violation of the law for the public good, to be fubfequently approved and juftified on that ground by a public indemnity, but contents itfelf with the abatement of suits and actions. And fecondly and chiefly, with refpect to the conftitution of the kingdom, to which it offers no fatisfaction for the violation of the law; as it acknowledges only by conftruction and reference to dates, that it has been violated; as it at tempts to confound the juft ideas of profpective legiflation by authorizing a mealure from a day which has already long elapfed, and as it totally omits to ftate not only that the effect has been adequate to the meafure, and that therefore the measure is falutary, and that it has had any effect what my people makes me fincerely anxious for the happiness and prosperity of every part of my dominions. Hitherto the events of war have afforded the court of France no reafon to triumph on the confequences of their injuftice and breach of public faith; and I trust that by a fpirited and profperous exertion of the force you have put into my hands, that ambitious power may be brought to with that they had not, without provocation or caufe of complaint, infulted the honour, and invaded the rights of my crown. I have already acquainted you with the hoftile ftep which has been lately taken by the court of Spain. Whatever colour may be attempted to be put upon that unjuft proceeding, I am confcious. that I have nothing to reproach myfelf with it has been followed by the clearett demonstrations of the loyalty and affection of my parliament to my perfon and government, for which I repeat to you my warmest thanks; and I confider it as a happy omen of the fuccefs of my arms, that the increafe of difficulties ferves only to augment the courage and conftancy of the nation, and to animate and unite my people in the defence of their country, and of every thing that is dear to them. The advanced feafon of the year requires that I should afford you fome recefs from public bufinefs, and I do it with the lefs reluctance, as, by the powers vefted in me by law, I can have the aid of your advice and affiftance within fourteen days, fhould any emergency make it neceffary for me to convene you before the ufual time. Gentle Gentlemen of the Houfe of Commons, ex The various and extenfive operations of the war, have unavoidably occafioned uncommon pence, aud brought additional burdens on my faithful and beloved people, which I moft fincerely regret: I cannot fufficiently thank you for the confidence you have repofed in me, and for the chearfulness and public fpirit with which the large fupplies for the current year have been granted. My Lords, and Gentlemen, It is impoffible to fpeak of the continuance of the rebellion in North America without the deepeft concern; but we have given fuch unquestionable proofs of our fincere difpofition to put an end to thofe troubles, that I muft ftill hope that the malignant defigns of the enemies of Great Britain cannot long prevail against the evident interefts of thofe unhappy provinces, and that they will not blindly perfift in preferring an unnatural and dangerous connection with a foreign power, to peace and re-union with their mother-country. TH Dublin Caftle, October 12.. HIS day the parliament having met according to the last the prorogation, his Excellency Lord Lieutenant went in ftate to the Houfe of Peers, and the Commons being fent for and come thither accordingly, his Excellency made the following speech to both Houfes: My Lords, and Gentlemen, AT a time when the trade and commerce of this kingdom are, in a more particular manner, the objects of public attention, it were to be wished that the general tranquillity, ever defirable, had been reftored, fo as to have left you entirely at leifure to deliberate on thofe great and important fubjects. But I am perfuaded you will not permit any interefts, however dear to you, to impede your efforts, or difturb your unanimity at this moft important period: and I have it exprefsly in command from his Majefty to affure you, that the cares and folicitudes infeparable from a ftate of hoftility, have not prevented him from turning his royal mind to the interefts and diftreffes of this kingdom with the most affectionate concern; of which the money remitted to this country for its defence, when England had Then the Lord Chancellor, by every reafon to apprehend a moft his Majesty's command, faid, My Lords, and Gentlemen, It is his Majesty's royal will and pleafure, that this parliment be prorogued to Thursday, the 5th of Auguft next, to be then here holden; and this parliament is prorogued to Thurtday, the 5th of Auguft next. formidable and immediate attack, affords a convincing proof. Anxious for the happiness of his people, his Majefty will moft chearfully co-operate with his Parliament in fuch measures as may promote the common interefts of all his fubjects. I have the pleasure to inform you of an acceffion to his Majesty's family fince the latt feffion of Parliament, liament, by the birth of another Prince. May the fame Providence that continues to increase his domeftic felicity, protect the honour of his crown, and the happiness of his people. roufed the courage, and called forth the exertions of his Majesty's brave and loyal fubjects of this kingdom. I have only to lament, that the exhaufted ftate of the treafury has hitherto put it out of my power to give thofe exertions the Gentlemen of the Houfe of moft extenfive and conftitutional Commons, It is with great concern I am to inform you, that on account of the extraordinary decline of the revenues, the very liberal fupplies of the laft feffion have proved inadequate to the exigencies of government; fo that, contrary to my moft fanguine expectations, and moft earnest endeavours, there is a confiderable arrear now to be provided for. His Majefty, from his paternal attention to the interefts of his people, and his folicitude to obviate to the utmoft, the neceffity of increafing their burdens, has graciously commanded me to declare to you, that the greatest economy fhall in every inftance be exerted, as far as may be confiftent with the honour of his crown, and the real interefts of the nation. I have ordered the public accounts, and other neceffary papers, to be laid before you; and I have no doubt that your known loyalty to your King, and attachment to your country, will induce you to go as far as the national abilities will admit, in making a provifion fuitable to the exigency of the times, and the honourable fupport of his Majesty's government. My Lords and Gentlemen, The united efforts and great military preparations of the house of