from America; that they have been shewn there for eight days, at 1s. each person; that they have their meals regularly, and drink nothing stronger than small beer." The said Hyam Myers being also examined, acquainted the House, "That, about eleven months ago, he was at New York; and being about to come to England, the two Mohawks that are now with him came down to New York, and desired him to bring them to England to see their father; but, having no money to pay their passage, he first consulted his friends about it, who advised him to bring them over, as he might reimburse himself the expence of their passage by shewing them; that accordingly he brought them to Eng. land, and landed at Bristol, where he left them with their interpreter while he came up to London; that, during his absence, the interpreter carried one of them to Amsterdam, and there sold him; that, upon the first knowledge of this transaction, he immediately went to Amsterdam, in order to recover him, and took the other Mohawk with him; but, notwithstanding all his endeavours, he could not get him again, being cast in a cause which he instituted there for that purpose; that, upon this, he went to the Hague, and applied to sir Joseph Yorke, desiring him to procure the said Mohawk's release; that, some time afterwards, he was directed by sir Joseph Yorke to return to Amsterdam, and he would have the Mohawk delivered to him; and at the same time, sir Joseph desired him to carry them back to their own country, by the way of England, telling him, he would write in his behalf to the Secretary of State, to whom he directed him to apply on his arrival in England: that he accordingly brought them to England, but, being distressed for money, he had shewn them in order to reimburse himself the expence he had already been at, and also to enable him to carry them back to their own country; but acknowledged he had made no application either to the Secretary of State, or to the Board of Trade."

Resolved, 1. That the bringing from America any of the Indians who are under his Majesty's protection, without proper authority for so doing, may tend to give great dissatisfaction to the Indian nations, and be of dangerous consequence to his Majesty's subjects residing in the colonies. 2. That the making a public shew of Indians, ignorant of such proceedings, is unbecoming and inhuman.

Then it was moved, "That the said John Schuppe and Hyam Myers be called in again, and ordered not to shew the said Indians from this time, but to detain them, taking proper care of their maintenance, till a proper person should be sent by the commissioners for trade and plantations to receive them, in order to their being returned to America." Which being agreed to; they were called in again accordingly, and acquainted therewith by the Lord Chancellor.

The King's Speech recommending the Consideration of a Regency Bill.] April 24. His Majesty came down to the House of Lords, and made the following Speech to both Houses:

My Lords, and Gentlemen; "The tender concern which I feel for my faithful subjects makes me anxious to provide for every possible event, which may affect their future happiness or security.

"My late indisposition, though not attended with danger, has led me to consider the situation in which my kingdoms and my family might be left, if it should please God to put a period to my life, whilst my successor is of tender years.

"The high importance of this subject, to the public safety, good order, and tranquillity; the paternal affection which I bear to my children, and to all my peo ple; and my earnest desire that every precaution should be taken, which may tend to preserve the constitution of Great Britain undisturbed, and the dignity and lustre of its crown unimpaired; have dctermined me to lay this weighty business before my parliament: and, as my health, by the blessing of God, is now restored, I take the earliest opportunity of meeting you here, and of recommending to your most serious deliberation the making such provision as would be necessary, in case any of my children should succeed to the throne before they shall respectively attain the age of eighteen years.

"To this end, I propose to your consideration, whether, under the present circumstances, it will not be expedient to vest in me the power of appointing, from time to time, by instrument in writing, under my sign manual, either the Queen, or any other person of my royal family usually residing in Great Britain, to be the guardian of the person of such successor, and the regent of these kingdoms, until such successor shall attain the age of eighteen

a still more engaging instance of your watchful solicitude for our future security and happiness.

years; subject to the like restrictions and regulations as are specified and contained in an act passed upon a similar occasion, in the 24th year of the reign of the late king my royal grandfather: the regent so appointed to be assisted by a council, composed of the several persons, who, by reason of their dignities and offices, are constituted members of the council established by that act, together with those whom you may think proper to leave to my nomination."

Joint Address of both Houses thereon.] As soon as the Commons had returned to the House, this Speech was read to the House by the Speaker; and presently after it was read, they received a message from the Lords, to desire that they would continue sitting for some time, which they agreed to do; and in the mean time went upon some other business then depending before the House, until they received another message from their lordships to acquaint them that the Lords had agreed upon an Address to be presented to his Majesty, to which their lordships desired the concurrence of that House, which, after reading the Address, was agreed to; and the blank therein being filled up with the words and Commons, Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer was ordered to carry the said Address to the Lords, and acquaint them, that the House had agreed to the same. The Address was as follows:

"Most Gracious Sovereign, "We your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Lords spiritual and temporal, and Commons, in parliament assembled, presume to approach your sacred person with our warmest acknowledgments of the peculiar goodness expressed in your most gracious Speech from the throne.

