this great work for us. We may bruise this hydra of di vision, and crush this cockatrice's egg. Our neighbours in England are not yet fitted for any such thing; they are not under the afflicting hand of providence, as we are; their circumstances are great and glorious; their treaties are prudently managed, both at home and abroad; their generals brave and valorous, their armies successful and victorious; their trophies and laurels memorable and surprising; their enemies subdued and routed, their strong holds besieged and taken; sieges relieved, marshals killed and taken prisoners; provinces and kingdoms are the results of their victories; their royal navy is the terror of Europe; their trade and commerce extended through the universe, encircling the whole habitable world, and rendering their own capital city the empori um for the whole inhabitants of the earth and which is yet more than all these things, the subjects freely be stowing their treasure upon their sovereign; and above all, these vast riches, the sinews of war, and without which all the glorious success had proved abortive, these treasures are managed with such faithfulness and nicety, that they answer seasonably all their demands, though at never so great a distance. Upon these considerations, my lord, how hard and difficult a thing will it prove to persuade our neighbours to a self-denying bill. 'Tis quite otherwise with us, my lord, as we are an obscure poor people, though formerly of better account, removed to a distant corner of the world, without name, and without alliances: our posts mean and precarious; so that I profess I don't think any one post in the kingdom worth the briguing after, save that of being commissioner to a long session of a factious Scots parliament, with an antedated commission, and that yet renders the rest of the ministers more miserable. What hinders us, then, my lord, to lay aside our divisions, VOL. I. * * Seeking for. 33 to unite cordially and heartily together in our present circumstances, when our all is at stake. Hannibal, my lord, is at our gates-Hannibal is come within our gates-Hannibal is come the length of this table-He is at the foot of the throne. He will demolish the throne, if we take not notice. He will seize upon these regalia. He will take them as our spolia opima, and whip us out of this house, never to return again. For the love of God, then, my Lord, for the safety and welfare of our ancient kingdom, whose sad circumstan. ces I hope we shall yet convert into prosperity and happiness! we want no means if we unite. God blessed the peace makers. We want neither men, nor sufficiency of all manner of things necessary to make a nation happy. All depends upon management; concordia res parva crescunt. I fear not these articles, though they were ten times worse than they are, if we once cordially forgive one another, and that according to our proverb, Bygones be Bygones, and fair play for time to come. For my part, in the sight of God, and in the presence of this honourable house, I heartily forgive every man, and beg that they may do the same to me; and I do most humbly propose, that his grace, my lord commissioner, may appoint an agape, may order a love feast for this honourable house, that we may lay aside all self-designs, and after our fasts and humiliations, may have a day of rejoicing and thankfulness; may eat our meat with gladness, and our bread with a merry heart: then shall we sit each man under his own fig-tree, and the voice of the turtle shall be heard in our land, a bird famous for constancy and fidelity. GEORGE I. Was the son of the Elector of Hanover, by Sophia, grand-daughter of James I. He was born in 1660, and succeeded queen Anne, in 1714. He died suddenly, abroad, in 1727. He talks of the throne of his ancestors with a pious simplicity. The King's Speech on his Accession. My Lords and Gentlemen, THIS being the first opportunity that I have had of meeting my people in parliament, since it pleased Almighty God, of his good providence, to call me to the throne of my ancestors; I most gladly make use of it to thank my faithful and loving subjects, for the zeal and firmness that hath been shewn in defence of the protestant succession, against all the open and secret practices that have been used to defeat it; and I shall never forget the obligations I have to those who have distinguished themselves upon this occasion. It were to be wished that the unparalleled successes of a war, which was so wisely and chearfully supported by this nation, in order to procure a good peace, had been attended with a suitable conclusion. But it is with concern I must tell you, that some conditions, even of this peace, essential to the security and trade of Great Britain, are not yet duly executed, and the performance of the whole may be looked upon as precarious, until we shall have formed defensive alliances to guarantee the present treaties. The pretender, who still resides in Lorrain, threatens to disturb us, and boasts of the assistance which he still expects here, to repair his former disappointments. A great part of our trade is rendered impracticable; this, if not retrieved, must destroy our manufactories, and ruin our navigation. The public debts are very great, and surprisingly increased ever since the fatal cessation of arms. My first care was to prevent a farther increase of these debts, by paying off forthwith a great number of ships, which had been kept in pay, when there was no occasion for continuing such an expence. Gentlemen of the house of commons, I rely upon you for such supplies as the present circumstances of our affairs require for this year's service, and for the support of the public faith. The estimates shall be laid before you, that you may consider of them; and what you shall judge necessary for your safety, I shall think sufficient for mine. I doubt not but you will concur with me in opinion, that nothing can contribute more to the support of the credit of the nation, then a strict observance of all parliamentary engagements, The branches of the revenue formerly granted for the support of the civil government, are so far incumbered and alienated, that the produce of the funds which remain, and have been granted to me, will fall much short of what was at first designed for maintaining the honour and dignity of the crown; and since it is my happiness (as I am confident you think it yours) to see a prince of Wales, who may in due time succeed me on the throne, and to see him blessed with many children, the best and most valuable pledges of our care and concern for your prosperity, this must occasion an expence to which the nation has not of many years been accustomed, but such as surely no man will grudge ; and therefore I do not doubt but you will think of it with that affection which I have reason to hope from you. My lords and gentlemen, The eyes of all Europe are upon you, waiting the issue of this first session. Let no unhappy divisions of parties here at home, divert you from pursuing the common interest of your country. Let no wicked insinuations disquiet the minds of my subjects. The established constitution in church and state shall be the rule of my government. The happiness, ease, and prosperity of my people, shall be the chief care of my life. Those who assist me in carrying on these measures, I shall always esteem my best friends and I doubt not but that I shall be able, with your assistance, to disappoint the designs of those who would deprive me of that blessing which I most value, the affections of my people. ROBERT HARLEY, (Eldest Son of Sir Edward Harley, and afterwards Earl of Oxford, Was born 1661, and died 1724. His politics in the latter part of the reign of qeen Anne, rendered him obnoxious in the succeeding reign; and in 1715, he was accused of high-treason, but was at length acquitted. He was the friend of Swift. The Earl of Oxford's Defence before the House My Lords, Ir is a very great misfortune for any man to fall under the displeasure of so great and powerful a body as the commons of Great Britain: and this misfortune is the heavier upon me, because I had the honour to be placed at the head of the late ministry, and must now, it seems, be made accountable for all the measures that were then pursued; but, on the other hand, 'tis a very great comfort to me under this misfortune, that I have the honour to be a member of this august assembly, an |