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The Commons having returned to their own house, the Master of the Rolls rofe, and ftated, that they were now affembled for the purpose of exercising their ancient and indifputable right of electing their own Speaker. The gentleman whom he intended to propofe for that fituation, had, during the two laft feffions, filled it with honour to himself, and with advantage to the Houfe. He would refrain from entering into a detail of the qualifications neceffary to be poffeffed by the perfon proposed, or to deliver any panegyrick on him; for, to those who were in the laft Parliameut, it was nugatory; and to the new members it would be fufficient to fay, that the perfon to be chofen ought to poffefs thofe qualifica tions which would enable him to guide, though not to govern, their proceedings. All who recollected the nature of the office, would know that the poffeffor fhould unite the qualifications that would command refpect, and conciliate esteem; thofe qualifications in his Hon. friend had received the teftimony of the most refpectable characters in the laft Parliament, and of every individual mem. ber. Were he to fay more in the prefence of his Hon. friend, he knew it would wound his feelings; for that reafon he would not fay fo much as he felt. He then moved, "that the Rt Hon. Henry Addington be called to the chair of this Houfe."

Mr Phelips (member for Somerset fhire) feconded the motion. He recom. mended the Rt Hon. Gentleman (Mr Addington) to fill the chair, from the joint qualifications of a scholar and a gentleman, from whence flowed his urbanity of manners, and his firmness of mind; he recommended him from the experience of his former conduct, from his conftant defire to rule by the mild influence of example rather than by the magisterial exertions of authority.

Mr Addington immediately expreffed the impreffion made upon him by the partiality of his friends, and by the con. duct of the whole Houfe. In looking back to his former conduct, he had no hefitation in declaring, that it prefented to his mind a feries of duties imperfectly performed, and as fhort of bis conceptions, as his conceptions were fhort of the magnitude of the office. He faid that they knew the various qualities that ought to be united in a Speaker of that Houfe. He should poffefs a found and folid judge

ment; but, above all, a perfect know. ledge of and attachment to the princi. ples of the Conftitution; and should also poffefs a veneration for the forms of Par liament: And he confidered himself ina dequate to the discharge of the impor tant duties of the office.

Chair! Chair! was now general from all parts of the Houfe; and Mr Adding. ton was led up to the chair between the Mafter of the Rolls and Mr Phelips, with the marked and unanimous concurrence of the whole House.

Mr Addington then took the chair; and immediately again rifing, begged leave to return his warment thanks for the honour they had conferred upon him; and affured them, that the manner in which it was conferred had enhanced it beyond expreffion.

Lord Courtoun made the motion for adjournment; which was put from the chair, and carried.

On Nov. 26. his Majefty went in ftate to the House of Peers, and the attendance of the Commons being commanded, they appeared at the bar, and presented their Speaker, who after bowing reveren. tially to the throne addressed his Majesty as follows:

"Moft gracious Sovereign,

In obedience to your Majefty's com mands, your faithful Commons have proceeded, in conformity to their ancient privileges, to elect a Speaker; and their choice has failen upon me, whom they now prefent to your Majefty for your judgement upon their election. Needlefs will it be in me, Sire, to mention on this occafion, in regard to myself, what I fear cannot be but too well known to your Majefty: it therefore becomes me, with filence and submission, to refign myself to your royal determination."

The Lord Chancellor declared his Majelly's full approbation of the unanimous choice his faithful Commons had made.

The Speaker then bowed to the Throne, and, on behalf of the Commons, prayed his Majelly to grant their ancient privileges, freedom of fpeech, &c.

The Lord Chancellor replied, "His Majefty has, in the most ample manner, confirmed all your ancient rights and pri vileges."

The above ceremony being concluded, his Majesty made the following speech from the throne; « My

16 My Lords and Gentlemen, It is a great fatisfaction to me to inform you, that the differences which had arifen between me and the court of Spain have happily been brought to an amicable termination.

I have ordered copies of the declara tions exchanged between my ambaffador and the minifter of the Catholic King, and of the convention which has fince been concluded, to be laid before you.

The objects which I have propofed to myself in the whole of this tranfaction, have been, to obtain a suitable reparation for the act of violence committed at Nootka, and to remove the grounds of fimilar difputes in future, as well as to fecure to my fubjects the exercise of their navigation, commerce, and fisheries, in thofe parts of the world which were the subject of difcuffion.

The zeal and public fpirit manifefted by all ranks of my subjects, and the difpofition and conduct of my allies, had left me no room to doubt of the most vigorous and effectual fupport; but no event could have afforded me fo much fatisfaction, as the attainment of the ob jects which I had in view, without any actual interruption of the bleffings of peace.

