HL Deb 13 July 1819 vol 40 cc1571-2

The Prince Regent then delivered the following Speech:

"My Lords and Gentlemen;

"It is with great regret that I am again obliged to announce to you the continuance of his Majesty's lamented indisposition.

"I cannot close this session of parliament without expressing the satisfaction that I have derived from the zeal and assiduity with which you have applied yourselves to the several important objects which have come under your consideration.

"Your patient and laborious investigation of the state of the circulation and currency of the kingdom demands my warmest acknowledgments; and I entertain a confident expectation that the measures adopted, as the result of this inquiry, will be productive of the most beneficial consequences.

"Gentlemen of the House of Commons;

"I thank you for the supplies which you have granted for the service of the present year.

"I sincerely regret that the necessity should have existed of making any addition to the burthens of the people; but I anticipate the most important permanent advantages from the effort which you have thus made for meeting at once all the financial difficulties of the country; and I derive much satisfaction from the belief, that the means which you have devised for this purpose are calculated to press as lightly on all classes of the community as could be expected when so great an effort was to be made.

"My Lords and Gentlemen;

"I continue to receive from foreign powers the strongest assurances of their friendly disposition towards this country.

"I have observed with great concern the attempts which have recently been made in some of the manufacturing districts, to take advantage of circumstances of local distress, to excite a spirit of disaffection to the institutions and government, of the country. No object can be nearer my heart than to promote the welfare and prosperity of all classes of his Majesty's subjects; but this cannot be effected without the maintenance of public order and tranquillity.

"You may rely, therefore, upon my firm determination to employ for this purpose the powers intrusted to me by law; and I have no doubt that, on your return to your several counties, you will use your utmost endeavours, in co-operation with the magistracy, to defeat the machinations of those whose projects, if successful, could only aggravate the evils which it is professed to remedy; and who, under the pretence of reform, have really no other object but the subversion of our happy constitution."

Then the Lord Chancellor, by the Prince Regent's command, said,

"My Lords and Gentlemen;

"It is the will and pleasure of his royal highness the Prince Regent, acting in the name and on behalf of his Majesty, that this parliament be prorogued to Tuesday the 24th of August next, to be then here holden; and this parliament is accordingly prorogued to Tuesday the 24th of August next."