The Humble Addrefs of the Houfe of Commons to the King. MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN, WE your majefty's most dutiful and loyal fubjects, the commons of Great Britain in parliament affembled, beg leave to return your majefty the most humble and hearty thanks of this house, for your moft gracious fpeech from the throne. Permit us, at the fame time, to offer to your majesty our warmest congratulations on the joyful and aufpicious event of your royal nuptials, with a princefs defcended from an illustrious Proteftant line, diftinguished by the moft eminent graces and endowments, and worthy to be the royal partner of your throne by poffeffing every virtue that can adorn it. We beg leave alfo to exprefs our juft fense of that affectionate regard, which your majefty has fhewn for your people, by confulting, on this most important and interesting occafion, as on every other, their happiness and that of their posterity. And we affure your majesty, that, with hearts full of gratitude for this fignal inftance of your royal attention to the welfare of your fubjects, and thoroughly fenfible of the exalted merit of your illuftrious confort, your faithful commons will not fail to make fuch honour, able and ample provifion, as may enable her to fupport her royal dignity with proper luftre, in cafe the shall furvive your majefty; for the long continuance of whofe life we fhall never ceafe to offer up to the Divine Providence our most ardent vows. Allow us, Sir, to return our fincere and humble thanks to your majefty, for your tender concern for the profperity of your people, in wishing to restore to them the bleffings of peace; and to declare that we cannot too much admire that humanity, fo becoming your royal breaft, which, amidst the fucceffes of your own kingdoms, feels for the calamities of other nations. We are fully perfuaded, that these beneficent difpofitions, which induced your majefty to confent to the appointment of a congrefs for a general pacification, and to enter into a negotiation with France for a particular peace, could not have failed of the desired effect, if the enemy, influenced by the fame motives, had fhewn the fame good intentions, and would have complied with fuch condi~ tions as were requifite for the accomplishment of that falutary work. We do most gratefully acknowledge your majefty's vigilance and firmness, in not fuffering the hopes or expectations of peace to produce the leaft fufpenfe or relaxation in the exertion of your arms. And we congratulate your majefty on those happy fucceffes, which, under the good providence of God, we must afcribe to the wisdom and vigour of your majesty's meafures; to which we owe the reduction of Dominica, the conqueft of Belleifle, atchieved with fo much reputation to the British arms, and the deftruction of the enemy's power in the Eaft Indies, by the acquifition of Pondicherry, their laft remaining fettlement of any ftrength in thofe countries. The wife and able conduct of his ferene highnefs prince Ferdinand of Brunswic, whereby he hath fucceflively defeated the projects of the enemy, and hath prevented their making that progrefs, which, from their fuperior numbers, they expected, together with that gracious approbation, which your majefty hath been pleased to exprefs of the valour of your troops, cannot but give the highest fatisfaction to your faithful commons: and they fee, with juft admiration, the repeated proofs, in every campaign, of that unshaken refolution, and of thofe aftonishing efforts, which alone could have enabled your majefty's great ally, the king of Pruffia, to refift the numerous forces of his enemies. We beg leave to affure your majefty of our intire concurrence and support in the most effectual profecution of the war, for the intereft and advantage of thefe kingdoms; and in maintaining, to the utmost of our power, the good faith and honour of your majesty's crown, and the engagements entered into with your allies; and that we are truly fenfible, that the conftant care and attention of your majefty to pursue the most vigorous meafures in every part, where any fuccefsful impreffion can ftill be made upon 4E 2 the L the enemy, are the only means to attain that defireable object, an honourable and Da lafting peace. We receive, with the deepest gratitude, that most endeaaing expreffion of your majesty's unbounded goodness and affection towards this your native country, in the folemn declaration, which your majefty has been pleafed to make, that, as well in the profecution of the war as in the conclufion of the peace, no confideration whatever hall induce you to