one voice and consent of tongue and heart, publish and proclaim, That the high and mighty prince, George prince of Wales, is now, by the death of our late sovereign, of happy memory, become our only lawful and rightful liege lord George the Third, by the grace of God, king of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, defender of the faith, and so forth: To whom we do acknowledge all faith and constant obedience with all hearty and humble affection, beseeching God, by whom kings and queens do reign, to bless the royal prince George the Third with long and happy years to reign over us. Given at the court at Carlton-house, this 25th day of October, 1760. native country, and depending on the advice, experience, and abilities, of your lordships, and on the support and assistance of every honest man, I enter with cheerfulness into this arduous situation, and shall make it the business of my life to promote, in every thing, the glory and happiness of these kingdoms, to preserve and strengthen both the constitution in church and state; and, as I mount the throne in the midst of an expensive, but just and necessary war, I shall endeavour to prosecute it in the manner most likely to bring on an honourable and lasting peace, in concert with my allies. Whereupon the lords of the council made it their humble request to his majesty, that this his majesty's most gracious declaration to their lordships might be made public, which his majesty was pleased to order accordingly.. F. VERNON. At the court at Carlton-house, the 25th day of October, 1760. Present. The king's most excellent majesty. duke of Cumberland Archbp. of Canterbury Duke of Leeds Duke of Newcastle Vicount Falmouth Viscount Barrington Viscount Ligonier Lord Anson Lord Mansfield Mr. Vice Chamberlain Mr. Secretary Pitt Henry Fox, esq. Sir Thomas Robinson. His majesty, at his first coming into the council, was this day pleased to declare, that, understanding that the law requires he should, at his accession to the crown, take and subscribe the oath relating to the security of the church of Scotland, he was now ready to do it this At the court at Carlton-house, the 25th day of Octo- first opportunity; which his majesty was graciously ber, 1760. Present. The king's most excellent majesty in council. His majesty being this day present in council, was pleased to make the following declaration, viz. : The loss that I and the nation have sustained by the death of the king, my grandfather, would have been severely felt at any time; but coming at so critical a juncture, and so unexpected, it is by many circumstances augmented, and the weight now falling upon me much increased, I feel my own insufficiency to support it as I wish; but animated by the tenderest affection for this my pleased to do according to the forms used by the law of Scotland, and subscribed two instruments thereof, in the presence of the lords of the council, who witnessed the same; and his majesty was pleased to order, that one of the said instruments be transmitted to the court of session, to be recorded in the books of sederunt, and afterwards to be forthwith lodged in the public register the records of the council, and be entered in the counof Scotland. And that the other of them remain among cil-book. His majesty king George III. was immediately proclaimed by the heralds at Saville house, from whence they proceeded to Charingcross, in the following order: Farriers of the horse grenadier guards with axes erect. French horns of the troop. Knight marshal and his men. Houshold drums, kettle-drums, and trumpets King at arms, supported by two serjeants at arms, with their maces. Archbishop of Canterbury in his coach. Troop of horse guards. At Charing-cross a herald again read the proclamation. After After which the procession moved on to Temple-bar; the gate of which was shut; and the lord mayor, attended by the aldermen, &c. waited within. After the usual formality of demanding admittance, the gates were opened, and the cavalcade proceeded to the end of Chancery-lane, where the proclamation was again read. Thence they proceeded through the city in the following order, immediately after the heralds: City drum ; trumpets; sheriff's officers; city music; two city marshals; lord mayor's officers; lord mayor in a state coach; archbishop of Canterbury; lord viscount Falmouth. Aldermen, Sir Robert Ladbrooke; Francis Cockayne, esq.; Robert Alsop, esq.; Thomas Rawlinson, esq.; Sir Richard Glyn, bart.; sir William Moreton, recorder; Robert Scott, esq.; Sir William Stevenson; Francis Gosling, esq.; The two sheriffs; chamberlain ; Town clerk. Troop of horse guards. The proclamation was also read at the end of Wood-street, Cheapside; and lastly, at the Royal Exchange, which ended the ceremony. The guns were fired at the Park and Tower on this occasion; and the evening concluded with One of the first public steps which was taken on the accession of George III. was, the lord mayor and aldermen waiting on his majesty on the 28th of October, and paying their compliments of congratulation and condolence in the following address: Most gracious Sovereign, Your majesty's truly dutiful and loyal subjects, the lord mayor and aldermen of the city of London, beg leave to approach your royal person, and congratulate your majesty upon your happy accession to the imperial crown of these realms; and, at the same time, to condole. the loss of our late most gracious sovereign, whose glorious reign and princely virtues must ever make his memory dear to a grateful people. It is our peculiar happiness, that your majesty's