rence in every measure which can tend to alleviate our national burthens, to fecure the true principles of the conftitution, and to promote the general welfare of my people." The humble Addrefs to the above Speech, of the Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, in parliament affembled. Die Martis, 25 Januarii, 1785. "Moft gracious fovereign, "We, your Majefty's molt duti ful and loyal fubjects, the lords fpiritual and temporal, in parliament affembled, beg leave to return your Majefty's our humble thanks for your Majefty's moft gracious fpeech from the throne. "Permit us to exprefs to your Majefty our moft grateful fenfe of your Majefty's regard for our private convenience, in not commanding from us an earlier attendance in Parliament. "Your Majefty may rely on our faithful and diligent exertions in every part of our duty; and, truly fenfible of the importance of the object, we beg leave to affure your Majefty, that it is our determination to give our immediate attention to the adjustment of fuch points in the commercial intercourse between Great Britain and Ireland, as are not yet finally arranged; trufting that fuch a fyftem may be formed as may best infure the profperity of both kingdoms, by clofely uniting them upon principles of reciprocal advantage. fition of foreign powers towards this country, notwithstanding the dif ferences which appear to prevail upon the continent. "We defire to return to your Majefty our warmeft thanks for your gracious communication of the affurances which your Majefty continues to receive of the good difpo "The information your Majesty is pleafed to give us of the fuccefs, which has attended the measures taken in the laft feffion for the fuppreffion of fmuggling, and for the improvement of the revenue, affords us the greatest fatisfaction: and your Majefty may be affured, that we will apply ourfelves, with unremitted attention to points of fuch great concern to the profperity of this country; and that we will take into our early confideration the matters fuggefted in the feveral reports of the commiffioners of public accounts, as well as fuch farther regulations as may appear to be neceffary in the public offices of the kingdom. "From the experience we have had of your Majesty's paternal regard for the interefts of all your fubjects, we beg leave humbly to exprefs to your Majefty our fulleft confidence in the gracious affurat ce of your Majefty's hearty concurrence in every measure which may tend to alleviate the national burthens, to fecure the true principles of the conftitution, and to promote the general happinefs and welfare of our people.' " "You may depend upon the "utmost care and attention on my part, to fettle every thing, "which concerns the intereft of my kingdoms, upon`a folid and "durable foundation." The bumble Addrefs to the above Speech, of the House of Commons to the King. "Moft gracious Sovereign, "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 thanks for your most graciousfpeech from the throne. "We beg your Majefty will be affured, that we thall refume the confideration of public bufinefs with the fame principles of duty to your Majefty, and regard to the interefts of our confiituents, which we have endeavoured to manifeft in all our proceedings. "That we will not fail to give our moft earnest attentions to the adjustment of fuch points as are not yet finally arranged in the com. mercial intercourfe between Great Britain and Ireland; fully agreeing with your Majefly, in thinking that the fyftem which will unite both kingdoms the moft clofely on principles of reciprocal advantage, will beit enfure the general profperity of your Majefty's dominions. We beg leave to affure your Majefty, that it affords us the trueft pleafure, to be informed that your Majefty continues to receive fuch fatisfactory affurances of the good difpofition of foreign powers towards this country. We beleech your Majefty to your Majefty's paternal goodness "That we are deeply fenfible of and care for your people, in recommending to us, at the fame time, a juft regard to the economy requifite in every department; a duty which your Majefty's faithful commons feel alway's incumbent upon them, and, at this time, peculiarly indifpenfable. "We affure your Majefty, that we fee the importance of every exertion which can tend to the fuppreffion of fimuggling, and the improvement of the revenue; and that we fhall continue to apply ourfelves, with unwearied affiduity, to those important objects. "That we fhall also proceed, with as much expedition as poffible, to the confideration of the reports of the commiffioners of accounts, as well as of fuch farther regulations in the different offices of this kingdom, as may appear likely to conduce to the public advantage. We intreat you Majesty, to be affured, that our utmoft endeavours fhall not be wanting to juftify your Majefty's gracious reliance on our diligent attention to every part of our public duty; and that we receive with the warmest gratitude and fatisfaction, the affurances of your Majefty's concurrence in every meafure which can tend to alleviate the national burthens, to fecure the true principles of the conftitution, and to promote the general welfare of the people." ferve that, by the falutary interpofition of the laws, the general tranquillity is re-eftablished., "Gentlemen of the houfe of commons, "I have ordered the public accounts to be laid before you.. I have the fulleft reliance on your approved loyalty to the king, and attachment to your country, that a due confideration of the exigencies of the ftate will lead you to make whatever provifions fhall appear to be neceffary for the public expences. and for the honourable fupport of his Majefty's government." "My lords and gentlemen, "I am to recommend in the king's name to your earneft inveftigation, thofe objects of trade and commerce between Great Britain and Ireland which have not yet received their complete adjustment. In framing a plan with a view to a final fettlement, you will be fenfible that the interefts of Great Bri tain and Ireland ought to be for ever united and infeparable. And his Majefty relies on your liberality and