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took place to disturb the universal joy. The attempt at insurrection was stifled at its birth. The troops, whom it was wished to drag into treason by deceit, the army which, unable to share the glories of its brothers, was anxiously awaiting the moment to fight in Africa, the whole nation, gave me irrefragable proofs of their loyalty and attachment.

After the danger of the insurrection spreading had been dissipated, I was enabled to follow the impulses of my heart, and to grant a full amnesty to all persons who were guilty or had been accused of political offences since 1856.

My Government will lay before you the estimates for 1861. You will examine them with the wish to establish due harmony between the receipts of the treasury and the multiplied demands of the public service. The regular and judicious exercise of this prerogative, one of the most important which the Constitution confers on the Cortes, will contribute to the representative system taking deeper root day by day in the habits and minds of the people.

During the course of the Legislature, various political and administrative laws, which have been previously announced, will be laid before you, as well as others which are necessary for regulating the exercise of important rights, and for organizing the different branches of the public administration.

Senators and Deputies: I hope that your labours will contribute to give a fresh impulse to the general prosperity. Great, indeed, is the improvement which has taken place within a few years, but to stop in the path of improvement is to compromise the fruit of painful exertions. The first desire of my heart is to see Spain rich, happy, and respected, and enjoying in the bosom of peace the benefits of the institutions of which she is so well worthy. The love which she has shown me from my infancy, and the sacrifices which she has made for me, impose on me the duty of consecrating to her every moment of my life.

The intimate union of the nation and the throne, by making the revival of fatal dissensions impossible, is a sure pledge of the future of greatness and glory which awaits Spain.

MESSAGE of the President of Costa Rica, on the Opening of the Sessions.-San José, May 1, 1862.

(Translation)
GENTLEMEN SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES,

For the third time I have the honour to attend at the opening of your ordinary sessions, and, in so doing, I entertain the hope

that, in the last year of my administration, various reforms and measures which the prosperity and progress of the Republic urgently call for, may, with your aid, be carried into effect.

To the laws, the discussion of which remained pending at your last union, will be now added some projects affecting mortgages and mortgage credits, bankruptcies, measures to encourage improvement, reform of the Customs Tariff in a more liberal sense, also modifications in our civil code and our code of procedure.

Your co-operation is indispensable to me in promoting the good of the country. The Executive, bound down as it is by Constitutional prescription, confined by reason of its limited powers to the scrupulous execution of the existing laws, and to the simple administration of the public business, views with regret the delay or postponement of various projects and measures of great utility and paramount importance to the nation. Let me be permitted to hope that you will co-operate with me in promoting the good of the country, thus doing away with the prejudices of certain unquiet spirits, who see in the two Powers of the State two hostile elements, instead of two bodies which, each within its sphere, but mutually supported, should give impulse to the national prosperity.

The objects which constantly and in preference to all others have occupied the Executive, are two, the preservation of order and the re-establishment and consolidation of the public credit. It is pleasing to me to communicate to you that both ends have been attained-tranquillity is perfect, and the Government possesses resources; the more onerous portion of the floating debt being already almost extinguished, as also that due at fixed dates. Let us hope that, under the auspices of peace and order, united with an economical and pure administration of the public revenues, and seasonable reforms, the country may advance safely towards a prosperous future.

It is equally satisfactory to me to inform you that our relations with other countries are maintained and improved. I shall endeavour to extend them, always provided that thereby the good of the Republic be promoted, and solid advantages be realized for our

commerce.

Gentlemen Senators and Representatives: The Constitution imposes on the Secretaries of State the duty of giving you detailed accounts of all the acts of the Executive in the several departments with which each is intrusted; this dispenses with the necessity of my treating at length in this message of the various measures which the public welfare demands, and of minutely describing to you the manner in which, during your recess, I have conducted the interests confided to me by the Costa Rican people.

It remains for me to congratulate you on your re-union, praying at the same time that Divine Providence may direct your

decisions.

San José, May 1, 1862.

JOSE MARIA MONTEALEGRE.

SPEECH of the Emperor of Brazil, on the Opening of the Chambers.-Rio de Janeiro, May 4, 1862.

(Translation.)

AUGUST AND MOST WORTHY GENTLEMEN,

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NATION,

THE meeting of the General Assembly, which awakes the most agreeable hopes of the nation, is always for me a subject of the liveliest pleasure.

I feel the greatest satisfaction in informing you that public tranquillity has not been disturbed.

This immense benefit, which we have for so many years enjoyed, signalizing the favour with which Divine Providence protects Brazil, at the same time bears witness to the good disposition of the Brazilians and their adherence to the national institutions.

