PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 357, 3 January 1849, Page 3

PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.

Parliament was prorogued by the Queen in person on the sth September. Her Majesty spoke as follows :—: — My Lords and Gentlemen, — I am happy to be able to release you from the duties of a laborious and protracted session. The Act for the Prevention of Crime arid Outrage in Ireland, which , received my assent at the commencement of the session, was attended with the most beneficial-effects. The open display of arms intended for criminal purposes was checked ; the course of justice was no longer interrupted ; and several murderers who bad spread terror through the country were apprehended and convicted. The distress in Ireland consequent upon successive failures in the production of food, has been mitigated by the application of tha law for the relief of the poor, and by the amount of charitable contributions raised in other puts of the United Kingdom. On the other hand, organized confederacies took the advantage of the existing pressure to excite my suffering subjects to rebellion. Hopes of plunder and confiscation were held out to tempt the distressed, while the most visionary prospects were exhibited to the ambitious. In this conjuncture I applied to your loyalty and wisdom for increased powers; and strengthened by your prompt concurrence, my government was enabled to defeat, in a few days, machinations which bad been prepared during many months. The energy and decision shown by the Lord-Lieu-tenant of Ireland in this emergency, deserves my warmest approbation. In the midst of these difficulties, you have continued your labours for the improvement of the laws ; the Act for Facilitating tha Sale of Incurabered Estates will, I trust, gradually remove an evil of great maguitude in the focial state- of Ireland. The system of perpetual entails of land, established in Scotland, produced very serious evils both to heirs of entail and to the community ; and I have great satisfaction in seeing it amended upon principles which havelong been found to operate beneficially in this, part of the United Kingdom. I have given my cordial assent to the measures which have in view the improvement of the public health, and I entertain an earnest hope that a foundation Has been laid for con-* tinual advances in this beneficial work.* ' Gentlemen of the House of Commons, — I have to thank you for the readiness with which you have granted the supplies necessary to the public service. I shall avail myself of every opportunity which the exigencies of the state may allow for enforcing economy. My Lords and Gentlemen, — I have renewed, in a formal manner, my diplomatic relations with the government of France. The gocd understanding between the two countries has contiuued without the slightest interruption. ; Events of deep importance have disturbed the internal tranquillity of many of the State* of Europe, both in the north and in the south. These events have led to hostilities between: neighbouring countries. lam employing my good officers, in coticerc with other friendly powers, to bring to amicable settlement these differences, and I trust 5 that our efforts may be ! successful. lam rejoiced to think that an increasing sense of the value of peace, encourages the hope that the nations of Europe may continue in the enjoyment of its blessings. _ Amidst these convulsions I have bad the satisfaction of being able to prepare for my own dominions, and to maintain our domestic

tranquillity.' , The strength of our institutions has bten tr e<i, ani has not Ween found want, ing. riiave-siu-iied to preserve the peoph committed to mvchtorge/in the enjoyment of tliat lemperaie freedom which they so justly value. My people on their side, feel too sensibly the advantages of order and secmity, to allow the promoters of pillage and confusion trry chance .of success in their wicked designs!. - " I acknowledge with grateful feelings the "many marks of loyalty and attachment which 1 have received from all classes of my people. It is my earnest hope that by cultivating respect to the law and obedience to the precepts < of religion', the libdrtieiof this -people may, by the blessing of Almighty God, be perpetuated.