HOUSE OF COMMONS The House of Commons affembled to the number of three hundred at leaft. A bout three o'clock Sir Francis Molineux came in the ufual form, and delivered the following meffage: "His Majefty cominands the attendance of this HonQurable Houfe in the House of Peers."

Mr Hatfell, attended by a confiderable number of members went to the bar of the House of Lords, and in a very fhort time returned to eled their Speaker. Gentlemen having taken their places.

The Master of the Rolls rose, and ftated, that they were now affembled for the purpose of exercifing their ancient and indifputable right of electing their own Speaker. It had been, he said, the ufual custom upon fuch occafions to point out the various and important duties of that high station, and to enume rate the many qualities, great abilities, and accomplishments, which that perfon ought to poffefs whom they were to honour with their choice; were he to follow this example, he was happy to think that a more ample field for com mendation never fell to the lot of any gentleman, in propofing a Speaker, than he had the good fortune to have this day; but well knowing the honourable character and gentleman-like feelings of his Right Hon. friend, as well as confidering that a majority of the gentlemen prefent had the honour of fitting with him in the laft Parliament, and bearing teftimony, upon many and great occafions, to the propriety of conduct, the fuperior abilities, and the very mild and conciliating manners of his Right Hon. friend, he would wave going into that panegyric in his prefence, which, however juftified he might otherwise be in doing it, would, he knew, only ferve to dftreis the feeling of his Right Hou. friend.

that the general opinion would be that his Right Hon. friend united all thofe qualities that had rendered him formerly, and would render him in future, a proper object of their choice. To thofe members who were not in the last Parliament, he would take the liberty to to ftate, that all the dignity of the proceedings in that Houfe, the prefervation of its privileges inviolate, and the me thod of managing the great and impertant bufinefs to be tranfaced there, depended very much upon the conduct of their Speaker, without whom they could not do any one at whatever. He would not detain them much longer from comhmencing the bufinefs they were all mbled upon, but would afk thofe new members to confider the nature of the official fituation they were going to appoint fome perfon to, and then appeal to them if they would not certainly prefer his Right Hon. friend, who had been tried for fome time in that arduous fituation, where he had given the most univerfal fatisfaction, and who, he could venture to affirm, poffeffed (as the last House of Commons had experienced) all the found judgment and knowl;dge of our excellent conftitution, adherence to the privileges of the Houfe, and invariable conduct in ftrictly attending to its orders and regulations. He then moved that the Right Hon. Henry Addington be called to the chair.

Mr Philips rofe to fecond the motion; he faid, perhaps, after what had fallen from the Right Hon. Gentleman before him, there remained little for him to add, nor would he long detain the Houfe from the important concerns for which they me:-he, however felt himself, from his perfonal knowledge of his Right Hon Friend, as well as from his public cha racter, called upon to rife. The honour of his Right Hon. Friend left him no room to fuppe fe that uninerited panegy ric and complimentary praifes were any ways fuited to his feelings, far lefs to his withes; but, he mafi fay, that, great as thele requifites were, which the perfon ought to have acquired who was nomi mated for that dignified fituation and high truft, ftill he knew, that his Honourable Friend united them all in his qualities for the chair-a frong judgment, a thorough knowledge of the conftitution and laws of the country, a particular attention to the forms and orders of the Houfe, were all neceffary to the perfon whom they fhould put in the chair; but, he was the more zealous in fupporting K&

To thofe gentlemen who were in the laft Parliament, and who had witneff-d the proceedings of the Houfe under the direction of his Right Honourable friend, he had little to fay, being convinced that the motion he was about to make would pafs unanimoufly, and likewife, be caufe that conduct, and thofe amiable manners which he was applauding (though no applause of his could enhance their value), had already met with the approbation of every individual member of the laft Parliament, who is in this, and many other very refpectable names which he was forry to think they had loft. He was therefor well affured

the

the nomination of his Right Hon. Friend, because he added to theie, in an eminent degree, the liberal and amiable demeanour, which united the urbanity of the gentleman with the knowledge and official dignity of the great magiftrate. Mr Philips concluded a fpeech highly and juftly honourable, both to himself and his Right Hon. Friend. by feconding the motion.

