e
subjects of Great Britain, who were surprised and cut off from all
communication with their friends, and must have perished by cold
and hunger, had not they been relieved by the active charity of the
Jansenists. The earl of Waldegrave, who then resided at Paris,
as ambassador from the king of Great Britain, made such vigorous
remonstrances to the French ministry upon this unheard of outrage
against a nation with which they had been so long in alliance, that
they thought proper to set the prisoners at liberty, and publish another
edict, by which the meaning of the former was explained away.

NEW PARLIAMENT IN GREAT BRITAIN.

While these transactions occurred on the continent, the king of Great
Britain augmented his land-forces; and warm contests were maintained
through the whole united kingdom in electing representatives for the
new parliament. But in all these struggles the ministerial power
predominated; and the new members appeared with the old complexion. The
two houses assembled on the fourteenth day of January, and Mr. Onslow
was re-elected speaker. The leaders of both parties in all debates, were
the self-same persons who had conducted those of the former parliament;
and the same measure were pursued in the same manner. The king in his
speech at the opening of the session, gave them to understand, that
he had concerted with the states-general of the United Provinces such
measures as were thought most advisable for their common safety, and for
restoring the peace of Europe; that they had considered on one side the
pressing applications made by the Imperial court both in England and
Holland, for obtaining succours against the powers at war with the house
of Austria; and, on the other side, the repeated professions made by
the allies of their sincere disposition to put an end to the
present troubles upon honourable and solid terms; that he and the
states-general had concurred in a resolution to employ their joint and
earnest instances to bring matters to a speedy and happy accommodation;
that their good offices were at length accepted; and in a short time a
plan would be offered to the consideration of all parties engaged in the
war, as a basis for a general negotiation of peace. He told them he
had used the power vested in him by the last parliament with great
moderation; and concluded a treaty with the crown of Denmark of great
importance in the present conjuncture. He observed, that whilst many
of the pr