depart from the true intereft of these your kingdoms, and from the honour and dignity of your crown. Your majefty may be affured, that your faithful commons will chearfully grant fuch fupplies, as the nature and extent of the several fervices fhall be found to require; firmly relying on your majefty's wisdom and juftice, that they will be applied with the strictest oeco nomy, and in such a manner as may most effectually answer the great, ends for which they shall be granted, We do, with great truth, afsure your majefty, that it is our most earnest defire, that this first parliament convened by your royal authority, may, by their conduct, give your majefty a happy proof of the zeal, the loyalty, and the affection of your people. Senfible of the difficult crifis, in which we are affembled, we are determined to concur, with the greatest firmness and unanimity, in whatever may contribute to the public welfare, may tend to defeat the views and expectations of our enemies, and may convince the world, that there are no difficulties, which your majesty's wifdom and perfeverance, with the affiftance of your parliament, cannot furmount. The Speech of his Excellency George Dunk, Earl of Halifax, Lord Lieutenant General and General Governor of Ireland, to both Houses of Par· liament, at Dublin, on Thursday, the 22d day of October, 1761. MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, Have the honour of his majesty's commands to meet this his firft parliament in Ireland: I obey them with entire fatisfaction, from an affurance, that your deliberations will be influenced by the fame principles of loyalty and affection to your fovereign, and of zeal for the profperity of your country, which have fo long diftinguished the parliaments of this kingdom. 16 The lofs of our late moft gracious fovereign, at a time when not only the fecurity of his own dominions, but the welfare of Europe, feemed fo effentially to depend on the continuance of his life, must have affected you in the most fenfible manner. Your grief, however, has already been alleviated, and your lofs repaired, by the fucceffion of his majefty, not only to the throne (his legal inheritance) but to the dory, affection, and confidence of his fubjects, as unbounded as the greatest of his predeceffors have ever poff-ffed in the most fortunate periods of their reign. This parliament happily commences with the acceffion of a king, bred under the influence, and formed by the example, of a prince, who uniformly tempered prerogative with law; and whose glory it was, in the exercife of his power, to protect the rights and liberties of his people. You can be no strangers to his majesty's moft gracious declaration, that the prefervation of the constitution in church and state, and the inforcing a due obedience to the laws (not more neceffary to his own authority than to the liberties of his people) shall be the first and constant object of his care. And I have it particularly in command to declare to you, That his subjects of this kingdom are fully and in every refpect comprehended in these affurances. His majesty's wife choice of a royal confort, eminent for her perfonal virtues and endowments, and defcended from an houfe fo illuftrious for its attachment to the proteftant caufe, difplays in the clearest light his paternal care, not only to preferve to us, but tranfmit unimpaired to our posterity, the bleffings of his reign, liberty, and pure religion, When Mag. Speech of bis Excelleney the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, &c. When I confider the fecurity of our prefent, and the profpect of our future happinefs; and when I fee you animated, as I am perfuaded you are, with every fentiment which loyalty and gratitude can infpire; I affure myself of a feffion of parliament, that will be distinguished by its uninterrupted harmony, and by its effective zeal for the fupport of the honour Such difpofiand dignity of the crown. tions, fteddily adhered to, cannot fail, under his majefty's paternal influence, to preferve you an happy, and establish you an opulent and flourishing people. Gentlemen of the House of Commons, I have ordered the proper officers to lay before you the several accounts and eftimates; from which you will be enabled to judge of the provifions necessary to be made for the fupport of his majesty's government, and for your own fecurity. The means of making those provisions (which I hope will be expeditiously adjufted) I doubt not will, on your part, be fuch as fhall be most suitable to the circumstances of this country; on mine, you may depend upon the utmost frugality. You will take into