STATE PAPERS. 



419 



lishment — for making every" prac- 

 ticable reduction in the public ex- 

 penditure, and restoring to the 

 people their just share and weight 

 in the Legislature. 



By order of Court, 

 (Signed) 

 Henry Woodthorpe. 



To which Address and Petition 

 his Royal Highness was gracious- 

 ly pleased to return the following 

 answer : — 



It is with strong feelings of sur- 

 prise and regret that I receive 

 this address and petition of the 

 Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and 

 Commons of the city of London, 

 in Common Council assembled. 



Deeply as I deplore the pre- 

 vailing distress and difficulties of 

 the country, Y derive consolation 

 from the persuasion that the great 

 body of his Majesty's subjects, 

 notwithstanding the various at- 

 tempts which have been made to 

 irritate and mislead them, are well 

 convinced that the severe trials 



which they sustain with such ex- 

 emplary patience and fortitude 

 are chiefly to be attributed to un- 

 avoidable causes, and I contem- 

 plate with the most cordial satis- 

 faction the efforts of that enlight- 

 ened benevolence which is so use- 

 fully and laudably exerting itself 

 throughout the kingdom. 



I shall resort with the utmost 

 confidence to the tried wisdom of 

 Parliament at the time which upon 

 the fullest consideration I have 

 thought most advisable under 

 the present circumstances of the 

 country ; and I entertain a per- 

 fect conviction that a firm and 

 temperate administration of the 

 government, assisted and support- 

 ed by the good sense, public 

 spirit, and loyalty of the nation, 

 will effectually counteract those 

 proceedings which, from wliat- 

 ever motives they may originate, 

 are calculated to render tempora- 

 ry difficulties the means of pro- 

 ducing permanent and irreparable 

 calamity. 



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PUBLIC 



