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[Speech begins partway down page]

QUEEN’s Speech in Parliament,
the 6th of June, 1712.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

THE making Peace and War is the undoubted Prerogative
of the Crown; yet such is the just Confidence I place
in you, that at the Opening of this Session I acquainted you,
That a Negotiation for a General Peace was begun, and after-
wards, by Messages, I promised to communicate to you the
Terms of Peace, before the same should be concluded.

In pursuance of that Promise, I now come to let you know
upon what Terms a General Peace may be made.

I need not mention the Difficulties which arise from the
very Nature of this Affair; and it is but too apparent, that
these Difficulties have been increased by other Obstructions,
artfully contrived to hinder this Great and Good Work.

Nothing however has moved Me from steddily pursuing, in
the first place, the true Interest of my own Kingdoms; and I
have not omitted any thing which might procure to all our Al-
lies what is due to them by Treaties, and what is necessary for
their Security.

The Assuring of the Protestant Succession, as by Law esta-
blish’d in the House of Hannover, to these Kingdoms, being
what I have nearest at Heart, particular Care is taken, not
only to have that acknowledg’d in the strongest Terms, but to
have an Additional Security, by the Removal of that Person
out of the Dominions of France, who has pretended to disturb
this Settlement.

The Apprehension that Spain and the West-Indies might be United
to France, was the chief Inducement to begin this War; and the ef-
fectual preventing of such an Union, was the Principle I laid
down at the Commencement of this Treaty.

Former Examples, and the late Negotiations, sufficiently
shew how difficult it is to find Means to accomplish this Work.
I would not content My-self with such as are Speculative, or

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depend on Treaties only; I insisted on what is Solid, and to
have at hand the Power of Executing what should be agreed.

I can therefore now tell you, That France at last is brought to
offer, that the Duke of Anjou shall for himself and his Descen-
dants, Renounce for ever all Claim to the Crown of France;
and that this important Article may be expos’d to no Hazard,
the Performance is to accompany the Promise.

At the same time, the Succession to the Crown of France is
to be declared, after the Death of the present Dauphin and his
Sons, to be in the Duke of Berry and his Sons, in the Duke of
Orleans and his Sons, and so on to the rest of the House of
Bourbon.

As to Spain and the Indies, the Succession to those Dominions,
after the Duke of Anjou and his Children, is to descend to such
Prince as shall be agreed upon at the Treaty, for ever Exclu-
ding the rest of the House of Bourbon.

For Confirming the Renunciations and Settlements before
mentioned, it is further offered, That they shall be ratify’d in
the most strong and solemn Manner, both in France and Spain;
and that those Kingdoms, as well as all the other Powers en-
gag’d in the present War, shall be Guarantees to the same.

The Nature of this Proposal is such, that it executes it self.
The Interest of Spain is to support it; and in France the Persons
to whom that Succession is to belong, will be Ready and Power-
ful enough to vindicate their own Right.

France and Spain are now more effectually Divided than ever.
And thus, by the Blessing of God, will a Real Ballance of
Power be fix’d in Europe, and remain liable to as few Accidents
as Human Affairs can be exempted from.

A Treaty of Commerce between these Kingdoms and France
has been entred upon; but the excessive Duties laid on some
Goods, and the Prohibitions of others, make it impossible to
finish this Work so soon as were to be desired. Care is however
taken to establish a Method of settling this Matter; and in
the mean time provision is made, that the same Privileges and
Advantages as shall be granted to any other Nation by France,
shall be granted in like manner to Us.

The Division of the Island of St. Christopher between Us and
the French, having been the Cause of great Inconveniency and
Damage to my Subjects, I have demanded to have an absolute
Cession made to Me of that whole Island, and France agrees to
this Demand.

Our Interest is so deeply concerned in the Trade of North-
America, that I have used my utmost Endeavours to adjust that
Article in the most beneficial manner. France consents to
restore to Us the whole Bay and Straits of Hudson, to deliver
up the Island of Newfoundland, with Placentia; and to make an
absolute Cession of Annapolis, with the rest of Nova Scotia or
Accadie.

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The Safety of our Home-Trade will be better provided for
by the Demolition of Dunkirk.

Our Mediterranean Trade, and the British Interest and In-
fluence in those Parts, will be secur’d by the Possession of Gi-
braltar and Port Mahon, and the whole Island of Minorca, which
are offer’d to remain in my hands.

