tected and secured by his wisdom and prowess, to that of immortality, was transient; an apoplexy put a period to his valuable life. GEORGE THE SECOND descended to the grave amid the unfeigned lamentations of a people whom he had established in prosperity, and who, therefore, were bound to bless the memory of their benefactor. He had no foe but such as was equally so to the country. His humanity was ever prevalent; and he never signed the death-warrant of a criminal, without shedding a tear of compassion for the errors of human nature. Few of his predecessors exceeded him in justice and moderation; and no one excelled him in justice and piety. He was at once the Monarch, the Hero, and the Christian-and closed a long and magnanimous reign, by such a series of successful events as must amaze posterity. The valuable legacy of his triumphant realms, he transmitted to his beloved grandson, our gracious sovereign King GEORGE THE THIRD, who was proclaimed with every wish for a long and prosperous reign, with that unbounded veneration which his great predecessor had unequivocally received from free and loyal subjects; and never with happier circumstances or more general applause, did a prince assume the reins of government. On the 28th of this month, Sir Thomas Chitty, the lord mayor and aldermen of London waited on the king at Leicester House, and being introduced to his majesty by his grace the Duke of Devonshire, lord Chamberlain of the household, Sir William Moreton, the recorder, made their compliments in the following address: "Most gracious Sovereign, "Your majesty's truly dutiful and loyal subjects, the lord mayor and aldermen of the city of London, beg leave to approach your royal person and congratulate your majesty upon your happy accession to the imperial crown of these realms; and, at the same time, to condole the loss of our late most gracious sovereign, whose glorious reign and princely virtues, must ever make his memory dear to a grateful people. "It is our peculiar happiness, that your majesty's heart is truly English, and that you have discovered in your earliest years the warmest attention to the laws and constitution of these kingdoms; laws so excellently formed, that as they give liberty to the people, they give power to the prince; and are a mutual support of the prerogatives of the crown, and the rights of the subject. "Your majesty is now in possession of the united hearts of all your people, at a time when the honour and credit of the nation are (by the courage and activity of your majesty's fleets and armies) in the highest extent; a time when we have happily no divisions at home to obstruct those measures, which have carried terror to our enemies abroad. "As your majesty's reign is so happily begun with the universal approbation and joy of the whole nation, permit us, great Sir, to express the high sense we have of your majesty's virtues, by the strongest assurances of our unalterable zeal for your majesty's sacred person and government; being convinced, that your majesty has the true interest of this nation entirely at heart, and that your power will be ever exerted in protecting the trade, rights, and liberties of your subjects. May your majesty reign long in the hearts of your people; and may the crown of these kingdoms ever descend to one of your majesty's illustrious family to latest posterity." To this address his majesty returned the following an swer: "I have great satisfaction in the early marks you have given of your zeal and affection for me and for my government; and I return you my hearty thanks. You may rely on my tender concern for the rights, trade, and manufactures of the city of London." On the 30th, an address of a similar nature was presented to the king by the lord mayor, aldermen, and common council, in their full corporate capacity; as also another to the princess dowager of Wales, the king's mother. The first acts of the government of George the Third, exhibited the unequivocal marks of patriotism, and his first declaration declaration in council evinced a mind actuated by the most benign principles. In this declaration, his majesty thus expressed himself: "The loss that I and the nation have sustained, by the death of the king, my grandfather, would have been severely felt at any time, but, coming at so critical a juncture, and so unexpected, it is by many circumstances augmented, and the weight now falling upon me much increased: I feel my own insufficiency to support it as I wish; but, animated by the tenderest affection for this my native country, and depending on the advice, experience, and abilities of your lordships, on the support and assistance of every honest