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The KING'S SPEECH. My Lords, and Gentlemen,

IT

T is with much concern that I find myself obliged to open the feffion of parliament with acquainting you, that the diftemper among the horned cattle has lately broke out in this kingdom, notwithstanding every precaution that could be used for preventing the infection from foreign parts. Upon the first notice of its actual appearance, my next attention was to endea vour to stop, if poffible, its farther progrefs; and, as the fuccefs of thofe endeavours muft, in all probability, have been entirely defeated by any the leaft delay in the application of them, I thought it abfolutely neceffary, with the advice of my privycouncil, to give immediate directions for every step to be taken that appeared moft capable of checking the inftant danger of the fpreading of the infecton, until I could have an opportunity of confulting my parliament upon fome more permanent measures for fecuring us against fo great a calamity: And to your immediate and ferious confideration I earnestly recommend this very important object.

I have given my parliament repeated affurances, that it has always been my fixed purpose to preferve the general tranquility; maintaining, at the fame time, the dignity and honour of my crown, together with the juft rights and interefts of my people. The uncommon burthens, which my fubjects have borne fo chearfully, in order to bring the late war to a happy conclufion, muft be an additional motive to make me vigilant to prevent the prefent disturbance in Europe from extending to any part, where the fecurity, honour, or intereft of this nation may make it neceffary for my crown to become a party. The affurances which I receive from the other great powers, afford me reason to believe, that my endeavours will continue to be fuccefsful. I fhall ftill make the general interefts of Europe the object of my attention; And while I steadily fupport my own rights, 1 fhall be equally careful not to acknowledge the claims of any other powers contrary to the limitations of the late treaties of peace.

It is neediefs for me to recommend to the ferious attention of my parliament the fate of my government in America. I have endeavoured, on my part, by every means, to bring back my fubjects there to their duty, and to a due fenfe of lawful authority. It gives me much concern to inform you, that the fuccefs of my endeavours has not anfwered my expectations; and that, in fome of my colonies, many perfons have embarked in measures highly unwarrantable, and calculated to deftroy the commercial connection between them and the mother country.

Gentlemen of the Houfe of Commons,

I have ordered the proper eftimates for the fervice of the current year to be laid before you. I am perfuaded that your affection for my perfon and government, and your zeal for the public

good,

good, will induce you to grant fuch fupplies as are necessary; and you may be affured, that, on my part, they shall be managed with the ftrictest oeconomy.

My Lords, and Gentlemen,

As the welfare and profperity of my people have always been the object of my wishes, and the rule of my actions; so I am perfuaded, from my experience of your conduct, that you will be governed in your proceedings by the fame principles. My ready concurrence and fupport in every measure that may ferve to promote thofe ends, you may always depend upon. On you it will be now, more than ever, incumbent, moft carefully to avoid all heats and animofities among yourselves; and to cultivate that fpirit of harmony which becomes those who have but one common object in their view, and which may be moft likely to give authority and efficacy to the refult of your deliberations. Such a conduct on your part will, above all things, contribute to maintain, in their proper luftre, the ftrength, the reputation, and the profperity of this country; to ftrengthen the attachment of my fubjects to that excellent conftitution of government, from which they derive fuch distinguished advantages; and to cause the firm reliance and confidence, which I have in the wifdom of my parliament, as well as in their zeal for the true intereft of my people, to be juftified and approved, both at home and abroad.

On the Manner of making the KING's SPEECH. In a pamphlet published in the year 1734, intituled, "An "humble Addrefs to the Commons of Great-Britain," there is the following curious hiftory, of the manner in which the King's Speech is made, and approved, previous to the opening of every feffion of parliament. "I don't know exactly how long this cuftom may have prevailed, nor is it of much importance to the public; but I may venture to affirm, that it hath been carried farther, within a very few years, than it ever was before; having not been punctually observed at the beginning of every feffion, but even prostituted to the fervice of particular jobs. There is fomething very ridiculous in these minifterial conventions. The firft affembly is commonly held at the minifter's own house, three or four days before the meeting of parliament, and confifts only of a few trufty creatures, who are called together in order to perufe the King's Speech, and confider of proper perfons to move for, and fecond the addrefs. These gentlemen, who are generally propofed by the minifter himself, after a felf-denying fpeech, modeftly declining fo great an honour, and defiring it may be put into abler hands, are at laft overcome and prevailed upon to undertake it. At the fame time, these choice friends are let into the ftate of affairs, as far as is neceffary, and inftructed what to say, in cafe of a debate upon feve-. ral particular points. The addrefs likewife is drawn up and fet

tled,

tled, long before they meet, as well as the fpeech; for it is the practice of minifters, not only to put whatever they think fit into their mafter's mouth, (which is commonly a panegyric on themfelves, or a juftification of their measures) but likewife to do the fame kind office for the parliament, and make them echo back the substance of it by way of address. When these points are fettled in the minifterial cabinet, for fo I may call it, a general affembly of all the well-affected is fummoned to meet, a day or two afterwards at the Cockpit, where the fame farce is acted over again, in a more circumftantial and folemn manner. The minifter produces a copy of the fpeech, which being read and received with great applaufe, it is refolved, nemine contradicente, to promote a loyal and dutiful addrefs to his Majefty upon it, not only to return him thanks for fo gracious a fpecch, but to applaud the wisdom of all his measures. In this manner do they deviate from the ancient practice of parliament, which confifted only in returning his Majefty thanks for the fpeech in general. Though it may be understood at home, to be only a compliment of course, it certainly carries a different aspect abroad, and looks as if the parliament had in a lump approved of all the measures of the adminiftration. Then the perfons, agreed upon before to move and fecond this addrefs, are propofed, and unanimously approved. Here again they modeftly decline it, as if there had been no previous meeting, and again with great importunity are prevailed upon to accept it. What makes this scene still more diverting is, that when the Commons return to their own houfe from the house of Lords, after his Majefty hath made his speech, the Speaker tells them in a formal manner, that he hath, to prevent mistakes, obtained a copy of it; when above half the members, perhaps, had seen or heard it read a day or two before.”

