‘ 
* 
HISTORY OF EUROPE. =f 
discharge the important duties of 
the office, yet he put himself at the 
' disposal of the house, and was sa- 
tisfied to act as they should direct. 
Mr. Abbot was then introduced 
into the chair, as speaker, and re- 
turning thanks for the honour that 
had been conferred upon him, hoped 
that the house would judge of his 
gratitude more by his future con- 
duct, than by any words he could 
find to express himself. 
Lord Castlereagh congratulated 
the speaker on his re-election, in 
an appropriate speech.—The house 
then adjourned. 
On the 17th of November the 
house of commons attended at the 
bar of the house of lords, with their 
newly-elected speaker; who, after 
Informing the lords commissioners 
of the choice of the commons havy- 
ing fallen upon him, expressed a 
hope (according to the usual form), 
that his majesty might allow the 
commons to go to a new election, 
in order that they might find a 
person worthier of that high office 
than himself. 
Thelerd chancellor then express- 
edhis majesty’s entire approbation of 
the choice of the house of commons. 
The speaker, after returning 
thanks, claimed, as usual, the free- 
dom of speech and other privileges 
of the house of commons. 
At half past two,-on the 23d, his 
Majesty came down to the house of 
peers. The commons being order- 
éd to attend, he addressed his par- 
Hament in the following manner: 
«* My Lords and Gentlemen, 
*‘ It is highly gratifying to me to 
resort to your advice and assistance, 
after the opportunity which has 
been recently afforded of collecting 
the sense of my people. 
‘¢ The internal prosperity of the 
country has realized our most san- 
guine hopes; we have experienced » 
the bounty of divine providence in 
the produce of an abundant harvest. 
‘* The state of the manufactures, 
commerce, and revenue of my 
United Kingdom, is flourishing be- 
yond example; and the loyalty and 
attachment which are manifested to 
my person and government, afford 
the strongest indications of the just 
sense that is entertained of the nu- 
merous blessings enjoyed under the 
protection of our happy constitu- 
tion. : ; 
‘“« In my intercourse with foreign 
powers ih been actuated by 
a sincere disposition for the main- 
tenance of peace. It is nevertheless 
impossible for me to lose sight of 
that established and wise system of 
policy, by which the interests of 
other states are connected with our 
own; and I cannot be therefore in- 
different to any material change in 
their relative condition or strength. 
My conduct will be invariably re- 
gulated by a due consideration of 
the actual situation of Europe, and 
by a watchful solicitude for the per- 
manent welfare of our people. 
“You will, I am persuaded, agree 
with me in thinking that it is incum- 
bent on us to adopt those means of 
security which are best calculated to 
afford the prospect of preserving to 
my subjects the blessings of peace.” 
« Gentlemen of the House of Commons, 
‘« T have ordered the estimates of 
the ensuing year to be laid before 
you, and I rely on your zeal and 
liberality in providing for the vari- 
ous branches of the public service, 
which it is a great satisfaction to 
me to think may be fully accom- 
plished, without any considerable 
B2 addition 