heart is truly English, and that you have discovered in your earliest years, the warmest attention to the laws and constitution of these kingdoms; laws so excellently formed, that as they give liberty to the people, they give power to the prince; and are a mutual support of the prerogatives of the crown, and the rights of the subject. Your majesty is now in possession of the united hearts of all your people, at a time when the honour and credit of the nation are (by the courage and activity of your majesty's fleets and armies) in the highest extent; a time when we have happily no divisions at home to obstruct those measures, which have carried terror to our enemies abroad. As your majesty's reign is so happily begun with the universal approbation and joy of the whole nation, permit us, great Sir, to express the high sense we have of your majesty's virtues, by the strongest assurances of our unalterable zeal for your majesty's sacred person and government; being convinced, that your majesty has the true interest of this nation entirely at heart, and that your power will be ever exerted in protecting the trade, rights, and liberties of your subjects. May your majesty reign long in the hearts of your people; and may the crown of these kingdoms ever descend to one of your majesty's illustrious family to the latest posterity. To which address his majesty was pleased to return this most gracious answer: given me of your zeal and affection for me and for my government. And I return you my hearty thanks. You may rely on my tender concern for the rights, trade, and manufactures of the city of London. On the same day it was unanimously agreed by a court of common council, in commemoration of the accession of his majesty, that the following inscription should be engraven on a plate, and placed upon the first stone of the bridge from Blackfriars to the opposite shore; which was laid by the lord mayor, attended by the committee, with great ceremony, on Friday, October 31, 1760: Ultimo die Octobris, anno ab incarnatione auspicatissimo principe GEORGIO Tertio Pontis hujus, in reipublicæ commodum (Laté tum flagrante bello) a S. P. Q. L. suscepti, THOMAS CHITTY, Miles, ROBERTO MYLNE, Architecto. qui vigore ingenii, animi constantiâ, faustisq; GEORGII Secundi auspiciis) in Asiâ, Africa, et Americâ, Necnon patriæ antiquum honorem et auctoritatem Translated. On the last day of October, in the year 1760, and in the beginning of the most auspicious reign of GEORGE the Third, Sir THOMAS CHITTY, Knight, Lord Mayor, laid the First Stone of this Bridge, Undertaken by the Common Council of Londou, (in the height of an extensive War) for the public accommodation, and ornament of the city, ROBERT MYLNE being the Architect And that there may remain to posterity a monument of this city's affection to the man who, by the strength of his genius, the steadiness of his mind, and a kind of happy contagion of his probity and spirit, (under the Divine favour and fortunate auspices of GEORGE the Second) recovered, augmented, and secured, the British Empire in Asia, Africa, and America, And restored the ancient reputation and influence of his country amongst the nations of Europe, The Citizens of London have unanimously voted This Bridge to be inscribed with the name of WILLIAM PITT. A council was held on the 27th, when his royal highness Edward duke of York was sworn of his majesty's most honourable privy council, and took his place at the board on his majesty's right hand. John earl of Bute was also sworn of his majesty's most honourable privy council, and took his place at the board accordingly. His majesty in council was also this day pleased to order, that the parliament should be prorogued until the 13th day of November. The following was the order in council for altering the liturgy, issued on the accession of his late majesty: At the court at Saville-house, the 27th day of October, 1760. Present, The king's most excellent majesty in council. Whereas by the late Act of Uniformity, which establisheth the liturgy, and enacts, that no form or order of common prayers be openly used, other than what is prescribed and appointed to be used in and by the said book, it is notwithstanding provided, that in all those prayers, litanies, and collects, which do anywise relate to the king, queen, or royal progeny, the names be altered and changed from time to time, and fitted to the present occasion, according to direction of lawful authority: his majesty was pleased this day in council to declare his royal will and pleasure, that in all the prayers, liturgies, and collects for the royal family, instead of the words [their royal highnesses George prince of Wales, the princess dowager of Wales, the dukes, the princesses, and all the royal family] be inserted [her royal highness the princess dowager of Wales, and all the royal family.] And his majesty doth strictly charge and command, that no edition of the common prayer be from henceforth printed but with this amendment; and, that in the mean time, till copies of such editions may be had, all parsons, vicars, and curates within this realm do (for the preventing of mistakes) with the pen correct and amend all such prayers in their church books, according to the foregoing dis-jesty, jealous of the honour of your crown, and attentive tinction. And for the better notice hereof, that this order be forthwith printed and published, and sent to the several parishes, and that the right reverend the bishops do take care that obedience be paid to the same accordingly. F. VERNON. whose gentle and equal rule will