Lords Sitting of 1 August 1849

MINUTES.
PUBLIC BILLS.—Received the Royal Assent.—Consolidated Fund (Appropriation); Cruelty to Animals Prevention; Boroughs Relief; New Forest and Waltham Forest; Inclosure Act (Extension of Powers); Municipal Corporations (Ireland); Collection of Rates (Dublin); Dublin Improvement; Pilotage); New Zealand Land Conveyances; Admiralty Jurisdiction in the Colonies; Leasehold Tenure of Lands (Ireland); General Board of Health; Metropolitan Sewers; Slave Trade (Persian Gulf); Treasury Instruments; Customs; Stamp, &c. Allowances; Workhouse Loans (Ireland); Turnpike Acts Continuance; Small Debts Act Amendment; Poor Relief (Ireland); Joint Stock Companies Act (1848) Amendment; Royal Pavilion (Brighton); Chapels of Ease (Ireland); Judgments (Ireland); Petty Bag, &c. Offices Amendment; Bankruptcy (Ireland); Poor Law Union Charges Act Amendment; Bankrupt Law Consolidation; Drainage of Lands; Nuisances Removal and Diseases Prevention; Defects in Leases Suspension; London Corporation.
PETITIONS PRESENTED. By Lord Campbell, from the University of Edinburgh, against any Alteration of the Law of Marriage.

THE RIVER PLATE.
The EARL of HARROWBYsaid, he had observed in one of the morning newspapers what professed to be an official copy of a convention to re-establish relations of friendship between France and the Argentine Confederation, which had been agreed upon between Generals Rosas and Oribe and the French Admiral Le Predeur. According to this convention, General Oribe, was to be acknowledged as President of the Republic of Uruguay. The articles of the convention were completely at variance with all the expectations which had been held out in that House; and he wished to ask whether the President of the Council was aware that a document of this kind had been presented to the French Government, and had received their sanction? He (the Earl of Harrowby) would urge Her Majesty's Government to use their influence with the French Government, with a view to prevent the independence of the Republic of Uruguay from being destroyed—that republic having been placed virtually under the protection of England.
The MARQUESS of LANSDOWNEstated that he had no knowledge of the specific terms of the treaty to which the noble Earl referred beyond what he had derived from the source mentioned by the noble Earl—the newspaper published that day. This was a transaction between the French Republic and General Rosas, President of the Agentine Republic, and Her Majesty's Government could have no official knowledge on the subject that was not obtained from communications from the French Government. Her Majesty's Government had taken measures to be apprised of the ratification of such a treaty; but, according to the last information they had received, no determination could be come to on this matter by the French Government until the return of the President of the French Republic from a lengthened journey. He (the Marquess of Lansdowne) must, therefore, decline stating what steps Her Majesty's Government might think it advisable to take until they had received communications from the French Government, expressing their views upon the question.

PROROGATION OF THE PARLIAMENT—SPEECH OF THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS.
The Parliament was this day prorogued by Commission.
THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS, namely, the Lord President of the Council (the Marquess of Lansdowne), the Lord Privy Seal (the Earl of Minto), the Post Master General (the Marquess of Clanricarde), the Earl of Saint Germans, and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Campbell), being seated at the foot of the Throne, and the Commons, preceded by their Speaker, being present, the Royal Assent was given to several Bills. The LORD PRESIDENT, on behalf of the LORDS COMMISSIONERS, then delivered the following Speech:—
"My Lords, and Gentlemen,
"WE have it in command from Her Majesty to inform you, that the State of Public Business enables Her to dispense with your Attendance in Parliament, and to close the present Session.
"HER Majesty has directed us to express Her Satisfaction with the Zeal and Assiduity with which you have discharged the laborious and anxious Duties, in the Performance of which you have been occupied.
"HER Majesty has given Her Assent to the important Measure you have passed to amend the Navigation Laws, in full Confidence that the Enterprise, Skill, and Hardihood of Her People will assure to them a full Share of the Commerce of the World, and maintain upon the Seas the ancient Renown of this Nation.
"HER Majesty has commanded us to acquaint you, that the Friendly Character of Her Relations with Foreign Powers affords Her a just Confidence in the Continuance of Peace.
"THE Preliminaries of Peace between Prussia and Denmark have been signed, under the Mediation of Her Majesty; and Her Majesty trusts that this Convention may prove the Forerunner of a definite and permanent Treaty.
"HER Majesty's Efforts will continue to be directed to promote the Restoration of Peace in those parts of Europe in which it has been interrupted.
"Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
"WE are commanded by Her Majesty to return you Her Thanks for the Provision which you have made for the Public Service.
"THE Public Expenditure has undergone considerable Reductions within the present Year, and Her Majesty will continue to apply a watchful Economy in every Branch of the Public Service.
"My Lords, and Gentlemen,
"WE are commanded by Her Majesty to congratulate you on the happy Termination of the War in the Punjaub. The Exertions made by the Government of India, and the Valour displayed by the Army in the Field, demand Her Majesty's warmest Acknowledgments.
"HER Majesty has observed with Gratification the Spirit of Obedience to the Laws which has been manifested by Her Subjects during the Period which has elapsed since Her Majesty last addressed Her Parliament.
"IT is the Characteristic of our Constitution that it renders the Maintenance of Order compatible with the fullest Enjoyment of Political and Civil Liberty.
"THE Satisfaction with which Her Majesty has viewed the peaceful Progress of Her People in Arts and Industry has been greatly alloyed by the Continuance of severe Distress in one Part of the United Kingdom.
"HER Majesty has observed with
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Pleasure your liberal Exertions to mitigate the Pressure of this Calamity; and Her Majesty commands us to thank you for your unremitting Attention to Measures calculated to improve the general Condition of Ireland. It is Her Majesty's fervent Hope that it may please the Almighty Disposer of Events to favour the Operation of those Laws which have been sanctioned by Parliament, and to grant to Her Irish People, as the Reward of that Patience and Resignation with which they have borne their protracted Sufferings, the Blessings of an abundant Harvest, and of internal Peace."
Then a Commission for Proroguing the Parliament was read; after which the LORD PRESIDENT said—
"My Lords, and Gentlemen,
"By virtue of Her Majesty's Commission, under the Great Seal, to us and other Lords directed, and now read, we do, in Her Majesty's Name and in obedience to Her Commands, prorogue this Parliament to Tuesday the Ninth Day of October next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Tuesday the Ninth Day of October next."