THE QUEEN'S SPEECH.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 286, 26 April 1848, Page 3

THE QUEEN'S SPEECH.

The new Parliament was opened oa 16th November, by Commission. On the 21st the Commons were summoned to the bar of the House of Lords, and in a few moments the Speaker, attended by a large number of the members, appeared. The Marquis of Lansdowne read the Royal speech, as follows :—: — My Lords and Gentlemen, — Her Majesty has ordered us to declare to you the causes which have induced her to call Parliament together at the present time. Her Majesty has seen with great concern the distress which has for some time prevailed among the commercial classes. The prospects of trade were at one period aggravated by a general feeling of distrust and of alarm. Her Majesty, for the purpose of restoring confidence, authorised her ministers to recommend to the directors of the Bank of England a course of proceedings suited to such an emergency. This course might have led to an infringement of the law. Her Majesty has great satisfaction in being able to inform you that the law has not been infringed — that the alarm has subsided — and that the pressure on the bank and commercial iuterest has been mitigated. The abundant harvest with which this country has been blessed has alleviated the evils which always accompany a want of employment in the manufacturing districts. Her Majesty has, however, to lament the recurrence of severe distress in Ireland, owing to the scarcity of the usual food of the people. Her Majesty trusts that this distress will be materially relieved by the exertions which have been made to carry into effect the law of last session for the relief of the destitute. Her Majesty has learned with satisfaction that landed proprietors have taken advantage of the means placed at their disposal, by the liberality of Parliament, for the improvement of land. Her Majesty laments that in some counties in Ireland atrocious crimes have been committed, and a spirit of insubordination has manifested itself, leading to an organized resistance to legal Hghta. - The Lord Lieutenant has employed with vigour and energy the means which the law places at his disposal to detect offenders and to prevent a repetition of offences. Her Majesty feels it, however, to be her duty to her peaceable and well-disposed subjects to ask the assistance of Parliament in taking further precautions against the perpetration of crime in certain counties of Ireland. Her Majesty views with the deepest anxiety and interest the present condition of Ireland, and she recommends to the consideration of Parliament means which, with due regard to the rights of property, may advance 'the social condition of the people, and tend to the permanent improvement of that of the United Kingdom. Her Majesty has seen with great concern the breaking out of the civil war in Switzerland. Her Majesty is in communication with the allies on the subject, and has expressed her readiness to use, in concert with them, her ! friendly influence for the purpose of securing to the Swiss Confederation the blessings of peace. j Her Majesty looks with confidence to the maintenance of the general peace of Europe. Her Majesty «has concluded, with the Republic of Eucador, a treaty for the suppression of the slave market. Her Majesty has given directions that the treaty should be laid before you. Gentlemen of the House of Commons, Her Majesjy has given directions that the estimates for the next year should be prepared, for the purpose of being laid before you. They will be framed whh a careful regard to the exigencies of the public service.

My Lords and Gentlemen, — Her Majesty recommends to the consideration, of Parliament the laws which regulate the navigation of the United Kingdom, with a view to consider whether any change can be adopted which will without danger to our maritime strength, promote the commercial and colonial interests ot the empire. Her Majesty has been pleased to appoint a commission to report on the best means of promoting the health of the metropolis, and Ler Majesty gnciously recommends your earnest attention to such means as will be kid before you relating to sanatory reform. Her Majesty has deeply sympathised with the sufferings which afflict the labouring classes in the manufacturing districts of Great Britain, and in many parts ot Ireland : and her Majesty has observed with admiration the patience with which the sufferings have been generally borne. The distress which prevailed among the commercial classes has affected many important branches of the revenue, but her Majesty trusts the time is not far distant when, under the blessing of Divine Providence, the commerce an i industry of the United Kingdom will have resumed their wonted activity. [From the Globe, Dec. 16.] We have every reason to believe that her Majesty is again in the most interesting condition in which a married lady can be placed; the lime expected is about the end of March. The good service pension of £150 per annum, vacant by the promotion of Captain William Fisher to the rank of Rear-Admiral, has been conferred on Captain Chads, C. 8., of the Excellent, gunnery ship, and Royal Naval College, Portsmouth.

