A. D.

fifcated by the Spaniards, upon Pre1738. tences altogether unjuft and groundlefs; and that many of the Sailors on board fuch Ships, have been in jurioufly and barbaroufly imprifon'd and ill treated; and that thereby the Liberty of Navigation and Commerce belonging to his Majefty's Subjects, by the Law of Nations, and by Virtue of the Treaties fubfifting between the Crowns of Great Britain and Spain, hath been unwarrantably infringed and interrupted, to the great Lofs and Damage of our Merchants, and in direct Violation of the faid Treaties.

III. That it appears to this Houfe, that frequent Applications have been made, on the Part of his Majefty, to the Court of Spain, in a Manner molt agreeable to. Treaties, and to the Peace and Friendship fubfifting between the two Crowns, for re dreffing the notorious Abufes and Grievances before mentioned, and preventing the like for the future, and for obtaining adequate Satisfaction to his injured Subjects, which in the Event have proved intirely fruitlefs and of no Effect.

Their Lordships conclude thus: We think it our Duty, on this important Occafion, humbly to represent to your Majefty, that we are moft fenfibly affected with the many and grievous Injuries and Loffes fuftained by your Majefty's trading Subjects, by Means of thefe unwarrantable Depredations and Seizures; and to give your Majefty the strongest and moft fincere Affurances, that in Cafe your friendly and powerful Inftances for procuring Reftitution and Reparation to your injured Subjects, and for the future Security of their Trade and Navigation, fhall fail of having their due Effect and Influence on the Court of Spain, and fhall not be able to obtain that real Satisfaction and

Security, which your Majeffy in Juftice expect; we will z and chearfully concur in all i Measures as thall become neceí for the Support of your Mag Honour, the Prefervation of or vigation and Commerce, and common Good of these Kingdom His Majesty's Answer wa follows:

My Lords,

I am fenfibly touched with the m ny Hardships and Injuries hufa by my trading Subjects in America. from the Cruelties and unju Den dations of the Spaniards. Yes be affured of my Care to procure Se tisfaction and Reparation for the Le fes they have already suffered, ans Security for the Freedom of Navige tion for the future; and to maintai to my People the full Enjoyment of cu their Rights, to which they are in titled by Treaty and the Law of Netions.

I doubt not but I shall have your Concurrence for the Support of fuch Measures as may be neceffary for teat Purpose

The House of Commons a little before presented an Address to the fame Purpofe, and the Anfwer was to the fame Effe&t.

On Saturday, May 20, his Majefly went to the Houfe of Peers, and having paffed the feveral Bis that were ready for the Royal Affent, put an End to the Seffion with a moft gracious Speech.

On the 24th her Royal Highnes the Princess of Wales was happy delivered of a Prince, at Nort Houfe, who was named George Wis liam Frederick.

In this Month died Dr. Thomas Green, Lord Bishop of Ely: And foon after Dr. Robert Butts was tranflated from the See of Norwich to that of Ely, Dr. Gooch from the See of Bristol to Norwich, and Dr. Jofep

ofeph Butler was advanced to the ee of Bristol.

On the 15th of June, the Right Honourable the Earls of Effex and Valdegrave (the latter by Proxy) vere inftalled Knights of the most oble Order of the Garter, at Wind or, with the ufual Solemnities.

About this Time, the Right Honourable Frederick Zulefein de Nalau, Earl of Rochford, and Charles Townshend, Lord Viscount Townbend, departed this Life.

In July, Mr. Justice Commyn was made Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer, in the Room of Lord Chief Baron Reynolds, who refigned: Mr. Baron Fortescue was made one of the Judges of the Common Pleas ; and Mr. Serjeant Parker, one of the Barons of the Exchequer.

In Auguft died Sir Jofeph Jekyll, Knight, Matter of the Rolls, Member of Parliament for Rygate in Surry, and one of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council. was fucceeded as Malter of the Rolls by the Honourable John Verney, Efq; Chief Juftice of Chefter.

He

Dr. John Harris, Lord Bishop of Landaff, died about the fame Time.

