The Press.
London, England, 1856-08-02 00:00:00

THE PROROGATION.

Sir AUGUSTUS CLIFFORD, the Usher of the Black
Rod, appeared at the bar, and summoned the
house to the House of Lords for the purpose of
hearing her Majesty's assent given by commission to
certain bills, and also for the prorogation of the
present Parliament.
The Speaker, accompanied by Lord Palmerston,
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. V. Smith, Mr.
F. Peel, and about a hundred members, proceeded

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to the House of Lords, when the following speech
was delivered by the LORD CHANCELLOR, in her

Majesty's name :
My Lord4r and Gentlemen,
We are commanded by her Majesty to release you from
further attendance in Parliament, and at the same time to

express to you her warm acknowledgments for the zeal

and assiduity with which you have applied yourselves to
the, discharge of your public duties during the session.
When her Majesty met you in Parliament at the open.
ing of the session, her Majesty was engaged, in co-opera-
tion with her allies, the Emperor of the French, the King
of Sardinia, and the Sultan, in an arduous war, having for
its object matters of high European importance ; and her
Majesty appealed to your loyalty and patriotism for the
necessary means to carry on that war with the energy and
vigour essential to success.
You answered nobly the appeal then made to you ; and
her Majesty was enabled to prepare for the operations of
the expected campaign naval and military forces worthy
of the power and reputation of this country.
Happily it became unnecessary to apply those forces to
the purposes for which they had been destined. A treaty
was concluded by which the objects for which the war had
been undertaken were fully attained ; and au honourable
peace has saved Europe from the calamities of continued
warfare.

Her Majesty trusts that the benefits resulting from that
peaoe will be extensive and permanent; and that, while
the friendships and alliances which were cemented by
common exertions during the contest, will gain strength
by mutual interests in peace, those asperities which in•
herently belong to conflict will give place to the confidence
and good will with which a faithful execution of engage-
ments will inspire those who have learnt to respect each
other as antagonists.
Her Majesty commands us to thank you for your support
in the hour of trial, and to express to you her fervent hope
that the prosperity of her faithful people, which was not
materially checked by the pressure of war, may continue,
and be increased by the genial influence of peace.
Her Majesty is engaged in negotiations on the subject
of questions in connection with the affairs of Central
America, and her Majesty hopes that the differences which
have arisen on those matters between her Majesty's Go-
vernment and that of the United States may be satisfac-
torily adjusted.
We are commanded by her Majesty to inform you that
her Majesty desires to avail herself of this occasion to ex-
press the pleasure which it afforded her to receive during
the war in which she has been engaged numerous and
honourable proofs of loyalty and public spirit from her
Majesty's Indian territories, and from those colonial pos-
sesNions which constitute so valuable and important a part
of the dominions of her Majesty's Crown.
Her Majesty has given her cordial assent to the Act for
ran lering more effectual the police in counties and boroughs
in England and Wales. This Act will materially add to
the security of person and property, and will thus afford
incr lised encouragement to the exertions of honest in-
dustry.
Her Majesty rejoices to think that the Act for the im-
provement of the internal arrangements of the University
of Cambridge will give fresh powers of usefulness to that
ancient and renowned seat of learning.
The Act for regulating Joint-stock Companies will afford
additimal facilities for the advantageous employment of
capital, and will thus tend to promote the development of
the resources of the country ; while the Aces passed
relative to the Mercantile Laws of England and of Scot-
land will diminish the inconvenience which the differences
of those laws occasion to her Majesty's subjects engaged in
trade.