Mr Addington then rofe, feemingly much embarraffed by his natural modef ty and the peculiar ftrain of praises with which his Honourable Friends had intro duced the motion; he however acquitted himself in a ftyle that did him the higheft credit. He faid, he felt much at a lofs how to express himself in any manner nearly adequate to his feelings or con ceptions upon this occafion, well convin ced that the compliments and encomiums which his friends had poured upon him far exceeded any thing that he ever had merited, and was much afraid he never could merit. In this fituation he was perfectly overcome, nor did he know how to proceed; he could not remain filent; and indeed the great refpect he had for those who heard him, and for those who`, had kindly approved his endeavours to fill the great and effential duties attached to the fituation he had the honour to hold in the laft Parliament, and was nominated to again by his Right Hen. Friend, made him anxious to exprefs that gratitude which he owed for thofe repeated obligations which their generous and undeferved fupport on his part had laid him under to the Houfe, and of which he felt the most lively fenfe, though at prefent by no means able to exprefs in any way that could convey his ideas to that Honourable House: He wifhed of all things to avoid all affectation; but when he reflected on the laft feffion of Parliament, and his own conduct, the retrospect brought to his memory many omiffions and defects on his part, which, however indulgently they were borne by the Houfe convinced him that he was not a fit perfen to be again placed in that arduous and honourable fituation.

He faid, the perfon, whoever he might be, that should be the object of their choice, muft poffefs that degree of natural abilities, profound knowledge, particular acquaintance of the laws and privileges of parliament, and many other va luable and effential qualifications, which he was forry to think he never could attain. After continuing for fome time in this ftrain, he finished a very excellent

and well adapted fpeech, by affuring the House, that if he had the honour to be elected their Speaker, no poffible exertion that he could make fhould be wanting to fill the office of Speaker with fidelity, honour, and impartial juslice; he however argued much against a person so inadequate to the tafk being fixed upon, and wifhed fomebody more fit was thought of.

The Mafter of the Rolls, Mr Philips, and many other members, then forced Mr Addington to the chair; when he again ftated to the Houfe that the elec tion was not yet final, and begged they would confider and endeavour to find fomebody more capable. There was then a general cry of Chair! Chair and having taken his feat, the Speaker, in very appofite terms, thanked the House for the honour they had fo generously confer red upon him.

Lord Courton rofe, and fpcke for a few minutes, which, from his attitude, we took to be complimentary to the Speaker, as his Lordship spoke in fo low a tone that we could collect nothing of what he faid.

The Speaker moved that this House do adjourn.

Adjourned accordingly,

FRIDAY. Nov. 26.

This day his Majefty went in ftate to the House of Peers, when the ceremony of prefenting and approving of the new Speaker being gone through, and the House of Commons attending, he was pleased to deliver the following moft gracious fpeech from the throne

My Lords and Gentlemen,

It is a great fatisfaction to me to inform you that the differences which had arifen between me and the Court of Spain have happily been brought to an amicable termination.

I have ordered copies of the declara. tions exchanged between my Ambaffafor and the Minifter of the Catholic King, and of the convention which has fince been concluded, to be laid before you.

The objects which I have proposed to myself in the whole of this traniaction, have been to obtain a fuitable reparation for the act of violence committed at Nootka, and to remove the grounds of fimilar difputes in future; as well as to fecure to my subjects the exercise of their navigation, commerce, and fisheries in

thefe

thofe parts of the world, which were the fubject of difcuffion.

The zeal and public fpirit manifefted by all ranks of my fubjects, and the difpofition and conduct of my allies, had left me no room to doubt of the moft vigorous and effectual fupport; but no event could have afforded me fo much fatisfaction, as the attainment of the objects which I had in view, without any actual interruption of the bleffings of peace.

