ual by a speech from the throne, congratulating them on the
signal successes of the British navy, and the happy alteration in the
government of the United Provinces. His majesty gave them to understand
that a congress would speedily be opened at Aix-la-Chapelle, to concert
the means for effecting a general pacification; and reminded them that
nothing would more conduce to the success of this negotiation than the
vigour and unanimity of their proceedings. He received such addresses
as the ministers were pleased to dictate. Opposition now languished at
their feet. The duke of Bedford was become a courtier, and in a
little time appointed secretary of state, in the room of the earl
of Chesterfield, who had lately executed that office, which he now
resigned; and the earl of Sandwich no longer harangued against
the administration. This new house of commons, in imitation of the
liberality of their predecessors, readily gratified all the requests of
the government. They voted forty thousand seamen, forty-nine thousand
land forces, besides eleven thousand five hundred marines; the subsidies
for the queen of Hungary, the czarina, the king of Sardinia,
the electors of Mentz and Bavaria, the Hessians, and the duke of
Wolfenbuttle; the sum of two hundred and thirty-five thousand seven
hundred and forty-nine pounds, was granted to the provinces of New
England, to reimburse them for the expense of reducing Cape Breton;
five hundred thousand pounds were given to his majesty for the vigorous
prosecution of the war; and about one hundred and fifty-two thousand
pounds to the Scottish claimants, in lieu of their jurisdiction. The
supplies for the ensuing year fell very little short of nine millions,
of which the greater part was raised on a loan by subscription,
chargeable on a new subsidy of poundage exacted from all merchandise
imported into Great Britain. Immediately after the rebellion was
suppressed, the legislature had established some regulations in
Scotland, which were thought necessary to prevent such commotions
for the future. The highlanders were disarmed, and an act passed for
abolishing their peculiarity of garb, which was supposed to keep up
party distinctions, to encourage their martial disposition, and preserve
the memory of the exploits achieved by their ancestors. In this session
a bill was brought in to enforce the execution of that law, and passed
with another act for the more effectual punishment of high treason in
the