Debate the question was put, whether the entire | to this Resolution; and therefore, to avoid re
Reason for the said Protest shall be expunged?
It was resolved in the affirmative.

"Dissentient'

petition we refer to those Reasons, with this farther, That we do not find, and believe there is not any precedent, wherein Reasons for Protestation have been taken into consideration by the House so long after they were en

veniencies of doing so are, in our opinion, very manifest.(Signed,) Strafford, F. Roffen',

"Because, we conceive, there is no instance of expunging the Reasons of a Protest, unless they were thought to contain something inde-tered, as in the present case; and the inconcent to the House, or alledged matters of fact that were false; the first is not presumed in this present case: and as to the second, the matter depending upon figures, there can be no dispute, but upon the method of calculation; and if the Lords who signed the Protest did choose to follow the method observed by the officers of the Exchequer, rather than any other, we do not conceive their Reasons, founded on such authority, deserved to be expunged; neither do we think the said Lords were obliged

to make deductions from the Exchequer account, which was laid before the House, without making the proper additions at the same time; for it must be agreed, that if the Debt stated in 1717, was but 47,800,000l.; and in the year 1720, above fifty millions, the bringing the annuities into the South-Sea Company may occasion an increase of about two millions and a half; and the Army Debentures not yet brought to account, are estimated at about half a million more; and the Debt of the Navy is near two millions; so the whole appears to be about fifty-five millions, and the increase of the National Debt (since it was stated in 1717) might therefore be reckoned about seven millions; and deducting the million of Exchequer-Bills lent to the South-Sea Company, the real increase of the National Debt, above what it was stated at in the year 1717, appears to us, at this time, about six millions: but as the Reasons were founded on the account laid before the House, which kept in the million of Exchequer-Bills as a Debt, and excluded all the other articles, we conceive they ought not to have been expunged, since the under-reckoning the Debt was not the objection made against them.(Signed) Fran. Cestriens', Bathurst, Foley, Cowper, Strafford, St. John de Bletsho, North and Grey, Litchfield, Boyle, Guilford, Fr. Roffen', Uxbridge, Weston, Aberdeen, Bristol, Trevor,"

Boyle, North and Grey, St. John de Bletsho, Fran. Cestriens', Craven, Aberdeen, Uxbridge, Mountjoy, Cowper, Bathurst, Guilford, Litchfield, Foley." ing the Money Bill.] March 7. The King The Speaker's Speech to the King on present

went to the House of Peers with the usual state

and solemnity, and the Commons attending, their Speaker, upon presenting the MoneyBill, made the following Speech to his Majesty, viz,

"Most gracious Sovereign;

"This is the seventh year in which your ma jesty's faithful Commons, without burthening your people with any new or unusual taxes, have readily and cheerfully granted to your majesty the necessary Supplies, not only for carrying on the ordinary expences of the go vernment, but for maintaining the honour and dignity of the crown; and, at the same time, they have omitted no opportunity of easing the public incumbrances, and of putting the National Debt into a method of payment; for no sooner had your majesty, by the vigilance of your councils, and the success of your arms, restored and secured the public peace and tranquillity, but your Commons immediately found means to reduce the Interest of the Na tional Debt, and thereby set apart a Fund, which, by a farther reduction of interest since made by your Commons, will, in a few years, be considerably increased, and the payment of the principal become practicable; and from which your majesty's trading subjects have al ready reaped this immediate benefit, that your Commons have been enabled, during this session, without endangering the security of any parliamentary engagements, to take off such duties as were found by experience to be most prejudicial to the trade and manufactures of

your kingdoms. And as your Commons Protest against expunging the Protest of the were apprehensive, that the Debt of the Navy 17th Jan. against the Quakers' Bill.] March 5. The Order was read for taking into consi- was rising to such an height, as would, if not deration the Protest entered in the Journal of ciate all other public credit, and which would timely prevented, necessarily affect and depre the 17th of Jan. [See p. 946.] on rejecting the inevitably increase the charge and expence of Petition from the London Clergy against the the current service; they have therefore unQuakers' Bill; and the several Reasons for the animously agreed on such methods of discharge said Protest being read, after debate, the ques-ing so much of that Debt, as will effectually tion being put, that the entire Entry of the prevent the mischiefs they apprehend, and can Reasons, for the said Protest, be expunged; it be no ways burthensome to their fellowwas resolved in the affirmative, by 54 voices subjects. against 18.

