3

The lord Castlecomer moved, "That an humble Address be presented to his majesty, setting forth the many great crimes of which Robert earl of Oxford and earl Mortimer has been impeached by this House; as likewise, the endeavours that have been used by the Commons to bring the said eari to justice; in which proceedings, the unhappy differences that have arisen between the two Houses have disappointed their just expectations; and likewise, humbly to pray his majesty, that he will except the said earl out of the Act of Grace, which his majesty 1 has been graciously pleased to promise from the throne; to the end the Commons may be at liberty to proceed against the said earl in a parliamentary way."--The lord Castlecomer being seconded by Mr. Yonge, and the question put upon his motion, it was carried in the affirmative, and a Committee appointed to draw up the said Address. Another Committee was the same day appointed to inspect the Lords' Journals, in relation to their proceedings on the Trial of the earl of Oxford, and to report what they find therein, to the House.

July 4. The lord Castlecomer, chairman of the committee, appointed to draw up the Address against the earl of Oxford, reported the same, which being agreed to, it was resolved that the said Address be presented by the whole

House.

July 5. The Commons, with their Speaker, presented the said Address to his majesty, which is as follows:

"Most gracious Sovereign,

"We your majesty's most faithful subjects, the Commons of Great Britain in parliament assembled, do most humbly represent to your majesty, That in our Impeachment cxhibited against Robert Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer, we did set forth, That he the said earl did traiterously adhere to, aid, and abet the late French king, then an enemy to her late majesty, and did begin and carry on a clandestine and separate correspondence and negotiation with the ministers of the said French king; in consequence of which it is evident, that great part of the Forces, maintained at the expence of so much British treasure, in order to reduce the power of France; as likewise great part of the Subsidies granted by parliament to foreign princes for the same end, were, in reality, made subservient and instrumental to awe the good allies of her majesty into a compliance with the hard terms dictated by France.

"The unhappy Catalans were abandoned; the emperor, empire, and king of Portugal, were left to treat for themselves; the kingdom of Sicily was given to the duke of Savoy, as an inducement and reward to him for quitting the common cause, in direct defiance and violation of the grand alliance, and of the declared sense of most of her good allies, and especially of the Dutch, wh, to this day, have never assented to that condition of the Treaty of Utrecht. A shameful and dishonourable treaty of peace was at last concluded, by which impracticable terms VOL. VII.

of trade were imposed on Great Britain; the demolition of Dunkirk, which had been addressed for by parliament, was eluded by a treacherous connivance, at the making of a new canal at Mardyke; and the security which was proposed by removing the Pretender out of France, was, in the like manner, evaded by a treacherous connivance at his residing in Lor| rain.

"It is owing to your majesty's unwearied endeavours for the good of your subjects, and that just regard which is paid to your majesty by foreign princes and states, that we see ourselves delivered, in a great degree, from the effects of those pernicious measures, which might otherwise have proved fatal to your kingdoms: but as we reflect with equal gratitude and admiration on your majesty's being able to retrieve such miscarriages, especially in a time which has been disturbed by public tumults and rebellious: we think it is a great aggravation of guilt in those who gave up so many national advantages, at a time when they laboured under no such difficulties at home, and when the con

tinned successes of a long and glorious war had put them into a condition of gaining the most beneficial terms from the enemy.

"Your faithful Commons did likewise exhibit

several other Charges against the said earl, representing him in any notorious instances, as a person who had abused the trust and confidence, which her late majesty had reposed in him, and sacrificed the honour of his sovereign and the good of her people, to private views of interest and ambition.

"Your faithful Commons have not been wanting in their endeavours to bring the said earl to justice; but by reason of the unhappy differences that have, in this proceeding, arisen between the two Houses, we have found ourselves disappointed of our just expectation, and reduced to the necessity either of giving up. rights, and privileges of the highest importance to all the Commons of Great Britain, or seeing this great offender escape with impunity for the present.

"For these reasons, we do most humbly beseech your majesty, that your majesty will be pleased to except Robert earl of Oxford and earl Mortimer out of the Act of Grace, which your majesty has been graciously pleased to promise from the throne; to the end the Commons may be at liberty to proceed against the said earl in a parliamentary way."

