Alfred, should accept the Greek Crown. This unsolicited and spontaneous manifestation of goodwill towards Her Majesty and Her Family, and of a due appreciation of the benefits conferred by the principles and practice of the British Constitution, could not fail to be highly gratifying, and has been deeply felt by Her Majesty.

But the diplomatic engagements of Her Majesty's Crown, together with other weighty considerations, have prevented Her Majesty from yielding to this general wish of the Greek Nation.

Her Majesty trusts, however, that the same principles of choice which led the Greek Nation to direct their thoughts, in the first instance, towards His Royal Highness Prince Alfred may guide them to the selection of a Sovereign under whose sway the Kingdom of Greece may enjoy the blessings of internal prosperity, and of peaceful relations with other States; and if in such a state of things the Republic of the seven islands should declare a deliberate wish to be united to the Kingdom of Greece, Her Majesty would be prepared to take such steps as may be necessary for a revision of the Treaty of November, 1815, by which that Republic was re-constituted and was placed under the protection of the British Crown.

Her Majesty's relations with foreign Powers continue to be friendly and satisfactory.

Her Majesty has abstained from taking any step with a view to induce a cessation of the conflict between the contending parties in the North American states; because it has not yet seemed to Her Majesty that any such overtures could be attended with a probability of success.

Her Majesty has viewed with the deepest con cern the desolating warfare which still rages in those regions; and She has witnessed with heartfelt grief the severe distress and suffering which that

war has inflicted upon a large class of Her Majesty's subjects, but which have been borne by them with noble fortitude and with exemplary resignation. It is some consolation to Her Majesty to be led to hope that this suffering and this distress are rather diminishing than increasing; and that some revival of employment is beginning to take place in the manufacturing districts.

It has been most gratifying to Her Majesty to witness the abundant generosity with which all classes of Her subjects in all parts of Her Empire have contributed to relieve the wants of their suffering fellow-countrymen ; and the liberality with which Her Majesty's Colonial subjects have, on this occasion, given their aid has proved that, although their dwelling-places are far away, their hearts are still warm with unabated affection for the land of their fathers.

The relief committees have superintended with constant and laborious attention the distribution of the funds entrusted to their charge.

Her Majesty commands us to inform you that she has concluded with the King of the Belgians a Treaty of Commerce and Navigation, and a Convention respecting Joint Stock Companies. That Treaty and that Convention will be laid before you.

Her Majesty has likewise given directions that there shall be laid before you papers relating to the affairs of Italy, of Greece, and of Denmark, and that papers shall also be laid before you relating to occurrences which have been lately taken place in Japan.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

Her Majesty has directed that the estimates for the ensuing year shall be laid before you. They have been prepared with a due regard to economy,

and will provide for such reductions of expenditure as have appeared to be consistent with the proper efficiency of the Public Service.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

We are commanded by Her Majesty to inform you, that notwithstanding the continuance of the civil war in North America, the general commerce of the country during the past year has not sensibly diminished.

The Treaty of Commerce which Her Majesty concluded with the Emperor of the French has already been productive of results highly advantageous to both the nations to which it applies; and the general state of the revenue, notwithstanding many unfavourable circumstances, has not been unsatisfactory.

Her Majesty trusts that these results may be taken as proofs that the productive resources of the country are unimpaired.

It has been gratifying to Her Majesty to observe the spirit of order which happily prevails throughout Her dominions, and which is sc essential an element in the well-being and prosperity of nations.

Various measures of public usefulness and improvement will be submitted for your consideration; and Her Majesty fervently prays that in all your deliberations the blessing of Almighty God may guide your counsels to the promotion of the welfare and happiness of Her people.

At the Court at Osborne House, Isle of Wight, the 3rd day of February, 1863.

PRESENT,

The QUEEN'S Most Excellent Majesty in Council.

THIS day His Grace William, Archbishop of York, and Sir Andrew Buchanan, K.C.B.,

Her Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to His Majesty the King of Prussia, were, by Her Majesty's command, sworn of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, and took their places at the Board accordingly.

At the Court at Osborne House, Isle of Wight, the 3rd day of February, 1863.

The QUEEN'S Most Excellent Majesty in Council was pleased to order, upon the petition of the Justices of the Peace acting in and for the West Riding of the county of York, that the town. ships or places of Brighouse, Sherburn, Tadcaster, Bilton-with-Harrogate, Boroughbridge, Sowerby Bridge, and Scissett, in the said West Riding, shall be polling places for the said riding; and that Sedbergh, in the Dent polling district, in the said riding, shall be the polling place for that district, instead of Dent; and also that Dobcross, in the New Delph polling district, in the said riding, shall be the polling place for that district, instead of New Delph; and that the said townships or places of Dent and New Delph, and also the township or place of Aerford, in the said riding, shall cease to be polling places for the said riding.

At the Court at Osborne House, Isle of Wight, the 3rd day of February, 1863.

The QUEEN'S Most Excellent Majesty in Council was pleased to order that from and after the 19th day of February, 1863, the County Court of Denbighshire shall cease to be holden at Ruabon, and the parishes and places now forming the district of the County Court of Denbighthire, holden under the name of "The County Court of Denbighshire holden at Ruabon," shall be con

solidated with and form part of the district of the County Court of Denbighshire, holden at Wrexham, and known by the name of "The County Court of Denbighshire, holden at Wrexham."

Also that, from and after the 1st day of April, 1863, so much of the district of the County Court of Staffordshire, holden at Cheadle, as is contained within a line drawn from the point where the turnpike road leading from Sandon to Leek crosses the southern boundary of the parish of Caverswall; thence northward, from the said point, along the middle of the said road, till it meets the road leading from Weston Coyney to Adderley-green and Bucknall; thence, westward, along the middle of the last-mentioned road till it crosses the western boundary of the said parish of Caverswall; thence, southward, along the western and southern boundaries of the said parish to the point first described, shall be in the district of the County Court of Staffordshire, holden at Stoke-uponTrent.

Also that, from and after the 1st day of April, 1863, the County Court of Staffordshire, holden at Stoke-upon-Trent, shall be holden at Longton, as well as at Stoke-upon-Trent.

Also that, from and after the 1st day of April, 1863, the County Court of Hampshire, bolden at Newport shall be holden at Ryde as well as at Newport; and the County Court of Devonshire, holden at Newton Abbott, shall be holden at Torquay as well as at Newton Abbott.