§ THE LORD CHANCELLORdelivered HER MAJESTY'S SPEECH to both Houses of Parliament, as follows:—
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ "MY relations with all foreign Powers continue to be friendly.
§ "The affairs of South Eastern Europe are still in an unsettled condition; but I do not apprehend that any disturbance of European peace will result from the unadjusted controversies which have arisen in that region. While deploring the events which compelled Prince Alexander of Bulgaria to retire from the Government of that Principality, I have not judged it expedient to interfere in the proceedings for the election of his successor until they arrive at that stage at which my assent is required by the stipulations of the Treaty of Berlin.
§ "The task which has been undertaken by my Government in Egypt is not yet accomplished; but substantial advance has been made towards the assurance of external and internal tranquillity.
§ "In Burmah operations have been conducted by my troops with bravery and skill for the purpose of extirpating the brigandage which has grown up during recent years of misgovernment. The bands of marauders by whom Upper Burmah has been long infested have been dispersed, and many of the leaders have laid down their arms. I entertain a confident hope that the general pacification of the country will be effected during the present season.
§ "Commercial Treaties have been concluded with the Kingdoms of Greece and Roumania.
§ "Papers on these subjects will be laid before you.
4§ "Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
§ "The Estimates for the coming year will be submitted to you. They have been framed with a careful regard to economy and to the efficiency of the public service.
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen,"
§ "The condition of Ireland still requires your anxious attention. Grave crimes have happily been rarer during the last few months than during a similar period in the preceding year. But 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 organized attempts to incite the latter class to combine against the fulfilment of their legal obligations. The efforts of my 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. Your 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.
§ "Since I last addressed you, the Commissioners directed to inquire into certain subjects of great importance to the material welfare of Ireland have been actively prosecuting their labours. The Report of the Commission on the operation of the recent Acts dealing with the tenure and purchase of land will be shortly laid before you, and will doubtless receive from you the early and careful attention which the serious importance of the subject demands.
5§ "Bills for the improvement of Local Government in England and Scotland will be laid before you; and, should circumstances render it possible, they will be followed by a measure dealing with the same subject in Ireland.
§ "A Bill for improving and cheapening the process of Private Bill legislation in England, Scotland, and Ireland will be submitted to you.
§ "You will be asked to consider measures having for their object 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.
§ "The Commission which I 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 you.
§ "A Bill for altering the mode of levying Tithes in England and Wales will be submitted to you.
§ "In regard to Scotland, you will 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.
§ "Measures dealing with the regulation of Railway rates, and for preventing the fraudulent use of Merchandize marks, will also be brought under your consideration.
§ "In the performance of these and all your other momentous duties, I 6 earnestly pray that the blessing of Almighty God may attend your labours."
§ Then the Commons withdrew.
§ House adjourned during pleasure.
§ House resumed.
§ PRAYERS.
§ 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 Second Session of the Twenty-fourth Parliament of the United Kingdom: The same was ordered to lie on the Table.
§ Several Lords—Took the Oath.
§ His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge—Singly took the Oath.