Lords Sitting of 16 August 1838

MINUTES.
Petitions presented. By Lord LYNDHURST from the Chamber of Commerce, Bristol, for Protection to Foreign Trade.

PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.
Her Majesty went in State to the House of Peers and prorogued the Parliament.
Her Majesty being seated on the Throne and the Commons with Mr. Speaker at their head, having come to the bar,
The Speaker addressed Her Majesty as follows:—
"Most Gracious Sovereign,
"We, your faithful Commons, approach your Majesty at the close of a laborious and unusually protracted Session of Parliament. The serious disturbances which unhappily broke out in the province of Lower Canada demanded our immediate attention. It was our first care to place at the disposal of your Majesty such means as we deemed to be indispensable for the restoration of order and the maintenance of future tranquillity.
"In considering, as it was our duty to do, the causes which had led to these deplorable events, we found that the discoid which had so long existed between the different branches of the Government and Legislature had rendered it impossible to conduct public affairs with that efficiency and harmony which were essential to the prosperity and safety of that province.
"Under this conviction we felt, that it was necessary to interpose by adopting a vigorous and decisive measure, and we have passed an Act suspending for a limited time the constitution of Lower Canada, and have given large and extensive powers to be exercised under the control of your Majesty, and on the responsibility of your Ministers. We are conscious that such a measure can only be defended by the deepest conviction of its necessity, and we anxiously look for our justification in the early re-establishment of the free institutions of that important colony, with such amendments as may best secure the hap-
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piness of its people, as well as cement its union with the mother country.
"Among the subjects recommended to our consideration in your Majesty's gracious speech on the opening of the Parliament, there was none that presented greater difficulties, or which demanded more care and circumspection, than the provision to be made for the destitute in Ireland. We felt that no measure for the introduction of a poor-law into a country circumstanced as Ireland is with respect to the number and condition of its population could be proposed without incurring heavy responsibility; but, looking at the example of what had been done on this subject by former Parliaments with respect to England, we thought that the time was come when we might legislate for Ireland with safety and with a reasonable hope of success.
"We have firmly adhered to those principles which have been sanctioned by general concurrence and by experience, but we have not carried them further than was necessary to give them a fair chance of success, and to meet the pressing exigency of the case. If the execution of this most important law shall be watched over and guided by the same prudent and impartial spirit which governed our deliberations in its enactment, we confidently hope that the benefits which it is calculated to confer will be gradually developed, that it will be found to be just towards all who are affected by its provisions, and that it will eventually be the means of greatly improving the comforts and the habits of the people of Ireland.
"We have passed an Act abolishing compositions for tithes in Ireland, and have substituted rent-charges, payable by those who have a perpetual interest in the land. The exaction of tithes from those who were either unable, or who refused to pay, has been a fruitful source of strife, alike injurious to the public peace and the real interests of the Church. We have given the strongest proof of our de-

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sire to extinguish these evils, and to procure present repose and tranquillity, by making a liberal and munificent grant to indemnify in certain cases those to whom arrears of compositions for tithes are due.
"We have mitigated the severity of the law, and the sufferings of the unfortunate, by abolishing in certain cases imprisonment for debt, and we have endeavoured to increase the usefulness of the church by abridging the holding of benefices in plurality, and by making better provision for the residence of the clergy. In passing these measures we have again recorded our conviction that the surest way to maintain respect for our laws and attachment to our institutions is by gradually introducing such amendments as are most likely to recommend them to the improving opinions and increasing knowledge of the educated classes of the community.
"We have made provision with liberality, but without improvidence, for the necessary expenditure of the year, as also for those additional expenses arising from the events in Canada.
"We now tender to your Majesty the last Act of Supply of the present Session, entitled, 'An Act for appropriating the surplus of the Consolidated Fund to the service of the year 1838.'"
Her Majesty was then pleased to give the Royal assent to the following Bills:—The Consolidated Fund (Appropriation), Tin Duties, Canada Government Indemnity, Private Bill Deposit, the Valuation of Lands (Ireland), Personal Diligence (Scotland), the Custom Duties, the County Treasurers (Ireland), the Imprisonment for Debt, the Sheriffs' Courts (Scotland), and the St. Saviour's, Southwark, Free Grammar School Bills.
Her Majesty then read in a clear and distinct voice the following gracious speech:—
"My Lords and Gentlemen,
"The state of public business enables me to close this protracted and laborious Session.
"I have to lament that the civil war in Spain forms an exception to the general tranquillity. I continue to receive from all Foreign Powers the strongest assurances of their desire to maintain with me the most amicable relations.
"The disturbances and insurrections which had unfortunately broken out in Upper and Lower Canada have been promptly suppressed, and I entertain a confident hope that firm and judicious measures will empower you to restore a constitutional form of Government, which unhappy events have compelled you for a time to suspend.
"I rejoice at the progress which has been made in my colonial possessions towards the entire abolition of Negro Apprenticeship.
"I have observed with much satisfaction the attention which you have bestowed upon the amendment of the domestic institutions of the country. I trust that the mitigation of the law of Imprisonment for Debt will prove at once favourable to the liberty of my subjects, and safe for commercial credit, and that the Established Church will derive increased strength and efficiency from the restriction of the granting of Benefices in Plurality.
"I have felt great pleasure in giving my assent to the Bill for the Relief of the Destitute Poor in Ireland. I cherish the expectation that its provisions have been so cautiously framed, and will be so prudently executed, that whilst they contribute to relieve distress, they will tend to preserve order, and to encourage habits of industry and exertion.
"I trust likewise that the Act which you have passed relating to the

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Composition for Tithe in Ireland will increase the security of that property, and promote internal peace.
"Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
"I cannot sufficiently thank you for your despatch and liberality in providing for the expenses of my household, and the maintenance of the honour and dignity of the Crown. I offer you my warmest acknowledgments for the addition which you have made to the income of my beloved mother.
"I thank you for the supplies which you have voted for the ordinary public service, as well as for the readiness with which you have provided means to meet the extraordinary expenses rendered necessary by the state of my Canadian possessions.
"My Lords and Gentlemen,
"The many useful measures which you have been able to consider, while the settlement of the Civil List, and the state of Canada, demanded so much of your attention, are a satisfactory proof of your zeal for the public good. You are so well acquainted with the duties which now devolve upon you in your respective counties, that it is unnecessary to remind you of them. In the discharge of them you may securely rely upon my firm support, and it only remains to express an humble hope that Divine Providence may watch over us all, and prosper our united efforts for the welfare of our country.
The Lord Chancellorthen, by her Majesty's command, declared Parliament to stand prorogued until Thursday, the 11th of October next, to be then here holden, and her Majesty, after bowing to the assembled Lords and Commons, retired,