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our high admiral of Great Britain, or the commissioners for executing the office of high admiral for the time being: and We do hereby also further command all our loving subjects, that, without such warrant as aforesaid, they presume not to wear on board their ships or vessels any flags, jacks, pendants, or colours, made in imitation of or resembling ours, or any kind of pendant what soever, or any other ensign than the ensign described on the side or margin hereof, which shall be worn instead of the ensign before this time usually worn in merchant ships; saving, that for the better distinction of such ships as shall have commissions of letters of mart or reprisals against the enemy, and any other ships or vessels which may be employed by the principal officers and commissioners of our navy, the principal officers of our ordnance, the commissioners for victualling our navy, the commissioners of our customs and excise, and the commissioners for transportation for our service, relating particularly to those offices, our royal will and pleasure is, that all such ships as have commissions of letters of mart or reprisals shall, besides the colours or ensign hereby appointed to be worn by merchant ships, wear a red jack with a union jack, described in a canton at the upper corner thereof next the staff; and that such ships and vessels as shall be employed for our service by the principal officers and commissioners of our navy, the principal officers of our ordnance, the commissioners for victualling our navy, the commissioners for our customs and excise, and the commissioners for transportation for our service, relating particularly to those offices, shall wear a red jack with a union ack in a canton at the upper

corner thereof, next the staff as aforesaid, and in the other part of the said jack shall be described the seal used in such of the respective offices aforesaid, by which the said ships and vessels shall be employed. And We do strictly charge and command, that none of our loving subjects do presume to wear any of the said distinction jacks, unless they shall have commissions of letters of mart or reprisals, or be employed in our service by any of the beforementioned offices. And We hereby require our high admiral, and commissioners for executing the office of high admiral, the governors of our forts and castles, the officers of our customs, and the commanders or officers of any of our ships for the time being, upon their meeting with, or otherwise observing, any ships or vessels belonging to any of our subjects, neglecting to wear the ensign hereby appointed to be borne as aforesaid, or wearing any flag, pendant, jack, or ensign, con. trary hereunto, whether at sea or in port, not only to seize, or cause to be forthwith seized, such flag, pendant, jack, or ensign, worn contrary to our royal will and pleasure herein expressed, but also to return the names of such ships and vessels neglecting to wear the ensign hereby appointed, or wearing any flag, pendant, jack, or ensign, contrary hereunto, together with the names of their respective mas ters or commanders, unto our high admiral, or commissioners for exe cuting the office of high admiral, or the judge of our high court of admiralty for the time being, to the end that all persons offending may be duly punished for the same. And We do hereby command and enjoin the judge and judges of our high, court of admiralty for the time be ing, that they make strict inquiry (H4)

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concerning all such offenders, and cause them to be duly punished: and all vice-admirals and judges of the vice-admiralties are hereby also required to proceed in the like manner, within the several ports and places belonging to their respective precincts. And our further pleasure is, that this proclamation shall take place according to the times hereafter mentioned; cidelicet, for all ships in the Channel or British Seas, and in the North Seas, after twelve days from the date of these presents; and from the mouth of the Channel unto Cape Saint Vincent, after six weeks from the date of these presents; and beyond the Cape, and on this side the Equinoctial Line, as well in the Ocean and Mediterranean as elsewhere, after ten weeks from the date of these presents; and beyond the Line, after the space of eight months from the date of these pre

sents.

Given at our court at St. James's, the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and one, in the forty-first year of our reign.

GOD SAVE THE KING.

His Majesty's Speech on the Meeting of
Parliament, Monday, Feb. 2.
My Lords, and Gentlemen,
At a crisis so important to the in,
terests of my people, I derive great
satisfaction from being enabled, for
the first time, to avail myself of the
advice and assistance of the parlia-
ment of my united kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland.

This memorable æra, distinguished by the accomplishment of a measure calculated to augment and consolidate the strength and resources of the empire, and to cement more

closely the interests and affections of my subjects, will, I trust, be equally marked by that vigour, energy, and firmness, which the circumstances of our present situation peculiarly require.

