on the
27th of April, his majesty sent a message to the house announcing the
marriage; and at the same time expressing deep regret in being obliged
to declare, that the benefit of any settlement which might then be made
could not be effectually secured to his royal highness, except he
were provided with the means of liberating himself from the large
encumbrances to which he was liable. At the same time his majesty
disclaimed all idea of proposing that parliament should make any
specific provision for that object: rather, he requested the house to
consider the propriety of providing for the gradual discharge of those
encumbrances by the reservation for a time of the revenues of the Duchy
of Cornwall, as well as of a proportion of his royal highness's annual
income. After some discussion, the house, on the suggestion of Pitt,
determined that L125,000, together with the rents of the Duchy of
Cornwall, estimated at L13,000, should be settled upon the prince, and
that L78,000 should be applied annually out of his total income for
the liquidation of his debts. A law was also passed to prevent the
heir-apparent in future from being involved in similar difficulties; and
a jointure of L50,000 per annum was settled on the Princess of Wales,
in case she survived her royal consort. All this was carried by large
majorities, but there were few who imagined that this settlement was a
final one.

PARLIAMENT PROROGUED.

The king prorogued parliament in person on the 27th of June. In his
speech his majesty expressed a hope "that the present circumstances of
France might, in their effects, hasten the return of such a state of
order and regular government, as might be capable of maintaining the
accustomed relations of peace and amity with other powers." He also
remarked that our main reliance for success must be on our naval and
military forces: thereby indicating the continuance of the war.

THE AFFAIRS OF IRELAND.

Allusion has been made to the agitated state of Ireland. That country
was, indeed, at this period, every day approaching nearer to the verge
of open rebellion.

The progress of the United Irishmen had not been stopped by the
conciliatory measures of 1793; for early in the following year they
published a plan of equal representation on the principle of universal
suffrage. Before the close of that year their association in truth
became so manifestly revolutionary that it demanded the interposition
of governmen