OF THE

SOCIETY

NEW-YORK

HOUSE of Lords, Feb. 3.About half-past two o'clock, the house of lords met, and the Lord Chancellor and the other lords commissioners, viz. the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Earl of Westmoreland, the Earl of Harrowby, and the Earl of Shaftesbury, being robed, took their seats on the woolsack.

The commons were summoned in the usual form, to hear his Majesty's commission for opening the session of parliament read. A considerable number of the members of the house of commons, preceded by the speaker, soon after appeared at the bar, and the commission being read by the clerk at the table, the Lord Chancellor read his Majesty's speech, of which the following is a copy :

"My lords and gentlemen, "We are commanded by his Majesty to express to you the gratification which his Majesty derives

from the continuance and progressive increase of that public prosperity upon which his Majesty congratulated you at the opening of the last session of parliament.

"There never was a period in the history of this country, when all the great interests of the nation were at the same time in so thriving a condition, or when a feeling of content and satisfaction was more widely diffused through all classes of the British people.

"It is no small addition to the gratification of his Majesty, that Ireland is participating in the general prosperity. The outrages, for the suppression of which extraordinary powers were confided to his Majesty, have so far ceased, as to warrant the suspension of the exercise of those powers in most of the districts heretofore disturbed.

"Industry and commercial enterprise are extending themselves

L

in that part of the United Kingdom. It is, therefore, the more to be regretted, that associations should exist in Ireland, which have adopted proceedings irreconcileable with the spirit of the constitution, and calculated, by exciting alarm, and by exasperating animosities, to endanger the peace of society, and to retard the course of national improvement.

"His Majesty relies upon your wisdom to consider, without delay, the means of applying a remedy to this evil.

"His Majesty further recommends the renewal of the inquiries instituted last session into the state of Ireland.

"His Majesty has seen, with regret, the interruption of tranquillity in India, by the unprovoked aggression and extravagant pretensions of the Burmese government, which rendered hostile operations against that state unavoidable.

"It is, however, satisfactory to find, that none of the other native powers have manifested any unfriendly disposition, and that the bravery and conduct displayed by the forces already employed against the enemy, afford the most favourable prospect of a successful termination of the contest.

"Gentlemen of the house of

commons,

"His Majesty has directed us to inform you, that the estimates of the year will be forthwith laid before you.

"The state of India, and circumstances connected with other parts of his Majesty's foreign possessions, will render some augmentation in his military establishments indispensable.

"His Majesty has, however, the

sincere gratification of believing, that notwithstanding the increase of expense arising out of this augmentation, such is the flourishing condition and progressive improvement of the revenue, that it will still be in your power, without affecting public credit, to give additional facilities to the national industry, and to make a further reduction in the burdens of his

people.

"My lords and gentlemen,

"His Majesty commands us to inform you, that his Majesty continues to receive from his allies, and generally from all princes and states, assurances of their unabated desire to maintain and cultivate the relations of peace with his Majesty, and with each other; and that it is his Majesty's constant endeavour to preserve the general tranquillity.

"The negociations which have been so long carried on through his Majesty's ambassador at Constantinople, between the Emperor of Russia and the Ottoman Porte, have been brought to an amicable issue.

"His Majesty has directed to be laid before you, copies of arrangements which have been entered into with the kingdoms of Denmark and Hanover, for improving the commercial intercourse between those states and the United Kingdom.

"A treaty, having for its object the more effectual suppression of the slave trade, has been concluded between his Majesty and the King of Sweden, a copy of which treaty (as soon as the ratifications thereof shall have been exchanged), his Majesty has directed to be laid before you.

"Some difficulties have arisen

with respect to the ratification of the treaty for the same object, which was negociated last year between his Majesty and the United States of America.

"These difficulties, however, his Majesty trusts, will not finally impede the conclusion of so beneficial an arrangement.

"In conformity with the declarations which have been repeatedly made by his Majesty, his Majesty has taken measures for confirming by treaties the commercial relations already subsisting between this kingdom and those countries of America which appear to have established their separation from Spain.

"So soon as these treaties shall be completed, his Majesty will direct copies of them to be laid before you.

"His Majesty commands us not to conclude, without congratulating you upon the continued improvement in the state of the agricultural interest, the solid foundation of our national prosperity; nor without informing you, that evident advantage has been derived from the relief which you have recently given to commerce by the removal of inconvenient restrictions.

"His Majesty recommends to you to persevere (as circumstances may allow) in the removal of similar restrictions; and his Majesty directs us to assure you, that you may rely upon his Majesty's cordial co-operation in fostering and extending that commerce, which, whilst it is, under the blessing of Providence, a main source of strength and power to this country, contributes in no less a degree to the happiness and civilization of mankind."

The commons then withdrew. On this occasion, the Duke of Norfolk attended for the first time in his official capacity of Earl Marshal. Lord Strangford took the oaths and his seat as Baron Penshurst. He was introduced by Lords Prudhoe and Stowell. The Earl of Dalhousie also took the oaths and his seat; as did Dr. Blomfield, Bishop of Chester. Their lordships adjourned, and re-assembled at five o'clock.

According to the usual practice, the Earl of Liverpool moved, before their lordships proceeded to the consideration of his Majesty's speech, the first reading of a bill for regulating select vestries.

The speech was again read, first by the Lord Chancellor, and next by the clerk.

1

Lord Dudley and Ward then addressed the house. He rose to move an humble address in answer to the gracious speech which their lordships had just heard. He took a view of the state of the country previous to, and since the conclusion of peace. He dwelt upon the surprising improvement which had taken place in every branch of industry, and all the great interests of the nation, notwithstanding the embarrassments which commerce had experienced from restrictions in the long obstruction of the late war. Such a state of things, after so long a period of difficulty and anxiety, could not but be a subject of congratulation to their lordships. Indeed, no person who paid attention to public affairs could fail to be struck at the different circumstances under which the present session opened, from those that prevailed some years ago; more especially in

those