PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 801, 17 December 1853, Page 3

PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, SATURDAY, AUGUST 20. (From the “ Evening Mail,” Aug. 22.) The Lord Chancellor made the following speech— My Lords and Gentlemen, — We are commanded by her Majesty to release you from .your attendance in Parliament, and at the same time to express her Majesty’s cordial approbation of the zeal and assiduity with which, during a protracted and laborious session, you haveapplied yourselves totheconsiderationofmany subjects of great importance to the public welfare. Her Majesty has seen with much satisfaction that, by the remission and reduction of taxes which tended to cramp the operations of trade and industry, you have given fresh extension to a system of beneficent legislation, and have largely increased the means of obtaining the necessaries of life. The provision which you have made for meeting the demands of the public service, not only in the present, but also in future years, is of a nature to give permanent stability to our finances, and thereby to aid in consolidating the strength and resources of the empire. The buoyant s'ate of the revenue, and the steady progress of our foreign trade, are proof, of the wisdom of the commercial policy now firmly established ; while the prosperity which pervade.-* the great trading and producing classes, happily without even a partial exception, affords continued and increasing evidence of the enlarged comforts of the people. 'The measure which you have pr steel for the future government of India has been readily sanctioned by her Majesty, in the persuasion that it will prove to have been wisely framed, and that it is well calculated to promote the improvement and welfare of her Majesty’s eastern dominions. Her Majesty regards with peculiar satisfaction the provision you have made for the better administration of charitable trusts. The obstacles which existed to the just and beneficial use of pioperty set apart for the purposes of charity and of education have been a serious public evil, to which her Majesty is persuaded that, in your wisdom, you have now applied an efficient remedy. Gentlemen of the House of Commons— We are commanded by her Majesty to thank you for thesuppllcs which you have granted for the service of the present year, and for the provision which you have made lor the defence of the country bo'h by sea and land. Her Majesty will apply them with a due regard to economy, and consistently with that spirit which has at all times made our national security the chief object of her care. My Lords and Gentlemen — Her Majesty commands us to infirm you that she continues to receive from ber allies the assurance of their unabated desire to cultivate the most friendly relations with this country. It is with deep interest and concern that her Majesty has viewed the serious misunderstanding which has recently arisen between Russia and the Ottoman Porte. The Emperor of the French has united with hj >r Majesty in earnest, endeavours to reconcile differences, the continuance of which might involve Europe in war. Acting in concert with her allies, and relying on the exertions of the Conference now assembled at Vienna, her Majesty has good reason to hope that an honourable arrangement will speedily be accomplished. Her Majesty rejoices In being able to announce to you the termination of the war on the frontiers of ibe settlement of the Cape of Go< d Hope, and she trusts that the establishment of representative government in that colony may lend to the development of its resources, and enable it to make efficient provision for its future defence. Weave also commanded to congratulate you that, by the united exertions of the naval and military forces of her Majesty and of the East India Company, the war in Burma has been brought to an honourable and successful issue. The objects of the war having been fully attained, and due submission made by (he Burmese Government, peace has been proclaimed. Her Majesty contemplates, with grateful satisfaction and thankfulness to Almighty God, the tranquility which prevails throughout- her dominions, together with that peaceful industry and obedience to the laws which insure the welfare of all classes of her subjects. It is the first desire of her Majesty to promote the advance of every social improvement, and, with the aid of y'nur wisdom, still further to extend the prosperity .and happiness of her people. The Lord Chancellor then, in the name of her Majesty, declared the Parliament prorogued until Thursday, the 27th of October next, and it was accordingly prorogued.

Prorogation Parliament. (From Ihe Lo ;don Correspondence of the “ Argus.’’) At length the most protracted session of our legislature that has probably ever been held, has been brought to a conclusion. As usual towards the termination, there was a scramble to get through the business, and ninny useful measures were "abandoned or postponed, while others were passed only by means of suspending the standing orders. I suppose the evil is incurable, and that in all popular assemblies talking must be regarded as a necessary evil. It is a safety valve, and we must ac< ept its disadvantages with its benefits. Glancing at what has been done, we shall certainly find “variety.” The session began in the first week of November, 1852, and with an interval of forty days at the commencement of this year, it closed 20th August. This gives eight or nine months of actual sitting—a severe strain upon the energies of tha members. During the period named, the Royal Message upon the,death of the Duke of Wellington was sent, the title of Louis Napoleon as Emperor was recognised, the Conservative party were defeated, the Education and Reform measures ) romised were postponed, the Chancellor of the Exchequer took <fT five millions of taxation, although perpetuating the income tax and levying a duty upon the succession to all real and personal property, the Charitable Trusts Administration Bill was passed, and various acts for local and , general purposes, such as prevention of smoke from public works and factories in London, &c., hackney carriage regulation, provision for convicts, government of India, were sanctioned. A singular fatality has attended the measures relating to ecclesiastical affairs. Of the deserved fate of the Colonial Church Regulation Bill I advised you in a former letter, and it has found companions in the Missionary Bishops Bill, the Church Rates, Ecclesiastical Courts, and Capitular ,Estates Act Jewish Disabilities, and Parliamentary Oaths, < The Eastern question has enlivened the closing days of the session, and has. served tc? elicit the important fact that the British spirit rules strong, however the milder influences of humanity ; aud .religion may; subdue it, until every honorable expedient for effecting a reconciliation lias been tried. Her Majesty's speech at tfce prorogation does not exaggerate the general prosperity of the country, . The Queen’s visit to the Exhibition of Industry at Dublin has gone off with great eclat, and thousands of tourists have poured into that country, The exhibition has fully answered expectation. ! The renowned old soldier, General Sir Charles Napier, is dead. He expired at his country seat, and his son in-law placed the tattered colours of Men nee above his head as he gasped his last. All was characteristic, shields, spear?, and trophies were scattered or hung about the mom, anti the veteran died as he lived, in' true military'fashion. Sir Charles had been grievously wounded at different periods.