PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT. House of Lords.—Wednesday, August 1.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 454, 8 December 1849, Page 3

PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT. House of Lords. — Wednesday, August 1.

Parliament was this day prorogued by commission. The ceremony, in consequence no doubt of the absence of her Majesty, appeared to have excited very little public curiosity or attention. No crowds assembled round the precincts of either house ; and in the interior of the magniffcent edifice appropriated to the deliberations of the peers, the only unusual circumstance we observed was the attendance of some forty or fifty ladies. The number of noble lo r ds present on the occasion did not, we believe, at any period of the proceedings amount to more than about half-a-dozen, with the exception of the Lords Commissioners. The doors of the house were opened to strangers at a quarter past two o'clock. On the motion of Lord Campbell, the Lord President of the Council (the Marquis of Lansdowne) sat on the woolsack in the absence of the Lord Chancellor.

THE LAW OF MARRIAGE. Lord Campbell presented two petitions against Mr. S. Wortley's bill for altering the law with respect to the prohibited degrees in cases of marriage; one of which was from the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and signed by the Moderator ; and the other from the faculty of divinity in the University of Edinburgh. The noble and learned lord stated that he entirely concurred in the prayer of those petitions, and expressed a hope that the bill, would not be renewed in a future session of Parliament. It was said that that was a woman's question ; but he felt persuaded; that if the tair sex were polled upon that subject it would be found that they were unanimously opposed to the proposed chaDge in the lave. The Earl of Minto expressed his entire dissent from the views of the petitioners, and of his noble and learned friend, upon that matter. Lord Campbell said it was clear that the question was an open one (a laugb); but for his part he would resign his office rather thai) consent to such a change in the law.

ROYAL COMMISSION. The Marquis of Lansdowne said, that he had'to acquaint their lordships that her Majesty had been pleased to grant two several commissions, to the several lords therein named — one for declaring the royal assent to several acts agreed to by both Houses of Parliament, and the other for proroguing the Parliament. The Lords Commissioners shortly afterwards entered and occupied seats, as usual, on tt'e woolsack ; they were — the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Marquis of Clanricarde, the Earl of Minto, the Earl of St. Germains, and Lord Campbell. The Marquis of Lansdowne ordered Sir A. Clifford, the Usher of the Black Rod, to desire the immediate attendance of the members of the House of Commons to hear the Royal Commission read ; and in compliance with | ihis request, the Speaker, accompanied by [ Lord J. Russell, Lord Palmerston, and sevej ral members, appeared below the bar of the House. The Royal assent was given by commis- | sion to a number of bills. The Marquis of Lansdowne next proceeded to read her Majesty's speech at the close of the session, as follows :—: — " My Lords and Gentlemen, — " We hare it in command from her Majesty to inform you that the state of public business enables her to dispense with your attendance in Parliament, and to clos<; the present B3ssioo. "Her- Majesty has directed us to express her satisfaction with the zeal and assiduity with which: you have discharged the laborious and anxious duties in the performance of which you have been occupied. " Her Majesty has given her assent to thf important measure you have passed to amend the Navigation Laws, in full confidence that the enterprise, skill, and hardihood of her people will assure to them a full share of the commerce of the world, tod maintain upon the seas the indent renown of this nation.

I " Her Majesty has commanded us to acquaint you that the friendly character of her relations with foreign powers affords her a just confidence in the continuance of peace. " The preliminaries of peace between Prussia and Denmark have been signed under the mediation of her Majesty, and her Majesty trusts that this convention may prove the forerunner of, a definitive and permanent treaty. u Her Majesty's efforts will continue to be directed to promote the restoration of peace in those parts of Europe in which it has been interrupted, " Gentlemen of the House of Commons. " We are commanded by her Majesty to return you her thanks for the provision which you have made for the public service. " The public expenditure has undergone considerable reductions within the present year, and her Majesty will continue to apply a watchful economy in every branch of the [ public service. j " My Lords and Gentlemen, " We are commanded by her Majesty to congratulate you on the happy termination of the war in the Punjaub. The exertions made by the government of India, and the valour displayed by the army in the field, demand her Majeny's warmest acknowledgments. " Her Majesity has observed with gratifica- | tion the spirit of obedience to the laws which has been manifested by her subjects during the period which has elapsed since herMojeaty last addressed her Parliament. " It is the characteristic of our constitution that it readers the maintenance of order compatible with the fullest enjoyment of civil and religious liberty. " The satisfaction with which her Majesty has viewed the peaceful progress of her people in arts and industry, has been greatly alloyed by the continuance of severe distress in oue part of the United Kingdom. " Her Majesty has observed with pleasure your liberal exertions to mitigate, the pressure of this calamity, and her Majesty commands us to thank you for your unremitting attention to measuies calculated to improve the general condition of Ireland. It is Her Majesty's fervent hope that it may please the Almighty Disposer of events to favour the operation of tho-e laws which have been sanctioned by Parliament, and to grant to her Irish people, as the reward of that patience and resignation with which they have borne their protracted sufferings, the blessings' of an abundant harvest and of internal peace." The commission of her Majesty appointing Lords Commissioners to prorogue parliament was next read by the clerk at the table, the Lords Commissioners being the same as in the preceding case. The Marquis of Lansdowne then said— My lords and gentlemen, by virtue of her Majesty's commission under the great seal to us and other lords directed, and now read, we do in her Majesty's name, and in obedience to her commands, prorogue parliament to Tuesday, the 9th day of October next, to be then here holden ; and this parliament is accordingly prorogued to Tuesday, the 9th day of October next. The proceedings then terminated.