His Majefty's Speech to both Houfes of Parliament, Dec. 30, 1794.

A

My lords and gentlemen, FTER the uniform experience which I have had of your zealous regard for the interefts of my people, it is a great fatisfaction to me, to recur to your advice and affiftance at a period which calls for the full exertion of yourenergy and wifdom.

Notwithstanding the difappointments and reverfes which we have experienced in the courfe of the laft campaign, I retain a firm conviction of the neceffity of perfifting in a vigorous profecution of the just and neceffary war in which we are engaged.

You will, I am confident, agree with me, that it is only from firmnefs and perfeverance that we can hope for the restoration of peace on fafe and honourable grounds, and for the prefervation and permanent fecurity of our deareff interests.

In confidering the fituation of our enemies, you will not fail to obferve, that the efforts which have led to their fucceffes, and the unexampled means by which alone thofe efforts could have been fupported, have produced among themfelves the pernicious effects which 6

were to be expected; and that every thing which has paffed in the interior of the country, has fhewn the progreffive and rapid decay of their refources, and the inftability of every part of that violent and unnatural fyftem, which is equally ruinous to France and incompatible with the tranquillity of other nations.

The ftates general of the United Provinces have neverthelefs been led, by a sense of present difficulties, to enter into negociations for peace with the party now prevailing in that unhappy country. No eftablished government or independent ftate can, under the prefent circumftances, derive real security from fuch negociations: on our part, they could not be attempted, without facrificing both our honour and fafety to an enemy whofe chief animofity is avowedly directed against thefe kingdoms.

I have the efore continued to use the most effectual means for the further augmentation of my forces: and I fall omit no opportunity of concerting the operations of the next campaign with fuch of the powers of Europe, as are impreffed with the fame fenfe of the neceffity of vigour and exertion. I place the fulleft reliance on the valour of my forces, and on the affection and

public

Great Britain, in parliament affembled, beg leave to return your majesty the thanks of this houfe for your most gracious fpeech from the throne: to affure your majefty, that it is equally our duty and our anxious defire to fecond your majefty's views for the welfare of your people, at this important crifis, by our beft advice and affiftance: that, much as we must defire the reftoration of peace, on fafe and honourable grounds, we join with your majefty in thinking that it is only from firmnefs and perfeverance that we can hope for the attainment of that end, and for the prefervation and permanent fecurity of our dearest interefts; and that, notwithstanding the difappointments and reverfes which have been experienced in the course of the last campaign, we retain a firm conviction of the necefiity of perfifting in the vigorous profecution of the juft and neceffary war in which we are engaged: from confidering the fituation of our enemies, we are perfuaded that the efforts which have led to their fucceffes, and the unexampled means by which thofe efforts have been fupported, have produced, among themselves, the pernicious effects which were to be expected from them and that the circumftances which have taken place in the interior of the country afford ftrong marks of the progreffive and rapid decay of their refources, and of the inftability of every part of that violent and unnatural fyftem which is equally ruinous to France, and incompatible with the tranquillity of other nations.

Although a fenfe of prefent difficulties has led the states general of the United Provinces to enter into negotiations for peace with the party now prevailing in France, we

are fully fenfible how little real fecurity any established government or independent ftate can derive, under the prefent circumftances, from the result of such negotiations; and we are convinced that they could not be attempted, on our part, without facrificing both our honour and fafety to an enemy whofe chief animofity is avowedly directed against these kingdoms.

We cannot but applaud your majefty's determination to use the most effectual means for the further augmentation of your forces, and to omit no opportunity of concerting the operations of the next campaign with fuch of the powers of Europe as are impreffed with the fame fenfe of the neceffity of vigour and exertion.

We are perfuaded your majefty may, at all times, juftly rely on the valour of your forces by fea and land, and on the affection and public fpirit of your people, contending for their effential interefts, and deeply fenfible of your majesty's parental folicitude for their happinefs and welfare.

We acknowledge [your majesty's goodness in having directed the inftrument by which you have accepted the crown and fovereignty of Corfica to be laid before us; and we are fenfible that the local importance of that ifland, and the fpirited efforts of its inhabitants, naturally recommended them to your majefty's protection.

It gives us great pleasure to learn that your majefty has concluded a treaty with the United States of America, with the view of removing, as far as poffible, all grounds of jealoufy and mifunderstanding, and of improving an intercourse beneficial to both countries; and we fhall be ready, as foon as the

theaty

treaty is laid before us, to confider of the neceffary provifions for carrying it into effect.

We cannot fufficiently exprefs the fatisfaction which all your majesty's fubjects must derive from the aufpicious event of the conclufion of a treaty for the marriage of his royal highnefs the prince of Wales with the princefs Caroline, daughter of the duke of Brunswick; and that, participating warmly in the fentiments which your majefty muft feel on an occafion not lefs connected with the interefts of your people than with the domeftic happinefs of your majefty, we fhall cheerfully proceed to enable your majefty to make provifion for an eftablishment fuitable to the rank and dignity of the heir apparent to the crown of thefe kingdoms.