Since the laft feffion of parliament, a foundation has been laid for a pacification -between Auftria and the Porte, and I am now employing my mediation, in conjunction with my allies, for the purpofe of negotiating a definitive treaty between thofe powers, and of endeavouring to put an end to the diffentions in the Netherlands, in whofe fituation I am neceffarily concerned, from confiderations of natio nal intereft, as well as from the engagement of treaties.

A separate peace has taken place between Ruffia and Sweden; but the war between the former of thofe powers and the Porte ftill continues. The principles on which I have hitherto acted will make me always defirous of employing the weight and influence of this country in contributing to the restoration of general tranquillity.

Gentlemen of the Houfe of Commons, I have ordered the account of the expences of the late armaments, and the eftimates for the enfuing year, to be laid before you.

Painful as it is to me at all times to fee any increase of the public burdens, I am perfuaded you will agree with me in

thinking, that the extent of our preparations was dictated by a due regard to the exifting circumstances; and that you will reflect with pleasure on fo ftriking a proof of the advantages derived from the liberal fupplies granted fince the last peace, for the naval fervice. I rely on your zeal and public fpirit to make due provifion for defraying the charges incurred by this armament, and for fupporting the feveral branches of the public fervice on fuch a footing as the general fituation of affairs may appear to require. You will at the fame time, I am perfuaded, fhew your determination invariably to perfevere in that fyftem which has fo effectually confirmed and maintained the public credit of the nation.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

You will have obferved with concern the interruption which has taken place in the tranquillity of our Indian poffeffions, in confequence of the unprovoked attack on an ally of the British nation. The refpectable ftate, however, of the forces under the direction of the government there, and the confidence in the British name, which the fyftem prescribed by parliament has established among the na tive powers in India, afford the moft favourable profpect of bringing the conteft to a speedy and fuccefsful conclufion.

I think it neceffary particularly to call your attention to the ftate of the province of Quebec, and to recommend it to you to confider of fuch regulations for its government, as the prefent circumftances and condition of the province may appear to require.

I am fatisfied that I fhall on every occafion receive the fullest proofs of your zealous and affectionate attachment, which cannot but afford me peculiar fatisfaction, after so recent an opportunity of collecting the immediate fenfe of my people.

You may be affured, that I defire nothing fo much on my part as to cultivate an entire harmony and confidence between me and my parliament, for the purpose of preferving and tranfmitting to posterity the invaluable bleflings of our tree and excellent conftitution, and of concuring with you in every measure which can maintain the advantages of our prefent he tuation, and promote and augment the profperity and happiness of my faithful fubjects."

His Majefty having retired, and the
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Commons withdrawn, the Lord Chancellor moved, "That their Lordships do now take the fsaid speech into their confideration;" upon which

Earl Powlett rofe, and faid, That although he was not in the habit of fpeaking in public, and wanted those distinguished abilities for drawing the attention of their Lordships to any thing he could offer from himself; yet he flattered himself, what he had now to propofe to them would meet with their most unanimous concurrence. The Noble Lord then descanted upon each claufe of his Majefty's speech; and, after expreffing himself in terms of condolence for the lofs the Royal Family fuftained by the death of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland, moved, “That an hum ble addrefs be prefented to his Majefty, for his moft gracious fpeech from the throne."

Earl of Hardwicke rose to second the motion, and observed, that, in an unanimous vote for the addrefs juft moved, their Lordships would not only carry up to his Majefty the fenfe of their Lord fhips, but the fenfe alfo of his people at large.

Earl Stanhope rofe, not to oppose the addrefs, not to cenfure any measure of government; he rofe, he said, to congratulate their Lordships on the profpect of peace, an object particularly defirable to a country wishing to relieve itfelf from heavy burdens; and which was the more likely to be permanent, as it was apparently ftrengthened by the revolution in France, which had reconciled the people of that kingdom to those of Great Britain; and had paved the way to an alliance, which of enemies would make the firmeft friends. His Lordship faid, he would not have troubled their Lordships with this fentiment, had it not been for a recent publication upon the affairs of France, containing a grofs libel on our King. [Here a general buzz took place.] His Lordship, after a fhort paufe, faid, he alluded to no trifling matter. It was no Pindaric, written by a man beneath notice, but by a man who had been firft minifter of France, M. Calonne, who had pathetically recommended a civil war in France, to effect a counter-revolution, and who had afferted, that those who promoted it would be protected by every fovereign in Europe. This affertion, his Lordship faid, included the King of G. Britain, and which, he believed from his

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foul, was a foul calumny. His Lordfhip enlarged on this affertion; but received no answer. The motion for the addrefs was carried unanimously.

