The New Hampshire Gazette

The Earl of Leicester Packet arriv'd at New-York in 5 Weeks and 3 Days from Falmouth, we have the following Advices.

His MAJESTY's most Gracious SPEECH to both Houses of PARLIAMENT, on Thursday the second Day of December 1756.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

I have called you together in a Conjuncture, which highly requires the Deliberation, Advice, and Assistance of Parliament ; and I trust, that (under the Guidance of divine Providence) Union and Firmness in My affectionate People, will carry Me, with Honour, through all Difficulties ; and finally vindicate the Dignity of My Crown, and its indubitable Rights, against the ancient Enemy of these Kingdoms.

The Succour and Preservation of America cannot but constitute a main Object of My Attention and Solicitude ; and the growing Dangers, to which Our Colonies may stand exposed, from our late Losses in those Parts, demand Resolutions of Vigour & Dispatch.

An adequate and firm Defence at Home must have the chief Place in my Thoughts ; and in this great View I have nothing so much at Heart, as that no Ground of Dissatisfaction may remain in My People.

To this End, a National Militia, planned and regulated with equal Regard to the just Rights of My Crown and People; may, in Time, become one good Resource, in Case of general Danger ; and I recommend the framing of such a Militia to the Care and Diligence of My Parliament.

The unnatural Union of Councils Abroad ; the Calamities which, in Consequence of this unhappy Conjunction, may, by Irruptions of Foreign Armies into the Empire, shake its Constitutions, overturn its System, and threaten Oppression to the Protestant Interest there ; are Events which must sensibly affect the Minds of this Nation, and have fixed the Eyes of Europe on this new and dangerous Crisis.

The Body of My Electoral Troops, which I ordered hither at the Desire of My Parliament, I have directed to return to my Dominions in Germany ; relying, with Pleasure, on the Spirit and Zeal of My People, in Defence of My Person and Realm.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons.

I will order the proper Estimates to be laid, in due Time, before you; and I rely on your Wisdom, that you will prefer more vigorous Efforts (tho' attended with large Expence) to a less effectual, and therefore less frugal, Plan of War.

I have placed before you the Dangers and Necessities of the Publick ; it will be your Care to lay, in Such a Manner, the Burdens you may judge unavoidable, as will least distress and exhaust My People.

My Lords, and Gentlemen,

I cannot here be unmindful of the Sufferings of the poorer Sort, from the present high Price of Corn, and the Disturbances which have arisen therefrom ; and I recommend to you to consider of proper Provisions, for preventing the like Mischiefs hereafter.

Unprosperous Events of War in the Mediterranean have drawn from My Subjects signal Proofs, how dearly they tender My Honour, and that of My Crown ; and they cannot, on My Part, fail to meet with just Returns of unwearied Care, and unceasing Endeavours for the Glory, Prosperity, and Happiness of my People.

The humble Address of the Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled.

Die Jovis 2 Decembris, 1756.

Most Gracious Sovereign,

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.

The Importance of the present Crisis, and the dangerous Consequences which may result from the unnatural Union of Councils in Europe, are so sensibly felt by this House, that we should think ourselves wanting in Duty to Your Majesty, and our Country, if we did not beg Leave to offer, at your Royal Feet, our strongest Assurances, that we will, to the utmost of our Power, promote and effectuate such Measures, as shall be found expedient for vindicating the Honour of your Crown, and asserting the just Rights of your Majesty, and your Subjects.

Permit us to return your Majesty our most humble and grateful Thanks, for your Majesty's gracious Condescension to the Request of your Parliament, in causing a Body of your Electoral Troops to come into this Country, at a Conjuncture so critical to its Preservation and Defence.

With the deepest Sense of our Obligations to your Majesty, we beg Leave to approach your Throne, there to offer the Tribute of our warmest Gratitude, for that paternal Care and Solicitude, which your Majesty has expressed for the Succour and Preservation of America ; nor are we less sensibly affected with your Majesty's gracious Attention to the Safety and Honour of this Kingdom, by recommending to us, the Care of forming such a Plan of Defence at Home, as may enable your Majesty to exert the Power of Great Britain with Vigour and Success Abroad.

The many Blessings we enjoy under Your Majesty's mild and gracious Government, call for the warmest and sincerest Acknowledgments of our Hearts ; and demand, on our Part, the most firm and loyal Assurances to your Majesty, that, not discouraged by any unprosperous Events of War, we will, with the greater Ardour and Alacrity, employ Our most zealous Efforts to extricate your Majesty from all Difficulties, with Honour and Dignity to your Majesty's Crown, and Prosperity to your People.

We beg Leave to return your Majesty the Thanks of this House, for the tender and compassionate Regard your Majesty has shewn to the Sufferings of the poorer Sort, from the high Price of Corn ; and to assure your Majesty, that we will take that Matter into our immediate Consideration, in order to provide such speedy and adequate Relief, as the Nature and Importance of the Case require.

His MAJESTY's most gracious Answer.

My LORDS,

I return you My hearty Thanks for this very dutiful and affectionate Address. The warm Expressions, with which you repeat the Assurances of your Determination to exert yourselves in the Defence of the Rights and Possessions of My Crown, give Me the greatest Satisfaction ; and you may be assured, the only Use I shall make of the Confidence you repose in Me, will be to pursue such Measures, as the present critical Conjuncture renders necessary for the Welfare and Prosperity of My Kingdoms.

The humble ADDRESS of the House of Commons to the KING.

Most gracious Sovereign,

WE your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Commons of Great-Britain in Parliament assembled, beg Leave to return Your Majesty our humble Thanks for Your most gracious Speech from the Throne.

Your faithful Commons, excited by Duty, and warm with Gratitude, do from our Hearts acknowledge the paternal Care and Royal Condescension of your Majesty, in pointing out, from the Throne, such a Plan of Force for our Defence, as may best tend to the Satisfaction of Your People ; and in particular, a well-modelled National Militia, as one proper Security for your Majesty's Person and Realm.

In this present arduous Conjuncture, Your faithful Commons next after Divine Providence, rely on your Majesty's Wisdom and Magnanimity ; remembering British Efforts in Times past, under Princes, whose first Glory was to found, like your Majesty, the Strength of their Government in the Contentment and Harmony of their Subjects.

Thus united, and thus animated, this House, will cheerfully support your Majesty thro' all Difficulties, and vindicate, to the utmost, the Dignity of Your Crown, and its indubitable Rights, against the ancient Enemy of these Kingdoms.

We trust, your Majesty, strong at Home, will find Yourself revered Abroad, and in a Condition to support that Weight and Consideration in Europe, which belong to a King of Great-Britain, notwithstanding the unnatural and unhappy Union of Councils, which have formed, on the Continent, so new & dangerous a Crisis.

This House thinks, with Pain, on the sad Events of War in the Mediterranean and in America : They will take these affecting Matters into their most serious Consideration, not imputing Blame to Any, unheard ; and will, with Confidence, Alacrity, and Dispatch, second your Majesty's Royal Care for the speedy Succour and Preservation of America, under the growing Dangers to which those invaluable Possessions stand exposed.

We beg Leave to assure your Majesty, that Your faithful Commons will consider of proper Provisions for the Relief of the poorer Sort from the present high Price of Corn, and for preventing the like Mischiefs hereafter, according to the Royal and Compassionate Recommendation of your Majesty.

His MAJESTY's most gracious Answer.

GENTLEMEN,

I return you my Thanks for this dutiful and affectionate Address ; nothing can give me so great Satisfaction, or tend so much to the public Safety, as Union and Harmony among my Subjects. You may rely on my constant Care and Attention to the Welfare of my People.