regard to such as
had expressed a firm attachment to the protestant succession when it was
in danger. It does not appear that the protestant succession was ever
in danger. How then was this declaration to be interpreted? People in
general construed it into a design to maintain party distinctions,
and encourage the whigs to the full exertion of their influence in the
elections; into a renunciation of the tories; and as the first flash of
that vengeance which afterwards was seen to burst upon the heads of the
late ministry. When the earl of Strafford returned from Holland, all his
papers were seized by an order from the secretary's office. Mr. Prior
was recalled from France, and promised to discover all he knew relating
to the conduct of Oxford's administration. Uncommon vigour was exerted
on both sides in the elections; but, by dint of the monied interest,
which prevailed in most of the corporations through the kingdom, and the
countenance of the ministry, which will always have weight with needy
and venal electors, a great majority of whigs was returned both in
England and Scotland.

THE KING'S FIRST SPEECH.

When this new parliament assembled on the seventeenth day of March, at
Westminster, Mr. Spencer Compton was chosen speaker of the commons. On
the twenty-first day of the month, the king appeared in the house of
lords and delivered to the chancellor a written speech, which was read
in presence of both houses. His majesty thanked his faithful and loving
subjects for that zeal and firmness they had shown in defence of the
protestant succession, against all the open and secret practices which
had been used to defeat it. He told them that some conditions of the
peace, essential to the security and trade of Great Britain, were not
yet duly executed; and that the performance of the whole might be
looked upon as precarious, until defensive alliances should be formed to
guarantee the present treaties. He observed, that the pretender
boasted of the assistance he expected in England, to repair his former
disappointment; that great part of the national trade was rendered
impracticable; and that the public debts were surprisingly increased
ever since the fatal cessation of arms. He gave the commons to
understand that the branches of the revenue, formerly granted for the
support of the civil government, were so far encumbered and alienated,
that the produce of the funds which remained, and had been granted to
him, would