In the House of Commons, Nov. 30. the ufual bill being read the first time, pro forma, to affert the privileges of the Houfe to proceed to other bufinefs before taking the King's Speech into con. fideration, and the standing orders revived;

Mr Burke called the attention of the Houfe to a bufiness whch had been left them by the laft Parliament-he meant the trial of Warren Haftings. The rea fon why he introduced the bufinefs on this occafion was, that this very day had been appointed by the Lords for the continuation of that trial. On this day, however, the Lords had adjourned. This adjournment he by no means confidered as meant to convey any opinion respecting the future mode of proceeding. He understood it as a mark of respect. It was known, that on that day the confi deration of the addrefs in return to the King's Speech came before the House. This bufinefs the Lords had regarded as a matter which the rules of parliamentary decorum entitled to pre-eminence, and on this account had adjourned without taking any notice of the trial. he addreffed himself particularly to the Speaker, who, he said, was better in. formed refpecting parliamentary cuftoms than he was, and in whofe knowledge and impartiality he placed the greatest confidence-to him he would apply for an explanation.

Here

The Speaker faid, that as the Rt Hon. Gentleman had appealed to him, he thought it necessary to say, that, whatever doubts might be entertained elfewhere, there could be no doubt in that Houfe. He perfectly agreed in the epinion which the Rt Hon. Gentleman had entertained refpecting the motives that had induced their Lordships to pass over the day; and he recommended to the Rt Hon. Gentleman to paufe a day or two, in order that their Lordships might not fuppofe that they entertained a differ. ent idea.

Mr Pitt expreffed his fentiments nearly the fame with those which had been delivered by the Speaker.

The Speaker having read the King's fpeech, Mr Mainwaring rose, and said that, feeling his fituation as the reprefentative of a populous county, and `confti

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tuents materially interested in commerce, he fhould not have rifen to move an addrefs, had he not been perfuaded that great advantages had been obtained by the measures fet forth in his Majefty's fpeech. Peace was of the greatest confequence to the welfare of this country, and the fecurity of its commerce. War was rarely good policy; its event was always precarious, and its effects generally hurtful. His Majefty had, in his fpeech, given us the affurance, that the end of all our armaments had been merely to procure reparation, and remove the ground of fimilar difputes in future. His Majefty had likewife informed us of the peace that had taken place between fome of the belligerent powers; and, notwithftanding the continuance of fome rup tures, had, by means of his mediation, afforded us the agreeable profpect of the reftoration of general tranquillity. That, when these circumftances were confider. ed, he might venture to say, that his Majesty had, in the whole of his conduct, displayed that paternal love, and regard to the interefts of his people, which had ever fo eminently distinguished his reign. He was aware that it was unparliamentary to make any remarks on the convention till the proper documents had been laid before them; and he fhould only move an humble addrefs, which he concluded with reading, reftricted, as ufual, to the terms of the speech, except in the fingle article of condolence on the lofs fustained by the Royal Family in the death of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland.

Mr R. Pole Carew feconded the motion. He would not trefpaf's long upon their patience; but wifhed, however, to remark upon the prominent feature of the speech, the convention, which called for public applaufe to thofe by whom it had been obtained. During the laft Parliament, a million was granted, and an unanimous refolution adopted, to fupport his Majesty in obtaining ample fatisfaction from the court of Spain; and, by that convention, they were now acquainted that fuch fatisfaction was obtained; that our right to Nootka was not alone admitted, but to every part of North-weft America that we might find unoccupied; to the Southern fishery; and to an uninterrupted navigation of thofe feas. War was only to be undertaken to fupport the national honour. When Spain seized a British thip, we

were bound to refent it, and, either by war or negotiation, to obtain reparation. Could we, then, have obtained more by an expenfive war than we now have? We have not only the fulleft com. penfation for the injuries received, and the indignities offered by Spain, but we have the definition of the claims of the court of Spain. How thankful ought we to be to our Sovereign, for employing the influence of this country, in junction with his allies, for the glorious purpose of bringing about a general peace in Europe! He next obferved, that although the Low Countries might have detached themfelves from the Houfe of Auftria, they might have fallen under the dominion of a powerful and more dangerous neighbour; and that therefore it was for the intereft of this country to prevent it. In Afia, the fame policy had been obferved in repelling our enemies, and protecting our allies; and, from the exertions of our troops who are placed there, the happiest refult is to be expected. Since fuch was the ufe which his Majefty had made of his power, the House would be acting in a manner derogatory from its own honour, and the interefts of the people, if it should refuse the supplies to defray the necessary expenditure.

