The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1878-08-20 00:00:00

Imperial 13 arliament.

On Monday, In the House of Lords, the Sunday
Closing (Ireland) Bill we. read • Snit time. In the
House ot Commons, the Chanoellor of the Exchequer
said It was understood that the British fleet would be
withdrawn from the neighbourhood of Constantinople
when the Russian forces retired from there. Questioned
as to the position in which the Poor Law Act
Amendment Bill now stood, he replied that the
Government had done all that was possible to induce
the Lords to acoept the view of the Commons, and,
having failed on two occasions, the Bill was now
dead.

On Tuesday, in the House of Lords, the Royal
assent was given by Commission to several Bills, and
the Sunday Closing (Ireland) Bill read a 'sound time.
In the Commons, the annual statement with regard to
the finanoe of India was made by Mr. E. Stanhope,
who remarked that the estimate for 1877-8 showed a
revenue of £58,635,000 and an expenditure of
£62,018,009, levying • deficit of 121,M3,000. On a
general review the position was full of hope for the
future. Mr. Fawcett regarded the statement as un-
satisfactory, though lucid; and moved that the House
regarded with apprehension the present position of
Indian finance, and in view of the power claimed by
the Crown to employ any number of Indian troops in
all parts of Her Majesty's dominionn except the
United Kingdom, was of opinion there was no
, suffieient security against the military expenditure of
India being unduly increased. The amendment was
' seconded by Mr. bilwyn, and a debate followed, in
which Mr. Jacob Bright and the Chancellor of the
Exchequer took part. Mr. Fawoett's amendment was
defeated bv 52 against 20.
On Wednesday, in the House of Lords, the Sale of
Intoxicating Liquors on Sunday (Ireland) Bill passed
through committee. In the Commons. the Expiring
Laws Continu ince Bill was read a third time. On the
'bird reading of the Consol i•Lted Fund (Appropriation)
Bill Mr. H. Samuelson calls attention to the failure
of Mr. Consul.' eneral Fawcett to &wedeln the
circumstances under which Mr. Ogle, the Tina
correspondent in Thesuly, warn murdered by Turkish
soldiers • and moved • resolution, but on the Govern-
ment promising to Institute the inquiry asked for, the
motion was withdrawn. Some other matters having
been dealt with, the report of the resolutions on the
Indian Budget was brought up and agreed to.
On Thursday, in the House of Lords, several Bills
were advanced a stage, including the Sunday Closing
Bill. In the Commons Mr. Rourke said the Govern.
meat were aware that Bath= was still held by a
Turkish Path& and the troops under his command,
but negotiations were in progress for the surrender of
the town. In reply to a further question he said he
had received • telegram from Sir Austen Lsyard,
stating that a petition bad been received by the Consul
at Tr.blxond from the Lases to the effect that if the
Rundana attacked them they would unfurl the British
flag, and consider themselves under British protection.
Sir W. Harcourt and Mr. Forster premed Mr. Bourke
for information se to what steps the Government had
taken with the ..bject of making the Lases understand
that England had nothing to do with their affeirs.
Mr. Bourke said he had only just received the
telegraphic massage, and had not seen the petition.
But he ventured upon the expression of the opinion
tit .t only Sir W. Harcourt would for &moment believe
that the British Government had taken any such
responsibility with regard to the Lewis.
On Friday, at one o'clock, Parlament was pro-
rogued.

PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.
Till QUM'S anemt.
Parliament was formerly marooned on Friday
afternoon by Commission. The followiat is the text
of the Queen's Speech. as read by the LordChancßor

MT LORDS AND OKITLERRN,
When in a critical condition of public affairs you
assembled at the commencement of the year I pointed
out to you that in the interests of my empire precau-
tions might bec me necessary, for which I applied to
your liberality to supply.
At the SAMS time I assured you that no efforts in the
cause of peace should be wanting on my part.
Your response wsa not ambiguous, and contributed
largely to the pacific solution of the difficulties which
then existed.

--Fb;l7rms of the agreements between Russia and the
Porte, so hr as they affected pre-existing treaties,
were, after an interval of discussion, submitted to a
Congress of the Powers, and their councils have
resulted in a peace which, I am thankful to believe is
satisfactory and likely to be durable
The Ottoman empire has not emerged from a disas-
trous war without severe lose, but the arrangements
which have been made, while favourable to the subjects
of the Porte, have secured to its position of independ-
I once which can be upheld against aggression.
I have concluded a defensive convention with the
Sultan, which has been laid before you. It gives, as
regards his Asiatic Empire, swore distinct expression
to the engagements which, in principle, I, together
with other Powers. accepted 1878, but of which the
form has not been found practically effectual.
The Sultan hes, on the other hand, bound himieU to
adopt and carry into effect the measures necessary for
securing the good government of these provinces.. In
order to promote the objects of this agreement I hays
undertaken the ocoupeOlon and adm.inisteadon of the
Island of Cyprus.
1 In aiding to bring about the settlement which lias
I taken piece, I have been assisted by the discipline and
high spirit of my forme by sea and by land; by the
alacrity with width my removes responded to my call;
by the patriotic cams of military aid by my people in
the Colonies; by the proud desire of my Indian army
to be reckoned on among the defenders of the British
Rinpire—a desire justified by the soldierly qualities of
the forms recently quartered at Malta.
The spontaneous offers of troops made by many of
the native governments tit India were very gtottryteg
,1 to me, and I tee %raise in theme fresh manifestation
of that feeling towards my crown and person which
bee been dlella7ed to many previous Instanon.
My relations with all foreign powers continue to be
friendly.
I Although the condition of affairs in South Africa
still affords some frauds for anxiety, I have learnt
with satisfaction Gam tbe reports my civil and
main akin that the mare mime irbsseu

which had arisen among the, native population on the
frontiers of the Cape Colony are now terminated.

