The Virginia Gazette

W E S T M I N S T E R, May 19.

This day his Majesty came to the House of Peers, and being in his royal robes seated on the throne, with the usual solemnity, Sir Francis Molineux, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, was sent with a message from his Majesty to the House of Commons, commanding their attendance in the House of Peers. The Commons being come thither accordingly, his Majesty was pleased to make the following most gracious speech:

My Lords, and Gentlemen,

The season of the year, and the dispatch you have given to the public business, make it proper for me to put an end to this session of Parliament.

The temper with which you have conducted all your proceedings has given me great satisfaction, and I promise myself the happiest effects from the firmness, as well as the moderation, which you have manifested in the very critical circumstances which have attended your late deliberations.

With respect to foreign affairs, I have nothing material to communicate to you. I will continue my endeavours to appease, if possible, the troubles which still prevail in some parts of Europe, or at least to prevent them from spreading farther. In all events, it shall be my first and constant care to watch over the interests, and to preserve, undiminished, the rights of my people.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

I return you my thanks for the supplies you have so cheerfully granted for the service of the current year, as well as for your attention to make use of every opportunity of reducing the national debt. The provision you have been able to make in this session for discharging so considerable a sum, without laying any farther burdens on my subjects, cannot but be highly advantageous to public credit.

My Lords, and Gentlemen,

I must earnestly recommend to you to exert, in your respective counties, the same zeal and prudence that you have shown in Parliament for promoting the peace and the welfare of the kingdom.

Nothing can be more favourable to the wishes of those who look with jealousy on the strength and prosperity of this country than the prevalence of animosities and dissensions among ourselves. Let it therefore be your care to discountenance every attempt to instil groundless suspicions and discontent into the minds of your fellow subjects; make them sensible of my constant attention to promote their happiness; and convince them that nothing can so effectually secure their liberties as the maintenance of every part of our excellent constitution in its due force and authority.

Then the Lord Speaker, by the King's command, said:

My Lords, and Gentlemen,

It is his Majesty's royal will and pleasure that this Parliament be prorogued to Thursday the 19th day of July next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Thursday the 19th day of July next.