ENGLISH NEWS.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 160, 11 December 1847, Page 4

ENGLISH NEWS.

Br the Times of August 7th, we find that the English funds still wear a most gloomy appearance, and Consols have declined again more than a half per cent. The rate varied from 86"f to 86£. * Three and a quarter per cents 88f to ■£. The firm of Messrs, C. Douglass and JSon had failed, with liabilities to the amount of between £200,000 to £300,000. The amount advanced on various securities during the day, by the Bank of England, approached half a million.

PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT. (From the Home News, July 2b.) The speech delivered by Her Majekty in person from Ihe Tbrone having been settled at the Privy Council held at JBjick.nguam Palace, on Thursday (July 22), the preparation! usual at the prorogation of Parliament took place on Friday, nt the new House of Lord* which her Majesty for the ftnt time visited in state. Her Mxjeity wan received at her entrance to the Houae by the Great Officers of State and of the House, bold, nnd having robed and taken hsr seat upon the throne, bavins; Prince Albert «eatrd on a lower chair on hir left, »nd having commanded the attendance of tlie House of Commons at the bar, proceeded to lead, in hsr uuuul clear, distinct voice the following

- ROYAL SPEECH • "Mv louds and Gbntlkmen— l have much 'satisfaction in being able to please you from the duties of a laborious and anxious seision I cannot take leave of you without expres*inr my grateful sense of the aisiduity and z^al with which you hare Hppljed yourselves to the coniideration of the public in- •' y our attention has been principally directed to the measures of immediate relUf which a great: and uiiprecedent'd calamity rendered necessary. •• 1 hare given my cheerful aticnt to ihoEe lawn which by allowing tbe free admission of grain, and by offering facilities for the me of sugar in breweries and distilleriei— tend to increaie tha quantity of human food and to promote commercial intercourie. •' I rejoice to find that you have in no instance propoied mw restrictions, or interfered with the liberty of foreign or*internal trade, ai a modeofrelieving distress. I feel assured that mch measurei are generally ineffectual, in some cases aggravate the | evili for the alleviation of which they are adopted. " I cordially approve of the acts of large and liberal brunty by which you have assuaged the sufferings of my Irish subjects. I have also readily given my sanction to a law to make batter prousion for the permanent relief of the destitute in Ireland. 1 have likewise given my assent to various bills calculated to promote the agriculture and develope tin* industry of that portion of the United Kingdom. My attention shall be directed to «uch luither measures ai may be conducive to those salutary purpose*. " My relations with fo'eign Powerj continue to inipire mo with confidence in the maintenance of peace. " It has afforded m*e great satisfsclion to find that the m« a«ures which, in concert with the Kin^ of the French, the Queen of Spain, and Queen of Portugal, I have taken for the pacifica<ioo Portugal, have been attended with succese , and that the civil war, which for many months iiad afflicted that countiy, has at )a*t been brought to a bloodleis termination. 11 I indulge the hope that future differences between political parties in that country may be t settled with out an appeal to arms. ♦• Gentlembn or the Hoo»b or Commons. — 1 thank you for your willingness in granting me the necessary supplies; they shall be applied wi'.h due care and economy to the public gsrvice. " I am happy to inform you thit, notwithstanding the high price of food, the revenue hat, up to the present vime, been more products thnn I had reason to anticipate. The in«i eased use of articles of general consumption has chiefly contributed to this jesult. "The revenue derived from sugar, especially, has been greatly augmented by the removal of the prohibitory duties on foreign sugar. ••Thevarioui grants which you have mate for Education in the United Kingdom will. 1 trust, be conducive to the religious and moral, improvement of my people. "My Lords and Gentlemen,— l think "proper to inform you that it is my intention immediatly to dissolve the present Parliament. " I rely with confidence on .the loyalty to the Throne and attachment to the free institutions of this country, which animate the great body of my people. I join with them in supplications to Almighty God that the dear'h by which we have been afflicted may, by the Divine blessing, be converted into cheapness and plenty."