d them to
redouble their preparations for war. The press for seamen was carried
on with extraordinary vigour in all parts of this kingdom, as well as in
Ireland; and great premiums were given not only by the government,
but also, over and above his majesty's bounty, by almost all the
considerable cities and towns in England, to such as should enlist
voluntarily for sailors or soldiers. Other branches of the public
service went on with equal alacrity; and such was the eagerness of
the people to lend their money to the government, that instead of one
million, which was to be raised by way of lottery, three millions eight
hundred and eighty thousand pounds were subscribed immediately.

EARL PAULET'S MOTION.

The situation of affairs requiring his majesty to go to Germany this
summer, great apprehensions arose in the minds of many, lest the French
should either intercept him in his journey, or prevent his return. Earl
Paulet had made a motion in the house of lords, humbly to represent to
his majesty, "That it was an article in the original act of settlement
by which the succession of these kingdoms devolved to his electoral
house, that the king should not go to his foreign dominions without
the consent of parliament; and that this was a principal article in the
compact between the crown and the people; that though this article was
repealed in the late reign, yet, till of late, it had always been the
custom for his majesty to acquaint the parliament with his intended
departure to his German dominions, both in regard to the true sense
and spirit of the act that placed him on the throne, as well as for the
paternal kindness of his royal heart, and the condescension he had
been so good to show to his parliament on all occasions; but that his
majesty's declaration of his design to visit his electoral estates had
always come on the last day of a session, when it was too late for the
great constitutional council of the crown to offer such advice as might
otherwise have been expedient and necessary; that his majesty's leaving
his kingdoms in a conjuncture so pregnant with distress, so denunciative
of danger, would not only give the greatest advantage to such as
might be disposed to stir up disaffection and discontent, and to the
constitutional and national enemies of England; but would also fill his
loyal subjects with the most affecting concern, and most gloomy fears,
as well for their own safety, as for that of their sover