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 PRESIDEKT or THE COUNCIL (The Duke of Richmond); The LORD STEWARD OF THE HOUSEHOLD (The Earl Beau-champ); The EARL OF SHREWSBURY; and The EARL OF HARDWICKE—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 Commission to that purpose being read, the ROYAL ASSENT was given to several Bills.
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ "I am happy to be enabled to release you from your attendance in Parliament.
§ "The relations between myself and all Foreign Powers continue to be cordial, and I look forward with hope and confidence to the uninterrupted maintenance of European peace.
874§ "The visit paid to this country, on the invitation of my Government, by the Ruler of Zanzibar, has led to the conclusion of a Supplementary Convention, which, I trust, may be efficacious for the more complete suppression of East African Slave Trade.
§ "I have learnt with deep regret that the Expedition despatched by my Indian Government from Burmah, with a view to open communications with the Western Provinces of China, has been treacherously attacked by an armed force while on Chinese territory. This outrage, unhappily involving the death of a young and promising member of my Consular Service, is the subject of careful inquiry; and no effort shall be spared to secure the punishment of those by whom it was instigated and committed.
§ "The condition of my Colonial Empire is generally prosperous. Progress has been made in the settlement of questions affecting the Constitution and Government of Natal; and I confidently look for important and valuable results from the proposal for a Conference of the South African Colonies and States.
§ "Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
§ "I thank you for the liberal supplies which you have voted for the Public Service.
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ "It is gratifying to me to find that the lengthened consideration you have given to the various Statutes which have, from time to time, been passed for the preservation of peace in Ireland, has resulted in a measure which, while relaxing the stringency of former 875 enactments, is calculated to maintain the tranquillity of that country.
§ "I have, with pleasure, given my assent to an Act for facilitating the improvement of the dwellings of the working classes in large towns, which will, I trust, lead to the decrease of many of the principal causes of disease, misery, and crime. I feel sure that this legislation, together with that relating to the Consolidation and Amendment of the Sanitary Laws, and of the Laws relating to Friendly Societies, will greatly promote the moral and physical welfare of my people.
§ "It has afforded me much satisfaction to give my assent to two important Statutes for the amendment of the Acts relating to Master and Servant and Trade Offences, and of the Law of Conspiracy as connected with these offences—Statutes which will, I trust, place the relations of employers and employed on a just and equal footing, and add to the contentment and good will of large classes of my subjects.
§ "Among the enactments which you have passed for the improvement of the law, I am well pleased to observe that a comprehensive measure for simplifying the title and facilitating the transfer of land in England has taken its place in the Statute Book; that an Act has been passed for the amendment of the Law of Entail in Scotland; and that you have made provision, by amending the Judicature Act of 1873, for bringing the great changes in my Civil Courts and their procedure which it inaugurated, into immediate and practical effect.
§ "The state of public business and the differences of opinion naturally arising on a varied and comprehensive 876 scheme, have unfortunately prevented you from completing the consideration of the Merchant Shipping Bill, but I rejoice that you have been able, by a temporary enactment, to diminish considerably the dangers to which my seafaring subjects are exposed.
§ "By the Agricultural Holdings Act, you have greatly and beneficially enlarged the powers of owners, limited in interest, to offer to their tenants a sufficient security for judicious outlay upon the farms they occupy, and while maintaining absolute freedom of contract, you have raised a presumption of rights, under which a new inducement will be given to expend capital upon the improvement of land.
§ "I have every reason to hope that the progress of the Revenue, which has marked recent years, will be fully sustained in the present. The arrangements which you have made with respect to the reduction of the National Debt, and those for the better regulation of Loans for Public Works, will lead to valuable improvements in our system of Imperial and Local Finance.
§ "The enactment for a Registration of Trade Marks will supply a deficiency that has for some time been felt in our commercial system.
§ "I trust that the Act constituting a new Bishopric at St. Albans may prove advantageous to the vast population of the dioceses affected by the measure.
§ "In bidding you farewell for the recess, I pray that the blessing of Providence may fall on your recent labours, and accompany you in the discharge of all your duties."
877§ 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 Friday the Twenty-ninth day of October next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Friday the Twenty-ninth day of October next.