of this parliament, to inform you, that a moft daring fpirit of refiftance and disobedience to the law, fill unhappily prevails in the province of the Maffachufet's Bay, and has, in divers parts of it, broke forth in fresh violences of a very criminal nature. Thefe proceedings have been countenanced and encouraged in other of my colonies, and unwarrantable attempts have. been made to obftruct the commerce of this kingdom, by unlawful combinations. I have taken fuch meafures, and given fuch orders, as I judged moft proper and effectual for carrying into execution the laws which were paffed in the laft feflion of the late parliament, for the protection and fecurity of the commerce of my fubjects, and for the reftoring and preferving peace, order, and good govern-. ment, in the province of the Maffachufet's Bay; and you may depend upon my firm and ftedfaft refolution to withstand every attempt to weaken or impair the fupreme authority of this legiflature over all the dominions of my crown; the maintenance of which I confider as effential to the dignity, the fafety, and the welfare, of the British empire; affuring myself, that, while I act upon these principles, I fhall never fail to receive your affiftance and support.

I have the greatest fatisfaction in being able to inform you, that a treaty of peace is concluded between Ruffia and the Porte. By this happy event, the troubles which have fo long prevailed in one part of Europe are compofed, and the general tranquillity rendered complete. It shall be my conftant aim and endeavour to prevent the breaking out of fresh disturbances and I cannot but flatter myself Í [R] 4

;

I

fhall

fhall fucceed, as I continue to receive the strongest affurances from other powers of their being equally difpofed to preferve the peace.

Gentlemen of the Houfe of

Commons,

I have ordered the proper eftimates for the service of the enfuing year to be laid before you; and I doubt not but that, in this houfe of commons, I shall meet with the fame affectionate confidence, and the fame proofs of zeal and attach. ment to my perfon and government, which I have always, during the course of my reign, received from my faithful commons.

My Lords and Gentlemen, Let me particularly recommend to you, at this time, to proceed with temper in your deliberations, and with unanimity in your refolutions. Let my people, in every part of my dominions, be taught, by your example, to have a due reverence for the laws, and a juft fense of the bleffings, of our excellent conftitution. They may be affured that, on my part, I have nothing fo much at heart as the real profperity and lasting happinefs of all my fubjects.

The bumble Address of the Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, in Parliament affembled.

Moft Gracious Sovereign,

'E, your majefty's most dutiful and loyal fubjects, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, in parliament affembled, beg leave to return your majefty our humble thanks for your moft gracious fpeech from the throne.

WE, your majesty's most duti

We think it our indifpenfable duty to declare, on this occafion, our abhorrence and deteftation of the daring spirit of refiftance and disobedience to the laws, which fo ftrongly prevails in the province of the Maffach ufett's Bay, and of the unwarrantable attempts in that and other of your majesty's provinces in America, to obftruct, by unlawful combinations, the trade of this kingdom.

We thankfully acknowledge, at the fame time, the communication it has pleased your majesty to make to us, of your having taken fuch meafures, and given fuch orders, as your majefty judged the most proper and effectual for the protection and fecurity of the commerce of your majefty's fubjects, and for the carrying into execution the laws, which were paffed in the laft feffion of the late parliament, relative to the province of the Maffachufet's Bay; and in the ut moft reliance on your majefty's firm and sted faft refolution to continue to fupport the fupreme authority of the legislature over all the dominions of your crown, your majesty may be affured, that we will chear. fully co-operate in all fuch measures as fhall be neceffary to maintain the dignity, the fafety, and the welfare of the British empire.

As this nation cannot be uncon. cerned in the common interefts of Europe, it is with the greatest fa tisfaction we are acquainted with the conclufion of the peace between Ruffia and the Porte. We have the fulleft confidence in your majesty's endeavours to prevent, as far as poffible, the breaking out of fresh difturbances; and from the affurances given to your majefty by other. powers, we have the pleafing ex

pectation,

pectation, that nothing is likely to happen that may interrupt the prefent happy tranquillity in Eu

rope.

We beg leave humbly to affure your majefty, that it will be no lefs our duty than our inclination, to proceed with temper and unanimity in our deliberations and refolutions, and to inculcate, by our example, a due reverence to the laws, and a juft fenfe of the excellency of our conftitution. Impreffed with these sentiments, and with the deepest gratitude for the many bleffings we have enjoyed during the courte of your majesty's reign, it will be our principal care to teftify, with unaffected zeal, at this conjucture, our inviolable fidelity to your majefty, and our ferious attention to the public welfare.

His Majesty's most gracious Answer.

jefty our humble thanks, for your moft gracious fpeech from the throne.

Permit us to affure your majefty. that we receive with the highest fenfe of your majefty's goodness the early information which you have been pleafed to give us of the state of the province of the Maffachufett's-bay.

We feel the moft fincere concern, that a fpirit of difobedience and refiftance to the law should sti!! unhappily prevail in that province, and that it has broke forth in freth violences of a most criminal nature: and we cannot but lament that fuch proceedings fhould have been countenanced and encouraged in any other of your majefty's colonies; and that any of your fubjects should have been fo far deluded and misled as to make rash and unwarrantable attempts to obftruct the commerce of your majesty's kingdoms by unlawful combinations.

