118] 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
1796. 
happy union of order and liberty His Majesty's. most gracious Speech 
established in these kingdoms. 
The nature of the system introduc- 
ed into France, afforded to that 
country, in the ‘midst of its cala- 
mities, the means of exertion be- 
yond the experience of any former 
time. Under the pressure of the 
new and unprecedented difficulties 
arising from such a contest, you 
have shewn yourselves worthy of 
all the blessings that you inherit. 
By your counsels and conduét, the 
constitution has been preserved in- 
violate against the designs of foreign 
and domestic enemies ; the honor of 
the British name has been asserted ; 
the rank and station which we have 
hitherto held in Europe has been 
maintained ; and the decided sue 
periority of our naval power has 
been established in every quarter of 
the world. 
«You have omitted no opportunity 
to prove your just anxiety for 
the re-establishment of . general 
peace on secure and honourable 
terms, but you have at the same 
time rendered it manifest to the 
world, that while our enemies shal] 
persist in dispositions incompatible 
with that objeét, neither the re- 
sources nor the spirit of English~ 
men will be wanting to the sup- 
port of a just cause, ‘and to the des 
fence of all their dearest interests. 
A due sense of this conduét is 
deeply impressed on my heart. I 
trust that all my subjects are ani- 
mated with the same sentiment, 
and that their loyalty and public 
spirit will ensure the continaance 
of that union and mutual confi- 
dence between me and my parlia= 
ment,” which best promote the true 
dignity and glory of my crown, 
and the genuine happiness of my 
people. 
to both Houses of Parliament, 6th 
October, 1796. — 
My Lords and Gentlemen, 
IT is a peculiar satisfaétion to 
me, in the present conjuncture of 
affairs,, to recur to your advice, 
after the recent opportunity which 
has been given for colleéting the 
sense of my people, engaged in a 
difficult and arduous contest, for 
the preservation of all that is most 
dear to us. 
‘I have omitted no endeavours 
for setting on foot negotiations to 
restore peace to Europe, and to se- 
cure for the future ‘the general - 
tranquillity. The steps which I 
have taken for this purpose have 
at length opened the way to an im- 
mediate and direét negotiation, the 
issue of which must either produce 
the desirable end of a just, ho- 
nourable, and solid peace for us, 
and for our allies, or must prove, 
beyond dispute, to what cause alone 
the prolongation of the calamities of 
war must be ascribed. 
I shall immediately send a per- 
son to Parisy with full powers to 
treat for this obje¢t, and it is my 
anxious wish that this measure may 
lead to the restoration of general 
peace: but you must be sensible 
that nothing can so much contri- 
bute to give eflect to this desire, as 
your manifesting that we possess 
both the determination and the re- 
sources tu oppose, with increased 
activity and energy, the farther 
efforts with which we may have to 
contend. 
You will feel this peculiarly neces- 
sary at a moment when the enemy 
has openly manifested the intention 
of attempting a descent on these 
kingdoms. It cannot be doubted 
3 what 
