STATE PAPERS. His Majefty's moft gracious Speech to both Houfes of Parliament, on the 27th of November, 1781. My Lords and Gentlemen, W HENI laft met you in parliament, I acquainted you with the arduous fituation of public affairs at that time; and I reprefented to you the objects which I had in view, and the refolution with which I was determined to perfevere in the defence of my dominions against the combined power of my enemies, until fuch a pacification could be made as might confift with the honour of my crown and the permanent intereft and fecurity of my people. The war is fill unhappily prolonged by that reftlefs ambition which firft excited our enemies to commence it, and which ftill continues to disappoint my earnest defire and diligent exertion to reftore the public tranquillity; but I should not answer the truft committed to the fovereign of a free people, nor make a fuitable return to my fubjects for their conftant, zealous, and affectionate attachment to my perfon, family, and government, if I confented to facrifice, either to my own defire of peace, or to their temporary cafe and relief, thofe effential rights and permanent interefts, upon the maintenance and prefervation of which, the future ftrength and fecurity of this country muft ever principally depend. The favourable appearance of our affairs in the Eaft Indies, and the fafe and profperous arrival of the numerous commercial fleets of my kingdoms, must have given you fatisfaction; but in the course of this year, my affiduous endeavours to guard the extenfive dominions of my crown have not been attended with fuccefs equal to the juftnefs and uprightnefs of my views; and it is with great concern that I inform you, that the events of war have been very unfortunate to my arms in Virginia, having ended in the lofs of my forces in that province. No endeavours have been wanting on my part to extinguish that fpirit of rebellion which our enemies have found means to foment and maintain in the colonies, and to reftore to my deluded fubjects in America that happy and profperous condition which they formerly derived from a due obedience to the laws; but the late misfortune in that quarter calls loudly for your firm concurrence and affiftance to fruftrate the defigns of our enemies, equally prejudicia! Judicial to the real interests of America, and to thofe of Great Bri tain. In the last feffion you made a confiderable progrefs in your enquiries into the state and condition of our dominions and revenues in the East Indies.-You will, I am perfuaded, refume the profecution of that important deliberation with the fame spirit and temper in which it was begun, and proceed with the fame attention and anxiety to confider how thofe remote provinces may be held and governed with the greateft fecurity and advantage to this country, and by what means the happiness of the native inhabitants may be best promoted. Gentlemen of the House of Commons. I will order the estimates for the enfuing year to be laid before you. I rely on your wifdom and public fpirit for fuch fupplies as the circumstances of our affairs fhall be found to require. Among the many ill confequences which attend the continuation of the prefent war, I moft fincerely regret the additional burthens which it muft unavoidably bring upon my faithful fubjects. My Lords and Gentlemen, In the profecution of this great and important contest in which we are engaged, I retain a firm confidence in the protection of Divine Providence, and a perfect conviction of the justice of my caufe; and I have no doubt but that, by the concurrence and fupport of my parliament, by the valour of my deets and armies, and by a vigo rous, animated, and united exer tion of the faculties and resources of my people, I fhall be enabled to reftore the blefling of a fafe and honourable peace to all my domi nions. The bumble Addrefs of the Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament af fembled. Die Martis, 27 Novembris, 1781. W your Majefty's most dutiful and loyal fubjects, the lords fpiritual and temporal in par liament affembled, beg leave to return your Majefty our humble thanks for your most gracious fpeech from the throne. It is with equal concern and indignation that we fee the war prowhich firft excited your Majesty's longed by that reftlefs ambition enemies to commence it, and which frill continues to disappoint diligent exertion to restore the your Majesty's earnest defire and public tranquillity. cereft and warmelt gratitude, your We acknowledge, with the fin Majefty's wifdom and conftant ats tention to the real welfare of your people, equally confpicuous in your earnest defire of peace, and in your fixed and unalterable reíolution never to facrifice, either to that defire or to the temporary cafe and relief of your fubjects, thofe effential rights and perma rent interefts, upon the mainte the future ftrength and fecurity nance and prefervation of which of this country maft ever principally depend. favourable appearance of our af We feel great fatisfaction in the jaws fairs in the East Indies, and in the fafe and profperous arrival of the numerous commercial fleets of thefe kingdoms; but we regret that in the courfe of this year your Majefty's affiduous endeavours to guard the extenfive dominions of your crown have not been attended with fuccefs equal to the justice and uprightnefs of your Majefty's views and we lament that the events of war have been fo unfortunate to your Majefty's arms in Virginia. We are gratefully fenfible of the parental folicitude your Majefty bas fhewn for the general happinefs of your people, in the endeavours your Majefty has uted to extinguish that fpirit of rebellion which our enemies have found means to foment and maintain in the