ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub
[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]
[graphic]
[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]
[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

State of the Country and of Public Opinion at the commencement of the year-Parliament opened on the 3rd of February by CommissionThe Royal Speech-The Address to the Throne moved in the House of Lords by the Earl of Cork, seconded by the Earl of Airlie-Speeches of the Earls of Derby, Clarendon and Grey, Lords Granville and Brougham, and the Lord Chancellor-An Amendment moved by Earl Grey is negatived by 45 to 12-In the House of Commons, the Address proposed by Sir John Ramsden is seconded by Sir Andrew AgnewMr. Disraeli, in a long speech, comments severely on the Foreign Policy of the Government, and on the state of the Finances-He is answered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer-Speech of Mr. Gladstone-Lord Palmerston vindicates the Foreign Policy of the Cabinet-Speeches of Lord John Russell, Mr. Gibson and other members-The Address is agreed to without division-Expulsion of Mr. James Sadleir from the House of Commons for frauds in the management of the Tipperary Joint-Stock Bank-LAW REFORM-Announcement made by the Lord Chancellor on the first night of the Session-Sir George Grey moves for leave to introduce a Bill to regulate Transportation and Secondary Punishments-His Speech-Observations of Sir John Pakington, Mr. Adderley, Sir J. Ramsden and other members-Leave given to bring in the Bill; also a Bill for establishing Reformatory Schools-MINISTRY OF JUSTICE-Mr. Napier moves an Address, praying for the appointment of a Law Officer to preside over the department of Public Justice -Lord Palmerston assents to the motion with some qualifications, and it is carried-EXTENSION OF THE COUNTY FRANCHISE-Motion by Mr. Locke King for this purpose: opposed by the Government, supported

[blocks in formation]

by Lord John Russell and Sir James Graham; rejected by 13 votesENDOWMENT OF MAYNOOTH-Mr. Spooner's sessional motion for repealing the Endowment negatived after a short debate by 167 to 159.

TH

HE first Session of the year 1857 was opened on the 3rd of February, the Speech from the Throne being delivered by the Lord Chancellor, under a Royal Commission. The country was at this time in a prosperous and tranquil state; political agitation seemed to be dormant. Occasional rumours of a change in the composition of the Ministry, and of an impending junction between Mr. Gladstone and the leader of the Conservative party in the House of Commons, served to amuse the public mind in anticipation of the annual meeting of the Legislature. One question, indeed, excited real interest in the country, and formed the topic of earnest discussion at public meetings. This was the income tax, the amount of which having been largely increased, to meet the exigencies of the war with Russia, it was now hoped, on the return of peace, that it would be found possible to reduce it to its original rate of sevenpence in the pound. But whether the defensive establishments of the country could with safety be thus early reduced to such an extent as to admit of a great remission of taxation was a point of much uncertainty, and not likely to be cleared up till the actual state of the national finances had been laid before Parliament.

The Queen's Speech, on the opening of the Session, was delivered in the following terms :-

[ocr errors][merged small]

the advice and assistance of Her Parliament.

"We are commanded by Her Majesty to inform you, that difficulties, which arose in regard to some of the provisions of the treaty of Paris, delayed the complete execution of the stipulations of that treaty. Those difficulties have been overcome in a satisfactory manner, and the intentions of the treaty have been fully maintained.

"An insurrectionary movement which took place in September last in the Swiss Canton of Neuchâtel, for the purpose of re-establishing in that Canton the authority of the King of Prussia, as Prince of Neuchâtel, led to serious differences between His Prussian Majesty and the Swiss Confederation, threatening at one time to disturb the general peace of Europe But Her Majesty commands us to inform you that, in concert with her august ally, the Emperor of the French, she is endeavouring to bring about an amicable settlement of the matters in dispute; and Her Majesty entertains a confident expectation that an honourable and satisfactory arrangement will be concluded.

"In consequence of certain discussions which took place during the Conferences at Paris, and which are recorded in the protocols that were laid before you, Her Majesty and the Emperor of the French caused communications to be made to the Government of the King of the Two Sicilies, for the purpose of inducing him to adopt a course of policy calculated to avert dangers which might disturb that

[graphic]

peace which had been so recently restored to Europe. Her Majesty commands us to inform you that the manner in which those friendly communications were received by His Sicilian Majesty was such as to lead Her Majesty and the Emperor of the French to discontinue their diplomatic relations with His Sicilian Majesty; and they have accordingly withdrawn their missions from the Court of Naples. Her Majesty has directed that papers relating to this subject shall be laid before you.

66

'Her Majesty commands us to inform you that she has been engaged in negotiations with the Government of the United States, and also with the Government of Honduras, which she trusts will be successful in removing all cause of misunderstanding with respect to Central America.

"Her Majesty has concluded a treaty of friendship and commerce with Siam, which will be laid before you.

"Her Majesty commands us to express to you her regret that the conduct of the Persian Government has led to hostilities between

Her Majesty and the Shah of Persia. The Persian Government, in defiance of repeated warnings, and in violation of its engagements, has besieged and captured the important city of Herat. We are commanded by Her Majesty to inform you that a British naval and military force despatched from Bombay has taken possession of the island of Karrak and of the town of Bushire, with a view to induce the Shah to accede to the just demands of Her Majesty's Government. Her Majesty has seen with satisfaction that the naval and military forces employed on this occasion have displayed

their acustomed gallantry and spirit.

"Her Majesty commands us to inform you that acts of violence, insults to the British flag, and infraction of treaty rights committed by the local Chinese authorities at Canton, and a pertinacious refusal of redress, have rendered it necessary for Her Majesty's officers in China to have recourse to measures of force to obtain satisfaction. Those measures had, up to the date of the last accounts, been taken with great forbearance, but with signal success as regards the conflicts to which they had led. We are commanded to inform you that Her Majesty trusts that the Government of Pekin will see the propriety of affording the satisfaction demanded, and of faithfully fulfilling its treaty-engagements.

"Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

"Her Majesty has directed the estimates for the ensuing year to be laid before you. They have been prepared with every attention to economy, and with a due regard to the efficient performance of the public service at home and abroad.

"My Lords and Gentlemen,

"Her Majesty commands us to inform you that Bills will be submitted to your consideration for the consolidation and the amendment of important portions of the law; and Her Majesty doubts not that you will give your earnest attention to matters so deeply affecting the interests of all classes of her subjects.

"Her Majesty commands us to recommend to your consideration the expediency of renewing for a further period the privileges of the Bank of England, the conditions imposed on the issue of bank-notes

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »