er having proceeded beyond the chops of the
English channel, he returned with nine of the capital ships, while the
rest of the armament continued their course, under the direction of M.
Bois de la Mothe.

SESSION CLOSED.

On the twenty-fifth day of April the king went to the house of lords,
where, after giving the royal assent to the bills then depending;
for granting a certain sum out of the sinking fund for the relief of
insolvent debtors, for the better regulation of marine forces on shore,
for the better raising of marines and seamen, and to several other
public and private bills; his majesty put an end to the session of
parliament by a speech, in which he acquainted the two houses, that the
zeal they had shown for supporting the honour, rights, and possessions
of his crown, had afforded him the greatest satisfaction; that his
desire to preserve the public tranquillity had been sincere and uniform;
that he had religiously adhered to the stipulations of the treaty of
Aix-la-Chapelle, and made it his care not to injure or offend any power
whatsoever; but that he never could entertain a thought of purchasing
the name of peace at the expense of suffering encroachments upon, or of
yielding up, what justly belonged to Great Britain, either by ancient
possession or by solemn treaties; that the vigour and firmness of his
parliament, on this important occasion, had enabled him to be prepared
for such contingencies as might happen; that if reasonable and
honourable terms of accommodation could be agreed upon, he would be
satisfied, and, at all events, rely on the justice of his cause,
the effectual support of his people, and the protection of Divine
Providence. The parliament was then prorogued to the twenty-seventh of
May.

CHAPTER X.

_Preparations for War..... Earl Paulet's Motion against the
King's going to Hanover..... Regency appointed during his
Majesty's Absence..... Boscawen's Expedition..... Alcide and
Lys taken..... French Ambassador recalled..... Their Trade
greatly distressed..... Affairs of the English in
America..... Col. Monckton takes Beau-Sejour..... General
Braddock's unfortunate Expedition..... He falls into an
Ambuscade; is defeated, and killed..... Disagreement between
the Governor and Assembly of Pennsylvania..... Expedition
against Crown Point and Niagara resolved on..... Gen.
Johnson encamps at lake George..... where he is attack