The National Register. — London, England, 1811-02-17 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. ROUSE OF LORDS. TUESDAY, FEB. 12. About half-past three o'clock the House met, when the Lord Chancellor having taken his scat on the Woolsack, and several Nets being in their places, their Lordships were some time en gaged in forwarding Private Bills, and in judicial proceedings relative to appeals. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Pteident (Earl Camden,) the Lon.: Privy Seal (Earl West nioreland,) and the Master of the Horse (Duke of Montrose,) took their seats on the Woolsack, when a Nlessage was sent to the Commons ' requiring their presence in the House of Lords. to hear read a Commission tinder the Chat Seal, for opening the Parliament under the authority of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, Regent. Soon atter the SPEAK - kit, attended by about fifty Members of the House of Commons, appeared at the Bar, when The Loan CUANCELLOA addressed them in terms to this effect :—That his Royal Highness thu Prince cf Wales, Regent, net finding it convenient to be present rersonally in Parliament, had authorised his Royal Highness the Duke of York, and cer tain other Peers, to open tile Parliament by a Commission, which was then read, and followed by a speech from his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, Regent, in these words Mr LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, In execution of the Commission which has now been read to yoti, we are commanded by his Royal Highness the Prince Regent to express, in the strongest manner, how deeply he la ments, not only in common with all his Majesty's loyal subjects, but with a personal and filial affiiction, the great national cala mity which has been the occasion of imposing upon his Royal Highness the duty M exercising, in his Majesty'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 Highness commands us to assure fbu, 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 assistance and support ; and his Royal Highness will, on his part, exert his utmost endeavours to direot the powers with which he is invested, to the advancement of the posterity welfare, and security of his Majesty's dominions. We are directed to inform you, that his Royal l iighness has great satisfaction in being enabled tostate, that fresh opportu nities have been afforded during the late cainpaign, for distin guishing the valour and skill of his Majesty's forces, both by sea and land 4 The capture of the Islands of Bourbon and of Amboyna have still further reduced the Colonial Dependencies of the enemy. The attack upon the Island Sicily, which was announced to the world with a prsumptuous anticipation of success, has been repulsed by the persevering exertions and valour of his Majesty's laud and sea forces. The judicious arrangement adopted by the Officers corn- Mantling on that station, derived material support from the zeal and ardour which were manifested during this contest by the inhabitants f 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 constituted the principal object of his Majesty's exertions in the last cam paign,. the designs of the enemy have been hitherto frustrated.— The consummate skill, prudence and perseverance of Lieute nant-General Lord Viscount Wellington, and the discipline and determined bravery of the Officers and men under his com mand; have beet: conspichoasly displayed throughout the whole of the campaign. The effect of those distinguished qualities, in inspiring 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 re pulse of the eaeiny at Buzaco. And his Royal Highness corn mands us further to state, that he trusts you will enable him to continde the most effectual assistance to the brave nations of the Peninsula, in the support of a contest which they manifest a determination to maintain with unabated perseverance ; and his Royal Highness is persuaded that you will feel, that the best in terests of the British Empire must be deeply affected in the ieme of this contest, on which the liberties and independence of the Spanish and Portuguese nations entirely depend. V. - e have it likewise iu conimand to acquaint you, that dis cussions are now depending between this country and the tilted State?! of America : and that it is the earnest with of his Royal 1 - I:elineys that he may find himself enabled to bring these dis• settieer ;a an amicable teraittaition s conoiatmis With.thv keziout v 9 Of his Majesty's Crown, and the maritime tlens and intercste 0 the United Kintdom. GENTLEMEN OF THE. HOUSE or CohiMoNg; We are directed to acquaint you, that his Royal Highness the Prince Regent Las given his commands that the estimates fur the expenditure of the current year should be laid betore you ; and his Royal Fiii,l,hess Ims great satisfaction in acquainting you, that 21though the