Commons to the King.

Moft gracious Sovereign,

WE

E, your majefty's moft du'tiful and loyal fubjects the commons of Great Britain in parliament affembled, return your ma

affurances, will ufe every means in their power to affift your majefty in maintaining entire and inviolate the fupreme authority of this legiflature over all the dominions of your crown; being truly fenfible that we should betray the truft re

pofed

fhall fucceed, as I continue to receive the strongest affurances from other powers of their being equally difpofed to preserve the peace.

Gentlemen of the House of

Commons,

I have ordered the proper eftimates for the fervice of the enfuing year to be laid before you; and I doubt not but that, in this houfe of commons, I fhall meet with the fame affectionate confidence, and the fame proofs of zeal and attach. ment to my perfon and government, which I have always, during the course of my reign, received from my faithful commons.

My Lords and Gentlemen, Let me particularly recommend to you, at this time, to proceed with temper in your deliberations, and with unanimity in your refolutions. Let my people, in every part of my dominions, be taught, by your example, to have a due reverence for the laws, and a just fenfe of the bleflings, of our excellent conftitution. They may be affured that, on my part, I have nothing fo much at heart as the real profperity and lasting happinefs of all my fubjects.

The bumble Address of the Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, in Parliament affembled. Moft Gracious Sovereign,

E, your majefty's moft duti ful and loyal fubjects, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, in parliament affembled, beg leave to return your majefty our humble thanks for your most gracious fpeech from the throne.

WE, your majefty's moft duti

We think it our indifpenfable duty to declare, on this occafion, our abhorrence and deteftation of the daring spirit of refiftance and disobedience to the laws, which fo strongly prevails in the province of the Maffach ufett's Bay, and of the unwarrantable attempts in that and other of your majesty's provinces in America, to obftruct, by unlawful combinations, the trade of this kingdom.

We thankfully acknowledge, at the fame time, the communication it has pleafed your majefty to make to us, of your having taken fuch measures, and given fuch orders, as your majefty judged the most proper and effectual for the protection and fecurity of the commerce of your majesty's fubjects, and for the carrying into execution the laws, which were paffed in the last feffion of the late parliament, relative to the province of the Maffachufet's Bay; and in the ut moft reliance on your majefty's firm. and sted fast resolution to continue, to fupport the fupreme authority of the legislature over all the dominions of your crown, your majesty may be affured, that we will chear. fully co-operate in all fuch measures as fhall be neceffary to maintain the dignity, the fafety, and the welfare of the British empire.

As this nation cannot be unconcerned in the common interefts of Europe, it is with the greatest fa tisfaction we are acquainted with the conclufion of the peace between-: Ruffia and the Porte. We have the fulleft confidence in your majesty's` endeavours to prevent, as far as poffible, the breaking out of fresh difturbances; and from the affurances given to your majefty by other. powers, we have the pleafing ex

pectation,

pectation, that nothing is likely to happen that may interrupt the prefent happy tranquillity in Europe.

We beg leave humbly to affure your majefty, that it will be no lefs our duty than our inclination, to proceed with temper and unanimity in our deliberations and refolutions, and to inculcate, by our example, a due reverence to the laws, and a juft fenfe of the excellency of our conftitution. Impreffed with thefe fentiments, and with the deepest gratitude for the many bleflings we have enjoyed during the courte of your majefty's reign, it will be our principal care to teftify, with unaffected zeal, at this conjucture, our inviolable fidelity to your majefty, and our ferious attention to the public welfare.

His Majesty's most gracious Anfwer.

My Lords,

I thank you for your affectionate affurances of duty and loyalty.The zeal you exprefs for the fupport of the fupreme authority of the legislature, which I shall conftantly maintain, is very agreeable to me; and your refolution to proceed with temper and unanimity in your deliberations gives me the greater fatisfaction, as it correfponds with the hearty concern I shall ever have for the true interefts of all my people.

Permit us to affure your majesty. that we receive with the highest fenfe of your majesty's goodness the early information which you have been pleased to give us of the state of the province of the Maffachufett's-bay.

We feel the most fincere concern, that a fpirit of difobedience and refiftance to the law fhould fti!! unhappily prevail in that province, and that it has broke forth in freth violences of a most criminal nature: and we cannot but lament that fuch proceedings fhould have been countenanced and encouraged in any other of your majesty's colonies; and that any of your fubjects should have been fo far deluded and misled as to make rafh and unwarrantable

attempts to obftruct the commerce of your majefty's kingdoms by unlawful combinations.

We beg leave to prefent our moft dutiful thanks to your majefty, for having taken fuch meafures as your majefty judged most proper and effectual, for carrying into execution the laws, which were paffed in the laft feffion of the late parliament, for the protection and fecurity of the commerce of your majefty's fubjects, and for reftoring and preferving peace, order, and good government, in the province of the Maffachufett'sbay.

Your faithful commons, ani

Commons to the King.

affurances, will ufe every means in their power to affift your majesty in maintaining entire and inviolate the fupreme authority of this legiflature over all the dominions of your crown; being truly fenfible that we should betray the truft re

pofed