happy union of order and liberty eftablished in thefe kingdoms. The nature of the fyftem introduced into France, afforded to that country, in the midst 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 fuch a conteft, you have thewn yourselves worthy of all the bleffings that you inherit. By your counfels and conduct, the conftitution has been preferved inviolate against the defigns of foreign and domeftic enemies; the honor 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 opportunity 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 spirit 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 impreffed on my heart. I / trust 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 confi- dence between me and my parliament, which beft promote the true dignity and glory of my crown, and the genuine happiness of my Feople.

His Majefty's most gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament, 6th October, 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 moft 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 iffue 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 muft be afcribed.

I thall immediately fend a perfon to Paris, with full powers to treat for this object, and it is my anxious wish 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 poffess both the determination and the refources to oppofe; with increased activity and energy, the farther efforts with which we may have to contend.

You will feel this peculiarly neceffary at a moment when the enemy has openly manifefted the intention of attempting a defcent on these kingdoms. It cannot be doubted.

what

what would be the iffue of fuch an enterprize; but it befits your wifdom 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, you will have obferved that, by the fkill and exertions of my navy, our extenfive and increafing commerce has been protected to a degree almoft beyond example, and the fleets of the enemy have, for the greatest part of the year, been blocked up in their own ports.

The operations in the East and West Indies have been highly honourable to the British arms, and productive of great national advantage; and the valour and good conduct of my forces, both by fea and land, have been eminently confpicuous.

The fortune of war on the continent has been more various; and the progrefs of the French armies threatened, at one period, the utmoft danger to all Europe; but from the honourable and dignified perfeverance of my ally the Emperor, and from the intrepidity, difcipline, and invincible fpirit of the Auftrian forces, under the aufpicious conduct of the archduke Charles, fuch a turn has lately been given to the course of the war, as may infpire a well-grounded confidence that the final refult of the campaign will prove more difaftrous to the enemy than its commencement and progrefs for a time were favourable to their hopes.

The apparently hoftile difpofitions and conduct of the court of Madrid have led to difcuflions, of which I am not yet enabled to ac

quaint you with the final refult; but I am confident that whatever may be their iffue, I fhall have given to Europe a farther proof of my moderation and forbearance; and I can have no doubt of your determination to defend against every aggreffion, the dignity, rights, and interefts, of the British empire.

Gentlemen of the House of

Commons,

I rely on your zeal and public fpirit for fuch fupplies as you may think neceffary for the fervice of the year. It is a great fatisfaction to me to obferve, that, notwithftanding the temporary embarraifments which have been experienced, the ftate of the commerce, manufactures, and revenue, of the country, proves the real extent and folidity of our refources, and furnishes with fuch means as you must be equal to any exertions which the prefent crifis may require.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

The diftreffes, which were in the laft year experienced from the fcarcity of corn, are now, by the bleffing of God, happily removed, and an abundant harveft affords the pleafing profpect of relief in that important article to the labouring claffes of the community. Our internal tranquillity has allo continued undisturbed; the general attachment of my people to the British conftitution has appeared on every occafion, and the endeavours of thofe who wifhed to introduce anarchy and confufion into this country, have been repreffed by the energy and wisdom of the laws,

To defeat all the def gns of our enemies, to restore my people the bleffings of a fecure and honourable peace, to maintain inviolate their religion, laws, and liberty, and to deliver down unimpaired to the lateft pofterity the glory and happiness of thefe kingdoms, is the conftant with of my heart, and the uniform end of all my actions. In every meafure that can conduce to thefe objects, I am confident of receiving the firm, zealous and affectionate fupport of my parliament.

Proteft of Earl Fitzwilliam against the Address of the House of Lords to the Throne on his Majefty's Speech announcing the opening of a Negotiation for Peace with the French Republic.

Diffentient,

ft. Becaufe, by this addrefs, amended as it ftands, the fanction of the lords is given to a feries of meafures, as ill judged, with regard to their object, as they are derogatory from the dignity of his majefty's crown, and from the hopour of this kingdom. The reiteration of folicitations for peace to a fpecies of power, with whofe very exiftence all fair and equitable accommodat on is incompatible, can have no other effect than that which it is notorious all our folicitations have hitherto had. They muft increase the arrogance and ferocity of the common enemy of all nations; they muft fortify the credit, and fix the authority of an odious government over an enflaved people; they muft impair the confidence of all other powers in the magnanimity, conftancy, and fidelity of the British councils; and it is much to be apprehended it will

inevitably tend to break the fpring of that energy, and to lower that fpirit which has characterised in former times this high-minded nation, and which, far from finking under misfortune, has even risen with the difficulties and dangers in which our country has been involved.

2d. Becaufe no peace, fuch as may be capable of recruiting the ftrength, economizing the means, augmenting the refources, and providing for the fafety of this kingdom, and its infeparable connections and dependencies, can be had with the ufurped power now exereifing authority in France, confidering the defcription, the character, and the conduct, of thofe who compofe that government; the methods by which they have obtained their power, the policy by which they hold it, and the maxims they have adopted, openly profeffed, and uniformly acted on, towards the deftruction of all governments not formed on their model and fubfervient to their domination.

3d. Because the idea that this kingdom is competent to defend itfelf, its laws, liberties, and religion, under the general fubjugation of all Europe, is prefumptuous in the extreme, contradictory to the fuppofed motives for our prefent eager folicitations for peace, and is certainly contrary to the standing policy both of ftate and commerce, by which Great Britain has hitherto flourished.

