Lords Sitting of 7 August 1874

MINUTES.
PUBLIC BILLS—Royal Assent—Prince Leopold's Annuity [37 & 38 Vict. c. 65]; Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) [37 & 38 Vict. c. 56]; Rating [37 & 38 Vict. c. 54]; Hertford College, Oxford [37 & 38 Vict. c. 55]; Boundaries of Archdeaconries and Brawl Deaneries [37 & 38 Vict. c. 63]; Infants Contracts [37 & 38 Vict. c. 62]; Alderney Harbour [37 & 38 Vict. c. 92]; Real Property Limitation [37 & 38 Vict. c. 57]; Real Property Vendors and Purchasers [37 & 38 Vict. c. 78]; Working-Men's Dwellings [37 & 38 Vict. c. 59]; Police Force Expenses [37 & 38 Vict. c. 58]; Civil Bill Courts (Ireland) [37 & 38 Vict. c. 66]; Intoxicating Liquors (Ireland) [37 & 38 Vict. c. 69]; Slaughter-houses, &c. [37 & 38 Vict. c. 67]; Attorneys and Solicitors [37 & 38 Vict. c. 68]; Shannon Navigation [37 & 38 Vict.

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c. 60]; Royal (late Indian) Ordnance Corps Compensation [37 & 38 Vict. c. 61]; Evidence Law Amendment (Scotland) [37 & 38 Vict. c. 64]; Education Department Orders [37 & 38 Vict. c. 90]; Statute Law Revision (No. 2) [37 & 38 Vict. c. 96]; Conveyancing and Land Transfer (Scotland) [37 & 38 Vict. c. 94]; Public Health (Ireland) [37 & 38 Vict. c. 93]; Colonial Clergy [37 & 38 Vict. c. 77]; Foyle College [37 & 38 Vict. c. 79]; Vaccination Act, 1871, Amendment [37 & 38 Vict. c. 75]; Church Patronage (Scotland) [37 & 38 Vict. c. 82]; Valuation (Ireland) Act Amendment [37 & 38 Vict. c. 70]; Lough Corrib Navigation [37 & 38 Vict. c. 71]; Registration of Births and Deaths [37 & 38 Vict. c. 88]; Sanitary Laws Amendment [37 & 38 Vict. c. 89]; Endowed Schools Acts Amendment [37 & 38 Vict. c. 87]; Royal Irish Constabulary and Dublin Metropolitan Police [37 & 38 Vict. c. 80]; Private Lunatic Asylums (Ireland) [37 & 38 Vict. c. 74]; Post Office Savings Bank [37 & 38 Vict. c. 73]; Great Seal Offices [37 & 38 Vict. c. 81]; Pines Act (Ireland) Amendment [37 & 38 Vict. c. 72]; Expiring Laws Continuance [37 & 38 Vict. c. 76]; Supreme Court of Judicature Act (1873) Suspension [37 & 38 Vict. c. 83]; Commissioners of Works and Public Buildings [37 & 38 Vict. c. 84]; Irish Reproductive Loan Fund [37 & 38 Vict. c. 86]; India Councils [37 & 38 Vict. c. 91]; Public Worship Regulation [37 & 38 Vict. c. 85]; Turnpike Acts Continuance [37 & 38 Vict. c. 95]; Local Government Board's Provisional Orders Confirmation (No. 5) [37 & 38 Vict. c. clxxxii.]; Elementary Education Provisional Order Confirmation [37 & 38 Vict. c. clxxxiv.]; Tramways Provisional Orders Confirmation [37 & 38 Vict. c. clxxxiii.]; Local Government Board (Ireland) Provisional Order Confirmation [37 & 38 Vict. c. clxxxvi.]; Pier and Harbour Orders Confirmation [37 & 38 Vict. c. clxxxv.]

PROROGATION OF THE PARLIAMENT—HER MAJESTY'S SPEECH.
The PARLIAMENT The PARLIAMENT was this clay prorogued by Commission.
THE LORD CHANCELLORacquainted the House that Her Majesty had been pleased to grant two several Commissions, one for declaring Her Royal Assent to several Acts agreed upon by both Houses of Parliament, and the other for proroguing the Parliament:—And the LORDS COMMISSIONERS—namely, The LORD CHANCELLOR; The LORD STEWARD OF THE HOUSEHOLD (The Earl Beauchamp); The EARL OF DERBY (Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs); The EARL OF BRADFORD (The Master of the Horse); and The LORD SKELMERSDALE)—being in their Robes, and seated on a Form between the Throne and the Woolsack; and the COMMONS being come, with their Speaker, and the Com-
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mission to that purpose being read, the ROYAL ASSENT was given to several Bills.
THE LORD CHANCELLOR delivered HER MAJESTY'S SPEECH, as follows:—
"My Lords, and Gentlemen,
"The time has arrived when I am enabled to release you from your attendance in Parliament.
"In so doing, my first wish is to thank you for the readiness with which you have made provision for my son Prince Leopold on his attaining his majority.
"My relations with all Foreign Powers continue to be friendly, and the influence arising from those cordial relations will be employed, as heretofore, in maintaining the obligations imposed by Treaties, and in promoting and consolidating the Peace of Europe.
"The Emperor of Russia having made proposals for a Conference to be held at Brussels, the object of which is to lessen, by judicious regulations, the severities of war, I have, in common with other Powers, authorised a Delegate to attend that Conference; but, before doing so, I have thought it right to obtain assurances from all the Powers thus represented, that no proposal shall be brought forward calculated either to alter the recognised rules of international law, or to place restrictions on the conduct of naval operations. The recommendations which may issue from the Conference will have [my careful consideration, but I have reserved to myself full freedom of action in regard to their acceptance or rejection.
" Negotiations have been undertaken for the renewal of the Recipro-

