The Virginia Gazette

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 8.

The following SPEECH was received this morning by express from New York.

HIS MAJESTY'S MOST GRACIOUS SPEECH

To both HOUSES of PARLIAMENT, on Friday the 27th of October, 1775.

LONDON, October 28.

YESTERDAY, about noon, his Majesty went from the Queen's palace to St. James's, attended only by two footmen behind his coach. About ten minutes before two his Majefty got into the ftate coach, attended by the Duke of Ancafter and Lord Bruce, and proceeded to the Houfe of Peers, where, being feated on the Throne, and a meffage having been fent to the Commons, requiring their attendance, his Majefty opened the prefent feffion of Parliament with the following fpeech:

"My Lords and Gentlemen,

The prefent fituation of America, and my conftant defire to have your advice, concurrence, and affiftance on every important occafion, have determined me to call you thus early together.

"Thofe who have long too fuccefsfully laboured to enflame my people in America, by grofs mifreprefentations, and to infufe into their minds a fyftem of opinions repugnant to the true conftitution of the colonies, and to their fubordinate relation to Great Britain, now openly avow their revolt, hoftility, and rebellion. They have raifed troops, and are collecting a naval force; they have feized the public revenue, and affumed to themfelves legiflative, executive, and judicial powers, which they already exercife in the moft arbitrary manner over the perfons and properties of their fellow fubjects: And although many of thefe unhappy people may ftill retain their loyalty, and may be too wife not to fee the fatal confequence of this ufurpation, and wifh to refift it, yet the torrent of violence has been ftrong enough to compel their acquiefcence till a fufficient force fhall appear to fupport them.

"The authors and promoters of this defperate confpiracy have, in the conduct of it, derived great advantage from the difference of our intentions and theirs: They meant only to amufe by vague expreffions of attachment to the Parent State, and the ftrongeft profeftations of loyalty to me, whilft they were preparing for a general revolt. On our part, though it was declared, in your laft feffion, that a rebellion exifted within the province of Maffachufetts Bay, yet even that province we wifhed rather to reclaim than to fubdue. The refolutions of Parliament breathed a fpirit of moderation and forbearance; conciliatory propofitions accompanied the meafures taken to enforce authority, and the coercive acts were adapted to cafes of criminal combinations amongft fubjects not then in arms. I have acted with the fame temper; anxious to prevent, if it had been poffible, the effufion of the blood of my fubjects, and the calamities which are inseparable from a ftate of war; till hoping that my people in America would have difcerned the traiterous views of their leaders, and have been convinced, that to be a fubject of Great Britain, with all its confequences, is to be the freest member of any civil fociety in the known world

"The rebellious war now levied is become more general, and is manifeftly carried on for the purpofe of eftablifhing an independent empire. I need not dwell upon the fatal effects of the fuccefs of fuch a plan. The object is too important, the fpirit of the Britifh nation too high, the refources with which God hath bleffed her too numerous, to give up fo many colonies which fhe has planted with great induftry, nurfed with great tendernefs, encouraged with many commercial advantages, and protected and defended at much expence of blood and treafure.

"It is now become the part of wifdom, and (in its effects) of clemency, to put a fpeedy end to thefe diforders by the moft decifive exertions: For this purpofe, I have increafed my naval eftablifhment, and greatly augmented my land forces, but in fuch a manner as may be the leaft burthenfome to my kingdoms.

"I have alfo the fatisfaction to inform you, that I have received the moft friendly offers of foreign affiftance; and if I fhall make any treaties in confequence thereof, they fhall be laid before you. And I have, in teftimony of my affection for my people, who can have no caufe in which I am not equally interefted, fent to the garrifons of Gibraltar and Port Mahon a part of my electoral troops, in order that a large number of the eftablifhed forces of this kingdom may be applied to the maintenance of its authority; and the national militia, planned and regulated with equal regard to the rights, fafety, and protection of my Crown and people, may give a further extent and activity to our military operations.

"When the unhappy and deluded multitude, againft whom this force will be directed, fhall become fenfible of their error, I fhall be ready to receive the miflead with tendernefs and mercy; and in order to prevent the inconveniencies which may arife from the great diftance of their fituation, and to remove, as foon as poffible, the calamities which they fuffer, I fhall give authority to certain perfons upon the fpot to grant general or particular pardons and indemnities, in fuch manner, and to fuch perfons as they fhall think fit, and to receive the fubmiffion of any province or colony which fhall be difpofed to return to its allegiance. It may be alfo proper to authorife the perfons fo commiffioned to reftore fuch province or colony, on returning to its allegiance, to the free exercife of its trade and commerce, and to the fame protection and fecurity as if fuch province or colony had never revolted.

"Gentlemen of the Houfe of Commons,

"I have ordered the proper eftimates for the enfuing year to be laid before you; and I rely on your affection to me, and your refolution to maintain the juft rights of this country, for fuch fupplies as the prefent circumftances of our affairs require. Among the many unavoidable ill confequences of this rebellion, none affects me more fenfibly than the extraordinary burthen which it muft create to my faithful fubjects.

"My Lords and Gentlemen,

"I have fully opened to you my views and intentions. The conftant employment of my thoughts, and the moft earneft wifhes of my heart, tend wholly to the fafety and happinefs of all my people, and to the re-eftablifhment of order and tranquillity through the feveral parts of my dominions, in a clofe connection and conftitutional dependence. You fee the tendency of the prefent diforders, and I have ftated to you the meafures which I mean to purfue for fupprefing them. Whatever remains to be done, that may further contribute to this end, I commit to your wifdom. And I am happy to add, that, as well from the affurances I have received, as from the general appearance of affairs in Europe, I fee no probability that the meafures which you may adopt will be interrupted by difputes with any foreign power."