HATSTORY OF EUROPE. 
talemancipation of Europe. That 
thefe public declarations might not 
_mifs their effect upon the minds of 
the people, they were accompanied 
with plaintive comparifons between 
the augui perfection of the new 
_ French conftitution, and the imper- 
_ feétions of our own; and the palm 
of having fo foon outitripped their 
ancient rivals, in. the glorious race 
of freedom, was conceded with af- 
fected regret and humiliation. 
At the fame time the prefs teemed 
with the moit daring libels upon the 
| conititution of this country, and all 
its conftituent parts. ‘They were 
diftributed gratis, and circulated with 
altonifhing induftry, not only a- 
mongtt the loweft clafs of the com- 
munity, but through the army and 
_ the navy. In thefe writings the peo- 
ple were invited to form themfelves 
into clubs and focieties, after the 
manner of the French; and many 
_ were actually formed in a great num- 
ber of the moft populous towns of 
the kingdom, avowedly affiliated (to 
ufe an expreffion of their own) by 
the democratic clubs in France. 
_ ___ Such was the flate of things pre- 
vious to the meeting of parliament, 
_ which took place on Thurfday the 
zift day of January. a 
__, Inthe fpeech from the throne, his 
_ Majefty, after exprefling his concern 
atthe continuance of the war on'the 
‘Continent, and lamenting the inter- 
al commotions which difturbed the 
anquillity of different parts of Eu- 
“Tope, informed the two houfes, that 
he continued to receive affurances 
“of the good difpofition of all foreign 
ywers towards thefe kingdoms; and 
it he was perfuaded they would 
tertain with him a deep and grate- 
| fenfe of the favour of providence 
tinuing to his fubjeéts the in- 
g advantages of peace; and 
ov, XXXIL. 
[65 
the uninterrupted enjoyment of thofe 
invaluable bleffings which they had 
fo long derived from our excellent 
conttitution. 
After the ufual demand of fupplies 
for the fervices of the year, he in- 
formed them of the meafures he had 
been under the necefflity of taking; 
during the recefs of parliament, tor 
preventing the exportation and fa- 
cilitating the importation of corn, 
and that he had directed a copy of 
the order iffued for that purpofe to 
be laid before them. 4 
Before the houfe of lords proceed= 
ed to take -his majeity’s {peech into 
confideration, the marquis of Bath, 
the marquis of Salifbury, the earl of 
Mount Edgecumbe, and the earl of 
Fortefcue, who had been advanced; 
during the recefs of parliament, to 
their feveral refpective ranks in the 
peerage, took their feats with the 
accuftomed folemnities. 
The ufual addreffes were moved; 
and feconded in the houfe of lords 
by lord vifcount Falmouth and lord 
Cathcart; and in the houfe of com- 
mons by the vifcount Valletort and 
Mr. Cawthorne, and voted without 
oppofition or debate. The topics 
chiefly infifted upon by the feveral 
{peakers, were the notoriety of the 
facts mentioned or alluded to in the 
{peech from the throne, and theftrik= 
ing contraft which the happinefs and 
profperity of this nation exhibited, 
When compared with the fituation of 
almoft every other power in Eu- 
rope; circumftances which, they’ 
faid, were to be attributed, in the 
firft place, to the {uperior excellence 
of our conititution, and, in the fe- 
cond, to the wife and prudent ad- 
miniftration of the executive go- 
vefnment.—In the-houfe of com- 
mons, as foon as the addrefs was 
voted, an act of indemnity was order- 
[EZ] ed 