Sir John Jarvis declared, that no man had more affection for his Majefty than he had, and therefore he had no intention to oppose this addrefs. With regard to the conduct of his Majesty's civil fervants, he did not think this a time to judge of it. A number of things mult appear, before it was poffible for him to decide upon the propriety of their conduct. Not fo with refpect to his Majefty's military servants, whofe zeal and perfeverance in the fervice of their country were never exceeded, he doubted whether they were ever equalled, in any former period. He said, he should feel himself unworthy the feat he had in that House, and of his station in his Majesty's navy, if he were to let flip this opportunity of doing juftice to the fleet. He faw captains drilling their men, from fun-rifing to fun-fetting, with an affiduity he had never before witneffed. The admirals also constantly attended to the duties of the fleet, and, for the space of feveral months, never flept out of their fhips but upon very preffing occafions; and all this was imitated by an Illuftrious Perfonage, whofe zeal and activity in the public fervice were at least equal to thofe of any

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man in the navy. The conduct of the regiments, who had acted on board the fleet as marines, had been likewife highly exemplary. He afcribed all this, in the firft place, to his Majefty's protection, and then, to the fostering care of that House, that had always fhewn a particular regard to the navy. The captains, he faid, had been put to confiderable expence, and had been obliged to pay mo. ney out of their own pockets. He heard that the Noble Lord at the head of the Board meant to make a promotion. If the fact were fo, his Lordship could not do any thing that would redound more to his own honour, and give univerfal fatisfaction to the gentlemen themselves; his Lordship would become the moft po. pular man in this country.

Mr Fox would not oppofe the addrefs, but difclaimed the principles upon which it had been moved and feconded. He would give his vote for the address with out giving an opinion upon the convention, not having information before the Houfe to ground an opinion upon. It was of great importance to this country to pay a very particular attention to the balance of the power of Europe. He agreed with the Hon. feconder in his opinion respecting the Netherlands. The Hon. Gentleman feemed to be afraid that they might fall under the dominion of France, which, by the treaty of Utrecht, and by almoft every treaty, we were bound to oppofe. He had looked at the King's fpeech of last year, and faw nothing particular in it with respect to the Netherlands. In fact, there did not fubfift any thing with regard to that country this year which did not take place the laft, and which it was not equally the duty of this country to oppofe, and, if poffible, to prevent. He knew no peculiar reason that made France formidable at the prefent moment. Of the peace which had fo fortunately been concluded between Auftria and the Porte, he joined in the general approbation; and he fincerely congratulated his Majefty on the good effects which his benevolent interference had produced between those pow ers in bringing their differences to an amicablé conclufion. Mr Fox then begged leave to say a few words on the general state of the continent of Europe, which, in his opinion, prefented at the prefent moment new fources of wealth to this country. He did not know what benefits we might derive from the for

mation of continental alliances; but fuch was our relative fituation, even fix months ago, that we had only to decide on what was beft for us, and we had nothing to do but to make our own choice, and our own terms. Mr Fox made fome pointed observations on that part of his Majesty's speech which touched upon India. He argued strongly against a war with Tippoo Saib, if it can be avoided; but concluded, that, if our lives were attacked, we must defend them; justice as well as policy required it. He hoped all the acts that had been paffed in the latt parlia ment, relative to India, were for the advantage of that country; that they would have a proper effect on the governors who were now in India; and that the fteady and honourable examination of go. vernors who had come home, would pro mote the fame end. He faid he gave his vote moft heartily in favour of the King's speech; and that he thought the address perfectly unexceptionable.

Mr Pitt felt great satisfaction in obser• ving that the addrefs was likely to pass with unanimity. He perfectly agreed with the Rt Hon. Gentleman who spoke laft, in his interpretation of the address, which had studiously been drawn up in general terms, and certainly went to pledge no member to an approbation of the terms of the convention with the court of Spain. With respect to foreign politics, he agreed with the Hon Gentle man who feconded the addrefs, that it was unneceffary to enter very far into a detail of them. He coincided in opinion with Mr Fox, of the relative situation of this country when compared with the other nations of Europe; but, as we had already formed continental alliances, no new temptation, no new order of things, ought to induce us to abandon them; and he was persuaded the Rt Hon. Gentleman did not entertain fuch an idea. In refpect to India, it was needlefs for him to fay much at prefent; we ought to purfue that fyftem of modera tion which had been prescribed by parliament; but, if we were compelled to abandon that fyftem by the violence or inordinate ambition of any power, we had a right to feek retribution in any way in which it could be attained. He wifhed to call the attention of the House to a part of the King's fpeech which had not been particularly noticed, viz. the raising fupplies for defraying the expences occafioned by the late armament.

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