be gratefully remembered by the present age, and whose wise and prosperous reign will be honoured by succeeding generations. So sudden and momentous an event, in this very critical juncture, would, indeed, be severely felt by Great Britain, and her magnanimous ally, had not the goodness of Almighty God placed her sceptre in the hands of a prince, who, by his first declaration in council, has most graciously confirmed all the pleasing hopes which had been early entertained of his virtue, wisdom, and fortitude, as well as of his tender affection to this, his native country, and regard for her most excellent con|stitution, both in church and state. It is, therefore, with the sincerest and warmest love and veneration, that we congratulate your majesty's most happy accession to the government of a free, loyal, and united people. And, although we are sensible how painful it must be to your majesty, to find your kingdoms engaged in a bloody and expensive war, we doubt not but your ma to the rights and commercial interests of your people, May your majesty graciously accept this earnest of our duty and inviolable attachment to your sacred person and government, and our humble assurances, that as it will be our constant prayer to the great Ruler of princes, that your majesty's reign may long continue over us, so it shall be always our study and endeavour, by every act of zeal, gratitude, and obedience, to render it happy and glorious to your majesty. To which address his majesty was pleased to return this most gracious answer; I take very kindly your early and warm assurances of affection for my person and government, and I give you my cordial thanks. Firmness of councils, supported by such generous efforts of a free and united people, and seconded by such intrepidity and conduct, in my fleets and armies, will, I trust, under the blessing of the Almighty, lead | which demands a peculiar frame of mind in the my kingdoms, in conjunction with my faithful allies, to possessor of the throne. a just, honourable, and lasting peace. My good city of London shall ever experience my watchful care for its liberties, commerce, and happiness. They then waited on her royal highness the princess dowager of Wales; and sir William Moreton, knt. the recorder, made their compliments in the following speech: May it please your royal highness, We, the lord-mayor, aldermen, and commons, of the city of London, in common-council assembled, humbly beg leave to present to your royal highness, our most respectful compliments of condolence, on the death of our late most gracious sovereign; and at the same time to congratulate your royal highness, upon your illustrious son's most happy accession to the crown of these realms, amidst the joyful acclamations of his faithful subjects. To your royal highness's wise and tender care of his majesty's early years, we stand indebted for the cultivation of the innate virtues of his princely mind, and for the foundation of all those blessings which we trust to enjoy under his auspicious reign. Long may your royal highness taste the maternal satisfaction of seeing the royal object of your affection and solicitude, the darling of this his native country, the protector of our trade, the defender of our religion, It concerns indeed every monarch, and every one that is to be a monarch, to make it the first of his duties to meet the public eye with a consciousness, that it can discover in him nothing essentially defective, and deserving of serious reproach. A king cannot fly for shelter to obscurity; however he may strive to cover himself with the shield of dread and despotism, or to seek silence and privacy, enough of him will be seen and known to afford an idea of his character. But if this be true of princes armed with arbitrary sway, it applies much more forcibly to a sovereign of this country; he lives not only for the public, but in the midst of the public. Nothing that he says, any more than what he does, can remain concealed. His thoughts are however he may endeavour to keep not his own; however he them locked up in his bosom, the prying eye of those who surround him, will watch every avenue through which they may pierce into that recess, and it is not in the power of a human being to stand perpetually on his guard. Is this an enviable condition? Nothing but the laws, and liberties, and the ornament and delight of prospect of acting, so as to preserve his character unsullied, can possibly reconcile an upright man to so anxious a charge. Nothing, human kind. To which her royal highness was pleased to therefore, should more profoundly occupy the return the following answer: My lord and gentlemen, I return you my hearty thanks for this fresh mark of your attention to me. My warmest wishes have ever attended this great city; and the joy and happiness of my life will consist in the king, my son, exceeding in every thing your most sanguine expectations. When we contemplate the perplexities attendant on a crown, we may reasonably conclude that no wise man will envy him that wears it; but of all countries, England is that thoughts of a prince, whose destiny calls him to a throne, than the care to learn and the determination faithfully to perform, the duties of the arduous function imposed upon him. The discharge of those duties appears an easy task only to such as are unworthy of it. Whoever unfeignedly feels for the honour and welfare of the country which he is born to govern, will view his own situation with an eye of diffidence and modesty; at the same time, his heart will glow with a salutary warmth for its |