My Lords and Gentlemen, Her Majesty commands us to express to you the admiration with which she has witnessed the undiminished zeal and the patriotic spirit which continue to animate Her volunteer forces, as well as the military efficiency which they have attained. Her Majesty has observed with satisfaction the kindly intercourse which has subsisted between Her Majesty's subjects and the numerous foreigners who have been attracted this year to the United Kingdom, and Her Majesty trusts that the interchange of mutual courtesies will strengthen the foundations of international friendship and goodwill. Her Majesty has given Her ready assent to an Act for carrying into effect the Treaty which Her Majesty has concluded with the President of The United States for the Suppression of the Slave Trade, and Her Majesty trusts that the co-operation of The United States Navy with Her own may go far to extinguish the desolating crime against which that Treaty is directed. Her Majesty earnestly hopes that the steps which have been taken for rendering more effectual the aid provided by Parliament for the extension of education among the poorer classes of Her subjects will tend to promote an object of great national importance. Her Majesty has given Her willing assent to many measures of public utility which you have submitted to Her during this session. The severe distress which prevails in some of the manufacturing districts has inspired Her Majesty with deep concern and warm sympathy, mingled with admiration of the manly bearing and exemplary fortitude with which the pressure has been endured. Her Majesty trusts that the Act for enabling boards of guardians to provide additional means of relief will mitigate that distress. The Act for rendering more easy the transfer of land will add to the value of real property, will make titles more simple and secure, and will diminish the expense attending purchases and sales. The Act for the better regulation of parochial assessments will tend to a more equal distribution of local taxation; while the Act for the better administration of the highways will, Her Majesty trusts, improve the means of communication in many parts of the country. The Act for establishing uniformity of weights and measures in Ireland will apply a remedy to inconveniences which have been much felt and complained of, as affecting the trading transactions in that part of the United Kingdom; and the Act for amending the law relating to the poor will extend to the poorer classes of Her Majesty's subjects in Ireland better means of obtaining relief and medical attendance. The Act for the better regulation of merchant shipping Her Majesty trusts will prove advantageous to the maritime commerce of the country. In returning to your several counties, you still have important duties to perform; and Her Majesty fervently prays that the blessing of Almighty God may assist your efforts, and may direct them to the attainment of the object of Her Majesty's constant solicitude, the welfare and happiness of Her people. CONVENTION between Great Britain and Belgium, additional to the Convention of October 19, 1844,* relative to Communication by Post.-Signed at London, July 5, 1862. [Ratifications exchanged at London, July 11, 1862.] HER Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and His Majesty the King of the Belgians, being desirous to afford further facilities for communication by post between the British dominions and Belgium, have, for this purpose, resolved to conclude a Convention, additional to the Convention signed at London on the 19th of October, 1844, and have named as their Plenipotentiaries, that is to say: Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Right Honourable John Earl Russell, Viscount Amberley of Amberley and Ardsalla, a Peer of the United Kingdom, Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, a Member of Her Britannic Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Her Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary of SA Majesté la Reine du Royaume Uni de la Grande Bretagne et d'Irlande, et Sa Majesté le Roi des Belges, désirant faciliter de plus en plus les communications postales entre les Etats Britanniques et la Belgique, ont, à cet effet, résolu de conclure une Convention additionnelle à la Convention signée à Londres le 19 Octobre, 1844, et ont nommé pour leurs Plénipotentiaires, savoir: Sa Majesté la Reine du Royaume Uni de la Grande Bretagne et d'Irlande, le Très Honorable Jean Comte Russell, Vicomte Amberley de Amberley et Ardsalla, Pair du Royaume Uni, Chevalier du Très Noble Ordre de la Jarretière, Membre du Très Honorable Conseil Privé de Sa Majesté Britannique, Principal Secrétaire d'Etat de Sa Majesté Britannique pour les * Vol. XXXII. Page 66. State for Foreign Affairs; and the Right Honourable Edward John Lord Stanley of Alderley, a Peer of the United Kingdom, a Member of Her Britannic Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Her Britannic Majesty's Postmaster-General; And His Majesty the King of the Belgians, the Sieur Sylvain Van de Weyer, His Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Her Britannic Majesty, Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold, decorated with the Iron Cross, Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III of Spain, of the Order of the Ernestine Branch of Saxony, of the Tower and Sword, of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus, Commander 