your confideration the feveral incidental charges of the mili-tary establishment, as it now ftands, of which exact estimates cannot be formed; and also that a large fum will be wanted for the effectual repair of the barracks; a work, which cannot be delayed. I must obferve to you, that notwithstanding the authority given by the vote of credit of the laft parliament, the fum of two hundred thousand pounds only has been raised; a circumftance of œconomy, which cannot fail to give you satisfaction. My Lords and Gentlemen, The improvement of your natural advantages ought to be the object of your most serious attention, Agriculture, the fureft fupport of every ftate, deferves at all times your highest regard, to the end that, through your wifdom, the skill and industry of the inhabitants of this country may fully correfpond with the bounty of Providence in their favour. To encourage, regulate, and improve, which will of course extend, your manufactures and your Commerce, will, I am fure, be your continual care. 589 Your linen of public encouragement; but much still There is no object more worthy our Let me now in the most earnest man- As to what regards myself, you shall always find me not only ready, but follicity, my credit, or my experience can furtuous, to contribute whatever my authori Inish for thefe falutary purposes. And I can with truth affure you, that, I shall in no degree fulfil the intentions, nor merit the approbation of my royal mafter, but kingdom which his majesty has commitby ftudying the peace and welfare of the ted to my care. I am fenfible the fituation in which I as arduous as it is impor am placed, tant; but I bring with me the clearest intentions for your fervice. To maintain the honour, and to promote the fervice of the crown, are duties from which I never will depart: to forward the profperity, and to preferve the conftitution of this country, are objects of which I never will lofe fight. And there is nothing I more both kingdoms may as thoroughly underfincerely with, than that the interests of ftood as they are feparably connected. There is no point I fhall more diligently labour; and I muft now affure your at the the opening of my administration, (what nimity of his subjects in this kingdom, and to carry with me, on my return into the royal presence, the good opinion, the affection, the hearts of the people of Ireland. The Subftance of the French Memorial of the Negotiations for Peace. BY the Memorial of the Negociations, &c. published by France, it appears, That on the 29th of July, Mr. Stanley delivered to the French miniftry the ultimatum, or final propofals, of England; the fubftance of which is as follows: 1. France fhall cede Canada, CapeBreton, and the islands in the Gulph of St. Laurence, with the right of fishing on the coafts. 2. Whatever does not belong to Canada, fhall not be confidered as appertain ing to Louifiana. 3. Senegal and Goree shall be yielded to England. 4. Dunkirk fhall be put in the ftate it. ought to be in by the treaty of Utrecht; and on this condition, France fhall be reftored to the priviledge allowed her by that treaty, of fishing on part of the banks of Newfoundland. fhall be tolerated there, and that the inhabitants shall have liberty to dispose of their effects, and retire. France further. inuifts on the right of fishing in the Gulph of St. Laurence, and demands fome island near it on which to dry her fifh. 2. France doth not pretend that what is not Canada is Louisiana; but demands that the intermediate nations between Canada and Louisiana, and between Virginia and Louifiana, fhall be confidered as independent, and à barrier between the French and English. 3. France demands Goree. However, M. de Buffy shall talk about this point.. 4. M. de Buffy fhall alfo talk about Dunkirk, when a port is agreed on in the Gulph of St. Laurence for the protection of the French fishery, 5. France agrees to the partition of the 5. The Neutral Islands fhall be equal- Neutral Islands. ly divided.. 6. Minorça fhall be restored. 7. France fhall evacuate and reftore all her conquefts in Germany. 8. England fhall reftore Belleifle and Guadalupe. 6. England may keep Belleifle, and France will keep Minorca. 7. In confideration of the reflitution of Guadalupe, France will evacuate her conquefts in Germany, except those made on the king of Pruffia, which are held for the 9. Difputes in the Eaft-Indies fhall be Emprefs queen. fettled by the two companies. 10. The captures made by England II. France fhall not retain Offend and 12. The ceffation of arms fhall take 13. Both kings fhall be at liberty to affift their German allies. 