§ THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS—namely, THE LOED CHANCELLOR (Lord Westbury); THE LORD STEWARD OR THE HOUSEHOLD (The Earl of St. Germans); THE EARL DE GREY and RIPOK (One of the Principal Secretaries of State); THE LORD CHAMBERLAIN OF THE HOUSEHOLD (The Viscount Sydney) and THE LOUD WENSLEYDALE— being in their robes, and seated on a Form placed between the Throne and the Woolsack; and the COMMONS being come with their Speaker, the ROYAL ASSENT was given to several Bills.
§ 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 Discharge of your Duties during the Session of Parliament now brought to a Close.
§ "HER Majesty commands us to inform you that She greatly regrets that the Endeavours which She made, in concert with The Emperor of the 2185 French, The Emperor of Russia, and The King of Sweden, to bring about a Reconciliation between the German Powers and The King of Denmark, were not successful, and that the Hostilities which had been suspended (during the Negotiations) were again resumed. Her Majesty trusts, however, that the Negotiations which have been opened between the Belligerents may restore Peace to the North of Europe.
§ "HER Majesty, having addressed Herself to the Powers who were contracting Parties to the Treaty by I which the Ionian Republic was placed under the Protectorate of Great Britain, and having obtained their Consent to the Annexation of that Re-public to the Kingdom of Greece, and the States of the Ionian Republic having agreed thereto, the Republic of the Seven Islands has been formally united to the Kingdom of Greece, and Her Majesty trusts that the Union so made will conduce to the Welfare and Prosperity of all the Subjects of His Majesty The King of the Hellenes.
§ "HER Majesty's Relations with The Emperor of China continue to be friendly, and the Commerce of Her Subjects with the Chinese Empire is increasing.
§ "HER Majesty has been engaged, in concert with The Emperor of Austria, The Emperor of the French, The King of Prussia, and The Emperor of Russia, in an Endeavour to bring to Effect an amicable Arrangement of Differences which had arisen between the Hospodar of Moldo-Wallachia and his Suzerain The Sultan. Her Majesty has the Satisfaction to inform you that this Endeavour has been successful.
2186§ "HER Majesty deeply laments that the Civil War in North America has not been brought to a Close. Her Majesty will continue to observe a strict Neutrality between the Belligerents, and would rejoice at a friendly Reconciliation between the Contending Parties.
§ "Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
§ "HER Majesty commands us to convey to you Her warm Acknowledgments for the liberal Supplies which you have granted for the Service of the present Year, and towards the permanent Defence of Her Majesty's Dockyards and Arsenals,
§ My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ "HER Majesty has observed with Satisfaction that the Distress which the Civil War in North America has created in some of the Manufacturing Districts has to a great Extent abated, and Her Majesty trusts that increased Supplies of the raw Material of Industry may be expected from Countries by which it has hitherto been scantily furnished.
§ "THE Revolt of certain Tribes in New Zealand has not yet been quelled, but it is satisfactory to Her Majesty to know that a large Portion of the Native Population of those Islands have taken no Part in this Revolt.
§ "IT has been a Source of much Gratification to Her Majesty to observe the rapid Development of the Revenues of Her East Indian Possessions, and the general Contentment of the People inhabiting those extensive Regions.
§ "HER Majesty has given Her cordial Assent to many Measures of pub- 2187 lic Usefulness, the Result of your Labours during the Session now brought to a Close.
§ "THE Act for extending to Women and Children employed in various Trades the Regulations applicable to Factories in general, will tend materially to preserve the Health and improve the Education of those on whose Behalf it was framed.
§ "THE Act for authorizing the Grant of Government Annuities will encourage Habits of Prudence among the Working Classes, and will afford them the Means of securely investing the Results of their Industry.
§ "THE Act for authorizing a further Advance for Public Works in some of the Manufacturing Districts will contribute to alleviate the Distress in these Districts, and will afford the Means of completing many Works of much Importance for the Health of the Population.
§ "THE Act for giving increased Facilities for the Construction of Railways will diminish the Expenses attendant upon the Extension of those important Channels of Communication.
§ "IT has afforded to Her Majesty the most heartfelt Satisfaction to observe the general Well-being and Contentment which prevail throughout Her Dominions, and to remark the progressive Increase and Development of the National Resources, and to find that, after sufficiently providing for the Public Service, you have been able to make a material Diminution in the Taxation of the Country.
§ "On returning to your respective Counties you will still have important Duties to perform, essentially con- 2188 nected with the linking together of the several Classes of the Community; and Her Majesty fervently prays that the Blessing of Almighty God may attend your Exertions, and guide them to the Object of Her Majesty's constant Solicitude, the Welfare and Happiness of Her People."
§ Then a Commission for proroguing the Parliament was read.
§ After which
§ 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 Thirteenth Day of October next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Thursday the Thirteenth Day of October next.