HL Deb 05 May 1856 vol 141 cc2028-9

"WE, Your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, in Parliament assembled, beg leave to return Your Majesty our sincere Acknowledgments and Thanks for the important Communication which Your Majesty has been graciously pleased to make to this House, of the General Treaty concluded at Paris on the Thirtieth of March, between Your Majesty, The Emperor of Austria, The Emperor of the French, The King of Prussia, The Emperor of Russia The King of Sardinia, and The Sultan, by which Peace has been re-established between Your Majesty, The Emperor of the French, The King of Sardinia, and The Sultan, on the one hand, and The Emperor of Russia on the other.

"WE humbly assure Your Majesty, that, while we should have deemed it our Duty cheerfully to afford Your Majesty our firm Support if it had unfortunately been found necessary to continue the War, we have learnt with Joy and Satisfaction that Your Majesty has been enabled to re-establish Peace on Conditions honourable to Your Majesty's Crown, and which fully accomplish the great Objects for which the War was undertaken.

"WE beg leave to express to Your Majesty the great Satisfaction which we feel at finding, that while those Alliances which have so mainly contributed to the vigorous and successful Prosecution of the War have been equally effective in the Consolidation of Peace, Powers which have not taken an active part in the War have combined with the Belligerents to give additional Firmness to the Arrangements by which the Repose of Europe is in future to be protected from Disturbance.

"WE beg leave to state to Your Majesty that we rejoice, that, notwithstanding the great Exertions which the late War has rendered necessary, the Resources of the Empire remain unimpaired.

"WE humbly express our Hope, that the Peace which has now been concluded may, under the Favour of Divine Providence, long continue to shed its Blessings over Europe, and that Harmony among Governments, and friendly Intercourse among Nations, may steadily promote the progress of Civilisation, and secure the Welfare and Happiness of Mankind."

House adjourned till To-morrow.