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Foreign News
April 20, 1811
Winchester Gazette
Winchester, Virginia
What is this article about?
Prince Regent's address to Parliament on February 12 laments King's illness, praises British forces' successes in capturing Bourbon and Amboyna, repulsing attacks in Sicily and Peninsular War under Wellington, notes US discussions, and reports strong revenue despite commerce issues.
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IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT,
FEBRUARY 12.
Address of the Prince Regent to both Houses of Parliament, by commission.
The Lord Chancellor rose and addressed both houses in the following speech:
"My Lords and Gentlemen,
"In execution of the commission which has now been read to you, we are commanded by his royal highness, the prince regent, to express, in the strongest manner, how deeply he laments, not only in common with all his majesty's loyal subjects, but with a personal and filial affection, the great national calamity which has been the occasion of imposing upon his royal highness the duty of exercising in his majesty's name, the royal authority of this kingdom.
"In conveying to you the sense which his royal highness entertains of the great difficulties attending the important trust which is reposed in him, his royal highness commands us to assure you, that he looks with the most perfect confidence to the wisdom & zeal of parliament, & to the attachment of a loyal and affectionate people for the most effectual assistance and support; and his royal highness will, on his part, exert his utmost endeavors to direct the powers with which he is invested, to the advancement of the prosperity, welfare, and security of his majesty's dominions.
"We are directed to inform you, that his royal highness has great satisfaction in being enabled to state, that fresh opportunities have been afforded during the late campaign for distinguishing the valor and skill of his majesty's forces both by sea and land.
"The capture of the islands of Bourbon and of Amboyna, have still further reduced the colonial dependencies of the enemy.
"The attack upon the island of Sicily, which was announced to the world with a presumptuous anticipation of success, has been repulsed by the persevering exertions and valor of his majesty's land and sea forces.
"The judicious arrangement adopted by the officers commanding on that station, derived material support from the zeal and ardour which were manifested during this contest by the inhabitants of Sicily, and from the co-operation of the naval means which were directed by his Sicilian majesty to this object.
"In Portugal and at Cadiz, the defence of which constituted the principle object of his majesty's exertions in the last campaign, the designs of the enemy have been hitherto frustrated. The consummate skill, prudence, and perseverance of lieutenant general lord viscount Wellington, and the discipline and determined bravery of the officers and men under his command, have been conspicuously displayed throughout the whole of the campaign. The effect of those distinguished qualities, in inspiring confidence and energy into the troops of his majesty's allies, has been happily evinced by their general good conduct, and particularly by the brilliant part which they bore in the repulse of the enemy at Busaco. And his royal highness commands us further to state, that he trusts you will enable him to continue the most effectual assistance to the brave nations of the peninsula, in the support of a contest which they manifest a determination to maintain with unabated perseverance; his royal highness is persuaded, that you will feel that the best interests of the British empire must be deeply affected in the issue of this contest, on which the liberties and independence of the Spanish and Portuguese nations entirely depend.
"We have it likewise in command to acquaint you that discussions are now depending between this country and the United States of America; and that it is the earnest wish of his royal highness, that he may find himself enabled to bring these discussions to an amicable termination, consistent with the honor of his majesty's crown, and the maritime rights and interests of the United Kingdom.
Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
"We are directed to acquaint you that his royal highness the prince regent has given his commands, that the estimates for the expenditure of the current year should be laid before you; and his royal highness has great satisfaction in acquainting you; although the difficulties under which the commerce of this kingdom has labored, have in some degree affected a part of his majesty's revenue, particularly in Ireland, yet that the revenue of Great Britain in the last year, though unaided by any new taxation, is greater than was ever known in any preceding year. And his royal highness trusts to your zeal and liberality to afford his majesty adequate supplies for the support of the great contest in which he is necessarily engaged.
"My Lords and Gentlemen,
"We are commanded by his royal highness to declare to you, that it is the most anxious wish of his heart that he may be enabled to restore unimpaired into the hands of his majesty the government of his kingdom; and that his royal highness earnestly prays, that the Almighty may be pleased in his mercy to accelerate the termination of a calamity so deeply lamented by the whole nation, and so peculiarly afflicting to his royal highness himself."
The commons immediately retired and about five o'clock the speech was again read by the lord chancellor, and afterwards in the usual manner by the clerk.
FEBRUARY 12.
Address of the Prince Regent to both Houses of Parliament, by commission.
The Lord Chancellor rose and addressed both houses in the following speech:
"My Lords and Gentlemen,
"In execution of the commission which has now been read to you, we are commanded by his royal highness, the prince regent, to express, in the strongest manner, how deeply he laments, not only in common with all his majesty's loyal subjects, but with a personal and filial affection, the great national calamity which has been the occasion of imposing upon his royal highness the duty of exercising in his majesty's name, the royal authority of this kingdom.
