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Tavistock, Devonshire.

Wilton, Wiltshire.

Right Hon. Richard Fitzpatrick. Lord John Viscount Fitzwilliam. Philip Goldsworthy.

Russell.

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Tiverton, Devonshire.

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Hon. Robert Fulke Greville. H. Isherwood. Woodstock, Oxfordshire.

Right Hon. Dudley Ryder. Hon. Richard Sir H. Watkin Dashwood, bt. Lord Lavington,

Ryder.

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Aberdeenshire.

James Ferguson.

Ayrshire.
Hugh Montgomery.

Argyleshire.
Lord Frederic Campbell.

Banffshire.
William Grant.

Berwickshire. George Baillie, jun.

County of Caithness. Hon. Frederick Stuart.

County of Cromarty. Hon. Frederick Campbell.

Dumbartonshire.

W. C. Bontine.

Dumfriesshire.

Sir Robert Laurie, bart.

Edinburghshire.

Robert Dundas.

Elginshire.

James Brodie.

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SIXTEEN PEERS OF SCOTLAND.
George Hay, Marquis of Tweedale.
George James Hay, Earl of Errol.
Alexander Kennedy, Earl of Cassilis.
John Bowes Lyon, Earl of Strathmore.
Patrick Creechton, Earl of Dumfries.
Thomas Bruce, Earl of Elgin and Kincardine.
George Ramsay, Earl of Dalhousie.
William Carnegie, Earl of Northesk.
George Gordon, Earl of Aboyne.
John Campbell, Earl of Breadalbane.
George Boyle, Earl of Glasgow.
John Dalrymple, Earl of Stair.
James Somerville, Lord Somerville.
William Shaw Cathcart, Lord Cathcart.
James Sandilands, Lord Torphichen.
Francis Napier, Lord Napier.

The King's Speech on Opening the Ses

Tain, Dingwall, Dornock, Wick, and sion.] October 6. His Majesty opened

Kirkwall.

William Dundas.

Fortrose, Inverness, Nairn, and Forres, Sir Hector Monro, K. B.

the Session with the following Speech to both Houses:

"My Lords and Gentlemen;

"It is a peculiar satisfaction to me, in

Elgin, Banff, Cullen, Kintore, and In- the present conjuncture of affairs, to re

verrourie.

Alexander Brodie.

cur to your advice, after the recent oppor tunity which has been given for collecting

Aberdeen, Aber brothock, Montrose, Bre- the sense of my people, engaged in a

thin, und Inverbervie,

Alexander Allardyce.

difficult and arduous contest, for the preservation of all that is most dear to us.

"I have omitted no endeavours for setting on foot negotiations to restore peace to Europe, and to secure for the future the general tranquillity. The steps which I have taken for this purpose, have at length opened the way to an immediate and direct negotiation, the issue of which must either produce the desirable end of a just, honourable, and solid peace for us, and for our allies, or must prove, beyond dispute, to what cause alone the prolongation of the calamities of war must be

ascribed.

"I shall immediately send a person to Paris, with full powers to treat for this object; and it is my anxious wish that this measure may lead to the restoration of general peace; but you must be sensible that nothing can so much contribute to give effect to this desire, as your manifesting that we possess both the determination and the resources to oppose, with increased activity and energy, the further efforts with which we may have to contend.

"You will feel this peculiarly necessary at a moment when the enemy has openly manifested the intention of attempting a descent on these kingdoms. It cannot be doubted what would be the issue of such an enterprise; but it befits your wisdom to neglect no precautions that may either preclude the attempt, or secure the speediest means of turning it to the confusion and ruin of the enemy.

"In reviewing the events of the year, you will have observed that, by the skill and exertions of my navy, our extensive and increasing commerce has been protected to a degree almost beyond example; and the fleets of the enemy have, for the greatest part of the year, been blocked up in their own ports.

"The operations in the East and West Indies have been highly honourable to the British arms, and productive of great national advantage; and the valour and good conduct of my forces, both by sea and land, have been eminently conspicuous.

"The fortune of war on the continent has been more various, and the progress of the French armies threatened at one period, the utmost danger to all Europe; but, from the honourable and dignified perseverance of my ally the Emperor, and from the intrepidity, discipline, and invincible spirit, of the Austrian forces, under the auspicious conduct of the archduke Charles, such a turn has lately

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been given to the course of the war, as may inspire a well-grounded confidence that the final result of the campaign will prove more disastrous to the enemy, than its commencement and progress for a time were favourable to their hopes.

