176 ANNUAL REGISTER, 
his Majefty, on the 30th of Decem- 
ber, 1796, fhould be read, is a poor, 
weak, and rude mahner (to fay no 
worfe of it) of anfwering the argu- 
ments advanced in my addrefs. 
Thirdly, Becaufe I believe that 
the arguments advanced by me, 
have never before been touched 
upon, even in debate; and no at- 
tempts having been made to anfwer 
thofe arguments, the conclufion 
which the public muft draw from it 
is, that they are perfetly unanfwer- 
able. 
Fourthly, Becaufe it was my fin- 
eere wifh that the eyes of his Ma- 
jefty thould be opened to the dan- 
gers with which he is furrounded ; 
and that giving peace to his exhauft- 
ed fubjects, and reftoring to them 
their rights, fhould be his own gra- 
Cious act. 
Fifthly, Becaufe J have the high- 
eft authority for every fentiment re- 
{peéting the “ ceconomy and reform 
of abufes” which I recommended ; 
namely, his Majefty’s own words, 
in that moft excellent and patriotic 
{peech made at the clofe of the 
American war, and which J quoted 
in my reply. 
Sixthly, Becaufe, whenever a na- 
tion is in the fituation we are in at 
prefent, it requires the united ener- 
gy and public fpirit of the whole na- 
tion to re-eftablith its credit ; and I 
am perfuaded that energy and public 
fpirit are only to be obtained by the 
public poffefiing their ancient free 
conftitution, which they fo juftly 
revere; and I maintain, that accord- 
ing to common law, which is com- 
mon fenfe, and according to “ the 
true fpirit of the conftitution,” 
which is founded in wifdom, liber- 
ty, and juftice, the people of Great 
Britain have a right, and cught to 
be fairly and equally reprefented in 
1707" 
that which, by its very name, is 
their Houfe of Parliament. 
Seventhly, Becaufe I hold the 
borough fyftem, and every other’ 
fyftem of corruption that has of late 
years crept into practice, to be di- 
rectly contrary to the true {pirit of 
the conftitution, and big with the 
moft alarming evils to the King and 
people; and that to confer the ho- 
nour of peerage on men who have 
no other merit than that of com- 
manding boroughs and performing 
minifterial jobs, degrades that high 
dignity, and takes away one. of the 
greateft motives that aétuates the 
human mind, the hope of reward, 
by making it unworthy the accept- 
ance of thofe men for whom it 
was intended; men who have ren- 
dered great and diftinguifhed fer- 
- vices to their country, by their va~ 
lour, their talents, or their learning, 
Eighthly, Becaufe I am defirous 
of making this public avowal of my 
principles, which nothing on earth 
fhall make me alter, and which I 
have learnt from the aéts and writ- 
ings of our anceftors, who loved li- 
berty, and underftood it. 
Ninthly, Becaufe I 2m refolved, 
whenever I fee danger, boldly and 
independently, to the full extent of 
my ability, to difcharge my duty to 
my King and country. 
Oxrorp anv Mortimer. 
Meffage from his Majefty to the Houfe of 
Commons, 3d of Afril, V797. 
GrorceR. 
FYIS Majefty having agreed to 
the marriage of his eldeft 
daughter, the Princefs Royal, with. 
the Hereditary Prince of Wirtem- 
berg, has thought fit to communi-_ 
cate intelligence of it to the Houfe 
7 Oe 
