§ After the royal assent had been given to the said Bills, his Majesty closed the session with the following Speech to both Houses:—
§ "My Lords and Gentlemen;
§ "I cannot release you from your attendance in Parliament, without assuring 1869 you how sensible I am of the attention you have paid to the many important objects which have been brought before you in the course of this long and laborious session.
§ "I continue to receive from foreign powers the strongest assurances of their friendly disposition towards this country; and I have the satisfaction of believing, that the differences which had unfortunately arisen between the court of St. Petersburgh and the Ottoman Porte are in such a train of adjustment as to afford a fair prospect that the peace of Europe will not be disturbed.
§ "Gentlemen of the House of Commons;
§ "I thank you for the supplies which you have granted me for the service of the present year, and for the wisdom you have manifested in availing yourselves of the first opportunity to reduce the interest of a part of the national debt, without the least infringement of parliamentary faith.
§ "It is most gratifying to me that you should have been enabled, in consequence