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with which you have applied your felves to the important objects which I recommended to your attention, and at the fame time returning you my particular thanks for the proofs which you have given of your affection for me, and for my fa mily and government.

The affurances which I receive from foreign powers of their good difpofition to this country, and the continuance of the general tranquillity of Europe, afford me great fatisfaction; but diffenfions unhappily prevail among the ftates of the United Provinces, which, as a friend and well-wifher to the republic, I cannot fee without the most real concern.

your feveral counties to carry into effect the meafures which have been taken for the prevention of illicit trade, and to promote good order and induftry among every clafs of my fubjects.

His Majesty's Speech to both Houfes of Parliament, Nov. 27, 1787.

My Lords and Gentlemen, At the clofe of the last feffion I informed you of the concern with which I obferved the difputes unhappily fubfifting in the republic of the United Provinces.

Their fituation foon afterwards became more critical and alarming, and the danger which threatened

Gentlemen of the Houfe of Com, their conftitution and independence

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feemed likely in its confequence to affect the fecurity and interefts of dominions.

my

No endeavours were wanting on my part to contribute by my good offices, to the restoration of tranquillity, and the maintenance of the lawful government; and I also thought it neceffary to explain my intention of counteracting all for cible interference, on the part of France, in the internal affairs of the republic. Under these circumftances, the king of Pruffia having taken measures to enforce his demand of fatisfaction for the infult offered to the princefs of Orange, the party which had ufurped the government of Holland applied to the Maft Chriftian king for affiftance, who notified to me his intention of granting their request.

In conformity to the principles which I had before explained, I did not hesitate, on receiving this noti fication, to declare, that I could not remain a quiet fpectator of the armed interference of France; and I gave immediate orders for aug

menting

menting my forces both by fea and land.

In the course of thefe tranfactions, I alfo thought proper to conclude a treaty with the landgrave of Heffe Caffel, by which I fecured the affiftance of a confiderable body of troops, in cafe my fervice should require it.

In the mean time the rapid fuccefs of the Pruffian troops, under the conduct of the duke of Brunf wick, while it was the means of obtaining the reparation demanded by the king of ruffia, enabled the provinces to deliver themselves from the oppreffion under which they laboured, and to re-establish their Jawful government,

All fubjects of conteft being thus removed, an amicable, explanation took place between me and the Moft Chriftian king; and declarations have been exchanged by our refpective ministers, by which we have agreed mutually to difarm, and to place our naval establish ments on the fame footing as in the beginning of the prefent year.

It gives me the greateft fatisfac tion that the important events, which I have communicated to you, have taken place, without difturbng my fubjects in the enjoyment of the bleffings of peace; and I have great pleasure in acquainting you, that I continue to receive, from all foreign powers, the fulleft affurances of their pacific and friendly difpofition towards this country, I muft, at the fame time regret, that the tranquillity of one part of Europe is unhappily interrupted by the war which has broken out petween Ruffia and the Porte.

A convention has been agreed upon between me and the Moft Chriftian king, explanatory of the thirteenth article of the last Treaty of Peace, and calculated to prevent

jealoufies and difputes between our refpective fubjects in the East Indies, I have ordered copies of the feveral treaties to which I have referred, and of the declaration and counter-declaration exchanged at Verfailles, to be laid before you.

Gentlemen of the Houfe of Com❤ mons,

I have ordered the estimates for

the enfuing year to be laid before you, together with an account of the extraordinary expences which the fituation of affairs rendered neceffary.

I have the fulleft reliance on your zeal and public fpirit, that you will make due provifion for the feveral branches of the public fervice. I am always defirous of confining thofe expences within the narrowest limits, which a prudent regard for the public fafety will permit; but I muft, at the fame time, recommend to your particular attention to confider of the proper means for maintaining my diftant poffeffions in an adequate pofture

of defence.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

The flourishing ftate of the commerce and revenues of this country cannot fail to encourage you in the purfuit of fuch measures as may confirm and improve fo favourable a fituation.

These circumstances must also render you peculiarly anxious for the continuation of public tranquillity, which is my constant object to preferve.

I am, at the fame time, perfuaded you will agree with me in think ing, that nothing can more effectually tend to fecure fo invaluable a bleffing than the zeal and unanimity which were fhewn by all

ranks

ranks of my fubjects on the late occafion, and which manifested their readiness to exert themselves whenever the honour of my crown, and the interefts of my dominions, may require it.

The Speech of his Grace Charles Duke of Rutland, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, to both Houses of Parliament, Jan. 18, 1787.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

I had hoped, that upon the prefent occafion of meeting you again in parliament, it would have been in my power to have announced to you the entire fuppreffion of those commotions, which in fome parts of the kingdom have disturbed the general tranquillity. Under the prefent circunftances, I am perfuaded by my confidence in the accustomed proofs of your wifdom and zeal, that I fhall receive from you whatever affiftance may be neceffary for the more effectual vindication of the laws, and the protection of fociety. Your un form regard for the rights of all your fellow-fubjects, and your zealous attachment to the religious and civil constitutions of your country, will ftimulate your attention to their infeparable interefts, and will enfure your efpecial fupport of the eftablished church, and the refpectable fituation of its minifters.

honourable fupport of his majesty's government.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

An act was paffed in the last feffion of the British parliament for the further increafe of fhipping and navigation. You will, I doubt firm to this country, a full partinot, take proper measures to con cipation of its advantages.