Since the laft feffion of Parliament, a foundation has been laid for a pacification between Austria and the Porte, and I am now employing my mediation, in conjunction with my allies, for the purpole of negociating a definitive treaty between thofe powers, and of endeavour ing to put an end to the diffentions in the Netherlands, in whofe fituation I am neceffarily concerned, from confidera tions of national intereft, as well as from the engagements of treaties.

A feparate peace has taken place between Ruffia and Sweden, but the war between the former of thofe powers and the Porte ftill continues. The principles on which I have hitherto acted will make me always defirous of employing the weight and influence of this country in contributing to the restoration of general tranquillity.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

I have ordered the accounts of the expences of the late armaments, and the eftimates for the ensuing year, to be laid before you.

Painful as it is to me at all times to fee any increase of the public burthens, I am perfuaded you will agree with me in thinking that the extent of our preparations was dictated by a due regard to the exifting circumftances, and that you will reflect with pleasure on fo ftriking a proof of the advantages derived from the liberal fupplies granted fince the laft peace for the naval fervice. I rely on your zeal and public fpirit to make due provifion for defraying the charges incurred by this armament, and for fupfupporting the feveral branches of the public fervice on fuch a footing as the general fituation of affairs may appear to require. You will at the fame time, I am perfuaded, fhew your determination invariably to perfevere in that fyftem which has fo effectually confirmed and maintained the public credit of the nation.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

You will have obferved with concern the interruption which has taken place in the tranquillity of our Indian poffeffions, in confequence of the unprovoked attack on an ally of the British nation. The refpectable ftate, however, of the forces under the direction of the government there, and the confidence in the British name, which the fyftem preferib"ed by parliament has established among the native powers in India, afford the moll favourable profpect of bringing the conteft to a speedy and fuccessful con.lufion.

I think it neceffary particularly to call your attention to the ftate of the province of Quebec, and to recommend it to you to confider of fuch regulations for its government as the prefent circumftances and condition of the province may appear to require.

I am fatisfied that I fhall on every occafion receive the fulleft proofs of your zealous and affectionate attachment, which cannot but afford me peculiar fa tisfaction, after fo recent an opportunity of collecting the immediate fenfe of my people.

You may be affured that I defire nothing fo much, on my part, as to cultivate an entire harmony and confidence between me and my parliamen,for the purpose of preferving and tranfmitting to poterity the invaluable blefling of our free and excellent conftitution, aud of concurring with you in every measure, which can maintain the advantages of our prefent fituation, and promote and augment the profperity and happiness of my t faithful fubjects.”

His Majesty having retired, and their Lordships having unrobed, ieveral new Peers were introduced, and took the ufual oath; among them were Lord Griftone, Lord Douglas, and Lord Grenville. The Lord Chancellor then read his Majefty's speech to the House, as did alfo the clerk; atter which the Chancellor moved, that their Lordships do now take the faid fpeech into their confideration; upon which.

Lord Powlett rofe, and faid, that although he was not in the habit of fpeaking in public, and wanted thofe diftinguished abilities for drawing the attention of their Lordships to any thing he could offer from himfelf, yet he flattered himself what he had now to propofe to them would meet their most unanimous concurrence; and he felt ex◄ treme fatisfaction at having it in his power to move for an addrefs to his Majelly, for

the fpeech which he was graciously pleased to deliver from the throne that day. The Noble Lord then proceeded to a retrospect of the late difagreement between this Court and that of the Catholic King; but which, he was happy to congratulate their Lordfhips, no longer exifted; and he was proud of being able to congratulate his country upon a circumstance which enfures to us a further continuance of the bleffings of peace, and which fecures to us the full exercise of our navigation and commerce. With refpect to the armament which we made, the circumftances of the times demanded it, and the cause of offence was confidered of fuf

fhips, but the fenie alfo of his people as large.

