The Virginia Gazette

LONDON. Feb. 1.

The ADDRESS of the House of Peers, to His Majesty, on his Speech at Opening the Session.

We your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, beg Leave to return your Majesty our humble Thanks for your most gracious Speech from the Throne. Amongst the many convincing Proofs, which your Majesty hath given of your paternal and unwearied Care of the Rights of your People, nothing can fill their Hearts with more grateful Sentiments, than that sincere and affectionate Concern which you have so often declared, for the many Hardships and Injuries sustained by your trading Subjects in America. The Honour of your Majesty's Crown, and the true Interest of your People, are, and ever will be, inseparable; and as your Majesty hath, on all Occasions, demonstrated to the World, that you have both equally at Heart, it was impossible for us not to have the firmest Dependance on your Zeal and Vigilance for their real Security and Preservation.

The gracious Regard which your Majesty is pleased to express, for the Resolutions and Advice of your Parliament, is a great Instance of your Royal Goodness; and tho' your Majesty's constant Desire, out of Tenderness to your People, to avoid involving these Kingdoms in the manifold Inconveniencies of War, must incline you to approve the beginning with more moderate Measures; yet we never entertained the least Doubt, but that true Greatness and Fortitude, which inspire your Royal Breast, would induce you to exert your utmost Power in vindicating and protecting our undoubted Privileges of Navigation and Commerce, and in doing Justice to yourself and your Subjects, if the Conduct of the Court of Spain had made such Methods necessary.

We beg Leave, on this Occasion, to offer to your Majesty our unfeigned Thanks for your great Goodness and Condescension in acquainting us from the Throne, that a Convention is concluded and ratified between your Majesty and the King of Spain, whereby Reparation is agreed to be made to your Subjects for their Losses, by a certain stipulated Payment; and Plenipotentiaries are appointed for regulating, within a limited Time, all those Grievances and Abuses, which have hitherto interrupted our Commerce and Navigation in the American Seas; and that your Majesty will be pleased to order the Convention and separate Articles to be laid before us.

We should fall short of those warm Impressions of Gratitude, which we feel in ourselves, as well as be wanting in our Duty, if we did not return your Majesty our most thankful Acknowledgements, for your Royal Care in making use of the Confidence reposed in your Majesty, with no other View, but the general and lasting Benefit of your Kingdoms. Reparation for past Injuries and Losses, and effectual Security for the future, founded in Justice, and warranted by Treaties, have been the great Views of your Majesty and your Parliament in this national and important Affair; and if those Purposes can be attained, without plunging the Nation into a War, it must give the truest Satisfaction to all your faithful Subjects, who cannot but be as desirous to preserve the Peace, as they are able and ready to defend and vindicate their Rights, against the Incroachments of all Aggressors.

We are deeply sensible, how unbecoming and pernicious it would be, at any Time, to suffer either Prejudices or Animosities to mix themselves with Parliamentary Deliberations; and your Majesty's gracious Recommendation to us, particularly to avoid them at this important Conjuncture, cannot fail to awaken in us a more than ordinary Caution on that Head. Great-Britain hath but one common Interest, consisting in the Security of your Majesty's Person and Government, and the Welfare and Happiness of your People: And when your Majesty is pleased to exhort us to Unanimity, it is only calling upon us to unite, for our own Preservation. We therefore beseech your Majesty to accept the strongest and most affectionate Assurances, that we will zealously and cheerfully concur in all such Measures, as shall be most conducive to those great and desirable Ends.

His MAJESTY's most Gracious Answer.

My LORDS,

I thank you for this dutiful and affectionate Address; and for the Dependance you express on my Care to make use of the Confidence you repose in me, for the general Benefit of my People. You may rely on the Continuance of my Endeavours to perfect the Accommodation with the Court of Spain, in such a Manner, as may be most for the Honour of my Crown, and the true Interest of my Kingdoms; and that I will pursue such Measures as shall appear to be most conducive to the future Security of the Trade and Navigation of my Subjects.

The Address of the House of Commons, to be in our next.