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220] ANNUAL REGISTER

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The humble Address of the House of Commons to the King.

 Most gracious Sovereign,
WE, your majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons of Great Britain in parliament assembled, return your majesty our humble thanks, for your most gracious speech from the throne.
 It is with unfeigned joy we beg leave to offer to your majesty our congratulations on the birth of another prince, and on the happy recovery of the queen; who is still more endeared to this nation by every new pledge of security for the happiness we enjoy under your majesty's auspicious government, as well as by her majesty's amiable virtues.
 We return your majesty our warmest thanks, for your gracious communication of the assurances your majesty has received from the king of Spain, as well as from other powers, of their disposition to maintain the public tranquillity; and we cannot but feel the greatest satisfaction at the fair prospect which those assurances, and the performance of his catholic majesty's engagement, by the restitution of Port Egmont and Falkland's Island, afford your majesty's subjects of the continuance of peace: at the same time, we have the greatest confidence, that the respect derived to this nation, from the moderation and firmness of your majesty's conduct, will continue to preserve your majesty's dominions from the calamities of war, which still unhappily prevail in the distant parts of Europe.
 We acknowledge with gratitude your majesty's paternal care, in the precautions your majesty has taken to preserve this kingdom from the infectious sickness with which we have of late been alarmed; and though we have the satisfaction to find that, by the blessing of providence, the danger of its spreading is now diminished, we will not be negligent, on our part, in taking such measures as may from time to time appear best calculated to secure this nation from the visitation of so dreadful an evil.
 Your majesty's faithful commons will chearfully grant to your majesty such supplies as shall be found necessary for the service of the current year; and we will be careful to make sufficient provision for the establishment of a respectable naval force, on which, we are truly sensible, the security, as well as the importance, of this nation must ever principally depend.
 We assure your majesty, that we will not fail, during this season of tranquillity, to employ our time in making such provisions as may be found necessary for the improvement of our laws, and the extension of our commerce: and your majesty may rely on our vigilant and active attention to those important concerns recommended to us by your majesty; and wherever it shall be found that, with respect to any of these, either from the remoteness of their situation from the seat of government, or from other circumstances, such abuses prevail as expose them to danger, we shall think it our duty to endeavour, by every regulation in our power, to remedy those evils, which may in their consequences so essentially affect the interest and honour of this country. Message

For the YEAR 1772.   [221

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 Message from his Majesty to both Houses of Parliament, on the 19th of February, 1772.

 GEORGE R.
HIS majesty being desirous, from paternal affection to his own family, and anxious concern for the future welfare of his people, and the honour and dignity of his crown, that the right of approving all marriages in the royal family, (which ever has belonged to the kings of this realm as a matter of public concern) may be made effectual, recommends to both Houses of Parliament, to take into their serious consideration, whether it may not be wise and expedient to supply the defect of the laws now in being, and by some new provision, more effectually to guard the descendants of his late majesty King George the Second, (other than the issue of princesses who have married or may hereafter marry into foreign families) from marrying without the approbation of his majesty, his heirs or successors, first had and obtained.

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His Majesty's most gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament, on Tuesday the 9th of June, 1772.

 My Lords, and Gentlemen,
I Cannot put an end to this session of parliament, without expressing the satisfaction I have felt in observing the temper, and the prudence, which have governed all your deliberations, during the course of it; and without returning you my particular thanks for the fresh proof you have given of your affectionate attachment to me, in the additional security you have provided for the welfare, and honour, of my family.
 I can, with great pleasure, acquaint you, That the disposition of the powers of Europe give me the strongest reason to believe, that this nation will not be disturbed in the enjoyment of the blessings of peace.

  Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
 I thank you heartily for the supplies, which you have granted with so much chearfulness and dispatch; and for the ample provision you have made for every branch of the public service: and I see, with pleasure and approbation, that you have, at the same time, been able, by a proper disposition of the public money, to make a further progress in reducing the national debt.

 My Lords, and Gentlemen,
 I make no doubt but that you will carry, into your respective countries, the same principles, and the same zeal, for the public good, which I have experienced from you in parliament; and that you will continue to exert your best endeavours, to cultivate and improve a spirit of harmony, and confidence, amongst all ranks of my faithful subjects. Let it be your constant care to convince them, That, without a due reverence for the laws, and a chearful obedience to just authority, neither their civil nor religious rights, and liberties, can be enjoyed in comfort or security: and to assure them, That I consider their interests as inseparably connected with my own; and that I am, and have ever been, persuaded, That the prosperity, and glory, of my

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