HL Deb 13 July 1819 vol 40 cc1569-71

This day his royal highness the Prince Regent came in the usual state to the House of Peers. His royal highness having taken his seat on the throne, the gentleman usher of the Black Rod was directed to require the attendance of the House of Commons. In a few minutes the Speaker, attended by a great number of the members of the House of Commons, appeared at the bar.

The Speaker

delivered at the bar the following Speech: May it please your Royal Highness; We, his Majesty's faithful Commons of the united kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in parliament assembled, attend your Royal Highness with our concluding bill of supply. The subjects which have occupied our attention, have been more numerous, more various, and more important, than are usually submitted to the consideration of parliament in the same session. Upon many of these subjects we have been engaged in long and unwearied examinations; but such has been the pressure of other business, and particularly of that which ordinarily belongs to a first session of parliament; and such the magnitude and intricacy of many of those inquiries, that the limits of the present session have not allowed of bringing them to a close. But, Sir, of those measures which we have completed, the most prominent, the most important, and, as we trust, in their consequences, the most beneficial to the public, are the measures which have grown out of the consideration of the present state of the country, both in its currency and its finances. Early, Sir, in the present session, we instituted an inquiry into the effects produced on the exchanges with foreign countries, and the state of the circulating medium, by the restriction on payments in cash by the Bank. This inquiry was most anxiously and most deliberately conducted, and in its result led to the conclusion, that it was most desirable, quickly, but with due precautions, to return to our ancient and healthful state of currency; that whatever might have been the expediency of the acts for the suspension of payments in cash at the different periods at which they were enacted (and doubtless they were expedient, whilst the country was involved in the most expensive contest that ever weighed down the finances of any country), still that the necessity for the continuance of these acts having ceased, it became us with as little delay as possible (avoiding carefully the convulsion of too rapid a transition) to return to our ancient system; and that if at any period, and under any circumstances, this return could be effected without national inconvenience, it was at the present, when this mighty nation, with a proud retrospect of the past, after having made the greatest efforts, and achieved the noblest objects, was now reposing in a confident, and, as we fondly hope, a well-founded expectation of a sound and lasting peace. In considering, Sir, the state of our finances, and in minutely comparing our income with our expenditure, it appeared to us, that the excess of our income was not fairly adequate for the purposes to which it was applicable—the gradual reduction of the national debt. It appeared to us that a clear available surplus of at least 5,000,000l. ought to be set apart for that object. This, Sir, has been effected by the additional imposition of 3,000,000l. of taxes. Sir, in adopting this course, his Majesty's faithful Commons did not conceal from themselves that they were calling upon the nation for a great exertion; but well knowing that honour, and character, and independence, have at all times been the first and dearest objects of the hearts of Englishmen, we felt assured, that there was no difficulty that the country would not encounter, and no pressure to which she would not willingly and cheerfully submit, to enable her to main- tain, pure and unimpaired, that which has never yet been shaken or sullied—her public credit, and her national good faith. Thus, Sir, I have endeavoured, shortly, and I am aware how imperfectly, to notice the various duties which have devolved upon us, in one of the longest and most arduous sessions in the records of parliament. The bill, Sir, which it is my duty to present to your Royal Highness, is intituled, 'An act for applying certain monies therein mentioned for the service, of the year 1819, and for further appropriating the supplies granted in this session of parliament. To which, with all humility, we pray his Majesty's royal assent.

The royal assent was immediately given to the said bill.