English and Foreign.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 477, 30 May 1857, Page 5

English and Foreign.

THE 'QUiEEI'S SPEECH. ''i. ' '' ' The following is a copy of the Roya^Speech delivered on the 3rd February, at the opening of Prtfliam'ettt'by Commission : — ' My Lohds'and Gentlemen ' We are commanded to assure you that Her Majesty has great satisfaction in letmning again to tKe advice and assistance of her Pailiament. We are commanded by Her Majesty to inform you that difficulties, winch atoso in regnid to some of the provisions df the treat}' of Palis, delayed the complete execution of tiie stipulations* of that tieaty.' Those diflitnltipa have' been overcome in d satisfactory mannri, and the intentions of the treaty have been fully maintained. An iustirrectionarymov'enient whirh took place ) in September lust in'the Swiss Canton of Neufchatel, for the purpose of re-establishing in that Canton the authority of the King of Prussia as Prince of Xeufclmtel, led to serious difi'erences beiween Ins Prussian Majesty and 'the Swi^,s Confederation, threatening at 'one time to disturb the genetal peace of Europe; but her, M.ijefcty commands us to iitfouri you that, in concert with her 'august ally, tIVe1 Emppror of the French, j>he is endeavouung 'to biing ab<?ufc an amicable settlement of the lifatter in dispute; and her Majesty entertains a confident expeotatipn that an honourable tend '.'satisfactory airansfement will be concluded.

In consequence of certain'discussions; which1 took place during the Gonfqretfces at Paris, and which iii the'protocols that were laid before you, her ;Kaje§ty 'and-itne'^Emperor of the Ffench'eaiised'''commurircatsons to be made to the- GrbveiTiraent'. t>f. pe. King' of: the two Sicjlies for.the purpoSse'bf inducing him to adop^' a- cc-uvse' of policy Aklculafed to' avert .daggers which might disturb that peace 'WKicfi likdv been so recently restoreTTto" Europe.,, Her Majesty commands 'its' t'6 inform you that the manner in whicliltliosff iVieiidly conimti^j&atioiis; • Were received - by'■ ■his: Sitiiliaii •Ma f est v induced1 her Majesty and .the Empefor :of"= the IVeneh. toi discontinue theirjliplorhatic relations ■with his Sicilian Majesty, and they have ■'a-ccpr^ dijigiy-'withdrawn their missions from tile Court of Her Majesty: has idirei'ted' thM papers relating to'this, siibject^shali- be laid before yott.!' •' .'-': "; '•'■■'■ ■;',:•■. r.; ■. ■ ■:;..--:; Her Majesty comraands ufe -to 'you that: sheilas;beeh engaged ill' negotiating with the Government of'-thelJmted- States,-'aiid also with the Government of' '< Honduras^ which She trrists will be successful in removing all ci-tuseof misunderstanding with respect ;to -Central America.- .'■"; ■'-■■■"■< '" ';'-'..::-;;i-.;''-! ••■"■-•■ '■;■?*. Her Majesty has conchfded; a treaty of friendship 'and commerce with Slam, which will -be laidi befdre you. .■: ..'.'■■ .'•'■'- -■■ ■■•■-;- • '■' "'■'■ '•'■ ■■' Her Majesty commatid's' us to express to- you her regi-et that the ;<So'nditet(Oi'> the ■"Persian Government has; led < to■ hostilities between 'her Majesty and the Shah of Persia.-• ■■-' '-i The Pevsian- jGovernHient,;in defiance .of/repeatecl warnings, and ireiyiolation. of its engager \ mentis, has besieged and captured the important ' city or' Herat. ■ / .':>■■").■..■■ -:-.i .;: '-1 '; We are commanded, by her Majesty to inform .' you.. that;. : a British. .Nayal and Military,, force fi'-oni. Bombay has.taken, possession of .the'ishmd of Karak, and the town of Bushire, with a view ■• to induce the Sha,h to.accede. to the just demand oi'hev Majesty's Goyernin^nt. ,-. .. .. .■•,./ .Her ■■Majesty- has seen ,- with satisfaction .that J the naval and military, forces employed; con ; ,tbe j occasion have displayed their.accustomed gnihin- >j ..try, ;nd spirit.' : ' 'VV' ' ■ i er .Vt;ijesty commands us to inform you that acts of violence, insults'to the British fkg.'imd \ iufjacion of, treaty rights, committed by ; the ] Toal .Chiiiese authorities at 'Canton, ;ii id a per- .1 tii ac ous refusal of redress, have rendered it ] n.: cc sury for"heiv Majesty's officers in China to j h ye recourse to1 measures of force' to'-'obtain ] •s ti.s action. Those measures hftd, uj> to the d; te of the last accounts, been taken with great - icrix'a ranee, but-with signal success as-regards ; tlio contlictK to which they had led; ': ■.- " ; \V(i an: oommanded to inforn'i you that Her: M josty tliinks that the Government of Pckiu j ivi ! s-fo the propriety nf aflordiiig :the satisfac- ! ti'j-i dom;inded. uud of .faithfully fulfilling its , treaty engagements. • ; ■■>'■■'<■ ' i

Gentlemen; of the House of Commons, Her Majesty has directed the ipstimates for the ensuing year to be laid before* you* They : have been prepared with every att6htioii to economy, and with a due regard to the efficient performance, of the public service at,^home. and ■ abroad. ■•■ • i ; ! ■ . My ;Lobi?s and' Qentlemen, : . !T .. i Her. Majesty commands us to iiifoitn yon ; that, , bills will be submitted to your consideration for the consolidation ..and amendment of-. important portions of. the-law,, and her Majesty doubts.not that ■youKwill; give j-our earnest .attention .to so deeply affecting the 'interests ,of ( . all '. classes of her subjects. Her Majesty commands us- ixx recommend to 1 your consideration the expediency of renewing , for a; further period the privileges of, the Bank lof England; ,-the, ; conditions ; imposed; on &c; issue of bank notes in. the, United Kingdom, and. \ the state, of -the law ,re,lating,' to. I Banks. ,■)•■•■-.. , -„ -, - ; -,.-,,,. ; . Her.^ajejSty .commands ,us, to,excess the ; .gi-atification^wljich it afiprds her,to,-witniess th.c ( ': general.. well^beijtig and , contentment .of her,. • people,:and, she,finds .jtliat notwithstanding .the. ■ sacrifices attending, ;upon, such a. \ war : .as,tha,t-;}\'hich has lately terniinated, thcj 1 resources .of th§ country feniain, unimpaired, an^. ! its, productive industry cor.tinuesf/'uijchecked, ,inj ; its course of progressivedevelopment.. .. „ r, ; Her Majesty commits w/ith,, confidence the ; great interests of the country pp .^puyi, wisdom i and care, and. she. fervently; prays fha.t-the bless- , ings of Almighty God may attend deliberi ations, and ..prosper .your; for^he ad-. < vanceraKntLJftn4 happiness of her iloyaland faithfful people^ ,_ ; r. fjV ; ;;.,<: '.V', V ;:: >: .';';; ; ; '