14. Pifoners fhall be reciprocally fet The fubitance of France's Anfwer, dated 1. France will yield all Canada, but in- ́ 3 8. France accepts of Guadalupe as a compenfation for her ceffions in NorthAmerica and Africa, and the demolition of the works at Dunkirk, 9. France agrees that the Eat-India companies fhall fettle their differences. 10. France infifts on the restitution of the captures made before the war. 11. France never intended to keep Oftend and Nieuport. 12. The term of ceafing hoftilities will occafion no difference. 13. If England will withdraw her affiftance from her German allies, France will do the fame with regard to hers. 14. The releafe of the prifoners is well, An An answer to the above ultimatum was de, livered on the ift of September, to the following purport: 1. England infifts on the full and entire ceffion of Canada and its appurtenances ; the inland of Cape-Breton, and the islands in the Gulph of St. Laurence; Canada comprehending, agreeable to the line of limits drawn by M. Vaudreuil himself, when he gave up the province by capitulation, on one fide the lakes Huron, Michigau, and Superior; and the faid line, drawn from Lake Rouge, comprehending by a winding courfe, the river Ouabache to its junction with the Ohio, and from thence ftretching along this laft river inclufively to its confluence with the Minif fippi. The Roman Catholic religion shall be tolerated in Canada; the inhabitants may fell their effects, provided the purchafers be British fubjects; and fhall be allowed a year to remove elsewhere, 8. With regard to the evacuation of the French conquefts in Germany, England adheres to the 7th article of her Ultimatum, and infifts on the reftitution of Wefel, and the King of Pruffia's territories. 9. England will still fupport the king of Pruffia with vigour and good faith. 10. The reftitution of the ships taken before the war is unjust by the law of nations. 11. England trufts to France's declaration relative to Oftend and Nieuport. 12, 13, 14. England perfifts in what the faid in her Ultimatum. To thefe articles France replied one by one. 1. France agrees to the ceffion of Canada, but afks two years or eighteen months for the inhabitants of Canada to fell their effects and remove, And defires to know what England understands by the Appurtenances of Canada. 2. France yields up Canada with the limits affigned it by Vaudreuil; but infifts that the Indians on one fide of the 2. The limits of Louisiana, delivered in a note by M. de Buffy, cannot be allowed, because they comprehend vaft tras of land which Vaudreuil comprehended within Canada; and on the fide of the Caroline fhall be independent under the prolina's they comprehend extenfive regions, and numerous nations, under England's protection. 3. England hall keep Senegal and Goree; but if France will fuggeft any reasonable scheme for fupplying herfelf with negroes, it fhall be confidered. 4. Dunkirk fhall be put in the flate it ought to be in by the treaty of Aix-laChapelle. France fhall be restored to the privilege allowed her in the treaty of, Utrecht of fishing on the banks of Newfoundland, and drying fish there. France, moreover, fhall be allowed to catch fish in the gulph of St. Laurence, and the ifland of St. Peter's fhall be ceded to her for drying them, provided the abstain from fishing on the coaft, and erect no fortification, or keep any military eftablishment on the faid ifland; and provided that an English commiffary be allowed to refide on it, and English men of war to vifit it from time to time, to fee that the above ftipulations be ob. ferved. . No alternative for the Neutral (fo called) islands will be accepted; but the partition of them will still be agreed to 6. Belleifle, Guadalupe, and Marigalante, fhall be restored. 7. Minorca fhall be restored. tection of France; and thofe on the other fide independent under the protection of England. The English traders shall not crofs the line; but the Indians fhall be at liberty to trade with both nations. 3. France will cede Senegal and Goree, provided England will guaranty to France her fettlements at Anamabou and Akra. 4. For the fake of peace, France will demolish the new works at Dunkirk, fill up the bafon, which is capable of receiving fhips of the line, and deftroy the rope-walks. The 13th article of the treaty of Utrecht relative to the fishery hall be confirmed. The island of Maquelon or Michelen fhall be added to St. Peter's; a guard of fifty men shall be kept on thofe iflands to fupport the civil magiftrate; no foreign fhips, even English, fhall be allowed to touch there; but an English commiffary may refide |