THE PARLIAMENTARY REGISTER, DURING THE FIFTH SESSION OF THE FOURTH PARLIA MENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. A HOUSE OF LORD S. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12. MESSAGE was sent to the Commons, desiring their attendance in the House of Lords. The Speaker, and a number of the Members, attended at the bar of the Lords, when the Lord Chancellor stated, that a Commission had issued from his royal highness the Prince Regent of the United Kingdom in the name of his Majesty, which his Lordship desired the clerk to read. The clerk accordingly read the Prince Regent's Commis-, sion. SPEECH OF THE PRINCE REGENT. The Lords Commissioners (the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, the Duke of Montrose, Earl Camden, and the Earl of Westmoreland) being seated on the woolsack, the Lord Chancellor read the following most gracious 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, bow deeply he laments, not only in common with all his Majesty's loyal subjects, but with a personal and filial affliction, the great national calamity which has been the occasion of im VOL. II.-1811. B posing 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 and zeal of Parliament, and 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 endeavours 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 valour 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 valour 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 principal object of his Majesty's exertions in the last campaign, the designs of the enemy have been hitherto frustrated. The consummate skill, prudence, and perseve |