HISTORY OF EUROPE. 



119 



" at tliis important conjuncture, by 

 *< the augmentation of the dis- 

 " poseable military force of the 

 " kingdom." 



" Gentlemen of the house of 

 " commons, 



" His majesty has dircfted us 

 <' particularly to thank you, in his 

 " majesty's name, for the zeal and 

 <' liberality with which you have 

 " granted the large supplies which 

 " the necessity of the public service 

 " has required." 



" My lords and gentlemen, 



" His majesty has not been ena- 

 *' bled yet to communicate to you 

 *' the result of the ncgociations in 

 '• whicli he is engaged with powers 

 " on the continent ; but, you may 

 *^ rest assured, that no step will be 

 <■ omitted, on his majesty's part, 

 " for promoting such a concert as 

 " may afford the best prospect of 

 " restoring general and permanent 

 " tranquillity ; or may, if neces.: 

 " sary, furnish the means of repel- 

 " ling with vigour the continued 

 " encroachments dn the part of 

 " the French government, which 

 *' threaten, erery day, more and 

 " more, the liberty and indepeiu 

 *' dcnce of all the nations of £u- 

 " rope." 



The cotnraissidn for proroguing 

 the parliament was then read, after 

 which the lord chancellor said, 

 " My lords and gentlemen, 



" By virtue of his majesty's cora- 

 " mission, under the great seal, to 

 " us and other lords directed, and 

 *' now read, wc do, in his majesi 

 " ty's name, and in obedience to 

 " his commands, prorogue this par- 

 " lianicnt, to Thursday the22d day 

 " of August next." 



The commons theu withdrew 



from the bar, and their lordships 

 retired. 



After the return of the commons 

 to their ov.n house, a memorial of 

 the navy board, in answer to the 

 third naval report, was presented to 

 the house by Mr. Dickenson, jiinr. 

 This brought on a debate as to the 

 propriety of presenting such memo- 

 rial at so late a period of the session. 

 Mr. Kiniiaird was particularly warm 

 on the subject. 



Mr. Sheridan requested the de- 

 bate might be suspended, to allow 

 him to present a petition from 

 captain V/ood, relative to the con- 

 duct of admiral Duckworth ia the 

 West Iiulie;. 



A message was then announced 

 from the lordSj which put a stop to 

 Mr. Sheridan's motion. The message 

 was, " That the lords have tttken the 

 " message of the commons, of the 

 " 5th of July, inst. into considera- 

 " tion, relating to the message of 

 " the lords, requesting thecommons 

 " to communicate to the lords the 

 " evidence upon which they passed 

 " the bill for securing an annuity on 

 " John, now duke of Athol, &c. 

 " &c." The messenger having 

 withdr^vvu, and the message having 

 been taken into consideration, a 

 message was sent to the lords, pur- 

 portifig the rcfiisal of the commons 

 to the request, as trenching upon 

 their rights and privileges. The 

 speaker, and members present, then 

 went up to the house of lords, to 

 hear the royal assent, by commis- 

 sion, given to several public and pri- 

 vate bills, after which the members 

 separated — Thus ended the third 

 session of the sccoiul parliament of 

 the united kingdoiu of Great Bri- 

 tain and Ireland. 



I 4 CHAP- 