The King's Answer.] To this Address, his majesty was pleased to return the following Answer;

the Commons by the Usher of the Black Rod, commanding them to attend his majesty immediately, which they did accordingly, and ¡Mr. Speaker presented the Money Bills to his majesty; which done, the Lord Chancellor read a Speech delivered into his hands by the King, from the throne, as follows:

"My Lords and Gentlemen;

"I cannot put an end to this session, without expressing my thanks to you, for the dispatch you have given to the public business, and declaring the satisfaction I promise myself in meeting you again early the next winter, with the same good dispositions for the service of your country. The measures we have taken in this parliament, have, by the blessing of Almighty God, effectually defeated all the attempts of our enemies, both at home and abroad; and, as the principle on which those measures are founded, are equally conducive to the supporting the just rights of the crown and the liberties of the people, I shall always persevere in them myself, and distinguish those who adhere to them with steadiness and resolu

tion.

"Gentlemen of the House of Commons; "I thank you, in the most affectionate man ner, for the Supplies you have granted me, and for that constancy and zeal which you have shown in reducing our National Debts, notwithstanding the many incidents and obstructions you have met with in the carrying on of that great work. As you have furnished me with the means of disappointing any designs of a foreign enemy against these my kingdoms, so I cannot but ascribe, in a great measure, the happy prospect of our affairs abroad to that public spirit which has appeared in your proceedings, and has convinced the world, that no insinuations or artifices can divert you from your duty to your sovereign and a disinterested regard to your fellow-subjects.

"My Lords and Gentlemen ;

"It is with great pleasure that I see the tranquillity of the nation so well established, as to admit of an Act of Grace, which I have long desired a fit opportunity to grant. I hope that such as shall, by this means, be restored to the enjoyment of security, and the protection of those laws, against which they have offended, will have a due sense of this my indulgence, and give me the most acceptable return they can possibly make me, that of becoming friends, instead of enemies to their country."

Then the Lord Chancellor prorogued the parliament to the 12th of August. They were afterwards further prorogued, by several prorogations, to the 21st of November.

THIRD SESSION OF THE FIFTH PAR
LIAMENT OF GREAT BRITAIN.
The King's Speech on Opening the Session.]
Nov. 21. The parliament being mer, the King
came to the House of Lords and delivered the

following Speech into the hands of the Lord Chancellor, who read the same to both Houses:

"My Lords and Gentlemen;

"I am very glad I have been able to bring the sitting of parliament into a more proper and usual season of the year: I hope such an early meeting will not only be a benefit to the public, but a convenience to your private affairs.

* About this time a serious difference took

place between the king and the prince of Wales. "On the 3rd of November," says Tindal," the princess of Wales was delivered of a prince, at St. James's, and the king two days after paid her a visit, and returned to tized the 28th of the same month, and died Hampton-Court. The young prince was bapnot long after. This baptism occasioned an unhappy difference between the king and the prince. It seems, the prince had designed the duke of York, bishop of Osnaburg, the king's brother, to be one of the godfathers, and had reason to believe the king was satisfied with his choice. But, when the ceremony came to be performed, the duke of Newcastle stood godfather with the king, not as a proxy for, or representing the duke of York, but for him self, and in his own name and person. This the prince took ill of the duke, not as he acted in obedience to his majesty's command, but as if the duke had done, or at least seemed officious to do, something which be was not commanded. This proceeding sensibly touched the prince, and raised his indignation to that degree, that he could not help showing it; but, as soon as the cere mony was over, spoke some warm words to the duke, expressing his resentment at what he had done. Upon report of these words to the king, his majesty thought fit to give a sud den mark of his displeasure, by sending his commands to the prince to keep his own apart ment, till his pleasure was farther known; ta which he immediately submitted: soon after this his majesty's farther pleasure was signified to the prince, that he should leave St. James's; accordingly be quitted the palace (the princess going along with him,) and retired to the house of the earl of Grantham, in Albemarle-street; but the children, by the king's order, remained at St. James's. Soon after this his majesty's pleasure was signified to all the peers and peeresses of Great Britain and Ireland, and to all privycounsellors and their wives, that all persons, who should go to see the prince and princess of Wales, should forbear coming into his majesty's presence. Besides, such as had employments under the king and prince both, were obliged to quit the service of one of them. Soon after sterdam Gazette, a letter in French, said to be this difference, there was printed in the Am written by one of the secretaris of state to the foreign ministers, dated at Whitehall, De cember 24, 1717, giving an account of the whole affair, of which the author of the Critic,

"As I have always had at heart the security | an encouragement to our enemies to insult and ease of my people, so I never kept up any them. troops but for their protection, and have taken every opportunity to disband as many as I thought consistent with their safety. I have reduced the Army to very near one half, since the beginning of the last session of parliament, and lessened them to such a number as will neither be a burthen to my good subjects, nor

(a weekly paper) published a translation. The Letter was as follows:

"You cannot but be sensible of the many attempts which have been set on foot to disturb the peace of Europe, and of these kingdoms: they only pretend not to see, who are not afraid of them. But as no application has been wanting on my part to preserve the public tranquillity, I have the pleasure to find my good offices have not been altogether unsuccessful, and have reason to hope they will, in the end, have their full and desired effect.