man, I enter with chearfulness into this arduous situation, and shall make it the businefs of my life, to promote, in every thing, the glory and happiness of these kingdoms, to preserve and strengthen both the constitution in church and state; and as I mount the throne in the midst of an expensive, but just and necessary war, I shall endeavour to prosecute it in the manner the most likely to bring on an honourable and last ing peace, in concert with my allies." The addresses which flowed from every quarter, were couched in terms of sincere loyalty and duty; but none breathed more ardently the dictates of heartfelt and pious sentiments, than the following which the venerable Dr. Sherlock, Bishop of London, sent to the king, on the first of November. "SIRE, "Amidst the congratulations that surround the throne, permit me lay before your majesty, a heart, which, though oppressed with age and infirmity, is no stranger to the joys of my country. "When the melancholy news of the late king's demise reached us, it naturally led us to consider the loss we had sustained, and upon what our hopes of futurity depended: the first part excited grief, and put all the tender passions into motion; but the second brought life and spirit with it, and wiped the tears from every face. Oh! how graciously did the Providence of God provide for a successor, able to bear the weight of government in that unexpected event. You, "You, Sir, are the person whom the people ardently desire; which affection of theirs is happily returned, by your majesty's declared concern for their prosperity, and let nothing disturb this mutual consent. Let there be but one contest between them, whether the king loves the people best, or the people him: and may it be a long, a very long contest; may it never be decided, but let it remain doubtful, and may the paternal affection on the one side, and the filial obedience on the other, be had in perpetual remembrance. "This will probably be the last time I shall ever trouble your majesty. I beg leave to express my warmest wishes and prayers on your behalf. May the God of heaven and earth have you always under his protection, and direct you to seek his honour and glory in all you do; and may you reap the benefit of it, by an increase of happiness in this world and in the next!" The ceremony of the first stone of the new bridge took place this day. About one o'clock, the right honourable Sir Thomas Chitty, knt. lord mayor, accompanied by the following aldermen and commoners of the committee for the new bridge, viz. Sir Robert Ladbrooke, Mr. Alderman Alsop, Mr. Alderman Dickinson, Sir Richard Glyn, bart. Sir Samuel Fludyer, bart. Mr. Alderman Beckford, Mr. Alderman Alexander, Mr. Alderman Nelson, Sir Francis Gosling, Mr. Deputy Abington, Mr. Deputy Coles, Mr. Deputy Morrey, Mr. Deputy Skinner, Mr. Deputy Paterson, Mr. Deputy Blunt, Mr. Edward Barwick, George Bellas, esquire, Mr. Josiah Colebrooke, Mr. Chriftopher Fullaftar, Mr. Robert Gamon, Mr. Stephen Hunt, Mr. Stephen Preacher, Mr. John Price, Mr. William Prowting, Mr. Roger Staples, Mr. Boyce Tree, Mr. Joseph Sclater, Mr. Thomas Skinner, Mr. Henry Major, and Sir Robert Kite, Alderman, one of the sheriffs, proceeded in state (but without music) to Black Friars, and there, in the north abutment, his lordship laid the first stone of the intended new bridge, by striking the same with a mallet, the officers laying the city sword and mace thereon at the same time, in the sight of an infinite number of spec tators, tators, who, midst the firing of several rounds of cannon, placed there for that purpose, and the bells ringing, expressed their joy by loud and reiterated exclamations of applause. Several pieces of gold, silver, and copper coin, of his late majesty, (viz. a five-guinea piece, a two-guinea piece, a guinea, and a half-guinea, a crown, a half-crown, a shilling, a sixpence, a halfpenny, a farthing; to ascertain, at a future distant period, the standard of the coin in the late reign) were placed under the stone, together with the following inscripons, in large plates of pure tin: Ultimo die Octobris, anno ab incarnatione M.DCC.LX. auspicatissimo principe GEORGIO Tertio Pontus hujus, in reipublicæ commodum THOMAS CHITTY, Miles, Prætor: ROBERTO MYLNE Architecto. Utque apud posteros extet monumentum voluntatis suæ erga virum, qui vigore ingenii, animi constantiâ, probitatis & virtutis suæ felici quadam contagione, (favente Deo faustisq; GEORGII Secundi auspiciis) Imperium Britannicum -in Asia, Africâ, & Americâ, restituit, auxit, & stabilivit, Necnon patriæ antiquum honorem & auctoritatem, Cives Londinenses, uno consensu, GULIELMI PITT. VOL. I. No. 19. 3 M [Translation.] |