THE LORD CHANCELLORacquainted the House that Her Majesty had been pleased to grant two several 1225 Commissions, one for declaring Her Royal Assent to several Acts agreed upon by both Houses of Parliament, and the other for proroguing the Parliament:—And the Lords Commissioners—namely, The Lord Chancellor; The Lord President of the Council (The Duke of Richmond and Gordon); The Lord Chamberlain (The Marquess of Hertford); The EARL OF HARDWICKE; and the EARL OF BRADFORD—being in their Robes, and seated on a Form between the Throne and the Woolsack; and the Commons being come, with their Speaker, and the Commission to that purpose being read, the Royal Assent was given to several Bills.
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ "I am happy to be able to release you from your attendance in Parliament.
§ "My relations with all Foreign Powers are of a friendly character, and I look forward confidently to the maintenance of the good understanding which now prevails.
§ "The efforts which, in common with other Powers, I have made to bring about a settlement of the differences unfortunately existing between the Porte and its Christian subjects in Bosnia and Herzegovina have hitherto been unsuccessful, and the conflict begun in those Provinces has been extended to Servia and Montenegro. Should a favourable opportunity present itself, I shall be ready, in concert with My Allies, to offer My good offices for the purpose of mediation between the contending parties; bearing in mind alike the duties imposed upon Me by Treaty obligations and those which arise from considerations of humanity and policy.
§ "A difference has arisen between My Government and that of the 1226 United States, as to the proper construction of that Article of the Treaty of 9th August 1842, which relates to the mutual surrender of persons accused of certain offences. The inconveniences to both countries which would follow on a cessation of the practice of extradition are great and obvious, and I entertain the hope that a new arrangement may soon be arrived at, by which this matter may be placed on a satisfactory footing.
§ "I am deeply thankful that My dear Son, the Prince of Wales, has returned in good health from his lengthened journey through India. His presence in that part of My dominions has given occasion for the expression of feelings of loyalty and devotion to My Throne which I highly value.
§ "In pursuance of the power conferred upon Me, I have, by Proclamation, assumed the title of Empress of India. In making, as regards India, this addition to the ancient style of My Crown, I have desired to record, on an occasion of peculiar interest to Me, the earnest solicitude which I feel for the happiness of My Indian people.
§ "I trust that peace and order are re-established in the Malay Peninsula, and that the Rulers of the Native States will cheerfully accept the recommendations and assistance of My officers for the better government of their territories.
§ "The visit to this country of the President of the Orange Free State has resulted in a satisfactory settlement of the long controversy which has existed with reference to the Province of Griqua-Land, and an important advance has thus been made 1227 towards that friendly and cordial cooperation of neighbouring States which is essential to the interests of South Africa.
§ "The Conference on South African affairs, with regard to which Papers have already been laid before you, is now sitting in London, and cannot fail to contribute largely to the settlement of various important questions.
§ "Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
§ "I thank you for the liberal supplies which you have voted for the public service.
§ "The additional outlay required to place My army and navy upon a proper footing of efficiency, and the check which has been given to the advance of the revenue by the comparative stagnation of trade, have compelled me to propose to you an increase of taxation. I desire to acknowledge the readiness with which you have responded to that appeal, and at the same time to assure you that no effort shall be wanting to keep the expenditure of the country within the bounds of moderation.
§ "I notice with satisfaction the increasing attention paid by you to the question of Local Finance, and your greater watchfulness over the cost of services which are every year becoming more important, and the consideration of which ought not to be dissevered from that of Imperial expenditure.
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ "The Act which you have passed for the amendment of the Laws relating to Merchant Shipping will, I trust, promote the safety of our ships and seamen, without imposing un- 1228 necessary restrictions upon the conduct of a service in the prosperity of which our national interests are in so many ways involved.
§ "The measure for making further provision respecting the Elementary Education of the country is one of great importance, and will complete the work on which successive Parliaments have for many years been engaged, by securing a due attendance at school of the children for whose benefit the means and the machinery of Education have been so largely supplied.
§ "I have readily given My assent to a Bill for facilitating the Regulation and Improvement of Commons, and for making such amendments in the Inclosure Acts as will, I hope, tend to the preservation of open spaces in the neighbourhood of large towns, and to the increase of the health and comfort of My people.
§ "The serious evils arising from the Pollution of Rivers have long been the subject of public complaint, and I rejoice that you have passed a measure which, by checking those evils, will improve the sanitary condition of the country.
§ "I have observed with much satisfaction the arrangements which you have made for maintaining and increasing the efficiency of the Tribunal of Ultimate Appeal for the United Kingdom, by which, at the same time, the Judicial Committee of My Privy Council and My Intermediate Court of Appeal will be improved and strengthened.
§ "I anticipate the best results from the Act which you have passed providing safeguards against painful experiments upon Living Animals.
1229§ "I regret that pressure of other business has prevented the completion of your labours upon several measures of much importance. Among these I specially notice the Bills relating to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, to the Administration of Prisons, and to the Law affecting Maritime Contracts. I trust, however, that the attention which you have given to these questions in the past Session may facilitate their settlement in the next.
§ "In bidding you farewell, I pray that the blessing of Providence may rest on your recent labours, and accompany you in the discharge of all your duties."
§ 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 Her Commands, prorogue this Parliament to Tuesday the thirty-first day of October next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Tuesday the thirty-first day of October next.