tranquillity, you had the happiness of contributing to raife this kingdom to a state of unexampled profperity. You were fuddenly compelled to relinquish the full advantages of this fituation, in order to refift the unprovoked aggreffion of an enemy whofe hoftility was directed against all civil fociety, but more particularly against the happy union of order and liberty eftablifhed in thefe kingdoms. The nature of the fyftem introduced into France, afforded to that country, in the midft of its calamities, the means of exertion beyond the experience of any former time. Under the preffure of the new and unprecedented difficulties arifing from fucha conteft, you have fhewn yourselves worthy of all the blefsings that you inherit. By your counfels and conduct, the conftitution has been preferved inviolate against the defigns of foreign and domeftic enemies; the honour of the British name has been afferted; the rank and ftation which we have hitherto held in Europe has been maintained; and the decided fuperiority of our naval power has been established in every quarter of the world.

You have omitted no opportu nity to prove your juft anxiety for the re-establishment of general peace on fecure and honourable terms; but you have at the fame time rendered it manifeft to the world, that while our enemies fhall perfift in difpofitions incompatible with that object, neither the refources nor the fpirit of Englishmen will be wanting to the fupport of a juft caufe, and to the defence of all their dearest interests.

A due fenfe of this conduct is deeply impressed on my heart. I truft that all my fubjects are animated with the fame fentiment, and

that their loyalty and public fpirit will enfure the continuance of that union and mutual confidence between me and my parliament, which beft promote the true dig nity and glory of my crown, and the genuine happiness of my people.

His Majefty's Speech to both Houfes of Parliament, October 6, 1796.

My lords and gentlemen,

It is a peculiar fatisfaction to me, in the prefent conjuncture of affairs, to recur to your advice, after the recent opportunity which has been given for collecting the fenfe of my people, engaged in a difficult and arduous conteft, for the prefervation of all that is most dear to us.

I have omitted no endeavours for fetting on foot negotiations to reftore peace to Europe, and to fecure for the future the general tranquillity. The steps which I have taken for this purpose have at length opened the way to an immediate and direct negotiation, the iffae of which muft either produce the defirable end of a juft, honourable, and folid peace for us, and for our allies; or must prove, beyond difpute, to what caufe alone the prolongation of the calamities of war must be ascribed.

I fhall immediately fend a perfon to Paris, with full powers to treat for this object; and it is my anxious with that this measure may lead to the restoration of general peace: but you must be fenfible that nothing can fo much contribute to give effect to this defire, as your manifefting that we poffefs both the determination and the refources to oppofe, with increafed activity and energy, the farther ef

forts

able peace, to maintain inviolate their religion, laws, and liberty, and to deliver down unimpaired to the lateft pofterity the glory and happinefs of thefe kingdoms, is the conftant wifh of my heart, and the uniform end of all my actions.In every measure that can conduce to thefe objects, I am confident of receiving the firm, zealous, and affectionate fupport of my parla

ment.

Addrefs of the House of Commons to the King, moved by Lord Morpeth.

Moft gracious fovereign, We, your majefty's most dutiful and loyal fubjects, the commons of Great Britain, in parliament affembled, beg leave to return your majefty our humble and unanimous thanks for your moft gracious peech from the throne.

We are truly fenfible of your majefty's paternal regard for the intereft of your fubjects, in having omitted no endeavours for fetting on foot negotiations to restore peace to Europe, and to fecure for the future the general tranquillity; and we rejoice to learn, that the fteps which have been taken for this purpose have at length opened the way to an immediate and direct negotiation, which, we doubt not, will be fo conducted on your majefty's part, as either to produce the defirable end of a juft, honourable, and folid peace, for us and for our allies, or to prove, beyond difpute, to what caufe alone the prolonga'tion of the calamities of war must be afcribed.

We cordially join with your majefty in an anxious with that the ftep, which your majefty propofes to take, of fending a perfon to Paris

with full powers to treat, may lead to the restoration of general peace; but we are fully fenfible that nothing can fo much contribute to give effect to this defire, as manifefting that we poffefs both the determination and the refources to oppose, with increafed activity and energy, the further efforts with which we may have to contend; and we must indeed feel this to be peculiarly neceffary, when an intention has been openly manifefted of attempting a defcent on these kingdoms; and, although it cannot be doubted what would be the iffue of fuch an enterprize, we deem it an indifpenfable duty to neglect no precautions that may either preclude the attempt, or fecure the speedieft means of turning it to the confufion and ruin of the enemy.

In reviewing the events of the year, we have not failed to observe, with a juft fatisfaction, that, by the fkill and exertions of your majesty's navy, our extenfive and increasing commerce has been protected to a degree almoft beyond example; and that the fleets of the enemy have, for the greatest part of the year, been blocked up in their own ports; and we have feen with pleafure the operations in the East and West Indies, which, while they have been productive of great national advantage, have alfo difplayed the valour and good conduct of your majefty's forces, both by fea and land, in a degree highly honourable to the British arms.

Having contemplated with anxious folicitude the various fortune of war on the continent, and the danger with which all Europe was at one time threatened, we reflect with proportionable admiration and joy on the honourable and digni fied perfeverance of your majesty's ally the emperor, and on the intre.

pidity.

pidity, difcipline, and invincible Ipirit of the Auftrian forces, under the aufpicious conduct of the archduke Charles; and we entertain the moft fanguine hope that, from the turn lately given to the course of the war, the final refult of the campaign may prove more disastrous to the enemy than its commence ment and progress for a time were favourable to their hopes.

