboured under the burthen of a moft expenfive, though fuccefsful war, in every part of the globe; and we receive, with great fatisfaction, the communication which your majefty has been pleafed to make to us, of the good difpofition of the feveral powers engaged in the late war, whofe concurrence in your majefty's falutary intentions will, we truft, long enfure the tranquility of Europe.

We are deeply fenfible of your majefty's paternal care and attention for the improvement of your conquefts, and the extenfion of the commerce of your fubjects, in which the public welfare is fo materially concerned; and we will not fail, on our part, to `exert our wartheft endeavours in forwarding your majefty's great and gracious purpofes. For we have nothing more fincerely at heart, than that your majefty, having by your condut impreffed on the minds of your faithful fubjects a full conviction of your true affection, may

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receive

receive from them the most ample returns of duty and attachment which a loyal and grateful people can make.

Convinced, as we are, that domestic union is effentially neceffary for fecuring the advantages derived to us from the late happy and honourable peace, we cannot fufficiently exprefs our abhorrence of that feditious fpirit which has of late manifefted itself in defiance of the laws, to the fubverfion of good order, and to the difgrace of liberty, whofe facred name it has fo infolently affumed. And we beg leave to assure your majefty, that by our zeal and application in bringing all offenders of that fort to juftice, as well as by our proceedings in general, we will endeavour to give fuch an example as may induce your majefty's fubjects to unite in difcouraging a licentioufnefs which is fo repugnant to the true principles of this happy conftitution, and in promoting fuch measures as may equally conduce to the honour and dignity of your majefty's crown, and to their own happiness and fecurity.

His majesty's most gracious anfwer.

My lords, wor THESE hearty affurances of your loyalty and affection are truly acceptable to me, and I receive, with particular fatisfaction, your congratulations upon the birth of my fecond fond van mos

Your concurrence with me in pursuing the efféntial objects of our national attention, under the prefent happy pacification, will be of great importance towards the fuccefs of my endeavours for fecuring the profperity of my people.

I do both highly approve the

zeal which your profefs, and firmly rely upon the exertion of it, against that licentious and factious fpirit, which is the most dangerous enemy to our excellent and invaluable conftitution.

To the king's most excellent majefty.

The humble address of the honourable
boufe of commons to the king.
Moft gracious fovereign,
WE your majefty's most dutiful

and loyal fubjects, the commons of Great Britain in parlia men affembled, beg leave to return your majefty the most humble and hearty thanks of this houfe, for your moft gracious speech from the throne.

Permit us at the fame time, to offer our warmeft congratulations to your majefty on the aufpicious birth of another prince, and on the happy recovery of your royal confort, now further endeared to this country by the increase of thofe pledges. of our liberty and future happiness.

We beg leave to congratulate your majesty on the completion of that great and falutary meafure, the re-establishment of the public tran quility upon terms fo honourable. to your crown, and so advantageous to your people.

Allow us, Sir, to affure your ma jefty that we feel the highest fatisfaction in the declaration which you are gracioufly pleafed to make of your refolution faithfully and fteadily to Ladhere to the conditions of the peace which your majesty has concluded: and that we cannot but confider the ftrong affurances of the fame good difpofition given by the feveral powers of Europe who were lately engaged against us, as the natural confequence of your ma jetty's wisdom and firmness, and as

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a fur

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a further presage that the bleffings of peace will be uninterrupted and permanent.

We are truly fenfible of that paternal love to your people, of which your majefty is pleased to affure us in fo affecting a manner; and we will affiduously apply ourselves to the accomplishment of thofe great purposes for which your majefty has called us together; the improvements of our valuable acquifitions, the extenfion of our commerce, and the cultivating of every art of peace, which may either tend to alleviate the heavy burthens occafioned by the war, or may otherwife contribute to the general welfare of these kingdoms.

We beg leave to affure your majefly, that your faithful commons will chearfully grant to your majefty fuch fupplies as fhall be found neceffary for the fervice of the year; that they will be careful to maintain the navy of Great Britain upon the moft refpectable footing; and that they look upon your majefty's earneft recommendation of this important object, as a teftimony of your royal attention to the true and effential interests of this country.

We acknowledge, with the deepeft fenfe of gratitude, your majefty's gracious and tender concern for the relief of your people, by directing, that the money arifing from the fale of prizes vested in the crown, fhall be applied to the public fervice; and for that additional mark of your royal beneficence, in fignifying your intention to referve for the fame ufe whatever fums shall be produced by the fale of any of the lands belonging to the crown, in the islands of the Weft-Indies ceded by the late treaty.

Your majesty may be affured, that

we will bestow the strieteft attention upon that interesting fubject, which your majefty has pointed out to our ferious confideration, and will diligently weigh every regulation which may be propofed for the improvement of the public revenue, as the most effectual method to reduce the national debt, to relieve your majesty's fubjects from the burthens of the late war, and to confirm and ftrengthen the public credit.

We are throughly convinced, by the whole tenor of your majefty's moft aufpicious reign, that the common good and profperity of your people, are the fole objects of your care; and that we should therefore be wanting to ourselves, and neglectful of our own happiness, if we did not purfue, with unanimity and dispatch, fuch measures as may best contribute to these great ends, and may most effectually difcourage that fpirit of diforder and licentioufnefs which is no lefs dangerous to liberty than deftractive of government.

Animated with these fentiments, we will endeavour, by our own cônduct, to fet an example to others of duty to our fovereign, and of love to our country, being firmly perfuaded, that under a prince adorned with thofe virtues which diftinguifh your majesty, your real interests and thofe of your people are infeparable.

His majesty's most gracious answer.

Gentlemen, erous

Return you my hearty thanks for this very dutiful and affectionate addrefs,and for your congratulations on the happy event of the birth of my fecond fon. The fatisfaction which you exprefs at the re-establishment of the public tranquility, is highly acceptable to me; and your refolution to pursue such measures,