colonies, and to restore to your deluded fubjects in America that happy and profperous condition which they formerly derived from a due obedience to the laws; and we beg leave to affure your Majefty of our firm concurrence and affittance to fruftrate the de figns of our enemies, equally prejudicial to the real interests of America and to thofe of Great Britain. We will, without lofs of time, refume the deliberation upon the state and condition of the British poffeffions and revenues in the Eaft Indies, will carry it on with the fome spirit and temper in which it was begun, and proceed with the fame attention and anxiety to con Firmly refolved to decline no difficulty or hazard in the defence of our country, and for the pre fervation of its effential rights and interefts, we fhall continue to give our most hearty concurrence and fupport in the profecution of the great and important conteft in which we are engaged. We rely upon the protection of Divine Providence in so just a caufe, and fully truft that, by the concurrence and fupport which we fhall moft cheerfully give, by the valour of our fleets and armies, and by the vigorous, animated, and united exertions of the faculties and refources of your people, your Majefty will be enabled to disappoint the ambitious defigns of your enemies, and to restore the bleffing of a fafe and honourable peace to all your dominions. His Majefty's moft gracious Answer. My Lords, tiful and affectionate addrefs. nourable Commons to the King. fider how thefe remote provinces The bumble Addrefs of the Houfe of may be held and governed with the greatest security and advantage to this country, and by what Most gracious Sovereign, means the happiness of the native Wtiful and loyal fubjects, the inhabitants may be best promoted. com commons of Great Britain in parliament affembled, return your Majefty the thanks of this House, for your most gracious fpeech from the throne. We affure your Majefty, that we fee with concern that the war is ftill unhappily prolonged by that reftlefs ambition which firft excited our enemies to commence it, and which still continues to difappoint your Majesty's earnest defire and diligent exertion to restore the public tranquillity. We are fenfibly affected by your Majefty's paternal expreffions of concern for the real welfare of your fubjects; and we receive with the frongest emotions of duty and gratitude, your Majefty's gracious and endearing declaration, that you should not answer the truft committed to the fovereign of a free people, nor make a fuitable return to your fubjects for their conftant, zealous, and affectionate attachment to your perfon, family, and government, if you confented to facrifice, either to your own defire of peace, or to their temporary eafe and relief, thofe effential rights and permanent interefts, upon the maintenance and prefervation of which the future ftrength and fecurity of this country muft ever principally depend. We declare on our part, that we know no means of making to your Majesty any return fo fuitable and fo juft, and of anfwering the great truft committed to us by thofe whom we reprefent, às by giving your Majefty this firm af furance, that we are refolved to affift and fupport your Majefty to the utmost of our power, in main-, taining and preferring the effential rights and permanent interests of your crown and people. The favourable appearance of affairs in the East Indies, and the fafe and profperous arrival of the numerous commercial fleets of your kingdom, have given us great fa. tisfaction: but we fincerely regret that your Majefty's affiduous endeavours to guard your extenfive dominions have not in all places been attended with fuccefs; and we learn with the deepest concern, that the events of war have been very unfortunate to your Majefty's arms in Virginia, and have ended in the lofs of your forces in that * province. We are fully perfuaded, that the principal view of the confederacy of our enemies was to fornent and maintain the rebellion in North America; and, under the fpecious delufion of the establishment of an independent empire, to render your Majefty's colonies fub. fervient to the power and influence of the crown of France: but your Majefty may rely on our fteady affiftance to fecond your Majesty's endeavours to defeat the dangerous defigns of our enemies, equally prejudicial to the real interests of America and to thofe of Great Britain. We will not fail to refume the great and momentous confideration of the ftate and condition of the dominions and revenues which this country poffeffes in the East Indies; and we trust that, in our deliberation on thefe important matters, we fhall proceed with the fame fpirit and temper in which they were begun, and with the fame care and anxiety to confider how thofe remote provinces may be held and governed with the greatest greatest fecurity and advantage to this nation, and by what means the happiness of the native inhabitants may be best promoted. In this arduous conjuncture, we confider it as our first duty to our country, to grant your Majefty fuch fupplies as the circumstances of affairs fhall be found to require. We cannot but feel that the war is burthenfome and expenfive; but we are convinced, at the fame time, that it is just and neceffary; and nothing on our part fhall be wanting, to give efficacy and fuccefs to the valour of your Majefty's fleets and armies; and we hall have a firm confidence, that by a vigorous, animated, and united exertion of the refources and faculties of the nation, and of the fpirit of a free people, your Majefty will be enabled, under the protection of Divine Providence, to restore the bleffing of a fafe and honourable peace to all your dominions. His Majefty's moft gracious Anfwer. |