State of the nation-king's revenue fettled-coronationproceedings with Spain-convention with the duke of Wolfenbuttel-new parliament meets-its proceedings -character of fir Robert Walpole-Heffians votedmoney-bills debated-ftate of the national debt-the congrefs of Soiffons-arrival of the prince of Wales in England-feriber negotiations for peace-a new parliament meets-debates-Spanish depredations-debate about Gibraltar-enquiry into the public gaols. H nation. IS majefty king George II. acceded to the 1727. crown, at a juncture that was critical to the liberties of Europe, but not dangerous to the peace of Eng-State of the land. The broils that had been raised in Europe by the counter-treaties of Vienna and Hanover, ftill continued in the cabinets of the feveral powers interested; but the nation at home feemed to be perfectly united in the vigorous fupport of its own rights, and of the fucceffion in the house of Ha nover. On the 14th of June, 1727, his majesty in council made His majea declaration that he would maintain the religion, laws, and fty's declaraliberties of the kingdom, and likewife the alliances entered in- tion, and proceedings to by his late majefty, which had, in a great measure, contri-of parlia 1727. Geo. II. buted to reftore the tranquillity of Europe. The next day, the parliament met purfuant to the act of the 4th of queen Anne, but was prorogued by commiffion to the 27th of June, the day of their laft prorogation. At their meeting on that day, his majefty's fpeech was fuch as gave an early omen of that paternal care he ever after exerted for the happiness and welfare of his people, and his regard for their rights, privileges, and poffeffions. It appeared, however, that his plan of government with regard to foreign affairs was the fame with that of his father, and that he was refolved to adhere to the engagements the late king had entered into by the treaty of Hanover, which, he faid in his fpeech, had had fo good an effect as to make him think of reducing the public expence. Upon the king's withdrawing from the houfe of peers, that houfe, upon a motion from the earl of Chesterfield, which was introduced by a pathetic speech, agreed unanimously to an addrefs of condolance and congratulation; and then the houfe of commons, with the fame unanimity, voted the like address upon a motion from Sir Paul Methuen; and the fame was drawn up by Sir Robert Walpole, in terms that fufficiently proved he thought himself fecure of all the influence and power which he poffeffed under the late king. The commons, however, went farther in their addrefs than the peers did in theirs, for they congratulated his majesty upon the preliminary articles of a general peace being figned. On the 29th of the fame month, the houfe of commons came to the unanimous refolution that a fupply be granted his majefty, "for the better fupport of his majefty's houfhold, "and the honour and dignity of the crown.' When the fupply on the 3d of July came to be confidered, fir Robert Walpole, as chancellor of the exchequer, put the house in mind, that though the late king had 700,000l. a year fettled upon him for the civil lift, yet it had every year fallen fhort, and they had been obliged to make it up another way. That, his prefent majefty had a large family, and muft fettle an houfhold for his royal confort. He therefore moved, "That the entire revenues of the civil lift, which "produced about one hundred and thirty thousand pounds a "year, above the faid yearly fum of 700,cool. might be "fettled upon his majefty during his life." This motion was immediately confidered as the price which the minifter had paid for the continuance of his power, though he backed it with ftrong arguments; nor did it fail to Debates in open the mouth of oppofition. Mr. Shippen, who had for the house of many years indifcriminately oppofed all minifterial motions commons, and and meafures, immediately launched out into wide encomiums Geo. II. upon the frugality and public fpirit of queen Anne, and drew a 1727. kind of a parallel that was by no means to the advantage of. the prefent adminiftration. His fpeech, at any other time, would have been both anfwered and animadverted upon, but the plan upon which the adminiftration refolved to proceed, required that matters might be exaggerated, and parties exafperated as little as poflible; and the house came to an unanimous refolution to grant to his majefty the fame civil lift money that his father had enjoyed. The fecond time the bill was read, a meflage was delivered by fir Paul Methuen, the treafurer of the houthold, from the king, recommending the making further provifion for the queen, in cafe of his majesty's demife. The fuccefs of this meflage was confidered as the touchstone of the minifter's power, nor did it remain long in fufpence, for a grand committee of the commons refolved, after confidering the meffage, ift, That a provifion be made for the queen, in cafe fhe provision for fhould furvive his majefty, of one hundred thousand pounds the queen : per annum, during her life, to fupport her royal dignity, together with his majefty's palace of Somerfet-houfe, and the lodge and lands at Richmond Old-Park. 2dly, That his majefty be enabled to charge the said one and the civil hundred thousand pounds per annum, on all or any of thelift. duties or revenues fettled or appointed for the better fupport of his majesty's houfhold, and the honour and dignity of the crown, which fhall fubfift after his majefty's demife. All those refolutions were agreed to, and on the 8th of July, upon a meffage prefented by the treasurer of the houfhold for that purpose, a bill was brought in to enable his majesty to be governor of the South-fea Company; which, with all the bills we mentioned, and feveral others, paft with little oppofition and lefs debate. His majesty's fpeech to parliament at the clofe of this fhorts Speech at the feffion, was a plain proof how well he, or to fpeak in the clofe of the language of the oppofition, the minifter was pleafed with their feion. proceedings. He thanked the members for the provifion they had made for the fupport of his family and the civil government, and for the ample provifion they had made for the queen. He then fubjoins the following remarkable paragraph; "My lords and gentlemen, It is a great happiness "to me to fee the nation in fo profperous and flourish"ing a condition, at the highest pitch of glory and reputa❝tion, of great weight in holding the balance of Europe, A 3 <de Geo. II. " 1727. Settlement niftry. defending themselves in their juft privileges and poffeffions, "and vindicating the honour of the crown of Great Bri"tain." t After commending, in very elegant terms, the mutual concord and forbearance that fubfifted between the church of England and the proteftant diffenters; he thus proceeds, "From thefe happy and favourable conjunctures has flowed "that general tranquillity, that rife of public credit, and "that improvement of trade and commerce, which have greatly encreased our wealth and power, and given us that refpect and influence abroad which has fo much advanced the glory and happiness of this nation." His majefty then proceeds to recommend to the nation the fteadiness and unanimity in public business which that parliament had fhewn. Then the parliament was prorogued to the 29th of August, but on the 7th it was diffolved by proclamation, and a new one called. His majefty now proceeded to fettle his miniftry, his counof the mi- cil, and his houfhold; and that, in fuch a manner, as proved he was refolved to give the preference to the friends of his family, and of public liberty. The feals of the secretaries of ftate were continued with the duke of Newcastle and the lord Townsend; Mr. Pelham, the duke's brother, was appointed fecretary at war. The duke of Rutland was appointed chancellor of the dutchy of Lancaster. Sir Robert Walpole was appointed chancellor of the exchequer, and first lord of the treasury; and, by the union of thefe two offices in his perfon, was confidered as prime minifter of flate; the other lords of treafury, were fir Charles Turner, Mr. Doddington, fir George Oxenden, and Mr. Clayton. Lord Torrington was placed at the head of the admiralty, and the other members of that board were, Mr. Cockburn, fir John Norris, and fir Charles Wager, fir Thomas Littleton, the lord Malpas, and Mr. Molyneux. The earl of Chesterfield was appointed to go embassador to Holland, and the lord Carteret was made lord lieutenant of Ireland. The corona tion. P. 325. The other domeftic tranfactions of this year are of little See importance to a general hiftory of England. The reader, from the defcription of the coronation of the late king, may form an idea of that of the prefent, which, with that of the queen, was performed with all poffible magnificence on the 11th of October 2. Mean a Befides the ordinary officers ranks, filled up the proceffion, of state, who, in their feveral the duke of Dorfet acted that day as |