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224] ANNUAL REGISTER [[2 Columns]] 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, beg leave to return your majesty our humble thanks, for your most gracious speech from the throne. We acknowledge, with the warmest gratitude, your majesty's great goodness, in your constant attention to whatever concerns either the commerce and revenue of your kingdom at large, or the private rights and interests of considerable numbers among your people. And we return our most dutiful thanks to your majesty, for having given us an early opportunity of informing ourselves fully of the true state of the affairs of the East-India Company: and we assure your majesty, that, impressed with a due sense of the great importance of the business, we will, without delay, proceed to the consideration of it; and endeavour to provide, in the most effectual manner, that the nature of the case will admit, for the common benefit and security of all the great and weighty interests recommended to our care by your majesty. Your faithful commons cannot but rejoice, to hear that your majesty has reason to hope that the war, which has so long unhappily prevailed in one part of Europe, is now drawing to a conclusion; and that the favourable prospect of the duration of peace, which the probability of this event affords us, will not be affected by the alterations which have lately happened: and we feel the highest satisfaction, at the assurances, which your majesty continues to receive from foreign powers, of their pacific dispositions towards this country; and at the same time we most gratefully acknowledge your majesty's gracious declaration, that it will be your constant endeavour to preserve the general tranquillity, as far as is consistent with the honour of your crown, and the interests of your people. Your majesty may be assured, that your faithful Commons will chearfully grant such supplies as the services of the ensuing year shall require: and although we are convinced, that it must ever be for the interest and reputation of this country, to have a considerable strength at sea; yet we learn with much satisfaction, that your majesty has been enabled, during the course of this year, to proceed in the reduction of your naval establishment. Permit us to offer to your majesty our most humble and unfeigned thanks, for the paternal and affectionate concern, which your majesty has expressed, for the distresses which the poor continue to suffer from the dearness of corn. And we assure your majesty, that a diligent attention shall not be wanting, on our part, to consider of the most proper means for preventing the increase of the evil; and for alleviating the present distresses, as far as they are in their nature capable of relief; being persuaded, that we cannot render any service more acceptable to your majesty, than by contributing to the happiness of all your people. His [["5" listed at the bottom of the first column]] For the YEAR 1772. [225 [[2 Columns]] His Excellency George Lord Viscount Townsend, Lord Lieutenant-General, and General-Governor of Ireland, his Speech to both Houses of Parliament, at Dublin, on the 8th of October, 1771. My Lords, and Gentlemen, MY experience of your attachment to his majesty's person, and of your zeal for the public service, affords me the best grounded hopes, that nothing will be wanting on your part to co-operate with his majesty's gracious intentions to promote the welfare and happiness of this kingdom; and when to this consideration I add my remembrance of your kind regard to the ease and honour of my administration. I feel the most sensible pleasure in the present opportunity which his majesty has given me of meeting you a fourth time in parliament. The present prospect of public affairs, seems to afford you the fullest opportunity for deliberation on such subjects as immediately relate to your own domestic happiness; I must therefore recommend to your consideration, whatever tends to promote and strengthen the interior police of this kingdom, and such laws as may be salutary and for the benefit of the lower orders of the community, for these have ever been found the most effectual means of binding their affections to their country, and securing their allegiance to one common parent. Gentlemen of the House of Commons, As in assembling you together in the last session, it was not his majesty's purpose to ask supplies, but solely to comply with the wishes of his people, it was not thought proper to call upon you, at that time, for any further aid: but as in the ordinary course it now becomes necessary to provide for the expences of the ensuing two years, your last grants being nearly expired, I have no doubt of your turning your thoughts to that important subject, and of your granting such supplies as shall be found necessary for the honourable and firm support of his majesty's government, the security of this kingdom, and for the maintenance of the public credit. I have ordered the proper estimates and accounts to be laid before you, from which you will find, not only that the revenue has fallen considerably short of former years, but that the deductions made therefrom for payment of different grants for premiums, bounties, and public works, have been so very great, that it has not been nearly sufficient to defray the charges of his majesty's establishments, and other necessary expences of government, and that a large arrear has been incurred on that account. If such grants are judged proper to be continued, either for these or other public uses, you will observe, that it is impossible that the revenue, as it now stands, can answer those services, and also the support of government: I therefore think it incumbent upon me to recommend this subject to your serious consideration. It is with concern that I must ask a sum of money to discharge the arrears already incurred on his majesty's establishment; but you will find that they have been unavoidable, for that the strictest ceconomy has [["VOL. XV." listed at the bottom of the first column; "[2]" listed at the bottom of the second column]]
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