The Speech of the President of the Robinhood Society, on the Firft of the New Year.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

FOR

YOR I fee there are Lords among you; it is with much concern that I find myself obliged to open this feffion of the fociety with acquainting you, that the diffemper among the horned cattle is broke out in our neighbourhood, and that, though every precaution has been used to prevent the infection, I am afraid of its creeping in amongst us. And that you may not mistake my meaning, I do not, by horned cattle, underftand cows, oxen, fheep and goats; for, were these actually infected, I do not think it the part of a wife or good citizen to found an immediate alarm through the nation, and enable the butchers to grind the face of the poor, by directly advancing the price of their meat. I know fuch a conduct would bring on my head the curfes of the widow and orphan, for not applying remedies in the moft fecret and noiseless manner poffible. No: I mean creatures, that differ from

our own fpecies, only in the furniture of their head. Whoever has looked at the premier's forehead, or at G's antlers, needs no farther explanation. Such as have not feen thefe monfters, may confult lady Oy and lady V-e. Or they may

go to St. James's on a court day, and take any of the ftaunch courtiers at a venture. There is hardly any poffibility of being out. In order to fecure our fociety from fo great and indelible a difgrace, I earnestly recommend this important object to your immediate and ferious confideration.

I have given the fociety repeated affurances, that it has always been my fixed purpose to preferve the general tranquility: maintaining at the fame time, the dignity and honour of the chair, together with the just rights and interefts of the fociety. The uncommon expence you have been at, as well in groats as in lungs, and the chearfulness with which you run all risks, in order to bring the late war with the other fpeechifying clubs to a happy conclufion, must be additional motives to make me vigilant, to prevent the present disturbances in the fpeaking or fpouting clubs in the city, from extending to any part, where the fecurity, honour, or interest of the Robinhood may render it neceffary for the chair to become a party. The affurances which I receive from the other great clubs, give me a kind of reafon to believe, if I will, that my endeavours will continue to be fuccefsful. I fhall ftill make the general interefts of the fpeaking clubs, the object of my attention; and take care to keep all of them from making a lodgment on this fide of Fleet-ditch, or encroaching in any shape, on the territories belonging to this house.

It is needlefs for me to recommend to the serious attention of this fociety, the ftate of the club in Bow-lane. I have endeavoured, on my part, by every means, to bring that colony back to its duty, and to a due fenfe of our lawful authority. It gives me much concern to inform you, that the fuccefs of my endeavours has not been anfwerable to my expectations: and that all the members have embarked in meafures highly unwarrantable, and directly calculated to make them independent of this their mother-club. They are impudent enough, to claim the right of making their own laws and regulations, and of never opening their purfes, but when they fee occafion for it.

Gentlemen of the Eating Committee,

I have ordered the proper eftimates for the fervice of the current year to be laid before you. The price of provifions being conftantly on the increase, I am afraid, that a groat a head will not be fufficient to defray the expences of our junketings. I truft, that your affection for my perfon and government, as well as your zeal for the good of the fociety, will induce you to grant fuch fupplies, as will be neceffary to furnifh us with plenty of fowls, ducks, geefe, and lemonade; and you may be affured, that they fhall be well roasted; and that on my part, no œconomy

fhall

Thall be wanting. You know, that laft winter, there was only half a million, of which I could not give an account. You had it among you; and that is enough to fatisfy any reasonable

man.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

The experience of my former conduct is fufficient to let you know, that I never lift up or let fall my hammer, but for the good of this fociety. When was I ever known to neglect its petitions? When did I ever refufe to redrefs its grievances? Who will fay as much of my betters, but themselves? I am convinced from your invariable obfequioufnefs, that you will be governed in your proceedings by the fame principles. You may depend on my concurrence in every measure, that may tend to keep the larder of the Robinhood well furnished, and its cellars well ftored. On you it will be now more than ever incumbent, most carefully to avoid all heats and animofities among yourselves, and to cultivate that spirit of harmony, which becomes those, who ought to have in view but one object, that of fleecing the unwary.. If you bawl out for porter at this end of the room, for ale at that, for lemonade in one corner, for a mixture of all in another, will not the world fay, that you come here, not in search of truth, but of drink? Who then will mind the refult of our deliberations? They will have no efficacy. We and our excellent conftitutions for debate, will be defpifed. Our glory will pafs away; our rival, the King's Arms Tavern, will reign in our stead, and be the only nursery for orators and patriots.

JUNIUS BRUTUS.

CORRUPTION to the Duke of G, Lord N 0. -, 7- D

Sendeth greeting,

and Lord C

-, G &.c. &c. &c.

HEREAS the time is now arrived, in which it will be

W determined whether my kingdom or that of integrity fhall

prevail, it becomes me to give all proper advice to you, my dear fons, and to teach you at the fame time, that you promote my interest to steer clear of those rocks, which have been fatal to fo many of my best beloved. And in this refpect I do not recollect any pattern more worthy of your imitation than Sir Robert Walpole, my eldest born, who, when he was hunted down by the beagles of oppofition, gave up his bag, like a wife badger, and ftopt the clamourous against corruption by a fresh act of corruption, more daring and enormous than any to be met with in hiftory, except that by which France obtained the last peace: I mean by making over to the rapacious Pultney, the Piccadilly estate, which now yields fuch an immenfe income.

Though the Duke of Newcastle was not unfriendly to my cause, it is not worth your while to pay much attention to his conduct. The Thane is the man to whom you must principally look; he is

the

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