We are fully fenfible of the peculiar advantages derived to this kingdom from the extent of our preparations at home, and from the general demonftrations of zeal and fpirit among all ranks of your Majefty's fubjects; and we have feen, with the greateft fatiffaction, the effect of the measures adopted in Ireland for repreffing a rebellion inftigated by our inveterate enemy; the furrender of the French troops landed for its support; and the successful vigilance and activity of your Majefty's fquadrons in capturing or difperfing the armaments fince deftined for the fame purpose. We are anxious to testify to your Majesty the abhorrence and indignation with which we have obferved the desperate principles and practices of those who have long planned the fubverfion of our conftitution, which have now been fully detected and made manifeft to the world; and we cannot but exprefs our firm perfuafion, that those who had been mifled or feduced must now be awakened to their duty, and that a juft fenfe of the miferies and horrors which thefe traitorous defigns have produced must impress on the minds of all your Majefty's faithful fubjects the neceflity of continuing to repel with firmnefs every attack on the laws and eftablished government of their country. We fhall not fail diligently to apply ourfelves to the confideration of fuch meafures as may provide the neceffary fupplies with as little inconvenience to your people, and as little addition to the permanent burdens of the ftate, as the circumftances will admit; and, under the unavoidable preffure of protracted war, while we join with your Majesty in regretting the indifpenfable neceffity of heavy expenfes, we fhall derive the greatest fatisfaction and confidence from the productive state of the revenue, the maintenance and improvement of public credit, and the extent and profperity of the commerce and induftry of your Majefty's fubjects; and that we shall eagerly avail ourselves of every opportunity to cultivate and improve advantages fo important to the public safety and welfare. We embrace with fatisfaction the opportunity of thus renewing to your Majefty the folemu affurances of our firm and unalterable determination to perfevere in thofe exertions which may enable your Majefty to conduct the great conteft in which we are engaged to a fafe and honourable conclufion. Animated by a like fenfe of the difficulties we have furmounted, and of the diftinguished fuccefs which has rewarded our perfeverance in a juft caufe, we fhail uniformly maintain thofe principles, an adherence to which, in a period of general danger and calamity, has procured to us the advantages of our prefent fituation, and will, we truft, under every viciffitude, continue to prove that the fecurity and happiness of the British nation find the fureft fupport (under the bleffing of Providence) in its own conftancy, its energy, and its virtue. T f To the foregoing Addrefs his Majefty returned the following most gracious Anfwer. Gentlemen, I RETURN you my particular thanks for this loyal and dutiful addrefs; and receive, with the greatest fatisfaction, your congratulations on the late glorious events, and the declaration of your firm adherence to those wife and honourable principles which have uniformly guided your conduct. The perfeverance and firmness of Parliament, and the zeal and spirit of my people, will give additional weight to my exertions in endeavouring to improve the advantages which this country and Europe have every reason to expect from the happy confequences of the fuccefs of my arms, and from the prefent ftate and difpofition of other powers. In the House of Lords the following Address was moved by the Earl of Darnley, feconded by Lord Craven, and carried unanimously. Moft gracious Sovereign, WE, your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal fubjects, the Lords fpiritual and temporal, in Parliament affembled, beg leave to approach your Majefty with our humble thanks for your Majefty's most gracious fpeech from the throne. We beg leave to offer to your Majesty our heart-felt congratulations on the glorious and decifive victory obtained by your Majefty's fleet under the command of Rear-admiral Lord Nelfon over an enemy fuperior in force, and in the advantage of fituation; an achievement which has even added fresh splendour to the unexampled feries of your Majesty's naval triumphs. While this memorable fuccefs has, in the firft inftance, turned to the confufion of the enemy an enterprise not more diftinguished by its injustice, perfidy, and extravagance, than by the inveterate hoftility of its authors against every British intereft, we entertain a juft hope, that the blow now given to the power and influence of the enemy will be decifive in its effects; that the opening thus afforded will be improved by other powers, to the maintenance of their own independence and fecurity; and that the wife and dignified example of the Emperor of Ruffia, and of the Ottoman Porte, will be followed by fuch effectual and united exertions, as are alone fuited to the present crisis, and as are best calculated to produce the general deliverance of Europe. Permit us to affure your Majesty, that, while we feel our hearts and hopes thus elated by the brilliant fuccefs which has crowned your Majesty's arms abroad, we congratulate your Majefty no lefs fincerely on the uninterrupted state of fecurity in which this kingdom has been preferved against the vain threats of the enemy, by the extent of your Majesty's military preparations; and still VOL. VII. 4 F more more by the zeal and fpirit which