THE QUEEN'S SPEECH.

West Coast Times, Issue 654, 29 October 1867, Page 4

THE QUEEN'S SPEECH.

The Lord Chancellor said — We -are commanded by Her Majesty to deliver Her Majesty's most gracious Speech. The noble and learned lord then read Her Majesty's Speech as follows :—: — My Lords and Gentlemen, I am happy to be enabled to release you from the labors of a long and more than usually eventful season, and to offer you my acknowledgments for the successful diligence with which you have applied yourselves to your Parliamentary duties. My relations with foreign countries continue on a friendly footing. At the commencement of the present year great fears were entertained that differences which had arisen between France and Prussia might have led to a war of which it was impossible to [foresee the ultimate re3ult. Happily the advice tendered by my Government, and by those of the other neutral States, aided by the moderation of tho two Powers chiefly interested, sufficed to avert the threatened calamity ; and I trust that no ground at present exists for apprehending any disturbance of the general peace. The communications which I have made to the reigning monarch of Abyssinia, with a view to obtain the release of the British subjects whom he detains in his dominions, have, I regret to say, thus far proved ineffectual. I have, therefore, found it necessary to address to him a peremptory demand for their immediate liberation, and to take measures for supporting that demand, should it ultimately be found necessary to resort to force. The treasonable conspiracy in Ireland, to which I have before called your attention, breke out in the early part of the present year in a futile attempt at insurrection. That it was suppressed, almost without bloodshed, is due not more to the disciplined valour of my troops, and to the admirable conduct of the police, than to the general loyalty of the population and the absence of any token of sympathy with the insurgents on the part of any considerable portion of my subjects. I rejoice that the supremacy of the law was vindicated without imposing on me the painful necessity of sacrificing a single life. The bill for the abolition of certain local exemptions from taxation enabled me to avail myself of a liberal concession made, in antipation, by the Emperor of the French, whereby several taxes were removed which which pressed heavily upon British shipping. I have concluded a postal convention with the United States of America, whereby the rate of postage between the two countries will be diminished by one-half, and further arrangements are in progress for increasing the intercourse between this country and the continent of North America. The act for the union of the British North American provinces is the final accomplishment of a scheme long contemplated, whereby those colonies, now combined in one dominion may be expected not only to gain additional Btrength for the purposes of defence against external aggression, but may be united among themselves by fresh ties of mutual interest, and attached to the mother country by the only bonds which can efleetually secure such important dependencies — those of loyalty to the Crown and attachment to British connection. Gentlemen of the House of Commons, I thank you for the liberal supplies which you have voted for the public service. My Lords and Gentlemen, I have had great satisfaction in giving ray assent to a Bill for Amending the Representation of the People in Parliament. I earnestly trust that the extensive and liberal measure which you hare passed may effect a durable settlement of a question which haß long engaged public attention ; and that the large number of my subjects who will be for the first time admitted to the exercise of the elective franchise may, in the discharge of the duties thereby devolved upon them, prove themselves worthy of the confidence which Parliament has reposed in them. It is gratifying to me to find that the lengthened consideration which you have necessarily given to this important question has not prevented your entering on many subjects to which your attention was directed at the commencement of the session, and particularly to such as have immediate reference to the well-being of the industrial classes. Ihave had especial pleasure in giving my assent to bills for extending to various trades, with such modifications as have been found necessary, the provisions of the Factory Acts, the success of which has proved the possibility of combining effectual protection to the labour of women and children with" a due consideration for the interests of the trades immediately concerned. I confidently anticipate from the operation of the present acts the same improvement in }'.c physical, social, and moral condition of

i the working classes which has been found to accompany the application of the acts to these trades to which they have been hitherto confined. The restraints alleged to be imposed on , workmen and their employers by trade unions ( and other associations appeared to me to call • for inquiry; and the revelations derived from the examinations before the commission, to which you gave your legislative sanction, have disclosed a state of things which will demand your most earnest attention. The administration of the poor-laws, which , generally has conferred great benefit on the ; community, and especially on the poor them- ' selves, requires constant supervision ; and I have readily assented to a bill which, applied to the metropolis alone, will tend to equalise the pressure of taxation, and improve the treatment of the sick and poor, whoso condition will be greatly benefited by your wellconsidered legislation. The bill for the regulation of the merchant shipping contains important provisions calculated to add to the health and comfort of those engaged in the mercantile marine. These and other valuable amendments of the ■ law have been the result of your labors duringthe present session ; and in returning to your honies you will carry with you the gratifying consciousness that your time and pains have not been misapplied, and that they have resulted in a series of measures which I hope, and earuestly pray, may contribute to the welfare of the country, and the contentment and happiness of my people.