h flowed with the welcome stream when touched by the rod of Moses.
The present supply which the commons granted for the subsistence of
the Hanoverian army, was, in pursuance of a message from his majesty,
communicated to the house by Mr. Secretary Pitt, signifying, that the
king had ordered his electoral army to be put again in motion, that it
might act with vigour against the common enemy, in concert with his
good brother and ally the king of Prussia; that the exhausted and ruined
state of the electorate having rendered it incapable of maintaining that
army, until the further necessary charge thereof, as well as the more
particular measures then concerting for the effectual support of his
Prussian majesty, could be laid before the house; the king, relying
on the constant zeal of his faithful commons for the support of
the protestant religion and of the liberties of Europe, against the
dangerous designs of France and her confederates, found himself, in the
meantime, under the absolute necessity of recommending to the house
the speedy consideration of such a present supply as might enable his
majesty, in this critical conjuncture, to subsist and keep together the
said army. This address was no sooner recited by the speaker, than it
was unanimously referred to the committee of supply, who gratified his
majesty's wish with an immediate resolution; and, considering their
generous disposition, doubtless the same compliance would have appeared,
even though no mention had been made of the protestant religion, which,
to men of ordinary penetration, appeared to have no natural concern
in the present dispute between the belligerent powers, although former
ministers had often violently introduced it into messages and speeches
from the throne, in order to dazzle the eyes of the populace, even while
they insulted the understanding of those who were capable of exercising
their own reason. This pretext was worn so threadbare, that, among the
sensible part of mankind, it could no longer be used without incurring
contempt and ridicule. In order to persuade mankind that the protestant
religion was in danger, it would have been necessary to specify the
designs that were formed against it, as well as the nature of the
conspiracy, and to descend to particulars properly authenticated. In
that case, great part of Europe would have been justly alarmed. The
states-general of the United Provinces, who have made such glorious
and indefatigable effo