REGENT'S SPEECH.

Nov. 8, 1814. "My Lords and Gentlemen, "It is with deep regret that I am again obliged to announce the continuance of his Majesty's lamented indisposition. It would have given me great satisfaction to have been enabled to communicate to you the termination of the war between this country and the United States of America. Although this war originated in the most unprovoked aggression on the part of the government of the United States, and was calculated to promote the designs of the common enemy of Europe against the rights and independence of all other nations, I never have ceased to entertain a sincere desire to bring it to a conclusion on just and honourable terms.—I am still engaged in negociations for this purpose; the success of them must, how ever, depend on my disposition being met with corresponding sentiments on the part of the enemy. The operations of his Majesty's forces by sea and land in the Chesapeake, in the course of the present year, have been attended with the most brilliant and success

VOL. VIII. PART II.

ful results. The flotilla of the enemy in the Patuxent has been destroyed. The signal defeat of their land forces enabled a detachment of his Majesty's army to take possession of the city of Washington; and the spirit of enterprise which has characterized all the movements in that quarter, has produced on the inhabitants a deep and sensible impression of the calamities of a war in which they have been so wantonly involved. The expedition directed from Halifax to the northern coast of the United States has terminated in a manner not less satisfactory. The successful course of this operation has been followed by the immediate submission of the extensive and important district east of the Penobscot river, to his Majesty's arms. In adverting to these events, I am confident you will be disposed to render full justice to the valour and discipline which have distinguished his Majesty's land and sea forces; and you will regret with me the severe loss the country has sustained by the fall of the gallant commander of his Majesty's troops in the advance upon Baltimore. I availed myself of the earliest opportunity afforded by the state of affairs in Euk

rope, to detach a considerable military force to the river St Lawrence; but its arrival could not possibly take place till an advanced period of the campaign. Notwithstanding the reverse which appears to have occurred on Lake Champlain, I entertain the most confident expectation, as well from the amount as from the description of the British force now serving in Canada, that the ascendency of his Majesty's arms throughout that part of North America will be effectually established.—The opening of the congress at Vienna has been retarded from unavoidable causes, to a later period than had been expected. It will be my earnest endeavour, in the negociations which are now in progress, to promote such arrangements as may tend to consolidate that peace which, in conjunction with his Majesty's allies, I have had the happiness of concluding; and to re-establish that just equilibrium amongst the different pow. ers, which will afford the best prospect of permanent tranquillity to Europe."

"Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

"I have directed the estimates for the ensuing year to be laid before you. I am happy to be able to inform you that the revenue and commerce of the united kingdom are in the most flourishing condition. I regret the necessity of the large expenditure which we must be prepared to meet in the course of the ensuing year; but the circumstances under which the long and arduous contest in Europe has been carried on and concluded, have unavoidably led to large arrears, for which you will see the necessity of providing; and the war still subsisting with America renders the continuance of great exertions indispensable."

"My Lords and Gentlemen, "The peculiar character of the late

war, as well as the extraordinary length of its duration, must have materially affected the internal situation of all the countries engaged in it, as well as the commercial relations which formerly subsisted between them. Under these circumstances I am confident you will see the expediency of proceeding with due caution in the adoption of such regulations as may be necessary for the purpose of extending our trade, and securing our present advantages; and you may rely on my cordial cooperation and assistance in every measure which is calculated to contribute to the prosperity and welfare of his Majesty's dominions."

THE REGENT'S MESSAGE.

May 22, 1815.

"G. P. R. "His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, acting in the name and on the behalf of his Majesty, thinks it right to inform his faithful Commons, that in consequence of events which have recently taken place in France, in direct contravention of the treaty entered into at Paris last year for preserving the peace of Europe, he has judged it necessary to enter into engagements with his allies, to adopt such steps as circumstances may require against the common enemy, and for preventing the revival of measures which could only have for their object to destroy the peace and liberties of Europe; and his royal highness confidently relies upon the House of Commons to support him in such steps as he may find it necessary to take, in conjunction with his allies, at this momentous crisis.

"His royal highness has given orders that copies of the treaties into which he has entered with the allies should immediately be laid before the House, for its information."

REGENT'S MEssage.