difficulties under which the commerce of this Kingdom IL's laboured, have in some degree affected a part of his Majesty's revenue, particular:y in Ireland, yet that the revenue of Great Britain In the last year, thou7h unaided by any new taxation, is greater than was ever knowain any pr00t,.... ing year. And his Royal Highness trusts to your zeal an;t ltiir rality to afford his Majesty adequate supplies for the support of the great contest in which lie is necessarily engaged. MY LORDS AND GENTLF.IALN, We are commanded by his Royal Hlghnesi to declare to you, that it is th' most anxious wish of his heart, that he may be enabled to restore unimpaired into the hands' of his Majesty the Government of his King,h,rn; aturthat his Royal Highhess ear nestly prays, that the Almighty may be pleased in his mercy to accelerate the termination of a calamity so deeply laitw nted by the whole nation, and so peculiarly afflicting to his Royal High ness himself. After the Comm Ons had withdrawn, the Commission and the Speez4 again read L I ORD CiIANCELLOK 3 when The Earl of ARERDtEN rose, and in a speech of remarkable energy, pathos and eloquence, expatiated with great animation and effect on the einenniary virtues exhibited by his Royal High ness the Prince Regent, on the recent trying occasions, his filial affection,and patriotic firmness, virtues so marked and conspi cuous, that they could not fail to meet with the cordial sympa thy of that house, and the admiration of the country at large.— That House would join most fervently in the pious_supelica tions of the Prince, for the restoration of his Majesty to the hopes of his affectionate and loyal people. But should ;t please the Divine Providence still to be deaf to the universal prayers of the nation, should their hopes in that great object he ultimately baffled, they had at least a lively and cheering consolation in the virtues and patriotism of the Prince. Adverting to the general prospect of the Continent his Lordship said, it was true that "Shadows, clouds, and darkness rested on it," yet Spain still held out a cheering and consolating ray of hope. The inhabitants of that country had evinced a spirit and resolu tion in defence of their freedom, and independence, a; well as a hatred of their oppressors, had kindled and lig!..ted up a blaze of patriotism which he earnestly hoped and expected would not easily or soon be.extinguished. Cadiz, garrisoned as it was by British troops, might long defy the enemy, and. materially contribute to the ultimate preservation of the country from the power of her unprincipled invader. From the valour, wisdom, and experience of Lord Wellington and his army, he thouaait the country was well warranted to draw the must favuureine expects ions. And the general condition of the army and the navy was a topic of high and confident hope. To our affairs in though in some perticurars they seemed embarrassed, hi* Lordship made an exult n refer. nce with a most animated cube. Om on our nolitary proceedinaa and exploits. In reference to America, his Lordship sensibly deplored the causes by which any differences should have ever existed between countries so nearly and naturally allied to each alive in language and ni in ners, sentiments, and love of freedom by which they both were animated and distinguished. It was, however, a source of great satisfaction, that measures had been taken and were then train for mutual reconciliation, and wine: the talents and dispo sition of the noble Seoretary of State, who negoci-ited on the part of this country, were eonsidert ti, the most faVOUTIaNe end speedy issue might be looked fur. The state of the public eye • nue was another topic of - exultation ; and when it wes coesi dere(' with what stupendous and gigantic power they were con tending, the real wonder was nut that he had effect.. d so much, but that he had not done more ; and yet with all his power and all his efforts, he had neither crippled our commerce nor im paired the integrity , of our resources. One material topic 'not mentioned in the Speech, he turned to with reluctance and re gret—the discontents in Ireland. He lamented the delays by which the means of conciliation had been so long di:ferreci, but trusted, that no impatience or intemperance Would interfere to prevent an object so dearly and devoutly to be wished as a com plete and hearty concurrence Zti tnents between the two county moving an Address to his Rey which, with the exception oft dOletlCe un the melancholy Amelis. was of course a mere Lord Feel() re seconded force 014 tlis wirilnens Virte,fa • •,• - :e in inteiests, feelings, and. stnti- [tries. His Lordship concluded, i y oyal Hightiesl the Rrit:ce Regent, the, e%pritssiankbriire. d 0..- . event crOt: ' • • elPtincts, e echo j‘..' the trictite -7 , Altdiewitt rpucls :taulds# • fr: 44kesti.fligze.io -• .• • ' • -: .~.F+ -