"In conveying to you the sense which his royal highness entertains of the great difficulties attending the important trust which is reposed in him, his royal highness commands us to assure you, that he looks with the most perfect confidence to the wisdom & zeal of parliament, & to the attachment of a loyal and affectionate people for the most effectual assistance and support; and his royal highness will, on his part, exert his utmost endeavors to direct the powers with which he is invested, to the advancement of the prosperity, welfare, and security of his majesty's dominions.
"We are directed to inform you, that his royal highness has great satisfaction in being enabled to state, that fresh opportunities have been afforded during the late campaign for distinguishing the valor and skill of his majesty's forces both by sea and land.
"The capture of the islands of Bourbon and of Amboyna, have still further reduced the colonial dependencies of the enemy.
"The attack upon the island of Sicily, which was announced to the world with a presumptuous anticipation of success, has been repulsed by the persevering exertions and valor of his majesty's land and sea forces.
"The judicious arrangement adopted by the officers commanding on that station, derived material support from the zeal and ardour which were manifested during this contest by the inhabitants of Sicily, and from the co-operation of the naval means which were directed by his Sicilian majesty to this object.
"In Portugal and at Cadiz, the defence of which constituted the principle object of his majesty's exertions in the last campaign, the designs of the enemy have been hitherto frustrated. The consummate skill, prudence, and perseverance of lieutenant general lord viscount Wellington, and the discipline and determined bravery of the officers and men under his command, have been conspicuously displayed throughout the whole of the campaign. The effect of those distinguished qualities, in inspiring confidence and energy into the troops of his majesty's allies, has been happily evinced by their general good conduct, and particularly by the brilliant part which they bore in the repulse of the enemy at Busaco. And his royal highness commands us further to state, that he trusts you will enable him to continue the most effectual assistance to the brave nations of the peninsula, in the support of a contest which they manifest a determination to maintain with unabated perseverance; his royal highness is persuaded, that you will feel that the best interests of the British empire must be deeply affected in the issue of this contest, on which the liberties and independence of the Spanish and Portuguese nations entirely depend.
"We have it likewise in command to acquaint you that discussions are now depending between this country and the United States of America; and that it is the earnest wish of his royal highness, that he may find himself enabled to bring these discussions to an amicable termination, consistent with the honor of his majesty's crown, and the maritime rights and interests of the United Kingdom.
Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
"We are directed to acquaint you that his royal highness the prince regent has given his commands, that the estimates for the expenditure of the current year should be laid before you; and his royal highness has great satisfaction in acquainting you; although the difficulties under which the commerce of this kingdom has labored, have in some degree affected a part of his majesty's revenue, particularly in Ireland, yet that the revenue of Great Britain in the last year, though unaided by any new taxation, is greater than was ever known in any preceding year. And his royal highness trusts to your zeal and liberality to afford his majesty adequate supplies for the support of the great contest in which he is necessarily engaged.
"My Lords and Gentlemen,
"We are commanded by his royal highness to declare to you, that it is the most anxious wish of his heart that he may be enabled to restore unimpaired into the hands of his majesty the government of his kingdom; and that his royal highness earnestly prays, that the Almighty may be pleased in his mercy to accelerate the termination of a calamity so deeply lamented by the whole nation, and so peculiarly afflicting to his royal highness himself."
The commons immediately retired and about five o'clock the speech was again read by the lord chancellor, and afterwards in the usual manner by the clerk.
What sub-type of article is it?
War Report
Diplomatic
Military Campaign
What keywords are associated?
Prince Regent Address
Peninsular War
Wellington Campaign
Sicily Repulse
Us Discussions
Bourbon Capture
Amboyna Capture
Busaco Battle
What entities or persons were involved?
Prince Regent
Lord Chancellor
Lord Viscount Wellington
His Sicilian Majesty
Where did it happen?
Portugal
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Portugal
Event Date
February 12
Key Persons
Prince Regent
Lord Chancellor
Lord Viscount Wellington
His Sicilian Majesty
Outcome
captures of bourbon and amboyna; repulse in sicily; enemy designs frustrated in portugal and cadiz; brilliant repulse at busaco; ongoing us discussions; strong british revenue.
Event Details
The Prince Regent's address via the Lord Chancellor to Parliament expresses regret over the King's illness, confidence in Parliament's support, praises British forces' valor in recent campaigns including captures of Bourbon and Amboyna, repulse of attack on Sicily with Sicilian aid, and successes in Peninsular War under Wellington with allies' good conduct at Busaco; notes pending discussions with the United States aiming for amicable resolution; requests supplies for the contest; hopes for King's recovery.