Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1727. 479

      The sudden and unexpected death of the King my dearest Lib. X.

    Father has filled my heart with so much Concern and Suprize

    that I am at a Loss how to express my self upon this great

    and melancholy Occasion

      I am sensible of the weight that immediately falls upon me

    by taking the Government of a Nation so powerful at Home

    and of such Influence and Consequence abroad but my Love

    and Affection to this Country from my Knowledge and Expe

    rience of you makes me resolve chearfully to undergo all

    difficulties for the sake and good of my people

      The Religion Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom are p. 181

    most dear unto me and the preservation of the Constitution

    in Church and State as it is now happily established shall be

    my first and always my Chief Care

      And as the Alliances entered into by the late King my

    Father with Foreign powers have Contributed to the restor

    ing the Tranquillity and preserving the Ballance of Europe

    I shall endeavour to Cultivate those Alliances and to Improve

    and perfect this great work for the Honour Interest and

    Security of my People

      Whereupon the Lords of the Council made it their humble

    Request to his Majesty that his Majestys most Gracious

    declaration to their Lordships might be made publick which

    his Majesty was pleased to Order accordingly

                                 Edward Southwell

                    London June 17th

      On Thursday about noon his present Majesty George the

    Second was Proclaimed King of Great Britain France and

    Ireland at Leicester House Charing Cross Temple Bar

    Cheapside and the Royal Exchange with the usual Solem

    nities the Prime Ministers of State and a Great Number of

    the Nobility and Gentry attending on that Occasion with the

    Kings Heralds and Pursuivants at Arms in their proper

    Habits proceeded by a detachment of Horse and Grenadier

    Guards when they came to Temple Bar the Gates being

    shut were upon their Knocking at them Ordered to be

    Opened by the right Honble the Lord Mayor Accompanied

    by the Aldermen and Sheriffs in their Robes and at Night

    there were Bonfires Illuminations and other Rejoycings p. 182

    throughout this City and Suburbs

      The same day the Parliament was Prorogued by Com

    mission from his present Majesty to the 27th of this Instant

    June

      New Commissions in the name of his Majesty King George

    the second are Ordered for all the Officers Civil and military