GINTLIIM ow yes Hors! or Commies,
I thank you tr the liberal supplies which you bav
voted for the public service.

MT L 031131 AND GENTLEMAN.
Tbe Act which has been passed for amending an. I
greatly simplifying the law relating to factories an' I
workshops will, I trust, further secure the health an.
education of those who are employed in them.
I have had much pleasure in giving my assistance
a measure relating tett).- Contagious Diseases of Cattle
which by affording additional securitiee ampule tb.
Introduction and sprewi of those diseases will tend t
encourage the breeding of live stock in the country .
and to increase the supply of food to my p-ople.
You have amended the law as to highways In
manner which cannot but improve their clamificatio. s
and management, and, at the same tint*, relies •
Inequalities in the burden of their maintenance.
I trust that advantage will be taken of the mean s
which you have provided for dividing bishoprics i 3
the more populous districts of the country, and the s
Increasing the efficiency of the Church.
I anticipate the best results from the wise arrange -
meats which you have made for the encouragement o
intermediate education in Ireland.
The measure for unending and consolidating th •
Public Health Laws in that country is well calculate. I
to promote the important object at which it aims.
The measure passed in regard to roads and bridge.,
In Sc Aland, and for the abolition of tolls, will greatly
improve the management of highways in that part ot
the United Kingdom ; while the Acts relating to
education and to endowed schools and hospitals cannot
fail to extend the benefits of education and improve
the administration of charitable endowments in that
mlutirid In ding you farewell I pray that the blessing of
the Almighty Clod may rest upon your recent labours
and accompany you in the discharge of all your
duties.

THE LATE SESSION.
The .elusion which was brought to • close on Frids3 •
was the longest in modern Perliententery history.
Beginning on the 17th deanery, and terminating os t
the 16th August, it lasted exactly seven months
In the course of the session 24 new members tool t
their seats, in the proportion of 14 Conservatives t
11 Liberals.

The VaCILOCISS ir the ranks of the Housed Common
have been attributable to several MUMS. Death ha. I
removed nine of its members :In the proportion of t
Liberals to three Conservatives. Eight members ham,
retired from Parliamentary life. Sin have become
peers—four enoceesion and two by creation. Two have
received appointment. n, der the 'rown, n.cess irily
vacating their seats in Parliament —the Marquis o;
Lorne, as already indicntvd, an Mr. W. Johnston,
who is now an Inspector of Irish Fisheriee.
The end of the6fth neenion ..f the preeent Parliament
sees the smelled possible alteratioo in the balance of
political power, as determined by the result. of the
general election. Altogether the Liberals have woo 1.2
seats, and the Conservatives 10; but es one of the
Liberal gains, that at Norwich, wee rendered value-
less by the suspension of the writ daring the
remainder of the Parliament, the practical result of
five years' contests is to leave the Opposition with a
net balance of one seat in their favour.
The composition of the Ministry has materially
changed during the progress of the season. Eight days
after Parliament had assembled, the Earl of I 'arnarvon
resigned the Secretaryship for the Colonies, in which
he was succeeded by Sir Michael Hichs•Beach, Mr.
James Lowther taking the office of Chief Secretary
for Ireland. Earl Cadogan became Under-Secretary
for the Colonies, and Viscount Bury wan taken into
the Government as Under-Secretary for War. At the
gems time the Duke of Northumberland was "Omitted
to the Cabinet on his being entrusted with the custody
of the Privy Seal, which, ethos Li Malmenbury's
resignation, had berm held by the Prime Miniater.
At the end of March Lord Derby resigned he
Foreign Secretaryship, mil the Marquis of Salisbury
took the vacant post, Mr. Hardy becoming Secretary
of State for India, Colonel Stanley Secretary for War,
Sir H. Selerin-Ibbetaon Financial Secretary to the
Treasury, and Sir Mathew White Ridley Under-
Secretary to the Home Dep.artment. A few
weeks later there was another series of changes,
consequent upon Sir Charles Adderley's resignation of
his port at the Board of Trade, when be was elevated
to the peerage. Hie successor was Lord Sandon, with
a seat in the Cabinet, Lord George Hamilton going to
the Education Department, and Mr. Edward Stanhope
becoming Under,iecretary for India, Mr. Thomas
Salt Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade,
and Mr. J. G. Talb I Parliamentary Secretary to the
Local Government Board. So Lir aa the Adm•nintra-
tion is concerned, the Earl of Carnarvon, the Earl of
Derby, and Sir Charles Adderley have gone out
in the course of the ie.eion ; and the Duke of
Northumberland, Viscount Bury, Sir Matthew
White Ridley, and Mr. John Gilbert Talbot have come
pin,