"We humbly intreat your Majesty's acceptance of our heartiest congratulations upon your recovery from your late indisposition. Your Majesty's return to your parliament has dissipated all those anxious sensations which the occasion of your absence had excited: and as the re-establishment of your invaluable health is an object to your faithful people of the sin cerest joy and exultation, your Majesty has shewn a most affectionate regard to their satisfaction, in condescending to take the earliest opportunity of giving them so pleasing a proof of it.

"This great mark of your Majesty's attention must demand our most sincere and dutiful thanks: but we have before us

"The constant tenor of your just and constitutional government, distinguished and endeared to your kingdoms by an unwearied application to the advancement of their interest and prosperity, had already

filled our minds with a most cordial sense of gratitude. The new proof which your Majesty is now pleased to give us of your truly paternal tenderness, by extending your concern for the stability, dignity, and lustre, of your crown, with all the happy effects of your love to your royal children and to your faithful subjects, beyond the period of your own continuance among them, must inspire us with still higher degrees, if possible, of reverence and affection.

"Whilst we contemplate with admiration that magnanimity which enables your Majesty to look forward, with a cool composure of thought, to an event which, whenever it shall please God to permit it, must overwhelm your loyal subjects with the bitterest distraction of grief; we cannot but be deeply affected with that compassionate sentiment of your royal heart, which suggests a provision for their comfort under so severe an affliction.

"May it please the Divine Providence to exempt us from the fatal necessity of such a consolation! Your Majesty has shewn, from the first day of your auspicious reign, so conscientious a regard to the laws and liberties, the religious and civil rights, of your kingdoms, that we should be insensible and unworthy of the happiness we ourselves enjoy, if we did not ardently wish to transmit it under the same gracious care and protection to our children.

"Yet, feeling, as we do, the infinite importance of every measure that may tend to the perpetuating in all events our happy constitution; in deference to your Majesty's recommendation, and under a full conviction of that consummate prudeuce and beneficent intention which were the motives of it, we will not fail to apply ourselves to the immediate discussion of the high and momentous object which your Majesty has been pleased to propose to our consideration.

"Our deliberations concerning it will be animated by the hopes of securing to our posterity, under the blessing of Almighty God, and in concurrence with your Majesty's salutary designs, the ines

"We shall go into this consultation with a sensible anxiety, arising from the subject of it: but we humbly assure your Majesty, that we will conclude it with all the dispatch compatible with its singular importance; repeating at the same time our earnest supplications, that, through the mercy of God upon this Protestant church and nation, a precaution so expedient in prospect may become useless in the event, by your Majesty's living to form, under your own instruction, a successor worthy to inherit the allegiance and affections of a free people, by a long and mature attention to the example of your royal virtues."

The King's Answer.] To this Address his Majesty answered:

66

years, and for the care and guardianship of their persons:" nothing was done in the Commons, after the report of his Majesty's said Answer to the joint Address of the two Houses, until the 6th of May, when the House received a message from the Lords, that their lordships had passed a Bill, entitled, as above mentioned, to which they desired the concurrence of that House; and the Bill having been carried up to the table, as soon as the messengers were withdrawn, it was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time the next morning; but before that order was next day read, a motion was made, "That an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, humbly to acknowledge his Majesty's great goodness, in proposing to secure the future quiet and peace of these kingdoms, by making a settled provision for a regency and for the guardian ship of his children, in case (which God avert) these kingdoms should be deprived of the blessing of his Majesty's most inva

"Be assured, I have not a more sincere concern, or a more earnest desire, than to secure to myself and faithful people, both now and hereafter, the religious and civil blessings of our invaluable constitution."

Proceedings on the Regency Bill.*] As the Lords had, in pursuance of his Ma

"The King having, in his Speech which introduced this business, particularly asked, Whether it would not be expedient to vest in his Majesty the power of appointing the Queen, or any other person of the royal family, usually residing in Great Britain, to be regent of these kingdoms, and guardian of his successor, until he should be eighteen? The Bill was brought in giving such power; but a doubt arising concerning the extent of the explanation of the words," or any other of the royal family," it was affirmed, that the present royal family were only descended from the late king. The royal construction of those words was asked; and it was understood from authority, and the best public authority of the time, that that construction and the previous affirmation were the same. The Bill passed the Upper House, declaring the royal family to be only the descendents of the late king; which excluded the princess dowager, who was of another family.

have attained the age of eighteen years; and humbly to intreat his Majesty, out of his tender and paternal regard for his people, that he would be graciously pleased to name the person, or persons, whom, in his royal wisdom, he shall think fit to propose to the consideration of parliament, for the execution of those high trusts; this House apprehending it not warranted by precedent, nor agreeable to the principles

The administration, to whom the Bill was never supposed to be agreeable, are spoken of as considering this a kind of victory over lord Bute, whose particular views were thought to be destroyed by this exclusion, which was accomplished without a manifest opposition to the Bill. But when it came into the Commons, a motion was made and supported by lord Bute's friends, to insert her royal highness's name; to which the House agreed. And with this amendment it went back to the Lords, where it met with no second opposition. But the following Speech was said to have been intended to be spoken upon this occasion :

A SPEECH intended to bave been spoken when the Commons returned the Regency Bill, with an Amendment respecting the Princess Dowager.