animate all ranks of jefty's fubjects in the caufe of their country. Nor have we feen with lefs fatisfaction the entire disappointment of the attempts of our enemies against your Majesty's kingdom of Ireland, the defeat and furrender of the force which they had difembarked for the fupport of a rebellion inftigated by themfelves, and the capture or difperfion of the armaments destined for the fame object; and we truft, that the rebellion, thus cut off from foreign affiftance, and curbed and repreffed, as it has been, by the vigour of your Majesty's councils, and the gallantry of your Majefty's troops, will, ere long, be finally extinguished. We are anxious to declare to your Majefty, and to the world, our abhorrence of the views and principles of those who, in concert with our inveterate enemy, had planned the fubversion of the conftitution of their country; and we cannot but feel perfuaded, that the complete expofure of these treasons muft awaken the deluded to a fenfe of their duty, and must impress ftill more strongly on the minds of all your Majefty's fubjects, the neceffity of fupporting, against every attack, the laws and government of their country. Convinced of the extent and value of the bleffings which, under your Majesty's happy and paternal government, we have to defend, and confident in the refources and fpirit of our country, we have encountered with cheerfulness many and great difficulties. Thefe, by the bleffing of Providence on your Majesty's dignified firmness and perfeverance in a just cause, have happily been furmounted. Animated by this fuccefs, encouraged by the comparative fituation of our country, and, above all, deeply impreffed with a fenfe of that duty which is incumbent on every individual in a period of fuch general danger and calamity, we will not relax our exertions, but will, to the utmost of our power, fupport your Majefty in every measure which may best contribute to deliver unimpaired to pofterity, the fecurity, independence, happiness, and honour of the British empire. The following is his Majefty's most gracious Anfwer to the above Addrefs. My Lords, I RECEIVE with the highest fatisfaction this dutiful and loyal addrefs. Your congratulations on the brilliant fucceffes with which it has pleafed Providence to reward our exertions, are particularly agreeable to me; and I trust that the honourable and dignified perfeverance of my Parliament and my people will, both by example and effect, materially contribute to reflore the independence of Europe, and to infure to thefe kingdoms the bleffings of fecure and honourable peace. APPEN. APPENDIX. HISTORY OF THE WAR. From the LONDON GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY, Admiralty Office, October 13. IEUTENANT Brodie, of the Rofe cutter, arrived early this of his Majefty's fhips, &c. employed in the North Sea, to Evan Nepean, Efq. of which the following is a copy: Venerable, off the Coaft of Holland, the 12th of October, by Log (11th), three P. M. Camperdown, E.S.E. eight Miles, Wind N. by E. Sir, I HAVE the pleasure to acquaint you, for the information of the Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty, that at nine o'clock this morning I got fight of the Dutch fleet; at half paft twelve I paffed through their line, and the action commenced, which has been very fevere. The admiral's fhip is difmafted, and has ftruck, as have feveral others, and one is on fire. I fhall fend Captain Fairfax with particulars the moment I can spare him. From the LONDON GAZETTE, Oct. 14, 1797. Admiralty Office, October 13. Extract of a Letter from Admiral Sir Richard King, Bart. Commander in Chief of his Majefty's Ships and Veffels at Plymouth, to Mr. Nepean, dated the 11th inft. I HEREWITH tranfmit, for their Lordships' information, a letter which I received this morning from Lieutenant Tomlinfon, commanding the Speedwell lugger, giving an account of his having captured a French cutter privateer, carrying two brass fix-pounders, two swivels, and eighteen men. • Sir, Speedwell, at Sea, October 10, 1797. I HAVE the honour to inform you, the Start bearing north about nine leagues, we fell in with, this morning, and, after a chase of fix hours, captured Les Amies, a fmall French cutter privateer, having on board two brafs fix-pounders, two fwivels, and eighteen men; out four days from Granville, and had not taken any thing. I have the honour to be, &c. Sir Richard King, Bart. &c. ROB. TOMLINSON. Admiralty Office, Oct. 14. Copy of a Letter from Vice-Admiral Kingsmill, Commander in Chief of his Majefty's Ships and Veffels on the Coaft of Ireland, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated the 5th of October 1797. Sir, I REQUEST you will inform my Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty, that Captain Faulknor, of his Majesty's fhip Diana, has sent in a coppered French cutter privateer, Le Flibuftier, of four guns, five fwivels, and twenty-nine men, out of Bourdeaux fifty-two days, but which had not made any capture. Í have the honour to be, &c. Admiralty Office, Oct. 14. R. KINGSMILL. Copy of a Letter from Vice-Admiral Kingsmill, Commander in Chief of his Majefty's Ships and Veffels on the Coaft of Ireland, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated at Cork, the 9th of October 1797. Sir, PLEASE to inform my Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty, that his Majesty's fhip Cerberus is just returned from a cruise, in which the has captured the San Noberta Spanish privateer schooner, of four carriage guns and fwivels, and forty-two men, and recaptured the Graff, a Danish |