Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

The Answer of the Princess of

Wales to the Queen. "The Princess of Wales has the honour to acknowledge the receipt of a note from the Queen, dated yesterday; and begs permission to return her best thanks to her Majesty, for her gracious condescension in the willingness expressed by her Majesty, to have communicated to the illustrious strangers, who will in all probability be present at her Majesty's court, the reasons which have induced her Royal Highness not to be present.

"Such communication, as it appears to her Royal Highness, cannot be the less necessary on account of any publicity which it may be in the power of her Royal Highness to give to her motives; and the Princess of Wales, therefore, entreats the active good of fices of her Majesty, upon an oc casion wherein the Princess of Wales feels it so essential to her that she should not be misunderstood.

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

jesty's principal secretaries of state, has this day notified, by command of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, to the Ministers of friendly Powers resident at his Court, that the Commander in Chief of his Majesty's naval forces off the coasts of the United States of North America, has issued a proclamation, dated at Bermuda, on the 25th day of April last, declaring all the ports, harbours, bays, creeks, rivers, inlets, outlets, islands, and sea-coasts, of the said United States, from the point of land called Black Point to the northern and eastern boundaries between the said United States and the British provinces of New Brunswick, to be in a state of strict and rigorous blockade; and that the said Commander in Chief had stationed off the ports and places above-mentioned a naval force adequate to maintain the said blockade in the most rigorous and effective manner; and that the ports and places aforesaid are and must be considered as being in a state of blockade accordingly; and that all the measures authorized by the law of nations will be adopted and executed with respect to all vessels attempting to violate the said blockade.

Earl Bathurst at the same time notified to the said Ministers, by command of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, that the whole of the French troops, which forcibly occupied positions on the banks of the Elbe, having been removed, so as to leave that river free and secure to the vessels of his Majesty's subjects, as well as of other nations, his Royal Highness has judged it expedient to signify his commands

commands to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that the necessary orders may be given, that all his Majesty's ships of war, which may have been stationed at the mouth of the Elbe for the purpose of blockading the same, may be immediately withdrawn.

The Prince Regent's Speech,
July 30th.

"My Lords and Gentlemen,
"I cannot close this Session of
Parliament without repeating the
expression of my deep regret at
the continuance of his Majesty's
Jamented indisposition.

"When, in consequence of that calamity, the powers of Government were first intrusted to me, I found this country engaged in a war with the greater part of Eu

rope.

[ocr errors]

I determined to adhere to that

line of policy which his Majesty had adopted, and in which he had persevered under so many and such trying difficulties.

"The zealous and unremitting support and assistance which I have received from you, and from all classes of his Majesty's subjects; the consummate skill and ability displayed by the great com. mander, whose services you have so justly acknowledged; and the valour and intrepidity of his Majesty's forces by sea and land, have enabled me, under the blessing of Divine Providence, to surmount all the difficulties with which I have had to contend.

"I have the satisfaction of con

templating the full accomplishment of all those objects for which the war was either undertaken or continued; and the unexampled ex

ertions of this country, combined with those of his Majesty's allies. have succeeded in effecting the deliverance of Europe from the most galling and oppressive tyranny under which it has ever laboured.

"The restoration of so many of the ancient and legitimate Governments of the Continent affords the best prospect of the permanence of that peace, which, in conjunction with his Majesty's allies, I have concluded; and you may rely on my efforts being directed, at the approaching Congress, to complete the settlement of Europe, which has been already so auspiciously begun, and to promote, upon principles of justice and impartiality, all

those measures

which may appear best calculated to secure the tranquillity and happiness of all the nations engaged in

the late war.

"I regret the continuance of hostilities with the United States of America. Notwithstanding the unprovoked aggression of the government of that country, and the circumstances under which it took place, I am sincerely desirous of the restoration of peace between the two nations upon conditions honourable to both. But until this object can be obtained, I am persuaded you will see the necessity of my availing myself of the means now at my disposal to prosecute the war with increased vigour.

"Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

"I thank you for the liberal provision which you have made for the services of the present year.

"The circumstances under which the war in Europe has been concluded,

cluded, and the necessity of maintaining for a time a body of troops in British pay upon the continent, have rendered a continuation of our foreign expenditure unavoidable. You may rely, however, upon my determination to reduce the expenses of the country as rapidly as the nature of our situation will permit.

"My Lords and Gentlemen, "It is a peculiar gratification to me to be enabled to assure you, that full justice is rendered throughout Europe to that manly perseve rance which, amidst the convul sions on the continent, has preserved this country against all the designs of its enemies, has aug mented the resources and extended the dominions of the British empire, and has proved in its result as beneficial to other nations as to

our own.

"His Majesty's subjects cannot fail to be deeply sensible of the distinguished advantages which they have possessed; and I am persuaded that they will ascribe them, under Providence, to that Constitution which it has now for a century been the object of my family to maintain unimpaired, and under which the people of this realm have enjoyed more of real liberty at home, and of true glory abroad, than has ever fallen to the lot of any nation."

Speech of the Prince Regent, November 8.

It is with deep regret that I am again obliged to announce the continuance of his Majesty's lamented indisposition.

It would have given me great VOL LVI.

satisfaction to have been enabled to communicate to you the termi nation of the war between this country and the United States of America.

Although this war originated in the most unprovoked aggression on the part of the Government of the United States, and was calculated to promote the designs of the common enemy of Europe against the rights and independence of all other nations, I never have ceased to entertain a sincere desire to bring it to a conclusion on just and honourable terms.

