§ The LORDS COMMISSIONERS — namely, The LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord Westbury); The LORD STEWARD OF THE HOUSEHOLD (The Earl of St. Germans); The EARL RUSSELL (one of the Principal Secretaries of State); and The LORD KINGSDOWN—being in their robes, and seated on a Form placed between the Throne and the Woolsack; and the COMMONS being come with their Speaker, the ROYAL ASSENT was given to several Bills.
1209§ Then THE LORD CHANCELLOR delivered the Speech of the LORDS COMMISSIONERS as follows:—
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ "WE are commanded by Her Majesty to release you from further Attendance in Parliament, and at the same Time to convey to you Her Majesty's Acknowledgments for the Zeal and Assiduity with which you have applied yourselves to the Performance of your Duties during the Session now brought to a Close.
§ "HER Majesty commands us to inform you that Her Relations with Foreign Powers are friendly and satisfactory, and that Her Majesty trusts there is no Danger of any Disturbance of the Peace of Europe.
§ "THE Civil War which has for some Time been raging among the States of the North American Union has, unfortunately, continued in unabated Intensity; and the Evils with which it has been attended have not been confined to the American Continent; but Her Majesty, having from the Outset determined to take no Part in that Contest, has seen no Reason to depart from the Neutrality to which She has steadily adhered.
§ "DISTURBANCES have taken place in some of the Frontier Provinces of the Turkish Empire, and her Majesty has instructed Her Ambassador at Constantinople to attend a Conference to be held in that City by the Representatives of the Powers who were Parties to the Treaty of Paris of 1856. Her Majesty trusts that the Questions to be dealt with in that Conference will be settled in a Manner consistent with the Treaty Engagements of the Allies, and in accordance with the just Rights of The Sultan, and the Welfare of 1210 the Christian Inhabitants of his Dominions.
§ "HER Majesty's Forces in China, together with those of The Emperor of the French, have lately been employed in co-operation with those of The Emperor of China, in protecting some of the chief Seats of British Commerce in China from Injury by the Civil War which is laying waste Portions of that vast Empire.
§ "HER Majesty commands us to inform you that She has concluded a Commercial Treaty with The King of the Belgians, by which the Trade of Her Majesty's Subjects in Belgium will be placed, generally, on the Footing of the most favoured Nation.
§ "Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
§ "HER Majesty commands us to convey to you Her warm Acknowledgments for the liberal Supplies which you have granted for the Service of the present Year; and Her Majesty thanks you for having also made Provision towards placing Her Majesty's Dockyards and Arsenals in a permanent State of Defence.
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ "HER Majesty commands us to express to you the Admiration with which She has witnessed the undiminished Zeal and the patriotic Spirit which continue to animate Her Volunteer Forces, as well as the Military Efficiency which they have attained.
§ "HER Majesty has observed with Satisfaction the kindly Intercourse which has subsisted between Her Majesty's Subjects and the numerous Foreigners who have been attracted this Year to the United Kingdom, and 1211 Her Majesty trusts that the Interchange of mutual Courtesies will strengthen the Foundations of International Friendship and Goodwill.
§ "HER Majesty has given Her ready Assent to an Act for carrying into effect the Treaty which Her Majesty has concluded with The President of the United States for the Suppression of the Slave Trade, and Her Majesty trusts that the Co-operation of the United States Navy with Her own may go far to extinguish the desolating Crime against which that Treaty is directed.
§ "HER Majesty earnestly hopes that the Steps which have been taken for rendering more effectual the Aid provided by Parliament for the Extension of Education among the poorer Classes of Her Subjects will tend to promote an Object of great national Importance.
§ "HER Majesty has given Her willing Assent to many Measures of public Utility which you have submitted to Her during this Session.
§ "THE severe Distress which prevails in some of the Manufacturing Districts has inspired Her Majesty with deep Concern and warm Sympathy, mingled with Admiration of the manly Bearing and exemplary Fortitude with which the Pressure has been endured. Her Majesty trusts that the Act for enabling Boards of Guardians to provide additional Means of Relief will mitigate that Distress.
§ "THE Act for rendering more easy the Transfer of Land will add to the Value of real Property, will make Titles more simple and secure, and Trill diminish the Expense attending Purchases and Sales.
1212§ "THE Act for the better Regulation of Parochial Assessments will tend to a more equal Distribution of local Taxation; while the Act for the better Administration of the Highways will, Her Majesty trusts, improve the Means of Communication in many Parts of the Country.
§ "THE Act for establishing Uniformity of Weights and Measures in Ireland will apply a Remedy to Inconveniences which have been much felt and complained of, as affecting the Trading Transactions in that Part of the United Kingdom; and the Act for amending the Law relating to the Poor will extend to the poorer Classes of Her Majesty's Subjects in Ireland better Means of obtaining Relief and Medical Attendance.
§ "THE Act for the better Regulation of Merchant Shipping, Her Majesty trusts, will prove advantageous to the Maritime Commerce of the Country.
§ "IN returning to your several Counties, you will still have important Duties to perform; and Her Majesty fervently prays that the Blessing of ALMIGHTY GOD may assist your Efforts, and may direct them to the Attainment of the Object of Her Majesty's constant Solicitude, the Welfare and Happiness of Her People."
§ Then a Commission for proroguing the Parliament was read.
§ After which
§ 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 1213 Her Commands, prorogue this Parliament to Friday the Twenty-fourth Day of October next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Friday, the Twenty-fourth Day of October next.