His Majesty's most gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament, Nov. 26, 1790.

I

My Lords and Gentlemen,

T is a great saisfaction to me to inform you, that the differences which had arisen between me and the court of Spain have happily been brought to an amicable termination.

I have ordered copies of the declarations exchanged between my ambassador and the minister of the catholic king, and of the convention which has since been concluded, to be laid before you.

The objects which I have proposed to myself in the whole of this transaction, have been to obtain a suitable reparation for the act of violence committed at Nootka, and to remove the grounds of similar disputes in future; as well as to secure to my subjects the exercise of their navigation, commerce, and fisheries in those parts of the world which were the subject of discussion.

The zeal and public spirit manifested by all ranks of my subjects, and the disposition and conduct of my allies, had left me no room to doubt of the most vigorous and effectual support; but no event could have afforded me so much satisfaction, as the attainment of the objects which I had in view, without any actual interruption of the blessings of peace.

Since the last session of parliament, a foundation has been laid for a pacification between Austria and the Porte, and I am now employing my mediation, in conjunction with my allies, for the purpose of negociating a definitive treaty between those powers, and of endeavouring to put an end to the dissentions in the Netherlands, in whose situation I am necessarily concerned, from considerations of national interest, as well as from the engagements of treaties.

A separate peace has taken place between Russia and Sweden, but the war between the former of those powers and the Porte still continues. The principles on which I have hitherto acted, will make me always desirous of employing the weight and influence of this country in contributing to the restoration of general tranquillity.

Gentlemen of the House of
Commons,

I have ordered the accounts of the expences of the late armaments, and the estimates for the ensuing year, to be laid before

you will reflect with pleasure on so striking a proof of the advantages derived from the liberal supplies granted since the last peace for the naval service. I rely on your zeal and public spirit to make due provision for defraying the charges incurred by this armament, and for supporting the several branches of the public service on such a footing as the general situation of affairs may appear to require. You will at the same time, I am persuaded, show your determination invariably to persevere in that system which has so effectually confirmed and maintained the public credit of the nation.

My Lords and Gentlemen, You will have observed with

concern the interruption which has taken place in the tranquillity of our Indian possessions, in consequence of the unprovoked attack of an ally of the British nation. The respectable state, however, of

the forces under the direction of the government there, and the confidence in the British name, which the system prescribed by parliament has established among the native powers in India, afford the most favourable prospect of bringing the contest to a speedy and successful conclusion.

I think it necessary particularly to call your attention to the state of the province of Quebec, and to recommend it to you to consider of such regulations for its government, as the present circumstances and condition of the province may appear to require.

I am satisfied that I shall, on every occasion, receive the fullest proofs of your zealous and affectionate attachment, which cannot

but afford me peculiar satisfaction, after so recent an opportunity of collecting the immediate sense of my people.

You may be assured that I desire nothing so much on my part, as to cultivate an entire harmony and confidence between me and my parliament, for the purpose of preserving and transmitting to posterity the invaluable blessings of our free and excellent constitution, and of concurring with you in every measure which can maintain the advantages of our present situation, and promote and augment the prosperity and happiness of my faithful subjects.

His Majesty's Message to the House of Commons, Feb. 25.

GEORGE R.

HIS majesty thinks it proper to

acquaint the House of Commons, that it appears to his majesty, that it would be for the benefit of his majesty's subjects in his province of Quebec, that the same should be divided into two separate provinces, to be called the province of Upper Canada and the province of Lower Canada; and that it is accordingly his majesty's intention so to divide the same, whenever his majesty shall be enabled by act of parliament to establish the necessary regulations for the government of the said provinces. His majesty therefore recommends this object to the consideration of this house.

His majesty also recommends it to this house, to consider of such provisions as may be necessary to

enable

enable his majesty to make a permanent appropriation of lands in the said provinces for the support and maintenance of a protestant clergy within the same, in proportion to such lands as have been already granted within the same by his majesty; and it is his majesty's desire, that such provision may be made, with respect to all future grants of land within the said provinces respectively, as may best conduce to the same object, in proportion to such increase as may happen in the population and cultivation of the said provinces; and for this purpose, his majesty consents, that such provisions or regulations may be made by this house, respecting all future grants of land to be made by his majesty within the said provinces, as this house shall think fit.

G.R.

His Majesty's Message to the House of Commons, March 28.

GEORGE R.

HIS majesty thinks it necessary to acquaint the House of Commons, that the endeavours which his majesty has used, in conjunction with his allies, to effect a pacification between Russia and the Porte, having hitherto been unsuccessful, and the consequences which may arise from the further progress of the war being highly important to the interests of his majesty and his allies, and to those of Europe in general, his majesty judges it requisite, in order to add weight to his representations, to make some further augmentation of his naval force; and his majesty relies on

of a judicial nature, of great magnitude, and which may ultimately affect not only the life, liberty, and property of every peer in this house, but also of every person in this kingdom, I conceive it should not have been decided upon so hastily, but ought to have been solemnly argued, point by point, with the assistance of the judges.

3dly, Because this resolution, as I conceive, indirectly sets aside the law and practice of parliament in all ages, relative to impeachments being abated by dissolution, without one precedent to the contrary, except in the cases which happened after the order made on the 19th March, 1678-9, which order was, as I conceive, unfounded in precedent, and made, as it should seem, on the spur of the occasion, and which was reversed and annulled on the 22nd May, 1685; in pursuance of which last order, consonant to the law and practice of parliament, the Earl of Salisbury and the Earl of Peterborough were discharged on the 30th October,

1690.

4thly, Because the order of the 22nd May, 1685, now stands on the journals unrepealed, and consequently, as I conceive, is in force, and the acknowledged law of the land upon the subject.

5thly, Because this court, in its judicial character, ought, as I conceive, to be governed like all other courts of law, by precedents, and by its own orders unrepealed, where any precedents are establish ed, or orders made; more especially when such precedents are consonant to the law of the land, and to the law and usage of parliament, that the subjects of this country may know with precision and cer

tainty the resolutions and laws by which, in this high court of judicature (from which there is no appeal), their lives, liberties, and property are to be decided and disposed of.

6thly, Because extending the duration of this impeachment from one parliament to another, after dissolution, even on the ground of the impeachment of the Earl of Oxford having been continued after a prorogation, by the resolution of this house of the 25th May, 1717, is, as I conceive, to extend criminal law by influence and analogy, which is contrary to the known and settled rules of justice.

7thly, Because whatever merit or demerit this resolution may contain, I neither claim the one, nor am content that myself or my posterity should share the other.

HAWKE.

Protest against a proposed Amendment in the Libel Bill, June 8.

Dissentient,

1st, Because we hold it to be an unalienable right of the people, that in cases of libel (as well as in all criminal cases), the jury should decide upon the whole matter that may constitute the guilt or innocence of the person accused; and that in cases of libel, the jury ought not to be directed by the judge to find the defendant or defendants guilty, merely on the proof of the publication, by such defendant or defendants, of the paper charged to be a libel, and of the sense ascribed to the said paper in the indictment or information.

2dly, And because we conceive that the said right of the people is

of