Argyle and the earl of
Chesterfield enlarged upon the same topics. Nevertheless, the house
complied with the message; and presented an address, in which they
not only approved of the treaty with Denmark, but likewise assured
his majesty they would concur with his measures, and support him
in fulfilling his engagements, as well as in making such further
augmentation of his forces by sea and land, as he should think necessary
for the honour, interest, and safety of these kingdoms.

PARLIAMENT PROROGUED.

The same message being communicated to the commons, they voted seventy
thousand five hundred and eighty-three pounds for the subsidy to
Denmark, and five hundred thousand pounds for augmenting the forces on
any emergency. As Great Britain stood engaged by the convention to pay
to the crown of Spain the sum of sixty thousand pounds in consideration
of the ships taken and destroyed by sir George Byng, which sum was to be
applied to the relief of the British merchants who had suffered by the
Spanish depredations, the commons inserted in a bill a clause providing
for this sum to be paid by the parliament. When the bill was read in the
house of lords, a motion was made by lord Bathurst for an address, to
know, whether Spain had paid the money stipulated by the convention,
as the time limited for the payment of it was now expired. The duke of
Newcastle, by his majesty's permission, acquainted the house that it was
not paid, and that Spain had as yet given no reason for the non-payment.
Then a day was appointed to consider the state of the nation, when
lord Carteret moved for a resolution, that the failure of Spain in
this particular was a breach of the convention, a high indignity to his
majesty, and an injustice to the nation; but, after a warm debate, this
motion was overruled by the majority. The minister, in order to atone
in some measure for the unpopular step he had taken in the convention,
allowed a salutary law to pass for the encouragement of the woollen
manufacture, and two bills in behalf of the sugar colonies; one
permitting them, for a limited time, to export their produce directly
to foreign parts, under proper restrictions; and the other making more
effectual provisions for securing the duties laid upon the importation
of foreign sugars, rum, and molasses, into Great Britain, and his
majesty's plantations in America. The supplies being voted, the funds
established, and the crown gratified in every particu