proach contained in the said manifeflo against this Republic, that their High Mightineffes had en couraged the exportation of naval ftores for France, by fufpending the usual duties on thofe commodities, whilst it is known to all the world, that fuch a fufpenfion has never taken place, and that the Republic had a right to export thofe commodities, not only agreeably to the treaty in 1674, but alfo in conformity to the principles laid down by the neutral powers in the convention of armed neutrality. That confequently it would be needlefs to enter any farther into the merits of the faid manifefto; as his Swedish majefty has it in his power to appreciate himself its value, and must, moreover, be fully perfuaded that the line of conduct purfued by their High Mightineffes fince the beginning of the troubles with America, is an evident proof, that they have never favoured or countenanced the revolted colonies; witnefs the many partial condefcenfions in favour of England, which were merely gratuitous on the part of their High Mightineffes, by circumfcribing the trade within their own colonies; by refafing to grant the protection of their convoys to veffels laden with fhip timber; and by recalling the Governor of St. Euftatia on fome ill-grounded complaints of the British miniftry: condefcenfions which have been rewarded by the attack and feizure of the convoy of Count Byland; by a violation of the territories of this Republic, and by the taking by force fome American vefiels from under the very batteries of the island of St. Martin.

That their High Mightineffes

having thus faithfully adhered to the fyftem of moderation, it is evident that the refentment of his Britannic majefty arifes merely from their acceffion to the treaty of armed neutrality; and, that, confequently, their High Mightineffes are fully authorifed to claim the performance of the conditions ftipulated in the articles VII. VIII. and IX. of the treaty of armed neutrality, which form the bafis of that union and alliance contracted between their imperial and royal majefties and the Republic. That therefore no obftacles can hinder or delay the fulfilling of the engagements contracted by virtue of the faid confederation, of which the Republic ought to be confidered as a member from the very moment in which their High Mightinesses acceded to the fame refolution at the Hague; and difpatched their declaration, in conformity to the faid acceffion and convention, to the belligerent powers.

That if their High Might ineffes had to complain only of a fingle act of offence, or an attack committed against them, which was likely to be recreffed by the friendly interpofition of their allies, they would have claimed their intervention rather than have recourse to arms; but as their High Mightineffes find themfelves actually and fuddenly atracked in an hoftile manner by his Britannic majefty, in confequence of, and from mere refentment of the above mentioned alliance, they find themselves under the neceflity of repelling force by force, and to return hoftilities for hottilities; being fully perfuaded that the allied powers will not hefitate to make this their common

cause,

caufe, and to procure to their Republic due fatisfaction and indemnity for the lofles occafioned by an attack equally unjuft and violent; and that the faid powers will moreover, in conjunction with the S.ates General, take fuch farther meafures, as the exigences of the prefent circumftances may require. This their High Mightineffes folicit with great earneftnefs, and rely upon it with fo much more confidence, as they are firmly perfuaded, that the generous and equitable fentiments, which actuate their imperial and royal majeftes, will not fuffer them to let the Republic fall a victim to a fyftem of politics, not lefs glorious than founded in equity, and established for the fecurity of the rights of neutral nations; and efpecially as the Republic, if left fingly expofed to the iniquitous and viclent attacks of England, would hardly be able to cope with that overbearing power, and thus run the hazard of becoming totally useless to the faid

confederation.

A

My Lords and Gentlemen, LTHOUGH the bufinefs of this feffion has required a longer attendance than may have been confiftent with your private convenience, yet I am perfuaded that you look back with fatisfaction on the time you have employed in a faithful difcharge of your duty to your country, in the prefent arduous and critical state of public affairs.

I cannot let you depart into your refpective counties, without alluring you of my entire approbation of your conduct, and of my perfect confidence in the loyal y and good affections of this parlia ment.

The zeal and ardour which you have shown for the honour of my crown; your firm and steady sup port of a juft caufe, and the great efforts you have made to enable me

to

27

to furmount all the difficulties of this extensive and complicated war, must convince the world that the ancient fpirit of the British nation is not abated or diminished.

In the midst of thefe difficulties, you have formed regulations for the better management and improvement of the revenue; you have given additional ftrength and ftability to public credit; and your deliberations on the affairs of the Eaft-India Company, have terminated in fuch meatures as will, I truft, produce great and effential advantages to my kingdoms.

I have obferved, with much fatisfaction, that during the course of that important business, your attention was not more anxioufly directed to the benefits to be derived from the territorial acquifitions, than to the happinets and comfort of the inhabitants of thofe remote provinces.

Whatever may remain to be done for fecuring thofe valuable poffeffions, and for reftraining the at ufes to which they are peculiarly liable, you will, I doubt not, proceed to provide for at your next meeting, with the fame wifdom and temper that have governed your late proceedings and enquiries.

Gentlemen of the Houfe of
Commons,

My particular thanks are due to you for the ample provifion you have made for the fervice of the current year, I fee with great pleafure, that you have had it in your power to apply fo large a fum to the difcharge of the dent of the navy, and that the fupplies which you have granted have been raifed in a manner the leaft bur

thenfome to the property and induftry of my faithful people.

My Lords and gentlemen. While I lament the continuance of the prefent troubles, and the extenfion of the war, I have the confcious fatisfaction to reflect, that the conftant aim of all my councils has been to bring back my deluded fubjects in America, to the happiness and liberty they formerly enjoyed, and to fee the tranquillity of Europe refto ed.

