which have received your fanction and approbation with unre, mitting vigour, and employ the force entrusted to the in the most efficient manner for the protection of his Majefty's faithful fubjects against all treasonable designs, and for bringing to condign punifhment thofe who are endeavouring to overturn the conftitu tion, and betray this country into the hands of her enemies. Speech of the Lord Lieutenant to both Houses of Parliament, on the 3d of July, 1797, on proroguing them. My Lords and Gentlemen, I HAVE the fatisfaction of being at length enabled to relieve you from your laborious attendance in Parliament, and am commanded by his Majefty to exprefs the just sense he entertains of that firm, tender, and vigorous determination which you have uniformly manifefted in fupporting his Majefty's government, and protecting our happy conftitution from the attempts of every foreign and domestic enemy. I have much pleasure in announcing to you, that the British Parliament has paffed acts for prohibiting the bounty on failcloth exported to Ireland, and for prohibiting the importation of cambric from all countries except this kingdom. Gentlemen of the Houfe of Commons, I am to thank you, in his Majefty's name, for your unanimity in voting the extraordinary fupplies which the public exigencies demanded. However unprecedented those fupplies have been in extent, and however difficult they may have been rendered from the ftate of public credit, you have wifely attended to the fuperior confideration of national fafety. Such an exertion is the fureft proof that you are truly fenfible of the invaluable bleffings which we are contending to preferve, and that the beft means of effecting an honourable peace, and of reftoring all the comforts of tranquillity, are by difplaying at once your determination and your power, and by convincing your enemies of the extent of your refources, as well as of the fteadiness of your courage. The ready affiftance which has been received from the fifter kingdom in facilitating the loan of the year, whilst it is a fure demon.tration of her friendly cordiality, cannot fail to fhow how infeparable are the mutual interefts of the two kingdoms, and how neceflary their connexion is for their mutual profperity. Your humanity in directing your attention to the prefent diftrefs among the manufacturers, does not lefs command my approbation than your prudence in the mode of conveying relief, by increafing the means of their employment, My My Lords and Gentlemen, The powers with which you entrusted me by the faspension of the Habeas Corpus act, have enabled me to bring to light and to. difconcert the fecret confpiracy which had been formed for the total overthrow of your eftablishments, the deftruction of property, and the diffolution of government. This confpiracy has been fo fully unfolded by your wisdom, that it can no longer Ipread itself under the infidious pretence which it had artfully affumed, of improving the conftitution. In the meafures, whether of vigilance or coercion, which you have recommended for its extinction, I fhall not relax. It will be my ftudy to temper the neceffary acts of severity and rigour by conciliatory offers of clemency and pardon, to exhort the infatuated and deluded to abandon their deceivers, and to fummon the guilty to repentance; but, at the fame time, it is and will be my fixed purpose to proceed with vigour against those who, regardless of every warning and admonition, fhall continue their defperate efforts to involve this flourishing country in all the horrors of infurrection and invafion, of blood fhed and of anarchy. I have already the fatisfaction to acquaint you that 'great numbers, who had been unfortunately feduced, have returned to a fenfe of their duty, and been admitted to his Majesty's clemency; and I trust that, by perfeverance and energy, every veftige of difaffection will be effaced, and univerfally give way to the return of that fpirit of loyalty which has fo long been the diftinguished characteristic of this kingdom. I cannot omit to congratulate with you on the unimpaired luftre of that fpirit which fo confpicuously fhone forth when the enemy's fleet appeared on our coafts; nor can I too often repeat my full fenfe of your wifdom in the establishment of diftric corps. I have the moft fatisfactory accounts of their improvement in difcipline, as well as their exertions in quelling and preventing infurrection; and I have myself witneffed the unexampled exertions, good conduct, and military appearance of the corps of the metropolis, whofe unceafing and unwearied vigilance, at a most important crifis, checked every attempt to produce confufion by riot and tumult, at the fame time that it deftroyed the hopes of our enemies, reftored confidence to the country in general. Your judicious augmentation of pay to his Majesty's regular and militia forces, which must render their fituation fo highly comfortable, is at once a feasonable and honourable acknow, ledgment of their steadiness and loyalty. The traitorous efforts which have been made to entice them from their allegiance, have had a fatal effect in a few lamentable examples. I truft, however, that they have excited, in the minds of others fo timely a repentance, and in the reft fuch indignation and abhorrence, that no future danger can be apprehended. Your Your wife inftitution of a finking fund, in the midst of finaneial difficulties, cannot be too much applauded, and will prevent any ruinous depreciation of fund ftock, and