THE 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 



For the YEAR 1812. 



GENERAL HISTORY. 



CHAPTER I. 



The Pritice Regent's Speech Addresses thereon and Debates. — Thanh 



to Lord Minto. — State of the King's Health. — Debate on Colonel 

 M'Mahons Appointment of Paymaster oj fViduws Pensions. — Dis' 

 tillery Bill. 



THE session of parliament was 

 opened on January 7th, with 

 the Prince Regent's speech, deli- 

 vered bj' commission ; it was to 

 the following effect :— Commenc- 

 ing with the expression of deep 

 concern for his majesty's continued 

 indisposition, respecting which the 

 reports of the queen's council were 

 to be laid before the two Houses, it 

 particularly adverted to their indis- 

 pensable duly of continuing to pre- 

 serve for his majesty the facility 

 of resuming his royal authority in 

 the event of his recovery. The 

 success of the measures for the de- 

 fence and security of Portugal 

 were next touched upon, with the 

 reputation acquired by the British 

 and Portuguese troops in their ac- 

 VoL. LIV. 



tions with the enemy. The sur- 

 prise of a French corps in Estrema- 

 dura, by lieut.-gen. Hill, was men- 

 tioned with commendation ; from 

 which a transition was made to 

 the general merits of lord Wel- 

 lington in the direction of the cam- 

 paign ; and the spirit shown by the 

 Spanish nation in their peculiar 

 system of warfare, the extension 

 of which was placed in balance 

 against the success of the enemy in 

 some quarters. This part of the 

 subject concluded with the Re- 

 gent's confident hope that parlia- 

 ment would enable his majesty to 

 continue the most effectual aid for 

 supporting the contest in the Pen- 

 insula. The speech then took 

 notice of the success of the British 

 [Bj arms 



