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of America, having been mutually ratified, I have ordered copies of it, by his majesty's command, to be laid before you.

I have the pleasure to announce to you, that her royal highness the princess of Wales has been happily delivered of a princefs; an event which, by giving additional ftability to his majefty's auguft houfe, cannot fail to afford you the higheft fatisfaction.

of which have, in fome degree, been difclofed in feveral trials; and to the difturbances which have taken place in fome parts of the kingdom. It has, at the fame time, been a fource of great fatisfaction to me, to obferve the fuccefsful and meritorious exertions of the magiftrates in feveral parts of the kingdom; and the alacrity which his majefty's regular and militia forces have univerfally manifefted in aid of the civil power, when

Gentlemen of the house of ever they have been called upon

commons,

I obferve with the fincereft pleafure, that, notwithstanding the coninued preffure of the war, the commerce and revenues of this kingdom have not in any degree fallen from that flourishing ftate of ad vancement, which in the laft feffion of parliament was a fubject of fuch juft congratulation. This circumftance affords a decifive proof, that your profperity is founded on a folid bafis, and leads me to indulge the flattering hope, that whatever additional burthens you may find it neceffary to impofe will not be materially felt by the people.

I have ordered the public accounts and estimates for the enfuing year to be laid before you, and have no doubt of your readiness to provide fuch fupplies as a due fenfe of the exigencies of the kingdom fhall fuggeft, and the wife policy of strengthening his majefty's exertions for procuring a folid and permanent peace fhall appear to render neceflary.

My lords and gentlemen,

It is with regret that I feel myfelf obliged to advert to those fecret and treafonable affociations, the dangerous extent and malignity

for the prefervation of the peace, and fupport of the laws. It remains for your prudence and wifdom to devife fuch measures as, together with the continuance of thofe exertions, and with the additional power which, by the advice of the privy-council, I have thought it neceffary to establish in different counties, will prevent the return of fimilar excefles, and restore a proper reverence for the laws of the country.

The fuperior and increafing importance of the agriculture and manufactures, and particularly of the linen manufacture of the kingdom, will command your accufiomed fupport. Under the prefent fituation of Europe, you cannot fail to attend, with peculiar vigilance, to the general state of provifions; and, if circumstances fhall, at any time, render your interpofition adviseable, I have no doubt of your adopting fuch meafures as fhall beft apply to the exifting neceflity

of the times.

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impress the enemy with a thorough conviction of the refources of his majesty's kingdoms, and to procure a favourable termination to your honourable efforts. His majefty has the fulleft reliance on your firmness and attachment, and on the fortitude, fpirit, and perfeverance of his people.

It will be my ambition, as it is my duty, to represent your zeal in his majefty's fervice; and it will be my perfonal and most anxious wish to co-operate with your efforts in the common caufe, in which we are all equally engaged and interefted; and my utmost endeavours fhall be ufed to fecure the happiness and profperity of this kingdom, and to protect and maintain its most excellent conftitution.

Speech of the Speaker of the Irish House of Commons, on prefenting the Bills of Supply to his Excel lency the Lord Lieutenant, for the Royal Affent.

I should feel a pride in repeating the fentiments of loyalty which direct the commons in all their deliberations, but the bills of fupply, which they now offer, declare them more effectually than it is in the power of any language to exprefs.

We are a part of the empire; we will ftand or fall with Britain; it is our repeated determined refolution, and this nation will exert all its powers, and will call forth all its refources, to fupport, with her, the common caufe, to uphold the fafety of the laws, the religion, and the conftitution, against the overthrow with which the prefent unprovoked and unexampled war attempts to threaten them.

Peace is an object most devoutly to be wifhed; but an infecure peace is only a fmothered war; for a lafting and honourable one (and none can be lasting that is not honourable) we look to the powerful impfeffions which the abundant refources of the empire, the vigour of his majesty's exertions, and the cordial co-operation of all his fubjects, must make on the common enemy.

We have, accordingly, with an unanimous voice, granted fupplies to the utmost defire expreffed by his majesty's ministers, and in doing fo we look back with great fatisfaction on the energy, wifdom, and economy, with which the very liberal fupplies of the laft feffions have been administered under your excellency's government.