I have the fatisfaction to inform you, by the king's command, that his majesty has concluded a treaty of navigation and commerce with the Mott Chriftian king. A copy of this treaty will be laid before you, in which you will not fail to obferve the attention which is paid to the interests of this kingdom; and I trust that your adoption of it here, by fuch laws as may be requifite to give it effect, will be attended with real benefit to the country, by fuccefsfully encouraging the efforts of her industry and emulation.

The trade and manufactures, and particularly the linen manufacture of this kingdom; the protestant charter-fchools, and other public inftitutions for charitable purposes, will not fail to engage your conftant care and encouragement; and I hope that fome liberal and extensive plan for the general improvement of education will be matured for an early execution.

A longer acquaintance with this country itrengthens my anxious. wishes for its welfare; and I fhall

Gentlemen of the House of Com. experience the most fenfible graui

mons,

I have directed the proper officers to lay the national accounts before you and I trust you will make the neceffary provifions for the exigencies of the itate, and the

fication, if in my administration of the king's government, I can, with a fuccefs in any degree correfpondent to thofe wishes, accomplish his majesty's earnest defire to promote and fecure the happinets and profperity of Ireland.

The

The Speech of the Right Hon. the
Speaker of the House of Commons in
Ireland, to his Grace the Lord
Lieutenant, March 17, 1787.

May it please your Grace.

The wisdom of the principle which the commons have established and perfevered in, under your Grace's aufpices, of preventing the further accumulation of national debt, is now powerfully felt through out the kingdom, in its many beneficial confequences-public credit has gradually rifen to a height unknown for many years-agricul ture has brought in new fupplies of

wealth-and the merchants and manufacturers are each encouraged to extend their efforts, by the fecurity it has given them, that no new taxes will obftruct the prog sefs of their works, or impede the fuccefs of their fpeculations.

Such is the happy fituation of this kingdom from the fupport which your Grace's conftant and zealous care has given to the operation of that principle; and this fituation is peculiarly fortunate at the prefent period, when his Majesty's gracious attention to the interefts of his people has opened new objects of manufacture, and new channels of commerce to their industry,

Happy, however, as our fituation is, we know that all its bleffings will be a vain expectation, if a fpirit of outrage and oppofition to law fhall prevent internal induftry, and depreciate the national character; we have, therefore, applied ourselves to form fuch laws as muft, under the firmnefs and juftice of your Grace's government, effectually and speedily fupprefs that lawlers fpirit.

His majesty's faithful commons do now cheerfully continue all the Pr fent taxes; and having conftantly experienced how well founded their confidence has been in your Grace's prudent adminiftration of the public treasure, they do with the greater fatisfaction declare, that they give and grant them in the moit decided expectation, that by your Grace's frugal and juft management of the public, revenue, they will be rendered fufficient to anfwer the public expence without the further accumulation of debt or increase of taxes.

The Speech of his Grace Charles Duke of Rutland, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, to both Houses of Parliament, May 28, 1787.

My Lords and Gentlemen, In relieving you from further attendance in the prefent feffion of parliament, I have the fatisfaction of fignifying to you his Majelly's entire approbation of the wife and vigorous meafures by which you have diftinguifhed your zeal for the prefervation of the public peace and the tranquillity of the country. My trenuous exertions fhall not be wanting to carry your falutary provifions into execution, to affert the just dominion of the laws, and to establish the fecurity of property, as well as perfonal fafety, to all deferiptions of his Majesty's fubjects in this kingdom.

The decided tenor of your conduct affures me of your continued and cordial affiftance, and that you will, with your utmost influence, imprefs upon the minds of the peo ple a full conviction what dangerous effects to the general welfare, and to the growing pofperity of the

nation,

nation, arife from the prevalence of even partial or temporary difturbance. Admonish them, that the benevolent but watchful fpirit of the legislature, which induces it to encourage induftry and exertion, will, at the fame time, be awake to, the correction of thofe exceffes, which are the infeparable companions of idlene fs and licentious diforder.

of it; a principle which, with your accuftomed wifdom, you have ftill further corroborated by the late arrangement of your laws of navigation.

The loyalty and attachment of his faithful people of Ireland are highly grateful to the King, and by his majesty's exprefs command I am to affure you of his moft gracious and affectionate protection.

To fulfil my fovereign's pleafure,

Gentlemen of the Houfe of which conftantly directs me to study

Commons,

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My Lords and Gentlemen,

A new and powerful incitement to the national industry has been opened by the Treaty of Com merce with France, in which the utmost attention is manifefted to the interefts of Ireland. The claims of this kingdom to an equal participation in treaties between Great Britain and Portugal, have been acknowledged by the Court of Lif bon. These are decided teftimonies of his majefty's paternal regard, and fresh confirmations of his gracious refolution to confider the intereft of Great Britain and Ireland as infeparable: a principle which, by uniting the faculties and affections of the empire, gives ftrength and fecurity to every part

the true happinefs of this kingdom, is the great and fettled object of my ambition; and upon this bafis I fhall hope to have established a permanent claim to your good opinion, and to the confidence and regard of the people of Ireland.

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WHEREAS we cannot but obferve, with inexpreffible concern, the rapid progrefs of impiety and licentioufnefs, and that deluge of profanenefs, immorality, and every kind of vice, which, to the scandal of our holy religion, and to the evil example of our loving fubjects,. hath broken in upon this nation; we therefore esteeming it our indif penfable duty to exert the autho rity committed to us for the fuppreffion of thefe fpreading evils, fearing left they fhould provokeGod's wrath and indignation against us, and humbly acknowledging that we cannot expect the bleffing and goodnefs of Almighty God, (by whom kings reign, and on

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