Military Force in Ireland. — The following is the official return of the present military foice in Ireland: — Cavalry — 2nd Regiment of Dragoon Guards, Clonmel and Newbridge ; 6th Dragoon Guards, Dundalk; Ist Dragoons (or Royals), Cahir ; 2nd Dragoons, Athlone ; 4th Dragoons, Dublin ; 6th Dragoons (Enniskillen,) Newbridge ; 7th Hussars, Dublin and Drogheda ; Bth Hussars, Ballincollig; 13th Light Dragoons, Longford and Dublin ; 17th Lanrers, Dublin. Infantry — 2nd Regiment ol Foot, Athlone; 3rd Regiment (Buffs), Dublin and Naas ; 6ih Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Fermoy ; 7th Regiment, Depot Company, Dublin; 13th Regiment, Birr ; 16th Regiment, Depot Company, Youghal ; 19th Regiment, Castlebar ; 26th Regiment, Buttevant ; 34th Regiment, Depot Company, Waterford; 38th Regiment, Depot Company, Boyle ; 40th R.egime»t, Gal way; 41st Regiment, Mullingar and Clare Castle ; 44th Regiment, Ist Battalion, Newry ; 2nd Battalion, Cork ; 47th Regiment, Clonmel ; 48th Regiment, Enniskillen ; 49th Regiment, Dublin ; 55th Regiment, Templemore; 59th Regiment, Templemore ; 64th Regiment, Limerick ; 66th Regiment, Depot Company, Cork ; 67th Regiment Ist and 2nd Battalions, Cork; 68th-Regiment, Mullingar; 70th Regiment, Fermoy ; 73rd Regiment. Depot Company, Birr; 74th Regiment, Belfast ; 75th Regiment, Dublin ; 77th- Regiment, Depot Companies, Nenagh ; 79ih Regiment, Depot Companies, Mullingar; 83rd Regiment, Kilkenny ; 85th Regiment, Dublin ; 88th Regiment, Depot Company, Tralee ; 92nd Regiment, Dublin and Limerick ; 95th Regiment, Depot Companies, Naas. Royal Artillery — 15 companies, and 6 troops of Horse Artillery. Besides the above are the embodied battalions of Chelsea Outpensioners and the local armed force. Several regiments are under orders for the disturbed districts in Ireland, and a portion of the A division of the Metropolitan Police, which will make an armed force of from 40,000 to 45,000 men. The Times, December 15.

Military Movement. — On Friday morning last, orders were received at the head quarters of the 2nd battalion of the Ist Royal Regiment, at Bury, that the whole of the Regiment, including detachments stationed at Bolton, Blackburn, Hulme Barracks, (ManChester), and Colne, should assemble at Liverpool this (Wednesday) morning, there to wait further orders. There is no doubt that the destination of the regiment is Ireland ; and in that case, we believe that the head quarters and five companies will be stationed at Newry ; that two companies under the command of a major will be sent to Armagh; .one company to Castlewellan, one company to Carrickmacross, and fifty men to Louth. The detachment, of the Ist Royals, at Blackburn .and Bolton, are to be replaced by detachments from the 89th Regiment, until the Preston .Barracks are reported to be ready for the reception of troops, when these detachments will be recalled. Since the above was in . type, we have learned that the 60th Rifles, -from Brighton, v. ere to relieve the Ist Royals, and that a poition of the 60th would .reach Bury last evening. They will also occupy by detachments the barracks at Bolton and Blackburn, and the 89th will therefore , remain in quarters as at present. — Manchester guardian.

Ravages op the Influenza in London, — Several hundred boys in the St. Paul's and Christchurch schools, are on the sick list ; and the Meichant Tailors' School has been prematurely closed for the Christmas holidays, in consequence of the illness of a large proportion of the pupils. The business of some of the public offices has also been impeded from the clerks being affected with the disorder, and in the busiest department of the public service — the Post Office — 140 clerks weie reported to be absent last week. In manufactories and wholesale houses much inconvenience has been ielt from the same cause. The booksellers of Paternosier Row have had some difficulty in getting through the business of "Magazine day," from the absence of a large number of their assistants. The returns of the registrar-general of deaths, &c, for the week ending Nov. 27, show a great increase of mortality in the metropolis in comparison to that of the corresponding season, which has averaged 1046 for the last five years. Bat there died in London and its vicinity during the past week no fewer than 1677 individuals, or 631 — about 60 per cent. — above the average. — Mark Lane Exuress, Dec. 6.

Jenny Lind at Home. — Stockholm, Dec. 3. — On the 20th of last month Mdlle. Jenny Lind signed an engagement with the Royal Opera at Stockholm, stipulating that she should sing once a week in December, January, and February, on condition of half of the whole of the receipts, on every night of her appearance, being given to her, and of half being added to the prices of places. The evening before last, which was the eve of Jenny Lind's first performance, our newspapers published a note signed by the renowned cantatrice, in which she stated that, in order to give her native country a souvenir that might last beyond her existence as an artist, she had deteimined on devoting the whole profits of her performances to the establishment of a school for poor young persons of both sexes, born with happy dispositions, in which they should gratuitously be taught music and the dramatic art. This generosity excited to the utmost the enthusiastic admiration we already felt to so great an extent for Jenny Lind. It increased beyond measure the public's impatience to heat the celebrated artiste, who, since she returned to this capita!, had not yet sung at any public place. Although the tickets for yesterday's performance were to have been sold at the theatre's office from ten o'clock, on the preceding afternoon at about four, the Adolphns-place, where the Opera stands, was already nearly crowded. At about eleven the multitude was such that the police interfered, and made the people form en queue. This was accomplished quietly enough ; but a little after midnight a compact mass of persons suddenly made an irruption from the neighbouring streets, rushed on the queue, broke it, and actually besieged the theatre. Nevertheless, the first crowd returned, attacked their aggressors, and in a few minutes a desperate fist and foot combat followed. Several persons were severely bruised on the occasion. All the exhortations of the police being useless, an armed force was brought up. Several detachments of infantry arrived, but were formidably opposed ; it was with great trouble that they succeeded in clearing the Adolphus-place. It was subsequently occupied by the military, and only two thousand persons, or twice the number the theatre could hold, were suffered to approach its office. In the course of the day the tickets for Jenny Liud's performance were paid for 'as high as fifty times what they had cost at the office. Some of those for the amphitheatre first places were sold' at 100 bank rix dollars, or £22. As for the reception given to Jenny Lind, we must confine ourselves to stating, that every known " ovation" was conferred on her, including that of which Italy has reserved to herself the privilege — the flying of pigeons in the house. — Journal dcs Debuts of Tuesday last. — Globe, December 16. ■

