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8. Additional Article to the preceding Convention, relative to
British Merchandize at Bourdeaux, 20 November ............ 269

9. Treaty of Alliance between his Majesty and the Emperor of

Austria, 20 November.....

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Mar. 4.

-

from Leominster, respecting the Military Club............ 1068

VIII. PROTESTS.

Feb. 1. LIST of the Minority in the House of Commons, on the Address
of Thanks at the Opening of the Session.......

of the Minority in the House of Commons on Mr.

Brougham's Motion relating to Spain .......

613

of the Minority in the House of Commons, on the Address

upon

the Treaties with Foreign Powers

- of the Minority in the House of Commons, on referring the
Army Estimates to a Committee of Supply

..of the Minority in the House of Commons, on Mr. Stuart

Wortley's Motion for reducing the Army Estimates......... 1263

THE PAR-

THE

Parliamentary Debates

During the Fourth Session of the Fifth Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, appointed to meet at Westminster, the First Day of February 1816, in the Fifty-sixth Year of the Reign of His Majesty King GEORGE the Third [Sess. 1816.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Thursday, February 1, 1816. THE PRINCE REGENT'S SPEECH ON OPENING THE SESSION.] This day, in consequence of the indisposition of his royal highness the Prince Regent, the Session was opened by commission. The Lords Commissioners were, the archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, the duke of Montrose, the earl of Harrowby, and earl Bathurst. The gentleman usher of the Black Rod was then sent to desire the immediate attendance of the Commons. Soon afterwards the Speaker, accompanied by a number of members, came to the bar; when the Lord Chancellor, one of the said commissioners,

made the following Speech to both

Houses:

"My Lords and Gentlemen ;

"We are commanded by his royal highness the Prince Regent, to express to you his deep regret at the continuance of his Majesty's lamented indisposition.

it has been since that time his Royal Highness's most earnest endeavour to to him best calculated to provide for the promote such arrangements as appeared lasting repose and security of Europe.

"In the adjustment of these arrangements, it was natural to expect that many difficulties would occur; but the Prince Regent trusts it will be found that, by moderation and firmness, they have been effectually surmounted.

"To the intimate union which has happily subsisted between the allied powers, the nations of the continent have twice owed their deliverance. His Royal Highness has no doubt that you will be sensible of the great importance of maintaining in its full force that alliance, from which so many advantages have already been derived, and which affords the best prospect of the continuance of peace.

be laid before you.

"The Prince Regent has directed copies of the several Treaties and Con"The Prince Regent directs us to ac-ventions which have been concluded to quaint you, that he has had the greatest satisfaction in calling you together under circumstances which enable him to an nounce to you the restoration of peace throughout Europe.

"The splendid and decisive successes obtained by his Majesty's arms, and those of his Allies, had led, at an early period of the campaign, to the re-establishment of the authority of his most Christian Majesty in the capital of his dominions; and (VOL. XXXII. )

"The extraordinary situation in which the powers of Europe have been placed, from the circumstances which have attended the French Revolution, and more especially in consequence of the events of last year, has induced the Allies to adopt precautionary measures, which they consider as indispensably necessary for the general security.

"As his Royal Highness has concurred (B)

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in these measures, from a full conviction | an arrangement highly honourable to the of their justice and sound policy, he relies British character, and which cannot fail confidently on your co-operation in such to augment the security and internal prosproceedings as may be necessary for car- perity of that valuable possession. rying them into effect.

"Gentlemen of the House of Commons;

"The Prince Regent has directed the Estimates for the present year to be laid before you.

"His Royal Highness is happy to inform you, that the manufactures, commerce, and revenue of the United Kingdom are in a flourishing condition.

"The great exertions which you enabled him to make in the course of the last year, afforded the means of bringing the contest in which we were engaged to so glorious and speedy a termination.

"The Prince Regent laments the heavy pressure upon the country which such exertions could not fail to produce; and his Royal Highness has commanded us to assure you, that you may rely on every disposition on his part to concur in such measures of economy, as may be found consistent with the security of the country, and with that station which we occupy in Europe.

My Lords and Gentlemen;

"The negociations which the Prince Regent announced to you, at the end of the last session of parliament, as being in progress with a view to a commercial arrangement between this country and the United States of America, have been brought to a satisfactory issue. His Royal Highness has given orders, that a copy of the Treaty which has been concluded shall be laid before you; and he confidently trusts, that the stipulations of it will prove advantageous to the interests of both countries, and cement the good understanding which so happily subsists between them.

"The Prince Regent has commanded us to inform you, that the hostilities in which we have been involved in the island of Ceylon, and on the continent of India, have been attended with decisive success.

"Those in Ceylon have terminated in

"The operations in India have led to an armistice, which gives reason to hope that a peace may have been concluded on terms advantageous to our interests in that part of the world.

