I HAVE the Honour to meet You on this solemn Occasion, which the Wisdom of Government, for the Sake of preserving Peace and Good Order, has made frequent and regular.
As the Well-being of every Country in a great Measure depends upon the wise Frame of their Laws, to regulate Property, and to restrain and punish Offenders, and on a due Execution of those Laws; it became absolutely necessary for die Sup-[4] port of Government, and the Safety of the Subject, that some Persons should be intrusted with the Inquiry into all Crimes and Offences whatsoever: And it was no less needful for the Security and Quiet of every Man, diat such a Trust should be delegated to Men of Integrity and Indifference, who might not suffer the Guilty to escape Prosecution for dieir Crimes, or the Innocent to be oppressed by false, weak, or vindictive Accusations.