to employ the troops under their command in the most speedy and effectual manner for the suppression of all rebellious insurrections and treasonable practices, wherever the same may appear; and particularly to disarm all rebels, and recover all arms forcibly and traitorously taken from his majesty's peaceable and loyal subjects, and take up and seize all arms and ammunition which may be found in the custody of any person or persons not duly authorised by law to have and keep the same. Given at the council chamber, GOD SAVE THE KING. PROCLAMATION ous movements of the troops in Holland, the possibility must occur to us, that in case the mentioned differences should, against our wishes, not be amicably settled, our German states and subjects may be exposed to a danger, which, if realised, would have the most unfortunate consequences for the whole country in general, and every individual in particular. We, for this reason, hold it to be our most sacred duty to adopt such means as will, under the blessing of God, prove most efficacious to protect our faithful German subjects, whom Divine Providence has committed to our care. We apply, therefore, to all the loyal subjects of our German states, with that confidence to which the love and affection we bear our people, and their uninterrupted loyalty and attachment entitle us, to make, in case of such danger, all those efforts and sacrifices to which the duties they owe to us their loving. sovereign, their attachment to their native country, their family connexions, and every thing dear to them, already bind them. And we do it with the more confidence, as our dearly beloved son, the duke By his Majesty, as Elector of Ha- of Cambridge, actuated by the ten nover. GEORGE R. Whatever the event of the differences now existing between our crown and the French government may be, we shall, in our capacity as elector and member of the German empire, observe the strictest neutrality; and might therefore justly and confidently expect, that whatever termination the present negotiation may have, our German states and faithful subjects will not be affected by any consequences which may ensue. Considering, however, the obvi der affection he bears our faithful German states and subjects, is willing to share every danger that may befal them, and personally to assist in every thing that may promote their safety and security. To be prepared for every event that may happen, it is for the present absolutely necessary to know immediately the exact number of our German subjects, who, if necessity calls, can take up arms for the defence of their country. It is to effect this, that we command all the magistrates of our German states, to lose no time in giving in complete complete lists of such of our German subjects as are fit for military service, excepting those only who serve us and their country in other capacities; and to make them solemnly promise to come forth when called upon, and give all the assistance in their power for the defence of their country, whenever, and for as long as may be thought necessary. The known loyalty and patriotism of our beloved subjects, leave us no room to suppose, that any one of them will be so lost, as to transgress so solemn an obligation, or to withdraw himself by a cowardly and treacherous flight from giving his assistance to the defence of his country. Should, however, against our better expectations, such be found, who, in time of danger, would desert their country and refuse their aid, such wretches shall, the case being lawfully proved, without hope of pardon, be deprived of all they may possess in our German dominions, and be cut off from all inheritance therein. But we have a better opinion of all our German subjects, and are firmly persuaded, that, when necessity calls, they will unanimously and zealously assist, to the utmost in their power, in the defence and for the salvation of their native country. Hanover, May 16, 1803. His Majesty's Speech to both Houses of Parliament, August 12, 1803. My Lords and Gentlemen, I am at length enabled, by the state of public business, to release you from your long and laborious attendance in parliament. In closing the session, I have the utmost satisfaction in expressing the strong sense which I entertain of that zealous and unwearied re. gard for the welfare and honour of your country, which has distinguished all your proceedings. During the continuance of peace, your conduct manifested the just view which you had taken of our actual situation, and of the dangers against which you were peculiarly called upon to provide; and since the recurrence of hostilities, you have displayed an energy and promptitude which have never been surpassed, in the means which you have supplied for the defence of the country, and for the vigorous prosecution of the war. Your proceedings, in consequence of the late treasonable and atrocious occurrences in Ireland, will, I trust, have the effect of preventing any further interruption of its internal tranquillity and of convincing my loyal subjects, in that part of the united kingdom, that they may confidently rely on that protection to which they are so justly entitled. In the midst of the deliberations, which were occasioned by the immediate exigency of the times, you have not been unmindful of other objects, to which I had directed your attention; and I have great satisfaction in observing, that you have completed a system for consolidating the duties, and regulating the collection and management of the several branches of the reve nue, and that you have adopted measures which are calculated to afford material accommodation to the mercantile part of the community, and to encourage and extend the navigation and commerce of dominions. my thanks for the liberality and readiness with which you have granted the supplies for the public service. It is painful to me to reflect, that the means of necessary exertion cannot be provided without a heavy pressure upon my faithful people. But I cannot sufficiently applaud that wisdom and fortitude which have led you to overlook considerations of temporary convenience, for the purpose of preventing a large accumulation of debt during the continuance of the war. You may be assured that there shall be as strict an attention to economy on my part as may be consistent with those preparations and exertions which will be best calculated to frustrate the designs and to weaken the power of the enemy, by whose arrogant pretensions and restless ambition alone these sacrifices have been rendered unavoidable. My Lords and Gentlemen, I am fully persuaded that, during the cessation of your parliamentary duties, you will continue to be actuated by the same spirit which has been uniformly display ed in your councils. It will be your duty to assist in carrying into effect those important measures which your wisdom has matured for the defence and security of the realm; and particularly to give the most beneficial direction to that ardour and enthusiasm in the cause of their country which animate all classes of my people. Justly sensible of the state of pre-eminence in which it has pleased the Almighty to support us for so many ages, amongst the nations of Europe, I rely with confidence, that, under the continuance of his Divine Protection, the exertions of my brave and loyal subjects will prove to the enemy, and to the world, that an attempt to subvert the independence, or impair the power, of this united kingdom, will terminate in the disgrace and ruin of those by whom it may be made; and that my people will find an ample reward for all