The Speech of Mr. Chamberlain WILKES, when he
presented the Freedom of the CITY of LONDON to
the Most Noble the MARQUIS CORNWALLIS,
April 5, 1794.

MY LORD,

I GIVE you joy; and I am happy in having the honour, as Chamberlain, of conveying to your Lordship the unanimous thanks of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council, of the City of London, for those great and eminent services which the nation at large, no less than the capital, dwell upon with gratitude and exultation.

The British arms, under the wife andspirited conduct of a brave com-
mander, have raised the glory of the English name to the highest pitch in
the East. The most brilliant and splendid victories have followed your
Lordship's ability in council, the excellence of all your military meaures,
and distinguished intrepidity in the most dangerous scenes of action. They
have not only given perfect security to our former territories, but extended
the bounds of the empire, accompanied with an acquisition of more than
400,0001. a-year; an object of national importance. Yet, my Lord, per-
mit me to add, that, though I am dazzled with your victories, with the
pride and pomp of conquest, the humbling of the capital of My fore, and
the glorious 6th of February 1792, a proud day for England, and an æra
most distinguished in the annals of the Eastern empire, there are still nobler
and higher triumphs which crowd upon us; the triumphs of your huma-
nity. Your Lordship's care and solicitude for the well-being of the nume-
rous troops under your command, the mild exercise of an authority beyond
controul, which constantly afforded an adequate protection to merit, and
services of every kind, in the friendly natives, during the whole course of
the war, gave you an empire, founded on esteem and affection, beyond the
power of the word. Such considerations overcame, in the Eastern Mo-
narch, the strong ties of Nature; and the father, with a calm refraction,
confented that the two young princes, the hopes of his empire, should pats
under the eye and protection of an heroic and humane conqueror.

My Lord, our great Milton says, Peace has her victories, no less renown'd
than war. They have been well earned in the civil administration of your
Lordship. The native inhabitants of India were, at your Lordship's accession
to power, the happyft and best protected subjects in India; and they continued
to enjoy that protection in its fullest extent under your happy auspices.
The plan of a late Governor-general, the favour of India, Mr. Hastings,
was examined with great care and attention, and adhered to with libera-
lity. A better could not have been adopted. With wonderful ability he
fruggled through a mass of difficulties of a different kind, brought on in
a most critical and perplexed situation of Indian affairs. He rose fupe-
rior to the combined efforts of our enemies, and preserved to us the
empire of the East, to be secured on the most permanent basis, and en-
larged by Lord Cornwallis.