§ This day his majesty came in state to the House of Peers, and being seated on the throne, the gentleman usher of the black rod was directed to summon the Commons to attend. The Commons, headed by their Speaker, having presented themselves at the bar, his majesty delivered the following Speech to both Houses:
§ "My Lords and Gentlemen,
§ "I have the satisfaction of informing you, that I continue to receive from foreign powers the strongest assurances of their friendly disposition towards this country.
§ "It is impossible for the not to feel deeply interested in any event that may have a tendency to disturb the peace of Europe. My endeavours have, therefore, been directed, in conjunction with my Allies, to the settlement of the differences which have unfortunately arisen between the Court of St. Petersburgh and the Ottoman Porte; and I have reason to entertain hopes that these differences will be satisfactorily adjusted.
§ "In my late visit to Ireland, I derived the most sincere gratification from the loyalty and attachment manifested by all classes of my subjects.
§ "With this impression, it must be matter of the deepest, concern to me, that a 2 spirit of outrage which has led to daring and systematic violations of the law, has arisen, and still prevails in some parts of that country.
§ "I am determined to use all the means in my power for the protection of the persons and property of my loyal and peaceable subjects. And it will be for your immediate consideration, whether the existing laws are sufficient for this purpose.
§ "Notwithstanding this serious interruption of public tranquillity. I have the satisfaction of believing that my presence in Ireland has been productive of very beneficial effects; and all descriptions of my people may confidently rely upon the just and equal administration of the laws, and upon my paternal solicitude for their welfare.
§ "Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
§ "It is very gratifying to me to be able to inform you, that during the last year the revenue has exceeded that of the year preceding, and appears to be in a course of progressive improvement.
§ "I have directed the estimates of the current year to be laid before you. They have been framed with every attention to economy which the circumstances of the country will permit; and it will be satisfactory to you to learn, that I have been able to make a large reduction in our annual expenditure, particularly in our Naval and Military establishments.
3§ "My Lords and Gentlemen,
§ "I have the greatest pleasure in acquainting you, that a considerable improvement has taken place in the course of the last year, in the commerce and manufactures of the United Kingdom, and that I can now state them to be, in their important branches, in a very flourishing condition.
§ "I must at the same time deeply regret the depressed state of the agricultural interest.
§ "The condition of an interest, so essentially connected with the prosperity of the country, will, of course, attract your early attention; and I have the fullest reliance on your wisdom in the consideration of this important subject.
§ "I am persuaded that, in whatever measures you may adopt, you will bear constantly in mind, that, in the maintenance of our public credit, all the best interests of this kingdom are equally involved; and that it is by a steady adherence to that principle, that we have attained, and can alone expect to preserve, our high station amongst the nations of the world."
§ His majesty then retired, and the Commons returned to their own House.