§ The Session was this day opened by Her Majesty in Person with the following most Gracious Speech:—
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ "It affords Me great Satisfaction again to meet you in Parliament, and to have the Opportunity of profiting by your Assistance and Advice.
§ "I entertain a confident Hope that the general Peace, so necessary for the Happiness and Prosperity of all Nations, will continue uninterrupted.
§ "My friendly Relations with the King of the French, and the good understanding happily established 2 between My Government and that of His Majesty, with the continued Assurances of the peaceful and amicable Dispositions of all Princes and States, confirm Me in this Expectation.
§ "I have directed that the Treaty which I have concluded with the Emperor of China, shall be laid before you; and I rejoice to think that it will in its Results prove highly advantageous to the Trade of this Country.
§ "Throughout the whole course of My Negotiations with the Government of China I have uniformly disclaimed the Wish for any exclusive Advantages.
§ "It has been My Desire that equal Favour should be shown to the Industry and Commercial Enterprize of all Nations.
3§ "The Hostilities which took place during the past Year in Scinde have led to the Annexation of a considerable Portion of that Country to the British Possessions in the East.
§ "In all the Military Operations, and especially in the Battles of Meeanee and Hydrabad, the Constancy and Valour of the Troops, Native and European, and the Skill and Gallantry of their distinguished Commander, have been most conspicuous.
§ "I have directed that additional Information, explanatory of the Transactions in Scinde, shall be forthwith communicated to you.
§ "Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
§ "The Estimates for the ensuing Year will be immediately laid before you.
§ "They have been prepared with a strict Regard to Economy, and at the same Time with a due Consideration of those Exigencies of the Public Service which are connected with the Maintenance of our Maritime Strength, and the multiplied Demands on the Naval and Military Establishments from the various Parts of a widely extended Empire.
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ "I congratulate you on the improved Condition of several important Branches of the Trade and Manufactures of the Country.
§ "I trust that the increased Demand for Labour has relieved, in a corresponding Degree, many Classes of My faithful Subjects from Sufferings and Privations, which at former Periods I have had occasion to deplore.
§ "For several successive Years the 4 annual Produce of the Revenue fell short of the Public Expenditure.
§ "I confidently trust that in the present Year the Public Income will be amply sufficient to defray the Charges upon it.
§ "I feel assured that, in considering all Matters connected with the Financial Concerns of the Country, you will bear in mind the evil Consequences of accumulating Debt during the Time of Peace, and that you will firmly resolve to uphold that Public Credit the Maintenance of which concerns equally the permanent Interests and the Honour and Reputation of a great Country.
§ "In the Course of the present Year the Opportunity will occur of giving Notice to the Bank of England on the Subject of the Revision of its Charter.
§ "It may be advisable that during this Session of Parliament, and previously to the Arrival of the Period assigned for the giving of such Notice, the State of the Law with regard to the Privileges of the Bank of England and to other Banking Establishments should be brought under your Consideration.
§ "At the Close of the last Session of Parliament I declared to you my firm Determination to maintain inviolate the Legislative Union between Great Britain and Ireland.
§ "I expressed at the same Time my earnest Desire to co-operate with Parliament in the Adoption of all such Measures as might tend to improve the social Condition of Ireland, and to develope the natural Resources of that Part of the United Kingdom.
§ "I am resolved to act in strict Conformity with this Declaration.
5§ "I forbear from Observation on Events in Ireland, in respect to which Proceedings are pending before the proper legal Tribunal.
§ "My Attention has been directed to the State of the Law and Practice with regard to the Occupation of Land Ireland.
§ "I have deemed it advisable to institute extensive local Inquiries into a Subject of so much Importance, and have appointed a Commission, with ample Authority to conduct the requisite Investigation.
§ "I recommend to your early Consideration the Enactments at present in force in Ireland concerning the Registration of Voters for Members of Parliament.
§ "You will probably find that a Revision of the Law of Registration, taken in conjunction with other Causes at present in operation, would produce a material Diminution of the Number of County Voters, and that it may be advisable on that Account to consider the State of the Law with a view to an Extension of the County Franchise in Ireland.
§ "I commit to your deliberate Consideration the various important Questions of Public Policy which will necessarily come under your Review, with full Confidence in your Loyalty and Wisdom, and with an earnest Prayer to Almighty God to direct and favour your Efforts to promote the Welfare of all Classes of My People."
§ The House having resumed,