The motion having been read,

Earl Stanhope rofe and faid; he rose not to oppose the address, neither was it his intention to impute either blame or praise to Minifters for their conduct in refpect to the late negociation, and that, because he was not yet fufficiently acquainted with the grounds and circumftances of it in detail, to be enabled to decide upon the fubject. He rofe to congratulate their Lordships, and the country, on the profpect of peace that opened to them; the continuance of peace was, he was confident to declare, an ineftimable bleffing to this country at prefent. Without meaning, however, to detract in the fmallest degree from the mcrit of Administation in having brought the differences with the Court of Spain to a fortu

ficient import to warrant it; for of what ufe would our remonstrances to the Court of Spain have been, had we not fhewn a determined refolution to follow fuch remonstrance up by vigorous action? On this ground his Lordfhip approved the conduct of his Ma-nate termination (whatever merit it should jesty's Minifters in their late exertions to fupport and maintain the honour of this nation, which, he faid, was effected in a manner that redounded to the credit of his Majefty's fervants, and to the intereft of the nation; and his Lordship was perfuaded, that in a fhort time, this country would find that it has gained more by the force which Miniftry took into their own hands, than we hould probably have done after a long, bloody, and expenfive war. After dwelling for fome time upon this subject, his Lordthip next took rotice of the other parts of his Majesty's fpeech, and expreffing himfelf in terms of condolence, for the lofs the Royal Family fuftained by the death of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland, moved, "That an humble addrefs be prefented to his Majefty, for his most gracious fpeech from the throne"-His Lordfhip then read the addrefs; which, as ufual, was a mere echo of the speech; there being no difference in fubftance, except one paffage, wherein their Lordships condole with his Majefty for the death of his Royal Brother.

As foon as his Lordfhip finished reading the addrefs,

Lord Hardwicke rofe to fecond the motion, but obierved, that it would be unneceflary for him to trouble their Lordships for any length of time, after the proper cbfervations made by the Noble Lord who had gone before him. His Lordship said, that every fatisfaction neceffary to be required, had been obtained; that the honour of the British flag, the only prote&ion to British merchant vefic's, had been preserved; and that the country had obtained advantages that put the expence the nation had incurred in its Treparations for war, out of confideration. His Lordship concluded by obferving, that in an unanimous vote for the addrefs juft moved, their Lordships would not only carry up to his Majefty the fense of their Lord

hereafter appear Administration were entitled to), he thought it incumbent on him to affert, that under the blefling of Providence he believed the enjoyment of a continuance of peace was principally owing to the revolution in France. That event had reconciled a free people, who were formerly confidered as our natural enemies, to the people of this country. If, therefore, their Lordfhips were fincere in their congratulations on the profpect of an uninterrupted peace, and wifhed to maintain it, they would natu rally look to the best means of obtaining that end, and rendering the peace perma nent. No' means, in his opinion, were fo likely to anfwer this purpose as an alliance with France. Great Britain and France, the two most powerful free nations in Europe, were they united by treaty, might bid defiance to all their enemies. They might fecure themselves from the attack of any individual state, and easily repel the attempts of almost every poffible combination of power. His Lordfhip faid, he should not thus early have broached this fentiment, had not a moft extraordinary publication made its appearance in this country, fince their Lordfhips had laft met together-A publication containing a grofs libel upon the King. Several Lords fmiling at the affertion, his Lordship faid, he meant not a piece of poetry, for poetry deferved not a serious anfwer, but the publication he alluded to was a book, not fent forth without a name, not coming from an obfcure and infignificant individual, but from no lefs a man than the late firft Minister of France, Monfieur de Calonne! He would flate to their Lordships what Monfieur de Calonne had faid, and if they had the fmalleft doubt of his correctnefs, his Lordfhip declared, he would instantly produce the original words. After treating of the advantages of a civil war in France, which Monfieur de Calonne so pa

thetically