The Trade to Spain and to the West-Indies may in general be
settled as it was in the Time of the late King of Spain, Charles
the Second; and a particular Provision be made, That all Ad-
vantages, Rights, or Privileges, which have been granted,
or which may hereafter be granted, by Spain to any other Na-
tion, shall be in like manner granted to the Subjects of Great
Britain.

But the Part which We have born in the Prosecution of
this War, entitling Us to some Distinction in the Terms of
Peace, I have insisted and obtained, That the Assiento or Con-
tract for furnishing the Spanish West-Indies with Negroes, shall be
made with Us for the Term of Thirty Years, in the same
manner as it hath been enjoyed by the French for Ten Years
past.

I have not taken upon Me to determine the Interests of our
Confederates; these must be adjusted in the Congress at Utrecht,
where my best Endeavours shall be employed, as they have been hi-
therto constantly been, to procure to every one of them all just
and reasonable Satisfaction. In the mean time, I think it pro-
per to acquaint you, That France offers to make the Rhine the
Barrier of the Empire, to yield Brisack, the Fort of Kehl and
Landau, and to rase all the Fortresses, both on the other side
of the Rhine, and in that River.

As to the Protestant Interest in Germany, there will be, on
the part of France, no Objection to the Resettling thereof
on the Foot of the Treaty of Westphalia.

The Spanish Low Countrys may go to his Imperial Majesty; the
Kingdoms of Naples and Sardinia, the Dutchy of Milan, and
the Places belonging to Spain on the Coast of Tuscany, may
likewise by yielded by the Treaty of Peace to the Emperor.

As to the Kingdom of Sicily, tho there remains no Dispute
concerning the Cession of it by the Duke of Anjou, yet the Dis-
position thereof is not yet determined.

The Interests of the States-General, with respect to Com-
merce, are agreed to, as they have been demanded by their own
Ministers, with the Exception only of some very Species
of Merchandize; and the Entire Barrier, as demanded by the
States, in Seventeen hundred and nine, from France, except
two or three Places at most.

As to these Exceptions, several Expedients are proposed;
and I make no doubt but this Barrier may be so settled, as to
render that Republick perfectly secure against any Enterprize

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on the part of France, which is the Foundation of all my En-
gagements upon this Head with the States.

The Demands of Portugal depending on the Disposition of
Spain, and that Article having been long in Dispute, it has not
yet been possible to make any considerable Progress therein:
but my Plenipotentiaries will now have an Opportunity to assist
that King in his Pretensions.

Those of the King of Prussia are such as, I hope, will admit
of little Difficulty on the part of France; and my utmost Endea-
vours shall not be wanting to procure all I am able to so good
an Ally.

The Difference between the Barrier demanded for the Duke
of Savoy in Seventeen hundred and nine, and the Offers now
made by France, is very inconsiderable: but that Prince having
so signally distinguished himself in the Service of the Common
Cause, I am endeavouring to procure for him still further Ad-
vantages.

France has consented, that the Elector Palatine shall continue
his present Rank among the Electors, and remain in Possession
of the Upper Palatinate.

The Electoral Dignity is likewise acknowledged in the House
of Hannover, according to the Article inserted, at the Prince’s
Desire, in my Demands.

And as to the rest of the Allies, I make no doubt of being
able to secure their several Interests.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

I have now communicated to you not only the Terms of
Peace, which may, by future Treaty, be obtained for my
own Subjects, but likewise the Proposals of France for satisfying
our Allies.

The former are such as I have reason to expect, to make
my People some Amends for that Great and Unequal Burden
which they have lain under thro the whole Course of this War;
and I am willing to hope, that none of our Confederates, espe-
cially those to whom so great Accessions of Dominion and
Power are to accrue by this Peace, will envy Britain her Share
in the Glory and Advantage of it.

The latter are not yet so perfectly adjusted, as a little more
Time might have rendered them: but the Season of the Year
making it necessary to put an End to this Session, I resolved
no longer to defer communicating these Matters to you.

I can make no doubt but you are fully persuaded, that no-
thing will be neglected on my Part, in the Progress of this Ne-
gotiation, to bring the Peace to an Happy and Speedy Issue;
and I depend on your entire Confidence in Me, and your cheer-
ful Concurrence with Me.

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