"We beg leave to congratulate your Majefty on the aufpicious marriage of her Royal Highness the Princeis Louifa with the Prince Royal of Denmark; and on the increase of your Royal Family by the birth of a Prince. Every event which adds Strength to your illuftrious Houte, is an addition of fecurity to your kingdoms; fince on the ftability of the Proteftant fucceflion, the continuance of our religion, laws, and liberties, does under God depend. "The gracious manner in which your Majesty has recommended to us union and harmony at home, is a fresh inftance of your paternal tenderness towards your people. It fhall be our conftant endeavour, in all our proceedings, to promote and augment thefe good difpofitions, which are so peculiarly neceffary in this conjun&ture; and we beseech your Majefty, to accept the strongest affurances of our inviolable duty and fidelity to your Majefty; and that we will ftedfastly purfue fuch measures, as may most effectually conduce to the honour and fafety of your Majefty, the security and profperity of your country, and the maintenance of the balance and liberties of Europe." His Majefty's answer. "My Lords, "I return you my hearty thanks for this dutiful and affectionate addrefs. The affurances you give me of your vigorous fupport will have the best effect abroad: and you may depend on my making use of that confidence which you repofe in me, for the honour and true intereft of my crown and kingdom." Dec. 3. The Commons waited on his Majefty with the following address. "Moft gracious Sovereign, "We your Majefty's moft dutiful and loyal fubjects, the Commons of GreatBritain in Parliament affembled, beg leave to return our humble thanks for your Majefty's moft gracious speech from the Throne. "We beg leave to congratulate your Majefty on your fafe and happy return into this kingdom; and with hearts full of gratitude, we acknowledge the goodness of Divine Providence to this nation in protecting your Majefty's facred perfon amidst the imminent dangers to which your invaluable life has been expofed, in defence of the common caufe, and of the liberties of Europe. Your Majefty's regard and at tention to the advice of your parliament in exerting your endeavours for the prefervation of the house of Auftria, require our warmeft acknowledgements; and it is with the highest fatisfaction we reflect on the fuccefs of your Majefty's arms in the profecution of this great and neceflary work, with fo much glory to your Majefty, and honour to this nation. "As the interefts of this kingdom, and thofe of the United Provinces are infeparable, nothing could be more welcome to your Majesty's faithful Commons, than your Majefty's having been joined by a body of the troops of the States General. "We beg leave to declare our fatisfaction in your Majefty's having concluded a definitive treaty between your Majefty, the queen of Hungary, and the king of Sardinia; an alliance, which must naturally contribute to the advantage of the common cause, and to the disappointing and diftrefling the crown of Spain, with which this nation is engaged in fo juft and neceffary a war. "It is with the fincereft joy, that we congratulate your Majesty on the happy marriage of the Princefs Louifa with the Prince Royal of Denmark, which tends to unite and ftrengthen the Proteftant interest in Europe. "We likewife beg leave to congratulate your Majesty on the increafe of your royal family, by the birth of a Prince, as it is an additional pledge and fecurity for the continuance of the Proteftant fucceffion in your royal house. Your faithful Commons beg leave to affure your Majefty, that they will, with the greatest zeal, unanimity and dispatch, grant to your Majesty fuch effectual fup. plies, as fhall be found requifite for the honour and fecurity of this nation, and as may enable your Majefty to concert fuch alliances, and purfue with vigour fuch measures, as may be neceffary for the reeftablishing the public tranquility, and procuring a fafe and honourable peace." To which his Majefty was pleased to give the following answer: Each Houfe fent a meffage to congratulate their Royal Highneffes on the birth of a Prince, and received their thanks. The Lords addrefs paffed unanimously, the earl of Chesterfield only making some animadverfions on it, which were answered by lord Carteret. That of the Commons, after a long debate, was carried by 278 to 149. But a motion for difcontinuing the Hanoverian forces, was fupported with equal warmth in both Houfes, but carried in the negative. In the lower Houfe near 40 spoke on both fides, and thus divided 231 to 181. In the Upper House about 20 fpoke, and 71 divided against 36. On which a strong proteft was entered by 26 Lords, the duke of Marlborough at the head of them. A motion was also made in the Commons to address his Majesty, not to engage this nation any farther on the continent, without first entering into an alliance with the the States General on certain ftipulated proportions of force and expence, as in the late war, but after long debate passed in the negative 209 to 132. Dec. 10. Forty thousand seamen were voted for the year 1744. Dec. 17. A furprising phenomenon was obferved at Carthagena, in old Spain, about five in the evening, on the fide of mount Orlando, fome leagues weft of that city. There first appeared a vaft ftream of light resembling a river of fire falling in a cafcade, then it formed a fheet of flame, ex-tending feveral leagues to the eaft giving fo bright a light, as dazzled the eyes of the beholders. Afterwards appeared a great