§ Her Majesty, being seated on the Throne, adorned with Her Crown and Regal Ornaments, and attended by Her Officers of State, (the Lords being in their robes)—commanded the Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod, through the 2 Deputy Lord Great Chamberlain, to let the Commons know "It is Her Majesty's Pleasure they attend Her immediately, in this House."
§ Who being come, with their Speaker;
THE LORD CHANCELLOR, in pursuance of Her Majesty's Commands, delivered Her Majesty's Speech, as follows:—
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ "IT is with much satisfaction that I again resort to the advice and assistance of my Parliament.
§ "The hostilities which, before the close of last Session, had broken out between Turkey on the one hand and Servia and Montenegro on the other, engaged my most serious attention, 3 and I anxiously waited for an opportunity when my good offices, together with those of my allies, might be usefully interposed.
§ "This opportunity presented itself by the solicitation of Servia for our mediation, the offer of which was ultimately entertained by the Porte.
§ "In the course of the negotiations I deemed it expedient to lay down and, in concert with the other Powers, to submit to the Porte certain bases upon which I held that not only peace might be brought about with the Principalities, but the permanent pacification of the disturbed provinces, including Bulgaria, and the amelioration of their condition, might be effected.
§ "Agreed to by the Powers, they required to be expanded and worked out by negotiation or by Conference, accompanied by an armistice. The Porte, though not accepting the bases and proposing other terms, was willing to submit them to the equitable consideration of the Powers.
§ "While proceeding to act in this mediation, I thought it right, after inquiry into the facts, to denounce to the Porte the excesses ascertained to have been committed in Bulgaria, and to express my reprobation of their perpetrators.
§ "An armistice having been arranged, a Conference met at Constantinople for the consideration of extended terms in accordance with the original bases, in which Conference I was represented by a Special Envoy, as well as by my Ambassador.
§ "In taking these steps, my object has throughout been to maintain the peace of Europe, and to bring about 4 the better government of the disturbed provinces, without infringing upon the independence and integrity of the Ottoman Empire.
§ "The proposals recommended by myself and my allies have not, I regret to say, been accepted by the Porte; but the result of the Conference has been to show the existence of a general agreement among the European Powers, which cannot fail to have a material effect upon the condition and government of Turkey.
§ "In the meantime, the armistice between Turkey and the Principalities has been prolonged, and is still unexpired, and may, I trust, yet lead to the conclusion of an honourable peace.
§ "In these affairs I have acted in cordial co-operation with my allies, with whom, as with other foreign Powers, my relations continue to be of a friendly character.
§ "Papers on these subjects will be forthwith laid before you.
§ "My assumption of the Imperial title at Delhi was welcomed by the Chiefs and people of India with professions of affection and loyalty most grateful to my feelings.
§ "It is with deep regret that I have to announce a calamity in that part of my dominions which will demand the most earnest watchfulness on the part of my Government there. A famine not less serious than that of 1873 has overspread a large portion of the Presidencies of Madras and Bombay. I am confident that every resource will be employed not merely in arrest of this present famine, but in obtaining fresh experience for the prevention or mitigation of such visitations for the future,
5§ "The prosperity and progress of my Colonial Empire remain unchecked, although the proceedings of the Government of the Transvaal Republic, and the hostilities in which it has engaged with the neighbouring tribes, have caused some apprehensions for the safety of my subjects in South Africa. I trust, however, that the measures which I have taken will suffice to prevent any serious evil.
§ "Gentlemen of the House of Commons;
§ "I have directed the Estimates of this year to be prepared and presented to you without delay.
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ "Bills relating to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and for amending the Law as to Bankruptcy and Letters Patent for Inventions, will be laid before you.
§ "Your attention will be again called to measures for promoting economy and efficiency in the management of the Prisons of the United Kingdom, which will, at the aame time, effect a relief of local burthens.
§ "Bills will also be laid before you for amending the Laws relating to the Valuation of Property in England, for simplifying and amending the Law relating to Factories and Workshops, and for improving the Law regulating the summary jurisdiction of Magistrates.
§ Legislation will be proposed with reference to Roads and Bridges in Scotland, and the Scotch Poor Law.
§ "You will be asked to constitute one Supreme Court of Judicature in Ireland and to confer an equitable jurisdiction on the County Courts in that country.
6§ "I commend to you these and other measures which may be submitted for your consideration, and I trust that the blessing of the Almighty will attend your labours and direct your efforts."
§ And then Her Majesty retired.
§ And the Commons withdrew.
ROLL OF THE LORDS—Garter King of Arms attending, delivered at the Table (in the usual manner) a List of the Lords Temporal in the Fourth Session of the Twenty-first Parliament of the United Kingdom: The same was ordered to lie on the Table.