STATE PAPERS. 
from his ExceHency the Lord Lieutenant 
of Ireland to both Houfes of Parliament. 
CAMDEN. 
| HAVE it in command from his 
Majelty to acquaint the Houfe 
of Commons, that his Majefty feels 
the deepeft regret that his endea- 
yours to preferve peace with Spain, 
and to adjuft all matters in difcuf- 
 fion with that court by an amicable 
negotiation, have been rendered in- 
effectual by an abrupt and unpro- 
voked declaration of war on the part 
of the Catholic King. His Majefty, 
at the fame time ‘that he fincerely 
laments this addition to the calami- 
ties of war, already extending over 
fo great a part of Europe, has the 
fatisfaction to reflect, that nothing 
has been omitted on his part which 
could contribute to the mainte- 
nance of peace, on grounds confitt- 
ént with the honour of his crown 
and the interefts of his dominions : 
and he trufts that, under the pro- 
te&tion of Divine Providence, the 
firmnefs and wifdom of his parlia- 
ment will enable him effetually to 
repel this unprovoked aggrefiion, 
and to afford to all Europe an addi- 
tional proof of the fpirit and re- 
fources of his Majefty’s kingdoms. 
Iam alfo commanded’by his Ma-- 
jefty to acquaint the Houfe of 
Commons, that his Majefty feels 
the utmoft concern that his earneft 
endeavours to effect the reftoration 
of peace have been unhappily fruf- 
trated, and that the negotiation in 
which he was engaged has been 
abruptly broken off, by the peremp- 
tory refufal of the French govern- 
ment to treat, except upon a bafis 
¢vidently inadmiffible; and by their 
having in confequence required his 
Majefty’s Plenipotentiary to quit 
Paris within forty-eight hours. 
I have direéted the feveral me- 
Vou. XXXIX, 
257 
morials and papers which have been 
exchanged in the courfe of the late 
difcuffion, and the account tran{f- 
mitted to his Majefty of its final re- 
fult, to be laid before the Houfe. 
From thefe papers his Majefty trufts 
it will be proved to the whole world, 
that his conduct has been guided 
by a fincere defire to effect the re- 
ftoration of peace upon principles 
fuited to the relative fituation of 
the belligerent powers, and effen- 
tial for the permanent interefts of 
his kingdoms, and the general fecu+ 
rity of Europe, whilft his enemies 
have advanced pretenfions, at once 
inconfiftent with thofe objects, un- 
fupportable even on the grounds 
on which they were profeffed to 
reft, and repugnant both to the 
fyftem eftablifhed by repeated trea- 
ties, and to the principles and prac- 
tice which have hitherto regulated 
the intercourfe of independent na~- 
tions. 
In this fituation his Majefty has 
the confolation of reflecting, that 
the continuance of the calamities of 
war can be imputed only to the un- 
juft and exorbitant views of his 
enemies; and his Majefty, looking 
forward with anxiety to the mo- 
ment when they may be difpofed 
to act on different principles, places, 
in the mean time, the fulleft reli- 
ance, under the protection of Pro- 
vidence, on the wifdom and firmx 
nefs of parliament, on the tried 
valour of his forces by fea and land, 
and the zeal, public {pirit, and re- 
fources of his kingdoms, for vigo- 
rous and effectual fupport in the 
profecution of a conteit which it 
does not depend upon his Majefty 
to terminate, and which involves 
in it the fecurity and permanent 
interefts of this country, and of 
Europe. 
Ifincerely congratulate the Houfe 
R of 
