the
Limits of Nova-Scotia..... Treaty with Spain..... Session
opened..... Debate on the Address..... Supplies granted.....
Death and Character of the Prince of Wales..... Settlement
of a Regency, in case of a Minor Sovereign--General
Naturalization Bill..... Censure passed upon a Paper
entitled Constitutional Queries..... Proceedings of the
Commons on the Westminster Election..... Mr. Murray sent
Prisoner to Newgate..... Session closed..... Style altered_

{1748}

REFLECTIONS ON THE PEACE.

The peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, however unstable or inglorious it might
appear to those few who understood the interests, and felt for the
honour of their country, was nevertheless not unwelcome to the nation
in general. The British ministry will always find it more difficult
to satisfy the people at the end of a successful campaign, than at
the conclusion of an unfortunate war. The English are impatient of
miscarriage and disappointment, and too apt to be intoxicated with
victory. At this period they were tired of the burdens, and sick of the
disgraces, to which they had been exposed in the coarse of seven tedious
campaigns. They had suffered considerable losses and interruption in the
article of commerce, which was the source of their national opulence and
power; they knew it would necessarily be clogged with additional duties
for the maintenance of a continental war, and the support of foreign
subsidiaries; and they drew very faint presages of future success either
from the conduct of their allies, or the capacity of their commanders.
To a people influenced by these considerations, the restoration of
a free trade, the respite from that anxiety and suspense which the
prosecution of a war never fails to engender, and the prospect of
a speedy deliverance from discouraging restraint and oppressive
impositions, were advantages that sweetened the bitter draught of
a dishonourable treaty, and induced the majority of the nation to
acquiesce in the peace, not barely without murmuring, but even with some
degree of satisfaction and applause.

THE PRINCE OF WALES' ADHERENTS JOIN THE OPPOSITION.

Immediately after the exchange of ratifications at Aix-la-Chapelle,
the armies were broken up; the allies in the Netherlands withdrew their
several proportions of troops; the French began to evacuate Flanders;
and the English forces were re-embarked for their own country. His
Britannic majesty