§ The LORDS COMMISSIONERS—namely, The LORD CHANCELLOR; The EARL 520 GRANVILLE (Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs); The EARL OF KIMBERLEY (Secretary of State for the Colonies); The LORD CARRINOTON; and The LOUD MONSON—being in their Robes, and seated on a Form between the Throne and the Woolsack; and the COMMONS being come, with their Speaker—
THE LORD CHANCELLOR, pursuant to Her Majesty's Command, delivered HER MAJESTY'S SPEECH, as follows:—
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ "AFTER a Session of remarkable duration, I am at length enabled to bring your labours to a close.
§ "I continue to hold relations of cordial amity with all Foreign Powers.
§ "The commercial negotiations with France, which were proceeding in the month of February, did not result in the conclusion of a Treaty. But the Government and Legislature of that country have pursued an enlightened policy; and there has not, in consequence, been any general falling-off in the dealings between the two countries, which at once promote their material well-being and strengthen the bonds of friendship now happily uniting them.
§ "The operations in Egypt, both naval and military, which a wise liberality enabled me to conduct upon an adequate scale, and which were prosecuted with such energy and fidelity in all the departments, were brought to an early and successful issue.
§ "I take this opportunity of placing upon record my gratitude to the able officers who commanded by sea and land, and to the victorious forces, of which my Indian army supplied a distinguished part.
§ "The recent events in Egypt have enhanced my obligations in regard to its affairs, of which I spoke to you at the beginning of your protracted Session.
521§ "I shall study to discharge my duties in such a manner as to maintain international engagements, to uphold and consolidate the privileges which have been successively acquired, to promote the happiness of the people and the 'prudent development of their institutions,' and to avoid any measure which might tend towards disturbing the tranquillity of the East.
§ "And I feel confident that my aims, and the result of my counsels, will commend themselves to the approval of the Powers, my allies, in their several relations to that interesting region.
§ "Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
§ "I thank you for the supplies which you have granted me to meet the various and extended wants of the public service.
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ "After a succession of unfavourable seasons in the greater portion of the United Kingdom, the produce of the land has, during the present year, been for the most part abundant, and trade is moderately active.
§ "The growth of the revenue, however, is sensibly retarded by a cause which must in itself be contemplated with satisfaction; I refer to the diminution in the receipts of the Exchequer from the duties on intoxicating liquors.
§ "In some parts of Ireland I am compelled to anticipate distress during the approaching winter.
§ "I have also to record with deep pain that the horrible crime of assassination has been rife in the Metropolitan City of Dublin; and there is a special call of duty upon the Execu- 522 tive authority to exercise with fidelity and firmness the powers with which it has been entrusted.
§ "In the social condition of the country at large, however, I have the satisfaction of noting that there has been a marked improvement; and the law has acted with renewed vigour under the provisions you have devised. I have an earnest hope that this improvement will be maintained and extended.
§ "I am indebted to your wisdom for having passed the measures which I deemed indispensable for restoring the supremacy of the law in Ireland, and for removing impediments to the wide and progressively enlarged action of the Land Act of 1881.
§ "You have also passed a variety of measures from which, in their several spheres of operation, I anticipate much advantage to my people.
§ "I could, indeed, have desired to congratulate you at the present time on your having been able to meet the wants of the country for practical and effective legislation on many well-known and weighty subjects, of high interest to large portions of the community, some of which I commended to your notice at the opening of the Session.
§ "After the recess, you will resume your labours under circumstances which, I trust, may prove more favourable to their accomplishment than those of the current year; and I rely with confidence on your energy and wisdom for the discharge, under the Divine blessing, of the arduous responsibilities which must ever attach to the Parliament of my Empire."
§ Then a Commission for proroguing the Parliament was read.
523§ 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 Thursday the fifteenth day of February next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Thursday the fifteenth day of February next.