lonels of the following Militia corps, who had made a voluntary offer of their fervices in Ireland. Bedford, Eaft York Riding, Eaft Kent, Merioneth, and They were ordered to lie on the Table for the perufal of the Members. Several claufes were added as riders to the Tax Cart Bill, after which it was read a third time, paffed, and ordered to the Lords. Mr. Rofe faid, he did not mean to prefs the Rock Salt Bill further now, it was his intention to bring it forward next Seffion, with confiderable alterations. Mr. Abbot brought up feveral accounts from the Committee of Finance, relative to the Police and War Office. A Meffage from the Lords informed the House their Lordships had agreed to the Amendments made by the House in the Bill for regulating the Shrewsbury Grammar School.---Adjourned. HOUSE OF LORDS. Thursday, June 28. The Royal Affent was given by Commiffion to several Bills, (for which fee the Commons.) Commiffioners---Lord Chancellor, Duke of Portland, and Lord Chefterfield.--Adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. The Speaker, attended by feveral Members, went up to the House of Peers to hear the Royal Affent given by Commiffion to several public and private Bills. Among the public Bills were the Convoy Protection Bill, and the Exchequer Bills Bill--Adjourned, HOUSE OF LORDS. As foon as his Majefty had taken his feat upon the Throne, the Ufher of the Black Rod was fent to command the immediate attendance of the House of Commons. The Speaker, attended by a great number of the Members, appeared accordingly at the Bar of the House, and addressed his Majefty in a speech, in which he noticed the honourable exertions that had been made to preferve the independence and dignity of the British Empire. He proceeded to ftate, that a cheerful facrifice had been made at the prefent crifis of objects of of temporary convenience, and that the greatest proofs of loyalty and zeal had been manifefted by his Majefty's subjects of every description. He noticed the voluntary contributions for the support of the war; and he said it was with pride and pleasure that every one must see, how empty the menace of the enemy was, of impairing our commercial profperity, our maritime power, and the liberties of a free and intelligent people. He concluded with a warm eulogium upon the Conftitution, from which, he said, flowed all the bleffings we enjoyed, and which was the fair eft inheritance that could be tranfmitted to our defcendents. He then prefented the following Bills, to which he requested his Majesty's Royal Affent; The Scotch Distillery Bill; The Provifional Cavalry Bill; The Million Vote of Credit Bill; and The Taxed Cart Bill, After the Royal Affent had been given to the different Bills, his Majefty delivered the following moft Gracious Speech. "My Lords and Gentlemen, "By the Measures adopted during the prefent Seffion, you have amply fulfilled the folemn and unanimous Affurances which I received from you at its Commencement. "The Example of your Firmness and Conftancy has been applauded and followed by My Subjects in every Rank and Condition of Life. A Spirit of voluntary and ardent Exertion, dif fufed through every Part of the Kingdom, has ftrengthened and confirmed our internal Security; the fame Sentiments have continued to animate My Troops of every Defcription, and My Fleets have met the Menaces of Invasion, by blocking up our Enemies in all their principal Ports. "Gentlemen of the Houfe of Commons, "The extenfive and equitable Scheme of Contribution, by which fo large a Proportion of our Expences will be defrayed within the Year, has defeated the Expectations of thofe who had vainly hoped to exhaust our Means, and to deftroy our Public Credit. "You have been enabled to avail yourselves of farther Refources, from a Commerce encreased in Extent and Vigour, notwithstand ing the Difficulties of War, and have had the fingular Satisfaction of deriving, at the fame Moment, large additional Aid from individual Exertions of unexampled Zeal, Liberality, and Patriotifm. The Provifion which has been made for the Redemption of the Land-tax has alfo established a Syftem which, in its progreffive Ope 7L 2 ration, ration, may produce the happiest Confequences, by the Increase of our Refources, the Diminution of our Debt, and the Support of Public Credit. "My Lords and Gentlemen, "The Defigns of the Difaffected, carried on in Concert with our inveterate Enemies, have been unremittingly pursued, but have been happily and effectually counteracted in this Kingdom, by the general Zeal and Loyalty of My Subjects. "In Ireland, they have broken out into the most criminal A of open Rebellion. Every Effort has been employed, en My Part, to fubdue this dangerous Spirit, which is equally