their consequences. We are not ledge his majesty's goodness in ha. furnished with any means of judg- ving directed to be laid before us ing how far those complaints were the details of the negociation so capable of being adjusted, without long carried on at Paris. We enrecourse being had to actual hosti. tertain the fullest conviction, that lities ; or how far any discussions, the just and moderate sentiments, which may have taken place subse- by which his majesty has proved quently to his majesty's gracious himself to have been animated in message of the 21st of April, were the several preceding negociations directed to that object. But we for peace with France, have alike cannot but lament, that the obvious actuated his majesty on the late ocartifice of the common enemy, in casion: and while we look with making a fraudulent and nominal anxious interest for the develope. transfer of his majesty's electoralment of those circumstances which dominions to the king of Prussia, can have deferred for so long a should have been so far crowned period that termination of the newith success, as to have involved gociation, which it is evident, as his majesty in war with the only well from notorious facts as from state in Europe whose resources the language of his majesty's decla. were yet unimpaired; and whose ration, the artifices and pretensions arms might, at some happier hour, of the enemy rendered, from the have been employed with effect in begioning, almost certain and una new confederacy against France; avoidable ; we doubt not but we and that the too successful policy shall see, in the whole course and of the enemy in amusing this coun. tenour of the proceedings on the try with an insincere and protracted part of his majesty, fresh instances negociation, should have obtaired of that desire for peace, and of that for France the opportunity of goad. sincerity and good faith in the puring Prussia (by unmeasured and ac- suit of it, which have so often been cumulated injuries) to that prema- frustrated by the ambition of the tore, unconcerted, and unassisted French government; as well as effort, which has terminated in the fresh proofs of the expediency of overthrow of that powerful monar- adhering to the policy of treating chy, and in the complete subjuga. for general peace, and only in contion of its dominions. We cannot junction with our allies. That we but express our regret, that the po. receive with the utmost satisfaction licy which appears to have been the assurance of his majesty's unin. ultimately adopted towards Prussia terrupted concert and good undershould not have been recognised standing with the emperor of Russia ; and acted upon until the occasion trusting, that neither in war nor in was gone by; and that his majes. negociation, his majesty's councils ty's plenipotentiary should have ar. will be separated from those of our rived only in time to be an helpless ally, distinguished alike by perse. witness of that prodigious ruin and verance and good faith. The cop. destruction, which a more timely tinued prosecution of the war being interposition of his majesty's advice necessarily imposed upon his ma. and assistance might 'possibly have jesty, we rejoice in the assurance averted or alleriated. To acknow that it is intended to prosecute it with vigour; earnestly imploring which have so long confined our ex. his majesty, that no apprehension peditions within our own ports, and of embarrassing the conduct of a have rendered the military prepanegociation by acquisitions made rations of this government at once during its progress, may ever again ineffectual to the annoyance of the be suffered to relax for a moment enemy, and a just ground of dis. the military and naval operations satisfaction and disappointment to of this country. That if we have the nation at large. We rejoice in not the triumph and satisfaction, as the opportunity of congratulating in former years of war, of offering his majesty on the capture of that to his majesty our congratulations valuable and important settlement, on any signal and decisive victory the Cape of Good Hope, by those by sea, we nevertheless reflect, with distinguished officers, sir David just pride and acknowledgement, Baird and sir Home Popham. We on the several distinguished in. havc, however, the consolation and stances in which the skill, valour, gratification of being able to recall and intrepidity of British officers his majesty's attention to acquisi- . and seamen have been displayed in tions and achievements in the course their usual lustre, and with their ac- of the present year, by which, not. customed success, over equal or withstanding the apparent inactivity superior squadrons of the enemy. of his majesty's present servants, But we cannot help lamenting, in the credit of his majesty's arms, by justice to the naval service, as well sea and land, lias been sustained in as to the interests of the country, the different quarters of the globe. that supineness or mismanagement, We congratulate bis majesty on the by which the predatory squadrons signal advantages obtained by his of the enemy have been permitted majesty's arms in the expedition to range, unchecked, among our under sir H. Popham, and general West-India colonies, and to escape Beresford, against the Spanish set. with impunity; and by which our tlement of Buenos Ayres; advancommerce has been exposed to a tages which, if seasonably supported