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Readings in English History Drawn from the Original Sources: Intended to Illustrate a Short History of England
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Historical SummaryGeneral Conway’s motion, referred to by the king in his letter of February 28 to Lord North, was a resolution passed by the House of Commons, after receiving news of the defeat at Yorktown, protesting against any further effort on the part of the English government to put down the revolt of the American colonies. The king, under pressure of military defeat in America and parliamentary defeat in England, was thus forced to an acknowledgment of American independence, the policy which he had so long resisted, but which he thereafter carried out loyally, as he declared in the following speech to parliament at its opening session in December, 1782.
King’s speech on opening parliament, December 5, 1782, Annual Register, 1783, pp. 311–312. World History 387. The King’s Speech to Parliament (December 5, 1782)
My Lords and Gentlemen:
Since the close of the last session I have employed my whole time in that care and attention which the important and critical conjuncture of affairs required of me.
I lost no time in giving the necessary orders to prohibit the further prosecution of offensive war upon the continent of North America. Adopting, as my inclination will always lead me to do, with decision and effect, whatever I collect to be the sense of my parliament and my people, I have pointed all my views and measures, as well in Europe as in North America, to an entire and cordial reconciliation with those colonies.
Acknowledgment of independence
Finding it indispensable to the attainment of this object, I did not hesitate to go the full length of the powers vested in me, and offered to declare them free and independent states, by an article to be inserted in the treaty of peace. Provisional articles are agreed upon, to take effect whenever terms of peace shall be finally settled with the court of France.
In thus admitting their separation from the crown of these kingdoms, I have sacrificed every consideration of my own to the wishes and opinion of my people. I make it my humble and earnest prayer to Almighty God that Great Britain may not feel the evils which might result from so great a dismemberment of the empire; and that America may be free from those calamities which have formerly proved in the mother country how essential monarchy is to the enjoyment of constitutional liberty. Religion, language, interest, affections may, and I hope will, yet prove a bond of permanent union between the two countries: to this end, neither attention nor disposition on my part shall be wanting. . . .
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Chicago: "The King’s Speech to Parliament (December 5, 1782)," Readings in English History Drawn from the Original Sources: Intended to Illustrate a Short History of England in Readings in English History Drawn from the Original Sources: Intended to Illustrate a Short History of England, ed. Edward Potts Cheyney (1861-1947) (Boston: Ginn, 1935, 1922), 636–637. Original Sources, accessed November 23, 2024, http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=UNSUTTNUQIM92XD.
MLA: . "The King’s Speech to Parliament (December 5, 1782)." Readings in English History Drawn from the Original Sources: Intended to Illustrate a Short History of England, in Readings in English History Drawn from the Original Sources: Intended to Illustrate a Short History of England, edited by Edward Potts Cheyney (1861-1947), Boston, Ginn, 1935, 1922, pp. 636–637. Original Sources. 23 Nov. 2024. http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=UNSUTTNUQIM92XD.
Harvard: , 'The King’s Speech to Parliament (December 5, 1782)' in Readings in English History Drawn from the Original Sources: Intended to Illustrate a Short History of England. cited in 1922, Readings in English History Drawn from the Original Sources: Intended to Illustrate a Short History of England, ed. , Ginn, 1935, Boston, pp.636–637. Original Sources, retrieved 23 November 2024, from http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=UNSUTTNUQIM92XD.
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