The States-General of Holland commenced its session on the 19th
instant ; When King William the Second, who has no reeently beet' in atith the kingly office by the abdieation of his father, delivered the following speech.— " altible and Mighty Lords—On occupying this seat for the tii.st time after having assumed the reins of government, iny tholielits turned to my highly venerated and dearly beloved Either, who for no long a series of years 11%!5 the ornament of the throne. Yoni. High lAlieditinesses :ire ne•plainted with the
motives which induced hitn to deliver to me the crown of the Net and thus to hastim the moment NV lien my des-this. would he more intimately united than ever with that of the kinplom. 1Ve all 'aspect his motive; but we turn our eyes with emotion to a ii,•eision destined to term: m' a reign which svill 1111 so many glorious pages in the anuals of our colid,ry-. May l'roviilence re- serve to the King, my listing., the enjoyment of that repose whieli lie has
sight! may he long live to he a witness of the abundant hat.vest, seek of which have btan so preateat sown his reign ! may the gr.:tend love
of the people of the Netherlands .11W ,I :Wet/11111;111y 16111. :111lt Seintte (0 hi ill 1 lx most grateful recompense of the constant care smith \\-111011 he has watched for move than a quarter of it century over the lemi iness of his people Strengthened by his example, I shall undertake to fulfil the task which hits 110W th!VOlVed 1111011 me. At this very moment I mit Sk.'11- sible of its importance; Mit, avitliont shi.itiliing from it, I place my
reliance on the effectual sitecolir of the :limit lli;.•,11. I reckon on th,: tried attachment oh' a nation which !allows how to appreviate every effort
dictated Iii' the love of public good; and 1 emu inced that I shall Mid s.upport in your High l‘lightinesses, who, with me, :lie guided by the same interests anil tOW:lettS Ile SAW Objeet, hut augmelding and consolidating the prosperity of my people, espovially lay the tliithful observance of this' funda-
mental laws of the Lingdoin, ills this prospect I esteem mysi•If happ:, to be ahle to open this session of yottr Digit l'revious to the solemn day in the last thrtnie•Itt of Novemher, I desire to assemble you
Its' in the capital, in order to third the constitutional tIn•nis of inauguration, and then to eonthrin, by oath, that to whii:11 I consider myself as immoliatel■- honnil at the very beginning of my reign. Your I light Might inesees will assuredly appreciate the lively joy with Willett I 1011 think ott t Ile 1.1e5.•1 lig silt“s ored on isly fismily by the birth of the Prince, the sun of my eldest sou the Prince of
Orange. If my ardent wishes are heard, this descendant of the House of Orange will he to the country what his ancestors have been or hope to be.
." Our relations with foreign powers announce a reciprocal desire to main- tam n the existing, friendship which it will be my constant endeavour to consoli- date and to confirm. The treaty of commerce with the Sublime Porte, con- cluded at Constantinople last summer, has been ratified by the two Govern- ments. The negotiations with France, Switzerland, and the Republic of Texas, for the interests of commerce and navi_tation, promise likewise a satis- factory result. The measures rendered necessary by-the multiplications and additions lately made to the fundamental laws of the kingdom have just been adopted, or are preparing to be so. It is agreeable to me to see among you, in consequence of these changes, meinhers of the Dutch.). of Limbure.: thus the bonds are strengthened which unite in one brotherly whole the int,•r•.'sts of that province with those .of the other parts of the kingdons. The army and the navy are in a satisfactory condition in proportion to the means granted.
" An appearance of' prosperity is generally remarked in the several branches of manufactures and industry. Public instruction continues to produce salu- tary results : however, iny reign will direct its attention maturely to consider the prudent ameliorations of which it may be susceptible. The new legislation of the Netherlands and the administration of justice proceed in their regular course. The prosperity of our East India possessions is a continual sifoject of gratitude.
" In the island of Sumatra, the forces by land and sea continue to act in unison in promoting the glory and consolidating the power of the Nethellauds If our finances have been sensibly affected by the events of late years, by hopes deceived and by fidse calculations, we may at least flatter ourselves that the progressive prosperity of the principal branches of the publie welfare, the durable enjoyment of peace, the introduction of useful mo•Iiiieat; els in the laws, and suitable econoiny, will heal these wounds. 'Inc mast complete communications and explanations respecting, the state of the finances, including fli e. of the
Syndicate, and the slippression of which will again proposed to yol. will be shortly laid before your High 3Ii.7litines-ses. in connexion with the state of the finances of the colonies. The nei•essary measures will be proposed to you to till up the deficit of past years, with wide,' these comma:de tiuns will acquaint you. At the same time, the busdeet of the expenditure usll, icc I.dd eanire your
High Tile hope. that in fetan•c tho exl•eadlture may be met without new loans, will be realized. Wiil It Y.:Attired; bat it will be indispensable to re:lei:oldish the alditlonai 'o•d, have lets sup. pressed. Necessary clianges will be iminediately m• •., in the iaw of excise on sofrar, in that for the eiteourg.ement of agricultur, a the tarif of import,
export, and transit-duzies, which at a future ned :•e entirely and eve-
statically remodelled. The neeoidition- with II-del:co, lay transfer of the part of the debt assigned to that eeigd • relative to other
finaneial objeets, have not been terminat : es-. 1 feel confident that the preliminaries towards is final arrangeme:: have no, made at nilleh. pro- gress that we may hope for a speedy iee:clusion. aed Mcriity Lords, the importance of the present ,iestAion to the interests ie tlie (mantes: d. mani- fest to al!. An entlinsia,m, roused by a sneers' lov.• :7 animate your Iligh Mightiness-es. ae,•mnpaiiiisl. I it: mialeration, prudence, and coinidence, which are
• ashed.
that union which is the leadine character of the silt be-ee
by the fundamental law between the Croeds and ib.• • the
nation, Ler us humbly confide the- of oar -chose
lenuls the destinies of princes and natons repose. art aid have Iiithrto never failed our country."