will rather diminish than increase the public revenue, and as to others, though they may add a little to the finking fund in one way, yet they will probably in another way diminish it as much, if not more; efpecially fome of thofe taxes impofed upon our people in North America; for from experience we know that before any of the late taxes were impofed upon them, the balance of trade between North America and Great Britain was always fo much against them, that they could never keep any ready money amongst them, but were obliged to fend it to Great Britain as faft as they could procure it by their trade with foreign countries, or with our fugar ilands. This was occafioned by their having almoft all their manufactures and all their utenfils, as well the coarfe as fine fort of every kind, from Great Britain: If we by taxes increase their expence of living in their own country, how fhall they fave money to purchase from us thofe manufactures, and thofe utenfils? They muft make a fhift with those of the coarfeft fort: In the mean time they certainly will encourage the fetting up, of fuch manufactures and mechanical trades amongst themfelves, and for that purpofe will give encouragement and employment to every poor manufacturer and mechanic who tranfplants himself from this to that country. His Majefty's most gracious Speech to both houses of parliament, on Thursday the 2d day of July, 1767. My Lords and Gentlemen, advanced feafon of The year, joined to the con fideration of the inconvenience you must all have felt from fo long an abfence from your feveral counties, calls upon me to put an end to the prefent feffion of parliament; which I cannot do without returning you my thanks for your diligent application to the public bufinefs, and the proofs you have given of your affection for me and my family, and for my government and although, from the nature and extenfiveness of the feveral objects under your confideration, it could not be expected that all the great commercial interefts fhould be compleatly adjufted and regulated in the courfe of this feffion, yet I am perfuaded, that, by the progrefs you have made, a folid foundation is laid for fecuring the most confiderable and eflential benefits to this na tion. As no material alteration has happened in the fate of foreign affairs fince your firft meeting, I have nothing to communicate to you on that fubject. The fixed cojects of all my meafures are, to preferve the peace, and, at the fame time, to affert and maintain the honour of my crown, and the just rights of my fubjects. Gentlemen of the houfe of fupplies which you have fo cheer fully granted for the public fet. vice; and my particular acknow. ledgments are due to you, for the provifion you have enabled me to make for the more honourable fupport and maintenance of my fa mily. My Lords, and Gentlemen, The great attention which you have fhewn to the particular purpofe, for which I called you fo early together, and the very wholefome laws paffed for relieving my fubjects from the immediate dif trefs which the great fcarcity of corn threatened to bring upon them, give me the moft fenfible pleafure. I rely upon you for the exertion of your utmost endeavours to convince my people, that no care has been wanting to procure for them every relief which has been poffible; and that their grateful fenfe of provifions fo wifely made for their prefent happiness and lafting profperity cannot be fo fully expreffed, as by a ftrict obfervance of that order and regula rity, which are equally neceffary to the fecurity of all good govern. ment, as well as to their real wel. fare. His Majesty's most gracious speech to both boufes of parliament, on Tuefday the 24th of November, 1767; with the humble addresser of both houfes upon the occafion, and bis Majefty's most gracian anfiers. My Lords, and Gentlemen, Have chofen to call you toge thank you for the neceffary Ither at this feafon of the year, that that my parliament might have. full time for their deliberations upon all fuch branches of the public fervice as may require their immediate attention, without the neceffity of continuing the feffion beyond the time moft fuitable to my people for the election of a new parliament: and I doubt not but you will be careful, from the fame confiderations, to avoid, in your proceedings, all unneceffary delay. Nothing in the prefent fituation of affairs abroad gives me reafon to apprehend that you will be prevented, by any interruption of the public tranquillity, from fixing your whole attention upon fuch points as concern the internal welfare and profperity of my people. Among thefe objects of a domeftic nature, none can demand a more fpeedy or more ferious at tention, than what regards the high price of corn, which neither the falutary laws paffed in the laft feffion of parliament, nor the produce of the late harvest, have yet been able fo far to reduce, as to give fufficient relief to the diftreffes of the poorer fort of my people. Your late refidence in your feveral counties must have enabled you to judge, whether conducive to the attainment of fo defirable an end. (and I have no other to ask of you,} My Lords, and Gentlemen, The addrefs of the house of Lords. WE Moft gracious Sovereign, any farther provifions can be made, fol and loyal fubjects the E your Majefty's moft du tiful Lords Spiritual and Temporal in parliament affembled, return your Majefty our humble thanks for your moft gracious fpeech from the Gentlemen of the houfe of I will order the proper officers to lay before you the estimates for the fervice of the enfuing year, The experience I have had of your conftant readiness to grant me all fuch fupplies as fhould be found neceffary, for the fecurity, intereft, and honour of the nation, throne. We acknowledge with grati tude, your Majefty's tender re. gard and concern for your people, in affembling the parliament at fuch a feafon, as, whilft it provides