Speaker' s Speech to the King

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His Majesty being seated on the Throne, adorned with his Crown and Regal Ornaments, and attended by his Officers of State, (the Lords being in their Robes,) commanded the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod to let the Commons know "It is his Majesty' s pleasure that they attend him, immediately, in this House."

Who being come, their Speaker, after the following Speech, in relation to the Money Bills to be passed, delivered them to the Clerk:

SIR: Your faithful Commons present to you three Money Bills: the first for raising Money, by loans of Exchequer Bills, for the Service of the year 1775; the second for establishing a Lottery, and for paying off one million Pounds Three per centum Annuities, and for other purposes therein mentioned; and the other for appropriating the surpluses of the Sinking Fund for the service of the current year.

These are all necessary grants, but they are yet very heavy, and are what nothing but the particular exigencies of the times could justify, in a time of profound peace. The unhappy differences in America, have been the chief cause of this expense; and I trust that when the people of America see, in a proper light, the conduct of this country, they will learn to pay the proper obedience to the laws; if, on the contrary, they should persist in their Resolutions, and that the sword must be drawn, your faithful Commons will do every thing in their power to maintain and support the supremacy of the Legislature. A great part of the session has been taken up in determining complaints respecting Controverted Elections. I cannot but admire the wisdom of the last Parliament in enacting that law; neither can I withhold the praise justly due to the Committees who have acted so much to the satisfaction of the publick, and so fully in discharge of their own consciences.

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