expences; but I rely on your wif.dom and public fpirit for fuch fupplies, as the circumftances and exigencies of our affairs fhall be found to require.

My Lords and Gentlemen, I have great fatisfaction in renewing the affurances of my entire approbation of the good conduct and difcipline of the militia, and of their fteady perfeverance in their duty; and I return my cordial thanks to all ranks of my loyal fubjects who have food forth in this arduous conjuncture, and by their zeal, their influence, and their perfonal fervice, have given confidence as well as ftrength to the national defence. Trufting in the Divine Providence, and in the juftice of my caufe, I am firmly refolved to profecute the war with vigour, and to make every exertion in order to compel our enemies to liften to equitable terms of peace and accommoda.

tion.

will continue to animate our refolutions, and redouble our efforts in

the national defence. We truft, that thofe efforts, feconded by the zeal of a faithful and loyal people, will, under the Providence of God, be fully fufficient to repel every attack, to fruftrate the hopes, and defeat the defigns, of any confederacy that may be formed against your majefty's crown and dominions.

In fuch a crifis, the approach of danger can ferve only to call forth that national fpirit, which always rifes with the occafion that demands it, but never difplayed itfelf in a more important conjunc ture, though it has fo often protected the liberties of thefe kingdoms, and of Europe in general, and has enabled the British fleets and armies to withstand, and defeat, the defigns of that reftlefs and afpiring ambition, which has fo frequently difturbed the peace and invaded the rights of mankind.

We are deeply fenfible of your majefly's paternal goodness, which does not confine itfelf to one part of your dominions, but is anxious for the profperity of the whole, and, in the midft of your care and folicitude for the fafety and welfare of this country, has led your attention to the ftate of your loyal and faithful kingdom of Ireland. Guided by the fame fentiments which prompted the humble addrefs we prefented to your majefly the laft fefion, we will' continue our attention to thofe important objects your majefly's wifdom recommends, and after deliberately weighing the whole, will consider, what further benefits may be extended to that kingdom, by fuch regulations, and fuch methods, as

dour,

and the fame fpirit, that have in former times carried this nation through fo many difficulties and dangers, and have fo of ten enabled their ancestors to protect their country and all its dominions, and to fave not only their own rights, but the liberties of other free flates, from the reftlefs ambition encroaching power of the House of Bourbon.

We acknowledge, with thankfulness, your majefty's goodnefs and attention to the addrefs of this House, refpecting your loyal and faithful kingdom of Ireland, in being pleased to order fuch papers to be communicated to this Houfe, as may affift our deliberations on this important bufinefs: and we beg leave to affure your majefty, that we will not fail to take into our confideration what further benefits and advantages may be extended to that kingdom by fuch regulations, and fuch methods, as may moft effectually promote the common ftrength, wealth, and interefts of all your dominions.

Permit us, Sir, to return our humble thanks to your majefty, for the manner in which

ternal expreffions of concern, that the various and extenfive fervices and operations of the enfuing year muft unavoidably be attended with great and heavy expences; yet, when it is confidered how much the commerce, the profperity, and the fafety of Great Britain depend on the iffue of this conteft, we doubt not that fuch powerful confiderations and motives will induce all your majesty's fubjects to fuftain, with chearfulness and magnanimity, whatever burthens fhall be found neceffary, for raifing fuch fupplies as may enable your majelty to profecute the war with vigour and effect, and to make every exertion, in order to compel your enemies to liften to equitable terms of peace and accommodation.

Address of the Archbishop, Bishops, and Clergy of the Province of Canterbury, in Convocation af fembled, prefented to his Majefty on the 17th of November, 1780.

Moft gracious Sovereign,
majefty's most

your entire approbation of the good conduct and fteady difcipline of the national militia; and to affure your majefty that we concur molt fincerely with your majefty, in acknowledging and applauding the meritorious zeal and fervices of thofe loyal fubjects who ftood forth in the hour of danger, and who have added confidence, as well as ftrength, to the national defence.

Your majefty's faithful commons receive with gratitude, and take a fincere part in, your majefty's pa

cularly obliged to acknowledge and admire a late inftance of your majefty's attention to the interefts of Chriftianity, in your royal munificence to the pious defigns of the fociety for the propagation of the gofpel in foreign parts, erected by a charter from your glorious predeceffor, King William and now restored to its former activity, by the liberal contributions of your fubjects, encouraged by your majef. ty's example.