"My lords; I hope your lordships will find no difficulty in disagreeing with the House of Cour

of this free constitution, to vest in any person or persons, not particularly named and approved of in parliament, the important offices of regent of these kingdoms, and guardian of the royal offspring, heirs to the crown." It passed in the negative: and then the Bill being read a second time, it was committed to a committee of the whole House for the 9th; after which a motion was made for having the Bill printed, which was likewise carried in the negative, by 117 against 18.

May 9. As soon as this order of the day was read, his Majesty's Speech to both

mons in regard to this extraordinary Amendment. I call it extraordinary, my lords, because the resolution, which your lordships came to upon this clause in the Bill, was founded upon an implied, and (as your lordships considered it) an authentic request from the crown, delivered to this House by one of the first ministers of his Majesty; to which your lordships did accordingly give an immediate and serious attention, and a most unanimous approbation.

"I take it for granted, that the persons who moved for this alteration in the other House, were men of undoubted loyalty, and therefore I will not enquire into the date or complexion of their loyalty. But I cannot comprehend, my lords, what unintelligible and unostensible influence could turn the hearts of that great assembly as the heart of one man, and call upon them to reject an article of the Bill, so properly founded upon a declaration of his Majesty's inclinations, and so unanimously assented to by your lordships. Was it because they were better acquainted and more impressed with the virtues of the royal person, who is the object of this Amendment? Your lordships, I suppose, will not give way to the House of Commons, in doing all the justice to the character of this great princess; most certainly, my lords, the King himself will not be behind band with the body of his subjects, in shewing every proper mark of affection to his royal mother. And yet, my lords, both the king and your lordships saw very wise reasons for what you did; your lordships treated the matter, so circumstanced, with a steadiness which became you; with the utmost delicacy, and without any improper explanations upon so nice a subject.

“I think there was no undutiful intimation contained in this method of proceeding. But it seems the House of Commons were determined to uncover the veil. If they did it to show their superior regard to his Majesty, they are contradicted by the only public evidence of his royal inclinations. If they did it to show their contempt of such of his Majesty's minis

Houses of Parliament, on the 24th of April, was ordered to be referred to the said committee; and the House then having resolved itself into the same; Mr. Morton moved, by way of amendment, to insert in the Bill, after the Queen," her royal highness Augusta princess dowager of Wales." The Report of the committee was ordered to be made next morning. Upon this amendment the House divided, 167 were for it, and 37 against it. With this amendment the Bill was sent to the Lords, who agreed to it, and on the 15th the Bill received the royal assent.*

ters as sit in this House, they acted (at least, as I think) not a very wise part, because not a reconciling part, but yet such a one as the freedom of that great and respectable assembly bas ever entitled, and I hope in God will ever entitle them to. But in the midst of this strange and unaccountable fluctuation of things, what will the wise and the honest part of the world without doors think of this unfortunate country? What can they think, my lords, but that we have really and truly no ministers at all; and that every thing is done and undone (even in the highest and most important concerns of this kingdom) by the hint or the whisper of some idol in a corner? If such a one there be, my lords, I hope he will be found out in due time, and be treated, I will not say as he deserves, but consigned to some inoffensive situation, where he may be at liberty to contemplate the folly and vanity of his ambition, as it may affect his own person, and the danger and wickedness of it, as it may affect the true and lasting interest of his royal graci

ous master.

"In the mean time, my lords, I think we cannot better shew our duty to the King, and our regard to the dignity of this House, than by disagreeing with the Commons in this Amendment." History of the Minority, p. 314.

"On the day when the King in person gave his assent to the Regency Bill, a mob of journeymen silk-weavers went to St. James's, with black flags, for the purpose of petitioning for relief, under pretence that they were reduced to a state of famine by the encouragement of French silks. They behaved in most tumultuous manner, surrounding both Houses of Parliament, and insulting many of the members. They again assembled on the two following days, and proceeded to commit other outrages; but were at length repressed by the posse comitatus and the military who were called in to aid the civil power. A proclamation was issued for the suppressing of riots, and some of the parties were brought to condign punishment," "Adolphus.