moved in the commons,
an address, praying that parliament might not be prorogued, but continue
sitting by adjournments during the summer, in order that they might be
ready to receive information concerning the proceedings in America,
and to provide for contingencies. This motion was, however, negatived
without a division, and soon after the commons were summoned to the
upper house for the purpose of prorogation. In his speech the king said
that no alteration had taken place, or was likely to take place, in his
relations with foreign courts. He represented the country as engaged
in a great national cause, attended with great difficulty and with much
expense. As, however, the essential rights and interests of the empire
were deeply concerned in the issue of it, and could have no safety or
security but in that constitutional subordination for which they
were contending, he felt convinced, he said, that no price would be
considered too high in order to obtain the wished-for objects. He still
hoped his rebellious subjects might be awakened to a sense of their
errors, and make a voluntary submission; but if not, he trusted to
effect this object by a full exertion of the forces with which he had
been entrusted by parliament.

SENTIMENTS OF FOREIGN POWERS, ETC.

Notwithstanding the declarations of the secretary of state for foreign
affairs, and likewise of his majesty, that there was nothing to fear
from foreign powers, it is evident that at this very period there was
much to fear from those quarters. France and Spain both smarted under
the disgrace of the late wars, and burned for revenge, whence there was
every reason to apprehend that the armaments they were preparing, under
various pretences, would ultimately be employed against England. Then
again, Frederic of Prussia entertained strong feelings of resentment
against us, for the manner in which he had been treated during the late
war, and the Czarina of Russia had absolutely refused her promised aid.
Moreover the naval superiority of Great Britain had excited the envy of
almost every other state; and they longed to see it diminished. It does
not appear, indeed, that any foreign potentate looked with an approving
or an unjaundiced eye upon the part taken by Britain, except the
Emperor of Austria, and as this part was in strict accordance with the
monarchical principles of the Austrian court, his aid might fairly be
expected. These well-known sentiments of foreign pow