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 Belgian Government shall perform a second daily service by means of steamvessels, running in the day-time betweeen the ports of Ostend and Dover, for the purpose of doubling, in both directions, the number of communications which now take place between the respective Post Offices, for the exchange of international and transit correspondence. Such new service shall be performed at the expense of the Belgian Government. The packets employed shall be vessels belonging to the Belgian Government, or freighted by its order. Affaires Etrangères; et le Très Honorable Edouard Jean Lord Stanley of Alderley, Pair du Royaume Uni, Membre du Très Honorable Conseil Privé de Sa Majesté Britannique, Maître Général des Postes de Sa Majesté Britannique; Et Sa Majesté le Roi des Belges, le Sieur Sylvain Van de Weyer, son Envoyé Extraordinaire et Ministre Plénipotentiaire près Sa Majesté Britannique, Grand Croix de l'Ordre de Léopold, décoré de la Croix de Fer, Grand Croix de l'Ordre de Charles III d'Espagne, de l'Ordre de la Branche Ernestine de Saxe, de la Tour et de l'Epée, de St. Maurice et St. Lazare, Commandeur de la Légion d'Honneur, &c. ; Lesquels, après s'être communiqué réciproquement leurs pleins pouvoirs respectifs, trouvés en bonne et due forme, sont convenus des Articles suivants : ART. I. Le Gouvernement Belge effectuera un second service journalier de bateaux-àvapeur, entre Ostende et Douvres, de jour, dans le but d'élever au double, tant à l'aller qu'au retour, le nombre des communications qui ont lieu actuellement entre les postes respectives pour l'échange des correspondances internationales et en transit. Ce nouveau service sera effectué aux frais du Gouvernement Belge. Les paquebots employés seront des bâtiments appartenant Gouvernement Belge, ou frêtés par son compte. au Le Gouvernement Britannique, de son côté, transportera entre Londres et Douvres, à ses frais, les malles de jour transportées par les paquebots mentionnés dans le paragraphe précédent, originaires ou à destination de la Belgique, et des Etats du Continent en transit par la Belgique. Les Offices de Poste des deux Gouvernements fixeront, d'un mutuel accord, les heures auxquelles les paquebots additionels quitteront Douvres pour Ostende, et arriveront à Douvres venant d'Ostende. II. La présente Convention sera considérée comme additionnelle à la Convention signée à Londres le 19 Octobre, 1844, et aura la durée indiquée à l'Article XLII de Cette Convention. Elle sera ratifiée, et les ratifications en seront échangées à Londres le plus tôt possible. Elle sera mise à exécution à partir du jour qui sera ultérieurement fixé par les Offices de Poste des deux Gouvernements. En foi de quoi les Plénipotentiaires respectifs ont signé la présente Convention, et y ont apposé le sceau de leurs armes. Fait à Londres, le 5ème jour du mois de Juillet, de l'an de grâce 1862. (L.S.) RUSSELL. (L.S.) STANLEY OF ALDERLEY. (L.S.) SYLVAIN VAN DE WEYER. TREATY of Commerce and Navigation between Great Britain and Belgium.-Signed at London, July 23, 1862. [Ratifications exchanged at London, August 30, 1862.] Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and His Majesty the King of the Belgians, being equally animated by the desire to facilitate and extend the relations of commerce and navigation between their respective dominions; and being desirous, with a view to so beneficial an object, to remove the obstacles which impede the commercial relations between the two countries, have resolved to conclude a Treaty for that purpose, and have named as their Plenipotentiaries, that is to say: Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Right Honourable John, Earl Russell, Viscount Amberley of Amberley and Ardsalla, a Peer of the United Kingdom, Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, a Member of Her Britannic Ma jesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Her Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; and the Right Honourable Thomas Milner Gibson, a Member of Her Britannic Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, a Member of Parliament, and President of the Committee of Privy Council for Affairs of Trade and Foreign Plantations; And His Majesty the King of the Belgians, the Sieur Sylvain Van de Weyer, His Envoy Ex Sa Majesté la Reine du Royaume Uni de la Grande Bretagne et d'Irlande, et Sa Majesté le Roi des Belges, animés d'un égal désir de faciliter et d'étendre les rapports de commerce et de navigation entre leurs Etats respectifs; et voulant, pour arriver à un but si utile, faire disparaître les obstacles qui entravent les relations commerciales entre les deux pays, ont résolu de conclure un Traité à cet effet, et ont nommé pour leurs Plénipotentiaires, savoir: Sa Majesté la Reine du Roy. aume Uni de la Grande Bretagne et d'Irlande, le Très Honorable Jean Comte Russell, Vicomte Amberley de Amberley et Ardsalla, Pair du Royaume Uni, Chevalier du Très Noble Ordre de la Jarretière, Membre du Très Honorable Conseil Privé de Sa Majesté Britannique, Principal Secrétaire d'Etat de Sa Majesté Britannique pour les Affaires Etrangères; et le Très Honorable Thomas able Thomas Milner Gibson, Membre du Très Honorable Conseil Privé de Sa Majesté Britannique, Membre du Parlement, et Président du Comité du Conseil Privé pour les Affaires de Commerce et des Colonies; Et Sa Majesté le Roi des Belges, le Sieur Sylvain Van de Weyer, son Envoyé Extraordi |