General View of the Confederation of the Rhine, exhibiting the Extent, Popu lation, and Revenue, of each of the States of which it is composed, and also its Contingent of Troops. TABLE OF THE PRICES OF MEAT, SUGAR, SALT, AND COALS, IN LONDON, From January to December 1810, inclusive. Sugar -49 32 52 92 53 11 50 41 47 847 9 47 1048 849 61 47 644 844 2 Cwt. Salt 0 20 -20 Coals -65 0 54 0 20 0 20 0 20 0 20 0 67 0 158 6 58 3 159 0 20 0 20 0 20 0 20 0 20 0 20 0 Bushel 059 660 9 60 71 971 961 6 Chald. Price of the QUARTERN LOAF according to the Assize of bread in LONDON, for the Year 1810, taking the average of the four Assizes in each Month. 430 STATE PAPERS. I. BRITISH. 1. His Majesty's Speeches at the opening and concluding the Session of Parliament. At the opening of Parliament, Jan. 23, 1810. M'His majesty commands us to Y Lords and Gentlemen, express to you his deep regret that the exertions of the Emperor of Austria against the ambition and violence of France have proved unavailing, and that his imperial majesty has been compelled to abandon the contest, and to conclude a disadvantageous peace. Although the war was undertaken by that monarch without encouragement on the part of his majesty, every effort was made for the assistance of Austria which his majesty deemed consistent with the due support of his allies, and with the welfare and interest of his own dominions.---An attack upon the naval armaments and establishments in the Scheldt, afforded at once the prospect of destroying a growing force, which was daily becoming more formidable to the security of this country, and of diverting the exertions of France advantages, from the important objects of reinforcing her armies on the Danube, and of controlling the spirit of resistance in the north of Germany. These considerations determined his majesty to employ his forces in though the principal ends of this an expedition to the Scheldt.---Alexpedition have not been attained, his majesty confidently hopes that materially affecting the security of his majesty's dominions in the further prosecution of the war, will be found to result from the demolition of the docks and arsenals at Flushing. This important object his majesty was enabled to accomplish, in consequence of the reduction of the island of Walcheren, by the valour of his fleets and armies.---His majesty has given directions that such documents and papers should be laid before you as he trusts will afford satisfactory information upon the subject of this expedition.---We have it in command to state to you that his majesty had uniformly notified to Sweden his majesty's decided wish, that in determining upon the question of peace or war with France, and other continental powers, she should be guided by considerations resulting from her own own situation and interests. While his majesty therefore laments that Sweden should have found it necessary to purchase peace by considerable sacrifices, his majesty cannot complain that she has concluded it without his majesty's participation. It is his majesty's earnest wish that no event may occur to occasion the interruption of those relations of amity which it is the desire of his majesty, and the interest of both countries to preserve.--We have it further in command to communicate to you, that the efforts of his majesty for the protection of Portugal have been powerfully aided by the confidence which the prince-regent has reposed in his majesty, and by the co-operation of the local government, and of the people of that country. The expulsion of the French from Portugal, by his majesty's forces under Lieutenant-General Lord Viscount Wellington, and the glorious victory obtained by him at Talavera, contributed to check the progress of the French arms in the peninsula during the late campaign.---His majesty directs us to state that the Spanish government, in the name and by the authority of King Ferdinand the Seventh, has determined to assemble the general and extraordinary Cortes of the nation: his majesty trusts that this measure will give fresh animation and vigour to the councils and the arms of Spain, and successfully direct the energies and spirit of the Spanish people to the maintenance of their legitimate monarchy, and to the ultimate deliverance of their country.---The most important considerations of policy and good faith require, that as long as this great cause can be maintained with a prospect of success, it should be supported, according to the nature and circumstances of the contest, by the strenuous and continued assistance of the power and resources of his majesty's dominions; and his majesty relies on the aid of his parliament in his anxious endea vours to frustrate the attempts of France against the independence of Spain and Portugal, and against the happiness and freedom of those loyal and resolute nations.--- His majesty commands us to acquaint you, that the intercourse between his majesty's minister in America and the government of the United States has been suddenly and unexpectedly interrupted. His majesty sincerely regrets this event: he has however received the strongest assurances from the American minister resident at this court, that the United States are desirous of maintaining friendly relation between the two countries. This desire will be met by a corresponding disposition on the part of his ma jesty. Gentlemen of the House of Commons,--His majesty has directed us to inform you, that he has ordered the estimates for the current year to be laid before you: his majesty has directed them to be formed with all the attention to economy which the support of his allies and the security of his dominions will permit. And his majesty relies upon your zeal and loyalty to afford him such supplies as may be necessary for those essential objects.--He commands us to express how deeply be regrets the pressure upon his subjects, which the protracted continuance of the war renders inevitable. My Lords and Gentlemen,-- We We are contmanded by his majesty to express his hopes that you will resume the consideration of the state of the inferior clergy, and adopt such further measures upon, this interesting subject as may appear to you to be proper.--We have it further in command to state to you that the accounts which will be laid before you of the trade and revenue of the country will be found highly satisfactory.---Whatever temporary and partial inconvenience may have resulted from the measures which were directed by France against those great sources of our prosperity and strength, those measures have wholly failed of producing any permanent or general effect.--The inveterate hostility of our enemy continues to be directed against this country with unabated animosity and violence. To guard the security of his majesty's dominions, and to defeat the designs which are meditated against us and our allies, will require the utmost efforts of vigilance, fortitude, and perseverance. In every difficulty and danger, his majesty confidently trusts that he shall derive the most effectual support, under the continued blessing of Divine Providence, from the wisdom of his parliament, the valour of his forces, and the spirit and determination of his people. His Majesty's Speech at the con clusion of the Session. My Lords and Gentlemen,--- His majesty has commanded us to acquaint you, that, as the public business is now concluded, he thinks it proper to put an end to the present session of parliament. We are commanded by his majesty to express the satisfaction he derived from the reduction of the island of Guadaloupe by his majesty's arms; an event which for the first time in the history of the wars of Great Britain, has wrested from France all her possessions in that quarter of the world; and which, together with the subsequent capture of the only colonies in the West Indies which remained in the possession of the Dutch, has deprived his majesty's enemies of every port in those seas from which the interests of his majesty, or the commerce of his subjects, can be molested. - Gentlemen of the House of Commons, His majesty has commanded us to thank you for the liberal and ample supplies which you have granted for the services of the present year. His majesty deeply regrets the necessary extent of the demands which those services have created; but we are commanded to express to you the consolation which he has derived from observing that the resources of the country, manifesting themselves by every mark of prosperity, by a revenue increasing in almost all its branches, and by a commerce extending itself in new channels, and with an increased vigour in proportion as the enemy has in vain attempted to destroy it, have enabled you to provide for the expenses of the year without imposing the burden of any new taxation on Great Britain; and that, while the taxes which have been necessarily resorted to for Ireland, have been imposed upon articles which will not interfere with the growing prosperity of that country, you have found it consistent with a due |