About the Middle of October, their Royal Highneffes the Prince and Princess of Wales went to Bath, where they were received and treated with all the Honours due to their high Rank. They ftaid there about fix Weeks, and during the Time paid a Vifit to the City of Bristol; where they were received in a very grand Manner by the Mayor, Aldermen, and Corporation, and moft magnificently entertained at the Merchants Hall; and his Royal Highness was prefented with the Freedom of the City, and of the Hall, in Gold Boxes.

About this Time the Difcourfe grew very hot of a new Treaty or Convention with Spain; of which

we fhali hear more in the next Year.

Towards the End of this Year died Sir Edmund Bacon, of Gillingham, Baronet, Member of Parliament for Thetford in Norfolk,; and Sir Charles Turner, Baronet, Member of Parliament for Lynn in the fame County.

On the 18th of January the Parliament met, and was further prorogued to the 1st Day of February.

Dr. Matthias Marfon was made Bishop of Landaff, in the Room of Bishop Harris, deceased.

Dr. Hulle, an eminent Physician, was advanced to the Dignity of a Baronet.

A Charter paffed the Great Seal about this Time for establishing an Hofpital for the Maintenance and Education of expofed and deferted young Children, and feveral of the Nobility and Gentry were appointed Governors and Guardians of it. This is commonly called the Fondlings Hofpital.

6

6

On Thurfday the 1st of February the Parliament met, when his Majefty, in his Speech, faid, It is now a great Satisfaction to me, that I am able to acquaint you, that the Measures I have purfued, have had fo good an Effect, that a Convention is concluded, and ratified between me and the King of Spain; whereby, upon Confideration had of the Demands on both Sides, that Prince has obli. ged himself to make Reparation to my Subjects for their Loffes by a certain itipulated Payment; and Plenipotentiaries are therein na'med and appointed, for regulating within a limited Time, all thofe grievances and Abules, which have hitherto interrupted our Commerce and Navigation in the American Seas; and for fettling all Matters in Dispute, &c.

The

A. D.

The Convention was foon after 1739. published, wherein it is principally agreed, That there fhall be named on the Part of their Britannick and Catholick Majefties refpectively, immediately after the figning of the prefent Convention, two Minifters Plenipotentiaries, who fhall meet at Madrid within fix Weeks, to be reckoned from the Day of the Exchange of the Ratifications, there to confer and finally regulate the respective Pretenfions of the two Crowns, as well with Relation to the Trade and Navigation in Ame rica and Europe, and to the Limits of Florida and Carolina, as concerning other Points, which remain likewife to be adjusted, &c. And that his Catholick Majefty fhall caufe to be paid to his Britannick Majefty the Sum of 95,000 l. Sterling Balance, which has been admit ted as due to the Crown and the Subjects of Great Britain, after Deduction made of the Demands of the Crown and Subjects of Spain to the End that the abovementioned Sum, together with the Amount of what hath been acknowleged on the Part of Great Britain to be due to Spain on her Demands, may be employed by his Britannick Majesty, for the Satisfaction, Difcharge and Payment of the Demands of his Subjects upon the Crown of Spain. This Sum of 95,000 /. was by a feparate Article, to be paid at London, within four Months after the Exchange of the Ratifications. But before his Catholick Majefty figned this Convention, he caufed it to be declared by his Minifter, That he referves to himfelf, in its full Force, the Right of fufpending the Afhento of Negroes, in Cafe the South Sea Company does not fub ject herself to pay, within a fhort Term, the 68,000 1. Sterling,

which he has confeffed is owing on the Duty of Negroes.

