STA, TPP Rs. 
His Majefty’s Speech on the Meeting of 
Parliament, Nov. 2d. 797. 
My Lords and Gentlemen, 
T is matter of great concern to 
me, that the earneft endeavours 
which I have continued to employ 
fince I met you laft in parliament, 
to reftore to my fubjeéts the bleff- 
ings of peace, on fafe and honour- 
able terms, have been rendered in- 
effectual. The declaration which 
I have caufed to be publifhed, and 
the other papers which I have di- 
rected to be laid before you, will 
abundantly prove to you and to the 
world, that every ftep has been 
taken on my part, which would 
tend to accelerate that defirable ob 
ject; and that the long delay and 
final rupture of the negotiation are 
to be attributed folely to the eva- 
five conduc, the unwarrantable 
pretenfions, and inordinate ambi- 
tion of the enemy, and, above all, 
to their inveterate animofity to 
thefe kingdoms. I have the full- 
eft reliance, under Divine Provi- 
dence, on your vigour and wifdom, 
and on the zeal of a great and free 
people, fenfible that they are con- 
tending for their deareft interefts, 
and determined to fhew themfelves 
worthy of the bleflings which they 
are firuggling to defend. Com- 
pelled as we are, by the moft evi- 
dent neceffity, to perfevere in the 
conteft untika more pacific fpirit 
fhall be manifefted on the part of 
the enemy, we have the fatisfaction 
of knowing that we poffefs means 
and refources proportioned to the 
exertions which we may be called 
upon to make. During a period 
of hoftility, our revenue has con- 
tinued to be highly productive, our 
_ national induftry has been extend- 
ed, and our commerce has exceeded 
’ 
229 
its former limits. “The public fpirit 
of my people has been difplayed ; 
my troops, of every defcription, 
have acquired frefh claims to ef- 
teem and admiration; and the re- 
peated fuccefles of my navy have 
been recently crowned by the de- 
cifive vi€tory with which Provi- 
dence has rewarded the exertions 
of my fleet, under the command of 
Admiral Lord Duncan. No event 
could be followed by more import- 
ant and beneficial confequences, or 
form a more brilliant addition to 
thofe numerous heroic exploits; 
which, in the courfe of the prefent 
war, have raifed to a height, hither- 
to unexampled, the naval glory of 
the country. 
Gentlemen of the Houfe of 
Commons, 
I have direéted the neceffary 
eftimates for the year to be laid be- 
fore you. - The ftate of the war, 
and the happy confequences of our 
recent fuccefs, will admit of fome 
diminution in our expences, con- 
fiftently with the vigorous efforts 
which we may have occafion to 
make. In confidering what may 
be the beft mode of defraying the 
heavy expences, Jill unavoidable, 
you will bear in mind the nature of 
the prefent crifis, and that the true 
value of any temporary facrifices 
which it may be neceffary to make, 
can only be eftimated by the im- 
portance of maintaining public 
credit, and of convincing the ene- 
my, that, while we retain an ar; 
dent defire for peace on fafe and 
honourable terms, we poffefs the 
means, as well as the determination, 
to fupport with vigour the ardent 
conteft, as long as it may be necef- 
fary for preferving the honour and 
independence of thefe kingdoms. 
ge ee een >t By 
