cieties are governed by their respective secret committees; that delegates are continually dispatched from one place to another, for the purpose of concerting their plans; and that secret signs are arranged, by which the persons engaged in these conspiracies are known to each other. The form of the oath or engagement administered to those who are enlisted in these societies, also refers expressly to the existence of such secret committees.

The object of this oath is to prevent discovery, by deterring through the fear of assassination those who take it from impeaching others, and by binding them to assassinate those by whom any of the persons engaged may be impeached. These oaths appear to have been administered to a considerable extent; copies of them have been obtained from various quarters, and though slightly differing in terms, they are so nearly the same, as to prove the systematic nature of the concert by which they are adminis

tered.

The oath itself is of so atrocious a nature, that your committee have thought it right to insert the form, as it appears in one of those copies :"I, A. B. of my own voluntary will, do declare, and solemnly swear, that I never will reveal to any per son or persons under the canopy of heaven, the names of the persons who compose this secret committee, their proceedings, meeting, places of abode, dress, features, connections, or any thing else that might lead to a discovery of the same, either by word or deed, or sign, under the penalty of being sent out of the world by the first brother who shall meet me, and my name and character blotted out of existence, and never to be remembered but with contempt and abhorrence; and I further now do swear,

that I will use my best endeavours to punish by death any traitor or traitors, should any rise up amongst us, wherever I can find him or them, and though he should fly to the verge of nature, I will pursue him with increasing vengeance. So help me God, and bless me to keep this my oath inviolable."

The military organization carried on by persons engaged in these societies, has also proceeded to an alarming length; they assemble in large numbers, in general by night, upon heaths or commons, which are numerous and extensive in some of the districts where the disturbances have been most serious; so assembled, they take the usual military precau. tions of patroles and countersigns; then muster rolls are called over by numbers, not by names; they are di rected by leaders sometimes in disguise; they place sentries to give alarm at the approach of any persons whom they may suspect of meaning to interrupt or give information of their proceedings; and they disperse instantly at the firing of a gun, or other signal agreed upon, and so disperse as to avoid detection. They have in some instances used signals by rockets or blue lights, by which they communicate intelligence to their ties.

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They have procured a considerable quantity of arms, by the depredations which are daily and nightly continued; they have plundered many places of lead for the purpose of making musket-balls, and have made some seizures of gunpowder.

Their progress in discipline appears from the representation before given of the two attacks upon the mills of Rawdon and Henbury; and the money, which has been in many instances obtained by contribution or plun

der, answers the purpose of support, and may serve as an inducement to many persons to engage in these disturbances.

The system of intimidation, produced not only by the oaths and engagements before mentioned, or by threats of violence, but by the attack and destruction of houses and factories, by actual assassinations in some instances, and attempts at assassination in others, under circumstances which have hitherto generally baffled all endeavours to discover and bring to justice the offenders, all tend to render these proceedings greatly alarming to the country. In many parts the quiet inhabitants consider themselves as enjoying protection on ly as far as the military force can extend its exertions, and look upon the rest of the country, where the disturbances took place, as at the mercy of the rioters.

The legal proceedings at Nottingham checked the disposition to disturbance in that quarter, but this effect did not extend to other parts of the country; and though the proceedings under the special commissions since issued, and the convictions and executions at Lancaster and Chester, appear to make a considerable impression, they have been far from restoring peace and security to the disturbed districts.

A great military force has been assembled; the local militia has been in many places called out, and has done good service; the yeomanry corps have been active and highly useful. Many of the magistrates have zealously exerted their powers, some of them at great personal hazard. In many places great numbers of special constables have been appointed from amongst the more respectable inhabitants, and the Watch

and Ward Act has been in some places put in force, though attempted without effect in others, or abandoned from circumstances already stated. All these efforts have proved insufficient effectually to put down the spirit of disturbance; and it is therefore the decided opinion of your committee, that some further measures should be immediately adopted by parliament for affording more ef fectual protection to the lives and properties of his majesty's subjects, and for suppressing a system of turbulence and disorder which has already proved destructive of the tranquillity, and highly injurious to the property and welfare of some of the most populous and important districts of the country, and which unless effectually checked, may lead to consequences still more extensive and dangerous.

portunity of meeting you after the late elections. I am persuaded you will cordially participate in the satisfaction which I derive from the improvement of our prospects during the course of the present year.

The valour and intrepidity display ed by his majesty's forces, and those of his allies in the peninsula on so many occasions during this campaign, and the consummate skill and judgment with which the operations have been conducted by General the Marquis of Wellington, have led to consequences of the utmost importance to the common cause.

By transferring the war into the interior of Spain, and by the glorious and ever-memorable victory obtained at Salamanca, he has compelled the enemy to raise the siege of Cadiz; and the southern provinces of that kingdom have been delivered from the power and arms of France.

Although I cannot but regret that the efforts of the enemy, combined with a view to one great operation, have rendered it necessary to withdraw from the siege of Burgos, and to evacuate Madrid, for the purpose of concentrating the main body of the allied forces; these efforts of the enemy have, nevertheless, been attended with important sacrifices on their part, which must materially contribute to extend the resources, and facilitate the exertions, of the Spanish nation.

I am confident I may rely on your determination to continue to afford every aid in support of a contest, which has first given to the continent of Europe the example of persevering and successful resistance to the power of France, and on which not only the independence of the nations of the peninsula, but the best interests of his

majesty's dominions, essentially depend.

I have great pleasure in communicating to you, that the relations of peace and friendship have been restored between his majesty and the courts of St Petersburgh and Stockholm.

