§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord HERSCHELL)acquainted the House that Her Majesty had been pleased to grant two several Commissions; one for declaring Her Royal Assent to several Bills agreed to by both Houses of Parliament, and the other for proroguing the Parliament:—And the LORDS COMMISSIONERS—namely, The LORD CHANCELLOR; The LORD CHAMBERLAIN (The Earl of Kenmare); The EAEL of ELGIN (First Commissioner of Works); The LORD MONSON (Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard); and The LORD SUDELEY —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.
Then THE LORD CHANCELLOR,pursuant to Her Majesty's Command, delivered Her Majesty's Speech, as follows:—
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ "I HAVE determined to release you from your high duties before the full accomplishment of the regular work of the Session, in order to ascertain the sense of my people upon the important proposal to establish a Legislative Body in Ireland for the management of Irish as distinguished from Imperial affairs.
§ "With this view, it is my intention immediately to dissolve the present Parliament.
277§ "I continue happily to maintain the most friendly relations with all Foreign Powers.
§ "I have the satisfaction of acquainting you that the warlike operations of Servia against Bulgaria were, after a time, brought to a close through the wise counsels of the Powers and the forbearance of the Sultan; as also that after a period of anxiety the adoption of pacific counsels in Greece, and the disarmament now in progress under the orders of its Government, have removed a serious danger to the peace of the East of Europe.
§ "The state of affairs in Egypt has improved, and I have been enabled materially to reduce my force in that country, and to bring it within the southern limits of Egypt proper.
§ "I have concluded an arrangement with the Government of Spain which, if it should be adopted by the Cortes, will, I trust, increase our commercial intercourse with that country, and will also encourage the importation of colonial wines.
§ "I have felt a lively pleasure in promoting the Exhibition of the Products, Manufactures, and Arts of my Colonial and Indian Dominions, which is now being held in this Metropolis. I feel that this enterprise, and the cordial interest in it which is exhibited by the people, at once prove the sympathy which unites the several portions of the Empire, and powerfully tend to confirm and promote that sympathy.
§ "Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
§ "I thank you for the liberal supplies which you have provided in order to meet the exigencies of the public service, until a new Parliament shall have 278 an opportunity to complete the amounts necessary for the full service of the year.
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ "It is with great satisfaction that I have given my assent to the Bill for amending the laws affecting the Crofters of the Highlands, to the Bill for effecting important reforms in connection with the Medical Profession, and to the Bill for amending the law relating to the Custody and Guardianship of Children.
§ "I have given my consent to a Bill making such changes in the Law of International Copyright as are necessary to enable this country to enter the International Copyright Union contemplated by the Convention about to be signed at Berne. In this Bill the opportunity has been taken of conferring on Colonial and Indian authors the benefits of copyright, valid and uniform in every part of my Dominions.
§ "Finally, it is my earnest prayer that the Parliament about to be elected may be so guided as to promote the peace, happiness, and contentment of my people, and the strength and union of the Empire."
§ 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 Fifteenth day of July next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Thursday the Fifteenth day of July next.