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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 December 2009
The great Infirmities of my Body forced me for some Years last past to decline all Publick Business: and tho' I am now very little better, nor indeed will my Age give me leave to expect much Amendment; yet the Desires, or rather the Commands of the Gentlemen and Freeholders, to whom I am so much in-[4] debted, are of more force than, and superiour to, my own Inclinations, and just Excuses. I am therefore once more come amongst you, and I cannot but think it probable, that in this Juncture of Affairs, you will expect and require from me some account of our present Circumstances. Give me leave therefore to look a little back: And from that Reflection I must observe to you, that out of Gratitude as well as Duty, we ought to be the most sober and religious People in the World; for there is no Nation under Heaven, that can shew so many signal, wonderful, and miraculous Preservations from the visible and immediate Hand of Providence.
page 176 note 1 This speech is an evident condemnation of Jacobite attempts against George I.
page 176 note 2 The problem of oath-taking was an important one, since one person on his oath could charge anybody with a crime or felony, and bear (false) witness in a trial.
page 177 note 1 This will be found like a leit-motiv all through the XVIIth century and later on again.
page 177 note 2 The Duke of Gloucester, the latest surviving child of Queen Anne, died July 1700.
page 178 note 1 The general peace: that of Utrecht, signed in April 1713. Anne was recognised ipso facto as Queen of Great-Britain, whereas in 1701 Louis XTV had violated his former promise in recognising the son of James II as James III.
page 179 note 1 The Wars of the Roses.
page 179 note 2 A possible allusion to the Root and Branch Petition of 11 December 1640, against episcopacy.
page 180 note 1 The unfortunate and famous South-Sea Bubble, in 1720.
page 181 note 1 The quotation is not accurate; Eccles. 8:11.