fall short of what was at first designed for maintaining the
honour and dignity of the crown; that as it was his and their happiness
to see a prince of Wales who might in due time succeed him on the
throne, and to see him blessed with many children, these circumstances
would naturally occasion an expense to which the nation had not been for
many years accustomed; and, therefore, he did not doubt but they would
think of it with that affection which he had reason to hope from his
commons. He desired that no unhappy divisions of parties might divert
them from pursuing the common interests of their country. He declared
that the established constitution in church and state should be the rule
of his government; and that the happiness, ease, and prosperity of
his people should be the chief care of his life. He concluded with
expressing his confidence, that with their assistance he should
disappoint the designs of those who wanted to deprive him of that
blessing which he most valued--the affection of his people.

Speeches suggested by a vindictive ministry better became the leader of
an incensed party, than the father and sovereign of a divided people.
This declaration portended measures which it was the interest of the
crown to avoid, and suited the temper of the majority in both houses,
which breathed nothing but destruction to their political adversaries.
The lords, in their address of thanks, professed their hope that his
majesty, assisted by the parliament, would be able to recover the
reputation of the kingdom in foreign parts, the loss of which they hoped
to convince the world by their actions was by no means to be imputed to
the nation in general. The tories said this was an invidious reflection,
calculated to mislead and inflame the people, for the reputation of the
kingdom had never been so high as at this very juncture. The commons
pretended astonishment to find that any conditions of the late peace
should not yet be duly executed; and that care was not taken to form
such alliances as might have rendered the peace not precarious. They
declared their resolution to inquire into these fatal miscarriages; to
trace out those measures whereon the pretender placed his hopes, and
bring the authors of them to condign punishment. These addresses were
not voted without opposition. In the house of lords, the dukes of
Buckingham and Shrewsbury, the earl of Anglesea, the archbishop of York,
and other peers both secular and ecclesia