Her Majesty has seen with satisfaction that you have
given your attention to the arrangements connected with
County Courts. It is her Majesty's anxious wish that
justice should be attainable by all classes of her subjects,
with as much speed, and with as little expense, as may be
consistent with the due investigation of the merits of
causes to be tried.
Her Majesty trusts that the Act for placing the Coast
Guard under the direction of the Board of Admiralty, will
afflr I the groundwork for arrangements for providing, in
time of peace. means applicable to national defence, on the
•occurrence of any future emergency.
Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
We are commanded by her Majesty to thank yon for the
readiness with which you have granted the supplies for
the present year.
My Lords and Gentlemen,

Her Majesty commands us to congratulate you on the
favorable state of the revenue, and upon the thriving con-
dition of all branches of the national industry ; and she
acknowledges with gratitude the loyalty of her faithful sub-
j acts, and that spirit of order and that respect for the law
which prevail in every part of her dominions.
Her Majesty commands us to express her confidence
that on your return to your homes you will promote, by
your influence and example, in your several districts, that
continued and progressive improvement which is the vital
principle of the well being of nations ; and her Majesty
fervently prays that the blessing of Almighty God may
attend your steps, and prosper your doings, for the welfare
and happiness of her people.
_ _

On their return, the SPEAKERremi to the house her
Majesty's Speech, and the session was brought to a
close.

THE PRESS.

)
I
RESUME OF THE SESSION.
THE first point to be considered in summing up the

result of the present session relates to the measures
•

rejected, abandoned, or withdrawn. The Ministry,
on division, received six direct defeats on—The Ap-

pellate Jurisdiction, the Testamentary Jurisdiction,
the Church Discipline, the Partnership Amendment
(Nos. 1 and 2), Public Health, and Civil Service
Superannuation, Bills, as well as defeats on the
questions of Education (Ireland), on the Site of the
National Gallery, and on Maynooth ; while the
Divorce and Matrimonial Causes, the Agricultural

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Statistics, the London Corporation, the Scotch and
Irish Paupers' Removal, the Juvenile Offenders
(Ireland), the Education (Scotland), the Wills and
Administiation, the Criminal Appropriation of Trust
Property, the Dulwich College, the Irish Court of
Chancery, the Juries (Ireland), the Bankruptcy
( Ireland), the Metropolis Local Management, the I
Burial and Vaccination, the Queen's Colleges in
Ireland, the National Gallery Bills, and many other
measures of capital importance, introduced prin
cipally by members of the Government, were
abandoned or withdrawn.
Among the bills which have received the
Royal assent are the Exchequer bills Funding, the
Annuities, the Joint stock Banks (Scotland), Sir W.
F. Williams' Annuity, the Reformatory Schools (Scot-
land), the Juvenile Convict Prison (Ireland), the
Public Health Supplemental, the Draughts on Ban-
kers, the Factories, the Industrial and Provident
Societies, the Joint•stock Companies, the Grand
Juries, the Police (Counties and Boroughs), the
Mercantile Law Amendment, the Drainage (Ireland),
the Grand Juries (Ireland), the Statutes not in Use
Repeal, the Encumbered Estates (Ireland), the
Coast Guard Service, the Bishops of London and
Durham Retirement, the County Courts Acts Amend-
ment Bills, and a few private acts.'
The houses assembled on the 31s4January. The
Commons sat for 109 days, extending over 8381
hours, while 3" no houses" and 7 " counts-out "
occurred; the Lords sat for 88 days, extending
over 2231 hours. The divisions in the Lords have
amounted to 23, in the Commons to 103.
The resume of the more important events of the
session is as follows :