for the convenience of your [P] 4 people, people, will allow fufficient time for our deliberation on the feveral branches of the public fervice that may require our immediate attention And we beg leave to affure your majefty, that it fhall be our hearty defire to forward your Majefty's moft gracious purpofe, by avoiding in our proceed ings all unneceffary delay. We fincerely rejoice in the prof. pect of the continuance of the general tranquillity; and it is our firm refolution to give, at a time fo favourable for fuch confiderations, our ftricteft attention to all thofe objects that may more immediately affect the internal wel-, fare and happiness of your people. We affure your Majefty, that our earnest endeavours fhall not be wanting for the relief of the dif treffes, which the poor labour under from the high price of corn, if any farther provifions can be made conducive to fo defirable an end. Permit us, Sir, to congratulate your Majefty on the fafe delivery of the Queen, and the birth of a Prince; and to affure your Majefty of our unfeigned joy on any increase of your domeftic felicity; at the fame time that we confider every addition to your illuftrious houfe as a further fecurity of our religious and civil li berties. We beg leave to condole with your Majesty on the death of his Royal Highnefs the Duke of York, and to testify our fincere concern for the lofs of a Prince, whose virtues and amiable qualities, as they diftinguished his life, will ever be held in the moft grateful remembrance. Your majefty may be affured, that, being fully fenfible of the ne. ceffity of improving the prefent tranquillity to the purpose of maintaining the ftrength, the reputa. tion, and profperity of this coun try, we will cheerfully contribute, on our part, to the fuccefs of fuch measures as fhall be thought moft expedient for the attainment of that great end: And that, with this view, we fhall endeavour to cultivate that fpirit of harmony and union, which your Majefty, in your paternal care for the happinefs of your people, has moft graciously recommended from the throne; and on which the fuccefs of our councils, and the public welfare, fo effentially depend. His majefty's moft gracious answer. My Lords, Your readiness to provide for mity and difpatch fo neceflary at the public fervices with the unani, yourfelves of the prefent general this juucture, as well as to avail the internal profperity of my peotranquillity, in order to promote ple, is highly agreeable to me; and I rely upon your affurances, that you will ufe your endeavours to relieve the diftreffes which the poor labour under from the high price of corn. I thank you for the joy you exprefs on the increale of my royal family; and I feel for the, part you take in my concern for the unexpected lofs of my late brother the Duke of York. The addrefs of the house of Commons. Moft gracious Sovereign, fubjects, your Majefty's most du the Commons of Great Britain in parliament affembled, return your Majefty our humble thanks for your We beg leave moft gratefully to acknowledge your Majefty's goodnefs, and attention to the convenience of your people in calling your parliament together at this time; and to affure your Majefty, that we will endeavour to improve the opportunity which the prefent happy ftate of peace and tranquillity affords, by exerting our utmoft abilities in the profecution of fuch meafures as may moft effectually promote the public wel. fare and profperity. We are equally fenfible of your Majesty's paternal care, in the meafures already taken by your Majefty to alleviate the diftreffes of the poor; and of your royal wifdom, in recommending the fame interefting and important object to the confideration of your parliament; and we will not fail to take into our moft attentive deliberation all fuch measures as fhall appear conducive to the accomplishment of that great and moft defirable end. It is with unfeigned joy that we prefume, to offer our congratulations to your Majefty on the late increase of your royal family, by the birth of a Prince; and to affure your Majefty that we regard as an addition to the welfare and happinefs of this nation, every increafe of that illuftrious houfe, under whofe mild and aufpicious government our religious and civil liberties have been fo happily maintained and protected. And it is with equal grief and anxiety that we reflect on the late untimely lofs of your Majesty's royal brother, the Duke of York; whofe early and ready zeal in his country's caufe fhewed him worthy of the heroic race he fprang from; and whofe amiable virtues, in the more private fcenes of life, muft ever make his memory dear to all who had the happinefs of approaching him. We beg leave most humbly to affure your Majefty, that this houfe will, with a zeal and alacrity becoming the reprefentatives of an affectionate and grateful people, readily grant fuch fupplies as fhall be requifite for the fupport of your Majefty's govern ment, for advancing the honour and intereft of this country, and effectually providing for the public fafety. And that our regard to your Majefty's recommendation, as well as the indifpenfible duty we owe to thofe whom we reprefent, will make us earnestly attentive to the great object of diminishing the national debt; being convinced that nothing can fo effectually tend or add real luftre and dignity to your Majefty's government, or to give folid and permanent ftrength to thefe kingdoms. With these views, and in thefe fentiments, we will endeavour, with the utmoft unanimity and difpatch, to promote the public fervice, and to deferve, by our fincere and unwearied labours for the general good, that confidence which it has pleafed your Majefty to repofe in us; not doubting of your Majefty's gracious difpofition to confirm and perfect what our true zeal may fuggeft, for the lafting advantage and happiness of your people. His Majefty's most gracious answer. |