historical chronicle. . XIX. 
every account, a great satisfac.) “ I have carefully observed 
‘ion'to me to mect you inja strict neutrality in the pre- 
‘parliament at this conjuncture. |sent war on the continent, and‘ 
“© T fhould have. been happy | have uniformly abstained from. 
if I could have: announced to/any interference with respect 
you the secure and undisturbed | to the internal affairs of France; 
‘continuance ofvall'the blefsings | but it is impofsible for me to- 
which my subjects have de-|see, without the most: serious: 
tived from a state of tranquilli- |uneasinefs,; the strong and in-- 
ty; but events have recently | creasing indications which have 
occurred, which require our u- | appeared there, of an intention: 
nited vigilance and exertion, in| to excite disturbances: in other 
order to preserve the advan-|countries, to disregard’ the- 
tages which we have hitherto| rights of neutral nations, and to: 
enjoyed. pursue views of conquest and’ 
“The seditious’ practices|aggrandizement, as well as to» 
which had been, m a _ great|adupt, towards my allies the 
measure, checked by your firm] States General, who have ob- 
and explicit declaration in the|served the same reutrality with 
last’sefsion, and by the general| myself, measures) which are 
concurrence of my people in| neither conformable to the law 
the same sentiments, have of|of nations, nor to the- positive 
late bee more openly. renew- | stipulations of existing treaties. 
ed, and with increased activi- | Under all these circumstances, — 
I have felt it my indispensible 
duty to have recourse to those 
means of prevention, and inter- 
nal defence, with which I am 
intrusted by law: and I have 
also thought it right to take 
steps for making some augmen- 
tation of my naval and military 
force ; ; being persuaded that these 
eae: are necefsary in the 
present state of affairs; and are 
best -calculated: both to main- 
to proceed from a design'to at-|tain internal tranquillity, and 
tempt the destruction. of our;to render a firm and temperate 
happy constitution, and the sub-|conduct effectual for preserving, 
version of ail order and go-| the blefsings of peace. 
vernment ; and this design has} ‘‘ Nothing will be neglected 
evidently been pursued in con-|on my part that can contribute- 
nection and concert. with per-|to that important object, consis- 
sons in’ foreign countries, < tently with the security of 
“ A spirit of ttioulé and 
‘disorder (the natural’ conse- 
quence of such practices) has 
thewn itself in acts of riot and 
insurrection, which required the 
interposition’of a military force 
in support of the civil magi- 
strate : the industry employed 
to excite discontent: on vari- 
ous pretexts, in different parts 
of the kingdom; has: appeared 
