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232] ANNUAL REGISTER [[2 Columns]] reformation will be effected, and the dispositions of the people reclaimed to peace and good order. It gives me great concern to see the assistance of the military power so frequently called for; nothing can be more worthy of your serious reflection, than to render that resource unnecessary by a judicious improvement of your police, and providing for the due execution of the laws. His majesty gave it in express command to me, to make your interests and prosperity the great objects of my administration; and my own inclinations incited me to a strict and zealous performance of that duty. I have, upon every occasion, endeavoured, to the utmost of my power, to promote the public service; and I feel the most perfect satisfaction in now repeating to you my acknowledgments for the very honourable manner in which (after a residence of near five years amongst you) you have declared your entire approbation of my conduct. Be assured, that I shall always entertain the most ardent wishes for your welfare; and shall make a faithful representation to his majesty, of your loyalty and attachment to his royal person and government. ————————————————————————————————————— The Lords Protest, against the Bill for regulating the Marriages of the Royal Family. Die Martis, 30 Martij, 1772. THE order of the day being read for the third reading of the bill, intitled, an act for the better regulating the future marriages of the royal family, and for the lords to be summoned. The said bill was accordingly read the third time. Proposed, That the said bill do pass, which being objected to, after long debate, The question was put, whether this bill shall pass. It was resolved in the affirmative. Contents — 69 } Proxies —— 21 } 90 Not Contents — 25 } Proxy — 1 } 26 DISSENTIENT, 1st, Because we think the declaratory principle in the preamble of the bill, to be without foundation in law, (in the extent there stated) to be unnecessary for the avowed purposes of the bill, and likely to be attended with very dangerous consequences, as that preamble does assert, "that we are sensible that marriages in the royal family are of the highest importance to the state and that therefore the kings of this realm have ever been entrusted with the care and approbation thereof." the maxim here laid down, "that because marriages of the royal family are of the highest importance to the state, they are therefore entrusted to the kings of this realm." Is founded on a doctrine absurd and unconstitutional; but which hereafter will have the force of a parliamentary declaration of law, the immediate tendency of which is to create as many prerogatives in the crown, as there are matters of importance in the state, and indeed to extend them in a manner as vague and exceptionable as had ever been done in the worst and most despotic periods in the history of this nation; and we apprehend that some future, and even more [["7" is listed at the bottom of the first column]] For the YEAR 1772. [233 [[2 Columns]] more dangerous use ma be made of this preamble, as it is much more extensive than is necessary for any purpose avowed in the bill. 2dly, Because this declaratory preamble seems to justify the words which his majesty has been advised (we think very improperly) to use in his message to his parliament, whereby a prerogative is assumed in an extent for which mine of his judges, in their unanimous opinion, delivered to this house, do not find any authority. 3dly, Because the term Royal Family being general, and not qualified by the exception of "the issue of princesses married into foreign families," seems to carry (very idly as we apprehend) the royal prerogative beyond the jurisdiction of the crown of Great Britain; can therefore as applied in the preamble, be warranted by no law, and is indeed contrary to common sense. 4thly, Because, if this parliamentary declaration of law can operate in any degree, as a retrospect (an operation against which we have no security by any thing contained in the bill), it is pernicious and unjust; if it can have no such retrospect, (as was asserted in argument by the friends of the bill), it is then at best frivolous and unnecessary. 5thly, Because the enacting part of the bill has an inconvenient and impolitic extent, namely, to all descendants of George the Second. In course of time that description may become very general, and comprehend a great number of people; and we conceive it would be an intolerable grievance, that the marriages of so many subjects, perhaps dispersed among the various ranks of civil life, should be subject to the restrictions of this act, especially as it has been asserted in argument, and endeavoured to be maintained by the authority of the grand opinion given by the judges in the year 1717, that the care and approbation of the marriage includes the education and custody of the person. We fear that this extensive power would come in time to make many of the first families in the kingdom totally dependant on the crown, and we therefore lament that the endeavours so earnestly used in the committee, in some degree to limit the generality of that description, were not suffered to take effect. Sixthly, Because, as the line is too large, with regard to the description of the royal family, so we think that the time of nonage for that family is also improperly extended. We conceive that the age of twenty-one years is that limit, which the laws of this country, and the spirit of the constitution have with great wisdom given to minority. It seems indecent to the royal family to suppose they will not be arrived at the age of discretion as soon as the lowest subject of the realm; and we cannot conceive but they may be as capable of chusing a wife at the age of twenty-one, as of being entrusted with the regency of the kingdom, of which by law they are at that age capable. We also conceive that the deferring their age of majority as to marriage till twenty-six, is impolitic and dangerous, as it may tend to drive them into a disorderly course of life, which ought the more to be guarded against in men of high rank, as the influence of their example
