either, as foon as the poll was over; rejecting, as you declared, all thofe who had voted for one of the candidates (which amounted to a great majority of the whole) on account, as you alledged, of corruption; notwithstanding you had adminiftered the oath against bribery to all, except one, of thofe you thought proper to reject. There are, however, circumftances in your cafe which greatly extenuate your offence, and which the house hath, with pleasure, laid hold of, to mitigate the feverity of your punishment; and this they have done at the recommendation of those very refpectable gentlemen who compofed that committee, which, by its conduct upon this occafion, hath merited, not only the thanks of this houfe, but the general applause of the public.By a fteady attention to juftice, and a firm perfeverance in obtaining it, they have furmounted a variety of difficulties, in carrying into execution a new law, which has founded a new court of judicature, for the trial of parliamentary elections; a law, which, if it continues to be executed, for the future, with equal abilities and integrity, as it has been in this inftance, will be a bleffing to this country, and do honour to the memory of the perfon who planned it, and to the parliament which adopted and paffed it. You have proved, that you were formerly member of a club, in the borough over which you prefided, which hath profanely affumed the name of the Christian Club; a club, inftituted for the moft infamous purpose, that of felling the borough to the highest bidder; that this club confifts of a great VOL. XIV. majority of the electors; and that the members of it bind themselves to one another, and to fecrecy, by oaths, in writing, and bonds with large penalties; that they carry on this fcandalous traffic by a felect committee, who never appear or vote at any election, on account of their fcruples of confcience, having actually received the ftipu lated price of the borough; but that the reft of the members of this club vote as they are directed by their committee, and, without hefitation, take the oath against bribe ry (as they did in the prefent inftance) and, when election is over, receive their fhare of the price which has been paid to their fac tors. You proved likewife that you voluntarily quitted this club in February laft, when there was no vacancy, and when you could have no expectation of being the returning officer, in cafe a vacancy fhould happen.-It has likewife appeared in evidence that you acted by the advice of counsel. And you have infifted, that, though you may have acted illegally, you have not acted intentionally wrong; and that you should not have rejected the queried votes, if you had not been convinced in your confcience that they were all corrupted. These are the favourable circumftances under which the house have confidered your cafe; and, on account of them, have inflicted upon you the mildeft punishment that the nature of their proceedings will permit. · And I am, in obedience to their commands, to REPRIMAND you for this offence; which I now do. And I am, by their order, to ac[R] quaint ment. The affection which his Majefty bears to his faithful fubjects of Ire land, and his readiness to concur with you in every measure which may conduce to their profperity, have determined his Majefty to call you together at this time, that you. may take into your ferious confideration fuch laws as fhall be immediately neceffary for the general good of this country. The prefent high price of corn is an object of the first importance,. and demands your utmost atten-. tion; and I alfo recommend to you the continuance or revival of fuch laws as from experience have proved of advantage to the public. I have particular pleasure in be. ing able to inform that not you, only the ufual bounties on the exportation of Irish linens have been continued by the British parliament, but that they have been still further extended; a circumftance which I hope will be productive of beneficial effects to that manufacture. Gentlemen of the House of Com mons, As I have reason to expect, that, with very strict economy, the du ties which were granted laft feffica of parliament, and which will not expire until Christmas next, may be fufficient to answer the expences not now to afk for any further fupof his Majefty's government, I am not now to ask for any further supply. My Lords and Gentlemen, The increase of his Majefty's royal family, by the birth of another princess, fince the laft feffion of parliament, is an event in which we are all interested, and must afford us the fincerest pleasure. His Majefty's paternal care of this kingdom requires every return of gratitude on your part; and I have no doubt, from your known loyalty, that you will manifeft your fenfe of his goodness by the temper and unanimity of your proceedings.. I rejoice in this opportunity of co-operating with you for the public welfare, and I flatter myself our endeavours will be mutually to bring this feffion to a speedy and happy conclufion. The humble addrefs of the Lords fpi ritual and temporal, in parliament assembled. To the King's moft excellent Majefty. Moft gracious Sovereign, your Majefty's most duti ful and loyal fubjects, the lords fpiritual and temporal in par liament affembled, beg leave humbly to exprefs our moft grateful: thanks to your Majesty, for the many proofs which we have received of your Majefty's affection for your faithful fubjects of this kingdom, and for this, in parti cular, which your Majefty is now graciously pleafed to afford us, in your your readiness to concur with your parliament in fuch measures as may be conducive to their prosperity. We further beg leave to affure your Majefty, that we will endeavour to fulfil your Majefty's gracious purpose, in calling us together at this time, by taking into our ferious confideration fuch matters as fhall be found to be necessary for the general good of this country, and more particularly thofe which have been recommended to us this day from the throne. We cannot omit expreffing our thankfulness for, and fatisfaction in, the continuance and extenfion, by the British parliament, of the bounties on the exportation of Irish linens. We moft fincerely congratulate your Majesty on the happy increase of your royal family, by the birth of another princefs fince the laft feffion of parliament; and we have the fincerest joy in an event which contributes to the fecurity we have in your Majefty's royal houfe, of every thing that is dear and valuable to us. We have the trueft fenfe of the many inftances which your Majefty hath been pleased to afford us, of your paternal care, and particularly your continuing the lord vifcount Townsend in the government of this kingdom; of which, as his experience enables him to form the trueft judgment, fo his candour and integrity will, we doubt not, move him to make the jufteft representation. We beg leave to exprefs our fincere defire on this, and every other occafion, to conduct ourselves, in whatever may