House of Lords Journal Volume 26: January 1746, 11-20

January 1746, 11-20

DIE Martis, 14^o Januarii.

REX.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

Fredericus Princeps Walliæ.

PRAYERS.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure, to robe.

The House was resumed.

King present.

His Majesty, being seated on the Throne, with the accustomed Ceremonies; the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cumberland, in their Robes, sitting in their respective Places; the Lords being also in their Robes; the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod received His Majesty's Commands, to let the Commons know, "It is His Majesty's Pleasure, that they attend Him immediately, in this House."

Who being come, with their Speaker;

His Majesty spake as follows; (videlicet,)

His Majesty's Speech.

"My Lords, and Gentlemen,

"At the Opening of this Session of Parliament, I did not think it proper to lay any Thing before you, for your Consideration, but what immediately related to the present unnatural Rebellion, and our Security at Home. The daring Attempt, which the Rebels have since made, upon this Part of My Kingdom, has been happily disappointed: And as their precipitate Flight, before a small Number of My Troops, must greatly dispirit their Followers; so that inviolable Duty and Loyalty, which have been so universally and steadily shewn by My faithful Subjects, and shall never be forgotten by Me, must convince them how vain and ill-grounded their Hopes were of any Addition of Strength from such an Enterprize. I have not only sent a considerable Body of our National Forces into Scotland, and ordered the Hessian Troops in My Pay to be landed there; but have also made such a Disposition of the rest of My Forces by Land, as well as by Sea, that I hope, by the Blessing of God, this Rebellion will in a short Time be extinguished, and our Enemies, who have so long menaced us with an Invasion, be deterred by the seasonable Preparations made for our Defence.

"The Election of the Emperor, which I very zealously promoted, was an Event of great Importance, not only to the Support of the House of Austria, but to the Liberties of Europe in general. I did also, during the Course of the last Year, exert My earnest Endeavours to bring about an Accommodation between the Empress, the King of Poland, and the King of Prussia; and laid a proper Foundation for it, by the Convention made between Me and the King of Prussia. This great Work being at length perfected, under My Mediation, by the Treaty lately concluded at Dresden, the interior Tranquillity of Germany, amongst the Princes of the Empire, is now restored. My next Care has been, and shall continue to be, applied to improve this Accommodation to the best Advantage, by procuring an immediate Succour to be sent to Italy; and such a Strength for the Defence and Security of The United Provinces, as may preserve that Republick, the ancient and natural Ally of this Kingdom, and One main Support of the Protestant Cause, from the Destruction with which it is threatened, as well as to attain a safe and honourable Peace. The States General have made the most pressing Instances to Me, to assist them in this difficult Conjuncture: The imminent Dangers to which they are at present exposed, which do so nearly affect the Safety of Great Britain, as well as the very Being of Holland, call for our most serious Attention; for the Interests of the Two Nations are so united, that whatsoever brings Ruin upon the one, must in Consequence be attended with the most fatal Mischiefs to the other. These Reasons have induced Me to assure The States, that I will, to the utmost of My Power, according to the Circumstances of My own Dominions, co-operate with them, towards opposing the further Progress of our Enemies in The Netherlands, and procuring a proper Security for the Republick against the ambitious and destructive Designs of France. In order to this necessary End, Measures are now actually concerting between Me and The States, for furnishing this Assistance, on My Part, as early and effectually as possible; and for their making such an Augmentation of their present Forces, as their own immediate Preservation and the Necessity of Affairs absolutely require.

"The great Advantages which we have received from our Naval Strength, in protecting the Commerce of My Subjects, and intercepting and distressing that of our Enemies, have been happily experienced by the former, and severely felt by the latter: I am therefore determined to be particularly attentive to this important Service, and to have such a Fleet at Sea early in the Spring as may be sufficient to defend ourselves, and effectually to annoy our Enemies.

"Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

"It is with much Regret that I find myself obliged to ask any further Aids of My People. I am so sensible of the Burthens they endure, that nothing could give Me so sincere a Pleasure as to lighten them: But the Considerations I have laid before you are so necessary to our own Preservation, that I doubt not you will grant Me such a Supply as shall be sufficient for these Purposes. The proper Estimates shall soon be laid before you; and I earnestly recommend it to you, to take the most effectual Methods to maintain the public Credit in this Conjuncture.

