STATE PAPERS. 



145 



•ML'! nlajesty's speech to the houses of 

 lords and commons, on closing I he 

 session, Jultj 11. 



My lords and gentlemen, 

 ''T^HE state of public business 

 A enables me to close this session 

 of parliament, in doing which I 

 have again to acknowledge that 

 assiduity and zeal for the interests 

 X>f my people, of which you had 

 before given m.eso many proofs, and 

 which have been so particularly ma- 

 nift;:.ted in the present year. 



I am persuaded that you enter- 

 tain too iust a seiise of the nature 

 and importa-ace of tlie contest in 

 wliich we ai'e engaged, to suffer 

 your zeal to be abated, or your per- 

 severance shaken, by the recent 

 successes of the enemy in the Ne- 

 't"herlands. 



la a moment whicli so strongly 

 calls for energy and vigour, it is 

 peculiarly gratifying to me to re- 

 flect on the uniform skill and bra- 

 very of my Keets and armies, the 

 undaunted spirit and unwearied ex- 

 ertions of my officers and troops in 

 every situation, and the general 

 public spirit of my people, which 

 have never at any period been more 

 conspicuous. 



I have observed with the highest 

 satisfaction the rapid and valuable 

 acquisitions i»ade in the East and 

 West Indies, the successful opera- 

 tions whioh have been carriedon in 

 the Mediterranean, and ttie briUiant 

 and decisive victory obtained by 

 my fleet under ike command of earl 

 Howe, an event which must ever 

 fee r<>membered as one of the most 

 glorious in the naval history of this 

 cjuutry. 



Gentlemen of the house of 

 <ommons, 

 I return yo\i my wannest thanks 

 Vol. XXXVI. 



for the cheerfulness and liberality 

 with which you have granted the 

 large supplies which were necessary 

 for the service of the year, and for 

 the maintenance of a cause equally- 

 important to the security and hap- 

 piness ot every class of my subjects. 



My lor<ls and gentlemen, 

 I feel it incumbent on me parti- 

 cularly to acknowledge your dili- 

 gence in the investigation of the 

 designs which had been formed a- 

 gainst the government and constitu- 

 tion of these kingdoms, and to 

 thank you for the confidence you 

 have reposed in me on this ocoasion. 

 It will be a principal object of my 

 attention to make a vigorous and 

 prudent use of the additional pow- 

 ers vested in me for the protection 

 and security of my people ; and re- 

 lying, as I do, with the utmost con- 

 fedence, on the uniform loyalty and 

 public spirit of the great body of 

 my subjects, 1 have no doubt o£ 

 speedily and effectually repressing 

 every attempt to disturb the public 

 peace, -and of defeating the wicked 

 designs wUich have been in agita- 

 tion. 



It must not however be forgotten, 

 tliat these designs against our do- 

 mestic happiness, are essentially 

 connected with the system now pre- 

 vailing in France, of which the 

 principles and spirit are irreconci- 

 leably hostile to all regular and es- 

 tablished government : and that 

 we are therefore called upon by 

 every consideration of our own in- 

 ternal safety to continue our efforts, 

 in conjunction with my allies, and 

 to persevere with increased vigour 

 and exertion in a contest, frofti the 

 successful termination of which wft 

 can alone expect to establish on a 

 solid and permaDcnt foundation, the 

 L future 