globe of fire beneath it, which in the space of fome minutes, broke into four leffer balls, which flew off towards the four cardinal points. This explosion was attended with a clap of thunder, fo loud, that it aftonished the inhabitants for feveral leagues round. The four leffer balls broke each, but with a clap not fo loud. It was remarkable, during the whole time, the fky was ferene, and the ftars fhone very bright. Dec. 22. His Majefty went to the Houfe of Peers and gave the royal affent to the land-tax bill 4s. and to one naturalization bill. The fuccefs of the privateers of both very confiderable, but the cations was balance greatly in favour of the English. Sir Charles Hardy, knt. and John Phil Thomas Davers and the hon. George. Clinton, efqrs. rear-admirals of the red. William Rowley, efq. rear-admiral of the white. William Martin, efq, rear-admiral of the blue. General Wade, efq. a field-marfhal. Lord Edgecumbe, chancellor of the dut-* chy of Lancaster, in the room of The earl of Chomondeley, keeper of his Majefty's privy-feal, in the room of Lord Gewer, refigned. Denzil Onflow, efq. pay-master of the works, in the room of Sir Charles Gilmour, bart. a commiffioner for trade and plantations. William Corbett, efq. a commiffioner of the navy. Sir John Rufhout, bart. treasurer of the navy. Henry Arthur Herbert of Oakley-park, efq. a peer of Great-Britain, by the title of baron Herbert of Cherbury, Salop. The hon. Henry Finch, efq. furveyor of his Majesty's works, in the room of Henry Fox, efq, a lord of the Treafury. The hon. Charles Hamilton, efq. receivergeneral of Minorca. Robet Penny, efq. attorney-general of Jamaica. Charles Sackville, efq. called earl of Middlefex, a commiffioner of the treasury. Mr. John Pine, bluemantle, in the room of Mr. Thomas Brown, Lancaster herald. Mr. Shepley accomptant for the port of London, and clerk of the country feizures, in the room of Stephen Penny. Mr. Whitmore, a chief clerk in the annuity pell-office, in the room of Mr. Sherman, deceased. The earl of Waldegrave, a lord of the bedchamber, in the room of the duke of Marl borough, who refigned. James Weft, efq. fecretary to the chancellor of the Exchequer, in the room of Robert Ord, efq. deputy-cofferer, A STATE of the NATIONAL DEBT, provided or unprovided for by Parliament, as if flood December 31, 1742, and December 31, 1743. Purchafed of the S. S. company 4000000 500000 0 0 4000000 O Annuities at 41 per cent. charged Ditto charged on the furplus of the On their capital ftock and annui- 27302203 5 6 £ 48915047 16 94231860019030051040347 16 9 Memorand. The duty on victuallers being determined at Midfummer 1743, the above fum of 481400l. was from that time tranferred to the faid duty on licences. An ACCOUNT of the Produce of the SINKING FUND in the Year 1743, and to the Payment of what Debts contracted before December 25, 1716, the said fund has been applied. Dr. The Exchequer to cash £. S. d. Per Contra Cr. By money iffued between Dec. 31, 1742, and on December 31, 1741 183946 13 13 In further payment of To the produce of the 1,000,000l. granted for 486612 2 111063381 8 21 per cent. on 300,000l. comp } 413485 2 0 granted anno 1738, for To make good the defici- 1247328 1 42 1720, on the plate-aft N. B. The land-taxes and duties on malt, being annual grants, are not charged in the annexed account, nor 1,000,000l. charged upon the deductions for 6d. per il. on penfions, at Lady-day 1743 To make good the de- To the bank of England, To pay intereft on the loans charged on the duties on falt continued months due November anno 1741, for twelve 5, 1743 To pay annuities at 3 granted anno 1742, and charges of management for twelve months, due 942541 59 13870 70 42000 O at Christmas 1743 24450 0 1126192 3 04 Balance in cafhDec. 31, 1743 121135 18 34 L.1247328 1 47 Money granted to his Majefty for the Year 1744. For the charge of 40,000 feamen, granted Dec. 9, 1743 For maintaining 19,028 land forces, (including 1815 invalids) for guards and garrifons, ditto For maintaining 11,550 marines, ditto For maintaining 16,268 Hanoverian troops, being 5513 horfe, and 10,755 foot, granted Jan. 18 Granted to the king of Sardinia, Feb. 1 To the queen of Hungary, ditto For charge of the office of ordnance for land fervice, ditto For ditto not provided, for by Parliament For a marriage portion to the princefs Louifa For the ordinary of the navy, including half-pay to fea officers For the deficiency of the general fund For Westminster-abbey For repairing St. John's church, Westminster For Westminster-bridge - For one year's interest of 1,200,000l. lent on the falt duties For deficiency of additional stamp duties For ditto of the pot duty upon victuallers For ditto of the duty on fweets For ditto of the laft year's grants For the extra charges of the troops in Flanders, incurred in 1742 and 1743, granted March 19 To the duke of Aremberg to put the Auftrian troops in motion, An. 1742 Extraordinary fervices in Georgia, from Sept. 22, 1738, to Sept. 29, 1743 - For providing the 331 horfes loft at the battle of Dettingen For pay of artillery people, ftores, and building fortifications at Rattan, For reduced officers of land forces and marines, 1744 For extraordinary charge of forage, waggon-money, &c. for 1744 £. s. d 2080000 The land-tax for the year 1744, at four fhillings in the pound Annuities at 3 per cent per annum A lottery at ditto for Impreft money in the Exchequer for the coinage duty Out of the finking fund Advanced by the Eaft-India company 1200000 600000 o 36000 0 1000000 O O 1000000 O о |