were passed, deserved to be remembered with credit and honour for having acted industriously and successfully to increase the supply of food. The passing of these measures might well excuse both the Government and the Parliament for the omission or adjournment of other measures of not such immediate urgency. Lord Brougham's motion was negatived without a division. The termination of the session, preparatory to the immediate dissolution of Parliament, took place on the 23rd of July, by the Queen in person. The Commons having been summoned to attend Her Majesty in the House of Lords, the Speaker addressed to Her Majesty the following recital of the works of the session. "Most Gracious Sovereign, 66 'We, your Majesty's faithful Commons, attend your Majesty with the Bill by which the Supplies are completed for the present year: they have been granted with a strict regard to economy, but with every disposition to make ample provision for all branches of the Public Service. "During the progress of this session which is now about to terminate, we have maturely considered various measures for the practical improvement of the law, and for the amelioration of the moral and social condition of the people; and, where it has not been possible to bring these measures to a satisfactory conclusion, we hope to have prepared the way for sound and useful legislation in future sessions of Parliament. We have passed Acts to regulate the disposition and transfer of land in Scotland; while, by carefully adhering to the established principles of law, we have given increased facilities for dealing with real property in that country, which must tend greatly to increase its security and value. 66 We have found it necessary to place a further limitation on the hours of labour of young persons employed in factories; and by giving more time and opportunity for their moral and religious instruction, and for the exercise of their domestic duties, we have elevated the character and condition of a large and industrious class engaged in manufacturing operations. "There is, however, one subject of paramount importance to which your Majesty was graciously pleased to direct our attention at the commencement of the session, and which called for long and anxious deliberations. For many months past your Majesty's subjects in Ireland have been suffering from the combined effects of famine and its too frequent consequence disease; requiring large pecuniary aid, and prompt and energetic measures, to arrest their fatal effects, and to prevent an almost total disorganization of society in many parts of that kingdom. No exertion has been wanting on our part to meet this terrible emergency. Every restriction upon the importation of food has been suspended; every resource of legislation has been employed to mitigate, what no human wisdom could avert, this awful visitation of Divine Providence. Nor have we in providing for this exigency been unmindful of the permanent welfare of that important part of the United Kingdom. We have encouraged the development of its vast capabilities and the industry of its inhabitants, by giving every possible stimulus to public and private enterprise, whether directed to the improve ment of land or to the establishment and construction of fisheries and harbours; and, profiting by past experience, we have extended and rendered more effective the provisions of the law for the relief of the destitute poor, thereby bringing into new and closer relations, and connecting by the ties of mutual interest, the proprietor and cultivator of the soil. "To these measures for the temporary relief and permanent improvement of Ireland our labours have been unremittingly devoted: and nobly and generously have those efforts been responded to by all classes of your Majesty's subjects, who, following your Majesty's gracious and benevolent example, from the highest in the realm to the humblest, have made every sacrifice which the urgency of the case demanded to alleviate the sufferings, unexampled in intensity, and borne with a fortitude and resignation equally unexampled by that brave and loyal people." Her Majesty then read from the Throne the following Speech. "My Lords and Gentlemen,— "I have much satisfaction in being able to release you from the duties of a laborious and anxious session. I cannot take leave of you without expressing my grateful sense of the assiduity and zeal with which you have applied yourselves to the consideration of the public interest. "Your attention has been principally directed to the measures of immediate relief which a great and unprecedented calamity rendered necessary. "I have given my cheerful assent to those laws which, by allowing the free admission of grain, and by affording facilities for the use of sugar in breweries and distilleries, tend to increase the quantity of human food, and to promote commercial intercourse. "I rejoice to find that you have in no instance proposed new restrictions, or interfered with the liberty of foreign or internal trade, as a mode of relieving distress. I feel assured that such measures are generally ineffectual, and in some cases aggravate the evils for the alleviation of which they are adopted. "I cordially approve of the acts of large and liberal bounty by which you have assuaged the sufferings of my Irish subjects. I have also readily given my sanction to a law to make better provision for the permanent relief of the destitute in Ireland. I have likewise given my assent to various Bills calculated to promote the agriculture and develope the industry of that portion of the United Kingdom. My attention shall be directed to such further measures as may be conducive to those salutary purposes. "My relations with Foreign Powers continue to inspire me with confidence in the maintenance of peace. "It has afforded me great satisfaction to find that the measures which, in concert with the King of the French, the Queen of Spain, and the Queen of Portugal, I have taken for the pacification of Portugal, have been attended with success, and that the civil war which for many months had afflicted that country has at last been brought to a bloodless termination. I indulge the hope that future differences between political parties in that country may be settled without an appeal to arms. "Gentlemen of the House of Com- "My Lords and Gentlemen, — mons, "I thank you for your willingness in granting me the necessary Supplies: they shall be applied with due care and economy to the Public Service. "I am happy to inform you, that, notwithstanding the high price of food, the revenue has up to the present time been more productive than