Thus have your Commons fully and happily completed every thing which your majesty was graciously pleased to recommend to them at the beginning of this session; and whenever your majesty, in your royal wisdom, shall again

year, and the making a provision for the dis-
charge of so considerable a part of the Debt
of the Navy, is a farther proof of your affection
to me, and your regard for the public; and
doing it in a manner so little burthensome to
my people gives me the greatest satisfaction.
"My Lords and Gentlemen;

think it proper to meet your people in parlia- |
ment, may they imitate your present House of
Commons in our duty and affection to your
majesty, in our steadiness and resolution to
support your government; may they continue,
with like application and diligence, to extend
trade and commerce, the true and natural
source of wealth and plenty in these kingdoms;
and we should think ourselves happy, if even
our mistakes might be of service to your ma-
jesty, by being a warning to those that come
after us and that when the wisdom of your
majesty's councils, and the steadiness of your
administration, shall have restored credit to its
former flourishing condition, they may not grow
wanton with too much prosperity, but may
proceed with such caution and prudence in
their endeavours to lessen the National Debt,
as may put it out of the power of any set of
men to produce misery and distress, from what
shall be proposed for the ease and benefit of
your people and that, by the blessing and
assistance of Divine Providence, they may so
effectually unite the affections of your people,
and firmly establish your majesty's throne,
That the Scepter may not depart from your
Royal House, nor a Lawgiver from between
your Feet!' That the ancient legal consti-
tution of this kingdom, in King, Lords and
=Commons, may be perpetuated in your ma-
jesty and your Royal Posterity, till time shall

be

no more.

"Your majesty having been, at different times, in the course of this session, graciously pleased to accept such Supplies, as your Commons offered to your majesty for the Service of this year, they do now humbly pray your majesty's like gracious acceptance of a Bill they have prepared for discharging the Debt of the Navy, intitled, An Act for paying off and cancelling one Million of Exchequer Bills, ' &c.""

The King's Speech at the Close of the Seventh and last Session of the Fifth Parliament of Great Britain.] After this, the King gave the royal assent to several public and private Bills. Then the Lord Chancellor, by his majesty's command, delivered the following Speech to both Houses:

"My Lords and Gentlemen;

"You could not have given me a more acceptable instance of your zeal and affection, than by dispatching, with so much unanimity, the several particulars I recommended to you at the beginning of this session, for the ease and advantage of my people.

"The many and great encouragements you have given to our trade and manufactures, and the provision you have made for our being supplied with naval stores from our own plantations, will, I make no doubt, excite the industry of my subjects, employ a greater number of the poor, increase our navigation, and be a considerable addition to the riches and strength of this nation.

"Gentlemen of the House of Commons; "The raising the current Supplies of the

"I cannot in justice part with this parlia ment, without returning you my sincerest thanks, for your steady and resolute adherence to my person and government, and to the interest of the Protestant Cause, both at home and abroad. The enemies of our happy constitution have given the strongest and most honourable testimony of your behaviour in these particulars, by the implacable malice which they have, upon all occasions, expressed against you.

"You must all be sensible, that they are, at this juncture reviving, with the greatest industry, the same wicked arts of calumny and defamation, which have been the constant preludes to public troubles and disorders; and such is their infatuation, that they flatter themselves the grossest misrepresentations will turn to their advantage, and give them an opportunity of recommending themselves to the favour and good opinion of my people; but I have so just a confidence in the affection of my subjects, and in their regard for their own welfare, that I am persuaded they will not suffer themselves to be thus imposed upon, and betrayed into their own destruction.

"For my part, as the preservation of the constitution in church and state shall always be my care, I am firmly determined to continue to countenance such as have manifested their zeal for the present establishment, and have the religious and civil rights of all my subjects truly at heart; and I question not but that behaviour, which has justly recommended them to me, will effectually secure to them the good will of all that are well affected to my government; and will convince the world, that the expectations of those are very ill grounded, who hope to prevail with a Protesliberties into the hands of such as are enemies tant free people, to give up their religion and

to both."

The Parliament dissolved.] And then the Lord Chancellor, by his majesty's command, March 1722, but on the 10th of the same prorogued the Parliament to the 15th of month a Proclamation was issued for the Dissolution of this Parliament, and the Calling

another.

PRINCIPAL OCCURRENCES FROM THE DISSOLUTION OF THE OLD TO THE MEETING OF THE NEW PARLIAMENT-Death of the Earl of Sunderland and the Duke of Marlborough. Progress of the Elections.-A Plot discovered -Bishop Atterbury and several other Persons taken up.-Meeting of the New Parliument.]* Soon after the dissolution of the

* Tindal,

'My Lord;

Whitehall, May 8, 1792.