their sacrifices, in an undisturbed enjoy. ment of that freedom and security, which, by their patriotism and valour, they will have preserved and ensured to themselves and their posterity. His Majesty's Speech to both Houses of Parliament, November 22, 1803. My Lords and Gentlemen, Since I last met you in parlia ment, it has been my chief object to carry into effect those measures which your wisdom had adopted for the defence of the united kingdom, and for the vigorous prosecution of the war. In these preparations I have been seconded by the voluntary exertions of all ranks of my people, in a manner that has, if possible, strengthened their claims to my confidence and affection; they have proved that the menaces of the enemy have only served to rouse their native and hereditary spirit; and that all other considerations are lost in a general disposition to make those efforts and sacrifices which the honour and safety of the kingdom demand at this important and critical conjuncture. Though my attention has principally been directed to the great object of internal security, no opportunity has been lost of making an impression on the foreign possessions of the enemy. The island of St. Lucia, of Tobago, of St. Pierre, and Miquelon, and the set tlements tlements of Demerara and Essequibo, have surrendered to the British arms. In the conduct of the operations by which those valuable acquisitions have been made, the utmost promptitude and zeal have been displayed by the officers employed on those services, and by my forces acting under their command by sea and land. In Ireland, the leaders, and several inferior agents, in the late traitorous and atrocious conspiracy, have been brought to justice; and the public tranquillity has experienced no further interruption. I indulge the hope, that such of my deluded subjects as have swerved from their allegiance are now convinced of their error; and that having compared the advantages they derive from the protection of a free constitution, with the condition of those countries which are under the dominion of the French government, they will cordially and zealously concur in resisting any attempt that may be made against the security and independence of my united kingdom. Gentlemen of the House of I have a perfect reliance on your public spirit for making such provision as may be necessary for the service of the year. The progressive improvement of the revenue cannot fail to encourage you to persevere in the system which has been adopted, of defraying the expenses of the war, with as little addition as possible to the public debt, and to the permanent burthens of the state. I lament the heavy pressure which, under the present circumstances, must unavoidably be experienced by my people; but I am persuaded that they will meet it with the good sense and fortitude which so eminently distinguish their character, under a conviction of the indispensable importance of upholding the dignity and of providing effectually for the safety of the empire. My Lords and Gentlemen, I have concluded a convention with the king of Sweden, for the purpose of adjusting all the differences which have arisen on the subject of the eleventh article of the treaty of 1661. I have directed that a copy of this convention should be laid before you; and you will, I trust, be of opinion that the arrangement, whilst it upholds our maritime rights, is founded on those principles of reciprocal advantage which are best calculated to maintain and improve the good understanding which happily subsists between the two countries. In the prosecution of the contest in which we are engaged, it shall be, as it has ever been, my first object to execute as becomes me the great trust committed to brave and loyal people in one commy charge. Embarked with my mon cause, it is my fixed determination, if the occasion should arise, to share their exertions and their dangers in the defence of our constitution, our religion, our laws, and independence. To the activity and valour of my fleets and armies, to the zeal and unconquerable spirit of my faithful subjects, I confide the honour of my crown, and all those valuable interests which are involved in the issue of this momentous contest. Actuated by these sentiments, and humbly imploring the blessing of Divine Providence, I look forward with a firm conviction, that if, contrary to all just expectation, the the enemy should elude the vigilance of my numerous fleets and cruisers, and attempt to execute their presumptuous threats of invading our coasts, the consequence will be to them, discomfiture, confusion, and disgrace; and that ours will not only be the glory of surmounting present difficulties, and repelling immediate danger, but the solid and permanent advantage of fixing the safety and independence of the kingdom on the basis of acknowledged strength, the result of its own tried energy and resources. DECLARATION. His majesty's earnest endeavours for the preservation of peace having failed of success, he entertains the fullest confidence that he shall receive the same support from his parliament, and that the same zeal and spirit will be manifested by his people, which he has experienced on every occasion when the honour of his crown has been attacked, or the essential interests of his dominions have been endangered. During the whole course of the negotiations which led to the preliminary and definitive treaties of peace between his majesty and the French republic, it was his majes ty's sincere desire, not only to put an end to the hostilities which subsisted between the two countries, but to adopt such measures, and to concur in such propositions, as might most effectually contribute to consolidate the general tranquil lity of Europe. The same motives by which his majesty was actuated during the negotiations for peace, have since invariably governed his conduct. As soon as the treaty of Amiens was con cluded, his majesty's courts were open to the people of France for every purpose of legal redress; all sequestrations were taken off their property; all prohibitions on their trade which had been imposed during the war were removed; and they were placed, in every respect, on the same footing, with regard to commerce and intercourse, as the inhabitants of any other state in amity with his majesty, with which there existed no treaty of commerce. To a system of conduct thus open, liberal, and friendly, the proceedings of the French government afford the most striking contrast The prohibitions which had been placed on the commerce of his majesty's subjects during the war have been enforced with increased strictness and severity; violence has been offered in several instances to their vessels and their property; and, in no case, has justice been afforded to those who may have been aggrieved in consequence of such acts, nor has any satisfactory an swer been given to the repeated representations made by his majes ty's ministers or ambassador at Paris. Under such circumstances, when his majesty's subjects were not suffered to enjoy the common advantages of peace within the territories of the French republic, and the countries dependent upon it, the French government had recourse to the extraordinary measure of sending over to this country a number of persons for the professed purpose of residing in the most considerable sea-port towns of Great Britain and Ireland, in the character of commercial agents or consuls. These persons could have no pretensions to be acknowledged in that character, as the right of being so acknowledged, as well as all the privileges attached to |