I had reason to anticipate. The increased use of articles of general consumption has chiefly contributed to this result. The revenue derived from sugar, especially, has been greatly augmented by the removal of the prohibitory duties on foreign sugar. The various grants which you have made for Education in the United Kingdom will, I trust, be conducive to the religious and moral improvement of my people. "I think proper to inform you that it it is my intention immediately to dissolve the present Parliament. "I rely with confidence on the loyalty to the Throne and attachment to the free institutions of this country which animate the great body of my people. I join with them in supplications to Almighty God that the dearth by which we have been afflicted may, by the Divine blessing, be converted into cheapness and plenty." The first session of 1847 was thus concluded. The parliamentary record of the year, however, requires to be completed by a notice of the proceedings of the new Parliament, which was summoned to meet in November in consequence of urgent business demanding the attention of the Legislature before the usual period. CHAPTER VII. Opening of the new Parliament by Commission on November 18th—Mr. C. Shaw Lefevre is proposed as Speaker by Lord Seymour, seconded by Mr. Abel Smith, and unanimously elected-The Queen's Speech is read by Commission on the 23rd-The commercial Distress and Condition of Ireland are prominently adverted to-The Earl of Yarborough moves the Address in the House of Lords-Speeches of Lord Stanley, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord Ashburton, Lord Brougham, and other Peers—Address agreed to-The Address in the House of Commons is moved by Mr. Heywood, seconded by Mr. C. Shafto Adair-Mr. Grattan moves an Amendment respecting the necessities of Ireland, which is seconded by Mr. E. B. Roche-Speeches of Mr. Henry Drummond, Sir George Grey, Mr. John O'Connell, Sir B. Hall, Mr. M. O'Connell, Mr. S. Crawford, Sir W. Somerville, Mr. Maher, Mr. Stafford, Mr. Herries, and other Members-The Address is agreed to nem. con. Further discussion on bringing up the Report-Debates in both Houses on commercial Distress-On the 30th of November, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in a long speech on the financial and commercial Condition of the Country, moves for a Select Committee to inquire into the Causes of the Distress, and the Operation of the Bank Restriction Act of 1844-Mr. Wilson moves an Amendment with a view to limiting the Inquiry to the Question of Currency-Mr. T. Brown seconds the Motion-Speeches of Mr. T. Baring, Mr. G. Robinson, Sir W. Molesworth, Mr. Cayley, Mr. Urquhart, Mr. Ellice, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Henry Drummond, Mr. Macgregor, Sir W. Clay, Mr. Masterman, the Marquis of Granby, Mr. Francis Baring, Mr. Herries, Lord John Russell, and Sir Robert Peel-The Motion is agreed to-The Marquis of Lansdowne brings forward a similar Resolution in the House of Lords on the 2nd of December-His remarks on the Bank Charter Act-Lord Stanley does not oppose the Motion, but censures the course taken by the Government-Earl Grey vindicates the Ministers and the Principles of Free Trade-Speeches of Lord Brougham, the Duke of Grafton, Lord Ashburton, and other Peers-The Motion, with a slight Amendment suggested by Lord Stanley, is carried. THE HE first Session of the new Parliament commenced on Thursday the 18th of November, when it was opened by Commission, the Lord Chancellor intimating that Her Majesty's reasons for convoking the Legislature at that period would be stated on the following Tuesday. Meanwhile he signified Her Majesty's pleasure that the Commons should proceed to the choice of a Speaker. The Commons having returned to their own House, Lord Seymour rose, and, with a complimentary reference to the past services and qualifications of Mr. Charles Shaw Lefevre, moved that he should take the Chair as Speaker. Mr. John Abel Smith seconded the motion. Lord George Bentinck said he had formerly opposed the election of Mr. Lefevre; but experience of the impartiality and dignity with which he had discharged the duties of his office had made it a subject of congratulation to his opponents that they had been defeated. Sir R. Inglis testified to the admirable manner in which Mr. Lefevre had conducted the arduous private business of the House. Mr. Shaw Lefevre rose and made suitable acknowledgments. He was conducted to his place by the mover and seconder, and congratulated on his election by Lord John Russell. The House then adjourned. In the House of Lords, the Queen's approval of the choice of a Speaker was signified by a Royal Commission. The new Speaker then claimed the usual privileges of the Commons in the customary form, which were formally conceded by the Lord Commissioners. On the 23rd, the interval having been occupied in swearing in members, the business of the session began. The Speaker and the Commons having appeared at the bar of the House of Lords, the following Speech was read by the Marquis of Lansdowne: "My Lords and Gentlemen,— "Her Majesty has ordered us to declare to you the causes which have induced her to call Parliament together at the present time. "Her Majesty has seen with great concern the distress which has for some time prevailed among the commercial classes. The embarrassments of trade were at one period aggravated by so general a feeling of distrust and of alarm, that Her Majesty, for the purpose of restoring confidence, authorized her Ministers to recommend to the Directors of the Bank of England a course of proceeding suited to such an emergency. This course might have led to an infringement of the law. "Her Majesty has great satisfaction in being able to inform you that the law has not been infringed; that the alarm has subsided; and that the pressure on the banking and commercial interests has been mitigated. "The abundant harvest with which this country has been blessed has alleviated the evils which always accompany a want of employment in the manufacturing districts. "Her Majesty has, however, to lament the recurrence of severe distress in Ireland, owing to the scarcity of the usual food of the people. "Her Majesty trusts that this distress will be materially relieved by the exertions which have been made to carry into effect the law of last session for the support of the destitute poor. Her Majesty has learnt with satisfaction that landed proprietors have taken advantage of the means placed at their disposal by the liberality of Parliament for the improvement of land. "Her Majesty laments that in some counties of Ireland atrocious |