_ and conquest. 
hoped to avert by 
STATEOPAP ERS. 
satisfaction to him, to recur to the 
firmness and wisdom of his parlia- 
ment, after so recent an opportu. 
nity of collecting the sense of his 
people. 
His majesty has dachirel the pa- 
rs which have been exchanged in 
the course of the late negotiations 
“with France, to be laid before you. 
His majesty has employed every ef- 
fort for the restoration of general 
tranguillity; on terms consistent 
with the interest and honour of his 
people, and with that inviolable 
good faith towards his allies, by 
which the conduct of this country 
has always been distinguished. 
The ambition and injustice of the 
enemy disappointed these endea- 
vours, and in the same moment 
kindled a fresh war in Europe, the 
progress of which has been attended 
with the most calamitous events, _ 
After witnessing the subversion 
of the ancient constitution of Ger- 
many, and the subjugation of a 
large proportion of its most consi- 
_ derable states, Prussia found herself 
still more nearly threatened by 
that danger which she had vainly 
so many sa- 
crifices. She was, therefore, at 
length compelled to adopt the reso. 
lution of openly resisting this unre- 
mitted system of aggrandizement 
But neither this de- 
termination, nor the ‘succeeding 
_ measures, were previously concerted 
_ with his majesty, nor had any dis- 
position been shewn to offer any 
ee aate satisfaction for those ag- 
_ gressious, which had placed the two 
_ countries in a state of mutual wing 
_ tility. 
‘, 
; 
Yet, in this situation, his injesty 
did not hesitate to adopt, without 
» delay, such measures as were best 
827 
calcujated to unite their councils 
and interests against the common 
enemy. ‘The rapid course of the 
calamities which ensued, opposed 
insurmountable difficulties to the ex. 
ecution of this purpose. 
In the midst of these disastrous 
events, and under the most trying 
circumstances, the good faith of his 
majesty’s allies has’ remained un- 
shaken. ‘lhe conduct of the king 
of Sweden has been distinguished by 
the most honourable firmness. Be- 
tween his majesty and the emperor - 
of Russia the happiest union: subs 
sists ; it has been cemenied by re- 
ciprocal proofs of good faith and 
confidence : and his majesty doubts 
not that you will participate in his 
anxiety to cultivate and confirm an 
alliance which affords the only re. 
maining hope of safety for the con- 
tinent of Europe. 
Gentlemen of the*house of 
commons, 
His majesty looks with confi. 
dence to your assistance in those 
exertions which the honour and in. 
dependence of our Country demand. 
The necessity of adding to the pub- 
lic burthens will be painful to your 
feelings, and is deeply distressing to 
his majesty. «In considering “the 
estimates for the various branches of 
the public service, you will best con- 
sult his majesty’s wishes, by combin- 
ing all practicable economy with 
those efforts which it is necessary to 
make against the formidable and 
increasing power of the enemy. 
My lords and gentlemen, 
The long series of misfortune 
which has afflicted the continent of 
Europe, could not fail to affeét, in 
some degree, many important inte- 
rests of the country. But under 
every successive dilliculty, his ma~- 
jesty 
