liturgy, for several reasons not now necessary to discuss; that his majesty had acted under legal advice, and in conformity to the practice of his royal predecessors; and, that the decision of his majesty had not been taken solely with a view to intended proceedings in parliament, or at law. Independent of the inquiry instituted before parliament, his majesty had felt himself long since called upon to adopt certain measures to which his majesty, as head of his family and in the exercise of his prerogative, was clearly competent. These acts, together with that now under consideration, however reluctantly adopted, and however painful to his majesty's feelings, were taken upon grounds which the discontinuance of the inquiry before parliament could not affect, and which his majesty could not therefore be expected to rescind; the principle, fairly applied, would go in truth no further than to replace the parties in the relative position in which they stood immediately before her majesty's arrival, and before the king's message was sent down to both houses of parliament. After further discussion upon point, it was agreed that the duke of Wellington and lord Castlereagh should report to the cabinet what had passed, and come prepared with their determination to the next conference. Her majesty's law officers then asked, whether, in the event of the above proposition not being adopted, this any other proceeding could be suggested on the part of his majesty's government, which might render her majesty's residence abroad consistent with the recognition of her rights, and the vindication of her character; and they specially pointed at the official introduction of her majesty to foreign courts by the king's ministers abroad, Upon this it was observed, that this proposition appeared open to the same difficulty in point of principle; it was calling upon the king to retract the decision formerly taken and avowed on the part of his majesty, (a decision already notified to foreign courts,) and to render the position of his majesty's representatives abroad, in relation to her majesty, inconsistent with that of their sovereign at home:-that the purpose for which this was sought by the queen's advisers was inconsistent with the principle admitted at the commencement of the conference, and was one that could not be reasonably required to be accomplished by the act of his majesty, namely, to give to her majesty's conduct that countenance which the state of the case, as at present before his majesty, altogether precluded. At the same time it was stated, that while his majesty, consistently with the steps already adopted, could not authorize the public reception of the queen, or the introduction of her majesty at foreign courts by his ministers abroad, there was nevertheless every disposition to see that branch of the orders already given faithfully and liberally executed, which enjoined the British ministers on the Continent to facilitate, within their respective missions, her majesty's accommodation, and to contribute to her personal comfort and convenience. Her majesty's law officers gave the king's servants no reason whatever to think that the queen could be induced to depart from the propositions above stated, unless some others, founded on the same principles, were acceded to on the part of his majesty's government. (Signed WELLINGTON. CASTLEREAGH. H. BROUGHAM. On the 16th, the lord mayor, attended by the Sheriffs in their state carriages, the common serjeant, the city remembrancer, &c., and about fifty private carriages, containing members of the common council, went up in state to the queen's residence with the address, voted to her majesty by the common council, on the preceding Wednesday. Her majesty received the corporation in the front drawing room. She was attended by her ladies, and remained standing whilst the town-clerk, read the following address: TO THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. The dutiful and loyal Address of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of the city of London, in common council assembled. May it please your majesty, "We his majesty's ever dutiful and loyal subjects, the lord mayor, aldermen, and commons of the city of London, in common council assembled, approach your majesty with sincere expressions of loyalty, attachment, and regard. "We condole with your majesty on the various afflictions your majesty has sustained since your departure from this country, by the loss of so many illustrious personages of your majesty's family, especially by the demise of our late beloved sovereign, your majesty's paternal guardian, whose countenance and support under the most trying circumstances, gave the best pledge to the nation of your majesty's innocence, and the firmest protection against all your enemies; and also that of your amiable and illustrious daughter, the princess Charlotte, the fond hope of Britain, whose memory will be ever dear to an affectionate people. ་་ 'Deeply attached to the royal family, and anxious for the preservation of the public tranquillity, we feel ourselves called upon to express our earnest hope that the differences which unfortunately subsist may be arranged in a manner honourable to your majesty, as well as to your royal consort, and satisfactorily to the country; and that should an investigation of these differences be still unhappily resorted to, recognizing the dignified firmness which your majesty has manifested, by the solemn protest you have entered against all secret investigation of your conduct, so repugnant to common justice, and to the feelings of Englishmen, we trust such investigation will be conducted in an open and impartial manner, and terminated in the complete vindication of your majesty's honour, "We rely upon your majesty's gracious acceptance of this address, as a proof of the loyalty and affection of your faithful citizens of London, and of their attachment to the illustrious house of Brunswick, which, they trust, will long continue to sway the British sceptre, and maintain the liberties and happiness of the people. Signed, by order of the court, "HENRY WOODTHORPE." To which her majesty was pleased to return the following most gracious answer: "I return you my heartfelt thanks for this dutiful address, which is both loyal to the king and affectionate to me. If any thing could lessen the grief which I must still feel for the loss of those dear relations, of whom I have been deprived since I left England, it would be the proofs I now re |