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through India. The hearty affection with which he has been received by my Indian subjects of all classes and races assures me that they are happy under my rule and loyal to my throne. At the time that the direct Government of my Indian Empire was transferred to the Crown, no formal addition was made to the style and titles of the Sovereign. I have deemed the present a fitting opportunity for supplying this omission, and a Bill upon the subject will be presented to you.

The humane and enlightened policy consistently pursued by this country in putting an end to slavery within her own dependencies, and in suppressing the Slave Trade throughout the world, makes it important that the action of British national ships in the territorial waters of Foreign States should be in harmony with these great principles. I have, therefore, given directions for the issue of a Royal Commission to inquire into all Treaty engagements and other international obligations bearing upon this subject, and all instructions from time to time issued to my naval officers, with a view to ascertain whether any steps ought to be taken to secure for my ships and their Commanders abroad greater power for the maintenance of the right of personal liberty.

A Bill will be laid before you for punishing slave-traders who are subjects of Native Indian Princes.

The affairs of my Colonial Empire, the general prosperity of which has continued to advance, have received a large share of my attention. Papers of importance and interest will soon be in your hands showing the proceedings with respect to a Conference of the South African Colonies and States.

The murder of a high officer of the Straits Settlements whilst acting as Resident in a neighbouring Malay State, and the disorders ensuing on that outrage, have demanded the interference of my troops. I trust that the operations, which have been ably and energetically conducted, though not without the loss of some valuable lives, have restored order, and re-established the just influence and authority of this country.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

I have directed the Estimates of the year to be prepared and presented to you without delay.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

Bills for regulating the Ultimate Tribunal of Appeal for the United Kingdom, and for the amendment of the Merchant Shipping

Laws, will be immediately submitted to you.

Legislation will be proposed relating to the Universities and to Primary Education.

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Your attention will be called also to the Acts relating to the Inclosure of Commons, and to a measure for promoting economy and efficiency in the management of Prisons, and at the same time effecting a relief of local burthens.

Other important measures, as the time of the Session permits, will be introduced to your notice; and I pray that your deliberations may, under the Divine blessing, result in the happiness and contentment of my people.

SPEECH of the Queen, on the Closing of the British Parliament.-Westminster, August 15, 1876.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

Ι AM happy to be able to release you from your attendance in Parliament.

My relations with all Foreign Powers are of a friendly character, and I look forward confidently to the maintenance of the good understanding which now prevails.

The efforts which, in common with other Powers, I have made to bring about a settlement of the differences unfortunately existing between the Porte and its Christian subjects in Bosnia and Herzegovina have hitherto been unsuccessful, and the conflict begun in those Provinces has been extended to Servia and Montenegro. Should a favourable opportunity present itself, I shall be ready, in concert with my allies, to offer my good offices for the purpose of mediation between the contending parties; bearing in mind alike the duties imposed upon me by Treaty obligations and those which arise from considerations of humanity and policy.

A difference has arisen between my Government and that of the United States as to the proper construction of that Article of the Treaty of 9th August, 1842, which relates to the mutual surrender of persons accused of certain offences. The inconveniences to both countries which would follow on a cessation of the practice of extradition are great and obvious, and I entertain the hope that a new arrangement may soon be arrived at, by which this matter may be placed on a satisfactory footing.

I am deeply thankful that my dear son, the Prince of Wales, has returned in good health from his lengthened journey through India. His presence in that part of my dominions has given occasion for the expression of feelings of loyalty and devotion to my throne which I highly value.

In pursuance of the power conferred upon me, I have, by

Proclamation, assumed the title of Empress of India. In making, as regards India, this addition to the ancient style of my Crown, I have desired to record, on an occasion of peculiar interest to me, the earnest solicitude which I feel for the happiness of my Indian people.

I trust that peace and order are re-established in the Malay Peninsula, and that the rulers of the native States will cheerfully accept the recommendations and assistance of my officers for the better government of their territories.

The visit to this country of the President of the Orange Free State has resulted in a satisfactory settlement of the long controversy which has existed with reference to the Province of GriquaLand, and an important advance has, thus been made towards that friendly and cordial co-operation of neighbouring States which is essential to the interests of South Africa.

The Conference on South African affairs, with regard to which papers have already been laid before you, is now sitting in London, and cannot fail to contribute largely to the settlement of various important questions.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

I thank you for the liberal supplies which you have voted for the public service.

