20

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

chap.

XXIII.

I (397.Meetingof Parlia-ment.

TlieKing’sspeech•well re-ceived.

The words with which the King opened the sessionbrought the great question to a speedy issue. “The cir-cumstances,” he said, “of affairs abroad are such, that Ithink myself obliged to tell you my opinion, that, for thepresent, England cannot be safe without a land force; and Ihope we shall not give those that mean us ill the opportuni-ty of effecting that under the notion of a peace which theycould not bring to pass by war.”

The speech was well received; for that Parliament wasthoroughly well affected to the Government. The membershad, like the .rest of the community, been put into highgood humour by the return of peace and by the revival oftrade. They were indeed still under the influence of thefeelings of the preceding day; and they had still in theirears the thanksgiving sermons and thanksgiving anthems;all the bonfires had hardly burned out; and the rows oflamps and candles had hardly been taken down. Many,therefore, who did not assent to all that the King had said,joined in a loud hum of approbation when he concluded.*As soon as the Commons had retired to their own chamber,they resolved to present an address assuring His Majestythat they would stand by him in peace as firmly as they hadstood by him in war. Seymour, who had, during theautumn, been going from shire to shire, for the purpose ofinflaming the country gentlemen against the ministry, ven-tured to make some uncourtly remarks: but he gave so* L’lIermitagCj Dec. iVj 1^97.