"The apparently hostile dispositions and conduct of the court of Madrid have led to discussions of which I am not yet enabled to acquaint you with the final result; but I am confident that, whatever may be their issue, I shall have given to Europe a further proof of my moderation and forbearance; and I can have no doubt of your determination to defend, against every aggression, the dignity, rights, and interests of the British empire.

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"Gentlemen of the House of Commons; I rely on your zeal and public spirit for such supplies as you may think necessary for the service of the year. It is a great satisfaction to me to observe that, notwithstanding the temporary embarrassments which have been experienced, the state of the commerce, manufactures, and revenue, of the country, proves the real extent and solidity of our resources, and furnishes you such means as must be equal to any exertions which the present crisis may require.

"My Lords, and Gentlemen;

"The distresses which were in the last year experienced from the scarcity of corn, are now, by the blessing of God, happily removed; and an abundant harvest affords the pleasing prospect of relief in that important article to the labouring classes of the community.-Our internal tranquillity has also continued undisturbed.— The general attachment of my people to the British constitution has appeared on every occasion; and the endeavours of those, who wished to introduce anarchy and confusion into this country, have been repressed by the energy and wisdom of the laws.

"To defeat all the designs of our ene mies, to restore to my people the blessings of a secure and honourable peace, to maintain inviolate their religion, laws, and liberty, and to deliver down unimpaired to the latest posterity the glory and happiness of these kingdoms, is the constant wish of my heart, and the uniform end of all my actions.-In every measure that can conduce to these objects, I am confident of receiving the firm, zealous, and affectionate support of my parliament."

Debate in the Lords on the Address of

Thanks.] His Majesty and the House | of Commons having retired, the Speech was read by the Lord Chancellor, and by the Clerk at the table. After which,

Earl Bathurst, in rising to move an Address of Thanks, intreated their lordships indulgence, as he found, that in addition to the embarrassments he laboured under from a diffidence of his own abilities, the subject on which he was about to offer a motion to their lordships was of such magnitude as to impose a much heavier weight on him than he feared he should be able to sustain in the manner he could wish. He had no doubt, but that the House would be unanimous in returning their humble and sincere thanks for the gracious communication his majesty had been pleased to make them; but before he moved it, he begged to offer a few reasons which induced him to form this conclu sion. His lordship then took notice of the arduous contest in which this country had, for so many years, been involved with the French. Various, he said, had been the turns of fortune and the vicissitudes of war since it first began; and as he was certain every one who heard him was convinced that a safe and honourable peace was essential to the repose, not only of this country, but of all Europe, he had not the smallest doubt but every noble lord present would heartily join in returning thanks to his majesty for his most gracious information, that he had omitted no endeavours for setting on foot negotiations for restoring peace to Europe. At the same time, he was sure it would be totally unnecessary for him to press upon their lordships the necessity there would be, in case this negotiation should fail in its effect, from the baughty demeanour, or extravagant terms which might be demanded by the French Directory, to unite as one man; and by combining the great resources of this country with that zeal, activity, and unanimity, which such a situation would call forth, he had no doubt but we should be able to repel every hos tile attempt, in as brave and gallant a manner as we had heretofore done. The noble earl then entered into a spirited eulogium on the skill and courage of our naval commanders, and the great exertions which had been made by them in every quarter of the globe. He next touched upon the scene of the war on the continent, and the astonishing successes of the enemy at the commencement of the present campaign.-Successes which

threatened at one time to overturn the whole long-tried and well-poised system of the Germanic empire; successes which threatened our great and good ally the Emperor even in his very capital; and which have, at the same time, given him an opportunity of displaying a greatness of courage and constancy of mind under the most dispiriting circumstances, which redound in the highest degree to his honour, as a faithful ally, and which have proved, beyond a doubt, that his magnanimity in the hour of danger, aided by the unexampled bravery, zeal, and activity of the archduke Charles, have, under the blessing of Heaven, been the means of saving the liberties and rights of the Germanic body. With regard to the hostile preparations of a certain court, he had no doubt, that whatever steps his majesty might hereafter take in that business, would convey to all Europe additional proofs of moderation and forbearance, and of his determination to defend the rights of Englishmen and the dignity of his crown against every enemy. He congratulated their lordships on the flourishing state of the manufactures, revenues, commerce, and general resources of the country, which he doubted not would be found fully adequate to every necessary exertion; and also on the abundance of the late harvest. It was also matter of congratulation that the tranquillity of the country had been preserved and the views of those who wished to stir up anarchy and confusion, had been completely frustrated by the wisdom and energy of the laws. His lordship then moved an address, which was an echo of the Speech from the throne.