come before us, with temper and unanimity, and with all that dutiful refpect which may beft exprefs a grateful and becoming fenfe of your Majefty's goodness to us, and our faithful attachments to your Majesty's fa cred perfon, your family and government. The humble Address of the Knights, Citizens, and Burgeffes, in Pare liament affembled. To the King's most excellent Majefty. Moft gracious Sovereign, your Majefty's most dutiful and loyal fubjects, the commons of Ireland, in parlia ment affembled, beg leave to exprefs, in the most dutiful manner, our unbounded gratitude to your Majefty for the affection you are graciously pleafed to declare towards your faithful fubjects of Ireland, and your readiness to concur with us in every measure which may conduce to their profperity. We return our most humble thanks to your Majefty, for giving us this opportunity of taking into our confideration fuch laws as fhall be found immediately neceffary for the general good of this kingdom, and for the reviving thofe, which from experience have proved of advantage to the public; and we affure your Majefty, that, with hearts full of gratitude, we afcribe this, and every other benefit we receive, to the fpontaneous dictates of your Majesty's royal justice and benignity. We acknowledge the great wif dom and humanity of your Majefty in recommending to us, as an object of the highest importance, the prefent high price of corn. in this kingdom. [R] 2 We We place the jufteft confidence in your Majesty's gracious favour and protection, for the fupport and encouragement of our principal branch of trade, the linen manufacture; and we are happy to find, that not only the ufual bounties on the exportation of our linens have been continued, but that they have been further extended by the British parliament. When we confider the prefent fituation of this country, with regard to trade, we have the highest fatisfaction in being informed, that, with very strict oeconomy, the duties which were granted laft feffion of parliament, and which will not expire till Christmas next, may be fufficient to answer the expences of your Majesty's government, and that no further fupplies are to be asked for. And we beg leave to affure your Majefty, that as nothing can give us greater fatisfaction than your Majefty's approbation of our conduct, fo nothing can affect us more fenfibly than any mark of your royal displeasure, and that we are incapable, even in thought, of attempting any thing against your Majefty's authority, or the rights of the crown of Great-Britain, into an invafion of your Majefty's royal authority, than which nothing can be more distant from our thoughts. And we beg leave to affure your Majefty, that your Majefty's rights are equally dear to us as our own, as we are fenfible that our happiness depends. upon the prefervation of both inviolate. We congratulate your Majefty on the increafe of your Majesty's royal family, by the birth of another princefs, fince the last feffion of parliament; an event the most interefting to us, as we confider every addition to your royal family as an increase of strength to the Proteftant intereft, and to the happinefs of this kingdom. We return our moft humble thanks to your Majefty for continuing his excellency the lord vifcount Townsend in the government of this kingdom, from whofe approved integrity, and from whofe long knowledge and experience of us and our fentiments, we are perfuaded a juft representation will be made of our loyalty and duty to the best of princes. The humble Addrefs of the Lords fpiritual and temporal, in Parliament affembled. May it please your Excellency, E his Majefty's most duti from whence we own, with the Addreffes to the Lord-Lieutenant. utmost gratitude, we derive our principal protection and fupport. We acknowledge, with the most perfect fubmiffion, that we are ever tenacious of the honour of granting fupplies to your Majefty, and of being the first movers therein, as they are the voluntary tribute of grateful hearts to the best of monarchs; and we moft humbly befeech your Majefty, that your Majefty will not permit our zeal in this particular to be conftrued ful and loyal fubjects, the lords fpiritual and temporal in parliament affembled, return your Excellency our most fincere thanks for your moft excellent fpeech to both houfes of parliament. We are happy in the opportunity which his Majefty hath been gracioufly pleafed to afford us, of meeting your Excellency again in parliament; and we cannot but confider ourselves as under an obligation to your Excellency, for the fatisfaction which you are pleafed to exprefs on that occafion, and for your most obliging readiness to cooperate with us for the public welfare. We fhall not fail of taking into our confideration the important particulars recommended to us by your Excellency. We acknowledge with thankfulnefs the continuance and extenfion, by the British parliament, of the bounties on the exportation of Irish linens, and confider ourselves as indebted to your Excellence for your kind attention to that great branch of trade and manufactures. We rejoice with your Excellency on the increase of his Majefty's royal family, by the birth of another princefs, as every fuch event affords us an additional fecurity in fupport of our religion, laws, and liberties. Your Excellency's experience and knowledge in the affairs of this kingdom call upon us to unite our endeavours with yours to promote the good of the public; and we truft we shall, with a becoming temper and unanimity, co-operate with your Excellency to bring this feffion to a speedy and happy conclufion." of me affords me the greatest pleafure: it has been, and will be, any endeavour to deserve it. You may rely upon my faithful reprefentation to his Majefty in every thing which concerns you and this country; and I flatter myfelf that, thro' the harmony which fubfifts between us, our joint endeavours will be effectual to promote the public welfare, which I have much at heart. The bumble Addrefs of the Knights, Citizens, and Burgeffes, in Parliament affembled. May it please your Excellency, E his Majefty's most dutiW ful and loyal fubjects, the commons of Ireland, in parliament affembled, return your Excellency our moft unfeigned thanks for your most excellent fpeech from the throne, and beg leave to express our fincere congratulations on this parliament being appointed to meet again. We acknowledge with great gratitude the continuance and extenfion of the bounties given by the British parliament, on the exportation of Irish linens. We return your Excellency thanks for the information you have been pleased to give us, that you have reafon to expect that the duties which were granted the laft feffion of parliament may be fufficient to answer the expences of his Majefty's government, and that you are not now to ask for any further fupply. We shall with the trueft pleasure co-operate with your Excellency in all that may tend to the public welfare, and in all our delibera [R] 3 tions |