4th. Becaufe, while the common enemy exercifes his power over the feveral ftates of Europe in the way we have feen, it is im poffible long to preferve our trade, or, what cannot exift without it,

Our

Gur naval power. This hoftile fyftem feizes on the keys of the dominions of these powers, without any confideration of their friendship, their enmity, or their neutrality; prefcribes laws to them as to conquered provinces; mulets and fines them at pleasure; forces them, without any particular quarrel, into direct hoftility with this kingdom, and expels us from fuch ports and markets as the thinks fit; infomuch that (Europe remaining under its prefent flavery) there is no harbour which we can enter without her permition, either in a commercial or a naval character. This general interdict cannot be begged off; we must refift it by our power, or we are already in a state of vaffalage.

5th. Becaufe, whilft this ufurped power hall continue thus conftituted, and thus difpofed, no fe curity whatever can be hoped for in our colonies and plantations, thofe invaluable fources of our national wealth and our naval power. This war has thewn that the power prevalent in France, by intentionally diforganizing the plantation fyttem (which France had in common with all other European nations), and by inverting the order and relations therein eftablished, has been able with a naval force, altogether contemptible, and with very inconfiderable fuccours from Europe, to baffle in a great measure the most powerful armament ever fent from this country into the Weft Indies, and at an expence hitherto unparalleled, and has, by the force of example, and by the effects of her machinations, produced, at little or no expence to herfelf either of blood or treafure, uniyerfal defolation and ruin, by the general deftruction of every thing

valuable and neceffary for cultivation, throughout feveral of our iflands, lately among the most flourishing and productive. The new fyftem, by which thefe things have been effected, leaves our colonies equally endangered in peace as in war. It is therefore with this general fyftem (of which the Weft India fcheme is but a ramification) ́ that all ancient establishments are effentially at war for the fake of felf prefervation.

6th. Because it has been declared from the throne, and in effect the principle has been adopted by Parliament, that there was no way likely to obtain a peace, commonly fafe and honourable, but through the ancient and legitimate government long established in France. That government in its lawful fucceflion has been folemnly recognized, and affiftance and protection as folemnly promifed to thofe Frenchmen who thould exert themselves in its reftoration. The political principle upon which this recognition was made is very far from being weakened by the conduct of the newly-invented government. Nor are our obligations of good faith, pledged on fuch strong motives of policy to thofe who have been found in their allegiance disfolved, nor can they be fo, until fairly directed efforts have been made to fecure this great fundamental point. None have yet been employed with the finalleft degree of vigour and perseverence.

7th. Because the example of the great change made by the ufurpation in the moral and political world (more dangerous than all her conquefts) is by the prefent procedure confirmed in all its force. It is the first fuccefsful example furnifhed by hiftory of the fubverfion

of

of the antient government of a great country, and of all its laws, orders, and religion, by the corruption of mercenary armies, and by the feduction of a multitude bribed by confifcation to fedition, in defiance of the sense, and to the entire deftruction of almoft the whole proprietary body of the nation. The fatal effects of this example must be felt in every country. New means, new arms, new pretexts, are furnished to ambition; and new perfons are intoxicated with that poifon.

8th. Because our eagerness in fuing for peace may induce the perfons exercifing power in France erroneously to believe, that we act from neceffity, and are unable to continue the war; a perfuafion which, in the event of an actual peace, will operate as a temptation to them to renew that conduct which brought on the prefent war, neither fhall we have any of the ufual fecurities in peace. In their treaties they do not acknowledge the obligation of that law, which for ages has been common to all Europe. They have not the fame fentiments nor the fame ideas of their intereft in the confervation of peace, which have hitherto in fluenced all regular governments; they do not in the fame manner feel public diftrefs, or the private mifery of their fubjects; they will not find the fame difficulty on the commencement of a new war to call their whole force into fudden action, where, by the law, every citizen is a foldier, and the perfon and properties of all are liable at once to arbitrary requifitions. On the other hand, no attempt has been made to fhew in what manner, whether by alliances, by force, military or naval, or by the improvement and augmentation of

our finances, we fhall be better able to refift their hoftile attempts, after the peace, than at the present hour. If we remain armed, we cannot reap the ordinary advantage of peace in economy; if we difarm, we fhall be fubject to be driven into a new war, under every circumftance of disadvantage, unlefs we now prepare ourselves to fuffer with patience and fubmiffion whatever infults, indignities, and injuries, we may receive from that infolent, domineering, and unjust power.

9th. Because the inability of humbling ourselves again to folicit peace, in a manner, which is a recognition of the French republic, contrary to all the principles of war, the danger of peace if obtained, the improbability of its duration, and the perfeverance of the enemy throughout the interval of peace in their mischievous fyftem, is not conjecture, but certainty. It has been avowed by the actual governors of France, at the very moment when they had before them our application for a paffport. They chofe that moment for publifhing a ftate paper, breathing the moft hoftile mind. In it they ftimulate and goad us by language the most opprobious and offenfive. They frankly tell us, that it is not our intereft to defire peace, for that they regard peace only as the opportunity of preparing fresh means for the annihilation of our naval power. By making peace they do not conceal that it will be their object-" to wrest from us our maritime preponderancy-to re-eftablifh what they invidiously call the freedom of the feas; to give a new impulfe to the Spanish, Dutch, and French marines; and to carry to the highest degree of profperity