hoftile to the Intereft and Safety of every Part of the British Empire. I can not too strongly commend the unfhaken Fidelity and Valour of My Regular, Fencible, and Militia Troops in Ireland, and that ditermined Spirit with which My Yeomanry and Volunteer Forces of that Kingdom have flood forward in the Defence of the Lives and Properties of their Fellow-fubjects, and in Support of the lawful Government. The striking and honourable Proof of Alacrity and Public Spirit which fo many of My Fencible and Militia Regiments in this Kingdom have manifefted on this Occafion, has already received the fulleft Testimony of the Approbation of Parliament. This Conduct, perfonally fo honourable to the Individuals, affords the frongeft Pledge both of the militiary Ardour which actuates this valuable Part of our national Defence, and of their affectionate Concern for the Safety and Happiness of Ireland, which are effentially connected with the general Interests of the British Empire. With the Advantage of this Support, and after the diftinguished and important Succefs which has recently attended the Operations of My Arms against the principal Force of the Rebels, I trust the Time is faft approaching, when thofe now feduced from their Allegian.e will be brought to a juft Senfe of the Guilt they have incurred, and will entitle themselves to Forgiveness, and to that Protection which it is My conftant Wish to afford to every Class and Condition of My Subjects, who manifeft their Defire to pay a due Obedience to the Laws. "This temporary Interruption of Tranquillity, and all its attendant Calamities, must be attributed to thofe pernicious Prin ciples which have been industriously propagated in that Country, and which, wherever they have prevailed, have never failed to produce the most difaftrous Effects. With fuch Warnings before us, fenfible of the Danger which we are called upon to repel, and of the Blefings we have to preferve, let us continue firmly united in a determined Refiftance to the Defigns of Our Enemies, and in the Defence of that Conftitution which has been found by Experien Experience to infure to us, in fo eminent a Degree, Public Liberty, National Strength, and the Security and Comfort of all Claffes of the Community. "It is only by Perfeverance in this Line of Conduct that we can Hope, under the Continuance of that Divine Protection which we have fo abundantly experienced, to Conduct this arduous Contest to a happy fue, and to maintain, undiminished, the Security, Honour, and lafting Profperity of the Country." Then the Lord Chancellor, by his Majesty's command, faid, "My Lords and Gentlemen, "It is his Majesty's royal will and pleasure that this Parliament be prorogued to Wednesday, the 8th day of August next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Wednesday, the 8th day of August next." HOUSE OF COMMONS. A Meffage from the Lords announced that they had under their confideration the Scots Distillery Bill. Their Lordships, in order to guide their opinion, requested to have a copy of the Report of the Commons Committee on this fubject. The Speaker, when the Mafters in Chancery were withdrawn, obferved, that the meffage involved in it matter of much importance, as it related to a Money Bill. A fimilar circumstance had occurred in the year 1786; on which occafion a meffage was fent to the Lords, informing them that the Houfe would send an answer by their own messengers. A day was afterwards appointed for taking the meffage into confideration. Mr. Bankes moved, that this meflage be taken into confideration on Monday next. Ordered. Another meffage was immediately announced, that the Scots Diftillery Bill was agreed to. PROROGATION OF PARLIAMEMT. The Ufher of the Black Rod fummoned the House to attend his Majefty in the Upper Chamber of Parliament. The Speaker, on his arrival at the bar of the Upper House, made a fhort addrefs, as ufual, to his Majefty. He stated, that the Commons, looking to the exigency of the cafe, had voted fupplies, and had loft fight of every temporary convenience in providing for the fupport of the conftitution, and the defence of thefe realms. He was happy to fay, that their firmnefs had been feconded by the zeal of the people, whofe voluntary contributions and exertions in their amount and extent were with out out parallel. He rejoiced to think that the united efforts of the Parliament and of the people had difcomfited the intentions of the enemy with refpect to an invafion, if fuch a project had ever been actually entertained. The Speaker then prefented fome Bills, which received the Royal Affent. On his return, the Speaker read his Majesty's Speech, aftor which the Members feperated. END OF THE SECOND SESSION OF THE EIGHTEENTH PARLIAMENT. |