ANNUAL REGISTER, 1810. 



Perceval being rejected by liie 

 lords Grenville and Grey, the 

 marquis of Weilesley, just return- 

 ed from Spain, was apfiointed 

 secretary of state for foreign af- 

 fairs ; the earl of Liverpool secre- 

 tary for the department of war 

 and tlic colonies ; and Mr. llyder 

 for the liome department.* 



The imperial parliament of Great 

 Bi-itain and Ireland assembled on 

 the 23rd of January. The session 

 was opened by commission. The 

 king's speech was read by the lord 

 chancellor, one of the conmiis- 

 sioners. The three others were, 

 the archbishop of Canterbury, and 

 the earls of Camden, Aylesford, 

 and Dartmouth. It turned, as 

 usual, on the relations in wliich 

 we stood to foreign states, the 

 principal events that had arisen 

 out of these since the last proro- 

 gation of parliament ; and the 

 views that had dictated, or con- 

 tinued to dictate, the conduct of 

 government — theexpeditiontothe 

 Scheldt, and reduction of the island 

 of Walcheren, respecting whicii 

 satisfactory documents and papers 

 tvould be laid before the House — 

 the situation of Sweden — the ex- 

 pulsion of the French from Por- 

 tugal — the glorious victory of Ta- 

 lavera— the resolution of the Spa- 

 nish government in the name and 

 by the authority of Ferdinand VII. 

 to assemble the Cortes ; a measure 

 which, he trusted, would give fresh 

 vigour and animation to the coun- 

 cils and arms of Spain — and tlie 

 considerations which recommend- 

 ed continued support to the 

 Spaniards — the suspension, but 



grounds for hoping for a speedy re- 

 storation of a friendly intercourse 

 between this country and the Unit- 

 ed Statesof America — and his ma- 

 jesty's reliance on the zeal and 

 loyalty of parliament for supplies. 



The commissioners were com- 

 manded by bis majesty to express 

 bis hope that the lords and com- 

 moners would resume the consi- 

 deration of the state of the inferibr 

 clergy; they had it further in 

 command to state, that the ac- 

 counts laid before them, of the re- 

 venue and trade of the country, 

 would befound highlysatisfactory- 

 Whatever temporary and partial 

 inconveniencymight have resulted 

 from the measures which were 

 directed by France against those 

 great resources of our prosperity 

 and strength, they bad wholly 

 failed of producing any perma- 

 nent or general effect.t 



In the House of Lords, an ad- 

 dress was moved by the earl of 

 Glasgow, in answer to the speech 

 from the throne : of which his 

 speech, as speeches always are on 

 similar occasions, was an amplifi- 

 cation, -illustration, and confirma- 

 tion. Lord Glasgow having taken 

 a brief review of the conduct of 

 his majesty's ministers, with re- 

 gard to their foreign policy and 

 various expeditions, maintained, 

 that whatever might have been the 

 result, they were not only unde- 

 serving of censure, but entitled to 

 the thanks of the country. The 

 motion for an address was second- 

 ed by the lord viscount Grim- 

 stone ; who, among other argu- 

 ments in support of the address. 



_ • For a complete listof his majesty's ministers, as it stood at ilie meeting of par- 

 liament, in Jauiiaiy 1810, see Appendix to Ciironicle, p. 324. 

 t See the Speech, State Papers, p. 430, 