The unfortunate course of events on the continent, and the conse quences which must be expected to result from it, cannot fail to be matter of anxiety and concern to all who have a just feeling for the security and independence of Europe..

Your astonishment as well as your regret must be excited by the con duct of those powers, whose attention, at such a period, appears to be more engaged in endeavours to weaken the naval force of the British empire, which has hitherto opposed so powerful an obstacle to the inordinate ambition of France, than in concerting the means of mutual defence against their common and increasing danger.

The representations which I directed to be made to the court of. Petersburg, in consequence of the outrages committed against the ships, property, and persons, of my subjects, have been treated with the utmost disrespect; and the proceedings of which I complained have been aggravated by subsequent acts of injustice and violence.

Under these circumstances a convention has been concluded by that court with those of Copenhagen and Stockholm, the object of which, as avowed by one of the contracing parties, is to renew their farmer engagements for establishing by force a new code of maritime law, inconsistent with the rights, and hostile to the interests, of this coun try.

In this situation, I could not he sitate as to the conduct which it became me to pursue. I have taken the earliest measures to repel the aggressions

aggressions of this hostile confederacy, and to support those principles which are essential to the main tenance of our naval strength, and which are grounded on the system of public law so long established and recognised in Europe.

I have, at the same time, given such assurances as manifest my disposition to renew my antient relations with those powers, whenever it can be done consistently with the honour of my crown, and with a just regard to the safety of my subjects. You will, I am persuaded, omit nothing on your part, that can afford me the most vigorous and effectual support in my firm determination to maintain to the utmost, against every attack, the naval rights and the interests of my em pire.

Gentlemen of the House of Com

mons,

I have directed the estimates for the several branches of the public service to be laid before you: deeply as I lament the continued necessity of adding to the burdens of my people, I am persuaded you will feel with me the importance of providing effectual means for those exertions which are indispensably requisite for the honour and security of the country.

My Lords, and Gentlemen, I am confident that your deliberations will be uniformly directed to the great object of improving the benefits of that happy union, which, by the blessing of providence, has now been effected; and of promoting, to the utmost, the prosperity of every part of my dominions.

You will, I doubt not, resume the inquiries which were so diligently prosecuted in the last session of parliament, as to the best means of relieving my subjects from the pressure of the present high price of

provisions; and of preventing, as far as it can be done by human foresight, the recurrence of similar difficulties. In these endeavours, and in every measure that can contribute to the happiness of thy people, the great end of all my wishes, you may be assured of my cordial concurrence.

You may rely on my availing my self of the earliest opportunity which shall afford a prospect of terminating the present contest, on grounds consistent with our security and honour, and with the maintenance of those essential rights on which our naval strength must always principally depend.

It will afford me the truest and most heartfelt satisfaction whenever the disposition of our enemies shall enable me thus to restore to the subjects of my united kingdom the blessings of peace, and thereby confirm and augment those advantages which result from our internal situation, and which, even under all the difficulties of war, have carried to so great an extent the agriculture, manufactures, commerce, and revenue of the country.

His Majesty's Speech on proroguing the Parliament, as delivered by Commission, Thursday, July 2.

My Lords, and Gentlemen, We have it in command from his majesty to acquaint you, that, on account of the advanced period of the season, and the state of public business, he is induced to relieve you from a longer attendance in parliament.

His majesty highly commends the wisdom, temper, and diligence, which have marked all your proceedings; and particularly acknowledges the assiduity and zeal with which you have pursued the inves

tigation

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His majesty has directed us to return you his particular thanks for the liberal provision which you have made for the various branches of the public service. While he regrets the necessity of supplies so Large, it is a relief to his majesty to observe, that the resources and continued prosperity of the country have enabled you to distribute the public burthens in such a manner, as to press with as little severity as possible on his faithful subjects.

