STATE PAPERS... 
this impaired state of English liber- 
ty, and that which was so nobly 
demanded and so honourably con- 
ceded, at the auspicious zra of 
our happy and gloricus revolution. 
It is invain that, by the rapidity 
with which this bill has proceeded, 
the petitions, complaints, remon- 
strances, and other addresses of an 
irritated people, have been evaded. 
It is in vain to hone, that the length 
of time for which it is to endure 
will lay the public anxiety to sleep. 
The people cannot cease to regard 
this invasion of their rights with 
grief anddismay. They feel with 
us, that even indifference would 
extinguish this fundamental fran- 
chise, this safeguard of all our liber- 
ties, for ever. 
BEDFORD, LAUDERDALE, 
ALBEMARLE, DerBy. 
Speech of His Excellency the Viceroy of 
Corsica, delivered ts the Chamberof 
Parliament at the opening of the 
Session, the 9th Day of Feb. 1795. 
Gentlemen, 
If is with unfeigned pleasure 
that 1 meet you this day in parlia- 
ment, both because your constitu- 
tion, on which the-fuzure happi- 
ness of Corsica depends, is hereby 
consummated, and because the full 
energy of your wisdom and autho- 
rity is required at a period render- 
ed doubly interesting by the esta- 
blishment of a new government, 
and by the continuance of the war. 
You are charged not only with 
important, but arduous duties, since 
you must on the one -hand secure 
your freedom as an independent 
mation, by a vigorous and coura- 
geous exertion in the war,- and on’ 
the other, you must make provi. 
sion for internal happiness and 
155 
liberty, by deliberations which are 
better suited to times of tranquillity 
and peace. 
For the discharge of this great 
trust, I rely with perfect confidence ° 
on the wisdom and public spirit of 
parliament, supported by the-zealous 
and hearty anion of all good Corsi. - 
cans, whether in public or private 
stations ; for you will, no doubt, 
participate with me in the pleasing 
refleGtion, that the present period 
affords the happy opportunity of 
composing past animositiesy and-ob- 
literating divisions no longer sup. 
ported by any subsisting motive; 
and which, being always at vari- 
ance’ with the general good, are 
peculiarly prejudicial to it in mo. 
ments like the present, : 
His majesty, on his part, evet 
just and ever firm to his engage- 
ments, has already taken those steps 
which the constitution pointed out, 
for completing the new system of 
your government. He has been 
pleased to ratify in person the con. 
stitutional aét which he had previ. 
ously authorized me to accept in 
his name. 
Ihave ordered the gracious an- 
swer made by his majesty to the* 
address of the late general council, 
presented to him by deputies from~ 
that assembly, tobe laid before you. 
I have aiso ordered to be Jaid be- 
fore you a’‘copy of the commission 
by which his majesty has been 
pleased to confer on me the exalted 
honour of representing him in this 
kingdom under the title of viceroy, 
agreeable to the provisions of the 
constitutional a€&. By the choice 
of a person whose best qualifica. 
tion for that distinguished station 
is a warm and steady affection for 
Corsica, you will pereeive that the 
same sentiment prevailed on that 
occasion on his majesty’s mind. 
I am 
