228 ANNUAL-REGISTER, 
tion is not, therefore, to be af- 
cribed to any pretenfions (however 
inadmiffible) urged as the price of 
peace; not to any. ultimate differ- 
ence on terms, however exorbitant; 
but to the evident and fixed deter- 
mination of the enemy to prolong 
1797> 
not be wanting to them, and he. * 
confident they will not be wanting 
to themfelves. He has an anxious 
but a facred and indifpenfable duty 
to fulfil: he will difcharge it with 
refolution, conftancy, and firmnedfs. 
Deeply as he muft regret the con- 
the conteft, and to purfue, at all® tinuance of a war fo deftructive in’ 
hazards, their hoftile defigns againtt 
ithe profperity and fafety of thefe 
kingdoms. 
While this determination conti- 
nues to prevail, his Majefty’s ear- 
neft wifhes and endeavours to re- 
flore peace to his fubjedts muft be 
fruitlefs, But his fentiments re- 
main unaltered. He looks with 
anxious expectation to the moment 
when the government of France 
may fhew a difpofition and {pirit 
in any degree correfponding to his 
own. And he renews even now, 
and before all Europe, the folemn 
declaration, that, in fpite of re- 
peated provocations, and at the 
very moment when his claims have 
been ftrengthened and confirmed 
by that frefh fuccefs which, by the 
bleffing of Providence, has recently 
_ attended his arms, he is yet ready 
(if the calamities of war can now be 
clofed) to conclude peace on the 
fame moderate and equitable prin- 
ciples and terms which he has be- 
fore propofed: the rejection of 
fuch terms muft now, more than 
ever, demonftrate the implacable 
animofity and infatiable ambition of 
thofe with whom he has to contend, 
and to them alone muft the future 
confequences of the prolongation 
of the war be afcribed. 
If fuch unhappily is the fpirit by 
which they are {till a¢tuated, his 
Majefty can neither hefiiate as to 
the principles of his own conduét, 
nor doubt the fentiments and de- 
termination of his people. He wilh 
its progrefs, and fo burthenfome 
even in its fuccefs, he knows the 
character of the brave people whofe 
interefts and honour are entrufted 
tohim. Thefe it is the firft objec 
of his life to maintain; and he is 
convinced, that neither the re- 
fources nor the fpirit of his king- 
doms will be found inadequate 
to this arduous conteft, or unequal 
to the importance and value of the 
objects which are at ftake. He 
trufts that the favour of Providence, 
by which they have always hitherto 
been fupported againft all their 
enemies, will be ftill extended to 
them; and that, under this protec- 
tion, his faithful fubjects, by a refo- 
lute and vigorous application of the 
means which they poffefs, will be 
enabled to vindicate the indepen- 
dence of their country, and to refift 
with juft indignation the affumed 
fuperiority of an enemy againft 
whom they have fought with the 
courage, the fuccefs, and glory of 
their anceftors; and who aims at 
nothing lefs than to deftroy at once 
whatever has contributed to the 
profperity and greatnefs of the Bri- 
tifh empire, all the channels of its 
induftry, and all the fources of its 
power; its fecurity from abroad, 
its tranquillity at home, and above 
all, that conftitution, on whichalone 
depends the undifturbed enjoy- 
ment of its religion, laws, and li- 
berties. 
VW efimninfter, 
Ha 
