Whereas a doubt had arifen in our royal breaft concerning the evidence of the death of George Clarke, from the reprefentations of William Bromfield, efq; furgeon, and Solomon Starling, apothecary; both of whom, as it has been reprefented to us, attended the deceafed before his death, and expreffed their opinions that he did not die of the blow he received at Brentford: and whereas it appears to us, that neither of the faid perfons were produced as witneffes upon the trial, though the faid Solomon Starling had been examined before the coroner, and the only perfon called to prove that the death of the faid George Clarke was occafioned by the faid blow, was John Foot, furgeon, who never faw the deceased till after his death; we thought fit thereupon to refer the faid reprefentations, together with the report of the recorder of our city of London of the evidence given by Richard and William Beale, and the faid John Foot, on the trial of Edward Quirk, otherwife called Edward Kirk, otherwife called Edward M'Quirk, for the murder of the faid Clarke, to the mafter, wardens, and the rest of the company of examiners of the furgeons company, commanding

the furgeons company having thereupon reported to us their opinion, "That it did not appear to them "that he did ;" we have thought proper to extend our royal mercy to him the faid Edward Quirk, otherwife Edward Kirk, otherwise called Edward M'Quirk, and to grant him our free pardon for the murder of the faid George Clarke, of which he has been found guilty: Our will and pleasure therefore is, That he the faid Edward Quirk, otherwife calledEdwardKirk,otherwife called Edward McQuirk, be inferted, for the faid murder, in our firft and next general pardon that fhall come out for the poor convicts of Newgate, without any condition whatsoever; and that in the mean time you take bail for his appearance, in order to plead our faid pardon. And for fo doing this fhall be your warrant. Given at our court at St. James's, the 10th day of March 1769, in the ninth year of our reign.

By his majesty's command,

ROCHFORD.

By the KING.

A PROCLAMATION, For the fuppreffing riots, tumults, and unlawful affemblies.

GEORGE R.

Whereas it has been repre

fented to us, that divers diffolute and diforderly perfons have moft riotously and unlawfully affembled themselves together, to the disturbance of the public peace; and have in a most daring and audacious manner, affaulted feveral merchants and others, coming to our palace at St. James's, and have committed many acts of violence and outrage before the gates of our palace; and that these acts of violence have been accompanied with threats of a most dangerous kind; we, taking the fame into our most ferious confideration, and being refolved to fupprefs all fuch tumultuous riots and diforders, tending to the difturbance of the public peace, and to the endangering of all order and government, have thought fit, by and with the advice of our privy council, to iffue this our royal proclamation, hereby ftrictly charging and commanding the lord mayor, and the juftices of the peace of our city of London, and the juftices of the peace of our city and liberties of Westminster, and borough of Southwark, and of the counties of Middlefex and Surry, that they do use their utmost endeavours to prevent and fupprefs all riots, tumults, and unlawful affemblies; and to put in due and ftrict execution the laws and ftatutes made for preventing, and for the more fpeedy and effectual fuppreffing and punishing the fame; and that all our loving fubjects be aiding and affifting therein,

Given at our court at St. James's, the twenty-fecond day of March, one thousand feven hundred and fixty-nine, in the ninth year of our reign. GOD fave the KING.

His majesty's most gracious Speech to both boufes of parliament, on Tues day the 9th day of May, 1769. My lords and gentlemen,

Having thought it neceffary to

fo early a commencement to the present feffion of parliament, I am glad to find, that by your zeal and affiduity in the difpatch of the public business, I am now enabled to relieve you from your attendance, before the season of the year is too far advanced.

I cannot put an end to the feffion, without expreffing my entire approbation of your conduct, and thanking you for that clear demonftration, which your proceedings, through the whole courfe of the feffion, have afforded to all the world, of the affectionate attachment of my parliament to my perfon and go. vernment, as well as of their fteady adherence to the true interest of their country.

re

It was with much fatisfaction that I obferved your particular attention to thofe great objects, which at the opening of the feffion, I commended to your immediate confideration. The refult of your deliberations refpecting the late acquifitions in the Eaft-Indies, has fhewn that you were not more attentive to the immediate benefit arifing therefrom in point of revenue, than to the fecuring, at all events, the permanent commercial interefts of this country, and guarding against every poffible difcon[23]

ragement

ragement to our own manufactures, and to the industry of my fubjects. What more remains to be done for fecuring thefe valuable acquifitions, you will, I doubt not, proceed to provide with all convenient difpatch, at your next meeting.

The measures which I had taken regarding the late unhappy difturbances in North America, have been already laid before you. They have received your approbation; and you have affured me of your firm support in the profecution of them." Nothing, in my opinion, could be more likely to enable the well-difpofed among my fubjects, in that part of the world, effectually to difcourage and defeat the defigns of the factious and feditious, than the hearty concurrence of every branch of the legislature in the refolution of maintaining the execution of the laws in every part of my dominions. And there is nothing I more.ardently with for, than to fee it produce that good effect..

With refpect to foreign affairs, my own determination, as well as the affurances given me by the other powers of Europe, continue the fame as I communicated to you at the beginning of this feffion: and, however unfuccessful my attempts have proved for preventing the unfortunate rupture which has happened between Ruffia and the Porte, I fhall not fail to ufe my good offices towards restoring peace between thofe powers: : and I truft, that the calamities of war will not extend to any other part of Europe.

