on the loyalty and
affection of my people. I want no other guarantee." She recommended
to their protection those brave men who had exposed their lives in the
service of their country, and could not be employed in time of peace.
She desired they would concert proper measures for easing the foreign
trade of the kingdom, for improving and encouraging manufactures and the
fishery, and for employing the hands of idle people. She expressed her
displeasure at the scandalous and seditious libels which had been lately
published.

She exhorted them to consider of new laws to prevent this
licentiousness, as well as for putting a stop to the impious practice of
duelling. She conjured them to use their utmost endeavours to calm the
minds of men at home, that the arts of peace might be cultivated; and
that groundless jealousies, contrived by a faction, and fomented by
party rage, might not effect that which their foreign enemies could not
accomplish. This was the language of a pious, candid, and benevolent
sovereign, who loved her subjects with a truly parental affection. The
parliament considered her in that light. Each house presented her with
a warm address of thanks and congratulation, expressing, in particular,
their inviolable attachment to the protestant succession in the
illustrious house of Hanover. The ratifications of the treaty being
exchanged, the peace was proclaimed on the fifth of May, with the usual
ceremonies, to the inexpressible joy of the nation in general. It was
about this period that the chevalier de St. George conveyed a printed
remonstrance to the ministers at Utrecht, solemnly protesting against
all that might be stipulated to his prejudice. The commons, in a second
address, had besought her majesty to communicate to the house in due
time the treaties of peace and commerce with France; and now they were
produced by Mr. Benson, chancellor of the exchequer.

THE TREATY WITH FRANCE.

By the treaty of peace the French king obliged himself to abandon
the pretender, and acknowledge the queen's title and the protestant
succession; to raze the fortifications of Dunkirk within a limited time,
on condition of receiving an equivalent; to cede Newfoundland, Hudson's
Bay, and St. Christopher's to England; but the French were left
in possession of Cape Breton, and at liberty to dry their fish in
Newfoundland. By the treaty of commerce a free trade was established,
according to the tariff of the year one thousand