of ships.

Debate on the bill for the encouragement and increase of seamen.

Debate on the bill for the punishment of mutiny and desertion.

Debate on addressing the king.

Debate on supporting the queen of Hungary.

Debate on choosing a speaker.

Debate on the address.




PREFATORY OBSERVATIONS TO THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES.


The government of this country has long and justly been considered the
best among the nations of Europe; and the English people have ever
evinced a proportionate desire for information in its proceedings. But
in the earlier days of our constitution, we shall find that much
jealousy on the part of our rulers debarred the people from access to
the national deliberations. Queen Elizabeth, with a sagacity that
derived no assurance from the precedents of former times, foresaw the
mighty power of the press, as an engine applied to state purposes, and
accordingly aroused the spirit of her subjects, by causing the first
gazettes to be published in the year of the armada [Footnote: See sir J.