June 22, 1815.

"G. P. R. "The Prince Regent, acting in the name and on the behalf of his Majesty, having taken into his serious consider ation the signal and splendid victory gained by the army under the command of the Duke of Wellington, on the 18th of June instant, over the French army, under the command of Buonaparte in person, which has added fresh renown to the British arms, and contributed largely to the independence of Europe, recommends to the House of Lords to concur in such measures as may be necessary to afford a further proof of the sense entertained by parliament of the Duke of Wellington's transcendant services, and of the gratitude and munificence of the British nation."

MESSAGE FROM THE REGENT.

June 27, 1815.

"G. P. R. "The Prince Regent, acting in the name and on the behalf of his Majesty, thinks it proper to acquaint the House of Commons, that a marriage, to which his royal highness duly gave his consent, has been solemnized between his royal brother the Duke of Cumber land, and the daughter of the reigning Duke of Mecklenburgh, niece to her Majesty, and relict of the Prince of Salm; and from the proofs of attachment which the House of Commons have always manifested towards the family of his royal highness, the Prince Regent confides in their making such provision on this occasion as the rank and station of their royal highnesses may appear to require."

Speech of the Prince Regent on proro. guing Parliament, July 12, 1815.

"My Lords and Gentlemen, "I cannot close this session of parliament without again expressing my deep regret at the continuance of his Majesty's lamented indisposition.

"At the commencement of the present session I entertained a confident hope, that the peace which I had concluded, in conjunction with his Majesty's allies, would meet with no interruption; that, after so many years of continued warfare, and of unexampled calamity, the nations of Europe would be allowed to enjoy that repose for which they had been so long contending; and that your efforts might be directed to alleviate the burthens of his Majesty's people, and to adopt such measures as might best promote the internal prosperity of his dominions.

"These expectations were disap pointed by an act of violence and perfidy of which no parallel can be found in history.

"The usurpation of the supreme authority in France by Buonaparte, in consequence of the defection of the French armies from their legitimate sovereign, appeared to me to be so incompatible with the general security of other countries, as well as with the engagements to which the French nation had recently been a party, that I felt I had no alternative but to employ the military resources of his Majesty's dominions, in conjunction with his Majesty's allies, to prevent the reestablishment of a system which experience had proved to be the source of such incalculable woes to Europe.

"Under such circumstances you will have seen with just pride and satisfaction the splendid success with which it has pleased Divine Providence to bless his Majesty's arms, and those of his allies.

"Whilst the glorious and ever-memorable victory obtained at Waterloo, by Field-Marshals the Duke of Wellington and Prince Blucher, has added fresh lustre to the characters of those great commanders, and has exalted the military reputation of this country beyond all former example, it has at the same time produced the most decisive effects on the operations of the war, by delivering from invasion the dominions of the King of the Netherlands, and by placing, in the short space of fifteen days, the city of Paris, and a large part of the kingdom of France, in the military occupation of the allied

armies.

"My Lords and Gentlemen, "The brilliant and rapid success of the Austrian arms at the opening of the campaign has led to the restoration of the kingdom of Naples to its ancient sovereignty, and to the deliverance of that important portion of Italy from foreign influence and dominion.

"I have further the satisfaction of acquainting you, that the authority of his most Christian Majesty has been again acknowledged in his capital, to which his Majesty has himself repaired "The restoration of peace between this country and the United States of America has been followed by a negociation for a commercial treaty, which, I have every reason to hope, will be terminated upon conditions calculated to cement the good understanding subsisting between the two countries, and equally beneficial to the interests of

both.

"I have great pleasure in acquainting you, that the labours of the Congress at Vienna have been brought to a conclusion by the signature of a treaty, which, as the ratifications have not yet been exchanged, could not be communicated to you, but which I expect to be enabled to lay before you when I next meet you in Parliament.

"I cannot release you from your attendance without assuring you, that it is in a great degree to the support which you have afforded me, that I ascribe the success of my earnest endeavours for the public welfare; and on no occasion has that support been more important than in the course of the present session.

In the further prosecution of such measures as may be necessary to bring the great contest in which we are engaged to an honourable and satisfactory conclusion, I shall rely with confidence on the experienced zeal and