dence of the Nations of the Peninsula, but the best interests of His Majesty's Dominions essentially depend.

I have great pleasure in communicating to you, that the relations of peace and friendship have been restored between His Majesty and the Courts of St. Petersburgh and Stockholm.

I have directed Copies of the Treaties to be laid before you.

In a Contest for his own Sovereign rights, and for the independence of his Dominions, the Emperor of Russia has had to oppose a large proportion of the military power of the French Government, assisted by its Allies, and by the tributary States dependent upon it.

The resistance which he has opposed to so formidable a combination, cannot fail to excite sentiments of lasting admiration.

By his own magnanimity and perseverance, by the zeal and disinterestedness of all ranks of his subjects, and by the gallantry, firmness, and intrepidity of his Forces, the presumptuous expectations of the Enemy have been signally disappointed.

The enthusiasm of the Russian Nation has increased with the difficulties of the Contest, and with the dangers with which they were surrounded. They have submitted to sacrifices of which there are few examples in the history of the World; and I indulge the confident hope, that the determined perseverance of His Imperial Majesty will be crowned with ultimate success; and that this Contest, in its result, will have the effect of establishing, upon a foundation never to be shaken, the security and independence of the Russian Empire.

The proof of confidence which I have received from His Imperial Majesty, in the measure which he has adopted of sending his Fleets to the ports of this Country, is in the highest degree gratifying to me; and His Imperial Majesty may most fully rely on my fixed determination to afford him the most cordial support in the great Contest in which he is engaged.

I have the satisfaction further to acquaint you, that I have concluded a Treaty with His Sicilian Majesty, supplementary to the Treaties of 1808 and 1809.

As soon as the Ratifications shall have been exchanged, I will direct a Copy of this Treaty to be laid before you.

My object has been to provide for the more extensive application of the military force of the Sicilian Government to offensive operations; a measure which, combined with the liberal and enlightened principles which happily prevail in the Councils of His Sicilian Majesty, is calculated, I trust, to augment his power and resources, and at the same time to render them essentially serviceable to the common Cause.

The Declaration of War by the Government of The United States of America, was made under circumstances which might have afforded a reasonable expectation that the amicable relations between the 2

Nations would not long be interrupted. It is with sincere regret that I am obliged to acquaint you, that the conduct and pretensions of that Government have hitherto prevented the conclusion of any pacific arrangement.

Their measures of hostility have been principally directed against the adjoining British Provinces, and every effort has been made to seduce the Inhabitants of them from their allegiance to His Majesty.

The proofs, however, which I have received of loyalty and attachment from His Majesty's Subjects in North America are highly satisfactory.

The attempts of the Enemy to invade Upper Canada have not only proved abortive, but by the judicious arrangements of the Governor-General, and by the skill and decision with which the military operations have been conducted, the Forces of the Enemy assembled for that purpose in one quarter have been compelled to capitulate, and in another have been completely defeated.

My best efforts are not wanting for the restoration of the relations of peace and amity between the 2 Countries; but until this object can be attained without sacrificing the maritime rights of Great Britain, I shall rely upon your cordial support in a vigorous prosecution of the War.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

I have directed the Estimates for the services of the ensuing Year to be laid before you, and I entertain no doubt of your readiness to furnish such Supplies as may enable me to provide for the great interests committed to my charge, and to afford the best prospect of bringing the Contest in which His Majesty is engaged to a successful termination.

My Lords, and Gentlemen,

The approaching expiration of the Charter of the East India Company renders it necessary that I should call your early attention to the propriety of providing effectually for the future Government of the Provinces of India.

In considering the variety of interests which are connected with this important subject, I rely on your wisdom for making such an arrangement as may best promote the prosperity of the British Possessions in that quarter, and at the same time secure the greatest advantages to the commerce and revenue of His Majesty's Dominions.

I have derived great satisfaction from the success of the measures which have been adopted for suppressing the spirit of outrage and insubordination which had appeared in some parts of the Country, and from the disposition which has been manifested to take advantage of the indemnity held out to the deluded by the wisdom and benevolence of Parliament.

I trust I shall never have occasion to lament the recurrence of atrocities so repugnant to the British character; and that all His Majesty's Subjects will be impressed with the conviction that the happiness of Individuals, and the welfare of the State, equally depend upon a strict obedience to the Laws, and an attachment to our excellent Constitution.

In the loyalty of His Majesty's People, and in the wisdom of Parliament, I have reason to place the fullest confidence. The same firmness and perseverance which have been manifested on so many and such trying occasions, will not, I am persuaded, be wanting at a time when the eyes of all Europe, and of the World, are fixed upon you. I can assure you, that in the exercise of the great trust reposed in me, I have no sentiment so near my heart as the desire to promote, by every means in my power, the real prosperity and lasting happiness of His Majesty's Subjects.

SPEECH of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, Regent, on the Closing of the British Parliament, 22d July, 1813,

My Lords, and Gentlemen,

I CANNOT release you from your attendance in Parliament without repeating the expression of my deep regret at the continuance of His Majesty's lamented indisposition.

