STATE PAPERS. 
the family of his Royal Highness, 
the Prince Regent confides in their 
making such provision on this oc- 
casion as the rank and station of 
their Royal Highnesses may ap- 
pear to require.” 
Speech of the Prince Regent on 
proroguing Parliament, July 12. 
« My Lords and Gentlemen, 
. “TJ cannot close this Session of 
Parliament without again express- 
ing my deep regret at the continu- 
ance of his Majesty’s lamented in- 
disposition. 
« At the commencement of the 
present session I entertained a 
confident. hope, that the peace 
which I had concluded, in con- 
junction with his Majesty’s allies, 
would meet with no interruption ; 
that, after so many years of conti- 
nued warfare, and of unexampled 
calamity, the nations of Europe 
would be allowed to enjoy that re- 
pose for which they had been so 
Jong contending; and that. your 
efforts might be directed to alle- 
viate the burthens of his Majesty’s 
people, and to adopt such mea- 
sures as might best promote the 
internal prosperity of his domi- 
nions. 
«« These expectations were dis- 
appointed by an act of violence and 
perfidy of which no parallel can be 
found in history. 
«: The usurpation of the supreme 
authority in France by Buonaparte, 
in consequence of the defection of 
the French armies from their legi- 
timate sovereign, appeared to me 
to be so incompatible with the ge- 
neral security of other countries, 
as well as with the engagements 
to which the French nation had 
recently been a party, that I felt 
329 
I had no alternative but to em- 
ploy the military resources of his 
Majesty’s dominions, in conjunc- 
tion with his Majesty’s allies, to 
prevent the re-establishment of a 
system which experience had 
proved to be the source of such 
incalculable woes to Europe. 
«“ Under such circumstances, 
you. will have seen with just pride 
and satisfaction the splendid suc- 
cess with which it has pleased 
Divine Providence to bless his 
Majesty’s arms, and those of his 
allies. 
«© Whilst the glorious and ever- 
memorable victory obtained at 
Waterloo, by Field-Marshals the 
Duke of Wellington and Prince 
Blucher, has added fresh lustre to 
the characters of those great com- 
manders, and has exalted the mi- 
litary reputation of this country 
beyond all former example, it has 
at the same time produced the 
most decisive effects on the opera- 
tions of the war, by delivering 
from invasion the dominions of the 
King of the Netherlands, and 
by placing, in the, short space of 
fifteen days, the city of Paris, and 
a large part of the kingdom of 
France, in the military occupation 
of the allied armies. 
« Amidst events so important, 
Iam confident you will see how 
necessary it is, that there should 
be no relaxations in our exertions, 
until I shall. be enabled, in con- 
junction with his majesty’s allies, 
to complete those arrangements 
which may afford the prospect of 
permanent peace and security to 
Europe. 
«« Gentlemen of the House 
of Commons, 
«] thank you for the very li- 
beral provision you have mene 
or 
