§ Her Majesty's Most Gracious Speech was delivered to both Houses of Parliament by the Lord High Chancellor (in pursuance of Her Majesty's Commands), as followeth:—
§ "My Lords and Gentlemen,
§ "My relations with the Powers of Europe and America continue to be friendly.
§ "I have given my assent with sincere pleasure to the Act establishing the Commonwealth of Australia, which will weld together in close and indissoluble union the federating Colonies, and will add to the strength and resources of this portion of my Empire.
§ "The war in South Africa, into which this country has been forced by the aggressive action of the two Dutch Republics, has not yet reached its conclusion; but my armies have driven back the invaders beyond the frontier they had crossed, and have occupied the two capitals of the enemy and much of his territory. The operations which have been conducted for this purpose have in many parts been marked by brilliant skill and success, and have placed in the strongest light the heroism and the high military qualities of the troops who have been brought together under my banner from this country, from Canada, from Australasia, and from my South African possessions.
§ "Believing that the continued political independence of the two Republics would be a constant danger to the peace of 967 South Africa, I have authorised the annexation of the Orange Free State to my Empire. I trust that this will be the first step towards the union of races under institutions which, while establishing from the outset good and just government for all, may be in time developed so as to secure equal rights and privileges in my South African dominions.
§ "The British and other Legations at Peking have been unexpectedly attacked by an insurgent mob, and it is feared that many of their inmates have been murdered. How far Chinese authorities were accomplices in this atrocious crime, and whether the British Minister and his family have been among the victims, are matters that are still in some uncertainty. The utmost efforts will be made by myself and my allies to visit with worthy punishment the authors of this unexampled crime. I have sent a considerable force of British and Indian troops to assist in protecting the interests of Europeans in that country, and have largely reinforced my squadron in those waters.
§ "I regret that a rising of the Ashanti and other tribes in the neighbourhood of Coomassie has made it necessary to despatch an expedition for the relief of that place, where the Governor of the colony was besieged by overwhelming numbers. I have learned with satisfaction that my troops, which consist entirely of local levies under British officers, have effected the object of the expedition, in spite of the stubborn resistance of the insurgent tribes and the great difficulties of climate and season with which they have had to contend.
§ "In my Indian dominions the failure of the rains last autumn has caused intense and prolonged distress over a large part of the country. Strenuous and persistent endeavour has been made by my Governments to relieve suffering and prevent starvation. The self-denying efforts of my officers, and of the many private persons who have joined in the relief operations, deserve the highest commendation.
§ "Though the fall of rain this season has been abnormally late, it is hoped that its volume may be sufficient to rapidly curtail the present area of distress, and restore to the people their previous means of livelihood.
§ "The epidemic of plague continues, but the extent and virulence of the 968 disease have decreased, and there has been a marked diminution in the mortality.
§ "Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
§ "I thank you for the liberality with which you have responded to the unwonted demands I have been compelled to make on you. The satisfactory progress of the campaign in South Africa gives fair ground for hoping that the excessive requirements of military expenditure will be soon abated.
§ "My Lords and Gentlemen,
§ "Though the time has not been favourable to legislation upon internal questions, I congratulate you on having-added to the Statute-book several enactments which will be advantageous to industry and commerce. The passage of a measure for increasing the security of tenant-farmers in the value of their own improvements, and for extending the law of compensation for accidents to the farm labourer, will have a beneficial influence upon agriculture. A valuable Bill has been passed with the object of preventing: the accidents to which railway servants ' have been exposed in the performance of their duty.
§ "The Bill for the regulation of Limited Companies, and for the discovery of fraud in the conduct of them, will supply a want that has long been keenly felt. The Bill that has been passed for regulating the business of money-lenders will also tend to check transactions of an oppressive and injurious character.
§ "The measure you have passed for facilitating the erection of dwellings for the working classes will afford some assistance in the solution of a problem of which the difficulty appears to increase with every succeeding year.
§ "The Ecclesiastical Assessments (Scotland) and the Tithe Rent-charge (Ireland) Acts will remove long-standing causes of friction and injustice. Measures have also been passed for augmenting our Naval reserves, and for rendering our Volunteer forces more available for purposes of home defence.
§ "I pray that Almighty God may have you in His keeping, and that His blessing, may be with you."
969§ Then a Commission for proroguing the Parliament was read.
§ After which the Lord Chancellor said:—
§ "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 Saturday the twenty-seventh day of October next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Saturday the twenty-seventh day of October next."