His Majesty's MOST GRACIOUS SPEECH To both Houses of PARLIAMENT, On Tuesday the Eleventh Day of February, 1700.  
LONDON, Printed by Charles Bill, and the Executrix of Thomas Newcomb deceased; Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. 1700.   

His Majesty's MOST GRACIOUS SPEECH To both Houses of PARLIAMENT.  
My Lords and Gentlemen,  
OUR great Misfortune in the Loss of the Duke of Gloucester, hath made it absolutely Necessary, that there should be a further Provision for the Succession to the Crown in the Protestant Line after Me and the Princess. The Happiness of the Nation, and the Security of Our Religion, which is Our chiefest Concern, seems so much to depend upon this, that I cannot Doubt but it will meet with a general Concurrence, and I earnestly Recommend it to your early and effectual Consideration.  
The Death of the late King of Spain, with the Declaration of his Successor to that Monarchy, has made so great an Alteration in the Affairs Abroad, That I must desire you very maturely to Consider their present State; and I make no Doubt but your Resolutions thereupon will be such, as shall be most conducing to the Interest and Safety of England, the Preservation of the Protestant Religion in general, and the Peace of all Europe.  
These things are of such Weight, that I have thought them most proper for the Consideration of a new Parliament, to have the more immediate Sense of the Kingdom in so great a Conjuncture.  
I must Desire of you, Gentlemen of the House of Commons, such Supplies as you shall judge necessary for the Service of the Current Year, and I must particularly put you in mind of the Deficiencies and Public Debts occasioned by the late War, that are yet unprovided for.  
I am obliged further to Recommend to you, That you would Inspect the Condition of the Fleet, and Consider what Repairs or Augmentations may be requisite for the Navy, which is the great Bulwark of the English Nation, and aught most especially in this Conjuncture to be put in a good Condition; and that you would also Consider what is proper for the better Security of those Places where the Ships are laid up in Winter.  
The Regulation and Improvement of Our Trade is of so Public Concern, that I hope it will ever have your serious Thoughts; And if you can found proper Means of setting the Poor at work, you will ease yourselves of a very great Burden; And at the same time add so many useful Hands to be employed in Our Manufactures and other Public Occasions.  

My Lords and Gentlemen,  
I hope there will be such an Agreement and Vigour in the Resolutions you shall take upon the Important Matters now before you, as may make it appear We are firmly United among Ourselves, and in My Opinion nothing can contribute more to Our safety at Home, or to Our being considerable Abroad.   
FINIS.