being established before the national debt has accumulated to any oppreffive magnitude, will tend to prevent its becoming dangerous. A meafure fo truly calculated for preferving the refources of the state, and fupporting public credit, muft fecure to you the gratitude of an enlightened people. His Majefty is exerting every proper effort to produce a speedy and fecure peace. It will be our duty to affift thofe efforts, by convincing our enemies, from the ftate of our preparation, and the unanimity of our fpirit, that they can hope for no advantage by prolonging the calamities of war. Wherever your abilities, your influence, and exertions, can be most advantageoufly employed on your return to your feveral counties, I am confident they will be meft confpicuously dif played. A conftant intercourfe with your immediate neighbourhoods muft give you the opportunity of affording to the people both affiftance and example, of reclaiming thereby the deluded and ill-difpofed, and confirming the well-affected in their fidelity and allegiance. A forward fpirit of loyalty, which in most parts of the kingdom has fuccefsfully checked the progrefs of treason, will be ftrengthened and diffufed by your prefence and exertions. It will be my ambition to fecond your activity and zeal, and to co-operate with your efforts for restoring the tranquillity and profperity of the kingdom. We have a facred caufe to defend, the independence and con ftitution of Great Britain and Ireland, from which both kingdoms have derived innumerable bleffings under his Majefty's aufpicious reign. They were purchafed by the deareft blood of your ancestors, in a crifis not lefs formidable than the prefent. I truft we fhall not fail to imitate their great example, and that we shall be enabled, by fimilar courage and continued firmnefs, to tranfmit to our pofterity, inviolate, that invaluable inheritance which their valour refcued, and their perfeverance preferved. APPENDIX. HISTORY OF OF THE WAR. From the LONDON GAZETTE, January 3, 1797 Whitehall, January 3, 1797. BY difpatches received on Sunday evening from the Lord Lieutenant on of Ireland, by his Grace the Duke of Portland, his Majesty's principal fecretary of ftate for the home department, it appears that a part of the French fleet, confifting of eight two-deckers, and nine other veffels of different claffes, had anchored in Bantry Bay the 24th ultimo, and had remained there, without any attempt to land, till the 27th in the evening, when they quitted their station, and have not fince been heard of. The wind, at the time of their failing, blowing hard åt S. S. E. From their first appearance; every exertion was made by 'General Dalrymple, the commanding officer of the district; and a confiderable force was collected to repel the enemy. The accounts further ftate, that the yeomanry and volunteer corps difplayed the utmost zeal and alacrity, in undertaking the guards in those places from whence the regular troops were withdrawn; and the univerfal readinefs fhewn by all defcriptions of people to forward the preparations for defence, left no doubt of the event, in cafe the enemy had ventured to make a defcent. In particular, the fpirit, activity, and exertions, of Richard White, Efq. of Seafield Park, deserve the most honourable mention. An officer and seven men were driven on fhore, in a boat belonging to one of the French fhips, and were immediately made prifoners. This gentleman was conveyed to Dublin, and, upon examination, ftates, that the fleet, upon its leaving Breft, confifted, in all, of about fifty fail, having an army of 25,000 men on board, commanded by General Hoche, and that it was destined for the attack of Ireland. Admiralty Office, January 3, 1797. Copy of a Letter from Captain Sterling, of his Majefty's Ship Fason, to SIR, I HAD the honour to inform you, on the zoth inftant, by Le Suffrein, a French vessel, armé en flute, which we had taken with 250 troops, arms, &c. on board, that my intentions were to cruise some days, to endeavour to intercept any of her conforts. The prifoners have fince informed me, that the failed on the 16th, in company with fixteen fail of the line and tranfports, having 20,000 troops. As the wind has been easterly fince the date of my letter, and blowing very hard, I hope they have not reached a port; and as the troops had only ten days provifions, they must be badly off. I faw a large fhip of war last night, and I am perfuaded the body of the fleet cannot be far from me. A rudder, and other pieces of wreck, have floated paft us to-day. Admiralty Office, January 3, 1797. Copy of a Letter from Captain John Drew, Commander of his Majefty's Ship Cerberus, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated in Cawfand Bay, the 2gth of December, 1796. SIR, I BEG leave to inform my Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty of my arrival here, with his Majefty's fhip Cerberus under my command, having captured La Didon French cutter privateer, nine days out of Granville, and had taken nothing, carrying four brafs four-pounders, with fwivels, finall armsy, and thinty men. Extract of a Letter from Admiral Sir Peter Parker, Commander in Chief of his Majefty's Ships and Vessels at Portsmouth, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated on board the Royal William, the ft of January, 1797. THE Diamond has fent into this port L'Amaranthe French national brig, of twelve fix-pounders and nine men, from Havre, bound to Breft, which the captured yesterday off Alderney. From |
