His Majefty's most gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament, on Thurfday the 20th Day of November, 1777.

I

My Lords and Gentlemen,

T is a great fatisfaction to me, that I can have recourse to the wisdom and support of my parliament in this conjuncture, when the continuance of the rebellion in North America demands our most ferious attention. The powers which you have intrufted me with for the fuppreffion of this revolt, have been faithfully exerted; and I have a juft confidence, that the conduct and courage of my officers, and the fpirit and intrepidity of my forces, both by fea and land, will, under the bleffing of Divine Providence, be attended with important fuccefs: but as I am perfuaded that you will fee the neceffity of preparing for fuch further operations as the contingencies of the war and the obftinacy of the rebels may render expedient, I am, for that purpofe, purfuing the proper meafures for keeping my land forces complete to their prefent establishment; and if I fhould have occafion to increafe them, by contracting any new engagements, I rely on your zeal

and public fpirit to enable me to make them good.

I receive repeated affurances from foreign powers of their pacifick difpofitions. My own cannot be doubted: but, at this time, when the armaments in the ports of France and Spain continue, I have thought it adviseable to make a confiderable augmentation to my naval force, as well to keep my kingdoms in a refpectable state of fecurity, as to provide an adequate protection for the extenfive commerce of my fubjects; and as, on the one hand, I am determined that the peace of Europe shall not be difturbed by me, fo, on the other, I will always be a faithful guardian of the honour of the crown of Great Britain.

the effential interefts of my kingdoms.

My Lords and Gentlemen, I will fteadily pursue the meafures in which we are engaged for the re-establishment of that conftitutional fubordination, which, with the bleffing of God, I will maintain through the feveral parts of my dominions but I fhall ever be watchful for an opportunity of putting a ftop to the effufion of the blood of my fubjects, and the calamities which are infeparable. from a ftate of war. And I ftill hope, that the deluded and unhappy multitude will return to their allegiance; and that the remembrance of what they once enjoyed, the regret for what they have loft, and the feelings of what they now fuffer under the arbitrary tyranny of their leaders, will rekindle in their hearts a fpirit of loyalty to their Sovereign, and of attachment to their mother country: and that they will enable me, with the concurrence and fupport of my parliament, to accomplifh what I fhall confider as the greatest happiness of my life, and the greatest glory of my reign, the restoration of peace, order and confidence to my American colo

nies.

We are duly fenfible of your Majefty's goodness in recurring to. the advice and fupport of your parliament in the prefent conjunc ture, when the rebellion in North America ftill continues; and we return your Majefty our unfeigned thanks for having communicated to us the just confidence which your Majefty reposes in the zeal, intrepidity, and exertions of your Majefty's officers and forces both by fea and land: but at the fame time that we entertain a wellfounded hope of the important fucceffes, which, under the bleffing of Providence, may be expected, we cannot but applaud your Majesty's unwearied vigilance and wisdom, in recommending to us to prepare, at all events, for fuch further operations as the contingencies of the war and the obftinacy of the rebels may render expedient; we are therefore gratefully fenfible of your Majefty's confideration in purfuing the measures neceffary to keep your land forces. complete to the prefent establishment; and we owe it both to your Majefty and to ourselves to fay, that we fhall cheerfully concur in enabling your Majefty to make.

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good

fix the mutual welfare of Great Britain and her colonies on the moft folid and permanent foun dations.

66

PROTEST of the LORDS. Die Jovis, zo° Nov. 1778. UPON the motion for the above addrefs, the following amend ment was moved by the Earl of Chatham, "6 That this House does moft humbly advife and fupplicate his Majesty, to be pleafed to caufe the moft speedy and ef fectual meafures to be taken for reftoring peace in America, and that no time may be loft in propofing an immediate ceffation of hoftilities there, in order to the opening a treaty for the final fettlement of the tranquillity of those invaluable provinces, by a removal of the unhappy caufes of this ruinous civil war, and by a just and adequate fecurity against a return of the like calamities in times to come. And this Houfe defires to offer the moft dutiful affurance to his Majefty, that they will in due time cheerfully co-operate with the magnanimity and tender goodness of his Majefty for the prefervation of his people, by fuch explicit and most folemn declarations and provifions of fundamental and irrevocable laws, as may be judged neceflary for afcertaining and fixing for ever the refpective rights of Great Britain and her colonies."

When the queftion being put, the Houfe divided. Contents 28, Non-contents 84.

The question was then put on the addrefs, and carried in the af firmative, "Diffen

terefts of thefe kingdoms, and for the vigorous profecution of the measures in which we are engaged, for the re-establishment of that conftitutional fubordination, which, we truft, with the bleffing of God, your Majefty will be able to maintain through the feveral parts of your dominions.

We acknowledge with equal gratitude and admiration your Majelty's paternal declaration, that you will be ever watchful for an opportunity of putting a top to the effufion of the blood of your fubjects, and the calamities of war.

Permit us to affure your Majefty, that we cannot but ftill entertain a hope, that the difcernment of their true interefts, the remembrance of the bleflings they once enjoyed, and a fenfe of their prefent fufferings under the arbitrary tyranny of their leaders, will induce the deluded and unhappy multitude to return to their allegiance, and will re-animate their hearts with a spirit of loyalty to their Sovereign, and of attachment to their mother country.

The gracious and condefcending manner in which your Majefty expreffes your defire that you may be enabled to reftore peace, order, and confidence, to your American colonies, cannot fail of endearing your Majefly to the hearts of all your fubjects: and we affure your Majefty, that when this great work can be accomplished, and fettled on the true principles of the conAtitution, your Majefty may depend on the moft zealous concur. rence and fupport of your faithful Commons.

On Tuesday the 17th day of March, the following Mage was fent

to both Houses of Parliament from the King.

GEORGE R.

H'

TIS Majefty, having been informed, by order of French King, that a treaty of amity and commerce has been figned between the court of France, and certain perfons employed by his Majefty's revolted fubjects in North America, has judged it neceffary to direct, that a copy of the declaration, delivered by the French Ambaffador to Lord Viscount Weymouth, be laid before the House of Commons; and at the fame time to acquaint them, that his Majefty has thought proper, in confequence of this offenfive communication on the part of the court of France, to fend orders to his Ambassador to withdraw from that court.

His Majefty is perfuaded, that the juftice and good faith of his conduct towards foreign powers, and the fincerity of his wifhes to preferve the tranquillity of Europe, will be acknowledged by all the world; and his Majesty trufts, that he shall not ftand refponfible for the difturbance of that tranquillity, if he fhould find himself called upon to refent fo unprovoked and fo unjuft an aggreffion on the honour of his crown, and the effential interefts of his kingdoms, contrary to the molt folemn affurances, fubverfive of the law of nations, and injurious to the rights of every fovereign power in Europe.

His Majefty, relying with the firmeft confidence on the zealous and affectionate fupport of his faithful people, is determined to be prepared to exert, if it fhall be come neceffary, all the force and refources of his kingdom; which

he