Thanks to the all-powerful Ruler of the Universe, regular harvests have brought us an abundance of food, and the scarcity which in preceding years troubled some of the provinces of the Empire is at an end.

The state of the public health, in general, continues favourable; we have, however, to lament the appearance of cholera morbus in Pernambuco, and the spread of it in the provinces of Parahiba and Rio Grande do Norte.

The succours of the Government, and those which public charity in Brazil never fails to give to sufferers, have not been wanting in the districts attacked by that epidemic.

The relations of peace and friendship between Brazil and other nations have continued unaltered. The Government endeavours to maintain them upon the solid basis of right and of reciprocal

interests.

A Treaty was made with Hanover, on the 22nd of June last year, for the abolition of the Stade duties, and its ratifications have been exchanged.

The necessity of improving the administrative system of the provinces, and the position of the chief functionaries, is a subject which deserves your enlightened attention.

I cannot omit also to suggest to you that it is necessary to reform the organic law of the Municipal Chambers, in order that they may better fulfil the purposes of their useful institution.

It is necessary to modify the law which regulates elections, in order to avoid the abuses which so frequently occur as regards qualification of voters, and to prevent double returns and faulty scrutinies.

Experience suggests some modifications in the law of the 3rd of December, 1841, which, while perfecting judicial organization and proceedings, may strengthen the guarantees of liberty and individual security, without prejudice to the interests of public order.

The relieving of the National Guard from ordinary service, without prejudicing the important purposes for which it was instituted, is a necessity which should be attended to without delay.

The legislation of the army and navy, as regards the administration of justice, calls for improvement.

It is urgently necessary that a law be promulgated that shall remove the serious inconveniences attending the present system of recruiting; your solicitude will not certainly allow you to neglect a measure so long and so generally called for.

The creation of a "Mont de Pieté," for the officers of the army is of manifest expediency, because, in assuring to their families moderate subsistence, it would gradually relieve the Treasury from the charges of pensions and half pay, to which all are not entitled.

I hope it may be possible for you during this session to take into your consideration the project of law relative to promotions in the navy, a measure subject to your approval, and one of the first necessities of our naval force.

The Government has not neglected to promote immigration, and the development of the existing colonies, while endeavouring at the same time to realize other benefits on which the prosperity of agriculture, the principal source of our wealth, depends.

The deficiency of labour, so severely felt by the planters, can only be supplied by free and steady labourers, by improvements in the processes of industry, and facility of communications. These means require time, large outlay, and the co-operation of our agriculturists; however, it is essential that a law be passed for regulating precisely and effectively the reciprocal duties of colonists and proprietors.

The idea of a national exhibition, which in other countries has produced such magnificent results, was realized for the first time amongst us on the 2nd of December last year. This experiment, carried out notwithstanding great difficulties, exceeded general expectation, and made manifest our natural riches, as well as the improvement in our handiwork. The Government will do all it can, on its part, for a repetition of these useful gatherings.

The public revenue has increased during the last financial year; but prudence counsels that the expenses be limited to the liabilities already contracted in furtherance of our improvements, and to the most useful objects, or those which cannot be avoided.

Thanks to Divine Providence, which has endowed the country with so much productive power, I hope that by means of striet economy, in which the Government will persevere, we shall in a short time extinguish the deficit of past years, without any loss of credit, and without paralyzing national progress.

In the reports of each of the Ministers, you will find circumstantial information of the state of the affairs under their charge. August and most worthy Gentlemen, Representatives of the nation,

The necessities which you have to provide for are numerous, but you have abundant wisdom and patriotism.

The session is opened.

SPEECH of the King of Portugal, on the Closing of the Cortes. Lisbon, June 30, 1862.

(Translation.)

WORTHY PEERS OF THE REALM, AND GENTLEMEN

DEPUTIES OF THE PORTUGUESE NATION,

THE moment having arrived for closing the present legislative session, I feel real satisfaction in coming amongst the national representatives to bear testimony to the esteem in which I hold your high functions as well as the constitutional régime under which you exercise them.

Important measures have been adopted which will greatly cooperate towards the improvement of some of the branches of public administration. If the shortness of time did not allow all the projects of law presented by my Government to be discussed in both Chambers of Parliament, I hope, nevertheless, that they will be taken by you into due consideration in the next legislative session.

At the conclusion of your labours, I am rejoiced to see that the public peace which had been for a short time disturbed in some parts of the Kingdom is now restored, without the necessity of having recourse to extraordinary measures—a happy result, for the attainment of which the good sense of the nation, which you worthily represent, together with the discipline of the army and the zeal of the authorities, has contributed in an eminent degree.

It is pleasing to me on this occasion to make known to you my grateful acknowledgments for the generous spontaneousness with which you have voted the means for defraying the expenses of My

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