§ And afterwards His Majesty's most gracious Speech was delivered to both Houses of Parliament by the Lord Chancellor (in pursuance of His Majesty's Command) as follow eth:
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ "I address you fur the first time under the shadow of the great calamity occasioned by the death of My beloved Father. I have received abundant evidence from every part of My dominions that the irreparable loss which has befallen Me and My family is deeply lamented by My subjects. Their sympathy has fortified Me in My sorrow, and I have devoted Myself to the duties to which I have been called with the earnest desire to follow in My dear Father's footsteps.
§ "My relations with Foreign Powers continue to be friendly.
§ "I confidently hope that the questions connected with the North Atlantic Fisheries between Canada and Newfoundland on the one hand, and the United States of America on the other, which have been a subject of controversy for nearly a century, have been at last finally settled by the award of The Hague Tribunal. It; is a cause of special satisfaction that; it has been found possible to solve, by arbitration, problems of such an intricate and difficult nature, and that the award has been received on both sides in a spirit which must tend to increase goodwill.
§ "I recently entrusted to My Uncle, the Duke of Connaught, the mission of opening the first Parliament of the Union of South Africa—a ceremony which it was intended that I should Myself perform. It is My earnest hope that under the legislature which he has inaugurated South Africa will continue to advance in. happiness and prosperity.
§ "In My Indian Empire, further effect has been given to the scheme of administrative reform authorised by the Indian Councils Act of 1909, by the creation of an Executive Council for the Province of Bengal.
§ "Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
§ "I note with satisfaction the liberality with which you have provided for the requirements of the year, including the increased grants for the Navy and the 1015 additional expenditure upon Old Age Pensions consequent upon the removal of the pauper disqualification at the close of the present year.
§ "I thank you for the arrangements you have made for the maintenance of the honour and dignity of the Crown.
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ "I regret that the Conference which took place with a view to arriving at a solution of the recurring difficulties between the two Houses of Parliament has failed to come to an agreement.
§ "I am gratified that you have passed into law the Acts dealing with the Regency, and the form of the Declaration required to be made by the Sovereign on his Accession.
§ "I thank you for the zeal with which you have carried out your duties, and I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon your labours."
1016§ Then a Commission for proroguing the Parliament was read.
§ After which the LORD CHANCELLOR said:—
§ "My Lords and Gentlemen, By virtue of His Majesty's Commission, under the Great Seal, to us and other Lords directed, and now read, we do, in His Majesty's Name and in obedience to His Commands, prorogue this Parliament to Thursday the Fifteenth day of December One thousand nine hundred and ten, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Thursday the Fifteenth day of December One thousand nine hundred and ten."
§ End of the First Session of the Twenty-ninth Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in the First Year of the Reign of His Majesty King George V.