The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

St. James's, June 15, 1763.

This Day the following Address was read and presented to his Majesty by Doctor King, accompanied by a Committee from the Body of Protestant Dissenting Ministers in and about the Cities of London and Westminster: introduced by the Earl of Halifax.

To the King's Most Excellent Majesty,

Most Gracious Sovereign,

Our Majesty's ever loyal and faithful Subjects the Protestant Dissenting Ministers in and about the City of London and Westminster, humbly beg leave to congratulate your Majesty on the Restoration of Peace to your own Dominions, and to the World in general; an Event truly interesting to all who are influenced by Sentiments of Humanity, and peculiarly pleasing to the Ministers of the Gospel of Peace.

The unparallelled Success and Glory, which crowned your Majesty's Arms, whilst they excited our Gratitude to the Almighty, could not Suppress our Concern for the numberless Calamities and Disorders inseparable from War. As these are happily brought to a Period, we can now indulge the delightful Expectation, that the Advancement of Piety and Virtue, of civil and religious Liberty, and of those Arts, which improve and embellish human Life, will be the Result of public Tranquility, and the just praise of your Majesty's reign.

The large accessions, made to your Majesty's empire in America, not only promise an increase of commerce, with its attendants, wealth and power, but likewise open a way for diffusing freedom and science, political order and Christian knowledge, thro' those extensive regions, which are now sunk in superstition and barbarism, and for imparting, even to the most uncultivated of our species, the happiness of Britons.

GREAT SIR,

The Protestant Dissenters have been ever strongly attached to those excellent Princes your royal progenitors; having always considered the Revolution as the glorious aera of liberty in these kingdoms, and the succession in your august house, as, under God, its firmest establishment; and the goodness of your Majesty's heart, your high sense of domestic virtue, and your avowed regard to religion, concur to heighten our zeal for the dignity of your crown, and the prosperity of your government. It shall be our constant care to approve our loyalty and fidelity to your Majesty, by promoting concord, and by recommending to those, with whom we are connected, such principles, as are calculated to render them, at once, good subjects, and good men.

We have only to add, our fervent supplications to the Most High, that your Majesty may reign long, the father of a free, and the delight of a happy people; and that the imperial crown of these realms may descend, in your illustrious line, to the latest generations.

To which address his Majesty was pleased to return this most gracious answer.

Thank you for this affectionate and dutiful address. You judge rightly of my desire and intention to improve the blessings of the peace which God has granted us, to the universal benefit of my subjects, and to the advancement of religion and virtue. Your resolution to inculcate the principles of piety and loyalty, is very agreeable to me; and you may rely on my protection, and my care, to maintain the toleration.'

They were all most graciously received; and had the honour to kiss his Majesty's hand.