THE SPEECH, &c.

IN

My Lords, and Gentlemen,

N Execution of the Commiffion which has now been read to you, we are commanded by His Royal Highness the Prince Regent to exprefs, in the strongest Manner, how deeply He laments, not only in common with all His Majesty's loyal Sub: jects, but with a perfonal and filial Affliction, the great National Calamity which has been the Occafion of impofing upon His Royal Highness the Duty of exercifing, in His Majefty's Name, the Royal Authority of this Kingdom.

IN conveying to you the Sense which His Royal Highness entertains of the great Difficulties attending the important Trust which is reposed in Him, His Royal Highnefs commands us to affure you, that He looks with the most perfect Confidence to the Wisdom and Zeal of Parliament, and to the Attachment of a loyal and affectionate People, for the most effectual Affistance and Support; and His Royal Highness will, on His Part, exert His utmost Endeavours to direct the Powers with which He is invested, to the Advancement of the Profperity, Welfare, and Security of His Majefty's Dominions.

We are directed to inform you that His Royal Highness has great Satisfaction in being enabled to C

ftate,

ftate, that fresh Opportunities have been afforded during the late Campaign, for diftinguishing the Valour and Skill of His Majefty's Forces both by Sea and Land.

THE Capture of the Iflands of Bourbon and of Amboyna have ftill further reduced the Colonial Dependencies of the Enemy.

THE Attack upon the Ifland of Sicily, which was. announced to the World with a prefumptuous Anticipation of Succefs, has been repulfed by the perfevering Exertions and Valour of His Majefty's Land and Sea Forces.

THE judicious Arrangement adopted by the Officers commanding on that Station, derived material Support from the Zeal and Ardour which were manifested during this Contest by the Inhabitants of Sicily, and from the Co-operation of the Naval Means which were directed by His Sicilian Majesty to this Object.

IN Portugal, and at Cadiz, the Defence of which conftituted the principal Object of His Majefty's Exertions in the laft Campaign, the Defigns of the Enemy have been hitherto fruftrated. The confummate Skill, Prudence, and Perfeverance of Lieutenant General Lord Viscount Wellington, and the Discipline and determined Bravery of the Officers and Men under his Command, have been confpicuously displayed throughout the Whole of the Campaign. The Effect of thofe diftinguished. Qualities, in infpiring Confidence and Energy into the Troops of His Majesty's Allies, has been. happily evinced by their general good Conduct, and particularly by the brilliant Part which they bore in the Repulfe of the Enemy at Buzaco. And His Royal Highness commands us further to ftate, that He trufts you will enable Him to continue the most effectual

effectual Affistance to the brave Nations of the Peninsula, in the Support of a Contest which they manifeft a Determination to maintain with unabated Perfeverance; and His Royal Highness is perfuaded, that you will feel, that the best Interests of the British Empire must be deeply affected in the Iffue of this Contest, on which the Liberties and Independence of the Spanish and Portuguese Nations entirely depend.

WE have it likewife in Command to acquaint you, that Difcuffions are now depending between this Country and the United States of America; and that it is the earnest Wish of His Royal Highnefs that He may find Himself enabled to bring these Difcuffions to an amicable Termination, confiftent with the Honour of His Majefty's Crown, and the Maritime Rights and Interefts of the United Kingdom.

Gentlemen of the Houfe of Commons,

WE are directed to acquaint you, that His Royal Highness the Prince Regent has given His Commands that the Eftimates for the Expenditure of the current Year fhould be laid before you; and His Royal Highness has great Satisfaction in acquainting you, that although the Difficulties under which the Commerce of this Kingdom has laboured, have in fome Degree affected a Part of His Majefty's Revenue, particularly in Ireland, yet that the Revenue of Great Britain in the laft Year, though unaided by any new Taxation, is greater than was ever known in any preceding Year. And His Royal Highness trufts to your Zeal and Liberality to afford His Majefty adequate Supplies for the Support of the great Contest in which He is neceffarily engaged.