The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-09-01 00:00:00

THE PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.

On Saturday the fourth session of the tenth Parlia-
ment of Her Majesty the Queen was closed by Royal
Commission. The Lord Chancellor, attended by the
Mace and Purse Bearers, entered the House at five
minutes past two and, when he had taken his seat on
the wool Pack, prayers were read by the Bishop of
Rochester. Among the peers present were Lord
Alcester, Lord Crewe, Lord Stratheden and Camp-
bell, and Lord Keane. After prayers the Lord
Chancellor retired, and after a short interval
returned, accompanied by the other Lords Com-
missioners, who entered the House from the Queen's
chamber. The Commissioners were the Lord Chan-
cellor, Earl Sydney (Lord Steward), the Earl of
Kenmore (Lord Chamberlaiu), the Earl of Derby
(CJlonial Secretary), and Lord Munson (Captain of the
Yeomen of the Guard). All ware attired in their
scarlet and ermine robes. :Their lordships having
taken their seats on the bench in front of the throne,
the Lord Chancellor directed the„Gentleman Usher of
the Black Rod, Admiral the Hon. Sir J. Drummond,
G.C.8., to summon the House of Commons to hear
the Royal Commission read. After a short time the
Right Hon. the Speaker, Sir H. Brand, G.C.8., ac-
companied by about 120 members of the House of Com-
mons, appeared at the Bar. The Commission was
read at the table by Mr. Ralph Disraeli, the Deputy
Clerk of Parliament. The Royal assent was then
given by Commission to a number of Acts. After
this the Lord Chancellor read her Majesty's gracious
Speech, which was in the following terms i
THE QUEEN'S SPEECH.

"MY LORD AND Gawrramix,
"In releasing you from your protracted labours, I
use the occasion to acknowledge your unremitting
energy and devotion in the fulfilment of the great trust
committed to you.
"The harmony of my relations with foreign Govern.
manta continues to be undisturbed.
"The Conference, assembled in London for the
settlementof various questions connected with the free
navigation of the Danube, has, by the conciliatory
attitude of the countries represented in it, arrived at
an agreement favourable to commerce.
"The work of administrative reorganization in
Egypt, though retarded at important points by the
visitation of cholera, has steadily advanced.
" The aim of the temporary ocoupation of the coon.
t,y by my military tones, the considerations which
mu.st supply the measure of it duration, and the coo.
stint direction of my efforts t the maintenance of
e.tsblished rights, to the tranquillity of the Eatt, and
to the welfare of the Egyptian people, have been more
thin once explained to you, and they remain tin.
changed.

" Occurrences arising out of the French operations
in Madagascar form the subject of communications
with the Government of France, which, conducted in
the spirit of frienclihip, will, I doubt not, lead to satis-
factory results. In connexion with these occurrences,
my attention has been, and will continue to be, steadily
directed to all which may affect the rights or liberties
of my subjects.

"My hopes for the re-establishment of stable peace
and order in Zululand have not as yet been fulfilled,
and the working of the Convention with the Transvaal
Government has proved in certain respects, to be far
from satisfactory.
"In regard to the first, I shall, while avoiding all
gratuitous interference, study to maintain such engaga-
ments as I have contracted,. and keep steadily in view
the security of the border of Natal.

"The questions of frontier policy opened by the
second, which in different forms have for so long a
time constituted the main difficulty in the adminis-
tration of my South African possessions, will, with
other points, shortly be discussed in this country
between my Ministers and the confidential Envoys
who are to be despatched from the Transvaal for the
purpose.

" GENTLEMEN 01' THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
"I thank ycu for the liberal supplies by which you
have enabled me to make adequate provision for the
public establishments and other services of the country
during the current year.
"MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

"The Revenue has thus far not fallen short of its
anticipated amount; the condition of the classes
sufftring from the depression of agriculture has, in most
districts of the country, shown some degree of improve.
ment ; and the general state of trade and industry is
sound.

"I can refer with greater satisfaction than on some
former occasions to the condition of Ireland. Except
in regard to the disposal of appeals, where there is still
mach to be desired, the action of the appointed tribu-
nals has brought into wide operarion the provisions of
the Land Act; the late combination against the fut.
filment of contracts, especially for rent, has been in a
great degree broken up ; there is a marked diminution
of agrarian crime; and associations, having murder
for their object, have been checked by the detection
and punishment of offenders.
"The expectations of more successful progress in
the work of legislation, which I expressed to you at
the close of the last session of Parliament, have not
been wholly disappointed; and I have clrdially given
my assent to many measures of public usefulness.
"The Acts which secure due compensation to im-
proving occupiers of land in England and Scotland
respectively, and comprise other valuable provisions,
will, I trust, tend alike to the promotion of confidence
between classes, and to the more advantageous prose-
cution of the great business of agriculture.
"The new Law relating to corrupt practices at elec-
tions will not only tend towards extinguishing the
grosser forms of mischief, at which it is particularly
aimed, but will, by reducing the expenses of Parlia-
mentary elections, give increased freedom of choice to
the constituencies, and thus promote the more
eEcient representation of all classes in the great council
of the nation.

"The Act for the improvement of the Law of Bank-
ruptcy appears well adapted to fulfil the favourable
anticipations with which it has been received by the
commercial and trading community; and the Act con-
cerning Patents will be found greatlg,to improve the
position of inventors, in whose ingenuity and resource
the public has a substantial interest.

"The provision which you have made for further
securing a continuous redemption of the National Debt
will materially aid the maintenance of the public
credit.

"The Act for the encouragement of Irish industry
and enterprise by improvement of communic3tions,
and for the further relief of particular districts by
emigration and migration, supplies a new proof of your
anxiety to promote the prosperity of Ireland.

"The remission of Parliamentary labour which you
have so amply earned will bring with it the discharge
of important duties, both personal and public, in your
respective districts. Alike in these, and in the
arduous exertions which may be demanded ham you
in coming sessions, I trust tnat the favour of Provi•
derma may uniformly guiAe you to promote the object
of my coLstAnt solicitude—the welfare and happiness
of my people."
At the conclusion,

The Lord Chancellor said :—By virtue of the Royal
Commission and in the name of Her Majesty, and in
obedience to Her Majesty's commands, we have to
declare that Parlament be prorogued to the 12th
November, and that it is prorogued accordingly.

The Speaker and the members of the House Of Corn-
mons then withdrew, and the Lords Commissioners
having retired, the session was brought to a close at 20
minutes to three.