The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-02-10 00:00:00

THE QUEEN'S SPEECH.

" MT LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

I avail myself of the opportunity afforded by your re-
assembling for the discharge of your momentous duties to
renew the expression of my thankfulness to the Almighty
for the deliverance of my dear son the Prince of Wales from
the most imminent danger, and of my lively recollection of
the profound and universal sympathy shown by my loyal
people during the period of anxiety and trial.

I purpose that on Tuesday, the 27th Instant, conformably
to the good and becoming usage of former days, the blessing
thus received shall be acknowledged on behalf of the nation
by a Thanksgiving in the Metropolitan Cathedral. At this
celebration it is soy desire and hope to be present.
Directions have been given to provide the necessary
accommodation for the Members of the two Houses of !orna-
ment.

The assurances of friendship which I receive from Foreign
Powers, continue to be in all respects satisfactory. I need
hardly assure you that my endeavours will at all times be
steadily directed to the maintenance of these friendly re
lations.

The Slave Trade, and practices scarcely to be distinguished
from Slave Trading, still pursued in more than one quarter
of the world, continue to attract the attention of my Go-
vernment. In the South Sea Islands, the name of the
British Empire is even now dishonoured by the con
nettbm of some of niy subjects with these ne-
farious I ractices and in one of them the mur-
der of an exemplary prelate has cast fresh light upon some
of their baleful consequences. A hill will be presented to
you, for the purpose of facilitating the trial of offences of
this class in Australasia • and endeavours will be made to
increase, in other forms, the means of counteraction.
Various communications have passed between my Govern-
ment and the Government of France on the subject of the
Commercial Treaty concluded in 1860. From a divergence
in the views respectively entertained in relation to the value
of Protective Laws, this correspondence has not brought
about any agreement to modify that Im/beast convention
On both sides, however, there has been uniformly declared
an earnest desire that nothing shall occur to Impair the cor-
diality which has long prevailed between the two nations.
Papers relating to these subjects will be laid before you.

The Arbitrators appointed pursuant to the Treaty of
Washington, for the purpose of amicably settling certain
claims known as the " Alabama' claims, have held their
first meeting at Geneva.

Cases have been laid before the Arbitrators on behalf of
each party to the Treaty. In the ease so submitted on be-
half of the United Sratas, large claims have been Included,
which are understood on my part not to be within the pro-
vince of the arbitrators. On this subject I have caused a
friendly communication to be made to the Government of
the United States.
The Emperor of Germany has undertaken to arbitrate on
the San Juan water boundary, and the cases of the two
Governments have been presented to his Imperial Majesty.
The Commission at Washington has been appointed, and
Is in session. The provisions of the Treaty which require the
consent of the Parliament of Canada await its assembling.
Turning to domestic affairs, I have to apprise you that,
with very few exceptions, Ireland hen been free from serious
erinie. Trade in that part of the United Kingdom is active,
and the advance of agricultural industry is remarkable.
lam able also to congratulate you, so far as present ex-

perienee allows a judgment to Be passed, upon the per-
ceptible diminution of the number both of the graver crimes
and of habitual criminals in Great Britain.

" GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,

The principal Estimates for the coining year have been
prepared. They will at once be laid before you; and I trust
that you will bud them suitable to the circumstances of the
country.

The state of the revenue affords favourable Indications of
the demand for employment and the general condition of
the people—indications which are corroborated by a decline
of pauperism not inconsiderable.

"MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,
Your attention will be invited to several measures of ac-
knowledged national interest. Among these there will be
Bills for the Improvement of Public Education in Scotland,
w the Regulation of Mines, for the amendment of what is
known as the Licensing System, and in relation to the
Superior Courts of Justice and Appeal.

In particular, a bill, having for its main object the
establishment of secret voting, together with a measure
relating to eornipt practices at Parliamentary elections, will
be immediately presented to you.
Several measures of administrative improvement for
Ireland will be laid before you.
There will likewise be laid before you legislative provisions
founded on the Report of the Sanitary Commission.

Ton, my Lords and Gentlemen, will, I am confldent, again
apply your well-known assiduity to that work of legisla-
tion which, from the increasing exigencies of modern
society, still seems to grow upon your hands. And
I shall continue to rely, under Divine Providence,
alike on the loyalty of my people, and on your energy and
wisdom, to sustain the constant efforts of the Crown to dis-
charge the duties, to uphold the rights, and to defend the
honour of the Empire."

The Speaker then retired, followed by those who ac-
companied him to the bar, and their lordships at once
adjourned ; the sitting of the Commons being also
suspended.