The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-10-25 00:00:00

OPENING

PARLIAMENT.
The QUEER'S Speech

HOUSE OF LORDS.—TICURSDAY.
The sixth session of the tenth Parliament
of the Queen was opened to-day by Royal
Commission, the Commissioners being the
Lord Chancellor, the Earl of Kimberley, the
Earl of Kenmare, Lord Carlingford, and
Lord Monson. When at two o'clock the
Commissioners took their seats in front of
the throne there was nothing in the appear-
ance of the Upper Chamber to indicate that
any extraordinary interest attached to the
circumstances under which the legislature
was called together. The Strangers' Gallery,
as usual on such occasions, was filled with
ladies and gentlemen. A number of ladies
occupied the back benches on the Opposition
side of the House, and there were some few
spectators in the side galleries. There were
only eighteen peers iA attendance, including
the Bishops of London, Liverpool, and
Rochester; Lord Barrington, the Duke of
Bedford, Lord Sudeley, Lord Balfour, Lord
Thurlow, and Lord Keane. The Usher of
the Black Rod (Admiral Sir James Drum-
mond) was directed to summon the Com-
mons, and shortly afterwards the Speaker
appeared at the bar, accompanied by the
Sergeant-at-Arms, and followed by a con-
siderable number of members of the Lower
House. The Reading Clerk (Mr. Slingsby
Bethell) having read the Commission,
The Lord Chancellor read the Queen's
Speech, as follows :

MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN—
I have brought you together after a recess
unusually short in order that you may be
enabled at once to give your further consid-
eration to the great subject of the represent-
ation of the people in Parliament.
I continue to maintain relations of amity
with all foreign Powers.
Ile information received from the Soudan
includes painful uncertainties; but the
energy, courage, and resource conspicuously
displayed by General Gordon in the success-
ful defence of Khartoum deserve my warm

recognition.
The advance of my troops to Dongola has
for its object the rescue and security of that
gallant officer, and those who have so faith-
fully co-operated with him.
In Egypt itself I am using my best en-
deavours to promote further improvement ;
and I have given my support to the Egyptian
Government in the difficult financial position
in which it has been left through the failure
of the recent Conference.

I have to regret that circumstances have
occurred on the south.west frontier of the
Transvaal which demand my vigilant atten-
tion. In conjunction -with the Government
of the Cape Colony, lam engaged in con-
sidering the means which may be required
to secure the faithful observance of the Con-
vention of the present year.l
Papers on this subject will be presented to
you at an early date.
GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS_
The operations in the Soudan will render
it necessary to ask from you a further
pecuniary provision.
MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN—
The bill for the extension of the Parlia-
mentary Franchise will at once be intro-
duced.

In conclusion, I humbly and most anxiously
trust that the blessing of Almighty God may
attend upon your labours.
The Commons then withdrew, and the
sitting was suspended, the opening ceremony
having occupied little more than a quarter
of an hoar.

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naturdsh 09toba Oak 1884.