No fooner was this Convection published, but great Complaints were every where made again It was faid that our Right of a free Navigation and Commerce, with out being vifited or fearched, was in Effect given up, by referri g it to be difcuffed by Plenipotentiaries, and that the Reparation stipulated w only a pretended Reparation: A to the 68,000l. said to be due to Stain from the South-Sea Company, it was only allowed as brought in an Account of a much larger Sam due to them from Spain; and there fore the Company refused to pay it in the Manner it was demanded by Spain. The City of London, the Weft-India Merchants, the Brid Merchants, &c. prefented Petitions to the Lords and Commons, complaining of this Convention; and there were great and warm Debates in both Houfes upon it, especially upon the Motions for an Addrefs to thank his Majefty for laying it before them, &c. though it was carried for the Addreffes in both Horfes: Upon which forty Lords entred their Proteft, and a great many Members of the Houle of Commons left the Houfe, and came no more to it during this whole Seffion. This Departure of the Members and abfenting themfelves from Parliament became famous by the Name of the Seceffion.

In February this Year died Sir James Reynolds, late Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer : In March, the Earl of Selkirk, one of the úxteen Peers for Scotland; In April, Edward Carteret Efq; joint Poftmafter General, and Sir Edward Goodere, Bart. Father of two unhappy Sons, the one being in a deliberate and fhocking Manner

murdered

murdered by the other the beginning of the Year 1741. And in May, George Montague Earl of Halifax, Auditor of the Exchequer, in which Poft he was prefently fucceeded by the Right Honourable the Lord Walpole, eldest Son of the Right Honourable Sir Robert Walpole, Knight of the moit noble Order of the Garter.

On the 14th of March her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales was delivered of another Prince, who was named Edward Auguftus.

Embargo was laid on all outward- A. D. bound Merchant-Ships. A Procla- 1739. mation was published for encouraging Seamen and able bodied Landmen to enter on board his Majesty's Ships; and feveral other Steps were taken that feemed to forbode a fudden Rupture. Thefe Prefages of a War were very much strengthened and increafed, when on the 10th of July, his Majefty in Council was pleafed to order, That general Reprizals be granted against the Ships, Goods and Subjects of the King of Spain, fo that as well his Majefty's Fleet and Ships, as alfo all other Ships and Veffels, that fhall be commiffionated by Letters of Marque or general Reprizals, &e fhall and may lawfully feize all Ships, Veffels and Goods, belonging to the King of Spain or his Subjects, or others inhabiting within any the Territo ries of the King of Spain, and bring the fame to Judgment in any of the Courts of Admiralty within his Majefty's Dominions, &c. And on the 17th of the fame Month, Edward Vernon, Efq; who a little before had been made Vice-Admiral of the Blue, fet out for Portsmouth, to fail with the firft fair Wind, with the Men of War under his Com: mand, for the West Indies.

On the 14th of June, his Maje fty went to the Houfe of Peers, and gave the Royal Affent to a great many publick and private Bills, and among the rest, to An Act to enable bis Majefty to fettle an Annuity of 15,000l. on the Duke of Cumberland, and the Heirs of his Body, and alfo one other Annuity of 24000. on the Princeffes Amelia, Caroline, and Louifa: An A&t for the more effectually preventing of exceffive and deceitful Gaming. An Act for pro hibiting the Importation of Books reprinted abroad and first compofed or written and printed in Great-Britain: An Act for the better Regulation of Attorneys and Sollicitors; and An At for providing a Reward for Joanna Stephens, upon a proper Dif covery to be made by her, for the Uje of the Publick, of the Medicines pre pared by her for the Cure of the Stone. Then his Majefty made a most gracious Speech to both Hou fes and prorogued the Parliament.

Before the End of the Seffion the Rumour of an approaching War with Spain began to revive, and feveral Meafures were taken about this Time which looked ftrongly that Way. The Land Forces were ordered to be confiderably augmented: A great many Ships of War were put in Commiffion, and there was a very hot Prefs for Seamen to man them; for which Purpose an

One Margaret Patten, born in Scot land, died about this Time in St. Margaret's Workhouse, Westminster, in the 138th Year of her Age.

In August died the Marquifs de Montandre, Field Marthat of Eng gland, Mafter of the Ordnance in Ireland, General of Foot, and Peer of France. He came over with King William, and was in all his Wars, as likewife in that of Queen Anne. Alfo in the fame Month died William Lord Craven, and Lieutenant General Gore, Colonel of his Majesty's Royal Regiment of Dragoons, and Governor of Kinfale in Ireland.

On