The defence of the kingdom has had due attention paid to it. The fpirit of infurrection has been vigorously fuppreffed wherever it has appeared, and we have the strongest hope, from the vigilance, the firmnefs, and conciliating moderation, which have marked your excellency's conduct fince your arrival in this kingdom, that under the additional powers with which the laws of this feffion will have armed the magiftracy, it will be totally and fpeedily fubdued.

Speech of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, to both Houses of Parliament, April 15, 1796.

My lords and gentlemen, In releafing you from farther attendance in parliament, I am peculiarly commanded by his majesty to thank you for that confpicuous zeal and unanimity, fo honourable to yourselves, and fo impreffive on

Our

our enemies, which have marked your conduct through the whole feffion, in promoting, by your energy and temper, the interefts of your country, and in fupporting, by your fpirit and liberality, the common cause of the empire.

His majefty has taken the fteps which appeared moft proper for fetting on foot a negotiation for general peace, if the enemy fhould be difpofed to enter into fuch negotiation on grounds confiftent with the fafety, honour, and intereft of his majefty's kingdoms, and of his allies.

If his majesty's views in this refpect should fail, he has no doubt, that the valour of his fubjects, the refources of his kingdoms, and the exertions of the powers engaged with him, will ultimately produce this defirable end.

Gentlemen of the houfe of

commons,

I am to thank you, in his majefty's name, for the cheerfulness and liberality with which you have provided for the current fervices of the year, and it affords me the highest fatisfaction to reflect that thefe objects have been attained by burthens fo judicioufly impofed, that they can fcarcely affect the lower orders of the people. It is equally fatisfactory to obferve that your ftrength and profperity remain undiminished, notwithstanding the preffure of the war, and it will be my endeavour to cherish your refources, and apply your liberality with economy and pru

dence.

My lords and gentlemen,
The inquiries I had ordered to
be made with regard to the pro-
duce of the laft harvest, and the
measures taken by you to prevent

the export of grain, must relieve
the public mind from an apprehen-
fion of fcarcity. If any illicit means
fhould be attempted, to evade the
provifions of the laws, which have
been enacted upon this important
fubject, I fhall not be inattentive
in exercifing those powers with
which I am entrusted.

The vigorous measures you have
adopted for the fuppreflion of in-
furrection and outrage, and the
wife provifions you have made for
preventing the extenfion of fimilar
offences, muft have the most falu-
tary effects.

The new regulation of licences under the fuperintendence of magiftrates, will tend to promote tranquillity and fobriety. The eftablifhment of more frequent feffions of the peace will afford an eafy and expeditious adminiftration of juftice in the different diftricts throughout the kingdom. The liberal increafe of the falaries of the judges, and the alteration of the civil-bill jurifdiction, for the convenience of the lower ranks of the people, will enfure the constant and regular attention of his majes ty's judges to the civil and criminal bufinefs that will remain to be done on the circuits.

These measures cannot but demonftrate to the people at large the firmnefs and the temper of parliament, which, whilft it is determined to reprefs the exceffes of licentioufnefs and outrage, is at the fame time anxious to enfure to the country thofe permanent advantages of fecurity, peace and good order, which are to be derived from a prompt and upright adminiftration of justice.

I cannot too strongly recommend it to you to give effect to these benefits by your example and prefence; and I am confident, that

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when you are relieved from your duty in parliament, all ranks and defcriptions of his majefty's faithful fubjects will feel themselves protected by your exertions and authority in your different coun

ties.

Your kind declarations in favour of my adminiftration make the deepest impreffions upon my feelings. If I have any claim to your confidence and good opinion, it arifes from the fidelity with which I have reprefented to his majefty your loyalty and zeal, and from the fincere defire I feel to conform my conduct to your fentiments. Great Britain and Ireland form one empire; they are infeparably connected; they muft ftand or fall together; and we are all equally engaged, because we are all equally interested in the common caufe of defending and upholding our religion, our laws, and our conftitution.

Speech of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, to both Houses of Parliament, Oa. 13, 1796.

