Lords Sitting of 27 April 1807

KING'SPEECH.
About a quarter before three o'clock the lord chancellor, earl Camden, and lord Hawkesbury, took their seats as his majesty's commissioners. Mr. Quarme, the deputy usher of the black rod, was sent to the house of commons to require their attendance. After some time had elapsed, the Speaker, accompanied by a great number of members of the house of com-
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mons, came to the bar. The royal assent was then notified by the lords commissioners to two private bills, after which,
The Lord Chancellorin his majesty's name, delivered the following speech:
My Lords and GentlemenWe have it in command from his majesty to inform you, that his majesty has thought fit to avail himself of the first moment which would admit of an interruption of the sitting of parliament, without material inconvenience to the public business, to close the present session; and that his majesty has therefore been pleased to cause a commission to be issued under the great seal for proroguing the parliament.— We are further commanded to state to you, that his majesty is anxious to recur to the sense of his people, while the events which have recently taken place are yet fresh in their recollection.—His majesty feels, that in resorting to this measure, under the present circumstances, he at once demonstrates, in the most unequivocal manner, his own conscientious persuasion of the rectitude of those motives upon which he has acted, and affords to his people the best opportunity of testifying their determination to support him in every exercise of the prerogative of his crown, which is conformable to the sacred obligations under which they are held, and conducive to the welfare of his kingdom, and to the security of the constitution.—His majesty directs us to express his entire conviction, that after so long a reign, marked by a series of indulgences to his Roman catholic subjects, they, in common with every other class of his people, must feel assured of his attachment to the principles of a just and enlightened toleration, and of his anxious desire to protect equally and promote impartially the happiness of all descriptions of his subjects."
"Gentlemen of the House of Commons, His majesty has commanded us to thank you, in his majesty's name, for the supplies which you have furnished for the public service. He has seen, with great satisfaction, that you have been able to find the means of defraying, in the present year, those large but necessary expenses for which you have provided, without imposing upon his people the immediate burthen of additional taxes.—His majesty has observed with no less satisfaction, the inquiries which you have instituted into subjects connected with public economy; and he trusts that the early attention of a new parliament, which he will forthwith direct

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to be called, will be applied to the prosecution of these important objects."
"My Lords and Gentlemen, His majesty has directed us most earnestly to recommend to you that you should cultivate, by all means in your power, a spirit of union, harmony, and good will amongst all classes and descriptions of his people. His majesty trusts that the divisions naturally and unavoidably excited by the late unfortunate and uncalled for agitation of a question so interesting to the feelings and opinions of his people, will speedily pass away; and that the prevailing sense and determination of all his subjects to exert their united efforts in the cause of their country, will enable his majesty to conduct to an honourable and secure termination the great contest in which he is engaged."—After which
The Lord Chancellorsaid, "My Lords and Gentlemen, By virtue of his majesty's commission under the great seal, to us and other lords directed, and now read, we do, in his majesty's name, and in obedience to his commands, prorogue this parliament to Wednesday, the 13th of May next, to be then here holden; and this parliament is accordingly prorogued to Wednesday, the 13th day of May next."
The lords commissionersthen withdrew from the house, and the commons retired from the bar.