and, of his own accord, took an oath in full senate, that he would never
attempt to introduce a despotic authority; but maintain their liberties
with his blood, and govern his subjects in all respects according to the
laws and the form of government established in Sweden. This public act,
which was communicated to all the foreign ministers, and particularly
to the envoy from Petersburgh, met with such a favourable reception
from the czarina, that she expressed her satisfaction in a public
declaration; and the good understanding between the two courts was
perfectly restored.

SESSION OPENED.

When the parliament of England was opened in the month of November, the
king, in his speech from the throne, gave them to understand, that
for the same purposes which suggested the treaty with the elector of
Bavaria, he had now, in conjunction with the states-general, concluded
another with the king of Poland, elector of Saxony. He told them that
the unfortunate death of the prince of Orange had made no alteration in
the state of affairs in Holland; and that he had received the strongest
assurances from the states, of their firm resolution to maintain the
intimate union and friendship happily subsisting between his majesty and
those ancient and natural allies of his crown. He exhorted both houses
to consider seriously of some effectual provisions to suppress those
audacious crimes of robbery and violence, grown so frequent about the
capital, proceeding in a great measure from that profligate spirit
of irreligion, idleness, gaming, and extravagance, which had of late
extended itself in an uncommon degree, to the dishonour of the nation,
and the great offence and prejudice of the sober and industrious part of
the people. The paragraphs of this speech were, as usual, echoed back to
the throne in addresses replete with expressions of loyalty, affection,
and approbation. Opposition was by this time almost extinguished; and
the proceedings of both houses took place with such unanimity as was
hardly ever known before this period in a British parliament. The
commons, however, seem to have assembled with such sentiments as did no
great honour to their temper and magnanimity. In a few days after the
session opened, lord viscount C----e, a young nobleman, whose character
entitled him to very little regard or influence among men of sense
and probity, made a motion, that Mr. Murray, who had been so severely
executed in the last session