The Disturbances in Sicily. — A letter from Naples oi the 4th, in the Nouvelliste of Marseilles, contains the following respecting the recent disturbances at Palermo : — " In the eveuing of the 23th ultimo, the populace still crowded the streets, and one of the leaders who had a tri-colour flag, placed himself at the head of an immense group in the street of the Toledo. This assemblage proceeded to the square of the Donte, -where their leader got upon a pedestal of the statue of Sainte Rosalie (lie patroness of Palermo, and shouted ' Long Jive the King'!' 'Long live Italy !' 'Long live j the Constitution.' He then harangued the crowd on the political condition of Italy, and made it promise -to confide in the councils of the intelligent classes. ' The object which you propose,' said he *is also their object, and it can only be secured by unanimity. When justice and moderation shall have been tried in vain, if it be uecessary to have recourse to arms, you will do so with dignity and resolution !' The people declared with enthusiasm that they would follow this wise counsel. "Whilst this was going on in the square, the

elite of the population were deliberating at the Casino on the means of practically utilising the popular enthusiasm. Some instants afterwards the crowd stopped in front of the Casino to learn the decision of its members, the principal of whom had been sent for by General Viale, commandant of the garrison and chief of the police, who invited them to call on the King's lieutenant. This personage declared to these notables that he was ready to grant the institution of a civic guard, and recommended them to call on the following day with the municipal council to receive the authorisation. This decision satisfied the people, who withdrew in the greatest order. But, in answer to the instructions demanded from Naples by the telegraph, the King's lieutenant was positively ordered not* to authorise the formation of a civic guard, and enjoined to repress with the greatest energy every popular demonstration. On the 30th these instructions were communicated to the popular committee and to the municipality, who withdrew in consternation, and would no longer show themselves to the people. Placards were posted up prohibiting, under the seveiest penalties, all public meetings and cries of every description ; but these placards were immediately pulled down. During this time a group was pa.-sing by the office of the Commissariat, and, without any provocation on their part, was. fired upon by the soldiers on guard ; one person was killed, , and, four were dangerously wounded. The population of Palermo, no longer seeing its chiefs, cries of ' Treason!' were raised, and the agitation increasing, the chiefs at length resolved to show themselves. After great efforts to restore confidence, the chiefs succeeded in calming the people by promising constantly to aid them with the same ardour in their struggle for reform."

Machine cor Raising Heavy Things in Deep Water. — A new machine, of which a gentleman of Worcester, Massachusetts, is the inventor, designed for lifting heavy articles from the bottom of deep water id thus described : — A large vessel, containing materials for generating gas, is let down to the bottom, filled with water. The weight is attached, and the combustibles united for the creation of the gas, which expels the water and raises the vessels to the suriace, with the force of over sixty pounds to the cubic foot. The machine is said to be simple, cheap, and likely to be very useful. — A 7 c.x« York AntiSluvery Standard.

Metropolitan Churchyards. — Mr. Walker has given BOtiG§vtor the government, that he shall keep a watchful, eye upon the floor of the House of Commons, and if it is overcrowded with the bodies of the Irish members, who have threatened to die there, he certainly shall do everything in his power to remove the nuisance. If he could do it before they die, we should not mind. — Punch.

The Apostates. — It appears that the triumph of the Church of Rome, relative to the accession of strength obtained from the ranks of the Fuseyites in England, has been but short-lived. The apostates of the clerical class are now received with considerable unwillingness in consequence of its being found that the secrets of the confessional have in several instances tianspired, owing according to the Tablet, a Roman Catholic journal, to the new converts being married. — Melbourne Argvs, March' 21.

A Flattering Exception. — A very eccentric farmer, who was recently at a tea table where there were several fine girls sipping their twankay, was asked what he thought of a certain lady who was then absent. " Oh," replied he, " she is the plainest woman I ever saw iv my life, the present company excepted." Collett, of the Evesham Academy, weighed 26 stone, and when a baby, was so heavy, that it required the united efforts of two nurses to raise him from his cradle. In a passion, he felled one of his nurses to the ground, with a blow of his hand on her head.