The attention which you have paid to the public interests in the course of this Session demands my warmest acknowledgments.

The splendid and signal success which has attended the commencement of the Campaign in the Peninsula, the consummate skill and ability displayed by Field Marshal the Marquis of Wellington in the progress of those operations which have led to the great and decisive Victory obtained near Vittoria, and the valour and intrepidity by which His Majesty's Forces and those of his Allies have been distinguished, are as highly gratifying to my feelings as they have been to those of the whole Nation. Whilst these operations have added new Justre to the British Arms, they afford the best prospect of the deliverance of the Peninsula from the tyranny and oppression of France; and they furnish the most decisive proof of the wisdom of that policy which has induced you, under every vicissitude of fortune, to persevere in the support of this glorious Contest.

The entire failure of the French Ruler in his designs against the Russian Empire, and the destruction of the French Army employed on that service, were followed by the advance of the Russian Forces, since joined by those of Prussia, to the banks of the Elbe; and though upon the renewal of the Contest the Allied Armies have found

themselves obliged to retreat before the superior numbers collected by the Enemy, their conduct during a series of severe and sanguinary conflicts has nobly upheld their military character, and commanded the admiration of Europe.

I have great satisfaction in acquainting you that there exists between me and the Courts of St. Petersburgh, Berlin, and Stockholm, the most cordial union and concert; and I trust I shall be enabled, by the aids which you have so liberally afforded, to render this union effectual for the accomplishment of the great purpose for which it has been established.

I regret the continuance of the War with the United States of America.

My desire to re-establish between the 2 Countries those friendly relations, so important to their mutual interests, continues unabated; but I cannot consent to purchase the restoration of Peace by any sacrifice of the maritime rights of the British Empire.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

I thank you for the liberal provision you have made for the services of the present Year.

It is a great satisfaction to mne to reflect that, by the regulations you have adopted for the redemption of the National Debt, you have established a system which will not retard its ultimate liquidation, whilst at the same time it provides for the vigorous prosecution of the War with the least practicable addition to the public burdens.

My Lords, and Gentlemen,

I entirely approve of the arrangements which you have made for the Government of the British Territories in India, and for the regulation of the British Commerce in that part of the World. They appear to have been wisely framed, with a view to the circumstances which have occurred since this subject was last under the consideration of Parliament. By these arrangements you have preserved in its essential parts that system of Government which experience has proved to be not less calculated to provide for the happiness of the Inhabitants of India, than to promote the interests of Great Britain; and you have judiciously extended to the Subjects of the United Kingdom in general a participation in the commerce of Countries within the limits of the East India Conipany's Charter, which will, I doubt not, have the effect of augmenting the resources of India, and of increasing and improving the trade and navigation of His Majesty's Dominions.

The tried and affectionate loyalty of His Majesty's People, the constancy which they have displayed during this long and arduous War, and the patience with which they have sustained the burdens necessarily imposed upon them, have made an indelible impression on my mind. Such continued and persevering exertions, under so severe a

pressure, afford the strongest proof of their attachment to that Constitution which it is the first object of my life to maintain.

In the success which has recently attended His Majesty's Arms, I acknowledge with devout gratitude the hand of Divine Providence. The use I desire to make of these, and of all other advantages, is to promote and secure the welfare of His Majesty's People; and I cannot more decidedly evince this disposition, than by employing the powerful means you have placed in my hands in such a manner as may be best calculated to reduce the extravagant pretensions of the Enemy, and thereby to facilitate the attainment, in conjunction with my Allies, of a secure and honourable Peace.

SPEECH of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, Regent, on the Opening of the British Parliament, 4th November, 1813.

My Lords, and Gentlemen,

It is with the deepest regret that I am again obliged to announce to you the continuance of His Majesty's lamented indisposition.

The great and splendid success with which it has pleased Divine Providence to bless His Majesty's Arms, and those of his Allies, in the course of the present Campaign, has been productive of the most important consequences to Europe.

In Spain the glorious and decisive Victory obtained near Vittoria has been followed by the advance of the Allied Forces to the Pyrenees, by the repulse of the Enemy in every attempt to regain the ground he had been compelled to abandon, by the reduction of the fortress of St. Sebastian, and finally by the establishment of the Allied Army on the frontier of France.

In this series of brilliant operations you will have observed, with the highest satisfaction, the consummate skill and ability of the great Commander, Field Marshal the Marquis of Wellington, and the steadiness and unconquerable spirit which have been equally displayed by the troops of the 3 Nations united under his command.

The termination of the Armistice in the North of Europe, and the Declaration of War by the Emperor of Austria against France, have been most happily accompanied by a system of cordial union and concert amongst the Allied Powers.

The effects of this union have even surpassed those expectations which it was calculated to excite.

By the signal victories obtained over the French Armies in Silesia, at Culm, and at Denevitz, the efforts of the Enemy to penetrate into the heart of the Austrian and Prussian Territories were completely frustrated.