THE PARLIAMENT,which had been prorogued successively from the 15th August to the 15th October, thence to the 14th November, thence to the 17th December, and thence to the 4th February, met this day for despatch of business.
The Session of the Parliament was opened by the QUEEN in Person. Being seated on the Throne, and the Commons being at the Bar, with their Speaker, HER MAJESTY was pleased to make a most gra- 2 cious Speech to both Houses of Parliament, as follows:—
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ "IT is with great Satisfaction that I again meet My Parliament, and resort to your Advice and Assistance in the Consideration of Measures which affect the Welfare of our Country.
§ "I CONTINUE to maintain the Relations of Peace and Amity with Foreign Powers. It has been My Endeavour to induce, the States of Germany to carry into full Effect the Provisions of the Treaty with Denmark, which was concluded at Berlin in the Month of July of last Year. I am much gratified in being able to inform you that the German Confederation and the Government of Denmark are now engaged in fulfilling the Stipulations 3 of that Treaty, and thereby putting an end to Hostilities which at one Time appeared full of Danger to the Peace of Europe.
§ "I TRUST that the Affairs of Germany may be arranged by mutual Agreement in such a Manner as to preserve the Strength of the Confederation and to maintain the Freedom of its separate States.
§ "I HAVE concluded with the King of Sardinia Articles additional to the Treaty of September 1841, and I have directed that those Articles shall be laid before you.
§ "THE Government of Brazil has taken new, and, I hope, efficient, Measures for the Suppression of the atrocious Traffic in Slaves.
§ "Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
§ "I HAVE directed the Estimates of the Year to be prepared and laid before you without Delay. They have been framed with a due Regard to Economy and to the Necessities of the Public Service.
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ "NOTWITHSTANDING the large Reductions of Taxation which have been effected in late Years, the Receipts of the Revenue have been satisfactory.
§ "THE State of the Commerce and Manufactures of the United Kingdom has been such as to afford general Employment to the Labouring Classes.
§ "I HAVE to lament, however, the Difficulties which are still felt by that important Body among My People who are Owners and Occupiers of Land.
§ "BUT it is My confident Hope that the prosperous Condition of other 4 Classes of My Subjects will have a favourable Effect in diminishing those Difficulties, and promoting the Interests of Agriculture.
§ "THE recent Assumption of certain Ecclesiastical Titles conferred by a Foreign Power has excited strong Feelings in this Country, and large Bodies of my Subjects have presented Addresses to Me, expressing Attachment to the Throne, and praying that such Assumptions should be resisted. I have assured them of My Resolution to maintain the Rights of My Crown, and the Independence of the Nation against all Encroachment, from whatever Quarter it may proceed. I have at the same Time expressed My earnest desire and firm Determination, under God's Blessing, to maintain unimpaired the Religious Liberty which is so justly prized by the People of this Country.
§ "IT will be for you to consider the Measure which will be laid before you on this Subject.
§ "THE Administration of Justice in the several Departments of Law and Equity will, no doubt, receive the serious Attention of Parliament; and I feel confident that the Measures which may be submitted to you with a view of improving that Administration will be discussed with that mature Deliberation which important Changes in the highest Courts of Judicature in the Kingdom imperatively demand.
§ "A MEASURE will be laid before you providing for the Establishment of a System of Registration of Deeds and Instruments relating to the Transfer of Property. This Measure is the Result of Inquiries which I have caused to be made into the Practicability of adopting a System 5 of Registration calculated to give Security to Titles, to diminish the Causes of Litigation to which they have hitherto been liable, and to reduce the Cost of Transfers.
§ "To combine the Progress of Improvement with the Stability of our Institutions will, I am confident, be your constant Care. We may esteem ourselves fortunate that we can pin-sue without Disturbance the Course of calm and peaceable Amelioration; and we have every Cause to be thankful to Almighty God for the Measure of Tranquillity and Happiness which has been vouchsafed to us."
§ HER MAJESTY then retired.