STATE PAPERS. 



369 



Speech <^ the Prince Regent on 

 opening Parliament, Nov. i. 



My Lords and Gentlemen — It 

 is with the deepest regret that I 

 ana again obliged to announce to 

 you the continuance of his ma- 

 jesty's lamented indisposition. 



The great and splendid success 

 with which it has pleased divine 

 Providence to bless his majesty's 

 arms, and those of his allies, in 

 the course of the present campaign, 

 has been productive of the most 

 important consequences to Europe. 



In Spain, the glorious and de- 

 cisive victory obtained nearVittoria 

 has been followed by the advance 

 of the allied forces to the Pyrenees, 

 —by the repulse of the enemy in 

 every attempt to regain the ground 

 he had been compelled to abandon, 

 by the reduction of the fortress of 

 Saint Sebastian — and, finally, by 

 the establishment of the allied 

 army on the frontier of France. 



In this series of brilliant opera- 

 tions, you will have observed, with 

 ■the highest satisfaction, the con- 

 summate skill and ability of the 

 great commander, Field Marshal 

 the Marquis of Wellington ; and 

 the steadiness and unconquerable 

 spirit which have been equally 

 displayed by the troops of the 

 three nations, united under his 

 command. 



The termination of the armistice 

 in the north of Europe, and the 

 declaration of war by the emperor 

 ,pf Austria against France, have 

 been most happily acQompanied by 

 a system of cordial union and con- 

 cert amongst the allied powers. 



The efliects of this union have 

 even surpassed those expectations 

 which it was calculated to excite. 

 -- JBy tbe signal victories obtained 

 Vol. LV. 



over the French armies in Silesia, 

 at Culm, and at Denevitz, the 

 efforts of the enemy to penetrate 

 into the heart of the Austrian and 

 Prussian territories were completely 

 frustrated. 



These successes have been fol- 

 lowed by a course of operations, 

 combined with so much judgment, 

 and executed with such consum- 

 mate prudence, vigour, and ability, 

 as to have led in their result, not 

 only to the discomfiture of all those 

 projects which the ruler of France 

 had so presumptuously announced 

 on the renewal of the contest, but 

 to the capture and destruction of 

 the greater part of the array under 

 his immediate command. 



The annals of Europe afford no 

 examples of victories more splendid 

 and decisive than those which have 

 been recently achieved in Saxony. 

 Whilst the perseverance and gal- 

 lantry displayed by the allied forces 

 of every description, engaged in 

 this conflict, have exalted to the 

 highest pitch of glory their military 

 character, you will, I am persuad- 

 ed, agree with me in rendering 

 the full tribute of applause to those 

 sovereigns and princes, who, in 

 this sacred cause of national inde- 

 pendence, have so eminently dis- 

 tinguished themselves as the leaders 

 of the armies of their respective 

 nations. 



With such a prospect before 

 you, I am satisfied that I may rely, 

 with the fullest confidence, oa 

 your disposition to enable rae to 

 afford the necessary assistance in 

 support of a system of alliance, 

 wliich, originating chiefly in the 

 magnanimous and disinterested 

 views of the emperor of Russia, 

 and Ibllowed up as it has been 

 with corresponding energy by tbe 



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