§ This day being appointed for the Prorogation of the Parliament by Her Majesty in person, the necessary preparations were made for Her Majesty's reception.
§ Her Majesty entered the House, accompanied by the Prince Albert and by the Great Officers of State, about twenty minutes after One o'clock; and being seated on the Throne, and the Commons (who were sent for) being come with their 791 Speaker, he made the following Speech to Her Majesty:—
§ "MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN,
§ "We, Your Majesty's faithful Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, attend Your Majesty, after a protracted and laborious Session, with our last Bills of Supply.
§ "After a most patient and careful examination of the Estimates, which, by your Majesty's commands, were laid before us, we have made every practicable reduction in the public expenditure, at the same time that we have had regard to the financial state and prospects of this country as affected by the commercial embarrassments of the past year, and by the interruption of trade consequent upon the late political events in Europe. We have taken every precaution to secure the efficiency of all the departments of the public service.
§ "In obedience to Your Majesty's most gracious recommendation, which was communicated to us by the Lords Commissioners at the commencement of the Session, our attention has been specially directed to measures relating to public health. It is impossible to overrate the importance of a subject so deeply affecting the comfort and happiness of the poorer classes; and we confidently hope that if the measures which have been passed are carried out in the same spirit in which they have been framed, they will greatly tend to lessen the amount of human suffering, and to promote the moral improvement as well as the contentment of the labouring classes in densely populous districts.
§ "Not unmindful of the condition of Ireland, nor of the distressed state of the poor in that country, owing to the limited demand for labour, we have provided additional funds, arising from the repayment of previous loans, to be expended on public works; and we have also removed the impediments to the sale of encumbered estates, in order to encourage, as much as possible, the application of capital to the improvement of land.
792§ "The spirit of insubordination which has prevailed in various parts of the country, especially in Ireland, has forced upon our consideration topics of a grave and far more anxious character. We have cordially concurred in those measures which have been thought necessary to secure obedience to the laws, and to repress and prevent outrage and rebellion.
§ "Deeply sensible of the value of those institutions under which we have the happiness to live, no effort on our part has been wanting to preserve them from the evil designs of misguided men, who, taking advantage of a season of temporary distress, have endeavoured to excite discontent and insurrection.
§ "We have witnessed with gratitude and proud satisfaction the unequivocal expression, on the part of the great mass of the people of those realms, of attachment to their Sovereign and respect for the law; and we, as their representatives, participating to the fullest extent in these feelings, now tender to Your Majesty the sincere expression of our devotion and loyalty."
§ And the Royal Assent having been given to several Bills, HER MAJESTY was then pleased to make a most Gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament; as follows:—
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ "I am happy to be able to release you from the Duties of a laborious and protracted Session.
§ "The Act for the Prevention of Crime and Outrage in Ireland, which received My Assent at the Commencement of the Session, was attended by the most beneficial Effects. The open Display of Arms intended for Criminal Purposes was checked; the Course of Justice was no longer interrupted; and several atrocious Murderers, who had spread Terror through the Country, were apprehended, tried, and convicted.
§ "The Distress in Ireland conse- 793 quent upon successive Failures in the Production of Food has been mitigated by the Application of the Law for the Relief of the Poor, and by the Amount of charitable Contributions raised in other Parts of the United Kingdom.
§ "On the other hand, organised Confederacies took advantage of the existing Pressure to excite My suffering Subjects to Rebellion. Hopes of Plunder and Confiscation were held out to tempt the distressed, while the most visionary Prospects were exhibited to the ambitious. In this Conjuncture I applied to your Loyalty and Wisdom for increased Powers; and, strengthened by your prompt Concurrence, My Government was enabled to defeat, in a few Days, Machinations which had been prepared during many Months. The Energy and Decision shown by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in this Emergency deserve My warmest Approbation.
§ "In the Midst of these Difficulties you have continued your Labours for the Improvement of the Laws; the Act for facilitating the Sale of Incumbered Estates will, I trust, gradually remove an Evil of great Magnitude in the Social State of Ireland.
§ "The System of perpetual Entails of Land established in Scotland produced very serious Evils both to Heirs of Entail and to the Community, and I have had great Satisfaction in seeing it amended upon Principles which have long been found to operate beneficially in this Part of the United Kingdom.
§ "I have given My cordial Assent to the Measures which have in view the Improvement of the Public Health, and I entertain an earnest Hope that a Foundation has been 794 laid for continual Advances in this beneficent Work.
§ "Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
§ "I have to thank you for the Readiness with which you have granted the Supplies necessary for the Public Service.
§ "I shall avail Myself of every Opportunity which the Exigencies of the State may allow for enforcing Economy.
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ "I have renewed in a formal Manner My Diplomatic Relations with the Government of France. The good Understanding between the Two Countries has continued without the slightest Interruption.
§ "Events of deep Importance have disturbed the internal Tranquillity of many of the States of Europe, both in the North and in the South. These Events have led to Hostilities between neighbouring Countries.
§ "I am employing My good Offices, in concert with other friendly Powers, to bring to an amicable Settlement these Differences; and I trust that our Efforts may be successful.
§ "I am rejoiced to think that an increasing Sense of the Value of Peace encourages the Hope that the Nations of Europe may continue in the Enjoyment of its Blessings. Amidst these Convulsions I have had the Satisfaction of being able to preserve Peace for My own Dominions, and to maintain our domestic Tranquillity. The Strength of our Institutions has been tried, and has not been found wanting, I have studied to preserve the People committed to My Charge in the Enjoyment of that temperate Freedom which they so 795 justly value. My People, on their Side, feel too sensibly the Advantages of Order and Security to allow the Promoters of Pillage and Confusion any Chance of Success in their wicked Designs.
§ "I acknowledge with grateful Feelings the many Marks of Loyalty and Attachment which I have received from all Classes of my People. It is My earnest Hope that by cultivating Respect to the Law, and Obedience to the Precepts of Religion, the Liberties of this Nation may, by the Blessings of Almighty God, be perpetuated."
Then the LORD CHANCELLOR,by Her Majesty's Command, said—
"My Lords, and Gentlemen,
"It is Her Majesty's Royal Will and Pleasure that this Parliament be prorogued to Thursday, the Second Day of November next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Thursday, the Second Day of November next."
Her Majesty and Prince Albert, accompanied by the usual Royal attendants, then retired, and the rest of the assembly shortly after separated.