My Lords and Gentlemen,

Tis with great Satisfaction that, after this thort Recefs, I can acquaint you with the certain Advice I have receiv'd, that my Fleet is fafely arriv'd in the Sound, which, by the Blefling of Almighty God, will fecure these Kingdoms against any immediate Danger of an Invafion.

I have, by these Means, an Opportunity, which is very acceptable to me, of making a confiderable Reduction in our Land-Forces, having eftablith'd it as a Rule with my self, to confult the Eafe of my People in every Thing, fo far as is confiftent with their Safety. And, for my own Part, as I fhall always place my Greatnefs in the Profperity of my Subjects, fo I fhall always defire that my Power may be founded in their Affections.

It is upon thefe Confiderations, that I have given Orders for the immediate reducing of ten thousand

Men.

That nothing may be wanting in me to quiet the Minds of all my Subjects, I have likewife given Directions to prepare an Act of Grace; and however it may be receiv'd by those who are obftinately bent on the Ruin of their Country, I promife my felf, that it will raife a due Senfe of Gratitude in all fuch as have been artfully mifled into treafonable Practices, against my Perfon and Government, and preferve them from ftanding in need of the like Mercy for the future, when fuch an Inftance of Clemency may not be fo expedient for the publick Welfare, as it would be agreeable to my own Inclinations.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

I thank you for your Readiness to support me in the prefent Juncture of Affairs, and for the Supplies which you have given; and do promise you, that they fhall be employ'd for the Ufes to which you defign'd them.

I fhall order fuch faithful Accompts to be laid before you the next Seffion, as will make it appear, there was no other View in afking any particular Supply, than to prevent a much greater Expence, which the Nation must have unavoidably incurr'd without it.

I must recommend to you, as I did at the Beginning of the Seffion, to take all proper Methods for redu

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cing

ing the publick Debts, with a juft Regard to Parlia mentary Credit.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

The Year being fo far advanc'd, I hope you will go through the publick Bufinefs with all poffible Dif patch and Unanimity, it being my Intention to meet you early the next Winter, that the fitting of Parliament may be brought into the more ufual and convenient Season.

In Return to this Speech, both Houses addrefs'd his Majefty as follows:

The humble Addrefs of the Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament affembled. Prefented May 8. 1717.

Moft Gracious Sovereign,

E your Majefty's moft dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament affembled, beg leave to return your Majesty our most humble Thanks for your Majefty's moft gracious Speech from the Throne, and for your Majefty's having taken effectual Care to prevent all immediate Danger of an Invafion upon these your Kingdoms, by fending your Fleet fo early into the Sound: And we cannot but acknowledge, with the greatest Satisfaction, your Majefty's moft tender Regard to the Eafe of your People, in giving Orders, as foon as it was confiftent with the publick Safety, for reducing fo confiderable a Number of the Land-Forces.

We also give your Majesty our most humble Thanks for your having communicated to your Parliament your Intention to pafs an Act of Grace, which, we hope, will have all the good Effects your Majefty fo reasonably and juftly expects from it.

And we take this Occafion to affure your Majesty, that we will, with the utmoft Zeal and Duty, defend and fupport your Majefty's facred Perfon and Government, againft all your Enemies, both at Home and Abroad."

To

I

To which the King answer'd,

My Lords,

Thank you kindly for this very awful Addrefs; your Zeal and Affection to my Perfon and Government, is what (under God) I fhall always principally rely

072.

The bumble Address of the House of Commons to the King, prefented May 9. 1717.

Moft Gracious Sovereign,

WE

E your Majefty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Commons of Great Britain in Parliament affembled, crave Leave to approach your facred Perfon, with Hearts full of Gratitude to your Majefty for the many gracious Declarations you have been pleas'd to make to us from the Throne.

Our Duty to your Majefty, and our Concern for the Security of your Kingdoms, at a Time when the Nation was threaten'd with a defperate Invafion, oblig'd us to make Provifion for keeping up fuch a Body of Land-Forces, as might fhew that we were in a Pofture of Defence: But your Majefty having Grounds to hope, on the Arrival of your Fleet in the Sound, that, by the Bleffing of God, a Check will be put to that Defign, we muft for ever acknowledge, that the early Directions you have been pleas'd to give for reducing fuch a Body of thofe Land-Forces, is the most acceptable Pledge you could give your People of Tendernefs for them; and that your Majefty has nothing fo much at Heart as their present and future Welfare, and is fuch an Inftance of your great Wisdom and Goodness, as muft for ever endear your Majefty to all your Subjects.

your

We are bound to exprefs our juft Satisfaction in your gracious Intentions of Mercy, as being highly conducive to the Tranquility of the Kingdom, and a convincing Proof of your Majefty's Defire to reign in the Affections of all your Subjects,

We have fo often experienc'd the happy Effects of the Confidence we have repos'd in your Majefty, that we can never entertain any Doubt of the due Application of any Supplies granted by us; and do receive, in the most dutiful and affectionate Manner, your

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Maje

Tis with great Pleasure that I find th have given to make a Reduction in the Intentions to grant an A&t of Grace, are fo Satisfaction of my faithful Commons.

I thank you for the hearty Affurances yo your Affedions to my Perfon and Governm always make fuch an Ufe of the Confidence y me, as may be moft for the Advantage of my

The farther Proceedings of the Parli be referr'd to our next, to make Room for domeftick Transactions.

The Beginning of March was publish lowing Proclamation for prohibiting Com Sweden.

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Thould and might be lawful for us, by one or more Proclamation or Proclamations, to te iffu'd at any Time or Times before the zoth Day of March, which will be in the Year of our Lord 1717, to prohibit or restrain all and every Perfon or Perfons, Natives and Foreigners, Bodies Politick and Corporate what foever, to fhip, export, carry, or fend, or caufe or procure to be hipp'd, exported, carry'd, or fent, directly or indirectly, from or out of the Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland, or any of the Dominions thereunto belonging, unto or for the Kingdom of Sweden, or any the Dominions or Countries under the Power of the King of Sweden, any Goods, Wares, Commodities, or Merchandizes whatfoever, or fuch particular Goods, Wares, Commodities, or Merchandizes,as in fuch Proclamation or Proclamations should be enumerated, defcrib'd, and forbidden, (whether the fame, or any of them, be or be not of the Growth, Product, or Manufacture of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Dominions thereunto belonging, or any of them) and alfo to prohibit or reftrain all and every fuch Perfon and Perfons, Bodies Politick and Corporate whatsoever, to import or bring, or cause or procure to be imported or brought, directly or indirectly, by Way of Merchandize, into Great Britain, Ireland, or any of the Dominions thereunto belong ing, any Goods, Wares, or Commodities whatsoever, of the Growth, Product, or Manufacture of Sweden, or any the Dominions under the Power of the King of Sweden, being mixt or unmixt with the Goods of any other Country, or fuch particular Goods, Wares, or Commodities of Sweden, or of any of the Dominions under the Power of the King of Sweden, mixt or unmixt as aforefaid, as in fuch Proclamation or Proclamations thould be enumerated, defcrib'd, and forbidden, for and during fuch Time and Times, not exceeding one Year, to be reckon'd from the 20th Day of this Inftant March, and from thence to the End of the then next Seflion of Parliament, under the Penalties in the faid A&t mention'd, and in fuch Manner and Form, as in and by fuch Proclamation and Proclamations refpectively thould be prefcrib'd. But by the faid Act, no Perfon or Perfons whatsoever is or are to incur or fuffer any Penalty or Forfeiture, by Virtue of that Act, or of any Proclamation to be íffu'd thereupon, for or by Reafon of

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