My Lords, and Gentlemen, The brilliant and repeated successes of his majesty's arms, by sea and land, important as they are in

their immediate consequences, are not less satisfactory to his majesty's mind, as affording fresh and decisive proofs of that vigorous exertion, undaunted valour, and steady perseverance, which distinguish the national character, and on which the chief reliance must be placed for respect abroad, and for confidence and security at home. Events so honourable to the British name derive, at the present moment, peculiar value in his majesty's estimation, from their tendency to facilitate the attainment of the great object of his unceasing solicitude, the restoration of peace on fair and

adequate terms. They furnish, at the same time, an additional pledge, that if the sentiments of moderation and justice, which will ever govern his majesty's conduct, should be rendered unavailing, in this in stance, by unreasonable pretensions on the part of his enemies, the spirit and firmness of his people will continue to be manifested by such efforts and sacrifices as may be neces sary for asserting the honour of his majesty's crown, and for maintaining the permanent interests of the empire.

Then a commission for proroguing the parliament was read. After which the lord chancellor said,

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 Thursday the 6th day of August next, to be then here holden; and this parliament is accordingly prorogued to Thursday the 6th day of August

next.

His Majesty's Speech on the Meeting of Parliament, Thursday, Oct. 29.

My Lords, and Gentlemen, I have the satisfaction to acquaint you, that the important negotiations in which I was engaged at the close of the last session of parliament are brought to a favourable conclusion. The differences with the northern powers have been adjusted by a convention with the emperor of Russia, to which the kings of Denmark and Sweden have expressed their readiness to accede. The essential rights for which we contended are thereby secured, and provision is made, that the exercise

of them shall be attended with as little molestation as possible to the subjects of the contracting parties. Preliminaries of peace have also been ratified between me and the French republic; and I trust that this important arrangement, whilst it manifests the justice and moderation of my views, will also be found conducive to the substantial interests of this country, and honourable to the British character.

Copies of these papers shall forth with be laid before you, and I earnestly hope that the transactions to which they refer, will meet with the approbation of my parliament. Gentlemen of the House of Com

mons,

I have directed such estimates to be prepared for the various demands of the public service, as appear to me to be best adapted to the situation in which we are now placed. It is painful to me to reflect, that provision cannot be made for defraying the expences which must unavoidably be continued for a time in different parts of the world, and for maintaining an adequate peace establishment, without large additional supplies. You may, however, be assured, that all possible attention shall be paid to such economical arrangements as may not be inconsistent with the great object of effectually providing for the security of all my dominions.

My Lords, and Gentlemen, I cannot sufficiently describe the gratification and comfort I derive from the relief which the bounty of divine providence has afforded to my people, by the abundant produce of the late harvest. In contemplating the situation of the country at this important conjuncture, it is impossible for me to refrain from expressing the deep sense I enter tain of the temper and fortitude

which have been manifested by all descriptions of my faithful subjects, under the various and complicated difficulties with which they have had to contend. The distinguished valour and eminent services of my forces by sea and land, which at no period have been surpassed; the unprecedented exertions of the militia and fencibles, and the zeal and perseverance of the volunteer corps of cavalry and infantry, are entitled to my warmest acknowledgments: and I am persuaded that you will join with me, in reflecting with peculiar satisfaction on the naval and military operations of the last campaign, and on the successful and glorious issue of the expedition to Egypt, which has been marked throughout by achievements tending in their consequences, and by their example, to produce lasting advantage and honour to this country. It is my first wish, and most fervent prayer, that my people may experience the reward they have so well merited, in a full enjoyment of the blessings of peace, in a progressive increase of the national commerce, credit, and resources, and, above all, in the undisturbed possession of their religion, laws, and liberties, under the safeguard and protection of that constitution which it has been the great object of all our efforts to preserve, and which it is our most sacred duty to transmit unimpaired to our descendents.

STATE PAPERS.

Note transmitted by Mr. Drummond to the Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs, dated 27th Dec. 1800.

The court of London, informed that Denmark is carrying on with activity negotiations very hostile to

the

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