§ Her Majesty went to day in the usual State, and opened the Parliament in Person. His Majesty the King of Prussia preceded her Majesty by a few minutes, and was present in the House of Lords at the ceremony. The Commons having come to the Bar of the House of Peers, her Majesty read the following Royal Speech:—
§ My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ I CANNOT meet you in Parliament assembled, without making a public Acknowledgment of My Gratitude to Almighty God on account of the Birth 2 of The Prince, My Son; an Event which has completed the Measure of My domestic Happiness, and has been hailed with every Demonstration of affectionate Attachment to My Person and Government by My faithful and loyal People.
§ I AM confident that you will participate in the Satisfaction which I have derived from the Presence in this Country, of My good Brother and Ally, the King of Prussia, who, at My Request, undertook in Person the Office of Sponsor at the Christening of The Prince of Wales.
§ I RECEIVE from all Princes and States the continued Assurance of their earnest Desire to maintain the most friendly Relations with this Country.
§ IT is with great Satisfaction that I inform you, that I have concluded 3 with the Emperor of Austria, the King of the French, the King of Prussia, and the Emperor of Russia, a Treaty for the more effectual Suppression of the Slave Trade, which, when the Ratifications shall have been exchanged, will be communicated to Parliament.
§ THERE shall also be laid before you a Treaty which I have concluded with the same Powers, together with the Sultan, having for its Object the Security of the Turkish Empire, and the Maintenance of the general Tranquillity.
§ THE Restoration of My diplomatic and friendly Intercourse with the Court of Tehran has been followed by the Completion of a Commercial Treaty with the King of Persia, which I have directed to be laid before you.
§ I AM engaged in Negotiations with several Powers, which, I trust, by leading to Conventions founded on the just principle of mutual Advantage, may extend the Trade and Commerce of the Country.
§ I REGRET that I am not enabled to announce to you the Re-establishment of peaceful Relations with the Government of China.
§ THE uniform Success which has attended the hostile Operations directed against that Power, and my confidence in the Skill and Gallantry of My Naval and Military Forces, encourage the Hope on My Part, that our Differences with the Government of China will be brought to an early Termination, and our Commercial Relations with that Country placed on a satisfactory Basis.
§ Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
§ THE Estimates for the Year have 4 been prepared, and will be laid before you.
§ I RELY with entire Confidence on your Disposition, while you enforce the Principles of a wise Economy, to make that Provision for the Service of the Country which the Public Exigencies require.
§ My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ I RECOMMEND to your immediate Attention the State of the Finances and of the Expenditure of the Country.
§ You will have seen with Regret, that for several Years past, the annual Income has been inadequate to bear the Public Charges; and I feel confident, that fully sensible of the Evil which must result from a continued Deficiency of this Nature during Peace, you will carefully consider the best Means of averting it.
§ I RECOMMEND also to your Consideration the State of the Laws which affect the Import of Corn, and of other Articles, the Produce of Foreign Countries.
§ MEASURES will be submitted for your Consideration for the Amendment of the Law of Bankruptcy, and for the Improvement of the Jurisdiction exercised by the Ecclesiastical Courts in England and Wales.
§ IT will also be desirable that you should consider, with a view to their Revision, the Laws which regulate the Registration of Electors of Members to serve in Parliament.
§ I HAVE observed with deep Regret the continued Distress in the Manufacturing Districts of the Country.
§ THE Sufferings and Privations which have resulted from it have been borne with exemplary Patience and Fortitude.
5§ I FEEL assured that your Deliberations on the various important Matters which will occupy your Attention will be directed by a comprehensive Regard for the Interests and permanent Welfare of all Classes of My Subjects, and I fervently pray that they may tend in their Result to improve the National Resources, and to encourage the Industry and promote the Happiness of My People."