98 Assembly Proceedings, April 26-June 3, 1715.

L. H. J.

so well begun in the last Assembly but interrupted by the
Death of our late Queen of pious Memory. I am persuaded
I cannot open this Sessions with any Thing more grateful (to
a People who have already distinguished their Joy) than by
congratulating you on the auspicious Occasion of his Majesty
King George his being so peaceably seated on the Throne of
his Ancestors.
The Lenity with which he has long governed his Subjects
in Germany the Deference that is paid his consummate
Judgment by all the Princes of Europe are strong Indications
how happy a People we may be under the Influence of one of
the greatest as well as one of the best of Kings that ever
swayed the British Sceptre.
Our Religion is secured in his Royal Person not by the
Effect of a refined Policy but by an exemplary Practice of the
Truth and Purity of his Principle.

p. 188

Who can doubt our Laws will be maintained and our
Liberties preserved when they are protected by a just and
mighty Prince that has been so zealous an Asserter of the
Liberties of Europe against all bold Invaders.

The noble Disposition of his Royal Highness the Prince of
Wales the generous Courage he so early exerted in the Field
and the numerous Offspring which Providence has given him
afford a pleasing View of a continued Series of Happiness
to us.
What can we desire now but that the good God will pre-
serve such invaluable Blessings to us and make us dutifully
sensible of them.

Gentlemen of the House of Delegates,

I am to acquaint you that I laid before you the last Assem-
bly an Instruction from her late Majesty to revise the Laws
of this Province and have since received his Majesty's Com-
mands to be observant of those Instructions.
The Necessity of this so useful a work is obvious from most
of your Laws being very defective so that I need not enforce
any further what is so much to your Advantage, but must
recommend to you to pursue it with Application; my Obser-
vation of your past Journal makes it evident to me and your
own Experience will inform you that long and frequent Assem-
blies are grievous Burthens to the People.
At my first Arrival in this Province I laid before your House
a Law lately passed in Virginia for the Improvement of the
Tobacco Trade, in which there are many useful Things to
advance that Staple in this Country; But having since received