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city Treaty formerly in force between the Dominion of Canada and the United States of America. These negotiations, commenced at the desire and in the interest of the Dominion, have been temporarily suspended by the adjournment of the American Senate. They will be revived at an early date, and it is my hope that they may lead to an increase of commercial intercourse between my colonial subjects and the citizens of the United States.
" I deeply lament the continuance in Spain of disturbances which form a single exception to the general tranquillity of Europe; but, while earnestly desiring the restoration of peace and civil order in that country, I believe that this result will be most surely brought about by a rigid abstinence from interference in the internal affairs of an independent and friendly State.
" The Treaty recently concluded with the Sultan of Zanzibar, having for its object the suppression of East African Slave Trade, has been faithfully observed, and has already done much to put an end to that traffic as carried on by sea. The exertions of my Naval and Consular servants, in that part of the world, will not be relaxed until complete success has been obtained.
" I am thankful to say that the famine in India has, as yet, been attended with little mortality, a result mainly attributable, under Providence, to the precautions taken by my Indian Government. The strenuous exertions of my Viceroy, and of the officers serving under him, merit my high approbation.
" Since the close of hostilities on the Gold Coast, steady progress has been made in the task of pacifying the country and of organising its administration. Treaties of Peace have been concluded with important tribes, and the King of Ashanti has persevered in the discharge of his obligations to this country.
"Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
"I acknowledge the liberality with which you have provided for the charges of the State.
"My Lords, and Gentlemen,
"I have seen with pleasure the considerable reductions which you have been able to make in taxation. The total abolition of the sugar duties will not only confer a benefit on the consumers of an article in universal demand, but will also prove of much commercial advantage to the nation. The removal of the duty on horses is another measure well calculated to encourage the trade and industry of the country. Concurrently with these remissions, and with a further reduction of the Income Tax to a rate which is little more than nominal, you have been enabled to make important grants from the general revenue towards services which, though of Imperial concern, have hitherto been defrayed, either exclusively or in an undue proportion, out of local rates. I trust that these measures, when their full effect shall have been felt, will conduce to the general prosperity of the country, and will impart increased elasticity to the revenue.
"Although your Session has been unavoidably curtailed of a third of its usual duration, I observe with satis-

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faction that you have been able to carry measures of general interest and importance.
" I have cordially given my assent to the Act "for improving the health of women, young persons, and children employed in manufactures." By this measure I anticipate that not only will the health and education of the classes affected by it be promoted, but that the relations between the employers and employed in those important branches of industry will be maintained on a footing of enduring harmony and mutual good-will.
" I have readily sanctioned the Act for the reform of the system of Patronage in the Church of Scotland. I trust that the removal of this ancient cause of controversy may both strengthen the Church and conduce to the religious welfare of a large number of my subjects.
" The Act for the better regulation of Public Worship in the Church of England will, I hope, tend to prevent or allay the unhappy controversies which sometimes arise from the difficulty experienced in obtaining an early decision on doubtful points of law, and a definitive interpretation of the authorised form of public worship. Such controversies, oven when they occur between persons loyally desirous to conform to the doctrine and discipline of the Established Church, beget serious evils, and their speedy termination by competent authority is a matter of grave importance to the interests of religion.
" The legal measures which you have passed with reference to the Limitation of Actions for Real Property, the Law of Vendors and Purchasers, and Land Rights and Con-
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veyancing in Scotland, as well as the Acts for regulating the sale of Intoxicating Liquors, and for carrying forward Sanitary Legislation in the United Kingdom, may be expected to be productive of public advantage and satisfaction.
" The Commission issued by me for inquiring into the state and working of the law as to offences connected with trade has been unable to complete its labours in time to admit of legislation during the Session now about to terminate; and I regret that the pressure of business in the House of Commons has made it necessary to suspend the consideration the measures for facilitating the Transfer of Land in England, for re-arranging the Judicature of England and Ireland, and for establishing an Imperial Court of Appeal. These subjects will naturally claim your earliest attention in a future Session.
" In returning to your counties and constituencies, you will have the opportunity of beneficially exercising that influence which is the happy result of our local institutions, and I pray that the blessing of the Almighty may accompany you in the discharge of all your duties.
Thon 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 Friday the Twenty-third day of October next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Friday the Twenty-third day of October next.