Sitting of 19 April 1859

THE DISSOLUTION.—QUESTION.
MR. T. S. DUNCOMBE: Sir, seeing Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer in his place, I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman a question. We know that we are summoned here to-day for the Prorogation of Parliament. I wish to ask when the dissolution will actually take place—when the notification of it will appear in the Gazette, and when the Writs will be issued?
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: A Council will be held on Saturday morning. We have advised Her Majesty to dissolve Parliament on that day, so that the Writs may go out on that evening.

PROROGATION OF THE PARLIAMENT.
Message to attend the LORDS COMMISSIONERS.
The House went, and the ROYAL ASSENT was given to several Bills; and afterwards a Speech of the LORDS COMMISSIONERS was delivered to both Houses by the LORD CHANCELLOR.
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 Fifth day of May next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Thursday the Fifth day of May next.

MINUTES.
Royal Assent.—Exchequer Bills £13,277,400; Consolidated Fund (Appropriation); Manor Courts, &c. (Ireland); Evidence by Commission; Medical Act (1858) Amendment; Indemnity; Nottingham Charities; Saint James Baldersby Marriages Validity; Convict Prisons Abroad; Recreation Grounds; Pauper Maintenance Act Continuance; Local Government Supplemental; Manslaughter; Public Offices Extension; Confirmation and Probate Act (1858) Amendment; Naval Medi-
1898
cal Supplemental Fund Society Annuities, &c. Act Continuance; Remission of Penalties; Savings' Banks (Ireland) Act; Affidavits by Commission, &c.; Superannuation; Combination of Workmen; Municipal Elections.

PROROGATION OF THE PARLIAMENT.

  SPEECH OF THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS.
  THE PARLIAMENTwas this day prorogued by Commission.
  The LORDS COMMISSIONERS, namely, The LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord Chelmsford); The LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (the Marquess of Salisbury); The LORD PRIVY SEAL (the Earl of Hardwicke); The LORD STEWARD OF THE HOUSEHOLD (the Marquess of Exeter); and the LORD CHAMBERLAIN OF THE HOUSEHOLD (Earl De La Warr) being seated at the foot of the Throne; and the COMMONS, preceded by their Speaker, being present, the ROYAL ASSENT was given to several Bills.
  THE LORD CHANCELLOR, on behalf of the LORDS COMMISSIONERS, then delivered the following Speech:—
  "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
  "WE are commanded by Her Majesty to inform you, that it is Her Majesty's Intention forthwith to dissolve the present Parliament, with a view to enable Her People to express, in the Mode prescribed by the Constitution, their Opinion upon the State of Public Affairs.
  "Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
  "WE are commanded by Her Majesty to thank you for the wise Liberality with which you have granted the necessary Supplies for the Military and Naval Defences of the Country, and for the Provision which you have made for the Exigencies of the other Branches of the Public Service, during the Interval which must elapse before the Estimates for the Year can be considered by the new Parliament, which Her Majesty will direct immediately to be called.
  "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
  "HER Majesty commands us to inform you, that the Appeal which She is about to make to Her People has been rendered necessary by the Difficulties experienced in carrying on the Public Business of the Country, as indicated by the Pact that within little more than a Year Two successive Administrations have failed to retain the Confidence of the House of Commons; and Her Majesty prays that, under the Blessing of Divine Providence, the Steps which She is about to take may have the Effect of facilitating the Discharge of Her high Functions, and of enabling Her to conduct the Government of the Country under the Advice of a Ministry possessed of the Confidence of Her Parliament and Her People.
  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 Fifth Day of May next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Thursday the Fifth Day of May next.