STATE PAPERS. 



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protection granted to us by the 

 Almighty, every thing, io short, 

 must encourage us to persevere 

 without relaxation in our efforts for 

 the welfare of the country. 



Precisely four months have ex- 

 pired this day since my return to 

 the Netherlands ; and during that 

 sliort period, the progress which 

 we have made in the important 

 work of the restoration of the State, 

 has greatly exceeded all that we 

 might have dared to expect. 



Foreign powers have not con- 

 fined themselves to applauding the 

 recovery of our independent exist- 

 ence : they have also manifested 

 by deeds which must inspire us 

 with boundless gratitude, their sa- 

 tisfaction at witnessing the sove- 

 reignty conferred upon my house. 



The most important of our fo- 

 reign relations, — those which sub- 

 sist between us and the generous 

 British nation, — will soon acquire, 

 by the marriage of my eldtst son, 

 a new degree of intimacy and of 

 reciprocal regard. 



But what gives me the diief 

 hope for the future, is the ex|.e- 

 rience which 1 have acquired of 

 the sentiments and of the good dis- 

 position of the nation itself. 



Its devotion to the good cause 

 has enabled me, notwithstanding 

 the exhaustion of this country, 

 and its dilapidated resources, to 

 raise, in the space of a few weeks, 

 more than 25,000 troops ; the 

 greater part of whom, well armed 

 and equipped, will soon be collect- 

 ed on our frontiers, under the com- 

 mand of my two sons. 



Its ttnanimily in all that con- 

 cerns the great interests of the 

 country has been displayed in the 

 moktmarked manner by the prompt 

 organization of the militia, the 



levy in mass, and the national 

 guards, and as now also by the ac- 

 ceptance of the constitution. 



I am persuaded, Gentlemen, 

 that I shall only anticipate the 

 wishes of you all, by immediately 

 ap[)lying myself to the enforcement 

 of that Constitution, as well as by 

 adopting all the measures, and 

 establishing all the arrangements, 

 without which its effects would re- 

 main long incomplete and im- 

 perfect. 



That important task, therefore, 

 shall be henceforward the main ob- 

 ject of my attention ; and in dis- 

 charging it, I shall be guided by 

 the same impartiality, and the same 

 solicitude for the public welfare, 

 which i have endeavoured hitherto 

 to display in all the acts of my go- 

 vernment. 



As long as no inroad shall be 

 made on the spirit or the letter of 

 the constitution, the country will be 

 sheltered from all dissent ions, from 

 all contests about authority, and all 

 rivalry between the provinces. It 

 allots to reasonable citizens all the 

 liberty, to the Sovereign all that 

 extent of power, which they can 

 respectively desire : at the same 

 time that the people and the Prince, 

 the governors and the governed, 

 find in its equitable and liberal ar- 

 rangement?^, what is calculated to 

 establish and secure their mutual 

 agreement and co-operation. 



In these sentiments, the fruits of 

 a long and deliberate examination, 

 and which are still farther fortified 

 and exalted by the solemnity of 

 this memorable moment, I declare 

 myself ready, in presence of this 

 assembly, as representing the Unit- 

 ed Netherlands, to take the oath 

 which the Constitution has pre- 

 scribed to the Sovereign Princir. 