The confiderations which prove the neceffity of a vigorous profecution of the war cannot fail to induce us to make a timely and ample provision for the feveral branches of the public fervice; and while we feel the painful neceffity of impofing additional burthens on our conftituents, it is a juft confolation and fatisfaction to us to learn, that the ftate of our credit, commerce, and refources, is fuch as might naturally be expected to refult from the continued exertions of industry, under the protection of a free and well-regulated go

vernment.

ciples of focial order, morality, and religion, will ultimately be fuccefsful; and that your majefty's faithful fubjects will find their prefent exertions and facrifices rewarded by the fecure and permanent enjoyment of tranquillity at home, and by the deliverance of Europe from the greatest danger with which it has been threatened fince the establishment of civilized fociety.

Mr. Wilberforce moved the following Amendment on the preceding Addrefs:

To affure his majefty, that they are determined to grant the moit liberal fupplies, for the purpofe of enabling his majefty to act with vigour and effect in fupporting the dignity of his crown, the internal fecurity of his dominions, and the good faith towards his majesty's allies, for which this country has been fo eminently diftinguished: and that, notwithstanding the difappointments and reverfes of the laft campaign, they are firmly convinced, that from the unremitting exertions of his majefty, and the fpirit and zeal which have been fo generally manifefted throughout the kingdom, by a people fenfible of the advantages they enjoy under his majefty's government, they may promife themfelves (by the bĺeffing of providence) complete fecurity from the attempts of foreign or domeftic enemies.

That, at the fame time, they beg leave moft humbly to reprefent to his majefty, that upon full confideration of all the events and circumftances of the prefent war, and of fome tranfactions which have lately paffed in France, and alfo the negotiation entered into by the ftates general, they think it advifable and expedient to endeavour to restore the bleffings of peace to his majefty's fubjects, and to his (F 2) allies,

allies, upon juft and reafonable

terms.

But that if, contrary to the ardent wishes of his faithful commons, fuch endeavours on the part of his majefty fhould be rendered ineffectual by the violence and ambition of the enemy, they are perfuaded that the burdens and evils of a juft and neceffary war will be borne with cheerfulness by a loyal, affectionate, and united people.

The amendment was negatived, and the original addrefs carried by a majority of 246 against 75.

Proteft, by Earl Stanhope, January 6, 1795, against the Motion for Adjournment, by which his propofed Refolution, "That this Country ought not, and will not, interfere in the internal Affairs of France, and that it is expedient explicitly to declare the fame," was negatived; fixtyone Peers voting for the Adjournment, and his Lord/hip alone against it.

DISSENTIENT,

ift, Because the motion made for the houfe to adjourn, was profeffedly intended to get rid of the following refolution, viz. Refolved, &c. See above.

2dly, Because I hold, that it is contrary to equity and juftice, for any foreign country to interfere in the internal affairs, or conftitution of the French republic, or any other independent nation.

3dly, Because the government of Great Britain, (not having been elected by the citizens of France) can have no more right to give to France a monarchical, ariftocratical, or other form of government whatever, than the crowned defpots of Pruffia and Ruffia had, to overturn the constitution of now unhapPy Poland.

4thly, Because I highly difapprove and reprobate the doctrine, advanced by minifters in the debate; namely, "That to reftore the ancient and hereditary monarchy of France, no expence fhould be fpared." And I reprobate that pernicious and uncivic doctrine the more ftrongly, from its not having been fuddenly, haftily, or inconfiderately ftarted; but from its having been taken up (as it was folemnly delared) upon the utmoft deliberation.

5thly, Becaufe I deem it to be an injustice committed by minifters, towards my fellow-citizens, to adopt a principle which shall render it neceffary for the government of Great Britain to lay further heavy burthens upon the people; and to tax their houfes, their windows, their beer, their candles, their fhoes, and many other conveniencies and neceffaries of life, in order to provide a fund, to attempt the accom. plishment of fuch a wicked purpose as aforefaid.

6thly, Becaufe the proposed refolution, above ftated, was intended by me as a folemn pledge, that the government of this nation would not interfere in the internal affairs of France: but the refufal of the houfe to give fuch a pledge, tends to fhut the door to peace; and con fequently tends to ensure the ruin of this manufacturing, commercial, and once happy country: particularly confidering the increafed, and rapidly increafing strength of the navy of the French republic; independently of the profpect there is, of their having the navies of Holland and Spain under their immediate influence.

7thly, Because the public funds, the paper currency, and the public and private credit of this country, will probably be unequal to ftand

against