( 590 ) [Jao. 1, 



STATE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS IN DECEMBER. 



Containing official Papers and Authentic Documents. 



GKF.AT BRITAIN. 



ON tlic loth of Dcccmhcr tlic New 

 Parliament inct, aiiJ after the iifiial 

 ii^iinalities of i'wt-aviii^-in tlic members, 

 and rc-r-h()()fing JMr. Abhot fprak(>r, tlie 

 King's fijeecli was read hy the Chancellor. 



" My Loids and Cenllemen, 



•' His M;ijf(ly has cunimanic.l us to aflure 

 jou, that in the difficult and arduous circuin- 

 flances under which you are now alFembled, 

 it is a great fatis6<S!on to hiin, to recur to the 

 firmnefs and wifdom of his Parliament, after 

 fo recent an opijortunity of collecling the 

 fcnlV of his people. 



" His Majefty has ordered the papers which 

 have been exch.inf^ed in tlie courfc of the late 

 Negociation with France to be laid before ycu. 



" His Majefty has employed every effort 

 for the relVoration of general tranquillity, on 

 terms tonfiftcnt with the interclls and honor 

 of h^ people, and with that inviolable good 

 faith towards his allies by which the conduiH: 

 of this country lias always been diftinguiilied. 



'• The ambition and injuftice of the enemy 

 difiippointcd thcfe endeavours, and in the 

 fame moment kindled a freih war in Europe ; 

 the progrefs of winch )ias keen attended with 

 the moft calamitous events. 



" After witneffing the fubverfion of the an- 

 tient conftitution of Germany, and the fubju- 

 jjation of a large proportion of its moft confi- 

 derable fVates, Pruflia found hcrfelf ({ill more 

 ji' arly threatened by that danger which iTie 

 had vainly hoped to av( rt by fo many fieri- 

 lices.— She was, theretiite, at length com- 

 pelled to adopt the refrlution of openly re- 

 filling this unremitted fydem of aggrandi:re- 

 mcnt and conqueft. But neither this detet- 

 nination nor the fucceeding mcafures were 

 pievioully concerted with his Majefly- Nor 

 had any difpofition beun ILewn to offer any 

 adequate fatisfaftlon for thofe a!»i;re(?''ons 

 which had placed the two countries in a ftate 

 of mutual hoftility. 



*' Vet in this fuuation his Majefly did not 

 hefitate to adopt, without delay, fuch mca- 

 fures as were liert cakuhtcd to unite their 

 cour.cils and interefts againft the common 

 e|^emy. 



"The rapid courfe of the calamities which 

 enfued oppofcd infurmountable ditijculties to 

 the execution of tins purpoie. 



"In the luidft of thefe difaftrofis events, 

 and under the mod: trying cir.:umftances, the 

 good faith of his Majefty's ..ilies has remained 

 ujiihaken. The conJuft of tlie king of Swe- 

 den has been dirtingiiiihed by the nioft honor- 

 able firmnefs. between his Majefty and the 

 Emperor of Ruflia the happleil union fubfifts ; 

 it has iieen cemented by reciprocil proofs of 

 good faith and confidence ; and his majefty 

 doubts not that you will paiticipa{e in his 

 anxiety to cultivate and confirm an alliance 

 vhich affords the beft: rfenKiiningJiopsof faiety 

 for the Continent of Europe," 



" Gentlemen of the Hciife of Commons, 



" His Majefty looks with confidence to 

 your afTiftance in thofe exertions which the 

 honor and indepen^.ence of your country de- 

 mand. The necelfity of adding to the Pul« 

 lie Burthens will be painful to your feelings, 

 andisdeeply diftrelllng to his Majefty. —In con- 

 fideringthe cftimates for the various branches 

 of the public fervice you will beft confult his 

 Majefty's wifhes by combining all pradlicable 

 economy with thofe efforts which it is necef- 

 fary to make againft the formidable and in- 

 creafing power of the enemy. 

 ' ' My L'jfiU and Gentlemen, 



"The long feries of misfortune which has 

 afRicled the Continent of Europe, could not 

 fai! to affeft, in I'ome degree, many important 

 interefts of this country. 



" But, under every fuccelfive difficulty, his 

 Majefty has hid the falisfaftion of witneffing 

 an increafing energy and fitinaels on the part 

 of his people, while uniform and determined 

 reliftance has been iTo lefs advantageous than 

 honorable to themfelvcs, and has exhibited 

 the moft ftriking example to the furromiding 

 nations. The unconquerable valour and dif- 

 ciplineof his Majefty's fleets and armies con- 

 tinue to be difplajed with undiminilhed luftre : 

 The great fourccs of our prolperity and 

 (trength are unimpaired. Nor has the Britilh 

 Nation been at any time more united in fenti- 

 ment and aflion, or more determined to main- 

 tain inviolate the independence of tlie Empire 

 and the dignity of the National Character. 

 With thefe adv.intagcs, and with an humble 

 reli.ince on the prottftion of the Divine Pro- 

 vidence, his Majefty is prepared to meet the 

 exigencies of tiiis great crifisj alfuvcd of re- 

 ceiving the fuUell: lupport from the wifdom of 

 your deliberations, and from the tried aflec- 

 tiun> loyalty, and public fpirit of his brave 

 people." 



The ufual Addrcfs was afterwards 

 moved in the Lords liy tlic Earl of .Jer- 

 fey, and leconded by J.ord Soiiiers ; and 

 in the Commons by the Hon. Mr. Lamb, 

 ami leconded by Mr. Jolm Smith, and 

 carried without a divilioii,aftcr Hinie expla- 

 nations from Ixirds Gicnville ai.d Ibjw- 

 ick, relative to the lliipture of the Net;'.- 

 ciaticins for Peace ; about vvliich mucli 

 dilTiit sfatfion had pievioiilly cxilicd ic the 

 publie mind. 



FKAKCE. 



Omci A L DOCUMENTS RELATIVE tO tilC 



BLOCKADE of the BRITISH ISLANDS !!! 



M'ffdge cf his Majifiy the Emperor and King 

 to the Senate. 

 " Senitors, under the c^rcumftanccs of the 

 prefent ftate of the general aft'airs o{ Europe, 

 we h.ive rciolved to make known to you, and 

 the nation, the principles which we have 

 adopted for the direftion of our political con- 



du(:^t. 



*♦ Our extraordinary moderation at the dofi" 