JANUARY.
31st. Parliament opened by the Queen in person. The
Address, moved in the House of Lords by the Earl of
Gosford, and seconded by the Earl of Abingdon, and moved
and seconded in the Commons by Mr.Byng and Mr. Baxter,
was agreed to in both houses without an amendment. In
the Lords, the speech was closely criticised by the Earl
of Derby.
FEBRUARY.
Ist. Mr. Lowe, the Vice-President of the Board of Trade,
brought in bills to amend the Law of Psrtnership, and for
the Incorporation and Regulation of Joint-stock Comps-
nies and other associations. Read a first time.
4th. Mr. Lowe brought in a bill for the abolition of
Passing Tolls and the Regulation of Local ])ues upon
Shipping. Read a first time. Mr. Whiteside and Mr. J.
D. Fitzgerald brought in a variety of bills for the reform of
the Court of Chancery and the abolition of the Encumbered
Estates Court in Ireland. Lord Duncan (for the Lord
Advocate) brought in several Scotch bills.
sth. On the motion of Lord Palmerston a vote of thanks
was passed to Mr. W. Ley on his retirement from the
office of clerk-assistant to the House. Sir G. Grey brought
in a bill for the improvement of the county and borough
police, which was read a first time. Mr. Brotherton's
motion for the " early closing " of the house was lost by
11l to 50.
7th. In the House of Lords Lord Lyndhurst, in a most
able speech, moved that the letters patent purporting to
create Sir James Parke a baron of the united kingdom
" for life " be referred to a Committee of Privileges.
The motion was carried, in opposition to the Government,
by a majority of 138 to 105. Mr. Collier brought in a bill
to transfer the testamentary jurisdiction of the Ecclesiasti-
cal Courts to the superior courts of common law and the
County Courts. A motion by Captain Scobell for a select
committee to inquire into naval administration was lost by
171 to 80.
Bth. Earl Granville brought in a bill appointing ft vice-
president of the Committee of Council on Education.
The Partnership Amendment and the Joint-stock Compa
nies Bills were read a second time.
11th. Brief discussions took place in the House of Lords
respecting the Crimean Commissioners' Report, the Wens-
leydale Peerage, and an alleged discrepancy between cer-
tain diplomatic notes from Colonel Rose and Lord Strat-
ford de Redcliffe. Sir C. Wood proposed the navy esti-
mates, and several votes were agreed to.
Itlth. A Committee of Privileges met ; and the inquiry
into the Wensle,dale Peerage was proceeded with. Mr.
Napier proposed a resolution upon the subject of the
amendment of the laws. At the suggestion of the Go-
vernment it was slightly modified in its terms, and the
motion was then agreed to.
14th. Sir F. Kelly brought in bills for the consolidation
of the Statue Law, and of the laws relating to bills of ex-
change and promissory notes. Sir J. Shelley moved for
a return of the ages, itc., of the Irish judges. The motion,
though vigorously opposed by Mr. Napier and others, was
carried by 132 to 121.

SATURDAY,

15th. Mr. Roebuck introduced the subject of onr rela
tions with America, and a brief debate ensued, which was
shared in by lord Palmerston and Mr. Disraeli. The
Chancellor of the Exchequer brought in a bill to amend
the act relating to the superannuaticn of the civil service.
18th. The Committee for Privileges on the Wensleydale
Peerage sat again. The Court of Chancery ( Ireland) Bill
was read a second time in the Commons, and referred to a
select committee. _

21st. The Earl of Derby brought under the notice of
the house the relations between the Commander-in-Chief
and the Secretary for War. Sir J. Walmsley brought on
his motion for opening the National Gallery and British
Museum on Sundays, which was lost by 376 to 48.
92nd. The Committee of Privileges met again, when a
motion by Lord Cvlenelg to refer certain questions to the
judges was lost by 142 to 111 ; and one by Lord Lyndhurst,
declaring the report of the committee to be that neither
the letters patent nor the writ of summons issued to Lord
Wensleydale could entitle him to sit and vote in Parlia-
ment, was carried by 92 to 67. In the other house the
Chancellor of the Exchequer made a financial statement
and moved certain resolutions—one of which related to a
loan of 5,000,00 U. The army estimates were discussed,
and several votes taken.
25th. Sir F. Thesiger moved that the Local Dues on
Shipping Bill be read a second time that day six months.
After a long discussion the debate was adjourned.
20th. Lord Palmerston withdrew the Local Dues on
Shipping Bill.
28th. On the motion of the Earl of Derby a committee
was appointed to inquire into the subject of the appellate
jurisdiction of the House of Lords, with a view to its im-
provement. Mr. Muntz proposed a motion with reference
to our monetary system, which was opposed by the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, ani was lost by 115 to 68. The
case of " Talbot v. Talbot" was brought under notice by
Mr. J. G. Phillimore.
29th. The Earl of Albemarle moved for returns relative
to torture in India. Mr. Roebuck moved a resolution
condemnatory of the appointment of a board of general
officers to report upon the report of the Crimean Commis-
sioners; but, after a long debate, " finding himself in a
minority," he withdrew it.