§ Her Majesty went in State to the House of Lords this day, and opened the Parliament by the following Speech:—
§ "My Lords and Gentlemen,
§ "I rejoice to meet you again in Parliament. I am particularly desirous of recurring to your advice and assistance at a period when many matters of great importance demand your serious and deliberate attention.
§ "I continue to receive from Foreign Powers gratifying assurances of their desire to maintain with me the most friendly relations.
§ "I have concluded with the Emperor of Austria a Treaty of Commerce, which, I trust, will extend 2 and improve the intercourse between my subjects and those of the Emperor.
§ "I have also concluded a Treaty of the same kind with the Sultan, calculated to place the commercial relations between my dominions and the Turkish Empire upon a better and more secure footing.
§ "I have directed copies of those Treaties to be laid before you.
§ "I have been engaged, in concert with Austria, France, Prussia, and Russia, in negotiations, with a view to a final settlement of the differences between Holland and Belgium.
§ "A definitive treaty of peace, founded upon anterior arrangements, which have been acceded to by both parties, has, in consequence, been proposed to the Dutch and Belgium Governments. I have the satisfac- 3 tion to inform you, that the Dutch Government has already signified to the Conference its acceptance of that Treaty, and I trust that a similar announcement from the Belgian Government will put an end to that disquietude which the present unsettled state of these affairs has necessarily produced.
§ "The warranty of the five Allied Powers, affords satisfactory security for the preservation of peace.
§ "I lament the continuance of the civil war in Spain, which engages my anxious and undiminished attention.
§ "Differences which have arisen have occasioned the retirement of my Minister from the Court of Teheran. I indulge, however, the hope of learning that a satisfactory adjustment of these differences will allow of the re-establishment of my relations with Persia upon their former footing of friendship.
§ "Events connected with the same differences have induced the Governor-General of India to take measures for protecting British interests in that quarter of the world, and to enter into engagements, the fulfilment of which may render military operations necessary. For this purpose such preparations have been made as may be sufficient to resist aggression from any quarter, and to maintain the integrity of my Eastern dominions.
§ "The Reform and Amendment of the Municipal Corporations of Ireland are essential to the interests of that part of my dominions.
§ "It is also urgent that you should apply yourselves to the prosecution and completion of those measures which have been recommended by 4 the Ecclesiastical Commissioners of England, for the purpose of increasing the efficiency of the Established Church, and of confirming its hold upon the affection and respect of my people.
§ "The better enforcement of the law, and the more speedy administration of justice, are of the first importance to the welfare of the community; and I feel assured that you will be anxious to devote yourselves to the examination of the measures which will be submitted to you for the purpose of attaining these beneficial results.
§ "Gentlemen of the House of, Commons,
§ "I have directed the annual Estimates to be prepared and laid before you.
§ "Adhering to the, principles of economy, which it is my desire to enforce in every department of the State, I feel it my duty to recommend that adequate provision be made for the exigencies of the public service. I fully rely on your loyalty and patriotism to maintain the efficiency of those Establishments which are essential to the strength and security of the country.
§ "My Lords and Gentlemen,
§ "It is with great satisfaction that I am enabled to inform you that, throughout the whole of my West Indian possessions, the period fixed by law for the final and complete emancipation of the negroes has been anticipated by Acts of the Colonial Legislatures; and that the transition from the temporary system of apprenticeship to entire freedom has taken place without any disturbance 5 of public order and tranquillity. Any measures which may be necessary, in order to give full effect to this great and beneficial change, will, I have no doubt, receive your careful attention.
§ "I have to acquaint you, with deep concern, that the province of Lower Canada has again been disturbed by insurrection, and that hostile incursions have been made into Upper Canada by certain lawless inhabitants of the United States of North America, These violations of the public peace have been promptly suppressed by the valour of my forces and the loyalty of my Canadian subjects. The president of the United States has called upon the citizens of the Union to abstain from proceedings so incompatible with the friendly relations which subsist between Great Britain and the United States.
§ "I have directed full information upon all these matters to be laid before you, and I recommend the present state of these provinces to your serious consideration. I rely upon you to support my firm determination to maintain the authority of my Crown, and I trust that your wisdom will adopt such measures as will secure to those parts of my empire the benefit of internal tranquillity, and the full advantages of their own great national resources.
§ "I have observed, with pain, the persevering efforts which have been made, in some parts of the country, to excite my subjects to disobedience and resistance to the law, and to recommend dangerous and illegal practices. For the counteraction of all such designs, I depend upon the efficacy of the law, which it will be my duty to enforce—upon the good sense 6 and right disposition of my people—upon their attachment to the principles of justice, and their abhorrence of violence and disorder.
§ "I confidently commit all these great interests to your wisdom, and I implore Almighty God to assist and prosper your counsels."