His majesty having nothing more at heart than the peace and safety of his good city of London, the protection of its inhabitants, and the support of public credit, has com manded me to acquaint your lordship, that he has received repeated and unquestionable ad

parliament, died Charles Spencer, earl of Sunderland, whose abilities as a minister were indisputable, but who exposed himself to great odium by the violence of his temper, and the share he was thought to have had in the SouthSea scheme; and in the latter part of his life it is thought, upon good grounds, that he had eutered into correspondencies and designs,vices, that several of his subjects, forgetting which would have been fatal to himself, or to the public. His death was followed in less than a month by that of his father in law the duke of Marlborough. He was interred the 9th of August, with great funeral pomp, in Westminster Abbey; and was succeeded as master-general of the ordnance, and colonel of the first regiment of foot, by the earl of Cadogan. The elections for members of parliament were carried on with great zeal on both sides, but the majority of the elected, was clearly in favour of the court; as was likewise that of the sixteen Scots peers.

'the allegiance they owe to his majesty, as well as the natural love they ought to bear to their country,have entered into a wicked Conspiracy, in concert with traitors abroad, for 'raising a rebellion in this kingdom in favour of a Popish Pretender, with a traiterous de sign to overthrow our excellent constitution both in church and state, and to subject a Protestant free people to tyranny and superstition; but I am persuaded, that it will be a great satisfaction to your lordship and the city, to find, that, at the same time I am or'dered to inform you of this design, I am It was king George's lot to meet with con- 'likewise commanded by his majesty to let you tinual disturbances. The affair of the South-know, that he is firmly assured that the auSea, and the favour shown to the managers ofthors of it neither are, nor will be supported, that scheme, had raised great discontents. It' was natural for the enemies of his person and government to improve such a juncture. Accordingly they did so; and, though without hope of any foreign assistance, they imagined it possible to succeed in their designs, unless prevented by a discovery. The king had some suspicion of a Plot, which he had intimated in his speech to both Houses, but, presently after, his suspicions were turned into certainty. In the beginning of May he had full information of a conspiracy formed against him, the first notice of which came from the duke of Orleans.

nor even countenanced by any foreign power. And as his majesty has had timely notice of their wicked machinations, and has made the proper dispositions for defeating them, he has no reason to doubt, but by the continuance of the blessing of Almighty God, and the ready 'assistance of his faithful subjects, this effort of the malice of his enemies will be turned to their own confusion.

His majesty makes no doubt, but your lordship, pursuant to the trust reposed in you, will, in conjunction with the other magistrates of his good city of London, exert, with the utmost care and vigilance, your authority at so important a conjuncture, for the preservation of the public peace, and the security of the city. I am, &c. ⚫TOWNSHEND.'

The reception this letter met with was very. acceptable to the court. An Address was presented by the court of aldermen, thanking the king for his indulgent regard to the city of London, by informing them of the wicked designs of his enemies both at home and abroad, and congratulating him upon the happy success of his negotiations, which had procured assurances, that these traiterous purposes would not be supported by any foreign power.

Upon this information, a camp was marked out in Hyde-park, to which the troops of the king's houshold marched the next day. Orders were issued to all military officers immediately to repair to their respective commands. Lieutenant generai Maccartney was dispatched to Ireland, to bring over some troops from thence into the west of England. Messengers were sent to Scotland to secure some suspected persons; and Mr. Horace Walpole, who some days before went over to Holland, was instructed to desire the States, to keep in readiness the guarantee troops, in order to be sent into England in case of necessity. On the other hand, colonel Churchill was sent to the court of France, with a private commission, When we reflect (continues the Address) on probably to see how far the assurances from the many blessings, which Britons enjoy, thence were to be depended upon. By these under the protection of a prince, who makes precautions the public tranquillity was pre- 'the laws of this land his rule for the governserved in Great-Britain. However the appre-ment of his people, when we consider that hensions of the Plot did not a little affect pub-Beither the civil, or religious rights of your lic credit; for, on May the 7th, South-Sea stock fell from 90 to 77; and the timorous or disaffected began to run upon the Bank. But, a few days after, the funds gradually rose to their former value.

majesty's subjects, have met with the least instance of violation, since your majesty's happy accession to the throne of these realms, when we recollect your majesty's royal cle'mency and benevolence, (since the last reTo authorise these precautions, and soundbellion) to numbers of those who offended, the temper of the people, the lord Townshend writ the following letter to the lord-mayor of London.

in the highest degree, against their king, and the laws of their country, we cannot but ex· press the utmost abhorrence of those vile and

