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STATE PAPERS.

His Majefty's most gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament, on Thursday the 31ft Day of October, 1776.

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My Lords and Gentlemen, WOTHING could have afforded me fo much fatisfaction as to have been able to inform you, at the opening of this feffion, that the troubles, which have fo long distracted my colonies in North America, were at an end; and that my unhappy people, recovered from their delufion, had delivered themfel ne from the oppreffion of their leaders, and returned to their duty: but fo daring and defperate is the fpirit of thofe leaders, whofe object has always been dominion and power, that they have now openly renounced all allegiance to the crown, and all political connection with this country they have rejected, with circumftances of indignity and infult, the means of conciliation held out to them under the authority of our commiffion; and have prefumed to fet up their rebellious confederacies for independent ftates. If their treafon be fuffered to take root, much mischief must grow from it, to the fafety of my loyal colonies, to the commerce of my kingdoms, and indeed to the prefent fyftem of all Europe. One

great advantage, however, will be derived from the object of the rebels being openly avowed, and clearly understood; we fhall have unanimity at home, founded in the general conviction of the justice and neceffity of our measures.

I am happy to inform you, that, by the bleffing of Divine Providence on the good conduct and valour of my officers and forces by fea and land, and on the zeal and bravery of the auxiliary troops in my fervice, Canada is recovered; and although, from unavoidable delays, the operations at New York could not begin before the month of Auguft, the fuccefs in that province has been fo important as to give the ftrongest hopes of the most decifive good confequences: but, notwithitanding this fair profpect, we muft, at all events, prepare for another campaign.

I continue to receive affurances of amity from the feveral courts of Europe; and am ufing my utmost endeavours to conciliate unhappy differences between two neighbouring powers; and I ftill hope, that all misunderstandings may be removed, and Europe continue to enjoy the ineftimable bleffings of peace: I think nevertheless that, in the prefent fituation of affairs, it is expedient that we fhould be in

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a refpectable state of defence at home.

Gentlemen of the House of
Commons,

I will order the estimates for the enfuing year to be laid before you. It is matter of real concern to me, that the important confiderations which I have stated to you must neceffarily be followed by great expence: I doubt not, however, but that faithful commons will reamy dily and chearfully grant me fuch fupplies, as the maintenance of the honour of my crown, the vindication of the juft rights of parliament, and the publick welfare, fhall be found to require.

My Lords and Gentlemen, In this arduous conteft I can have no other object but to promote the true interefts of all my fubjects. No people ever enjoyed more happinefs, or lived under a milder government, than thofe now revolted provinces: the improvements in every art, of which they boast, de

clare it their numbers, their wealth, their ftrength by fea and land, which they think fufficient to enable them to make head against the whole power of the the mother country, are irrefragable proofs of it. My defire is to reftore to them the bleffings of law and liberty, equally enjoyed by every British fubject, which they have fatally and defperately exchanged for all the calamities of war, and the arbitrary tyranny of

their chiefs.

The humble Address of the Lords
Spiritual and Temporal in Parlia
ment affembled.
Moft gracious Sovereign,

7E, your majesty's moft du

tiful and loyal fubjects, the

lords fpiritual and temporal, in parliament affembled, beg leave to return your majefty our humble thanks for your moft gracious fpeech from the throne.

It is with the trueft fatisfaction we congratulate your majesty on the fuccefs of your arms in the province of New York, the recovery of Canada, and the fair profpect of decifive good confequences, which, under the bleffing of Divine Providence, is now opened by the firmness of your majesty's councils, the valour and good conduct of your majefty's officers and forces by fea and land, and by the zeal and bravery of the auxiliary troops in your majefty's fervice.

We beg leave to affure your majefty, that nothing would have given us equal happiness to the having been informed by your majefty, at the opening of this feffion, that the troubles, which have fo long distracted North America, had been at d; that your majesty's unhappy people in those provinces had recovered from their delufion, and, awakened by a due fenfe of their misfortunes and mifdoings, had delivered themfelves from the oppreffion of their leaders, and were returned to their duty. While we lament that your majefty's humane and merciful intentions have been fruftrated by the neglect fhewn to the means of conciliation, notified under the authority of your majefty's royal commiffion, we feel the strongest indignation at the infolent manner in which they were rejected; and we want words to exprefs our abhorrence of the defperate fpirit of thofe overbearing men, who with an infatiable thirst of power and dominion, which has uniformly actuated all their proceedings, have

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now renounced allegiance to the crown, and all political connection with Great Britain; and, with an arrogance equal to the enormity of the attempt, left a doubt of their real defigns fhould remain on the breast of any perfon whatever, have fet up their rebellious confederacies for independent ftates. We are fully aware of the mifchief which would accrue from the fuccefs of this treafon, to your majefty's loyal colonies, to the commerce of this nation, and, more remotely indeed but not lefs certainly, to the fyftem of Europe, and to every ftate upon the continent of Europe poffeffed of diftant colonies.

We reflect with pleasure on the folid advantage which will be derived from the object of the rebels being openly avowed and clearly understood, the unanimity which will prevail at home, founded in a conviction of the juftice and neceffity of your majefty's meafures. Infpired with the fame zeal for the caufe of our country which animates the kingdom at large, we will fteadily fupport your majefty in the vindication of the honour of your crown, and the juft rights of parliament, and will chearfully concur in making the neceffary provifions for thofe great purpofes.

The affurances of amity, which your majefty continues to receive from the feveral courts of Europe, afford us great fatisfaction; we entertain the most grateful fenfe of the endeavours, which your majefty is exerting to conciliate unhappy differences between two neighbouring powers; and we trust that, by your majefty's aufpicious endeavours, thefe mifunderftandings will be removed, and Europe

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continue to enjoy the inestimable bleffings of peace. Permit us, Sir, at the fame time to return your majesty our dutiful thanks for your provident attention in guarding against any events which may arife out of the prefent fituation of affairs, by keeping us in a refpectable ftate of defence at home.

