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imprefs the enemy with a thorough conviction of the refources of his majefty's kingdoms, and to procure a favourable termination to your honourable efforts. His majefty has the fulleft reliance on your firmnefs and attachment, and on the fortitude, fpirit, and perfeverance of his people.

It will be my ambition, as it is my duty, to reprefent your zeal in his majefty's fervice; and it will be my perfonal and moft anxious wish to co-operate with your efforts in the common caufe, in which we are all equally engaged and in terefted; and my utmost endeavours fhall be used to fecure the happiness and profperity of this kingdom, and to protect and main tain its most excellent conftitution.

Specth of the Speaker of the Irifh Houfe of Commons, on prefenting the Bills of Supply to his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant, for the Royal Affent.

I fhould feel a pride in repeating the fentiments of loyalty which direct the commons in all their deliberations, but the bills of fupply, which they now offer, declare them more effectually than it is in the power of any language to exprefs.

We are a part of the empire; we will ftand or fall with Britain; it is our repeated determined refolution, and this nation will exert all its powers, and will call forth all its refources, to fupport, with her, the common caufe, to uphold the fafety of the laws, the religion, and the conftitution, against the overthrow with which the prefent unprovoked and unexampled war attempts to threaten them.

Peace is an object moft devoutly to be wifhed; but an infecure peace is only a fmothered war; for a lafting and honourable one (and none can be lafting that is not honourable) we look to the powerful im preffions which the abundant refources of the empire, the vigour of his majesty's exertious, and the cordial co-operation of all his fubjects, muft make on the common enemy.

We have, accordingly, with an unanimous voice, granted fupplies to the utmost defire expreffed by his majefty's minifters, and in doing fo we look back with great fatisfaction on the energy, wifdom, and economy, with which the very liberal fupplies of the last feffions have been adminiftered under your excellency's government.

The defence of the kingdom has had due attention paid to it. The fpirit of infurrection has been vigoroufly fuppreffed wherever it has appeared, and we have the strongest hope, from the vigilance, the firmnefs, and conciliating moderation, which have marked your excellency's conduct fince your arrival in this kingdom, that under the additional powers with which the laws of this feffion will have armed the magiftracy, it will be totally and fpeedily fubdued.

Speech of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, to both Houfes of Parliament, April 15, 1796.

My lords and gentlemen, In releafing you from farther attendance in parliament, I am peculiarly commanded by his majesty to thank you for that confpicuous zeal and unanimity, fo honourable to yourselves, and fo impreffive on

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our enemies, which have marked your conduct through the whole feffion, in promoting, by your energy and temper, the interefts of country, and in fupporting, by your fpirit and liberality, the common caufe of the empire.

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is majefty has taken the fteps which appeared most proper for fetting on foot a negotiation for general peace, if the enemy fhould be difpofed to enter into fuch negotiation on grounds confiftent with the fafety, honour, and intereft of his majefty's kingdoms, and of his allies.

If his majesty's views in this refpect fhould fail, he has no doubt, that the valour of his fubjects, the refources of his kingdoms, and the exertions of the powers engaged with him, will ultimately produce this defirable end.

Gentlemen of the houfe of

commons,

I am to thank you, in his majefty's name, for the cheerfulness and liberality with which you have provided for the current fervices of the year, and it affords me the highest fatisfaction to reflect that thefe objects have been attained by burthens fo judicioufly impofed, that they can fcarcely affect the lower orders of the people. It is equally fatisfactory to obferve that your ftrength and profperity remain undiminished, notwithstanding the preffure of the war, and it will be my endeavour to cherish your resources, and apply your liberality with œconomy and pru

dence.

My lords and gentlemen, The inquiries I had ordered to be made with regard to the produce of the laft harveft, and the measures taken by you to prevent

the export of grain, muft relieve the public mind from an apprehenfion of fcarcity. If any illicit means fhould be attempted, to evade the provifions of the laws, which have been enacted upon this important fubject, I fhall not be inattentive in exercifing those powers with which I am entrusted.

The vigorous measures you have adopted for the fuppreffion of infurrection and outrage, and the wife provifions you have made for preventing the extenfion of fimilar offences, muft have the most falutary effects.

