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After which came Mr Speaker attended by the House of
Delegates
To whom after they had taken the Oaths to her Majesty
appointed by Act of Parliamt instead of the Oaths of Allegi-
ance and Supremacy and Subscribed the Test his Excellency
was pleased to say
Gentlemen I hope I need not make any apology for this
meeting for it is necessity and not choice has constrained me
by the Death of our most glorious King William whose dis-
solution all his Protestant Subjects have reason to lament, as
that of a common Father, the Champion of our Libertys, and
the ornament and Glory of our Country
As almighty God bestows his blessings upon us so he takes
them away as he thinks fit and since it is by his gracious Influ-
ence we receive all the Benefitts we Enjoy, we ought with
great Reason to hope he is not altogether unmindful of us,
having placed her present Majesty on the Throne to be our
supreme Governor, who has all the noble virtues and great
Qualifications we could wish or hope for under God to make
us happy : Therefore I thought it highly Necessary and a
Duty incumbent upon us at this Juncture to meet & address
her Majesty giving her all the convincing Proofs of our great
Satisfaction and the Hopes we have of the great Blessings
we shall Enjoy under her Majesty's happy & Prosperous
Reign over us
I have already acquainted you of my Inclinations (with the
Blessing of God) of going home for England with this Fleet
for the Recovery of my Health And as I hope I have never
in the least tarnished my Reputation among you by the
Violation of any man's Property or Liberty so I have never
brought the Power his Majesty was pleased to cloath me with
into the least Contempt by exceeding it
Gentlemen
This is like to be the last time of our Meeting therefore
am very desirous to convince you how strictly I am rivitted to
your Interest if you have any thing of Moment to offer for
your future service
Mr Speaker & the Delegates take Leave and depart to the
House
His Excellency having recommended that this Assembly
should address her most Sacred Majesty upon her Accession
to the Throne such an address being prepared was read and
approved of & ordered to be sent down to the House of
Delegates with the following Message
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