§ The Parliament was this day prorogued by Commission.
1158THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS, namely, the Lord President of the Council (the Marquess of Lansdowne), the Lord Privy Seal (the Earl of Minto), the Post Master General (the Marquess of Clanricarde), the Earl of Saint Germans, and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Campbell), being seated at the foot of the Throne, and the Commons, preceded by their Speaker, being present, the Royal Assent was given to several Bills. The LORD PRESIDENT, on behalf of the LORDS COMMISSIONERS, then delivered the following Speech:—
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ "WE have it in command from Her Majesty to inform you, that the State of Public Business enables Her to dispense with your Attendance in Parliament, and to close the present Session.
§ "HER Majesty has directed us to express Her Satisfaction with the Zeal and Assiduity with which you have discharged the laborious and anxious Duties, in the Performance of which you have been occupied.
§ "HER Majesty has given Her Assent to the important Measure you have passed to amend the Navigation Laws, in full Confidence that the Enterprise, Skill, and Hardihood of Her People will assure to them a full Share of the Commerce of the World, and maintain upon the Seas the ancient Renown of this Nation.
§ "HER Majesty has commanded us to acquaint you, that the Friendly Character of Her Relations with Foreign Powers affords Her a just Confidence in the Continuance of Peace.
§ "THE Preliminaries of Peace between Prussia and Denmark have been signed, under the Mediation of Her Majesty; and Her Majesty trusts that this Convention may prove the Forerunner of a definite and permanent Treaty.
1159§ "HER Majesty's Efforts will continue to be directed to promote the Restoration of Peace in those parts of Europe in which it has been interrupted.
§ "Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
§ "WE are commanded by Her Majesty to return you Her Thanks for the Provision which you have made for the Public Service.
§ "THE Public Expenditure has undergone considerable Reductions within the present Year, and Her Majesty will continue to apply a watchful Economy in every Branch of the Public Service.
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ "WE are commanded by Her Majesty to congratulate you on the happy Termination of the War in the Punjaub. The Exertions made by the Government of India, and the Valour displayed by the Army in the Field, demand Her Majesty's warmest Acknowledgments.
§ "HER Majesty has observed with Gratification the Spirit of Obedience to the Laws which has been manifested by Her Subjects during the Period which has elapsed since Her Majesty last addressed Her Parliament.
§ "IT is the Characteristic of our Constitution that it renders the Maintenance of Order compatible with the fullest Enjoyment of Political and Civil Liberty.
§ "THE Satisfaction with which Her Majesty has viewed the peaceful Progress of Her People in Arts and Industry has been greatly alloyed by the Continuance of severe Distress in one Part of the United Kingdom.
§ "HER Majesty has observed with 1160 Pleasure your liberal Exertions to mitigate the Pressure of this Calamity; and Her Majesty commands us to thank you for your unremitting Attention to Measures calculated to improve the general Condition of Ireland. It is Her Majesty's fervent Hope that it may please the Almighty Disposer of Events to favour the Operation of those Laws which have been sanctioned by Parliament, and to grant to Her Irish People, as the Reward of that Patience and Resignation with which they have borne their protracted Sufferings, the Blessings of an abundant Harvest, and of internal Peace."
§ Then a Commission for Proroguing the Parliament was read; after which the LORD PRESIDENT said—
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ "By virtue of Her Majesty's Commission, under the Great Seal, to us and other Lords directed, and now read, we do, in Her Majesty's Name and in obedience to Her Commands, prorogue this Parliament to Tuesday the Ninth Day of October next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Tuesday the Ninth Day of October next."