The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-02-09 00:00:00

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

The Fifth Session of the Tenth Parliament of her
Most Gracious Malesty Queen Victoria was opened
on Tuesday, when the "faithful Commons," headed
by the Speaker, were summoned to the bar of the
Upper House to hear her Majesty's Speech in "her
Majesty's own words."
In the House of Commons at about a quarter to
ten a few members began to arrive. The first
to tread the floor of the House was Sir Donald
Currie, who secured a place on the Govern-
ment side • the member for Perthshire being
closely followed by Mr. T. Shaw, the member
for Huddersfield, and Mr. Burt. At lialf•past ten the
antuil ceremony, dating from the days of Guido
Faiskee and the Gunpowder Plot, of searching the
vaults was gone through. A body of Qaeen's Marshal-
raer, in their gamut-tailed scarlet coats and
shakos, and of Yeoman of the Guard, in
frills and ruffles, under the command of their
captain, Lord Monson, and accompanied by
Admiral the Hon. Sir James R. Drummond,
the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, Colonel
Carrington (representing the Lord Great Chamber-
lain), Inspectors Denning and Butler, and a number
of minor officials, carrying lanterns, filed through the
House of Commons, and, passing behind the Speaker's
chair, went down the steps to the vaults, and the
closest inspection was made.
In the Houee of Lords the Lord Chancellor took
his seat on the woolsack about two o'clock, and the
Speaker and members of the House of Commons
having been summoned to the bar, be proceeded to
cepa
THE QUEEN'S SPEECH.
MY LORDS AND GF.NTLEMEN,

I hays called you together for the Fifth Session ot
this Parliament, that you may again address your-
selves t 3 the discharge of your arduous and ever-grow-
ing duties.
I continus t 3 bold friendly and harmonious relations
with all foreign Powers.
My communications with the President of the French
Republic, arising out of special incidents in Madagas-
car, have closed, as I had anticipated, in a manner
such as tends to confirm the cordial understanding
between the two countries. _ _ _

I have likewise, in conjunction with the President,
appointed a Commission, which is now sitting in Paris,
to discuss a basis of arrangement, which I had pro-
posed, for the future regulation of the Newfoundland
fisheries and the avoidance of disputes.

An Agreement has been arrived at with Portagal
respecting the River Congo and the adjacent terri-
tories, This Agreement will he presented to yon forth.
with,

Arrangements are in progress for the resumption of
diplomatic relations with Mexico, and Special Envoys
have been despatched by each Government to promote
that end.

Negotiations for a Treaty of Commerce with
Turkey have commenced; an Agreement on corn.
mercial arrangements with Spain has been signed,
which awaits the sanction of the Cortes ; a revision of
the Commercial Treaty with Japan, on a basis gener-
ally agreed t) by the Treaty Powers, is nearly nom.
plated; and a Treaty of Commerce and Friendship has
likewise been signtd with Corea.

Having had every reason to be satisfied with the
tranquility of Egypt, and the progress made in the
establishment of orderly institutions, I gave, during
the autumn, instruct'ous for the evacuation of Cairo,
for the further reduction of my military forces, and for
their concentration mainly in Alexandria.
But in the m3nth of November the Egyptian Army,
appointed to maintain the rule of the Khedive in the
SaudAn, was defeated and broken up with heavy loss.
Upon the occurrence of this defeat, I deemed it wise
to recall the order I had given, as a precaution aczainst
the possible effects of the military revarse in Egypt
itself, and to preclude all doubt as to the certain
maintenance oi its tranquillity.
While an unforeseen and calamitous necmity has
thus required me to suspend the measure I had
adopted, the aim of my occupation, which bad been
explained to you at former times, continues without
change.

I have offered to the Euptian Government such
counsels, as appeared to be required by a prudent
regard to the amount of ita resources, and to the social
c3ndition of the country. I have alao despatched
Major General Gordon to report on the best means ol
giving effect to the resolution of the Khedive to with-
draw from the Interior of the Soudan, and have per-
raittid him to act in the execution of the measure.

Papers relating to this and to several of the foregoing
subjects will be presented to yon.
I have directed communications to be held with the
Delegates, whom the Government of the Transvaal
has sent to this country for the purnose of urging a
reconsideration of the Convention of Pretoria.

In this interchange of views, attention has been
principllly turned to the question, always one of
dant*. in Soath Africa, how beat to make provision
for the maintenance of order, end the prevention ef
oppression, on the frontier,
Nothing Ims occurred to discourage the expectation
that tbelo communications may be brought to a
favourable inua.

l'aprs will be presented to you on the subject in
due murise ; and likewise with respect to the condi.
Con of Zatutand, which continues to be uniettled ; as
well as to the reiumption of direct Imperial authority
in Basutoland, which is in immediate contemplation.