On the other hand, the fame day that an addrefs was voted by the commons for fuch treaties and agreements, as had been made for contributions, it was unanimously refolved, "That

the commons of Great-Bri"tain being truly fenfible, not "only of the great and eminent fervices performed by his grace "the duke of Marlborough, "the laft fuccefsful campaign, "fo much to the honour of "Great Britain, and advantage "of all Europe; but also of the "indefatigable zeal he perfe"vered in for the fervice of the

The feffion

ing ends.

"any pains or perfeverance too great, if he might, by God's bleffing, be inftrumental in procuring a fafe and honour"able peace for her majesty and "his fellow-fubjects.”

Moreover, when the news of the reduction of Ghent was brought over, both houses prefented an addrefs to the queen, wherein the duke of Marlborough was mentioned with honour. In this addrefs, "they "congratulated her upon the "laft great effort of this glo"rious year; a year, that would "be ever famous in hiftory, as "well for the intire disappoint "ment of all the attempts and "hopes of her enemies, as for "the wonderful fucceffes, with "which God had bleffed the "arms of her majefty and her "allies :" adding, "That the "unufual length of the cam"paign, the variety of events, "and the difficulty and import❝ance of the actions, had given

many opportunities to her ma-"jefty's general, the duke of

Marlborough, to fhew his "confummate ability, and all "the great qualities neceffary "for fo high a truft; whereby, "in conjunction with the re"nowned prince Eugene of "Savoy, fuch confiderable pro"grefs had been made, and the

conquefts fo far advanced, that "there is reafon to hope the "enemy, in fpite of all their "prefumption, would foon find "themfelves under an abfolute "neceffity of fubmitting to a "fafe and honourable peace." I

The

The duke of Marlborough being arrived, after a dangerous paffage from Oftend, came to London the 1ft of March, whilst the lords were fitting; the lord - chancellor, by order of the house, returned him thanks for the eminent fervices performed by him the laft campaign. As he was supposed to bring over propofals of peace, the lord Sommers moved for an addrefs to be prefented to the queen, that she would be pleafed to take care, at the conclufion of the war, that the French king might be obliged to own her title and the proteftant fucceffion, and that the pretender might be removed out of the French dominions; which being unanimously approved, the addrefs was fent down to the commons, where Mr. Boyle reprefented, "That the British na"tion having been at a vaft expence of blood and treasure, for the profecution of this neceffary war, it was but juft they should reap fome benefit by the peace and the town " of Dunkirk being a neft of pirates, that infefted the ocean, and did infinite mifchief "to trade, he therefore moved, "That the demolishing of its ** fortifications and harbour be "infifted upon in the addrefs:" which, with that amendment, was unanimoufly approved, and carried back to their lordships by Mr. fecretary Boyle. The lord-chancellor, on the part of the peers, and the fpeaker of the commons, on the part of the

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166

My

My lords and gentlemen,

hood; Mr. Watfon, fon to the lord Rockingham, moved, on the 25th of January, in the house of commons, "That an "humble addrefs be prefented "to her majefty, that she would "not fuffer her just grief fo "far to prevail; but would "have fuch indulgence to the "hearty defires of her fubjects, "as to entertain thoughts of "a fecond marriage.' This motion, being feconded and fupported by feveral young members, was unanimously carried, and a committee was appointed to draw up the address; which being agreed to, and the lords having given their concurrence to the fame, was the next day prefented to the queen by the speakers of the two houses. The queen was not a little furprized at this unexpected addrefs; to which she returned an anfwer, importing, "That the frequent marks "of duty and affection, she had "received from both houses of "parliament, muft needs be "very acceptable to her: that "the provifion fhe had made "for the proteftant fucceffion, "would always be a proof, how "much fhe had at heart the fu"ture happiness of the king"dom: but that the fubject of "this addrefs was of fuch a na

commons, on the 29th, voted their thanks for this anfwer.

<

A bill was brought into the house of commons, ' for the exportation of tobacco, and • other commodities and manufactures of the growth and product of Great-Britain;' the defign of which was, to exchange tobacco for French wines. But the Portuguese ambaffador having, by a memorial, reprefented to her majefly, and by word of mouth to feveral members without doors, that fuch a bill was contrary to the alliance between her majesty and the king his mafter; and it being confidered, befides, that fuch an exchange would redound to the advantage of France, and to the benefit of five or fix perfons in Great-Britain only, the bill was difmiffed, by putting off the confideration of it for a month. And, on the other hand, a bill was ordered to be brought in, for the more effectual prohibiting the importation of French wines, and all other commodities of the groth and product of France.'

It may here be observed, that our trade was now very high, and was carried on every where with advantage, but no where more than at Lifbon: for the Portuguese were fo happy, in their dominions in America, that they difcovered vaft quantities of

I 2

gold

gold in their mines, and we were affured that they had brought home to Portugal, the former year, about four millions fterling, of which they, at that time, stood in great need, for they had a very bad harvest but gold answers all things: they were fupplied from England with corn, and we had in return a large share of their gold.

The deficiency of the laws to punifh infults, in cafe of foreign miniiters, being apparent in the cafe of the Mufcovite ambaffador, a bill was brought into the house of commons, • for

preferving the privileges of ambaffadors and other foreign minifters.' Count Gallas, the imperial and Spanish envoy, having got a copy of it, communicated it to baron Spanheim, the Piuffian ambaffador, at whose houfe there was a meeting of foreign minifters, who refolved to lay before the fecretaries of ftate their obfervations on the bill, in a memorial, importing,

added, Contrary to the law "of nations, and in prejudice "of the rights and privileges, "which ambaffadors, and other "public minifters, authorized " and received as fuch, have at "all times been thereby poffef"fed of, and which ought to "be kept facred and inviola"ble.' II. That, in the clause for preventing for the future. the feizing, arresting, or imprifoning of public minifters, it fhould be made criminal to offer them any infult or ill treatment. III. That their 'equipages, goods, and other effects, of what nature foever, ought likewife to enjoy the fame protection, with their perfons and fervants, and not be feized or stopped on any pretence. IV. That their houfes ought to be accounted and declared fanctuaries, and no bailiffs, or other officers of juftice, allowed to enter the fame. V. And that foreign ambaffadors, and other minifters, ought to enjoy these pri'vileges from their first coming into Great-Britain, till they are out of her majesty's dominions, even after they have • had their audience of leave, as

6

long as they retain their cha⚫racters.' The fubftance of this memorial being communicated to the committee, to whom that bill was referred, they inferted the firft amendment in the preamble, but did not think proper to mention the other particulars and, Mr. Compton having reported the feveral amend

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ments