Lords Sitting of 10 September 1835

MINUTES.
Petitions presented. By the Earl of RODEN, from the Inhabitants of Rimpton, Somerset against the Separation of the Churches of England and Ireland; and from the Corporation of Tailors (Dublin); and from Drogheda, against the Irish Municipal Corporations' Bill.

PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.
The Usher of the Black Rodhaving summoned the Commons, the Speaker, attended by about thirty Members, came to the Bar.
The SPEAKERthen addressed his Majesty as follows: "May it please your Majesty—We, your Majesty's faithful Commons, attend you at the close of a Session unusually protracted, and of no ordinary interest. Your Majesty, at the opening of the Session, was generously pleased to declare, that the estimates which you had directed to be laid before the Commons were less in amount, than any on any former occasion within recent experience. The same character still belongs to the estimates as voted by the Commons, thus evincing a general and sincere desire to advance in steady and progressive reductions of expense, so far as may be consistent with the efficiency of the several services for which provision must be made.
"Arrangements consequent upon that generous and noble act, the Abolition of Slavery, have rendered it necessary to effect
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a loan of fifteen millions for the paymen of the compensation to be awarded to the owners of slaves; and it is consolatory and gratifying to find, that this loan has been effected under such circumstances, and on such terms, as to afford the most satisfactory proofs of the stability of the public credit of the empire.
"Unhappily, Sire, the condition of Ireland has not been such as to render it expedient to leave the people of that portion of the empire the unrestricted benefits of a free constitution. An Act has been passed by which provision has been made for the prompt trial of the guilty in cases of the disturbance of the public peace, and authority is given to resort to strong measures, in cases where there is cause to apprehend infractions of the law or disturbances of the public peace. A measure thus uniting efficient precautions with the vigorous enforcement of the law, may reasonably be expected to prove sufficient for the purpose, and to command general respect, because its provisions show consideration for those against whom it is directed, and because it has been conceived in a constitutional temper and just spirit.
"The means of improving the Municipal Corporations of England and Wales, and of establishing an effective system of local police, have occupied much of our time, and have been considered with unwearied care and attention. How we could most successfully adaptinstitutions framed in far different times to the increased intelligence, wealth, and numbers of the people—introduce popular election, and retain popular control, and obtain for the public service the persons best qualified to be useful to the public, provide for the impartial administration of justice, for the maintenance of order, and the enforcement of economy, were among the questions which it was necessary to weigh and consider; and we have zealously and honestly directed our efforts to promote and secure the attainment of these great objects.
"Your Majesty's faithful Commons will be amply repaid for their long and laborious exertions, if their deliberations have contributed to give real content to the people, renewed vigour and permanent stability to these important and valuable institutions.
"I now, Sire, on the part of the Commons, present the last Bill of Supply, entitled 'An Act to apply certain Monies as Ways and Means, and to appropriate the same for the service of the year 1835—to which, with all humility, we pray your Majesty's royal assent."

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The Royal Assent was accordingly immediately given to the Bill, together with the Capital Punishments' Abolition, the Fines and Recoveries Offices, the Letters Patent, and the Irish Piers Bills.
His Majesty was then pleased to make the following most gracious Speech:—
"My Lords and Gentlemen,
"I find with great satisfaction that the state of the public business enables me to relieve you from further attendance, and from the pressure of those duties which you have performed with so much zeal and assiduity.
"I receive from all Foreign Powers satisfactory assurances of their desire to maintain with me the most friendly understanding, and I look forward with confidence to the preservation of the general peace, which has been, and will be, the object of nay constant solicitude.
"I lament that the civil contest in the Northern Provinces of Spain has not yet been brought to a termination; but, taking a deep interest in the welfare of the Spanish monarchy, I shall continue to direct to that quarter my most anxious attention, in concert with the three Powers with whom I concluded the treaty of quadruple alliance; and I have, in furtherance of the objects of that treaty, exercised the power vested in me by the Legislature, and have granted permission to my subjects to engage in the service of the Queen of Spain.
"I have concluded with Denmark, Sardinia, and Sweden, fresh conventions, calculated to prevent the traffic in African slaves; I hope soon to receive the ratification of a similar treaty which has been signed with Spain.
"I am engaged in negotiations with other Powers in Europe and in South America for the same purpose, and I trust that ere long the united efforts of all civilized nations will suppress and extinguish this traffic;
"I perceive with entire approbation that you have directed your attention to the regulation of Municipal Corporations
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in England and Wales, and I have cheerfully given my assent to the Bill which you have passed for that purpose. I cordially concur in this important measure, which is calculated to allay discontent, to promote Peace and Union, and to procure for those communities the advantages of responsible government.
"I greatly rejoice that the internal condition of Ireland has been such as to have permitted you to substitute for the necessary severity of a law which has been suffered to expire, enactments of a milder character. No part of my duty is more grateful to my feelings than the mitigation of a penal statute in any case in which it can be effected consistently with the maintenance of order and tranquillity.
"Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
"I thank you for the readiness with which you have voted the supplies.
"You have provided not only for the expenses of the year, and for the interest upon the large sum awarded to the owners of slaves in my colonial possessions, but also for several unexpected and peculiar claims upon the justice and liberality of the nation.
"It is most gratifying to observe that not only have these demands been met without additional taxation, but that you have made some further progress in reducing the burdens of my people.
"I am enabled to congratulate you that the terms upon which the loan for the compensation to the proprietors of slaves has been obtained afford conclusive evidence of the flourishing state of public credit, and of that general confidence which is the result of a determination to fulfil the national engagements and to maintain inviolable the public faith."
"My Lords and Gentlemen,
"I know that I may securely rely upon your loyalty and patriotism, and I feel confident that in returning to your respective counties, and in resuming those functions which you discharge with so much advantage to the community, you

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will recommend to all classes of your countrymen obedience to the law, attachment to the constitution, and a spirit of temperate amendment, which, under Divine Providence, are the surest means of preserving the tranquillity and increasing the prosperity which this country enjoys."
The Lord Speaker (Lord Denman), by His Majesty's command, said—
"My Lords and Gentlemen,
"It is His Majesty's Royal will and pleasure, that this Parliament be prorogued to Tuesday, the 10th day of November next, to be then here holden: and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Tuesday, the 10th day of November next."
The Parliament was subsequently prorogued still further to the 4th of February, and was then ordered to meet for the despatch of business.