2 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1804. 



providing the necessary measures 

 for the defence of the country, paid 

 a high compliment to the spirit ma- 

 nifested by the volunteers, and men. 

 tioned the capture of St. Lucie, To- 

 bago, St. Picre, Miquelon, Demc- 

 rara, and Essequibo, as a proof that 

 no exertions were wanting in mak- 

 ing an impression on the foreign 

 possessions of the enemy. His ma- 

 jesty also expressed his fixed deter- 

 mination to share the exertions and 

 dangers of his people in the defence 

 of the country (doubtless advert- 

 ing to the menaced invasion). To 

 the activity and valour of his fleets 

 and armies, and to the zeal and un- 

 conquerable spirit of his faithful 

 subjects, he confided the honour of 

 his crown, and all the valuable in- 

 terests embarked in the contest. lie 

 concluded, by expressing his firm 

 conviction, that, if the enemy should 

 hazard an invasion, the consequence 

 to them would be discomfiture, con- 

 . fusion, and disgrace, and to this 

 country the solid and permanent 

 advantage of fixing its independence 

 on the basis of acknowledged 

 •trcngth, the result of its own tried 

 energy and resources. Besides 

 these topics, his majesty alluded to 

 the suppression of the Irish insur- 

 recfion, and declared his hope that 

 those of his subjects in that country 

 who had swerved from their allegi- 

 ance, were now sensible of their er- 

 ror, and would join heartily in re- 

 sisting an invading enemy. lie also 

 informed the parliament of the con- 

 vention which had been entered into 

 with Sweden. 



The marquis of Sligo moved the 

 address in the house of lords: he 

 began by expressing his opinion, 

 that, if ever there was a moment for 

 peculiar pride in the name of Bri- 

 tain, it was at the present period, 



when every individual, born io the 

 protection of equal laws, stood for- 

 ward, without distinction of rank, 

 class, or situation, to shed his blood 

 in the defence of their c&nimon 

 country. The measures which the 

 wisdom of parliament had adopted, 

 had been outdone by the zeal and 

 patriotism of the people themselves, 

 and Great Britain now presented to 

 the imitation of the world, the 

 sight of a nation of soldiers, volun- 

 tarily stepping forward to defend 

 their unequalled form of govern- 

 ment. France would in vain rely 

 on civil dissentions, by which she 

 had obtained such advantages over 

 other countries ; whatever divisions 

 religious distinctions might malce in 

 another part of the united king- 

 dom, yet there were principles on 

 which all were animated with one 

 mind : all were equally determined 

 not to be dictated to by any foreign 

 power, but live as their forefathers 

 had done, an independent nation, 

 or not to live at all. After a very 

 warm acknowledgment of the sen- 

 timents of personal magnanimity, 

 expressed by his majesty in his 

 S])cech, he concluded by moving the 

 address. 



The carl of Limerick seconded 

 the address : he pointed out to the 

 house, that the various topics intro- 

 duced in the speech of his majesty, 

 were unconnected with any minis- 

 terial question, and were such as 

 he hoped would meet the unani- 

 mous approbation of the house. He 

 expatiated, with considerable ani- 

 mation, on the heroic patriotism 

 w hich induced such numbers of men 

 voluntarily to arm themselves for 

 the defence of the country. In- 

 stead of being " a nation of shop- 

 keepers," as we had been sneering- 

 ly termed by the foe, we were able 



to. 