I have directed copies of the treaties to be laid before you.

In a contest for his own sovereign rights, and for the independence of his dominions, the Emperor of Russia has had to oppose a large proportion of the military power of the French government, assisted by its allies, and by the tributary states dependent upon it.

The resistance which he has opposed to so formidable a combination, cannot fail to excite sentiments of lasting admiration.

By his own magnanimity and perseverance; by the zeal and disinterestedness of all ranks of his subjects; and by the gallantry, firmness, and intrepidity of his forces, the presumptuous expectations of the enemy have been signally disappointed.

The enthusiasm of the Russian nation has increased with the difficulties of the contest, and with the dangers with which they were surrounded. They have submitted to sacrifices of which there are few examples in the history of the world; and I indulge the confident hope, that the determined perseverance of his imperial majesty will be crowned with ultimate success; and that this contest, in its result, will have the effect of establishing, upon a foundation never to be shaken, the security and independence of the Russian empire.

The proof of confidence which I have received from his imperial majesty, in the measure which he has adopted of sending his fleets to the

ports of this country, is in the highest degree gratifying to me; and his imperial majesty may most fully rely on my fixed determination to afford him the most cordial support in the great contest in which he is engaged.

I have the satisfaction further to acquaint you, that I have concluded a treaty with his Sicilian majesty, supplementary to the treaties of 1808 and 1809.

As soon as the ratifications shall have been exchanged, I will direct a copy of this treaty to be laid before

you.

My object has been to provide for the more extensive application of the military force of the Sicilian government to offensive operations; a measure which, combined with the liberal and enlightened principles which happily prevail in the councils of his Sicilian majesty, is calculated, I trust, to augment his power and resources, and, at the same time, to render them essentially serviceable to the common

cause.

The declaration of war by the government of the United States of America was made under circumstances, which might have afforded a reasonable expectation, that the amicable relations between the two nations would not be long interrupted. It is with sincere regret that I am obliged to acquaint you, that the conduct and pretensions of that government have hitherto prevented the conclusion of any pacific arrangement.

Their measures of hostility have been principally directed against the adjoining British provinces, and every effort has been made to seduce the inhabitants of them from their allegiance to his majesty.

The proofs, however, which I have received of loyalty and attachment

VOL. V. PART II.

from his majesty's subjects in North America are highly satisfactory.

The attempts of the enemy to invade Upper Canada have not only proved abortive, but by the judicious arrangements of the governor-general, and by the skill and decision with which the military operations have been conducted,, the forces of the assembled for that purpose in enemy

one quarter have been compelled to capitulate, and in another have been completely defeated.

My best efforts are not wanting for the restoration of the relations of peace and amity between the two countries; but until this object can be attained without sacrificing the maritime rights of Great Britain, I shall rely upon your cordial support in a vigorous prosecution of the war.

Gentlemen of the House of Com

mons,

I have directed the estimates for the services of the ensuing year to be laid before you, and I entertain no doubt of your readiness to furnish such supplies as may enable me to provide for the great interests committed to my charge, and afford the best prospect of bringing the contest in which his majesty is engaged to a successful termination.

My Lords and Gentlemen, The approaching expiration of the charter of the East-India company renders it necessary that I should call your early attention to the propriety of providing effectually for the future government of the provinces of India.

In considering the variety of interests which are connected with this important subject, I rely on your wisdom for making such an arrangement as may best promote the prosperity of the British possessions in that quarter, and at the same time secure the

S

greatest advantages to the commerce and revenue of his majesty's domini

ons.

I have derived great satisfaction from the success of the measures which have been adopted for suppressing the spirit of outrage and insubordination which had appeared in some parts of the country: and from the disposition which has been manifested to take advantage of the indemnity held out to the deluded, by the wisdom and benevolence of parlia

ment.

I trust I shall never have occasion to lament the recurrence of atrocities so repugnant to the British character; and that all his majesty's subjects will be impressed with the conviction, that the happiness of individuals, and the welfare of the state, equally depend upon a strict obedience to the laws, and an attachment to our excellent constitution.

In the loyalty of his majesty's people, and in the wisdom of parliament, I have reason to place the fullest confidence. The same firmness and perseverance which have been manifested on so many and such trying occasions, will not, I am persuaded, be wanting at a time when the eyes of all Europe, and of the world, are fixed upon you. I can assure you, that in the exercise of the great trust reposed in me, I have no sentiment so near my heart as the desire to promote, by every means in my power, the real prospe rity and lasting happiness of his majesty's subjects.

Message from the Prince Regent to both Houses of Parliament, Dec. 17, on a Grant to Russia.

"G. P. R.

"The prince regent, acting in the name and on the behalf of his majesty, having taken into his serious consideration the accounts which he has received of the severe distresses to which the inhabitants of a part of the empire of Russia have been exposed in their persons and property, in consequence of the unprovoked and atrocious invasion of that country by the ruler of France, and the exemplary and extraordinary magnanimity and fortitude with which they have submitted to the greatest privations and sufferings in the defence of their country, and the ardent loyalty and unconquerable spirit they have displayed in its cause, whereby results have been produced of the utmost importance to the interests of this kingdom, and to the general cause of Europe, recommends to the House of Commons, to enable his royal highness, in aid of the contributions which have been commenced within the Russian em. pire for this purpose, to afford to the suffering subjects of his majesty's good and great ally, the Emperor of Russia, such speedy and effectual relief as may be suitable to this most interesting occasion."