The additional outlay required to place my army and navy upon a proper footing of efficieney, and the check which has been given to the advance of the revenue by the comparative stagnation of trade, have compelled me to propose to you an increase of taxation. I desire to acknowledge the readiness with which you have responded to that appeal, and at the same time to assure you that no effort shall be wanting to keep the expenditure of the country within the bounds of moderation.

I notice with satisfaction the increasing attention paid by you to the question of local finance, and your greater watchfulness over the cost of services which are every year becoming more important, and the consideration of which ought not to be dissevered from that of Imperial expenditure.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

The Act which you have passed for the amendment of the laws relating to Merchant Shipping will, I trust, promote the safety of our ships and seamen, without imposing unnecessary restrictions upon the conduct of a service in the prosperity of which our national interests are in so many ways involved.

The measure for making further provision respecting the elementary education of the country is one of great importance, and

will complete the work on which successive Parliaments have for many years been engaged, by securing a due attendance at school of the children for whose benefit the means and the machinery of education have been so largely supplied.

I have readily given my assent to a Bill for facilitating the Regulation and Improvement of Commons, and for making such amendments in the Inclosure Acts as will, I hope, tend to the preservation of open spaces in the neighbourhood of large towns and to the increase of the health and comfort of my people.

The serious evils arising from the Pollution of Rivers have long been the subject of public complaint, and I rejoice that you have passed a measure which, by checking those evils, will improve the sanitary condition of the country.

I have observed with much satisfaction the arrangements which you have made for maintaining and increasing the efficiency of the Tribunal of Ultimate Appeal for the United Kingdom, by which, at the same time, the Judicial Committee of my Privy Council and my Intermediate Court of Appeal will be improved and strengthened.

I anticipate the best results from the Act which you have passed providing safeguards against painful experiments upon living animals.

I regret that pressure of other business has prevented the completion of your labours upon several measures of much importance. Among these I specially notice the Bills relating to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, to the Administration of Prisons, and to the Law affecting Maritime Contracts. I trust, however, that the attention which you have given to these questions in the past Session may facilitate their settlement in the next.

In bidding you farewell, I pray that the blessing of Providence may rest on your recent labours, and accompany you in the discharge of all your duties.

TREATY between Great Britain and France, for the Mutual Surrender of Fugitive Criminals.—Signed at Paris, August 14, 1876.

[Ratifications exchanged at Paris, April 8, 1878.]

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insufficiency of the provisions of the Treaty concluded on the 13th of February, 1843, between Great Britain and France for the reciprocal extradition of criminals, have resolved, by common accord, to replace it by another and more complete Treaty, and have named as their respective Plenipotentiaries for this purpose, that is to say:

Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Right Honourable Richard Bickerton Pemell, Lord Lyons, a Peer of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, one of Her Britannic Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, and Her said Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Government of the French Republic, &c. ;

And the President of the French Republic, M. le Duc Decazes, Member of the Chamber of Deputies, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Grand Officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honour, &c. ;

Who, after having communicated to each other their respective full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon the following Articles :

ART. I. The High Contracting Parties engage to deliver up to each other those persons who are being proceeded against or who have been convicted of a crime committed in the territory of * Vol. XXXI.

dispositions de la Convention conclue le 13 Février, 1843, entre la Grande Bretagne et la France, pour l'extradition réciproque des malfaiteurs, ont résolu, d'un commun accord, de la remplacer par une autre Convention plus complète, et ont nommé, à cet effet, pour leurs Plénipotentiaires respectifs:

Sa Majesté la Reine du Royaume Uni de la Grande Bretagne et d'Irlande, le TrèsHonorable Richard Bickerton Pemell, Lord Lyons, Pair du Royaume Uni, Chevalier GrandCroix du Très-Honorable Ordre du Bain, Membre du TrèsHonorable Conseil Privé de Sa Majesté Britannique, Son Ambassadeur Extraordinaire et Plénipotentiaire près le Gouvernement de la République Française, &c.;

Et le Président de la République Française, M. le Duc Decazes, Membre de la Chambre des Députés, Ministre des Affaires Étrangères, Grand Officier de l'Ordre National de la Légion d'Honneur, &c.;

Lesquels, après s'être communiqué leurs pleins pouvoirs respectifs, trouvés en bonne et due forme, sont convenus des Articles suivants :

ART. I. Les Hautes Parties Contractantes s'engagent à se livrer réciproquement les individus poursuivis ou condamnés pour un crime commis sur le territoire de l'autre dans les cirPage 194.

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