To defend the dominions, and to maintain the rights of this country, was, on my part, the fole caufe, and is the only object of the war. Peace is the earnest with of my heart: but I have too firm a relance on the fpirit and resources of the nation, and the powerful affiftance of my parliament, and the protection of a just and allruling Providence, to accept it upon any terms or conditions than fuch as may confift with the honour and dignity of my crown, and the permanent intereft and fecurity of my people.

Then the lord chancellor, by his majefty's command, faid,

My Lords and Gentlemen, It is his majefty's royal will and pleafure, that this parliament be prorogued to Thurfday, the thirteenth day of September next to be then here holden; and this parliament is accordingly prorogued to Thursday, the thirteenth day of September next.

Anfaver given by Lord Stormont to Mox. Simolin, the Ruffian Minifter with refped to the Mediation offered by the Empress be

tween

tween Great Britain and the United Provinces.

THE

HE alliance which has fubfifted fo many years between Great Britain and the States General, has always been confidered by his majefty as a tie, formed by the most natural caufes, and not only agreeable to the intereft of both nations, but abfolutely effential to their mutual welfare.

The king has done every thing in his power to preferve this tie unbroken, and even to strengthen it; and if the conduct of their High Mightineffes had at all anfwered to that of his majefty, they would still have remained in their utmost force. But fince the commencement of the prefent troubles, the only return made by the Republic to this conftant friendship, has been the total relinquishment of the principles of an alliance, the prime object of which was the mutual defence of the two nations; an obftinate refufal to fulfil the moft facred obligations; a daily violation of the most folemn treaties; an affiftance given to the very enemy, against whom he had a right to demand fuccour; an afylum granted to the American pirates in the Dutch ports, in open violation of the cleareft ftipulations; and to complete the whole, a denial of juftice and fatisfaction for the affront given to the dignity of the king, by a fecret league with his rebellious fubjects.

All thefe accumulated injuries rendered it impoffible for the king to take any other part than that which he has done.

When the motives which rendered this rupture inevitable were explained to the public, the king

afcribed the conduct of the Repub, lic to the true caufe; that is to fay, to the unhappy influence of a faction, which facrificed the intereft of the nation to their own private views. But the king at the fame time, manifefted the most fincere defire to bring back the Republic to that fyftem of strict union, efficacious alliance and reciprocal protection, which has fo much contributed to the welfare and glory of the two states.

When the empress offered her good offices to effect a reconciliation by a particular peace, the king teftified his gratitude to her for that fresh proof of a friendship which he values fo highly, and avoided expofing the mediation of her majefty to the danger of a fruitless negociation. He explained his reafons, which perfuaded him, that in the prefent difpofition of the Republic, governed by a faction, all reconciliation, during the war with France, would be merely fuperficial, and would afford an opportunity to the party which fways the Republic to act as fecret auxiliaries of all the king's enemies, under the mask of a pretended alliance with Great Britain,

But if there are any indications of change in this difpofition, if the powerful intervention of her imperial majefty fhould be able to effect any alteration, and induce the Republic to return to those principles which the most dif cerning part of the nation have never forfaken, his majefty will be ready to treat with their High Mightineffes on the fubject of feparate peace; and it is his wifh, that the Empress of all the Ruffias may be the fole mediatrefs of this

peace,

Peace. She has been the first to offer her good offices, and fo powerful an intervention as hers, cannot gain any thing either in weight or influence by the acceffion of the most refpectable allies.

The friendship of the empress to both nations, the intereft which her empire has in their reciprocal welfare, her known impartiality, and elevated views, are fufficient pledges of the manner in which the will condu&t this falutary work: and in a negociation, the whole object of which is to terminate a war, caused by a violation of the treaties, and by an affront offered to his crown, his majefty relies, with the utmost confidence and fatisfaction, upon the mediation of a fovereign, who holds facred the faith of treaties, who knows fo well how to estimate the dignity of fovereigns, and who has maintained her own, during her glorious reign, with fo much greatnefs and refolution. (Signed)

STORMONT.

State Paper prefented by Baron Nolken, the Swedish Minifter, refident in London, concerning the Mediation of that Court between this Country and the States General of the United Provinces.

HE King does not imagine

defires, dictated by his natural fentiments of humanity, have not been fulfilled. The flame of war, kindled in another hemifphere, has communicated to Europe; but the king ftill flattered himself, that this conflagration would not extend beyond its firft bounds, and particularly that a nation, entirely commercial, which have made neutrality the invariable foundation of its conduct, would not have béen enveloped in it; and yet, neverthelefs, this has happened, almoft in the very moment when that power had entered into the most inoffenfive engagements with the king and his two nothern allies. If the moft exact impartiality that was ever observed, could not exempt the king from immediately feeling the inconveniences of war, by the confiderable loffes fuftained by his commercial fubjects, he had much greater reafon to apprehend the confequences, when thofe troubles were going to be extended; when an open war between Great Britain and the Republic of Holland multiplied them; and, to conclude, when neutral commerce was about to endure new fhackles by the hoftilities committed between thofe two powers. king could not fail to perceive thefe evils, and to with fincerely that the measures taken by the Emprefs of Rufia, for extinguifh

him to enter into an explanation of the principles which have governed his conduct ever fince he afcended the throne of his ancestors. He has been guided by the love of peace, and he could have wifhed to have feen all the other European powers enjoy that bleffing, as uninterruptedly as himself. Thefe

The

might be crowned with the most perfect fuccefs; but as this falutary work has not been brought to perfection, the king has refolved to join with his allies, the Empress of Ruffia, and the King of Denmark in endeavouring to difpofe his Britannic majefty to liften to the pacific fentiments which their