degree of annoyance highly inju- and diligently improved, must be in rious to the interests and discre. the highest degree valuable to this ditable to the maritime superiority, country, opening fresh channels of of Great Britain. With equal sor. commercial enterprise, and affording row, and with no less astonishment, new and increasing encouragement we have observed those delays and to British manufactures and navi. uncertainties, and that apparent gation; advantages doubly important perplexity and fluctuation of coun. at a mornent when the other markets cils, which have marked the con- of the world are attempted to be doct of the war department of the closed against us. We enter, with state, which have hitherto prevented heartfelt exultation, into the senti. the exccution of those measures ments so justly expressed by his whicho ministers persuaded the late majesty, on the brilliant victory parliament to enact, and upon obtained on the plains of Maida, by which they themselves professed his majesty's land forces, under the so greatly to rely for the internal gallant and able conduct of sir J. defence of the empire; and delays Stuart, orer a French army supe. rior in numbers. We feel, with his being compelled to call upon them majesty, the full value of the sea. for sacrifices of so great an extent sonable check given, by this splen- as may be necessary in the present did achievement, to the overweening crisis of affairs. That however confidence of the enemy; and of painful the duty of imposing fresh the proof which it affords that the burthens upon the people, we shall, character and constitution of the however, not shrink from dischar. British army were not inadequate, ging it; satisfied as we are of the upon their ancient footing, to main- prevailing determination of all ranks tain, unimpaired, the lustre of the of the community to submit with British name, and the military glory cheerfulness to the indispensable of our ancestors. That we shall necessity of providing means for devertheless examinc, with duc at the continuance of a contest, in the tention and solicitude, into the effect issue of which public safety and priof that new system which the late vate happiness are alike inseparaparliament were induced to adopt, bly involved. That it is a consofor improving the character, as well lation to us, as to his majesty, under as angmenting the amount, of his the pressure of this inevitable nemajesty's regular forces; willing to cessity, to learn the flourishing state hope that we shall have the satis. of public credit, and the produce faction of discovering an improve- tiveness of the several branches of ment so striking, and an augmen. the revenue: and that we agree tation so rapid and abundant, as at entirely with his majesty in attri. once to have supplied all the defi- buting these salutary effects in a ciencies arising from the disuse of great measure to the system so such measures as have been either wisely begun, and so properly perabolished or suspended, and to com- severed in, of raising a considerable pensate for the certain, permanent, proportion of the supplies within and large addition which they have the year; a system which has hapnecessarily occasioned to the mili- pily disappointed the predictions of tary expenditure of the state. We the external and internal enemies shall investigate with equal care, the of his majesty and his government. state of our other military esta. That we carnestly wish it were in blishments, and particnlarly that of our power to close our address the volunteers, the cheap, efficient, here. But we feel that we should and patriotic defence of the united be wanting as well in duty to his kingdom; we trust and believe that majesty as in fidelity to that people, we shall and them, in spite of all in whose name and on whose bediscouragement and discountenance, half we are proffering sacrifices un. neither aba:od in zeal, nor, as yet, exampled in magnitude and inde. materially reduced in numbers, at a finite in duration, if we were to disa period when it appears but too pro. guise from his majesty the deep and bable that their services may be general sentiment which prevails more than ever essential to their respecting the measures which precountry. That we are fully sensi. ceded and accompanied the late geble of his majesty's paternal afiec- neral election. Far; be it from us tion for his subjects, manifested in to question his majesty's undoubted the segret which he expresses at prerogative. But we cannot reflect without concern and disapprobation upon the circumstances of surprise and deception which attended the sudden exercise of that prerogative in the dissolution of the late parliament; and particularly of his servants to mislead upon the irreverent use of his majesty's royal name in a proclamation summoning the late parliament to meet on a fixed and no distant day, issued at a period, when the measure of dissolving that parliament must already have been in contemplation. Connected also with this subject, we cannot forbear to notice rumours which strongly prevail throughout the country, of the most improper and unconstitutional interference of his majesty's ministers in the course of the late elections; rumours at once highly discreditable and injurious to his majesty's government, and to the independent character of parliament. We hope that upon enquiry and examination they may be proved to be utterly