STATE PAPERS. BRITISH. THE REGENT'S MESSAGE. "H May 22. G. P. R. TIS Royal Highness the Prince Regent, acting in the name and on the behalf of his Majesty, thinks it right to inform his faithful Commons, that in consequence of events which have recently taken place in France, in direct contravention of the treaty entered into at Paris last year for preserving the peace of Europe, he has judged it necessary to enter into engagements with his Allies, to adopt such steps as circumstances may require against the common enemy, and for prevent ing the revival of measures which could only have for their object to destroy the peace and liberties of Europe; and his Royal Hignness confidently relies upon the House of Commons to support him in such steps as he may find it necessary to take, in conjunction with his Allies, at this momeritous crisis. His Royal Highness has given orders that copies of the treaties into which he has entered with the Allies should immediately be laid before the House, for its information." REGENT'S MESSAGE. June 22. "G. P. R. The Prince Regent, acting in the name and on the behalf of his Majesty, having taken into his serious consideration the signal and splendid victory gained by the army under the command of the Duke of Wellington, on the 18th of June instant, over the French army, under the command of Buonaparte in person, which has added fresh renown to the British the independence of Europe, rearms, and contributed largely to commends to the House of Lords to concur in such measures as may be necessary to afford a further proof of the sense entertained by Parliament of the Duke of and of the gratitude and munifiWellington's transcendant services, cence of the British nation." Message from the Regent, June 27. G. P. R. "The Prince Regent acting in the name and on the behalf of his quaint the House of Commons, Majesty, thinks it proper to acRoyal Highness duly gave his conthat a marriage, to which his sent, has been solemnized between his Royal brother the Duke of Cumberland and the daughter of the reigning Duke of Mecklenburgh, niece to her Majesty, and relict of the Prince of Salm; and from the proofs of attachment which the House of Commons have always manifested towards the the family of his Royal Highness, the Prince Regent confides in their making such provision on this occasion as the rank and station of their Royal Highnesses may appear to require." Speech of the Prince Regent on proroguing Parliament, July 12. "My Lords and Gentlemen, "I cannot close this Session of Parliament without again expressing my deep regret at the continuance of his Majesty's lamented indisposition. "At the commencement of the present session I entertained a confident hope, that the peace which I had concluded, in conjunction with his Majesty's allies, would meet with no interruption; that, after so many years of continued warfare, and of unexampled calamity, the nations of Europe would be allowed to enjoy that repose for which they had been so long contending; and that your efforts might be directed to alleviate the burthens of his Majesty's people, and to adopt such measures as might best promote the internal prosperity of his domi nions. "These expectations were disappointed by an act of violence and perfidy of which no parallel can be found in history. "The usurpation of the supreme authority in France by Buonaparte, in consequence of the defection of the French armies from their legitimate sovereign, appeared to me to be so incompatible with the general security of other countries, as well as with the engagements to which the French nation had recently been a party, that I felt I had no alternative but to employ the military resources of his Majesty's dominions, in conjunction with his Majesty's allies, to prevent the reestablishment of a system which experience had proved to be the source of such incalculable woes to Europe. "Under such circumstances, you will have seen with just pride and satisfaction the splendid success with which it has pleased Divine Providence to bless his Majesty's arms, and those of his allies. "Whilst the glorious and evermemorable victory obtained at Waterloo, by Field-Marshals the Duke of Wellington and Prince Blucher, has added fresh lustre to the characters of those great commanders, and has exalted the military reputation of this country beyond all former example, it has at the same time produced the most decisive effects on the opera tions of the war, by delivering from invasion the dominions of the King of the Netherlands, and by placing, in the short space of fifteen days, the city of Paris, and a large part of the kingdom of France, in the military occupation of the allied armies. "Amidst events so important, I am confident you will see how necessary it is, that there should be no relaxations in our exertions, until I shall be enabled, in conjunction with his Majesty's allies, to complete those arrangements which may afford the prospect of permanent peace and security to Europe. "Gentlemen of the House of Commons, "I thank you for the very li beral beral provision you have made for the services of the present year. "I deeply lament the continuance and increase of those burthens which the great military exertions of the present campaign, combined with the heavy arrears remaining due for the expenses of the former war, have rendered indispensable, and which his Majesty's loyal subjects, from a conviction of their necessity, have sustained with such exemplary fortitude and cheerfulness. "You have already seen, how ever, the fruit of the exertions which have been made; and there can be no doubt that the best economy will be found to result from that policy which may enable us to bring the contest to a speedy termination. "My Lords and Gentlemen, "The brilliant and rapid success of the Austrian arms at the opening of the campaign has led to the restoration of the kingdom of Naples to its ancient Sovereignty, and to the deliverance of that important portion of Italy from foreign influence and do minion. "I have further the satisfaction of acquainting you, that the authority of his most Christian Majesty has been again acknowledged in his capital, to which his Majesty has himself repaired. "The restoration of peace between this country and the United States of America has been followed by a negociation for a commercial treaty, which, I have every reason to hope, will be terminated upon conditions calculated to cement the good understanding subsisting between the two countries, and equally beneficial to the interests of both. "I have great pleasure in acquainting you, that the labours of the Congress at Vienna have been brought to a conclusion by the signature of a treaty, which, as the ratifications have not yet been exchanged, could not be communicated to you, but which I expect to be enabled to lay before you when I next meet you in Parliament. "I cannot release you from your attendance without assuring you, that it is in a great degree to the support which you have afforded me, that I ascribe the success of my earnest endeavours for the public welfare; and on no occasion has that support been more important than in the course of the present session. In the further prosecution of such measures as may be necessary to bring the great contest in which we are engaged to an honourable and satisfactory conclusion, I shall rely with confidence on the experienced zeal and steady loyalty of all classes of his Majesty's subjects: and they may depend on my efforts to improve our present advantages in such manner as may best provide for the general tranquillity of Europe, and maintain the high character which this country enjoys amongst the nations of the world." |