The new regulation of licences under the fuperintendence of magiftrates, will tend to promote tranquillity and fobriety. The eftablifhment of more frequent feffions of the peace will afford an eafy and expeditious adminiftration of juftice in the different districts throughout the kingdom. The li

beral increase of the falaries of the judges, and the alteration of the civil-bill jurifdiction, for the convenience of the lower rauks of the people, will enfure the conftant and regular attention of his majes ty's judges to the civil and criminal business that will remain to be done on the circuits.

These measures cannot but demonftrate to the people at large the firmnefs and the temper of parliament, which, whilft it is determined to reprefs the exceffes of licen tioufnefs and outrage, is at the fame tine anxious to enfure to the country thofe permanent advantages of fecurity, peace and good order, which are to be derived from a prompt and upright adminiftration of juftice.

I cannot too ftrongly recommend it to you to give effect to thefe benefits by your example and prefence; and I am confident, that

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Your kind declarations in favour of my adminiftration make the deepest impreffions upon my feelings. If I have any claim to your confidence and good opinion, it arifes from the fidelity with which I have reprefented to his majefty your loyalty and zeal, and from the fincere defire I feel to conform my conduct to your fentiments. Great Britain and Ireland form one empire; they are infeparably connected; they muft ftand or fall together; and we are all equally engaged, because we are all equally interested in the common caufe of defending and upholding our religion, our laws, and our conftitution.

Speech of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, to both Houses of Parliament, Oct. 13, 1796.

My lords and gentlemen, I have his majesty's commands to acquaint you that he has thought it neceffary to require your attendance in parliament at this early period, and to refort to your deliberate wisdom, at a time when the ambitious projects of our enemies have threatened to interrupt the happiness and profperity of his people, by making a defcent on this kingdom and Great Britain. And although his majefty looks forward with the utmoft confidence to the fpirit, loyalty, and ability, of his faithful people of Ireland, to repel fuch an attack; it will yet become your wisdom to neglect no

precautions which may preclude the attempt, or fecure the speedieft means of turning it to the confufion of the enemy.

His majefty has been graciouffy pleased to direct an addition to be made to the regular forces in this kingdom, by troops fent from GreatBritain, the greater part of which is already arrived; and in purfu ance of his majefty's commands, I have alfo encouraged the loyal and zealous difpofition which has generally difplayed itfelf, to affociate in arms under his majesty's authority, for the better security of property, and the preservation of tranquillity and good order.

In confequence of the steps which his majesty has taken to reftore peace to Europe, and to fe. cure its future tranquillity, a way has at length been opened for an immediate and direct negotiation; and I am commanded to acquaint you, that it is his majesty's intention to fend a perfon to Paris, with full powers to treat for the reftoration of general peace.

The apparently hoftile difpofitions and conduct of the court of Spain, have led to difcuffions, of which I am not able to acquaint you with the final refult:" but, whatever may be their iffue, they cannot but afford to Europe a further proof of his majesty's moderation and forbearance, and cannot fail to animate your utmost exertions in defending the dignity, rights, and intereft of the empire, against every aggreffion.

In reviewing the events of this year, it must afford you the greatest fatisfaction to observe, that, by the fpirit and exertions of his majesty's navy, the commerce of this kingdom has been protected in a degree almoft beyond example; and in no part more completely, than by the

fkill, activity, and bravery of the fquadron ftationed on the coaft of this kingdom.

The fuccefs of his majefty's arms in the East and West Indies has been highly honourable and advan. tageous to the empire; and evinces, in the strongest manner, the valour and good conduct of his forces, both by fea and land.

The fteady and dignified conduct of the emperor, and the intrepidity and fpirit of the Austrian forces under the command of the archduke Charles, have given fo effential a change to the afpect of affairs on the continent, as to infpire a well-grounded confidence that the final refult of the campaign will be fuch as materially to promote his majesty's endeavours to obtain a fafe and honourable peace for himself and his allies.

Gentlemen of the house of

commons,

I have ordered to be laid before you an account of fuch articles of expence as are not included in the eftimates for the current year, and which the prefent circumftances have rendered neceffary; and when you confider the great interefts for which we are engaged, and the objects for which we are contending, I doubt not that you will grant the fupplies which may be requifite for them with your accustomed liberality; and when the ordinary accounts and estimates for the enfuing year fhall be laid before you, I truft you will then proceed with the zeal you have always manifefted in providing for the exigencies of the ftate, and the honourable fupport of his majesty's government.

