nd in a few
years their ships were seen to swarm in all the commercial ports of
Europe. Of other foreign events which distinguished this summer, the
most remarkable was the death of John, king of Portugal, who perfectly
understood, and steadily pursued, the true interests of his country,
and in whom many princely qualities were debased by a cruel spirit of
bigotry and superstition. He was succeeded by his eldest son Joseph,
who, if he has fallen short of his father in some respects, cannot be
justly charged with having inherited this paternal weakness.

SESSION OPENED.

The king of Great Britain having returned to England, opened the session
of parliament in January with a speech, importing, that he had concluded
a treaty with the king of Spain, and amicably adjusted such differences
as could not be so properly compromised in a general treaty; that the
commerce of this nation with that country was re-established upon the
most advantageous and sure foundations; and that there was the greatest
reason to hope the ancient friendship between Great Britain and Spain
would, from mutual inclination as well as interest, be now effectually
restored. He told them, that in conjunction with the empress-queen
and the states-general, he had concluded a treaty with the elector of
Bavaria; and was employed in taking such further measures as might best
tend to strengthen and secure the tranquillity of the empire, support
its system, and timely anticipate such events as had been found
by experience to endanger the common cause, involve Europe in the
calamities of war, and occasion the loss of much blood and treasure to
these kingdoms. He promised that both these treaties should be subjected
to their perusal; he gave them to understand that he had received
from all the other contracting powers in the definitive treaty
of Aix-la-Chapelle, the most full and clear declarations of their
resolution to preserve the general peace; and that he had taken care to
consolidate the ties of union and friendship between him and his allies,
the better to secure their mutual interests, maintain the peace already
subsisting, and prevent the occasion of any future rupture. Finally, he
recommended unanimity, the improvement of commerce, and the effectual
suppression of such outrages and violences as are inconsistent with
good order and government, and endanger the lives and properties of the
subject, whose happiness and flourishing condition he had ent