⚫detestable persons, who shall again conspire on the 5th of August, to make his escape, upon and attempt to bring a free and happy people which a proclamation was issued out, with under the yoke and tyranny of superstition, reward of 1,000l. for apprehending him. And, ‹ and to involve this nation in a state of blood, on the 13th, another proclamation, with the misery, and utmost confusion. And as these like reward, was published for apprehending 'must be the unavoidable consequences at Mr. Thomas Carte, a nonjuring clergyman, tending any enterprize to alter our present against whom a warrant had been issued by happy establishment, and to introduce a one of the secretaries of state. Popish one: as Englishmen that value our liberties; as honest men that have sworn allegiance to your majesty, and who have ab'jured and renounced the Pretender; and as real friends to our excellent constitution in church and state (with a Protestant prince at the head of it) we beg leave in the most so'lemn manner, to declare to your majesty, that, as we are bound in gratitude, we will exert 'ourselves in our several stations, with the utI'most care and vigilance, for the preservation of the public peace and tranquillity, and for 'the restoring of public credit; and that we 'will use our sincere and hearty endeavours for the firm support of your majesty upon the throne, and for the making your reign easy = 'and happy.'

The example of London was followed by many other cities and boroughs, who all expressed the same zeal and devotion. But, notwithstanding these assurances, the king's journey to Hanover was laid aside, though the regency had been settled, in which the prince of Wales had no part. The court, however, went to Kensington, and the prince and princess retired to Richmond.

Various were the reports about the nature, and discovery of the conspiracy, as the government did not as yet think fit to publish the particulars. However, to remove all suspicion of its reality, several persons were taken up. On the 21st of May, Mr. George Kelly, who went under the name of Johnson, an Irish clergyman, was seized at his lodgings in Bury-Street, by three messengers, for treasonable correspondencies; and, having delivered his sword and papers to them, they placed them in a window, and went in search of other things. Their negligence gave him an opportunity of recovering his sword, which he drew, and swore he would run the first man through the body, that disturbed him in what he was doing, which was burning his papers in a candle with his left hand, whilst he held the drawn sword in the other. When the papers were burnt, he surrendered himself.

On the 4th of August, Mr. Robert Cotton, of Huntingdonshire, one of the gentlemen concerned in the late rebellion, and cleared by the act of grace, was seized at his lodgings over against Somerset house, as were also his footman and landlady. Two days after, Mr. Coch ran and Mr. Smith were brought prisoners from Edinburgh, and Cochran was committed to the Tower. One John Sample, formerly a servant to sir Robert Sutton, while he resided as envoy extraordinary at the court of France, having been taken up for high-treason, and being in custody of a messenger, found means,

"On the 24th of August, Dr. Francis Atterbury, bishop of Rochester, and dean of Westminster, was apprehended by some of the king's messengers, who, having searched his house, and secured some of his papers, carried him before a committee of the privy-council, who, having examined him, committed him to the Tower for high-treason. The next day Mr. Thomas Moore, vicar of St. Botolph Aldersgate, formerly secretary to the bishop of Rochester, was likewise taken up, and afterwards examined, but soon after discharged.

About the middle of September, Bingley, Mr. Neynoe, a young Irish priest, and two other persons, were seized at Deal, and brought up prisoners to London. About the same time Mr. Layer, a young counsellor of the Temple, being also apprehended, he endeavoured, the next day, to make his escape, and succeeded so far in his design, that he found means to get out at a back-window two story high, and, having reached the river side, he gave a sculler some guineas to carry him over the water to Southwark with all possible expedition. But being discovered, upon his going off, by a servant maid, he was immediately pursued, and, a hue-and-cry being raised after him, he was taken and brought back, and the next morning committed to the Tower. On the 21st of September, he was brought under a strong guard to the Cock-pit at Whitehall, and, having been some hours under examination, before a committee of the privy-council, was remanded to his confinement. The day before, Mr. Sayer, of the Temple, was taken into custody; as was also, the next day, Mr. Stewart, clerk to Mr. Layer, while his master was under examination. The same day, John Plunket, serjeant to a company of invalids at Plymouth, was seized at Chelsea, upon suspicion of being concerned with Mr. Layer, and, after examination, committed to the custody of a messenger. On the 24th, Mr. Shippen's house in Norfolk-street was searched for papers, that might give light into some suspicions. Warrants were likewise issued out for apprehending the lord North and Grey, who was gone as far as the Isle of Wight, and had put himself on board a smuggler's sloop, having been some time at Mr. Holmes's house in that island. Colonel Morgan, the deputy governor, being informed of his being on board the sloop, sent a captain of one of the king's frigates, to have an eye upon the sloop, and, when going to sail, to send bis long-boat aboard, and secure all the passengers on suspicion; which being done, the lord North and Grey at first pretended to be another person; but, finding that did him no service, he confessed who he was; and he and the rest of the passengers