STATE PAPERS. 



677 



poititout the means, and, on this 

 solemn occasion, to state to your 

 high mightinesses the principles by 

 ■vvhich I shall regulate my adminis- 

 tration, and which 1 deem the most 

 proper for securing our political ex- 

 istence abroad, and our tranquillity 

 athome. Among thegreat aftswhich 

 I imagine a wise nation experts of 

 us, I principally have the following 

 before my mind ; — In the first place, 

 the putting an end to that state of 

 uncertainty, with respect to our in- 

 ternal government, which has long 

 since tired aud fatigued the people, 

 and which would have terminated in 

 despair and dissolution, in the se- 

 cond place the improvement of the 

 finances of the country, brought to 

 the brink of absolute ruin by the 

 consequences of internal troubles, 

 and of ruinous wars. And, lastly, 

 the embracing and maintaining a 

 firm political system, calculated ac- 

 cording to the situation of Europe, 

 and fit to inspireour allies with con- 

 fidence, our friends with good will, 

 and our enemies with awe. When 

 wc shall have obtained the two for- 

 mer objects, the latter, (as far as 

 depends on us, and not on events 

 out of our power) will be easily at- 

 tainable, provided we only take care 

 that we (always keeping in mind 

 the great changes which have taken 

 place in Europe, and in our rela- 

 tions with our neighbours) to con- 

 Tinceall nations which surround us, 

 that our welfare and our prosperity 

 can never be detrimental to theirs, 

 and that they may fully depend upon 

 our good faith in fulfilling our en- 

 gagements. In order to restore the 

 solidity and energy of our internal 

 government, I deem nothing more 

 • fit, than an unchangeable attach- 

 ment to the holy principles of jus- 

 tice ; the doing equal justice to all. 



without difference of rank or opi- 

 nions ; the restoring the necessary 

 vigour to the laws, and the requisite 

 authority, and the ancient respect to 

 all the lawful authorities ; homage 

 to talents, bravery, and merit ; 

 every possible indulgence to misap- 

 prehension ; inexorable rigour to 

 misdeeds. The restoration of the 

 finances of the country will be our 

 most laborious branch. Can you 

 deem it necessary, high and mighty 

 lords, that a melancholy picture 

 thereof should be exhibited to you 

 on this occasion ? or is that sad 

 truth not sufficiently known, that 

 all the present ordinary revenue of 

 the state is hardly sufficient to pay 

 the interest of our debts ? and can 

 it after this be required, to add any 

 thing to make you feel the grievous 

 state of our finances ? without effi- 

 cacious remedies, there is no possi- 

 ble salvation from so great an evil ; 

 and all the authority granted by the 

 constitution to the executive power 

 is absolutely necessary to arrive at 

 these great measures, which, since 

 the origin of the republic, at various 

 periods, have always been desired 

 by great statesmen, and recom- 

 mended by some ; but constantly 

 frustrated by the clashing of the 

 powers, and the eternal opposition, 

 either of prejudice or of mean self- 

 interest, oftentimes badly under- 

 stood. By those efficacious reme- 

 dies, high and mighty lords, I do not 

 by any means aim at a violation of 

 our engagements. As little do I 

 aim at an order for new and extra- 

 ordinary impost?. These would, in 

 my judgment, either be politically 

 impracticable, or end in a general 

 emigration of all who can emigrate, 

 and in a total corruption of those 

 remaining behind. And, therefore, 

 they ihall never make a part of the 

 X X 3 measures 



