Lords Sitting of 31 July 1868

MINUTES
PUBLIC BILLS—Royal Assent—Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) [31 & 32 Vict. c. 85]; Sir Robert Napier's Annuity [31 & 32 Vict. c. 91]; Liquidation [31 & 32 Vict, c. 68]; Land Writs Registration (Scot-
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land [31 & 32 Vict. c. 64]; University Elections (Voting Papers) [31 & 32 Vict. c. 65]; Turnpike Trusts Arrangements [31 & 32 Vict. c. 66]; Metropolitan Police Funds [31 & 32 Vict. c. 67]; Fairs (Metropolis) [31 &32 Vict. c. 106]; Libel (Ireland) [31 & 32 Vict. c. 69]; Railways (Ireland) Acts Amendment [31 & 32 Vict. c. 70]; Promissory Oaths [31 & 32 Vict. c. 72]; County Courts (Admiralty Jurisdiction) [31 & 32 Vict. c. 71]; Revenue Officers Disabilities Removal [31 &32 Vict. c. 73]; Poor Law and Medical Inspectors (Ireland) [31 &32 Vict. c. 74]; Petit Juries (Ireland) [31 & 32 Vict. c. 75]; Admiralty Suits [31 & 32 Vict. c. 78]; Railway Companies [31 &32 Vict. c. 79]; Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Court [31 &32 Vict. c. 77]; Contagious Diseases Act(1866) Amendment[3l & 32 Vict. c. 80]; Army Chaplains [31 & 32 Vict. c. 83]; Assignees of Marine Policies [31 &32 Vict. c. 86]; County General Assessment (Scotland) [31 &32 Vict. c. 82]; Entail Amendment (Scotland) [31 &32 Vict. c. 84]; Artizans' and Labourers' Dwellings [31 & 32 Vict. c. 130]; Court of Justiciary (Scotland) [31 & 32 Vict. c. 95]; Ecclesiastical Buildings and Glebes (Scotland) [31 & 32 Vict. c. 96]; Lunatic Asylums (Ireland) Accounts Audit [31 &32 Vict. c. 97]; Railway Companies (Ireland) Advances [31 & 32 Vict. c. 94]; Vaccination (Ireland) [31 &32 Vict. c. 87]; Courts of Chancery and Exchequer (Ireland) Fee Funds [31 & 32 Vict. c.88]; Tithe Commutation, &c. Acts Amendment [31 &32 Vict. c. 89]; Public Departments Payments [31 &32 Vict. c. 90]; New Zealand Assembly's Powers [31 & 32 Vict. c. 92]; New Zealand Company [31 &32 Vict. c. 93]; Clerks of the Peace, &c. (Ireland) [31 &32 Vict. c. 98]; Militia Pay [31 &32 Vict. c. 76]; Hudson's Bay Company [31 & 32 Vict. c. 105]; Indorsing of Warrants [31 &32 Vict. c. 107]; Bankruptcy Act Amendment [31 & 32 Vict. c. 104]; Burials (Ireland) [31 & 32 Vict. c. 103]; Compulsory Church Rates Abolition [31 &32 Vict. c. 109]; Court of Session (Scotland) [31 &32 Vict. c. 100]; General Police and Improvement (Scotland) Act Amendment [31 & 32 Vict. c. 102]; Municipal Elections (Scotland) [31 & 32 Vict. c. 108]; Marriages Validity (Blakedown) [31 & 32 Vict. c. 113]; West Indies [31 & 32 Vict. c. 120]; Ecclesiastical Commissioners [31 &32 Vict. c. 114]; Larceny and Embezzlement [31 & 32 Vict. c. 116]; Sanitary Act (1866) Amendment [31 &32 Vict. c. 115]; Titles to Land Consolidation (Scotland) [31 & 32 Vict. c. 101]; Sale of Poisons and Pharmacy Act Amendment [31 &32 Vict. c. 121]; Regulation of Railways [31 & 32 Vict. c. 119]; Expiring Laws Continuance [31 & 32 Vict. c. 111]; Electric Telegraphs [31 &32 Vict. c. 110]; Public Schools [31 & 32 Vict. c. 118]; District Church Tithes Act Amendment [31 & 32 Vict. c. 117]; Poor Relief [31 &32 Vict. c. 122]; Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) [31 & 32 Vict. c. 123]: Inland Revenue[31 &32 Vict. c. 124]; Election Petitions and Corrupt Practices at Elections [31 &32 Vict. c. 125]; Danube Works Loan [31 &32 Vict. c. 126]; Saint Mary Somerset's Church, London [31 &32 Vict. c. 127]; Colonial Governors Pensions Act Amendment [31 &32 Vict. c. 128]; Colonial Shipping [31 & 32 Vict.c. 129]; Registra-

