Lords Sitting of 3 February 1887

MINUTES.
PUBLIC BILLS—First Reading—Copyhold Enfranchisement* (13); Pluralities Act Amendment* (14).
Committee—Report—Christchurch (Southampton) Charter (Correction of Error)* (4).

ADDRESS TO HER MAJESTY ON HER MOST GRACIOUS SPEECH.
MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN,
"We, Your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our
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humble thanks to Your Majesty for the gracious Speech which Your Majesty has addressed to both Houses of Parliament.
"We humbly thank Your Majesty for informing us that Your Majesty's relations with all Foreign Powers continue to be friendly.
"We thank Your Majesty for informing us that the affairs of South Eastern Europe are still in an unsettled condition, but that Your Majesty does not apprehend that any disturbance of European peace will result from the unadjusted controversies which have arisen in that region. We humbly thank Your Majesty for informing us that, while Your Majesty deplores the events which compelled Prince Alexander of Bulgaria to retire from the Government of that Principality, Your Majesty has not judged it expedient to interfere in the proceedings for the Election of his Successor until they arrive at that stage at which Her Majesty's assent is required by the stipulations of the Treaty of Berlin.
"We thank Your Majesty for informing us that the task which has been undertaken by Your Majesty's Government in Egypt is not yet accomplished; but that substantial advance has been made towards the assurance of external and internal tranquillity.
"We learn with satisfaction from Your Majesty that the operations in Burmah have been conducted by Your Majesty's Troops with bravery and skill, for the purpose of extirpating the brigandage which has grown up during recent years of misgovernment. Humbly to thank Your Majesty for informing us that the bands of marauders by whom Upper Burmah has been long infested have been dispersed, that many of the leaders have laid down their arms; and that Your Majesty entertains a confident hope that the general pacification of the country will be effected during the present season.
"We thank Your Majesty for informing us that Commercial Treaties have been concluded with the Kingdoms of Greece and Roumania, and that Papers on these subjects will be laid before us.
"We humbly thank Your Majesty for informing us that the condition of Ireland still requires our anxious attention; that grave crimes have happily been rarer during the last few months than during a similar period in the preceding year, but that the relations between the owners and occupiers of land, which in the early part of the autumn exhibited signs of improvement, have since been seriously disturbed in some districts by organised attempts to incite the latter class to combine against the fulfilment of their legal obligations. We thank Your Ma-

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jesty for informing us that the efforts of Your Majesty's Government to cope with this evil have been seriously impeded by difficulties incident to the method at present prescribed by Statute for dealing with such offences; and that our early attention will be called to proposals for reforms in Legal Procedure, which seem necessary to secure the prompt and efficient administration of the Criminal Law.
"We humbly thank Her Majesty for informing us that since Tour Majesty last addressed us, the Commissioners directed to inquire into certain subjects of great importance to the material welfare of Ireland have been actively prosecuting their labours, and that the Report of the Commission on the operation of the recent Acts dealing with the Tenure and Purchase of Land will shortly be laid before us, which will doubtless receive from us the careful attention which the serious importance of the subject demands.
"We thank Your Majesty for informing us that Bills for the improvement of Local Government in England and Scotland will be laid before us; and that, should circumstances render it possible, they will be followed by a measure dealing with the same subject in Ireland; that a Bill for improving and cheapening the process of Private Bill Legislation in England, Scotland, and Ireland, will be submitted to us, and that we shall be asked to consider measures having for their objects to remove hindrances which exist to the cheap and rapid Transfer of Land, to facilitate the provision of Allotments for Small Householders, and to provide for the readier Sale of Glebe Lands.
"We humbly thank Your Majesty for informing us that the Commission which Your Majesty issued in 1885 to inquire into the lamentable depression under which Trade and Agriculture have been suffering for many years, has presented a valuable Report, which, together with the important evidence collected by them, will be laid before us.
"We thank Your Majesty for informing us that a Bill for altering the mode of levying Tithes in England and Wales will be submitted to us; that, in regard to Scotland, we shall be asked to consider measures for the reform of the Universities, for completing recent legislation as to the powers of the Secretary for Scotland, and for amending the procedure of Criminal Courts; and that measures dealing with the regulation of Railway Rates, and for preventing the fraudulent use of Merchandise Marks, will also be brought under our consideration.
"We humbly assure Your Majesty that our careful consideration shall be given to the subjects which Your Majesty has recommended to our attention, and to the measures which may be submitted to us; and we earnestly trust that, with regard to these and all other matters pertaining to our functions, the keeping and guidance of Almighty God may be vouchsafed to us."

QUEEN'S SPEECH—HER MAJESTY'S ANSWER TO THE ADDRESS.
THE LORD STEWARD OF THE HOUSEHOLD (The Earl of MOUNT-EDGCUMBE)reported Her Majesty's answer to the Address as follows:—
My LORDS,
"I thank you for your Loyal and Dutiful Address.
"I resort with great satisfaction to your Counsel and Advice in dealing with the important Questions that will be brought before you, and which concern the highest Interests of the Country, and the Welfare and Happiness of all Subjects."

COPYHOLD ENFRANCHISEMENT BILL. [H.L.]
A Bill to amend the Copyhold Acts, and for the enfranchisement of copyhold and customary lands—Was presented by the Lord Hobhouse; read 1a. (No. 13.)

PLURALITIES ACT AMENDMENT BILL. [H.L.]
A Bill to explain section twenty-six of the Pluralities Act, 1838—Was presented by the Lord President; road 1a. (No. 14.)
House adjourned at half past Four o'clock, till To-morrow, a quarter past Ten o'clock.