wifdom for adopting fuch an equitable fyftem for the joint benefit of both countries, and the fupport of the common interest, as will fecure mutual fatisfaction and permanency. The encouragement and extenfion of agriculture and manufactures, and especially of your linen manufacture, will, I am perfuaded, engage your constant concern. Let me likewife direct your attention in a particular manner to the fifleries on your coafts, front which you may reasonably hope for an improving fource of induftry and wealth to this kingdom, and of strength to the empire "The "The liberality which you have always fhewn to the maintenance of your proteftant charter-schools and other public inftitutions, makes it unneceffary for me to recommend them to your care. You cannot more beneficially exert this laudable spirit, than by directing your throughout the kingdom, the advantages of good education. Sen fible of its effential confequence to the morals and happiness of the people, and to the dignity of the nation, I am happy to affure you of his Majefty's gracious patronage; and fhall be earneft to give every affiftance in my power to the fuccefs of fuch meafures as your wifdom may devife for this important purpofe. "It is the province of your prudence and difcretion to confider what new provifions may be neceffary for fecuring the fubject against violence and outrage, for the regulation of the police, and the better execution of the laws, as well as for the general encouragement of peaceable fubordination and honeft induftry. It will be a pleafing tafk for me to aflift and promote your exertions for the tranquillity of the kingdom, for upholding the authority of the legiflature, and fupporting the trac principles of our happy conftitution both in church and A Tranflation of a Letter from the Empress of all the Ruffias to his Pruffian Majefty. Y advantageous fentiments Pruffia, fentiments of which I have given efficacious proofs, permit me to hope for the fame on their part. I expect it the more, as I have ever been convinced of their reciprocal affection. The war which is preparing between the emperor of the Romans and the Hollanders excites the immediate attention of the cabinet of Berlin, of which the Dutch endeavour by all forts of intrigues to fecure the acceffion. Your wif dom acknowledges that the pretenfions of the emperor are equally juft and moderate. Nature herself hath granted to the Auftrian Low Countries the ufe and advantage of the river in difpute. Auftria alone, by virtue of the law of nature and nations, is entitled to an exclufive right to the ufe of the river in ques tion. So that the equity and difiotereftedness of Jofeph II. can only impart this right to other people, it belonging exclufively to his ftates. The fentiments of Auftria merit efteem and attention, but the avidity of the Dutch, and the judgment which they permit themfelves to affume on account of the treaty of Munfter over the House of Auttria, are notorious and blameable in every respect. "Nothing can be alledged with foundation in favour of Holland, therefore the merits not the afliftance of any foreign power. The confequences which thefe repub licans are drawing upon themselves by their obftinacy, muft be fubmit. ted to the moderation of the emperor alone. I am firmly refolved to affift his pretenfions with all my land and fea forces, with as much efficacy as if the welfare of my own empire was in agitation. I hope that this declaration of my fentiments will meet with the fuccefs which our reciprocal friendship deferves, and which hath never been interrupted. CATHERINE." Authentic Copy of the official Paper tranfmitted from bis Moft Chriftian Majefty to the Emperor, relative to the Navigation of the SCHELDT. T HE fincere friendship which attaches the king to the won emperor, and the wishes of his majefty for the maintenance of public tranquillity, make it his duty to come to an explanation with his Imperial Majefty on the difference between that monarch and the Unit. ed Provinces. "The king has the less hefitation in expreffing his thoughts on this important fubject, as the purity of his intentions cannot be called in queftion. His majefty while, in compliance with the folicitation of both parties, he employs his good offices to effect a reconciliation between the emperor and the United Provinces, has carefully abstained from giving any opinion on the foundation of his imperial majefty's firft pretenfions. The king fill prefcribes to himself the fame fi lence; but his concern for the glory of the emperor authorizes the ob. fervation, that his first pretenfions, and the demand for the opening of VOL. XXVII. the Scheldt, cannot be confidered under the fame point of view. "The Dutch, while they refused compliance with this demand, only fupported a right which is fecured to them by a folemn treaty, and which they look upon as the bafis of their profperity, and even exiftence. "It feems to refult from thence, that the refufal of the ftates-general ought to have no other effect than to bring back the negociation begun at Bruffels to the propofitions in the fummary table, and establish a dif cuffion, on the refalt of which the refpective titles ought naturally to depend. "The king would more earnest-, ly defire that this measure was adopted, as it would prevent hoftilities, and might lead to equitable arrangements. The "By pursuing an oppofite conduct, it is to be feared that the emperor will excite a general uneafinefs, and that most of the powers will think themfelves obliged to take fuch precautions and measures as the events may require. king himself must be under the neceffity of affembling troops on his frontiers. Befides, his majefty cannot by any means be indifferent to the fate of the United Provinces, or fee them attacked by open force in their rights and poffeffions, efpecially at prefent, when he is on the point of concluding with the republic an alliance, the fundamental articles of which were agreed on before the late differences. "If, by confiderations of fo great importance, the emperor can be induced to fufpend all marks of hoftility, and liften to the voice of moderation and humanity, the [4 a] king |