STATE PAPERS. 



6|3 



has preserved to us St. Domingo ; 

 Martiniijue braves tlie mcnanccs of 

 our enemies, and under a paternal 

 government renders stronger and 

 more durable the ties which attach 

 it to the niother-conntry. — Guada- 

 loupe has enriched itself with the 

 spoils of British commerce, and 

 Guyana contijiues to prosper nnder 

 an active and vifforous administra- 

 tion. — The isles of France and of 

 Rc-union would be at' the present 

 day the emporium of the riches of 

 Asia ; London v. oii!d be in convul- 

 sions and despair, had not inexpe- 

 ricncc or weakness baffled a scheme 

 most ably concerted. The isles of 

 France and of lie-union. however, are 

 still enriched with the prizes which 

 we have taken from our enemies. — 

 Our armies are alway* deserving of 

 their reputation. With the same 

 valo:ir and the same discipline, they 

 liave acquired that patience which 

 waits for opportunities without mur- 

 muring, aiul confides in the pru- 

 dence and designs of the chief who 

 conducts them. Our soldiers, our 

 officers, learn to govern the element 

 which separates them from that 

 island, the grand object of their 

 resentment. Their audacity and 

 their address astonish the oldest and 



most experienced mariners. Our 



fleets, by continual manaiuvres, lead 

 the •way to combats ; and whilst 

 those of our enemies wear out in 

 striving against winds and tempests, 

 ours learn witliout destroying them- 

 selves to fight against them. — lu 

 fine, since by the wur we have 

 gained Hanover, vie are more in a 

 state than ever to strike decisive 

 blows against our enemies. Our 

 navy is in a better state than it has 

 been for these ten years past ; upon 

 land, our army is more luimerous, 

 better disciplined, aud better ])ro- 



vided with every thing calculated to 

 ensui^ victory than it ever was. — 

 In the department of finances, the 

 same activity prevails in the receipts, 

 the same regularity in the manage- 

 ment, the same order in the admi- 

 nistratiou of the treasure ; and ai- 

 niost always the same stability ia 

 the value of the public dubt. — The 

 war in the first instance necessitated 

 extraordinary ev])ences, but the 

 fiinds for them were expended in 

 our own soil, and have given us 

 vessels, ports, and everything which 

 is necessary for the developeraentof 

 onr forces against our enemies. — 

 These extraordinary expences have 

 now ceased, and those exacted by 

 our warlike attitude will henceforth 

 be directed by an economy which 

 the urgency of our preparations for 

 attack and defence did not admit of. 

 — Thf revenues of the crown will 

 support all the expences of the coro- 

 nation, and those still demanded 

 by the splendour of the throne. 

 The lustre which surrounds it will 

 never be a burden to the nation. — 

 The situation of Europe has expe- 

 rienced but one important change. 

 Spain reposed under a neutrality to 

 which France had consented, and- 

 which the British cabinet had ac- 

 knowledged ; her vessels were sud- 

 denly attack^l, and the treaty of 

 Amiens was violated with regard to 

 her as it had previously been with 

 regard fo France. llis catholic 

 majesty has taken the part con\- 

 manded him by the dif niry of his 

 throne, by good faith outr.iged, and 

 by the honour of a generous peo- 

 ple whose destinies he directs. 



The emperor of Austria devotes to 

 the restoration of his finances, the 

 prosperity of his provinces, the pro- 

 gress of their commerce, that repose 

 prompted bj the frankness of his cha- 

 Y y li racter 