"Gentlemen of the House of Commons; "I question not but you are very well pleas ed to find that your endeavours for lessening the National Debts, have at the same time raised the public credit; and that whatever was proposed for that end is actually and completely effected. This success must chiefly be attributed to that just and prudent regard you have shewn to parliamentary engagements.

"It was with the view of procuring and settling a lasting tranquillity, that I demanded the extraordinary Supply which you granted me last session. The credit, which this confidence reposed in me, hath given us abroad, has already been so far effectual, that I can acquaint you we have a much better prospect than we bad. I have ordered an Account to be laid before you of the very sinall part of that Supply which as yet has been expended; any farther issues that may be made of it, shall be also laid before you: And you may be assured, that every part of it shall either be employed for your service, or saved to the public.

"Sir; His majesty having been informed that several reports, for the most part ill grounded, are spread abroad concerning what has lately passed in the royal family, he has ordered me to send you the inclosed account of it.-As soon as the young prince was born, the king caused himself to be informed of what was wont to be observed in the like cases, in this kingdom, in regard to the ceremony of baptism; and having found by the records, that, when it was a boy, and the king was godfather, it was the custom for him to nominate for second godfather, one of the principal lords of his court, who for the most part was the lord chamberlain; he named for this function, the duke of Newcastle, who now bears that charge; naming at the same time for godmother the dutchess of St. Alban's, first lady of honour to the princess. Nevertheless, his royal highness the a prince of Wales conceived such a dislike at this, that on Thursday last, after the solemnity of the baptism was over, finding himself no longer master of his temper, he drew near to the duke of Newcastle, and gave him very reproachful words, upon supposition that he had solicited that honour in spite of him. The king was still in the chamber, but not near enough to hear what the prince said to the duke. This last thinking himself obliged to inform the king of it, and the prince having confessed the matter to the dukes of Kingston, Kent, and Roxburgh (whom his majesty sent to him the next day upon this occasion) his majesty ordered him by a second message, not to go out of his own apartment till farther order: on Saturday the prince wrote a letter to the king, and the next day, (Sunday) another: but, his majesty not finding them satisfactory, and having besides other reasons of discontent at several steps the prince had taken, he caused him to be told yesterday in the afternoon, by his vice-chamberlain, Mr. Cook, that "I could heartily wish, that at a time when he should be gone from the palace of St. the common enemies of our Religion are, by James's; and to the princess, that she might all manuer of artifices, endeavouring to undercontinue in the palace as long as she thought mine and weaken it, both at home and abroad, convenient; but that as for the princesses, her all those who are friends to our present happy daughters, and the young prince, the king would establishment, might unanimously concur in have them remain with him in the palace, and some proper method for the greater strengthenthat the princess should be permitted to seeing the Protestant Interest: of which, as the them as often as she desired it. However, the princess, being unwilling to leave the prince, her husband, went with him to the house of the earl of Grantham her lord-chamberlain, where their royal highnesses lay last night."

"I have ordered to be laid before you a state of the Deficiencies of the present year, and the several Estimates for the service of the next; which you will find considerably diminished. I rely upon your making the necessary provision for them; not doubting of the continuance of that zeal for the good of your country, which hath been so eminently conspicuous in every session of this parliament.

"I cannot in justice avoid putting you in mind, that several Arrears of Pay and Subsidy, incurred before my accession to the crown, are claimed by foreign princes and states: I shall order them to be laid before you, to the end you may put them in a method of being examined and stated; which will very much tend o the honour and credit of the nation.

"My Lords and Gentlemen ;

Church of England is unquestionably the main support and bulwark, so will she reap the prin cipal benefit of every advantage accruing by the union and mutual charity of all Protestants.

"As none can recommend themselves more effectually to my favour and countenance, than

The King's Answer.] To which Address his majesty has been pleased fo express for the majesty returned this Answer:

tions to support your, government in such manner, as shall enable your majesty to settle the peace of Christendom."

after the Peace of Ryswick, which number. must be thought very moderate by all who wish well to the present happy Settlement, con

The King's Answer] To which the King re-sidering that the embers of an unnatural Returned the following Answer:

"Gentlemen ;

"I thank you for the repeated assurances you have given me, in this dutiful and loyal Address, of your affectionate support and assistance in the present juncture of affairs. I expected no less from a House of Commons, so affectionate to my person, and so zealous for the public welfare."

