Whereas it hath pleas'd Almighty God to call to his Mercy our late Soveraign Lady Queen _Anne_, of blessed Memory; by whose Decease, the Imperial Crowns of _Great Britain_, _France_, and _Ireland_, are solely, and rightfully come to the High and Mighty Prince _George_, elector of _Brunswick-Lunenburg_: We therefore, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal of the Realm, being here assisted with those of her late Majesty's Privy Council, with Numbers of other principal gentlemen of Quality, with the Lord-Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens of _London_, do now hereby, with one full Voice and Consent of Tongue and Heart, publish and proclaim, That the high and mighty Prince _George_, Elector of _Brunswick-Lunenburg_, is now, by the Death of our late Soveraign of happy Memory, become our lawful and rightful Liege Lord, _George_, by the Grace of God, King of _Great Britain_, _France_ and _Ireland_, Defender of the Faith, _&c._ To whom we do acknowledge all Faith and constant Obedience, with all hearty and humble Affection, beseeching God, by whom Kings and Queens do reign, to bless the Royal King _George_ with long and happy years to reign over us. Given at the Palace of St. _James's_, the First Day of _August, 1714_. GOD SAVE THE KING. [Then follow the signatures of 127 peers and commoners, "Lords and Gentlemen who signed the Proclamation," including Lords Buckingham, Shrewsbury, Oxford, Bolingbroke, and Sir Christopher Wren.] CHARACTER AND PERSON OF GEORGE I. (1660-1727). A. BY LORD CHESTERFIELD. +Source.+--Lord Chesterfield (1694-1774), _Characters of Eminent Persons of His own Time_, 1777. P. 9. George the First was an honest and dull German gentleman, as unfit as unwilling to act the part of a King, which is, to shine and oppress. Lazy and inactive even in his pleasures; which were therefore lowly and sensual: He was coolly intrepid, and indolently benevolent. He was diffident of his own parts, which made him speak little in public[1] and prefer in his social, which were his favourite, hours, the company of waggs and buffoons.... His views and affections were singly confined to the narrow compass of his electorate.--England was too big for him.--If he had nothing great as a King, he had nothing bad as a Man--and if he does not adorn, at least he will not stain the annals of this country. In private life, he would have been loved and esteemed as a good citizen, a good friend, and a good neighbour.--Happy were it for Europe, happy for the world, if there were not greater Kings in it! B. BY HORACE WALPOLE. +Source.+--_Reminiscences_, in _Works of Horace Walpole_, Earl of Oxford, 1798. Vol. iv., p. 275; _Letter to Sir Horace Mann, Feb. 25, 1782_.