While we regret the hoftile difpofitions and conduct on the part of the court of Madrid, which have led to the difcuffions now depending, we entertain a just confidence, that, whenever your majefty fhall be enabled to acquaint us with the final refult, a farther proof will be given to Europe of the temper and prudence which govern your majesty's proceedings; and we cannot too strongly exprefs to your majefty our fixed determination to fupport your majefty with our lives and fortunes, in defending against every aggreffion the dignity, rights, and interefts, of the British empire.

We beg to affure your majefty, that you may at all times rely on the zeal and affection of your faithful commons for fuch fupplies as may be neceffary for the fervice of the year; and that it must afford us the most cordial fatisfaction to find, that, notwithstanding the temporary embarrassments which have been experienced, the ftate of the commerce, manufactures, and revenue of the country, proves the real extent and folidity of the public refources, and will furnish fuch means as may be equal to the great and vigorous exertions which the prefent crisis peculiarly requires.

We acknowledge, with the ut moft thankfulness and fatisfaction, that the diftreffes, which were in the last year experienced from the fcarcity of corn, are now, by the

bleffing of God, happily removed, and that an abundant harvest affords the pleafing profpect of relief in that important article to the labouring claffes of the community; and with equal fatisfaction we reflect on the uninterrupted continuance of our internal tranquillity, on the general attachment of your majefty's faithful fubjects to the British conftitution, and on the happy effects produced by the energy and wifdom of the laws, in repreffing the endeavours of thofe who wished to introduce anarchy and confufion into the country.

We beseech your majesty to believe that we are deeply impressed with the gracious and paternal expreffions of your majesty's conftant folicitude for the glory and happinefs of your kingdoms; and we are perfuaded that your majesty may at all times rely on the firm, zealous, and affectionate fupport of your parliament in thofe exertions which are directed to the great object of defeating all the defigns of our enemies, of restoring to the people the bleffings of a fecure and honourable peace, and of delivering down unimpaired to the latest pofterity thofe civil and religious bleffings, by which thefe kingdoms have been fo eminently diftinguifhed, under the protection of your majefty's juft and aufpicious government.

The Addrefs of the House of Lords, moved by Earl Bathurst.

Moft gracious fovereign,

We your majefty's most dutiful and loyal fubjects, the lords fpiritual and temporal, in parliament affembled, beg leave to return your majesty our humble thanks for your majelly's

majesty's most gracious fpeech from the throne.

We acknowledge with gratitude your majefty's gracious condefcenfion in acquainting us that you have ontitted no endeavours for fetting on foot negotiations to reftore peace to Europe, and to fecure for the future the general tranquillity; and that the fteps which you have taken for the purpose have at length opened the way to an immediate and direct negotiation, the iffue of which muft produce the defirable end of a juft, honourable, and folid peace, for us and for our allies, or muft prove, beyond difpute, to what caufe alone the prolongation of the calamities of war must be afcribed.

We entirely concur in the anxious with expreffed by your majefty, that the step which your majefty propofes to take of fending a perfon to Paris, with full power to treat for the restoration of general peace, may lead to the accomplishment of that object. But we are fully fenfible that nothing can fo much contribute to give effect to this defire, as our manifefting that we poffefs both the determination and the resources to oppofe, with increased activity and energy, the further efforts with which we may have to contend.

We feel this peculiarly neceffary at a moment when the enemy has openly manifefted the intention of attempting a defcent on thefe kingdoms. We are fully fenfible that it cannot be doubted what would be the issue of fuch an enterprize; but we fhall, nevertheless, think it our duty to take every precaution that may either elude the attempt, or fecure the fpeedieft means of turning it to the confufion and ruin of the enemy.

In reviewing the events of the

year, we have great pleasure in obferving, that, by the fkill and exertions of your majefty's navy, the extenfive and increafing commerce of the country has been protected to a degree almoft beyond example, and that the fleets of the enemy have, for the greatest part of the year, been blocked up in their own ports; that the operations in the Eaft and Weft Indies have been highly honourable to the British arms, and productive of great national advantage; and that the valour and good conduct of your ma jefty's forces, both by fea and land, have been eminently confpicuous.

We have also observed, with the utmost satisfaction, that although the fortune of war on the continent has been more various, and although the progrefs of the French armies threatened the utmoft danger to all Europe, yet, from the honourable and dignified perfeverance of your majefty's ally the emperor, and from the intrepidity, difcipline, and invincible fpirit of the Auftrian forces, under the aufpicious conduct of his royal highnefs the archduke Charles, fuch a turn has lately been given to the courfe of the war, as may inspire a well-grounded confidence that the final refult of the campaign will prove more difaftrous to the enemy than its commencement was for a time favourable to their hopes.

We rely with the utmost confidence on your majesty's gracious affurances, that whenever your ma jefty fhall be enabled to acquaint us with the final refult of the dif cuffions to which the apparently hoftile difpofition and conduct of the court of Madrid has given rise, they will afford to Europe a further proof of your majefty's moderation and forbearance; and we entreat your majesty to be affured that

we