The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-02-08 00:00:00

OPENING OF
PARLIAMENT.

TILE ROYAL MESSAGE.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—Thursday.
MT LORDS AND GENTLININ—
" I greet you cordially ou your reassembling for
the discharge of your momentous duties.
"I have the satisfaction of maintaining rela-
tions of friendship with Foreign Powers through-
out the world. _ _

"You were informed when I last addressed you
that steps had been taken to prepare the way for
dealing more effectually with the slave trade on
the East Coast o( Africa. I have now despatched
an envoy to Zanzibar, furnished with such instruc-
tions appear to me best adapted for the attain-
ment of the object in view. He has recently
reached the place of his destination, and has
entered into communication with the Sultan.

My ally the German Emperor, who had under-
taken to pronounce judgment as arbiter on the
line of water boundary so long in dispute under
the terms of the Treaty of 1564, has decided, in
conformity with the contention of the Govenment
of the United States, that the Hero Channel pre-
sents the line most in accordance with the true
interpretation of that Treaty.
.‘ I have thought it the course most befitting
the spirit of international friendship and the
dignity of the country to give immediate execution
to the award by withdrawing promptly from my
partial occupation of the island of San Juan.
Toe proceedings before the Tribunal of Arbit-
ration at Geneva, which I was enabled to prose-
cute in consequence of the exclusion of the Indirect
Claims preferred on behalf of the Government of
the United States, terminated in an award which
in part established and in part repelled the claims
allowed to be relevant. You will in due course be
asked for to provide for the payment of the sum
coming due to the United States under this award,
Aly acknowledgments are due to the German
Emperor, and likewise to the Tribunal at Geneva,
for the pains and care bestowed by them on the
peaceful adjustment of controversies such as could
not but impede the full prevalence of national
goodwill in a case where it was especially to be
cherished. _ _

"In further prosecution of a well understood
and establised policy, I have concluded a Treaty
for the Extradition of Criminals with my ally the
King of the Belgians.
" 'The Government of France has, during the
recess, renewed its communications with my
Government for the purpose of concluding a com-
mercial Treaty to replace that of 1860, which is
about to expire. In prosecuting these communi-
cations, I have kept in view the double object of
an equitable regard to existing circumstances, and
of securing a general provision more permanent
in its character, and resting on a reciprocal and
equal basis, for the commercial and maritime trans-
actions of the two countries. I hope to be enabled,
within a short period, to announce to you the final
result.

"It has been for some years felt by the Govern-
ments of Russia and the United Kingdom re-
spectively that it would be conducive to the tran-
quillity of Central Asia if the two Governments
should arrive at an identity of view regarding the
line which describes the northern frontier of the
dominions of Afghanistan. Accordingly a corres-
pondence has passed, of which this is the main
subject. Its tenour' no less than its object, will,
I trust, be approvedby the public opinion of both
nations.

Papers will be laid before you with relation to
the awards delivered under the Treaty of Wash-
ington, to the commercial negotiations with France,
and to the northern frontier of the dominions of
Afghanietan.

"GENTLEMEN OF THE HOWIE OF CODIMONe-

"The estimates of the coming financial year will
be presented to you. They have been framed with
a view to the efficiency and moderation of our
establishments, under circumstances of inconveni-
ence entailed by variations of an exceptional
nature in the prices of some important commodi-
ties.
'g BIT LORDS AND GENTLEMEN—

"Although the harvest has been to some extent
deficient, the condition of the three kingdoms with
reference to the trade and commerce, to the suffi-
ciency of the revenue for meeting the public
charge, to the decrease of pauperism, and to the
relative amount of oidinary crime, may be pro-
nounced generally satisfactory.
"A measure will be submitted to you on an early
day for settling the question of University Educa-
tion in Ireland. It will have for its object the ad-
vancement of learning in that part of my dominion,
and will be framed with a careful regard to the
rights of conscience.
. . _ .

You will find ample occupation in dealing with
other legistative subjects of importance, which, f,r
the mo,t part, have already been under your
notice in various forms and at differant periods.
Among these your attention will speedily beasked
to the formation of a Supreme Court of Judicature,
including provisions for the trial of Appeals.
"Among Si measures which will be brought
before you, there will also be proposals for facilita-
ting the trausfer of land, and for the amendment
of our system of local taxation, of certain provisions
of the Education Act of 1870, and of the general
Acts regulating railways and canals ; together
with various other bills for the improvement of the
law.

I earneetly commend your deliberations to the
guidance and favour of Almighty God."
After the usual ceremony the sitting was sus-
pended.