Amidst all the protection and favour we derive from the goodnefs of your majefty's heart, we lament the neceffity of confeffing, that the licentioufnefs of the times continues to counteract your paternal care for the state of national religion. Bad men and bad books are the produce of all times; but we obferve with particular regret, that the wickedness of the age hath of late been directly pointed at the fences of piety and virtue, eftablished by God himfelf, and apparently fecured by law.

The open violation of the Lord's day, and the invitations of men to defert the religious duties of that day for amufements, frivolous at beft, appears to call for the aid of the civil magiftrate, to check the progress of an evil fo dangerous both to church and ftate, by fuppreffing on the Lord's day, places of refort for pleasure, where the interpofition of the minifters of religion is impracticable. We humbly affure your majefty, that fo far as any exertion of our's can reach, we fhall not fail to admonish and rebuke, both by word and example.

We have the comfortable hope, Sir, that it will appear to your majefty, that Popery is lefs preva

lent than it has been in this part of your dominions. We are too zealously attached to Protestantism not to oppofe the errors of the Church of Rome, as well in controverfal attacks, as in the more fuccefsful way of teaching t doctrines of our Apoftolical Church adhering, at the fame time, invariably to the principles of the reformation, which direct us to oppofe error of every kind, by argument and perfuafion, and to dif avow all violence in the cause of religion.

May Almighty God, who, for our fins, hath permitted your majefty to be involved in a war, just, indeed, and neceffary, but in its own nature productive of much calamity, blefs your majefty's efforts with decifive fuccefs!

It becomes us, as minifters of the gofpel, to praife God for every victory which has a tendency to the bleffings of peace; and whenever it hall pleafe his infinite wisdom to restore them to this nation, we shall further befeech him to grant to your majesty the full enjoyment of those bleffings for many years, in the profperity and unanimous loyalty of your fubjets.

To which Address his Majefty was pleafed to return the following moft gracious Answer:

I THANK you for your congratulations on the increase of my family, and the happy recovery of the queen.

I hear with pleasure the zeal you exprefs for the interests of our holy religion; and I fhall conti nue to make it my conftant endeavour to, fupport them upon the [X] 3 principles

principles of the reformation, against the encroachments of licentioufnels or fuperftition.

Trusting to the juftice of my caufe, I rely on the continuance of the bleffings of Providence on my endeavours to reftore to my people a fafe and honourable peace.

PROTEST OF THE LORDS.

Die Martis, Feb. 8vo.

Moved,

TH

HAT a committee be appointed, confiiting of members of both Houses, poffeffing neither employment nor penfion, to examine without delay into the public expenditure, and the mode of accounting for the fame; more particularly into the manner of making all contracts, and at the fame time to take into confideration what favings can be made confiftent with public dignity, juftice, and gratitude, by an abolition of old or new created offices, the duties of which have either ccafed, or fhall on enquiry prove inadequate to the fees or other emoluments arifing therefrom, or by the reduction of fuch falaries or other allowances and profits as may appear to be unreasonable; that the fame may be applied to leffen the prefent ruinous expenditure, and to enable us to carry on the prefent war against the Houfe of Bourbon, with that decifion and vigour which can alone refult from national zeal, confidence, and unanimity.

After a long debate, the Houfe

ift. Because, however the wafte of public money, and the profufion of ufelefs falanes, may have been heretofore overlooked in the days of wealth and profperity, the neceffities of the prefent time can no longer endure the fame fyftem of corruption and prodigality.

The fcarcity of money, the diminished value of land, the finking of rents, with the decline of trade, are melancholy proofs that we are almoft arrived at the end of taxa. tion, and yet the demands are annually increased, while the hopes of peace are every year put to a greater distance.

For let any man confider the immenfe debt increafing beyond the poffibility of payment, with the prefent accumulation of taxes upon every article, not only of luxury, but of convenience and even of neceffary ufe; and let him carry his thoughts forward to thofe additional duties which must immediately be impofed to make good the intereft of the approaching loan, and of that debt which will remain unfunded, he will find that at least one million and a half of intereft must be provided for, befides what may be further neceffary to make good the deficiences of the late taxes.

Under thefe circumftances, the favings of a ftrict and vigilant ceconomy in every branch, and the application of overgrown falaries, unmerited penfions, and ufelefs

places,