Gentlemen of the Houfe of Commons,

I have order'd the Estimates for the Service of this Year to be prepared and laid before you, which, from an Unwillingness I always have to put My Subjects to an extraordinary Expence by any unneceffary Precautions, are form'd upon the Foot of employing no greater Number of Forces, than was thought neceffary the laft Year, for which, if the Supplies you give fhall be fully and ef fectually raised, I fhall be enabled to have a ftrong Fleet at Sca early in the Spring: If the Pofture of Affairs íhall at any time make it neceffary to augment our Maritime Force, I confide fo entirely in the Zeal and Affection of My Parliament, that I affure My felf you will enable Me to make fuch an Addition to the" Number of Seamen, as fhall be found requifite.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

It is not to be doubted but the Enemies to My Government will conceive Hopes, that fome favourable Opportunity for renewing their Attempts, may offer from the Profpect of New Troubles and Commotions: They are already very bufy by their Inftruments. and Emiffaries in thofe Courts, whofe Measures feem moft to favour their Purposes, in folliciting and promoting the Cause of the Pretender; but I perfuade Myfelf, notwithstanding the Countenance and Encouragement they have received, or flatter themfelves with, the Provifion you fhall make for the Safety and Defence of the Kingdom, will effectually fecure Us from any Attempts from Abroad, and render all fuch Projects vain and abortive.

When the World fhall fee that you will not fuffer the British Crown and Nation to be menaced and infulted, those who moft envy the present Happiness and Tranquillity of this Kingdom, and are endeavouring to make Us fubfervient to their Ambition, will confider their own Interest and Circumstances, before they makeany Attempt upon fo Brave a People, ftrengthened and fupported by prudent and powerful Alliances, and, though desirous to preferve the Peace, able and ready to defend themfelves against the Efforts of all Aggreffors. Such Refolutions, and fuch Measures, timely taken, I am fatisfied are the most effectual Means of preventing a War, and continuing to Us the Bleffings of Peace and◄ Profperity.

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The next Day, the Houfe of Lords prefented the following Addrefs to his Majefty.

Moft Gracious Sovereign,

WE E Your Majefty's most Dutiful and Loyal Subjects, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament affembled, humbly beg Leave to return Your Majefty our most hearty Thanks for Your moft gracious Speech from the Throne, and, with Hearts full of inexpreffible Joy, to congratulate Your Majefty upon Your happy Return in Safety to Your Kingdom.

We cannot without the higheft Satisfaction reflect upon Your Majefty's Concern for our diftreffed Proteftant Brethren abroad; our moft zealous Endeavours fhall never be wanting, that Your Majefty's pious Interpofition for them may produce the most defired Effects.

We thankfully acknowledge Your Majefty's exceeding Goodness and Condefcenfion, in acquainting us with the Defenfive Alliance lately made by Your Majefty for preventing the ill Confequences, which might otherwife attend the Negotiations and Engagements entred into by other Potentates, to the apparent Prejudice of this Kingdom; and for Your Majefty's Gracious Affurance, that it fhould be foon laid before us. Nothing can be more vain, than for any Foreign Powers to entertain the Hopes of rendring themfelves Formidable to Britain; Your Majefty having ftrengthened Yourself by fuch powerful Alliances, the Refolution and Fidelity of Your Subjects being fo well known, and the late Marks of their Valour not yet worn out. We most humbly, entreat Your Majefty to believe, that our Lives are not dearer to us, than Your Majefty's Honour; and that Your Majefty may at all Times with Certainty depend upon our strongest Efforts, to maintain and defend it against all Powers whatfoever, who can fo far delude. themselves, as to imagine that they may with Safety infult or menace the British Crown or Nation.

It is no Surprize to us, that the Enemies to Your Majesty's Perfon and Government are labouring to disturb the Peace of this Kingdom, if they can flatter themselves with the Profpect of any new Troubles or Commotions in Europe.

We can easily believe, that at fuch a Juncture new Schemes and Sollicitations are daily making, by the most profligate and aban

doned

doned of them, to revive the expiring Caufe of the Pretender; all which, we affure our felves, can have no other Effect, than to haften his Destruction, and the utter Ruin of all his perjured Adherents.

Your Majefty's conftant and unwearied Endeavours to perpetuate to us the Bleffing of that happy Tranquillity we now enjoy, and to maintain the general Peace and Balance of Europe, to preferve the Trade of this Nation, and to fecure to Your People the many valuable Rights and Privileges, to which they are entitled by the most folemn Treaties; oblige us to all imaginable Returns of Duty and Gratitude, and leave us no room to doubt, when we confider the prudent Measures Your Majefty has taken for attaining thofe great Ends, but that all Your Majefty's Endeavours will, by the Bleffing of God thereupon, notwithstanding any Attempts to the contrary, be crowned with Succefs.

To which His Majefty was pleafed to return the following moft gracious Answer.