"My Lords, and Gentlemen,

"I have fully opened to you My Views and Intentions; which are so essential to the Honour of My Crown, and the true Interest and Well-being of My Kingdoms, that I depend on your vigorous Support, and the utmost Unanimity and Dispatch in your Proceedings."

The Speech being ended; His Majesty was pleased to retire; and the Commons withdrew.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure, to unrobe.

The House was resumed.

The Lord Chancellor reported His Majesty's Speech.

And the same being afterwards read by the Clerk:

Order for an Address.

Ordered, That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, "To return Him the Thanks of this House, for His most Gracious Speech from the Throne.

"To thank His Majesty, for the Sense He is graciously pleased to express, of the inviolable Duty and Loyalty of His People; and for His Majesty's great Goodness and Concern for them, in the Care He has taken for suppressing the present Rebellion, and for the Defence of this Kingdom against an Invasion.

"To congratulate His Majesty on the Success of His Arms under the Conduct of his Royal Highness the Duke, in disappointing the Attempt of the Rebels on this Part of Great Britain; and to assure Him of the zealous and vigorous Support of this House, totally to extinguish the Rebellion in every Part of the United Kingdom, and entirely to defeat the Designs of the Pretender, and all those who presume to assist or abet him.

"To acknowledge His Majesty's great Wisdom and Regard for the public Welfare, in promoting the Election of the Emperor, and in bringing about an Accommodation between the Empress, the King of Poland, and the King of Prussia; and to declare our Satisfaction in that great Work being at length perfected, whereby an immediate Succour may be sent to Italy, His Majesty's faithful Ally the King of Sardinia supported, and a Strength procured for the Defence and Security of The United Provinces.

"To express the just Sense we have of the imminent Dangers to which The United Provinces are exposed, and our Resolution vigorously to support Him in all such necessary Measures as He shall enter into, for opposing the further Progress of our Enemies in The Netherlands; for procuring a proper Security for the Republick against the ambitious Designs of France; and for attaining a safe and honourable Peace; this House not doubting but The States General will make such an Augmentation of their Forces, and all such further Efforts, as the present Exigency requires.

"To declare our Satisfaction in His Majesty's wife Resolution, to have particular Attention to the Naval Strength of this Kingdom; from whence great Advantages have arisen, and must arise, to this Nation, and our Enemies sensibly annoyed and distressed.

"To assure His Majesty, that the Menaces and Preparations of our Enemies have had no other Effect upon us, but to heighten our Indignation against their destructive Projects and Attempts, and our Zeal and Ardour in the Cause of His Majesty and our Country."

Then the Lords following were appointed a Committee, to draw an Address, pursuant to the said Order; and report to the House:

Their Lordships, or any Five of them; to meet presently, in the Prince's Lodgings; and to adjourn as they please.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure; and the Committee withdrew, to prepare the Address.

After some Time, the House was resumed.

And the Lord Hervey reported from the said Committee, "That they had prepared an Address, pursuant to the foregoing Order."

And the same, being read by the Clerk, was agreed to by the House; and is as follows; (videlicet,)

Address reported.

"Most Gracious Sovereign,

"We, Your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, beg Leave to return Your Majesty our humble Thanks, for Your most Gracious Speech from the Throne.

"The great Care which Your Majesty has taken, for suppressing the present wicked and unnatural Rebellion, and for defending this Kingdom against an Invasion, is a fresh Instance of Your Paternal Goodness and Concern for Your People; the Continuance of whose Religious and Civil Rights is involved in the Preservation of Your Majesty, and of the Protestant Succession in Your Royal House.