Great Debate in the Commons concerning the Number of the Land Forces.] December 4. A motion was made for a Supply for maintaining the Guards and Garrisons, in Great Britain, for the year 1718, according to the Estimate laid before the House. This motion was opposed by Mr. Shippen, sir William Wyndham

and

bellion, lately extinguished, were still warm, and the discontents industriously fomented by the enemies of the government; That the parliathe number of the Forces that were thought ment had ever contented themselves with fixing necessary to be maintained, but had left to the crown the manner of reducing and modething that number; and therefore, if they should now do otherwise, it would be but an indifferent return to that gracious and tender regard which, on all occasions, his majesty has shewa to the security and ease of his subjects. That after all, it is no less a piece of justice than matter of prudence, to keep up as great a oumber of officers as possible; for, besides the occasion which the nation may have for them for the future, it is but reasonable to acknowledge the past eminent services of gentlemen, who having been brought up to no other trade but war, had no other way to subsist and provide for themselves and families.

Mr. Craggs was backed by Mr. Aislabie, Mr. Hampden, Mr. John Smith, Mr. Coventry, member for Bridport, col. Bladen, Mr. Barrington Shute, and sir Joseph Jekyll, who chiefly insisted on the necessity of keeping up 16,000 men at least, one year longer.

Sir David Dalrymple was of the same opinion, and to that purpose urged, That the discontents run still as high in Scotland as before the late Rebellion; for which he alledged several reasons.

Mr. Robert Walpole, which last made a speech, wherein, besides the common topic of the danger of a Standing Army in a free nation, he insisted on four principal points, viz. 1. That whereas they were given to understand, that the Army was reduced to 16,000 and odd men, it still consisted of above 18,000, which was one third part more than the number of Land Forces in Great Britain amounted to formerly in time of peace. 2. That there was no due proportion observed, either between the number of horse, dragoons, and foot, or between the number of the officers and soldiers that were kept standing; insomuch, that of about 11,000l. which the pay of a reduced re- Mr. Walpole, Mr. Bromley, Mr. Freeman, giment of foot amounts to, near 7,000l. goes general Erle, and some other gentlemen, were towards the pay of the officers, and 4000l. only of opinion, That 12,000 men were sufficient; to the private soldiers. 3. That the keeping up and the debate having lasted till a quarter past so great a number of officers, was, in effect, six, the question was going to be put whether the maintaining of an army almost double of the number should 16 or 12,000? When, what was intended, since the soldiers that were Mr. Shippen made the following speech: wanting to complete the companies and regi- "Mr. Speaker; I congratulate the honourments, might be raised with a drum in twice able person below (general Lumley) on his befour and twenty hours. 4. That the pay of ge- ing restored to the good opinion of the learned neral officers, which amounted to above 20,000l. gentleman who spoke last: (sir Joseph Jekyll) was an expence altogether needless, and un- for it is not long since he (see p. 467) compli precedented in time of peace. All these par-mented, I will not say flattered, another at the ticulars Mr. Walpole enlarged upon, and made good his assertions by proper vouchers.

Mr. Craggs, secretary at war, answered Mr. Walpole. He said, That in all wise governments, the security of the state is the rule chiefly to be regarded; and that his majesty, both in the augmentation and the reduction of his forces, had not only consulted the safety, but likewise the ease of his people. That though, as was suggested, the nation paid at present near 18,000 men, yet there were only 16,347 who could give any jealousy, unless some people should think our liberties in danger, from the chaplains, surgeons, widows of officers, and such harmless, inoffensive persons, who were included in the first number: That therefore there are not much above 4,000 men more now in Great Britain than there were kept up

expence of that honourable person, and most of the general officers in this kingdom.

"But as to the question before us, it is my misfortune to differ from that learned gentleman in all he hath advanced, which, when stripped of some excursions, may be reduced to these two propositions : 1. That the only 'danger of continuing the Army is the Expence ' of it. 2. That we ought to comply with the number of Forces proposed, because it is de'manded by the king, who is the best judge of our necessities.'

"I do not object to the first reason, that the phrase is ambiguous, and that it is difficult to know what he means by the Danger of the Expence; but, if I understand him, the answer is obvious. For though the Expence is doubtless a matter highly deserving the consideration