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tion (Ireland) [31 &32 Vict. c. 112]; Turnpike] Acts Continuance [31 & 32 Vict. c. 199]; Portpatrick and Belfast and County Down Railway Companies [31 &32 Vict. c. 81]; Lee River Conservancy [31 &32 Vict. c. 154]; Tain Provisional Order Confirmation [31 & 32 Vict. c. 155]; Poor Law Board Provisional Order Confirmation [31 & 32 Vict. c. 150]; Land Drainage Provisional Order Confirmation [31 &32 Vict. c. 156]; Drainage and Improvement of Lands (Ireland) Supplemental (No. 2) [31 & 32 Vict. c. 157]; Drainage and Improvement of Lands (Ireland) Supplemental (No. 3) [31 &32 Vict. c. 157]; Drainage and Improvement of Lands (Ireland) Supplemental (No. 4) [31 & 32 Vict. c. 158]; Local Government Supplemental (No. 3) [31 & 32 Vict. c. 152]; Local Government Supplemental (No. 6) [31 & 32 Vict. c. 153].

PROROGATION OF THE PARLIAMENT

  SPEECH OF THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS.
  The PARLIAMENTwas this day prorogued by Commission.
  The LORDS COMMTSSIONERS—namely, The LORD CHANCELLOR; LORD PRIVY SEAL (The EARL OF MALMESBURY); The DUKE OF BEAUFORT (Master of the Horse); The DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM (Secretary of State for the Colonies); and The EARL OF DEVON (President of the Poor Law Board)—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.
  Then THE LORD CHANCELLOR delivered the SPEECH of the LORDS COMMISSIONERS as follows:—
  "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
  "I AM happy to be enabled to release you from your Labours, and to offer you My Acknowledgments for the Diligence with which you have applied yourselves to your Parliamentary Duties.
  "MY Relations with Foreign Powers remain friendly and satisfactory. I have no Reason to apprehend that Europe will be exposed to the Calamity of War, and My Policy will continue to be directed to secure the Blessings of Peace.
  "I ANNOUNCED to you at the Beginning of this Session that I had directed an Expedition to be sent to Abyssinia to liberate My Envoy, and others of My Subjects, detained by the Ruler of that Country in an unjust Captivity.
  "I FEEL sure that you will share in My Satisfaction at the complete Success which has attended that Expedition. After a March of 400 Miles, through a difficult and unexplored Country, My Troops took the strong Place of Magdala, freed the Captives, and vindicated the Honour of My Crown; and by their immediate Return, without One Act of Oppression or needless Violence, proved that the Expedition had been undertaken only in obedience to the Claims of Humanity, and in fulfilment of the highest Duties of My Sovereignty.
  "THE Cessation of the long-continued Efforts to promote Rebellion in Ireland has for some Time rendered unnecessary the Exercise by the Executive of exceptional Powers. I rejoice to learn that no Person is now detained under the Provisions of the Act for the Suspension of the Habeas Corpus, and that no Prisoner awaits Trial in Ireland for an Offence connected with the Fenian Conspiracy.
  "Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
  "I HAVE to thank you for the liberal Supplies which you have voted for the Public Service.
  " My Lords, and Gentlemen,
  "I HAVE had much Satisfaction in giving My Assent to a Series of Measures completing the great Work of the Amendment of the Representa-

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  tion of the People in Parliament, which has engaged jour Attention for Two Sessions.
  "I HAVE seen with Satisfaction that the Time necessarily occupied by this comprehensive Subject has not prevented you dealing with other Questions of great public Interest, and I have gladly given My Sanction to Bills for the better Government of Public Schools, the Regulation of Railways, the Amendment of the Law relating to British Sea Fisheries, and for the Acquisition and Maintenance of Electric Telegraphs by the Postmaster - General; and to several important Measures having for their Object the Improvement of the Law, and of the Civil and Criminal Procedures in Scotland.
  "BY the Appointment of a Comptroller-in-Chief in the War Office a considerable Reform in Army Administration has been commenced, which, by combining at home and abroad the various Departments of Military Supply under One Authority, will conduce to greater Economy and Efficiency both in Peace and War.
  "IT is My Intention to dissolve the present Parliament at the earliest Day that will enable My People to reap the Benefit of the extended System of Representation which the Wisdom of Parliament has provided for them. I look with entire Confidence to their proving themselves worthy of the high Privilege with which they have thus been invested; and I trust that, under the Blessing of Divine Providence, the Expression of their Opinion on those great Questions of public Policy which have occupied the Attention of Parliament
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  and remain undecided, may tend to maintain unimpaired that Civil and Religious Freedom which has been secured to all My Subjects by the Institutions and Settlement of My Realm."
  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 Eighth Day of October next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Thursday the Eighth Day of October next.