so much
honour to the courage and conduct of his majesty's officers and forces;
the important advantage obtained by the British squadron off Cape Lagos,
and the effectual blocking up for so many months the principal part of
the French navy in their own harbours: events which must have filled the
hearts of all his majesty's faithful subjects with the sincerest joy;
and convinced his parliament that there had been no want of vigilance
or vigour on his part, in exerting those means which they, with so much
prudence and public-spirited zeal, had put into his majesty's hands. He
observed, that the national advantages had extended even as far as the
East-Indies, where, by the Divine blessing, the dangerous designs of his
majesty's enemies had miscarried, and that valuable branch of commerce
had received great benefit and protection; that the memorable victory
gained over the French at Minden had long made a deep impression on the
minds of his majesty's people: that if the crisis in which the battle
was fought, the superior number of the enemy, the great and able
conduct of his majesty's general, prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, were
considered, that action must be the subject of lasting admiration and
thankfulness: that if any thing could fill the breasts of his majesty's
good subjects with still further degrees of exultation, it would be
the distinguished and unbroken valour of the British troops, owned and
applauded by those whom they overcame. He said the glory they had gained
was not merely their own; but, in a national view, was one of the
most important circumstances of our success, as it must be a striking
admonition to our enemies with whom they have to contend. He told them
that his majesty's good brother and ally, the king of Prussia, attacked
and surrounded by so many considerable powers, had, by his magnanimity
and abilities, and the bravery of his troops, been able, in a surprising
manner, to prevent the mischiefs concerted with such united force
against him. He declared, by the command of his sovereign, that as his
majesty entered into this war not from views of ambition, so he did not
wish to continue it from motives of resentment: that the desire of
his majesty's heart was to see a stop put to the effusion of Christian
blood: that whenever such terms of peace could be established as should
be just and honourable for his majesty and his allies; and by procuring
such advantages as, from the successes of his majesty'