"At the close of a contest so extensive and momentous as that in which we have been so long engaged in Europe, and which has exalted the character and military renown of the British nation beyond all former example, the Prince Regent cannot but feel, that under Providence he is indebted for the success which has attended his exertions, to the wisdom and firmness of parliament, and to the perseverence and public spirit of his Majesty's people.

"It will be the Prince Regent's constant endeavour to maintain, by the justice and moderation of his conduct, the high character which this country has acquired amongst the nations of the world: and his Royal Highness has directed us to express his sincere and earnest hope, that the same union amongst ourselves, which has enabled us to surmount so many dangers, and has brought this eventful struggle to so auspicious an issue, may now animate us in peace, and induce us cordially to co-operate in all those measures which may best manifest our gratitude for the Divine protection, and most effectually promote the prosperity and happiness of our country."

After the delivery of the Speech, the Commons retired, and the following newly created peers took the oaths and their seats: lord Francis Spencer, on being created Baron Churchill; lord Granville Levison Gower, on being created Viscount Granville; general Harris, on being creat ed Baron Harris; viscount Melbourne of Ireland, on being created Baron Melbourne; Doctor Ryder, on being created Bishop of Gloucester; lord Brownlow, on being created Earl Brownlow; and lord Grimston, on being created Earl Verulam. Their lordships then adjourned till five o'clock. When the House had resumed, the Speech of the Lords Commissioners

was again read by the Lord Chancellor, | These it would be the business of the and also by the Clerk at the table.

Prince Regent's ministers to alleviate as much as circumstances would permit; and he had no doubt that in this, as well as in all other respects, they would do all that persons in their situation could do for the benefit of the nation. Parliament likewise, he trusted, would unite its endeavours with those of the Prince and ministers, to promote the welfare of the agricultural and commercial interests, so that, if possible, there might not be one heavy heart in the British dominions, Not being accustomed to public speaking, he could not so well express the sentiments which the Speech of his royal highness the Prince Regent was calculated to inspire. He would however yield to no man in attachment to his Majesty and his family, and to his country. The noble marquis concluded by moving an Address, which was, as usual, an echo of the Speech.

The Marquis of Huntley rose to move the Address in answer to the Speech of his Royal Highness. He began by expressing his conviction, that the Speech must have afforded the highest satisfaction to every one who had heard it, and that there was only one thing which must be heard with regret; and that was, the continuance of his Majesty's indisposition. Whoever considered the state of affairs on the continent at one period of the last year, could not but hail with the highest satisfaction the restoration of the blessings of peace, and its restoration in a manner the best calculated to ensure the long continuance of tranquillity. Last year the demon of ambition had effected his escape from the place of his confinement, and had returned to France, to embroil the continent, and engage the nations of Europe in new wars, and fresh slaughter and Lord Calthorpe rose to second the Addevastation. Upon this occasion the armies dress. He said that the speech from the of Europe again united for the common throne, announcing as it did, the restoracause, and the different nations, animated tion of peace in Europe, had notified so as it were by one mind and one soul, great a blessing to this country and to combined for the restoration of the bless- mankind in general, as could not fail to ings of peace and good order, and the excite the warmest congratulations, and reign of darkness was soon destroyed. to awaken, by an immediate impulse, the The noble marquis then highly compli- best feelings of the heart. He trusted mented his royal highness the Com- that when the terms of the Treaties should mander-in-chief upon the very efficient be fully examined, and the transactions to state of the army, whose exertions had be fully investigated, it would be found, been attended with such glorious success. that every means had been taken to estaWe all knew the value of that royal per- blish the continuance of peace, as far as son, who was entitled to the best thanks of human foresight could provide for ithis country. By the valour and discipline that the councils of this country and of of the army, under the conduct of that her allies, were not directed by any narrow greatest of commanders, whose glory ris- views of local interests-that they proing in Spain had still continued brighten- ceeded upon the largest scale, and were ing until it reached its highest splen- directed to the most extensive objects. dour in the battle of Waterloo, a better This was a sort of pledge, that proper prospect now opened upon Europe, and caution would be observed in providing the hopes of a long continuation of peace for the future tranquillity of Europe. The might be reasonably entertained. If the noble lord said he was induced to cherish advantages of this situation of affairs was this hope still farther, from the spirit of not as yet so well understood in France forbearance that equally marked their as it ought to be, it was to be hoped that character-a forbearance which extended much time would not elapse before the itself even to our armies, and changed good effects of the change would there too those who were usually but instruments be universally felt and acknowledged. of vengeance into guardians of the proThe noble marquis next expressed his re-perties of that people to whom they were gret that the great minister with whom the system of perseverance and exertion had originated, was not now alive to witness its splendid success. The country, in the course of this long and arduous contest, had certainly been subjected to heavy burthens and great privations.

originally opposed; as if it was intended
to show the Continent, not only how far
Great Britain could forbear in prosperity,
but how incapable she was of being pro-
voked by those threats of destruction so
Another
often denounced against her.
cause of exultation was to be deduced

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