Page:The Annual Register 1758.djvu/129

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CHRONICLE.
115

ships and vessels; but no treatment, however injurious to his majesty, could tempt him to make retaliation on the innocent subjects of that crown.

In Germany his majesty's good brother the King of Prussia, and Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, have found full employment for the armies of France and her confederates; from which our operations, both by sea, and in America, have derived the most evident advantage. Their successes, owing, under God, to their able conduct, and the bravery of his majesty's troops and those of his allies, have been signal and glorious.

His majesty has further commanded us to observe to you, that the common cause of liberty and independency is still making noble and vigorous efforts, against the unnatural union formed to oppress it. That the commerce of his subjects, the source of our riches, has, by the vigilant protection received from his majesty's fleet, flourished in a manner not to be paralleled during such troubles.

In this state of things, his majesty, in his wisdom, thinks it unnecessary to use many words to persuade you to bear up against all difficulties; effectually to stand by, and defend his majesty; vigorously to support the King of Prussia, and the rest of his majesty's allies; and to exert yourselves to reduce our enemies to equitable terms of accommodation.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

The uncommon extent of this war, in different parts, occasions it to be uncommonly expensive. This his majesty has ordered us to declare to you, that he sincerely laments, and feels deeply for the burdens of his people. The several estimates are ordered to be laid before you; and his majesty desires only such supplies, as shall be requisite to push the war with advantage, and to be adequate to the necessary services.

My Lords, and Gentlemen,

His majesty has, in the last place, graciously commanded us to assure you, that he takes so much satisfaction in that good harmony which subsists among his faithful subjects, that it is more proper for him now to thank you for it, than to repeat his exhortations to it. This union, necessary at all times, is more especially so, in such critical conjunctures; and his majesty doubts not but that the good effects we have found from it, will be the strongest motives to you to pursue it.

28th. Dr. Shebbeare received sentence for a libellous pamphlet, intituled, A Sixth Letter to the People of England; he is fined five pounds: to stand in the pillory Dec. 5, at Charing Cross; to be confined three years; and then to give security for his good behaviour for seven years, himself bound in 500l. and two others in 250l. each.

In the Canterbury Mercury of this day's date, there is an account of the discovery of some remarkable human skeletons, near the road-side, at a place called Breech-Down; the first was found by a labourer widening the road, and had round his neck a string of beads of various forms and sizes, from the bigness of a pigeon's egg to that of a pea: by his side lay three instruments of war, one a kind of scimitar, the second what the Scots call a dirk, and the third a spear. Near the same placewere