Gentlemen of the houfe of commons,

My particular thanks are due to you, as well for the fupplies which you have granted me for the fervice of the current year, as for the. pro

vifion which you have made for enabling me to discharge the debt incurred upon account of my civil government. Your readiness in relieving me from the difficulties increafing upon me from the continuance of that debt, I fhall ever confider as an additional motive for me to endeavour to confine the expences of my civil government within fuch bounds, as the honour of my crown can poffibly admit.

My lords and gentlemen, It gives me great concern to be obliged to recommend to you, with more than ordinary earnestness, that you would all, in your feveral coun ties, exert your utmost efforts for the maintenance of public peace, and of good order among my people. You must be fenfible, that whatever obftructs, in any degree, the regular execution of the laws, or weakens the authority of the magiftrate, muft leffen the only fecurity which my people can have for the undisturbed enjoyment their rights and liberties. From your endeavours in this common caufe, I promife myself the moft falutary effects. On my part, no countenance or fupport fhall be wanting; for as I have ever made, and ever fhall make, our excellent conftitution the rule of my own conduct, fo fhall I always confider it as equally my duty to exert every power, with which that conftitution has entrusted me, for preferving it fafe from violation of every kind; being fully convinced, that in fo doing I fhall most effectually provide for the true intereft and happinefs of my people.

IT

I am confident that you are come together with the jufteft fentiments of duty and affection to our moit excellent fovereign, who has gratified the earnest wishes of his faithful fubjects of Ireland with that great improvement of their conftitution.

I flatter myself that the proteftant intereft has already found the happy effects of it; and that the many gracious marks which you have experienced of his majefty's paternal regard, will animate your deliberations, and direct them to all fuch measures as may secure to you the bleffings you enjoy.

Since the last feffion of parliament, the royal family has been increafed by the birth of another princess; interested as you are in the happiness of his majefty, and of his illuftrious houfe, you will receive with the fincereft pleasure a communication of fo joyful an

you, that the exigencies of govern ment have required only a very moderate ufe to be made of that confidential credit which was granted by the last parliament; and I trust you will always find, on my part, the fame attention to public economy.

My lords and gentlemen,

As the wifeft nations have ever deemed times of peace the best feafon for improving their civil polity, and providing for their fecurity, I recommend it to you not to neglect the prefent favourable opportunity.

The ftrength and riches of a country are in proportion to the number of its induftrious inhabi- · tants; and as a religious and virtuous education is the fureft guide to induftry and good morals, you will not be unmindful of that useful, and charitable inftitution, the proteftant charter fchools; you will confider the original defign and great end of them; you will obferve whether their courfe correfponds with their first plan, and you will correct any defects which experience may point out to you.

The linen manufacture is an object which will always engage our utmost attention. I fee with the trueft pleasure that fource of opulence daily extending itfelf over this kingdom; be it your care to preferve it in full credit; and that neither fraud or negligence, which have fo often proved fatal to the moft flourishing branches of commerce and manufacture, be fuffered to defeat this national acquifition.

1 muft, recommend to your moft ferious confideration, what farther laws may be neceffary to prevent the pernicious practice of the clandeftine running of goods. The great lengths to which it has been

[24]

carried

carried of late, and the obftruction which the revenue officers frequently meet with in the execution of their duty, require fome effectual remedy. The fuppreffion of these abufes will have a double effect; as, at the fame time that it increases the public stock and national ftrength, it will afford a juft and equitable affiftance to the honeft citizen and fair trader.

In thefe and all your confultations, I am perfuaded you will proceed with that unanimity and wifdom which matters of fuch high importance require. You cannot fail by fuch conduct to meet with his majesty's most favourable countenance and approbation; and you may in every thing rely on my best affiftance, not only from the duty I owe to the king, but from the fincere affection which I bear to this kingdom.

The humble addrefs of the lords fpiritual and temporal, in parliament affembled.

To the king's most excellent majefty.

W

Moft gracious fovereign, E your majefty's moft dutiful and loyal fubjects, the lords fpiritual and temporal, in parliament affembled, beg leave to approach your throne, with our grateful acknowledgement of the many inestimable bleffings which we have enjoyed during your majefty's moft aufpicious reign.

Permit us to affure your majefty, that we are come together with the jufteft fentiments of duty and affection to your majefty, who has gratified the earneft wishes of your faithful fubjects of Ireland with that great improvement of our confti

tution, the act for limiting the duration of parliaments.

We truft, the proteftant intereft has already experienced its falutary effects; and we are happy in the confideration that his excellency, our prefent chief governor, that faithful fervant of the crown, and affectionate friend to this country, who has the fatisfaction of meeting, in obedience to your majefty's commands, the firft parliament, limited in its duration, that ever affembled in this kingdom, hath, through your majefty's goodnefs to your people here, been continued amongst us, not only to be a joyful witness of thofe happy effects, but to afford us the welcome opportunity of conveying, through him, to your majefty, our thanks for that invaluable benefit, which, by your majefty's grace and favour, he was made the happy inftrument of conferring

upon us.

We fhould be unworthy of the many gracious marks which we have experienced of your majefty's paternal regard, if it did not animate our deliberations, and direct them to all fuch measures as may fecure the continuance of those bleffings which we enjoy.

Interested, as we are, in the domeftic happiness of your majesty, and your royal and most excellent confort, and in whatever contributes to the ftrength of your illuftrious house, we have received with the fincereft pleafure the communication of an increase of your royal family, fince the laft feffion of parliament, by the birth of another princess.

As we are taught, by the examples of the wifeft nations, as well as by the nature and reafon of things, that times of peace are the

beft