16] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1796, 
CHAP. II. 
A Proclamation offering alarge pecuniary Reward for the Discovery of any 
Persons guilty of the recent Outrages against the Person of the King:— 
Conference between the Lords and Commons on this Subject.—a Bill for 
the Safety and Preservation of the King’s Person and Govenment.— 
Debates thereon wm both Houses of Parliament.—A Bill for the Prevention 
of Seditious Meetings.—Debates thereon.—The two Bills under Discus- 
ston in Parliamént occasion a general Alarm, and much Opposition with- 
out Doors.—JIn this Opposition the lead was taken by the Whig-Club.— 
Which was followed by the Corresponding Societies and other Associations. 
—-As well us diferent Bodies legally incorpurated.—The Ministry still per- 
severe in their Measures.—Debates on the numerous Petitions against the 
two Bills now pending in Parliament.—Gencral Indignation against the 
Principles and Objects of these. —The two Bills passed into Laws. 
PE the mean time the indignities 
offered to the king were a sub- 
ject of universal discourse, and high- 
ly reprobated by the prudent and 
moderate, as precursory of far grea- 
ter evils than had hitherto been ex- 
perienced’ by those who vented 
their discontent in this outrageous 
manner. On the last day of Octo- 
ber, a proclamation was issued, of- 
fering a thousand pounds for the 
discovery of any person guilty of 
those outrages. On the fourth of 
November it was followed by ano- 
ther, wherein it was said, that pre- 
viously to the opening of parlia- 
ment, multitudes had been called 
together by hand-bills and adver- 
tisements, who met in the vicinity 
of the metropolis, where inflamma- 
tory speeches were made, and di- 
vers means used to sow discontent 
and excite seditious proceedings, 
These meetings and discourses were 
followed three days after by the 
most daring insults to the king, by 
which his person had been imminent- 
ly endangered. Rumours had also 
been spread, that assemblies were to 
be held by disaffected people for 
illegal purposes. In consequence 
of those proceedings, it was enjoin- 
ed by the proclamation to all magis- 
trates, and well affected subjects, 
to exert themselves in preventing 
and suppressing all unlawful meet- 
ings, and the dissemination of sedi- 
tious writings. 
So great had been the alarm and 
indignation, created by the treat- 
ment of the king, that as soon as he 
had gone through the reading of 
his speech, and had left the house, 
it was immediately ordered to be 
cleared of all strangers, and a con- 
sultation held by the lords, in what © 
manner to proceed upon so extra- 
rdinary’an occasion. An address 
to the king was resolved upon, and 
a conference with the house of 
commons to request their concur- 
rence therein. ‘The majority agreed 
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