§ Her Majesty, in person, opened the Parliament, the usual ceremonies having been gone through, by the following most gracious Speech.
§ "My Lords and Gentlemen,
§ "I have the satisfaction to receive from Foreign Powers assurances of their friendly disposition, and of their earnest desire to maintain peace.
§ "The posture of affairs in the Levant had long been a cause of uneasiness, and a source of danger to the general tranquillity. With a view to avert the evils which a continuance of that state of things was calculated to occasion, I concluded with the Emperor of Austria, the King of Prussia, the Emperor of Russia, and the Sultan, a Convention intended to 2 effect a pacification of the Levant; to maintain the integrity and independence of the Ottoman empire; and thereby to afford additional security to the peace of Europe.
§ "I have given directions that this Convention shall be laid before you.
§ "I rejoice to be able to inform you that the measures which have been adopted in execution of these engagements have been attended with signal success; and I trust that the objects which the contracting parties had in view are on the eve of being completely accomplished.
§ "In the course of these transactions, my naval forces have co-operated with those of the Emperor of Austria, and with the land and sea forces of the Sultan, and have displayed upon all occasions their accustomed gallantry and skill.
3§ "Having deemed it necessary to send to the coast of China a naval and military force, to demand reparation and redress for injuries inflicted upon some of my subjects by the officers of the Emperor of China, and for indignities offered to an agent of my Crown, I, at the same time, appointed plenipotentiaries to treat upon these matters with the Chinese government.
§ "These plenipotentiaries were, by the last accounts, in negotiation with the government of China, and it will be a source of much gratification to me, if that government shall be induced by its own sense of justice to bring these matters to a speedy settlement by an amicable arrangement.
§ "Serious differences have arisen between Spain and Portugal, about the execution of a treaty concluded by those Powers in 1835, for regulating the navigation of the Douro. But both parties have accepted my mediation, and I hope to be able to effect a reconciliation between them upon terms honourable to both.
§ "I have concluded with the Argentine Republic, and with the Republic of Hayti, treaties for the suppression of the Slave-trade, which T have directed to be laid before you.
§ "Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
§ "I have directed the Estimates of the year to be laid before you.
§ "However sensible of the importance of adhering to the principles of economy, I feel it to be my duty to recommend that adequate provision be made for the exigencies of the public service.
§ "My Lords and Gentlemen.
§ "Measures will be submitted to 4 you without delay, which have for their object the more speedy and effectual administration of justice. The vital importance of this subject is sufficient to ensure for it your early and most serious consideration.
§ "The powers of the Commissioners appointed under the Act for the Amendment of the Laws relating to the Poor, expire at the termination of the present, year. I feel assured, that you will earnestly direct your attention to enactments which so deeply concern the interests of the community.
§ "It is always with entire confidence that I recur to the advice and assistance of my Parliament. I place my reliance upon your wisdom, loyalty, and patriotism; and I humbly implore of Divine Providence that all your councils may be so directed as to advance the great interests of morality and religion, to preserve peace, and to promote by enlightened legislation the welfare and happiness of all classes of my subjects.
§ As soon as the Queen had concluded the Speech, her Majesty was handed from the Throne, and, accompanied by Prince Albert, left the House in the same form as upon her entrance.
§ The House adjourned during pleasure.