Parliament was formally opened by the Queen in person on the 6th instant.
The attendance was very large, and the popular interest in the
proceedings was marked by the great crowd in the streets. The speech was
read by the lord chancellor. A copy is herewith transmitted.
The debates in the two houses on the customary motions for an address
were almost entirely confined to the subject of the cattle plague. Hence
they furnish no clue to the precise strength of parties in those
bodies.
There has been another modification of the ministry, caused by the
retirement of Sir Charles Wood from the head of the India board. The
effect has been to advance the Marquis of Hartington, eldest son of the
Duke of Devonshire, to the head of the War Office, and a consequent
place in the cabinet. The subsequent shifting of subordinate officers
has had the effect of developing two new rules of action. The first is
that a younger class of men are selected for rapid advancement. The
second, that the selection is leaning more and more towards the advanced
class of liberal opinions, rather than to the conservative wing.
[Untitled]
Her Majesty’s
most gracious speech to both houses of Parliament, on Tuesday, February 6,
1866.
My Lords and Gentlemen: It is with, great
satisfaction that I have recourse to your assistance and advice.
I have recently declared my consent to a marriage between my
daughter, Princess Helena, and Prince Christian of
Schleswig-Holstein Souderbourg-Augustenburg. I trust this union may
be prosperous and happy.
The death of my beloved uncle, the King of the Belgians, has affected
me with profound grief. I feel great confidence, however, that the
wisdom which he evinced during his reign will animate his successor,
and preserve for Belgium her independence and prosperity.
My relations with foreign powers are friendly and satisfactory, and I
see no cause to fear any disturbance of the general peace.
The meeting of the fleets of France and England, in the ports of the
respective countries, has tended to cement the amity of the two
nations, and to prove to the world their, friendly concert in the
promotion of peace.
I have observed with satisfaction that the United States, after
terminating successfully the severe struggle in which they were so
long engaged, are wisely repairing the ravages of civil war. The
abolition of slavery is an event calling forth the cordial
sympathies and congratulations of this country, which has always
been foremost in showing its abhorrence of an institution repugnant
to every feeling of justice and humanity.
I have, at the same time, the satisfaction to inform you that the
exertions and perseverance of my naval squadron have reduced the
slave trade on the west coast of Africa within very narrow
limits.
A correspondence has taken place between my government and that of
the United States
[Page 65]
with
respect to injuries inflicted on American commerce by cruisers under
the confederate flag. Copies of this correspondence will be laid
before you.
The renewal of diplomatic relations with Brazil has given me much
satisfaction. And I acknowledge with pleasure that the good offices
of my ally, the King of Portugal, have contributed essentially to
this happy result.
I have to regret the interruption of peace between Spain and Chili.
The good offices of my government, in conjunction with those of the
government of the Emperor of the French, have been accepted by
Spain, and it is my earnest hope that the causes of disagreement may
be removed in a manner honorable and satisfactory to both
countries.
The negotiations which have been long pending in Japan, and which
have been conducted with great ability by my minister in that
country, in conjunction with the representatives of my allies in
Japan, have been brought to a conclusion which merits my entire
approbation. The existing treaties have been ratified by the Mikado;
it lists been stipulated that the tariff shall be revised in a
manner favorable to commerce, and that the indemnity due under the
terms of the convention of October, 1864, shall be punctually
discharged.
I have concluded a treaty of commerce with the Emperor of Austria,
which I trust will open to that empire the blessings of extended
commerce, and be productive of important benefits to both
countries.
The deplorable events which have occurred in the island of Jamaica
have induced me to provide at once for an impartial inquiry, and for
the due maintenance of authority during that inquiry, by appointing
a distinguished military officer as governor and commander of the
forces. I have given the assistance of two able and learned
commissioners, who will aid him in examining into the origin, nature
and circumstances of the recent outbreak, and the measures adopted
in the course of its suppression. The legislature of Jamaica has
proposed that the present political constitution of the island
should be replaced by a new form of government. A bill upon this
subject will be submitted for your consideration.
Papers on these occurrences will be laid before you.
Papers on the present state of New Zealand will be laid before
you.
I have given directions for the return to this country of the greater
portion of my regular forces employed in that colony.
I watch with interest the proceedings which are still in progress in
British North America, with a view to a closer union among the
provinces, and I continue to attach great importance to that
object.
I have observed with great concern the extensive prevalence during
the last few months of a virulent distemper among cattle in Great
Britain, and it is with deep regret, and with sincere sympathy for
the sufferers, that I have learned the severe losses which it has
caused in many counties and districts. It is satisfactory to know
that Ireland and a considerable part of Scotland are as yet free
from this calamity, and I trust that by the precautions suggested by
experience, and by the divine blessing on the means which are now
being employed, its further extension may be arrested.
The orders which have been made by the lords of my privy council, by
virtue of the powers vested in them by law, with a view to prevent
the spreading of this disease, will be laid before you, and your
attention will be called to the expediency of an amendment of the
law relating to a subject so deeply affecting the interests of my
people.
Gentlemen of the House of Commons: I have
directed that the estimates of the ensuing year shall be laid before
you. They have been prepared with a due regard to economy, and are
at the same time consistent with the maintenance of efficiency in
the public service.
The condition of trade is satisfactory.
My Lords and Gentlemen: A conspiracy,
adverse alike to authority, property, and religion, and disapproved
and condemned alike by all who are interested in their maintenance,
without distinction of creed or class, has unhappily appeared in
Ireland. The constitutional power of the ordinary tribunals has been
exerted for its repression, and the authority of the law has been
firmly and impartially vindicated.
A bill will be submitted to you, founded on the report of the royal
commission on the subject of capital punishment, which I have
directed to be laid before you.
Bills will be laid before you for amending and consolidating the laws
relating to bankruptcy, and for other improvements in the law.
Measures will also be submitted to you for extending the system of
public audit to branches of receipt and expenditure which it has not
hitherto reached, and for amending the provisions of the law with
respect to certain classes of legal pensions.
Your attention will be called to the subject of the oaths taken by
members of Parliament, with a view to avoid unnecessary
declarations, and to remove invidious distinctions between members
of different religious communities in matters of legislation.
I have directed that information should be procured in reference to
the rights of voting in the election of members to serve in
Parliament for counties, cities, and boroughs.
When that information is complete, the attention of Parliament will
be called to the result thus obtained, with a view to such
improvements in the laws which regulate the rights of voting in the
election of members of the House of Commons as may tend to
strengthen our free institutions, and conduce to the public
welfare.
In these and in all other deliberations, I fervently pray that the
blessing of Almighty God may guide your counsels to the promotion of
the happiness of my people.