I am still engaged in negociations for this purpose: the success of them must, however, depend on my disposition being met with corresponding sentiments on the part of the enemy.

The operations of his Majesty's forces by sea and land in the Chesapeake, in the course of the present year, have been attended with the most brilliant and successful results.

The flotilla of the enemy in the Patuxent has been destroyed. The signal defeat of their land forces enabled a detachment of his Majesty's army to take possession of the city of Washington, and the spirit of enterprize which has cha racterized all the movements in that quarter has produced on the inhabitants a deep and sensible impression of the calamities of a war in which they have been so wantonly involved.

The expedition directed from Halifax to the northern coast of the United States has terminated

in a manner not less satisfactory. The successful course of this operation has been followed by the immediate submission of the ex

[blocks in formation]

tensive and important district east of the Penobscot river to his Majesty's arms.

In adverting to these events, I am confident you will be disposed to render full justice to the valour and discipline which have distinguished his Majesty's land and sea forces; and you will regret with me the severe loss the country has sustained by the fall of the gallant commander of his Majesty's troops in the advance upon Baltimore.

I availed myself of the earliest opportunity afforded by the state of affairs in Europe, to detach a considerable military force to the river St. Lawrence; but its arrival could not possibly take place till an advanced period of the campaign.

Notwithstanding the reverse which appears to have occurred on Lake Champlain, I entertain the most confident expectation, well from the amount as from the

as

description of the British force now serving in Canada, that the ascendancy of his Majesty's arms throughout that part of North America will be effectually established.

The opening of the Congress at Vienna has been retarded, from unavoidable causes, to a later period than had been expected.

It will be my earnest endeavour, in the negociations which are now in progress, to promote such arrangements as may tend to consolidate that peace which, in conjunction with his Majesty's allies, I have had the happiness of concluding; and to re-establish that just equilibrium amongst the different Powers which will afford the best prospect of permanent tranquillity to Europe.

Gentlemen of the House of

Commons,

I have directed the estimates for the ensuring year to be laid before you.

I am happy to be able to inform you, that the revenue and commerce of the United Kingdom are in the most flourishing condition.

I regret the necessity of the large expenditure which we must be prepared to meet in the course of the ensuing year; but the circumstances under which the long and arduous contest in Europe has been carried on and concluded, have unavoidably led to large arrears, for which you will see the necessity of providing; and the war still subsisting with America, renders the continuance of great exertions indispensable.

My Lords and Gentlemen, The peculiar character of the late war, as well as the extraordimary length of its duration, must have materially affected the interDal situation of all the countries engaged in it, as well as the commercial relations which formerly subsisted between them.

Under these circumstances f am confident you will see the expediency of proceeding with due caution in the adoption of such regulations as may be necessary for the purpose of extending our trade, and securing our present advantages; and you may rely on my cordial co-operation and assistance in every measure which is calculated to contribute to the prosperity and welfare of his Majesty's dominions.

Circular Letter sent by the Secretary of State for the Home De

partment

partment to the Commanding Officers of those Regiments of British Militia which remain embodied, together with the Opinion of the Attorney and Solicitor General therein referred to:

Whitehall, Nov. 18, 1814. "Sir,-Some doubts having been expressed, as to the legality of keeping the militia, or any part of it, embodied, under the present circumstances in which the country is placed, the question has been referred for the consideration of his Majesty's Attorney and Solicitor General, a copy of whose opinion thereon I have the honour to enclose.

"You will not fail to take the earliest opportunity of communicating the same to the regiment under your command; and you will at the same time explain to the men, that as the oath taken by the substitutes and volunteers is to serve for five years, or for such further time as the militia may remain embodied, and not (as has been erroneously supposed) during the war, no substitute or volunteer is entitled to his discharge until the militia shall have been actually disembodied. And you will add, that although it is the unquestionable right of his Majesty to keep the militia embodied notwithstanding the termination of the war with France, it is nevertheless the Prince Regent's wish and intention to order the disembodying of the remaining regiments to take place with as little delay as may be consistent with a due regard to the public safety: and he trusts, that until that period shall arrive, the conduct of the men will be marked by that steady

attention to their duty and to the commands of their officers, by which it has been uniformly distinguished since they have been embodied.

"I am, Sir,

"SIDMOUTH." "To the Officers commanding those Regiments of British Militia which remain embodied."

Lincoln's Inn, Nov. 17, 1814. My Lord,-We have had the honour to receive your Lordship's letter of yesterday's date, stating that some doubts having been expressed whether the militia of Great Britain can legally be kept embodied under the present circumstances in which the country is placed, your Lordship is pleased to desire, that we will take into our immediate consideration the several Acts relating to the militia, particularly the 42d Geo. 3, cap. 90 and 91.; and report to you, for the information of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, our opinion whether under any, and what circumstances, it is imperative upon the King to order the immedi ate disembodying of the militia.

We have accordingly considered the same, and beg leave to report to your Lordship, that we are of opinion, that when once the militia have been embodied upon the occasions stated in, and according to the provisions of the Acts, there is nothing imperative in the Act, as to the time at or occasion upon which the militia is to be disembodied: there is a discretion upon the subject of disembodying the militia vested in his Majesty, subject always to the responsibility which attaches upon

2 A 2

the

« ZurückWeiter »