ies made since the last war might be laid before them; requesting
him to engage in such alliances as he should think proper for preserving
the balance of power in Europe; assuring him of their concurrence;
expressing their acknowledgment for his having communicated Melfort's
letter; desiring he would give orders for seizing the horses and arms of
disaffected persons; for removing papists from London; and for searching
after those arms and provisions of war mentioned in the letter; finally,
they requested him to equip speedily a sufficient fleet for the defence
of himself and the kingdom. They received a gracious answer to this
address, which was a further encouragement to the king to put his
own private designs in execution; towards the same end the letter
contributed not a little, by inflaming the fears and resentment of the
nation against France, which in vain disclaimed the earl of Melfort as
a fantastical schemer, to whom no regard was paid at the court of
Versailles. The French ministry complained of the publication of this
letter, as an attempt to sow jealousy between the two crowns; and as
a convincing proof of their sincerity, banished the earl of Melfort to
Angers.

SUCCESSION OF THE CROWN SETTLED.

The credit of exchequer bills was so lowered by the change of the
ministry, and the lapse of the time allotted for their circulation, that
they fell nearly twenty per cent, to the prejudice of the revenue, and
the discredit of the government in foreign countries. The commons having
taken this affair into consideration, voted, That provision should be
made from time to time for making good the principal and interest due on
all parliamentary funds; and afterwards passed a bill for renewing the
bills of credit, commonly called exchequer bills. This was sent up to
the lords on the sixth day of March, and on the thirteenth received
the royal assent. The next object that engrossed the attention of the
commons, was the settlement of the succession to the throne, which the
king had recommended to their consideration in the beginning of the
session. Having deliberated on this subject, they resolved, That for the
preservation of the peace and happiness of the kingdom, and the security
of the protestant religion, it was absolutely necessary that a further
declaration should be made of the limitation and succession of the crown
in the protestant line, after his majesty and the princess, and the
heirs of their bodies resp