STATE PAPERS. 



179 



afforded you the best means of as- 

 certaining the true circumstances of 

 our present situation ; and the ex- 

 tensive measures which you have 

 wisely adopted in consequence, for 

 diminishing the consumption of 

 grain, and procuring an increased 

 supply, will, I doubt not, be found 

 productive of the most salutary effect. 



Much, however, must depend 

 on the disposition which will, I am 

 confident, be manifested by all those 

 who have the means of carrying 

 into execution my solemn recom- 

 mendation and injunction, issued at 

 your desire, for the adoption of all 

 practicable economy in the use of 

 those articles which are necessary to 

 the subsistence of the poorer classes 

 of my subjects. 



The time fixed for the commence- 

 ment of the union of Great Britain 

 and Ireland will necessarily termi- 

 nate your proceedings on this im- 

 portant subject ; but I am persuad- 

 ed that the consideration of it will 

 be resumed with the same zeal and 

 temper, on the first meeting of the 

 parliament of the united kingdom. 



The early period which I have 

 appointed for that meeting will af- 

 ford a speedy opportunity of com- 

 pleting whatever you may have 

 left unfinished, and of considering 

 what measures may tend farther to 

 alleviate the pressure on my people, 

 or to prevent the danger of its re- 

 newal. 



Gentlemen of the house of 

 commons, 

 I thank you for the readiness with 

 which you have granted the sup- 

 "' plies necessary, under the present 

 ^ circumstances for the public service. 



itif 



My lords and gentlemen. 

 The detention of the property of 



my subjects in the ports of Russia,' 

 contrary to the most solemn trea- 

 ties, and the imprisonment of Bri- 

 tish sailors in that countiy, have 

 excited in me sentiments, in which 

 you and all my subjects will, I am 

 sure, participate. 



I have already taken such steps 

 as this occasion indispensably re- 

 quired ; and it will afford me great 

 satisfaction if they have proved ef- 

 fectual ; but if it shall be necessary 

 to maintain, against any combina- 

 tion, the honour and independence 

 of the British empire, and those 

 maritime rights and interests on 

 which both our prosperity and our 

 security must always depend, I en- 

 tertain no doubt either of the suc- 

 cess of those means which, in such 

 an event, I shall be enabled to 

 exert, or of the determination of 

 my parliament and my people to 

 afford me a support proportioned to 

 the importance of the interests 

 which we have to maintain. 



Speech of the Lord Lieutenant, 

 from the Throne, on the \5th of 

 January, 1800, at the Meeting 

 of the Irish Parliament. 



My lords and gentlemen, 



I HAVE received his majesty's 

 commands to assemble you in 

 parliament. Up in a review of the 

 important and glorious events that 

 have distinguished the period which 

 has elapsed since I last addressed 

 you, the most gratifying and en- 

 couraging reflections present them- 

 selves to our consideration. By the 

 brilliant course of victories achie- 

 ved by the combined imperial ar- 

 mies, the various kingdoms and 

 states of Italy have been delivered 

 from the ravages and the tyranny of 

 N2 