With hearts full of duty and gratitude, we acknowledge the happiness, which, under your majefty's mild government, is extended to every part of the British em pire; of which the late flourishing ftate of the revolted provinces, their numbers, their wealth, their ftrength by fea and land, which they think fufficient to enable them to make head against the whole power of the mother country, fhew that they have abundantly participated. And we earneftly hope, that your majefty's paternal object of reftoring your diftracted colonies to the happy condition from which, by their own mifconduct, they are wretchedly fallen, will be fpeedily attained.

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Diffentient,

For the reafons contained in the amendment proposed and rejected,

viz.

"To affure his majefty, that animated with the most earnest and fincere zeal for his true intereft, and the real glory of his reign, we behold with inexpreffiole concern, the minds of a very large, and lately loyal and affectionate part of his people, entirely alienated from his government. Nor can we conceive, that fuch an event as the difaffection and revolt of a whole people, could have taken place without fome confiderable errors, in the conduct obferved towards

them.

"Thefe erroneous measures we conceive are to be imputed to a want of fufficient information being laid before parliament; and to too large a degree of confidence being repofed in thofe minifters, who from their duty were obliged, and from their official fituation were best enabled to know the temper and difpofition of his majesty's American fubjects; and were, therefore, prefumed moft capable of pointing out fuch measures as might produce the most falutary

effect. Hence the fchemes which were formed for the reduction and chaftifement of a fuppofed inconfiderable party of factious men, have driven thirteen large provinces to defpair! Every act which has been propofed as a means of procuring peace and fubmiffion, has become a new caufe of war and revolt; and we now find ourselves almost inextricably involved in a bloody and expenfive civil war, which befides exhaufting, at prefent, the strength of his majelly's dominions, expofing our allies to

the defigns of their, and our enemies, and leaving this kingdom in a moft perilous fituation, threatens in its iffue, the most deplorable Calamities, to the whole British

race.

"We cannot avoid lamenting, that in confequence of the credit afforded to the representations of minifters, no hearing has been given to the reiterated complaints and petitions of the colonies: neither has any ground been laid, for removing the original caufe of thefe unhappy differences, which took their rife from queftions relative to parliamentary proceedings, and can be fettled only by parliamentary authority. By this fatal omiffion, the commiffioners nominated for the apparent purpose of making peace, were furnished with no legal power, but thofe of giving or withholding pardons at their pleasure; and of relaxing the feverities of a fingle penal act of parliament, leaving the whole foundation of this unhappy controverfy as it ftood at the beginning.

To reprefent to his majefty, that in addition to this neglect, when, in the beginning of the laft feffion, his majefty, in his gracious fpeech to both houfes of parliament, had declared his refolution of fending out commiffioners for the purpofes therein expreffed, as fpeedily as poffible; no fuch commiflioners were fent, until nearly feven months afterwards; and until the nation was alarmed by the evacuation of the only town, then held for his majefty, in the thirteen united colonies. By this delay, acts of the moft critical nature, the effect of which must as much depend upon the power of immediately relaxing them on fub

miflion

miffion, as in enforcing them upon difobedience, had only an operation to inflame and exafperate. But if any colony, town, or place, had been induced to fubmit by the operation of the terrors of thofe acts, there were none in the place, of power fufficient to reftore the people fo fubmitting to the common right of fubjection. The inhabitants of the colonies, apprized that they were put out of the protection of government, and feeing no means provided for their entering into it, were furnished with reafons but too colourable, for breaking off their dependency on the crown of this kingdom.

"To affure his majefty, that removing our confidence from thofe who in fo many inftances have grofly abused it, we fhall endeavour to reftore to parliament, the confidence of all his people.

To this end, it may be advifeable to make a more minute enquiry into the grievances of the colonies, as well as into the conduct of minifters, with regard to them. We may think it proper, particularly, to enquire how it has happened, that the commerce of this kingdom has been left expofed to the reprisals of the colonies, at the very time that their feamen and fishermen being indifcriminately prohibited from the peaceable exercife of their occupations, and declared open enemies, must be expected, with a certain affurance, to betake themselves to plunder, and to wreak their revenge on the com

merce of Great Britain.

"That we understand, that amidst the many difafters and difgraces which have attended on his majefty's arms in many parts of America, an advantage has been

gained by his majesty's British and foreign mercenary forces, in the province of New York. That if a wife, moderate and prudent ufe be made of this advantage, it is not improbable, that happy effects may refult from that ufe. And we affure his majefty, that nothing fhall be wanting on our part to enable his majefty to take full advantage of any difpofitions to reconciliation, which may be the confequence of the miferies of war, by laying down, on our part, real permanent grounds of connection between Great Britain and the colonies, on principles of liberty and terms of mutual advantage.

"That whilft we lament this effufion of English blood, (which we hope has not been greater or other than neceffity required and honour juftified) we should most heartily congratulate his majefty, on any event leading to the great defirable end of fettling a peace, which might promife to laft, by the restoration of the ancient affection which has happily fubfifted between this kingdom and its colonies; any other would neceffarily require, even in cafe of a total conqueft, an army to maintain, ruinous to the finances, and incompatible with the freedom of his majefty's people. We fhould look with the utmoft fhame and horror, on any events, of what nature foever, that fhould tend to break the fpirit of any large part of the Brftifh nation, to bow them to an abject unconditional fubmiffion to any power whatfoever, to annihilate their liberties, and to fubdue them to fervile principles, and paffive habits, by the mere force of mercenary arms. Because, amidst the exceffes and abufes which have hap

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