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November 2.
The Address presented.
"Most Gracious Sovereign:
"We, your Majesty' s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons of Great Britain in Parliament assembled, beg leave to return your Majesty the humble thanks of this House, for your most gracious speech from the throne.
"While we lament the continuance of the troubles which have so long distracted your Majesty' s Colonies in North-America, and of the calamities and oppressions which our unhappy fellow-subjects are still suffering under the arbitrary tyranny of their leaders, we cannot forbear to express our detestation and abhorrence of the audacious and desperate spirit of ambition, which has at last carried those leaders so far as to make them openly renounce all allegiance to the Crown, and all political connection with this country, and in direct terms to presume to set up their rebellious Confederacies for independent States.
"We consider the rejection of the gracious and condescending means of reconciliation held out to them, under the authority of your Majesty' s commission, as a fresh and convincing proof, that the object of these men has always been power and dominion; but we can impute the circumstances of indignity and insult accompanying this proceeding, to no other motive than a resentment of your Majesty' s firm and constant adherence to the maintenance of the constitutional rights of Parliament, divested of every possible view of any separate interests of the Crown: and we beg leave to assure your Majesty, that the same attachment of your Majesty to the parliamentary authority of Great Britain, which hath provoked the insolence of the chiefs of this rebellion, cannot but operate, as it ought to do, in fixing your Majesty still deeper, if possible, in the affections of a British House of Commons.
"With reverence and gratitude to Divine Providence, permit us to express our unfeigned joy, and to offer our sincere congratulations to your Majesty, on the success which has attended the good conduct and valour of your Majesty' s officers and forces, both by sea and land, and the zeal and
"It is with much satisfaction we learn, that your Majesty continues to receive assurances of amity from the several Courts of Europe: and we thankfully acknowledge your Majesty' s goodness and paternal concern for the happiness of your people, in your constant attention to preserve the general tranquillity; and it is our most earnest wish, that, by your Majesty' s interposition, all misunderstandings and differences between two neighbouring Powers may be happily reconciled, and Europe still enjoy the blessings of peace.
"Your faithful Commons consider it as a duty which they owe to your Majesty, and to those they represent, to grant your Majesty such supplies as the weighty considerations which your Majesty has been pleased to state to us shall be found to require, and we have a well-grounded confidence, that at this time, when the object of the Rebels is openly avowed and clearly understood, the general conviction of the justice and necessity of your Majesty' s measures, must unite all ranks of your faithful subjects in supporting your Majesty with one mind and heart in the great national cause in which you are engaged."
The Address presented
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bravery of the auxiliary troops in your service, in the recovery of Canada, and in the important operations in the Province of New-York, which give the strongest hopes of the most decisive good consequences.