1818 April 3

Parl. Ref. Resolutions

2 o Inserenda

IV. Annuality

2

11

2

That, notwithstanding this deplorable dereliction of one of the most

uncontrovertibly established Constitutional principles, such has been the force of

duty and reason on the consciences of succeeding Monarchs, that the truth of the

proposition, by which it is affirmed, that the sense of the people, considered as the

standard to which the conduct of their rulers ought to keep itself conformable, is

not the sense entertained by the people in this or that past period of time, and

since then varied and departed from, but on the contrary is at all times the sense of

the people, taken in its very freshest state, - viz. the sense of the people in that

state, in which, on the occasion of any fresh measure of government, it has place and

manifests itself has in the most express terms been repeatedly recognized.

1. That, in particular, in a speech bearing date the 21 st of

April 1741, his Majesty King George the second, after saying “I will immediately give

the necessary orders for a new Parliament”, was pleased to add “There is not any

thing I set so high a value upon as the love and affection of my people; in which I

have so entire a confidence, that it is with great satisfaction I see this

opportunity put into their hands of giving me fresh proofs

of it in the choice of their Representatives.

2. – and again, in a speech bearing date the 12 th of November

1747. “On of my principal views in calling this Parliament was that I might receive

the most clear and certain information of the sense of my

people.”

3 – and in like manner, in a speech bearing date the 6 th of

November 1761 his Majesty that now is was pleased to say “I am glad to have an

opportunity of receiving the truest information of the sense of my people by a new

choice of their Representatives.

4. and again, in a speech bearing date the 8 th of November 1768,

“The opportunity, which the late General Election gives me,

of knowing from their Representatives in Parliament the more immediate sense of my people, has made me desirous &c.

5. – and again, in a speech bearing date the 1 st of November

1780, “It is with more than ordinary satisfaction that I meet you in Parliament, at a

time when the late Elections may afford me an opportunity

of receiving the most certain information, of the disposition and the wishes of my

people, to which I am always inclined to pay the utmost attention and regard.