"We beg Leave to congratulate Your Majesty on the Success of Your Arms, in disappointing the Attempt of the Rebels upon this Part of Great Britain: As Your Troops, led on and animated by the Bravery and Example of his Royal Highness the Duke, could not fail to strike Terror into the Rebels; so Your Majesty's gracious Acknowledgement of the inviolable and active Loyalty of Your Faithful Subjects must be the most encouraging Motive to them stedfastly to persevere in the same Principles. We comply therefore with every Call of Interest, as well as of Duty, when we give Your Majesty the warmest Assurances of our most zealous and vigorous Support, totally to extinguish this Rebellion in every Part of the United Kingdom, and entirely to defeat the Designs of the Pretender, and all those who shall presume to assist or abet him.

"It is with Gratitude we acknowledge Your Majesty's great Wisdom and Regard for the public Welfare, in exerting Your powerful Influence to promote the Election of the Emperor, and to bring about an Accommodation between the Empress, the King of Poland, and the King of Prussia: We look with much Satisfaction on the Completion of this great Work; in Consequence of which, an immediate Succour may be sent to Italy, Your Majesty's faithful Ally the King of Sardinia be timely supported, and a Strength procured for the Defence and Security of The Low Countries.

"We are most sensibly affected with the imminent Dangers to which The United Provinces are exposed. We consider their Preservation and Security as of the highest Importance to the Safety of these Kingdoms, whose Interests have been closely connected with those of that Protestant Republick, ever since its First Foundation, We therefore beg Leave to assure Your Majesty, that we will vigorously support You, in taking proper Measures for their Defence, and in making good such necessary Engagements as Your Majesty shall enter into, for co-operating with them, towards opposing the further Progress of our Enemies in The Netherlands, and procuring a proper Security for The States General against the ambitious and destructive Designs of France, and for attaining a safe and honourable Peace.

"Your Majesty's Prudence and tender Concern for Your People appear in nothing more, than in the Regard You express for the Circumstances of Your own Dominions. We cannot doubt but this Conside ration will have its due Weight with Your Allies; and that The States will make such an Augmentation of their Forces, and all such further Efforts, as their own immediate Danger and the present Exigency of Affairs require.

"The Advantages which Great Britain has received, and the Losses and Distress which her Enemies have felt, from our Naval Strength, are visible to all the World: Your Majesty's Resolution, therefore, to be particularly attentive to this important Service, and to have a strong Fleet at Sea early in the Spring, gives us the greatest Satisfaction.

"Your Majesty's Gracious Declaration, that You have fully opened to us Your Views and Intentions, is an additional Ground for that just Confidence which we repose in You; and we do, in the most solemn Manner, assure Your Majesty, that the Menaces thrown out, and the Preparations made by our Enemies, have had no other Effect upon our Minds, but to increase our Indignation against their destructive Projects and Attempts, and to augment and heighten our Zeal and Ardour in the Cause of Your Majesty and our Country."

Ordered, That the said Address be presented to His Majesty by the whole House.

Ordered, That the Lords with White Staves do wait on His Majesty, humbly to know when He will be pleased to be attended therewith.

Adjourn.

Dominus Cancellarius declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque ad & in diem Mercurii, decimum quintum diem instantis Januarii, hora undecima Auroræ, Dominis sic decernentibus.

DIE Mercurii, 15^o Januarii.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

His Majesty to be attended with Address.

The Lord Steward acquainted the House, "That the Lords with White Staves had (according to Order) waited on His Majesty, humbly to know what Time He would be pleased to appoint to be attended with their Lordships Address; and that His Majesty had been pleased to appoint this Day, at Two o'Clock, at His Palace of St. James's."

Hart & Ux. Pet. referred to Judges.

Upon reading the Petition of George Hart of Tottenham in the County of Middlesex Brewer and Susanna his Wife, in Behalf of themselves and their Children; praying Leave to bring in a Bill, for Sale of an Estate in Ducklington, in the County of Oxon, in the Petition mentioned; and settling another Estate, of as great or greater Value, to the same Uses, in Lieu thereof:

It is Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be, and is hereby, referred to the Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas and Mr Justice Burnett; with the usual Directions, according to the Standing Order.

Adjourn.

Dominus Cancellarius declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque ad et in diem Martis, vicesimum primum diem instantis Januarii, hora undecima Auroræ, Dominis sic decernentibus.