unfounded. But, convinced as we are, that the tendency (though we trust not the effect) of such interference, as is alledged, must have been to revolt and dis. gust the well-affected part of the community, and to sow distraction and discontent in place of that unanimity which is so loudly called for, at a moment when the prospe. rity of the British empire depends upon the consenting and cordial co-operation of all orders and descriptions of the people; convinced also, that it is our peculiar duty, as it is the common interest of all those who prize, as it deserves, the inestimable blessing of a free form of government, to mark with our strongest reprehension a perversion of power which would be too well calculated to favour those delusive and dangerous theories which stigmatize the house of commons as an inadequate representative of the people. But while we feel this most unpleasant duty forced upon us, in vindication of our own independence, and of the rights of those whom we represent, we humbly and earnestly entreat his majesty to be persuaded, that neither this, nor any other misconduct of his ma. jesty's ministers, can essentially af fect the firm and settled purpose of this house, and of the great body of the nation, to unite in that ge neral cause, and against that common danger-in comparison to which all other considerations, however important in themselves, are at the present moment, unfortunately, inferior and subordinate, And we venture confidently to assure his majesty, that great and unexampled as are the difficulties and dangers which surround us, his majesty possesses in the wealth and prosperity of his dominions, in the loyalty and firmness of his parliament, in the bravery of his flects and armies, and in the affection, zeal, and courage of his peopleresources, which, if wisely called forth, and diligently and judici ously applied, are yet amply suf ficient to ensure the safety and honour of the British empire; and to maintain the only remaining hope, under Divine Providence, for the restoration of the liberties and hap. piness of mankind.” Resolutions of Finance moved by Lord Henry Petty, in the House of Commons, Jan. 29, 1807. [See also p. 680.] I. "THAT THAT iv. 66 That J: 66 WHAT the several duties of ever and so soon as such amount of customs granted to his capital stock shall have been so majesty by 43 Gco. Iil. c. 76, by purchased or redeemed, the afore44 Geo. III. c. 53, and by the 4.5 said annual sum shall be at the dis. Geo. III. c. 39, and also the several posal of parliament.” duties of excise granted to his ma. II. 66 That the several duties jesty by the 43 Geo. III. c. 81, and granted to his majesty on the proby the 46 Geo. III. c. 42, shall be tits arising from property, profesfurther granted and continued, and sions, trades, and offices, by the shall be payable in such propor- acts of 43 Geo. III. c. 122, 45 tions, and for such further terms Geo. III. c. 15, and 45 Geo. III. as may be directed by any act or c. 65, shall be applicable in like acts of parliament hereafter to be manner for defraying the charge passed for defraying the charge of of any such loan or loans, so long any loan or loans to be charged as the said duties shall continue thereupon in mapner hereinafter payable by virtue of the said acts, mentioned ; that is to say :-That and no longer.” on every loan to be raised on the III, 66 That the total amount of credit of the said several duties, any loan or loans to be so raised or any of them, and charged there. and charged shall not exceed the upon, there shall be set apart, out sum of 16,000,0001. in any one of the produce of the said duties, year, or of 210,000,0001. within and appropriated to the consoli. 14 years from this time.” dated fund of Great-Britain, an an. any further or supnual sum equal to ten pounds per plementary loan or loans which centum on the amount of the sum may be necessary for the service of to be raised by every such loan, any year beyond the loan or loans out of which annual sum the in. so charged as aforesaid on any of terest and charges of the manage the several duties above-mentioned, ment of such loan sball, in the first shall be raised on such terms, and instance, be defrayed, and a sum Subject to such conditions of re. equal to the residue thereof shall be demption, as are hereinafter speci. paid in each year, by equal quare fied; videlicet, that an annual sum, terly payments, into the bank of equal to one per cent, on the ca. England, and placed to the account pital stock created in respect of of the commissioners for the reduce every such supplementary loan, tion of the national debt, and shall shall be issued in equal quarterly be by them applied in the purchase payments to the commissioners for or redemption of such public an- the reduction of the national debt; puities, charged on the consolidated or that other provisions shall be fund of Great-Britain, as they shall made by parliament for redeeming deem most expedient, until by the the same within 45 years from its operation thereof ani amount of creation ; and every such loan may capital stock of such annuitics, be charged upon any duties to be equal to the capital stock created hereafter granted or appropriated in consequence of every such loan by parliament for such purpose, or respectively, shall have been pur. on any temporary annuities which cbased or redeemed; and that when- may expire, and become applicable by |