The Earl of Upper Ossory, in rising to second the address, informed their lordships that he should engross but a small portion of their time. If he had previously been inclined to occupy more, he should have found it almost impossible to have done so, after the clear and comprehensive manner in which the noble lord had just expatiated on the same topics. The few observations he had to make were merely designed to impress some of the principal parts of his majesty's speech upon their lordships attention. If his majesty had come down on the preceding day he suspected that an opportunity would not have then been afforded for communicating the information that a negotiation had been set on foot for the restoration of peace. He hoped and trusted,

that this peace, if it should be obtained, would not be partial, but would compre hend in it the honour and security of our allies. If the issue should not be favourable, he conceived it would be owing rather to the haughtiness of the enemy than to any want of moderation on our part. But if the negotiation should fail, he hoped, it would, at least, be productive of one good effect, and unite us all in compelling the enemy by force of arms to submit to reasonable terms. His lordship was animated in his praise of the archduke Charles. On the conduct of Spain, he was not able to pronounce a panegyric; but as he hardly knew the relation in which we stood to that power, he deemed it prudent, at present to be silent. His majesty had lastly expressed his gratification at the late abundant harvest, whereby the distresses of the labouring part of the community had a prospect of being speedily relieved; and as their lordships knew the sentiments of his majesty's heart, they must be sensible that such a relief would be to him a source of the highest satisfaction.

Earl Fitzwilliam said, it was always with considerable embarrassment that he rose to address their lordships, and that this embarrassment was by no means lessened on the present occasion, as he did not know but in what he had to offer to the House, he might probably stand by himself. Be that as it might, he found it to be his duty to give his opposition to the address. He had been an advocate for the war at its commencement, from an opinion of its necessity, and he was now confirmed in the opinion of its necessity, from the experience of a long series of events. When the war commenced, it was asked, whether it would be prudent to draw the sword, not only in the defence of an ally, but for the preservation of the civil happiness of Europe; and it was generally admitted, that it would not only be prudent but indispensably necessary. The designs of the enemy tended to the destruction of every established government, and the total subversion of society; and those designs had not yet been abandoned. He had trusted, therefore, that he should not have heard one word of a negotiation like that which had been mentioned, and was surprised to find such expressions made use of as were common at the end of an ordinary war. Finding the address proposed by the noble earl re-echoed to the

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crown the vague and loose expressions concerning that negotiation, without the least attention to the grand principle on which the war commenced, he felt it impossible to give it his concurrence. The great object of the war was the restoration of order, not with regard to the internal mode of government which the enemy might choose to adopt, but with regard to the influence of their external designs; for at the commencement of the war, their internal system of government was not more dangerous than the present but the influence of their opinions and designs externally was terrific. To restore order, to defend the civilized states of Europe against the dangers that threatened them, to protect persons and property from a fatal devastation, and suppress the tendency of innovating and pernicious doctrines, were the ostensible objects of the war. Upon these principles their lordships had engaged in the war, and upon these principles they had supported it. What, then, was the nature and the purport of the proposed address? Why it was neither more nor less than a recommendation to his majesty to acknowledge and approve that system he had formerly reprobated and opposed. If there were any wisdom in negotiation now, the same wisdom should have been manifested four years ago; for he defied any man to say, that the same causes which existed then, and proved the necessity of the war, did not exist now. The system of subversion of every acknowledged principle and established institution continued still to predominate. The wisdom of the first measures which were adopted to oppose this dangerous evil, he had always approved, and experience had confirmed. What then was there now in the aspect of public affairs to require a deviation from a conduct sanctioned by policy, and justified by events? Was the system which had roused our attention and demanded our exertions now extinct; or was it still the rule by which the conduct of the enemy was directed? Their lordships ought to compare the views of France at that period, with the plans which they prosecuted now. The great and powerful governments of Europe were not the first who were attacked by the spirit of aggression with which the enemy were actuated, but the inferior and feeble states had felt their overbearing influence and their subversive authority. Such instances

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