The New Hampshire Gazette

BOSTON. DECEMBER 8.

YESTERDAY the Great and General Court or Assembly of this Province met at the Court House in this Town, being the Day to which the said Court stood prorogued.

His Excellency was pleased to make the following SPEECH to both Houses. viz.

Gentlemen of the Council, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,

I think myself happy, that it has fallen to my Lot to congratulate You, from this Seat, upon the glorious Conclusion of the North American War, and the fair Prospect, that now presents itself, of the Security of your Country being settled upon the most sure and lasting Foundations. From the Wisdom and Vigour of His Majesty's Councils, which have already effected the former, you may promise to yourselves the Completion of the latter.

This great Contest will make an Era ever memorable on this Continent: from it we may date the firm Establishment of the British Empire in North America.

We form these pleasing Assurances- not only from the more striking Instances of the Superiority of it's Power, but also from the less obvious Observation of the Improvement of it's Policy. It is one of the happy Consequences of this War that the Connexion between these Provinces and their Mother Country is now so well understood and put upon the best Footing, that of filial Obedience and parental Protection mutually promoting each other.

You, Gentlemen, who stand foremost among His Majesty's loyal American Subjects, are well convinced of these Truths; and are fully sensible what Blessings You derive from your Subjection to Great Britain; without which You could not now have been a free People: for no other Nation upon Earth could have delivered you from the Enemy you have had to contend with. I am sensible that your Hearts are full of this Subject: and I should be glad if some Means could be found to transmit your Joy & Gratitude to latest Posterity.

As Divine Providence has favoured His Majesty's Arms in all other Parts of the World, as well as in this, we may now hope for speedy Peace: and then a new Scene of Business will open upon you. The improving a Country is a more pleasing Task than the defending it: You who have so well contributed to the one, will chearfully engage in the other; and, for my Part, I shall give all possible Attention to promote the Exertion of the Powers of this Province to the best Purposes of it's Wealth and Prosperity.

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,

I shall order the proper Officers to lay before you the Accounts of the Expence of the public Money, from which you will perceive that a new Provision will be wanted for several of the Appropriations. Other Business, that I shall have to recommend to you, I shall introduce at the most suitable Times.

Gentlemen,

As I have consulted your Convenience in deferring calling you together until this the most leisure Time of your Year; I must recommend to you to make the best Use of it by dispatching all the Business that shall be prepared for you at present. I am sensible how disagreeable and inconvenient long Sessions at unseasonable Times are; and I shall avoid them as well as I can: But to do it most effectually, I must depend much upon your Activity and Unanimity.

Council Chamber,
Fra. Bernard.