portunity undeceived the poor girl. Take care, said Mr. Burke, that none of you render yourselves obnoxious to a similar ridicule. But, perhaps his worthy friend might despise this lesson, because it was drawn from a little book. He would therefore touch upon an idea borrowed from a book of more authority. He would ask the right honourable gentleman, whether if he had lived in the time of the immortal Cicero, he would have taken Cataline upon trial, for his colleague in the consulship, after he had heard his guilt so clearly demonstrated by that great orator? Would he be co-partner with Borgia in his schemes, after he had read of his accursed principles in Machiavel? He could answer for him. he knew he would not. Why, then, did he adhere to the present man? He meant no offence, but he would speak an honest mind. If Lord Shelburne was not a Cataline, or a Borgia, in morals, it must not be ascribed to any thing but his understanding.

After much conversation, Mr. Coke consented to withdraw his motion.

* The following is a list of the Shelburne administration : First Lord of the Treasury — Earl of Shelburne.

Chancellor of the Exchequer - Hon. William Pitt.

Principal Secretaries of State- Lord Grantham, Thos. Townshend, Esq. Lord Chancellor-Lord Thurlow.

First Lord of the Admiralty-Lord Keppel.

President of the Council - Lord Camden.

Lord Privy Seal - Duke of Grafton.

Master-General of the Ordnance - Duke of Richmond.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster - Lord Ashburton.

Secretary at War - Sir George Yonge.

Treasurer of the Navy-Henry Dundas, Esq. (afterwards Lord Melville). Paymaster of the Forces - Colonel Barré.

Attorney-General-Lloyd Kenyon, Esq. (afterwards Lord Kenyon). Solicitor-General - John Lee, Esq.

Secretary to ditto - Hon. William Wyndham Grenville (afterwards Lord Grenville).

ADDRESS ON THE KING'S SPEECH AT THE OPENING of

THIS

THE SESSION.

December 5.

HIS day the session was opened with the following Speech from the throne:

My Lords and Gentlemen; since the close of the last session, I have employed my whole time in that care and attention which the important and critical conjuncture of public affairs required of me. I lost no time in giving the necessary orders to prohibit the further prosecution of offensive war upon the continent of North America. Adopting, as my inclination will always lead me to do, with decision and effect, whatever I collect to be the sense of my parliament and my people; I have pointed all my views and measures, as well in Europe as North America, to an entire and cordial reconciliation with those colonies.

"Finding it indispensable to the attainment of this object, I did not hesitate to go the full length of the powers vested in me, and offered to declare them free and independent states, by an article to be inserted in the treaty of peace. Provisional articles are agreed upon, to take effect whenever terms of peace shall be finally settled with the court of France.

"In thus admitting their separation from the crown of these kingdoms, I have sacrificed every consideration of my own, to the wishes and opinion of my people. I make it my humble and earnest prayer to Almighty God, that Great Britain may not feel the evils which might result from so great a dismemberment of the empire; and, that America may be free from those calamities, which have formerly proved in the mother country how essential monarchy is to the enjoyment of constitutional liberty. Religion-language-interest - affections may, and I hope will yet prove a bond of permanent union between the two countries: to this end, neither attention nor disposition, on my part, shall be wanting.

"While I have carefully abstained from all offensive operations in America, I have directed my whole force by land and sea against the other powers at war, with as much vigour as the situation of that force, at the commencement of the cam

paign, would permit. I trust that you feel the advantages resulting from the safety of the great branches of our trade. You must have seen with pride and satisfaction the gallant defence of the governor and garrison of Gibraltar; and my fleet, after having effected the object of their destination, offering battle to the combined force of France and Spain on their own coasts; those of my kingdoms have remained at the same time perfectly secure, and your domestic tranquillity uninterrupted. This respectable state, under the blessing of God, I attribute to the entire confidence which subsists between me and my people, and to the readiness which has been shewn by my subjects in my city of London, and in other parts of my kingdoms, to stand forth in the general defence. Some proofs have lately been given of public spirit in private men, which would do honour to any age, and any country.

"Having manifested to the whole world, by the most lasting examples, the signal spirit and bravery of my people, I conceived it a moment not unbecoming my dignity, and thought it a regard due to the lives and fortunes of such brave aud gallant subjects, to shew myself ready on my part to embrace fair and honourable terms of accommodation with all the powers at war.

"I have the satisfaction to acquaint you, that negociations to this effect are considerably advanced; the result of which, as soon as they are brought to a conclusion, shall be immediately communicated to you.

"I have every reason to hope and believe, that I shall have it in my power, in a very short time, to acquaint you, that they have ended in terms of pacification, which I trust you will see just cause to approve. I rely, however, with perfect confidence in the wisdom of my parliament and the spirit of my people, that, if any unforeseen change in the dispositions of the belligerent powers should frustrate my confident expectations, they will approve of the preparations I have thought it advisable to make, and be ready to second the most vigorous efforts in the farther prosecution of the war.

"Gentlemen of the House of Commons; I have endeavoured, by every measure in my power, to diminish the burthens of my people. I lost no time in taking the most decided measures for introducing a better economy into the expenditure of the army.

"I have carried into strict execution the several reductions in my civil list expences, directed by an act of the last session. I have introduced a further reform into other depart

← I have frected an krediguin into the department of de that the purity of the coin of so much impertAROF commerce, may be as adhered to; that by rendering dfrity d comterlating prata. The lives of numbers may be saved, and every needless expence = 2 suppressed.

- lasst recommend to you a irede matano the grat dijects of the public recups si apoiare; and above all to the state of the paste debt. Notwithsoding be great increase of in during the war, it is to be hoped, tu saÅ regations may still be established — such made-and

future loans so conducted, as to promote the means of sp dual redemption, by a fixed course of payment — 1 zot, så particular earnestness, distinguish, for your serious considers

tion, that part of the debt which consists of navy, ordnance, and victualling bills: the enormous discount upon some of these bills shews this mode of payment to be a most ruinous expedient.

"I have ordered the several estimates, made up as correctly as the present practice would admit, to be laid before you. I hope that such further corrections, as may be necessary, will be made before the next year. It is my desire, that you should be apprized of every expence before it is incurred, as far as the nature of each service can possibly admit. Matters of account can never be made too public.

66

My Lords and Gentlemen; the scarcity and consequent high price of corn requires your instant interposition.

"The great excess, to which the crimes of theft and robbery have arisen, in many instances accompanied with personal violence, particularly in the neighbourhood of this metropolis, has called of late for a strict and severe execution of the laws. It were much to be wished that these crimes could be prevented in their infancy, by correcting the vices become prevalent in a most alarming degree.

"The liberal principles adopted by you concerning the rights and the commerce of Ireland, have done you the highest honour, and will, I trust, increase that harmony which ought always to subsist between the two kingdoms. I am persuaded that a general increase of commerce throughout the empire will prove the wisdom of your measures with regard to that object. I would recommend to you a revision of our whole trading system, upon the same comprehensive principles, with a view to its utmost possible extension.

"The regulation of a vast territory in Asia opens a large field for your wisdom, prudence, and foresight. I trust that you will be able to frame some fundamental laws, which may make their connection with Great Britain a blessing to India: and that you will take therein proper measures to give all foreign nations, in matters of foreign commerce, an entire and perfect confidence in the probity, punctuality, and good order of our government. You may be assured, that whatever depends upon me shall be executed with a steadiness which can alone preserve that part of my dominions, or the commerce which arises from it.

"It is the fixed object of my heart to make the general good, and the true spirit of the constitution, the invariable rule of my conduct, and on all occasions to advance and reward merit in every profession.