My LORDS,

I heartily thank you for this very affectionate and Loyal Addrefs; the World may be convinc'd by it, how fix'd and immoveable all your Purposes and Refolutions are to maintain My Honour, and promote the true Intereft of your Country: You may be affured of My conftant Endeavours to fupport the Proteftant Religion, to preferve the Peace and Balance of Power in Europe, to prevent any Encroachment on the Trade of My Subjects, and on all Occafions to increase their Happiness.

And on Saturday the Houfe of Commons prefented the following most humble Address to His Majesty.

Moft Gracious Sovereign,

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WE Your Majefty's most Dutiful and Loyal Subjects, the Commons of Great Britain in Parliament affembled, beg Leave moft unfeignedly to congratulate Your Majefty's fafe and happy Arrival in thefe Kingdoms: Nothing can equal the Dread and Anxiety which fill'd the Breaft of Your good People, whilft Your Majesty's Sacred Perfon was expofed to the Perils of tempeftuous

2

Seas;

Seas, but the univerfal Joy that was inftantly diffused throughout the Kingdom, upon the welcome News of Your Majesty's being fafely landed on the British Shore.

We return Your Majefty our humbleft Thanks for Your most gracious Speech from the Throne; and cannot fufficiently acknowledge Your Majefty's great Attention and Care for the Prefervation of the Peace and Profperity of this Nation, and the general Tranquillity of Europe.

The tender Regard and Compaffion which Your Majefty has expreffed for the diftreffed Proteftants Abroad, will give great Satisfaction to all, whofe Profeffion of the fame Religion must infpire them with a juft Refentment of the Injuries and Perfecutions which they fuffer for the Sake of it.

Your Majefty's Vigilance in watching over, and difconcerting the ambitious Views and Defigns of thofe that are endeavouring to render themselves Formidable; Your Wifdom in early forming and entring into Alliances with Powers beft able to withstand the common Danger, and to put a Stop to the further Progrefs of the Negotiations carrying on by other Powers, and Your particular Concern for the Trade and Commerce of these Nations, call upon us for all poffible Returns of Duty and Gratitude.

And that Your Majefty's unwearied Endeavours for the particular Interests of Your own Subjects of thefe Kingdoms, and for preventing a War, may have their defired Effect, We Your Majéfty's most Dutiful and Loyal Commons, promife and affure Your Majefty, that We will with the greatest Chearfulness, Unanimity and Difpatch, fo effectually raise the Supplies for this Year, that Your Majefty may be enabled to have a strong Fleet at Sea early in the Spring, fufficient to protect and defend the Kingdom, to disappoint the Hopes of the Enemies to Your Majefty's Government, and resent any Infults and Attempts that may be vainly projected and undertaken.

It is not to be wondred, that in the low State to which the Affairs of the Pretender are reduced, his Emiffaries and Inftruments fhould be waiting for every Opportunity that has the Appearance of being favourable to their languishing Caufe; and as they have been very bufy in foreign Courts, the Difaffected and Difcontented here have not been lefs induftrious, by falfe Rumours and Suggeftions, to fill the Minds of the People with groundless Fears and Alarms, in order to affect the Publick Credit, and by di

ftreffing

ftreffing the Government give Encouragement to the Enemies of our Peace.

But we promise our felves that the Prudence, Temper and Refolution of those that truly confult their own Intereft, and wish well to their Country, will on the one hand prevent and obviate the Mischiefs that by too great Credulity and vain Fears they may bring upon themselves; and on the other hand, we are determined to convince the World, that if those who most envy our prefent Happiness and Tranquillity, fhall fo far prefume upon the juft Senfe and Value we have for these ineftimable Bleffings, as ftill to purfue their defperate Measures; how defirous foever we may be of Peace, we will not fuffer Your Majefty and the British Nation to be infulted; but that we will, to the utmost of our Power, as the Exigency and Neceffity of Affairs fhall require, ftand by and fupport Your Majefty against all Attempts to difturb the Publick Repose.

To which His Majesty was pleased to give this most Gracious Answer.

Gentlemen,

I return you my Thanks for this Dutiful and Loyal Addrefs. I make no doubt but you will foon be fenfible of the good Effects of this feafonable Vigor and Refolution. You may be affured that I will make no Ufe of the Confidence you repofe in Me, but for preferving to us the Bleffings of Peace, and for promoting the Honour and Intereft of this Nation.

His Britannick Majefty, to convince his Enemies he is in Earneft, has order'd a fufficient Fleet to be fitted out; on which Occasion 14 Men of War, all of the 3d and 4th Rates, and 2 Firefhips, have been put into Commiffion; and 12 Guardships are making up their Complement of Men.

O

Deaths of Perfons of Note.

IN the firft of this Month died the Right Honourable Hefter Countess Dowager of Denbigh, Daughter of Sir Bafil Firebrass, Knight and Baronet.

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