STATE PAPERS.

Hi: excellent) George lord wzfrauzzt Town/bend, lord lieutenant-general and general-governor qf Ire/and : In‘: [first]: to 601}: boa/er of parlia- ment at DuHin, an ‘Tue/day the

I I7tb day y’ Oflober, I769. My lords and gentlemen,

IT is with particular fatisfaétion

that, in obedience to his ma- jeliy’s commands, I meet the firfl: parliament, limited in duration, that ever affembled in this kingdom.

I am confident that you are come together with the julieii fentiments of duty and affection to our moll: excellent fovereign, who has grati- fied the earneft wilhes of his faith- ful fubjects of Ireland with that great improvement of their conlli- tuuon.

I flatter myfelf that the proteflant intereli has already Found the hap- py effect of it; and that the many gracious marks which you have ex- perienced of his majefiy’s paternal regard, will animate your delibe- rations, and direct them to all fuch meafures as may fecure to you the bleflings youieujoy.

Since the lalt feflion of parlia- ment the royal family has been in- creafed by the birth of another princefs; interelied as you are in the happinefs of his majelty, and of his illulirious houfe, you will receive with the fincercft pleafure a communication of [o joyful an event.

Gentlemen of the houfe of commons,

I have ordered the proper ac- counts and efiimates to be laid be- fore yotf’; and doubt not you will make every neceifary provilion for the honour of his ntajelifs go- vernment, and the fafety and wel- fare of this kingdom.

I am extremely happy to inform

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you, that the exigencies of govern- ment bave required only a very mo- derate ufe to be made of that con- fidential credit which was granted by the lail: parliament; and I trult you will always find on my part, the fame attention to public oeco- nomy. My lords and gentlemen,

As the wifel’: nations have ever deemed times of peace the belt fea- {on for improving their civil polity, and providing For their feturityt, I recommend it to you not to iteglech the prefent favourable opportunity.

The fircngth and riches of a country are in proportion to the number of its indufirious inhabi- tants; and as a religious and vir- tuous education is the fureFt guide to induliry and good morals, you will not be unmindful of that ufe- ful and charitable inliitution, the protefiant charter fchools; you will confider the original delign and great end of them; you will ob- lerve whether their courie corre- {ponds with their flrii plan, and you will correct any defects which ex- perience may point out to you.

The linen manufacture is an object which will always engage your utmotl attention. I fee with the truefl pleafure that fource 0F opulence daily extending itfelf over this kingdom: be it your care to prelerve it in full credit; and that neither fraud nor negligv £6, Wlllfill have f0 often proved fatal to the moi} llourillting bunches of com- merce and manufaciure, be fufiercd to defeat this national acquilition.

l mult recommend to your moli fcritrtts conlicleratiozi, what further ltuva may be nccelT-ary to prevent the pernicious practice cf the clan- tleilinc running of goods. The great lengths to “which it llnlll been

carried