§ The LORDS COMMISSIONERS — namely, The LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord Campbell); The LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Earl Granville); The FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (the Duke of Somerset); The LORD STEWARD OF THE HOUSEHOLD (the Earl of St. Germans); and The LOUD CHAMBERLAIN OF THE HOUSEHOLD (Viscount Sydney) being in their robes, and seated on a form between the Throne and the Woolsack; and the COMMONS being come with their Speaker, the ROYAL ASSENT was given to several Bills.
1402§ Then The LORD CHANCELLOR delivered the Speech of the LORDS COMMISSIONERS as follows:—
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ WE are commanded by Her Majesty to release you from further Attendance in Parliament; and at the same Time to convey to you Her Majesty's Acknowledgments for the Zeal and Assiduity with which you have applied yourselves to the Performance of your important Duties during the Session of Parliament now about to close.
§ VARIOUS Circumstances which occasioned Interruptions in the usual Course of Business prevented the Completion of important Measures which Her Majesty pointed out to the Attention of Her Parliament in the Beginning of the present Year; but Her Majesty trusts that those Matters will be taken into your earnest Consideration at an early Period of your next Session.
§ THE War which had broken out in Northern Italy having been brought to a Close by the Peace of Villafranca, Overtures have been made to Her Majesty with a view to ascertain whether, if Conferences should be held by the Great Powers of Europe for the Purpose of settling Arrangements connected with the present State and future Condition of Italy, a Plenipotentiary would be sent by Her Majesty to assist at such Conferences; but Her Majesty has not yet received the Information necessary to enable Her to decide whether Her Majesty may think fit to take part in any such Negotiations.
§ HER Majesty would rejoice to find Herself able to contribute to the Establishment of Arrangements calcu- 1403 lated to place the general Peace on satisfactory and lasting Foundations.
§ HER Majesty, in accordance with the Stipulations of the Treaty of Tiensing, has instructed Her Plenipotentiary in China to repair to the Imperial Court at Pekin, and Her Majesty trusts that such direct Communication with the Imperial Government will have a beneficial Effect upon the Relations between the Two Countries.
§ HER Majesty commands us to inform you that She looks forward with Confidence to the continued Maintenance of those friendly Relations which so happily subsist between Her Majesty and all Foreign Powers and States.
§ HER Majesty is glad to be able to congratulate you on the complete Restoration of Tranquillity in Her Indian Dominions.
§ It will be Her earnest Endeavour to promote their internal Improvement, and to obliterate the Traces of those Conflicts which Her Majesty witnessed with such deep Concern.
§ THE Financial Arrangements of that Portion of Her Majesty's Empire will continue to engage Her Majesty's serious Attention.
§ HER Majesty has had much Satisfaction in giving Her Assent to the Bills which you presented to Her for the Formation of a Naval and of a Military Reserve Force. A complete and permanent System of National Defence must at all Times be an Object of paramount Importance.
§ "Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
§ HER Majesty commands us to convey to you Her cordial Thanks for the Readiness and Zeal with which you 1404 have provided the necessary Supplies for the Service of the Year.
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ HER Majesty commands us to express to you Her heartfelt Gratification at witnessing the general Well-being and Contentment which prevail throughout Her Dominions: the Happiness of Her Majesty's People is the Object dearest to Her Heart.
§ IN returning to your respective Counties you will have Duties to perform intimately connected with the Attainment of this great End; and Her Majesty fervently prays that the Blessing of Almighty God may attend your Exertions in the Performance of those Duties, for the common Good of all Classes of Her Majesty's Subjects.
§ Then a Commission for Proroguing the Parliament was read,
§ After which,
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORsaid:
§ "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 Thursday the Twenty-seventh Day of October next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Thursday the Twenty-seventh Day of October next.