STATE PAPERS. 



607 



His majesty, therefore, recommends 

 it to the house of lords, to consider 

 of making provision for enabling 

 his majesty to take such mt.-'sures, 

 and enter into such engagements, as 

 the exigencies of affairs may require. 



Speech of his Majesty on the Proro- 

 gation of Parliament. 



My lords and gentlemen, 

 We have it in command from his 

 majesty, to express the satisfaction 

 with which he has observed the 

 proofs you have given in the pre- 

 sent session, of your constant regard 

 for the^honour of his crown, and the 

 interests of his dominions ; and par- 

 ticularly the measures which you 

 have adopted for strengthening 

 his majesty's hands at this important 

 conjuncture, by the augmentation of 

 tho disposable military force of the 

 kingdom. 



Gentlemen of the house of commons. 

 His majesty has directed us parti- 

 cularly to ihauk you in his majesty's 

 name, for the zeal and liberality 

 ■with which you have granted the 

 large supplies which the necessity of 

 the public service has required. 

 My lords and gentlemen, 

 His majesty has not jet been ena- 

 bled to cumuiuiiicatc to you the re- 

 sult of the ncgociations in which he 

 is engaged with powers on the con- 

 tinent ; but you may rest assured 

 that no step will be omitted on his 

 majesty's part, for promoting such a 

 concert, as may aflbid the best 

 prospect of restoring general and 

 permanent tranquillity ; or may, if 

 necessary, furnish the means of 

 repelling with vigour the continual 

 encroachments on the part of the 

 French government, which threaten 

 every day more and 



more, the ii. 



berty and independence of all the 

 nations of Europe, 



My lords and gentlemen. 

 By virtue of his majesty's commis- 

 sion, under the great seal to us 

 and other lords directed, and now 

 read, we do, in his majesty's name, 

 and in obedience to his commands, 

 prorogue this parliament to Thurs- 

 day the 22d day of August next, to 

 be then here holden ; and this par- 

 liament is accordingly prorogued to 

 Thursday the 22d of August next. 



Order of Council, dated at the Court 

 at the Queen'' s Palace, the Mth of 

 January, 1805, the King being 

 j)resent in Council, for granting 

 letters of Marque against Spain. 



Whereas his majesty has received 

 information that the king of Spain 

 has issued a declaration of war 

 against his majesty, his subjects, and 

 people ; his majesty, therefore, be- 

 ing determined to take such mea- 

 sures as are necessary for vindicat- 

 ing the honour of his crown, and 

 for the vigorous prosecution of the 

 war in which he finds himself en- 

 gaged, is pleased, by and with the 

 advice of his privy council, to order, 

 and it is hereby ordered, that gene- 

 ral reprisals be granted against the 

 ships, goods, and subjects of the 

 king of Spain, so that as well his 

 majesty's fleets and ships, as also all 

 other ships and vessels that shall be 

 commissionated, by letters o( marque 

 or general reprisals, or otherwise, 

 by his majesty's commissioners for 

 executing the office of lord high ad- 

 miral of Great Britain, shall and 

 may lawfully seize all ships, vessels, 

 and goods, belonging to the king of 

 Spain, or his subjects, or others in- 

 habiting within the territories of the 



king 



