PROTEST.
C. P. of W. R. of Gr. Br. &c. &c.
NO one is ignorant of the Hereditary Rights of Our Royal Houſe to the Throne of Gr. Br. it is needleſs to enter into a particular Detail thereof. All Europe is acquainted with the Troubles, which have ſo often diſturbed theſe Kingdoms, and the Wrongs We have ſuffered. She knows that Length of Time cannot alter the Conſtitution of the State, nor Ground a Preſcription againſt the fundamental Laws. She cannot ſee, without Aſtoniſhment, that We ſhould remain ſilent, while the Powers in War are holding a Treaty for a Peace, which may, without regard to the Juſtice of Our Cauſe, (in which all Sovereigns are concerned) agree upon, and ſtipulate Articles, prejudicial to Our Intereſts, and to thoſe of the Subjects of Our Moſt Honoured Lord and Father.
For theſe Cauſes, authorized by the Examples of Our Moſt Honoured Grand-father, and Our Moſt Honoured Lord and Father, We, as well in the Name of Our Moſt Honoured Lord and Father, who has given to Us full Powers, by committing to Us the Regency of His Kingdoms, as alſo, in Our own and proper Name, as natural Heir to the Crown, proteſt, in the moſt ſolemn Manner, and in the beſt Form, that may be done, againſt all that may be ſaid, done or ſtipulated in the Aſſembly now held at Aix—la-Chapelle, or in any other Aſſembly, which in Conſequence thereof may be held in any other Place, to the Prejudice or Diminution of the Lawful Rights of Our Moſt Honoured Lord and Father, of Our own, or thoſe of the Princes or Princeſſes of Our Royal Houſe, that are, or ſhall be born.
We proteſt in like Manner againſt all Conventions, which may be ſtipulated in the Aſſemblies aforeſaid, which ſhall be contrary to the Engagements before made with Us.
Declaring by theſe Preſents, That We look upon, and ſhall ever look upon, as null, void, and ineffectual, all that may be agreed upon and ſtipulated, which may tend to the Diminution of Our juſt Rights, and the Recognition of any other Perſon whatſoever in Quality of Sovereign of the Realms of Gr. Br. other than the Perſon of the Moſt High and Moſt Excellent P. J. III. Our Moſt Honoured Lord and Father, and in Default of him, to the Perſon of his next Heir, conformably to the fundamental Laws of Gr. Br.
We declare to all the Subjects of Our Moſt Honoured Lord and Father, and more particularly to thoſe, who have lately given Us ſuch ſtrong Proofs of their Attachment to Our Royal Family, and the antient Conſtitution of the State; that nothing ſhall alter the warm and ſincere Love, which Our Birth inſpires Us with for them; and that the juſt ſenſe which We have of their Fidelity, Zeal and Courage, will never be effaced from Our Hearts; that, far from liſtening to any Propoſal which may tend to annul or weaken theſe indiſſoluble Bands which unite Us, We look upon Ourſelves, and ſhall always look upon Ourſelves, under the moſt intimate and indiſpenſible Obligation, to be conſtantly attentive to every Thing that may contribute to their Happineſs, and that We ſhall be ever ready to ſpill even the laſt Drop of Our Blood, to deliver them from a foreign Yoke.
We proteſt and declare, that the Defects, which may be in this preſent Proteſtation, ſhall not hurt or prejudice Our Royal Houſe, and We reſerve to Ourſelves all Our Rights and Actions, which remain ſafe and entire.
Given at Paris, 16th July 1748.