Bourbon feem only to have VOL. XXII. operation, by carrying the militia laws into execution. I am perfuaded you will not fuffer any dangers that may be threatened from abroad to draw off your attention from wife and neceflary domeftic regulations; and that, among the many fubjects worthy of your confideration, the Proteftant charter fchools and linen manufacture will continue to be objects of your ferious attention. In promoting these, and in all other measures that may tend to increase the profperity and improve the true interests of this kingdom, I am bound to co-operate with you by a double tie of inclination and duty. Nothing can ever affect me with more real fatisfaction, than the exerting my best endea. vours for the welfare of Ireland; nor can I ever render a more acceptable fervice to my Sovereign, than in promoting the happiness of his people. Excellency our fincere thanks for your moft excellent fpeech from the throne. We feel ourselves happy in being again affembled in Parliament under your Excellency's adminiftration, of which we have had fuch experience, as fills us with the best grounded hopes and confidence, that, aflifted by your Excellency's knowledge of, and ear. nelt defire to promote the true intereft of this country, fuch things may be accomplished, as may eminently distinguish the prefent fef fion of parliament, by the wife provifion, and ufeful regulations which fhall be made in it, for reftoring and establishing the national profperity. We cannot doubt of your Excellency's faithful representations of this country, when we hear from the throne, as we have done, that his Majesty hath graciously condefcended to affure us, that the cares and folicitudes infeparable from a ftate of hostility, have not been able to prevent him from turning his thoughts to the intereft and dif. treffes of this kingdom, and to afford us fuch a proof as he has done of his affectionate concern, by the remittance made to this country for its fupport. -We rejoice with your Excellency, on the happy acceffion to his Majesty's royal family by the birth of another Prince. We congratulate with your Excellency, that, notwithstanding the united efforts of his Majesty's enemies, there is that difplay of courage and manifeftation of zeal for the fupport of his Majefty's facred person and government, through all orders and ranks of the people in this kingdom, as fhews that his Majesty's loyal fubjects here, are fo far from being caft down and dismayed, by any hoftile efforts or threats, that they are animated to a degree, that roules the brave and military fpirit of this country, that hath fo eminently diftinguished itself at all times. We beg leave to affure your Excellency, that we will not fuffer any dangers, with which we may be threatened from abroad, to draw off our attention from wife and domeftic regulations; and that among the great objects, worthy of our confideration, the Proteftant charter fchools, and linen manufacture, will continue to have a juft fhare of our attention. We cannot but offer to your Excellency our most grateful thanks, for the kind affurance that you have given us, of your co-operating with us in promoting fuch measures, as may tend to increase the profpe rity, or improve the true intereft of this kingdom; and, relying upon the proofs which your Excellency hath given us, in your paft conduct, of your good wishes, we truft, that your Excellency's bett en. deavours will never be wanting, to forward and promote the welfare of Ireland. - His Excellency's Anfower. The fame indulgent partiality which dictated the terms of your Lordships Addrefs, will, I flatter myself, excufe my not finding lan guage fufficiently forcible to exprefs my thanks. It fhall be my ftudy to perfevere in that line of conduct, which has been deemed deferving of your approbation. Tranflation Tranflation of the King of France's Declaration of War at Martinico. THE HE infult offered to my flag by a frigate belonging to his Britannic Majefty, in her treatment of my frigate the Belle Poule; the capture by an English fquadron of my frigates the Licorne and Pallas, and of my cutter, the Coureur, contrary to the law of nations; the capture at fea and confifcation of fhips belonging to my fubjects, by the English, contrary to the faith of treaties; the continual interruption and injury occafioned to the maritime commerce of my kingdom, and of my colonies in America, as well by fhips of war as by privateers, authorized by his Britannic Majefty; the depredations committed and encouraged, by which thefe injurious proceedings, but chiefly the infult offered to my flag, have forced me to lay afide that moderation which I proposed to obferve, and will not allow me, any longer to fufpend the effects of my refentment. The dignity of my crown, and the protection which I owe to my fubjects, oblige me to make reprifals, and to act in a hoftile manner against the English nation. I therefore authorize my fhips to attack, and endeavour to take and deftroy all fhips, frigates, and other veffels they may meet with, belong ing to the King of England, and alfo to feize and detain all English mercantile veffels which they may encounter; and I likewife authorize my troops to attack, feize, and occupy the poffeffions of his Britannic Majelty. I therefore write this letter to inform you, that it is my defire, that you employ all the land and fea forces under your direction, in attacking and feizing the poffeffions of the King of England, his fhips, frigates, and other veffels, alfo the merchant fhips belonging to his fubjects, and for that purpofe you may exercise, and caufe to be exercised, all manner of hoftilities authorized by the laws of war; I am affured in finding in the juftnefs of my caufe, in the courage and skill of my land and fea forces, in the bravery and attachment of my foldiers and failors, and in the love of my fubjects in general, the refources which I have always experienced from them, my prefent conduct having no other tendency than to promote their happiness. I pray God, Monfieur le Marquis de Bouille, that he may take you under his holy protection. (Signed) LOUIS. DE SARTINE. Versailles, 28th June, 1778. A DECLARATION, Addreffed in the Name of the King of France to all the ansient French in Canada, and every other Part of North-America. (Tranflated from the French.) by his Majefty, and thence HE underfigned, authorifed cloathed with the nobleft titles, with that which effaces all others, charged in the name of the father of his country, and the beneficent protector of his fubjects, to offer a fupport to thofe who were born to enjoy the bleflings of his government [Z] 2 Te |