My lords and gentlemen, I have his majesty's commands to acquaint you that he has thought it neceffary to require your attendance in parliament at this early period, and to refort to your deliberate wifdom, at a time when the ambitious projects of our enemies have threatened to interrupt the happiness and profperity of his people, by making a defcent on this kingdom and Great Britain. And although his majefty looks forward with the utmoft confidence to the fpirit, loyalty, and ability, of his faithful people of Ireland, to repel fuch an attack; it will yet become your wifdom to neglot no

precautions which may preclude the attempt, or fecure the speediest means of turning it to the confufion of the enemy.

His majefty has been graciously pleafed to direct an addition to be made to the regular forces in this kingdom, by troops fent from Great Britain, the greater part of which is already arrived; and in purfuance of his majefty's cominands, I have alfo encouraged the loyal and zealous difpofition which has generally difplayed itself, to allociate in arms under his majesty's authority, for the better fecurity of property, and the prefervation of tranquillity and good order.

In confequence of the fteps which his majesty has taken to reftore peace to Europe, and to fecure its future tranquillity, a way has at length been opened for an immediate and direct negotiation; and I am commanded to acquaint you, that it is his majesty's intention to fend a perfon to Paris, with full powers to treat for the reftoration of general peace.

tions and conduct of the court of The apparently hoftile difpofiSpain, have led to difcuffions, of which I am not able to acquaint you with the final refult: but, whatever may be their iffue, they cannot but afford to Europe a further proof of his majefty's moderation and forbearance, and cannot fail to animate your utmost exertions in defending the dignity, rights, and intereft of the empire, against every aggreffion.

In reviewing the events of this year, it must afford you the greatest fatisfaction to obferve, that, by the fpirit and exertions of his majesty's navy, the commerce of this kingdom has been protected in a degree almoft beyond example; and in no part more completely, than by the

fkill, activity, and bravery of the fquadron ftationed on the coaft of this kingdom.

The fuccefs of his majefty's arms in the Eaft and Weft Indies has been highly honourable and advantageous to the empire; and evinces, in the strongest manner, the valour and good conduct of his forces, both by fea and land.

The steady and dignified conduct of the emperor, and the intrepidity and spirit of the Auftrian forces under the command of the archduke Charles, have given fo effential a change to the afpect of affairs on the continent, as to infpire a well-grounded confidence that the final refult of the campaign will be fuch as materially to promote his majesty's endeavours to obtain a fafe and honourable peace for himself and his allies.

Gentlemen of the houfe of

commons,

I have ordered to be laid before
you an account of fuch articles of
expence as are not included in the
eftimates for the current year, and
which the prefent circumftances
have rendered neceffary; and when
you confider the great interefts for
which we are engaged, and the ob-
jects for which we are contending,
I doubt not that you will grant the
fupplies which may be requifite for
them with your accustomed libera-
lity; and when the ordinary ac-
counts and estimates for the enfu-
ing year fhall be laid before you, I
truft you will then proceed with the
zeal you have always manifefted in
providing for the exigencies of the
ftate, and the honourable fupport
of his majefty's government.

My lords and gentlemen,
The expediency of the vigorous
meafures which you have adopted

in the laft feffion of parliament
has been amply proved by the out-
rages, which they were intended to
fupprefs, having in a great mea-
fure fubfided. I am, however, to
lament that in one part of the
country, good order has not yet
been entirely restored, and that in
other diftricts, a treafonable fyftem
of fecret confederation, by the ad-
miniftering of illegal oaths, ftill con-
tinues, although no means within
the reach of government have been
left untried to counteract it.

You will not fail, at a proper time, to continue your attention to the manufactures, the agriculture, and the commerce of the country, and to extend your accustomed benevolence to the Proteftant charity fchools, and the other inftitutions of education and charity which have been fo long foftered by your liberal encouragement.

The profperity and refources of the kingdom, fo highly improved by your meritorions care, ftill remain unimpaired by the preffure of the war; and I truft to your unremitting attention for the further advancement of your national profperity.

You have, learnt the fteps which his majefty has taken to procure the bleflings of general peace upon a folid and permanent bafis. Should thefe gracious endeavours of his majesty not be followed by the fuccefs which he has every reafon to expect, he is fatisfied that the affections, courage, and perfeverance of his people, will enable him to fruftrate the defigns of our enemies, and to maintain the honour and dignity of the crown.

It will afford me the highest fatisfaction to be aided at this inportant crifis by your advice; and I rely, with a confidence you have libera taught me to indulge, upon your

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