178] 
It gives me the most sincere sa- 
tisfaction to be authorized to in- 
form you, that notwithstanding 
the advantages which the enemy 
possessed at the commencement of 
the Jast year, and the successes 
which attended their operations 
in the former parts of the cam- 
paign, the general situation of 
affairs is on the whole most essen- 
tially improved. 
The continued and brilliant suc- 
cesses of the Austrian armies upon 
the Rhine ; the important captures 
of the Cape of Good Hope and of 
Trincomale by his majesty’s forces, 
and the decided superiority of his 
fleets, are circumstances of the 
utmost importance to the common 
cause; and their effect is strength- 
ened by the internal distresses, the 
ruined. commerce, and increasing 
financial embarrassments of the 
enemy. : 
The crisis lately depending in 
France has led to an order of things 
in that country, such as will in- 
duce his majesty to meet any dispo- 
sition to negotiation on the part of 
the enemy with an earnest desire to 
give it the fullest and specdiest 
effect, and to conclude a treaty of 
general peace when it may be 
effected on just and suitable terms 
for himself and his allies. 
The treaty of commerce between 
his majesty and the United States 
of America haying been mutually 
ratified, | have ordered copies of 
it, by his majesty’s command, to be 
laid before you. 
I have the pleasure to announce 
to you, that her royal highness 
the» princess of Wales has been 
happily delivered of a princess : 
an event, which, by giving addi- 
tional stability to his majesty’s 
august house, cannot fail to afford 
you the highest satisfaction. 
ANNUAL’ REGISTER, 1796, 
Gentlemen of the House of © 
Commons, 
I observe with the sincerest plea~ § 
sure that notwithstanding the con- — 
tinued pressure of the war, the 
commerce and revenues of this 
kingdom have not in any degree 
fallen from that flourishing state 
of advancement, which in the last 
session of Parliament was a subject 
of such just congratulation. ‘This 
circumstance affords a decisive proof 
that your prosperity is founded on 
a solid basis, and leads me to 
indulge the flattering hope, that 
whatever additional burthens you. 
may find it necessary to impose, 
will not be materially felt by the 
people. 
L have ordered the public 
accounts and estimates for the en- 
suing year to be laid before you, 
and have no doubt of your readi- 
ness to provide such supplies asa 
due sense of the exigencies of the 
kingdom shall suggest, and _ the | 
wise policy -of strengthening his 
majesty’s exertions for procuring a 
solid and permanent peace shall 
appear to render necessary. 
My Lords and Gentlemen, 
It is with regret that I feel 
myself obliged to advert to those 
secret and treasonable associations, 
the dangerous extent and malig- 
nity of which have in some degree 
been disclosed on several trials, and 
to the disturbances which have 
taken place in some parts of the 
kingdom. It has at the same time 
been a source of great satisfaction 
to me to observe the successful and 
meritorious exertions of the magis- 
trates in several parts of the king- 
dom, and the alacrity which his 
Majesty’s regular and militia forces 
have universally manifested in ai 
of the civil power, whenever the 
have beencalled upon for the pre- 
2 servation 
‘ 