My lords and gentlemen, The expediency of the vigorous meafures which you have adopted

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in the laft feffion of parliament has been amply proved by the outrages, which they were intended to fupprefs, having in a great meafure fubfided. I am, however, to lament that in one part of the country, good order has not yet been entirely restored, and that in other diftri&ts, a treasonable system of fecret confederation, by the adminiftering of illegal oaths, ftill continues, although no means within the reach of government have been left untried to counteract it.

You will not fail, at a proper time, to continue your attention to the manufactures, the agricuiture, and the commerce of the country, and to extend your accustomed be nevolence to the Proteftant charity schools, and the other inftitutions of education and charity which have been fo long foftered by your liberal encouragement.

The profperity and refources of the kingdom, fo highly improved by your meritorious care, ftill re main unimpaired by the preffure of the war; and I trust to your unremitting attention for the further advancement of your national prosperity.

You have learnt the fteps which his majesty has taken to procure the bieflings of general pea e upon a folid and permanent bafis. Should thefe gracious endeavours of his majefty not be followed by the faccefs which he has every reafon to expect, he is fatistied that the affections, courage, and perfeverance of his people, will enable him to fruftrate the defigns of our enemies, and to maintain the honour and dignity of the crown.

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It will afford me the highest fae tisfaction to be aided at this important crisis by your advice; and I rely, with a confidence you have taught me to indulge, upon your

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liberal interpretation of my conduct, and upon that fupport I have fo amply experienced fince I received his majefty's commands to repair to this country; and it will be peculiarly gratifying to me if I fhould have the good fortune, in the administration of the king's government, to imprefs upon your minds the full extent of his majefty's paternal care of this kingdom; and of my own anxiety to promote, by every means, its interefts, its fafety, and its profperity.

Manifefto against Great Britain, by the National Affembly reprefenting the Batavian Nation, May 2, 1796.

The Batavian nation, once more unjustly attacked by the kingdom of Great Britain, has juft taken up arms. This nation, fo often ill treated, oppreffed, trod upon, and pillaged, under the mask of friendship, now animated and excited by liberty, and at length breathing, for the first time, after fo long an interval, refumes the primitive energy of its brave and valorous character, courageously rears its head, and will no longer fuffer its profperity to be undermined by envious neighbours. It will no longer allow itfelf to be dragged in the duft; and it will ceafe to be the fport of the infamous and ambitious minifters of England, who, by the dazzle of piratical treafures, blind the English nation, which fancies itfelf to be free, with refpect to the terrible calamities they have brought on Europe, and on the whole of the human race.

The Batavian people will defend their rights and their independence; they will fave their country from

the ruin by which it is threat→ ened.

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Will Europe ftill doubt, that the Batavian republic has not rightfully drawn the fword from the fheath, when he is constrained to a juft defence? Will Europe still doubt that the Batavian republic has been led to the very brink of utter deftruction, by the difastrous policy of the fame miniftry? Will Europe ftill doubt that the regenė, rated Batavian republic will not, with the help of its illuftrious ally, vigorously repel the arrogant domination of the English cabinet, and will not confolidate the liberty. fo dearly and perilously acquired, at the expence even of all by which fhe is interested?

When England attempted, by the force ofarms, to fubjugate her American colonies, which he had dri ven to a juftifiable infurrection, and when the fcourge of war extended to other empires, the States General of the United Provinces were careful to obferve a strict neutrality; they did not fuffer Dutch veffels to transport any other com. modities to America, thofe excepted which were declared free by the exprefs terms of treaties. The most efficacious precautions were carefully taken to prevent warlike ftores from being conveyed to the American colonies, as well as to prevent any fraudulent commerce from being carried on with them; precautions which did not a little hackle and injure our own commerce to the Weft Indies.

It availed the :epublic, however, but little, to obferve the conditions of treaties with exadue's, as to what was by them prohibited: the English minifters, confting merely their temporary convenience, went fo far as to difpute what thefe

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