OPENING OF PARLIAMENT THE QUEEN'S SPEECH.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 366, 26 April 1861, Page 3

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT THE QUEEN'S SPEECH.

Mv Loiids and Gentlemen—

- It is with great satisfaction that I meet you again in Parliament, and have recourse to your assistance and advice. My relations with foreign powers continue to be friendly and satisfactory, and I trust that the moderation of the povvers of Europe will prevent any interruption of the general peace. Events of great importance are taking place in Italy. Believing that the Italians ought to be left to settle their own affairs, I have not thought it right to exercise any active interference-la- those matters. Papers on this subject will be laid before you. ; I announced Jto you at the close of the last session of Parliament that the atrocities which had then recently been committed in Syria, had induced me to concur with the-Emperor of, Austria, the Emperor of the French, the Prince Regent of Prussia, and .the Emperor of Russia,, in inteiing into an engagement with the' Sultan,' by which temporary military assistance was to be-afforded to the Sultan for the'purpose of establishing order in that part of his dominions. That a sistance has been afforded by the ..body of French troop 3 who Slave huen sen,t. to Syria as^ representing the Allied Powers. The Sultan has placed a considerable military force in Syria under the direction of a naval officer, and I "trust that tranquility will sibn be established in that province, and that the object of the convention will have bcea fully attained. I annjoiinced to you, als<t>, at the close of the la it session of Parliament, thjat the pacific overtures which envoy* in Cluaa jnade to., the Imperial

Government at Pekin having led to no satisfactory result, my naval and military forces, and those of my ally, the Emp-ror of the French , were to advance towards the northern provinces of China, for the purpose of supporting the just demand of the Allied Powers, and that the Earl of Elgin had been sent to China as special ambassador, to" treat with the Chinese Government. lam glad to inform you that the operations of the allied forces have been attended with complete success. After the capture of the forts at the mouth of the Peiho, and several engagements with the Chinese army, the allied forces became masters of the imperial city of Pekin, and the Earl of Elgin and Baron Gross, the ambassador of the Emperor of the Ftench, were enabled to obtain an honorable and satisfactory settlement on all matters in dispute. Throughout these operation, and the negotiations which followed them, the commanders and ambassadors of the allied powers acted with the most friendly concert. Papers on this subject will be laid befor§ you. The state of my Indian territories is progressively improving, and I trust that their financial condition will gradually partake of the general amendment. An insurrection of a portion of the natives of New Zealand has interrupted the peace of a part of that colony, but I hope that the measures which have been taken will speedly suppress this disturbance, and enable my Government to concert such arrangements as may prevent their recurrence. * Serious differences have arisen among the States of the North American Union. It is impossible for me not to look with great concern upon any events which can affect the happiness. and welfare of a people nearly allied to my subjects by descent, and closely connected by the most intimate friendly relations. My heartfelt wish is, that these differences may be susceptible of satisfactory adjustment. The interest which I take in the well-being of the people of the United States caunot but be increased by the kind and cordial reception given by them to the Prince of Wales during hjs recent visic to the Continent of America I am glad to take this opportunity of expressing my warm appreciation of the loyalty and attachment to my person and throne, manifested by my Canadian any other North American subjects on the occasion of the residencegof the|Prince of Wales among them. I have concluded with the Emporor of the French conventions supplementary to the treaty of commerce of the 23rd January, 1860. And in furtherance of the objects of that treaty, I have also concluded with the King of Sardinian a convention for the reciprocal protection of copyright. These conventions will be laid before you