The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-18 00:00:00

session is ,
me to see you assembled around me before you

separate.
"Archdukes, Princes of my-House, moat worth 7,
illustrious, anti honoured gentlemen of both
Houses of the Reichsral b—
"lt affords me especial satisfaction, to behold
among you the representatives of my peincipality
of
Transyl7ania, summoned by myself and those
elected by the people.
"The ecLoes of the festival, with which that
land—the one firm outpost of my- empire on the
west—celebrated its union with the Crown of Aus-
tria 500 years ago, had soiree died mat, when from
gentlemen, of Traneylvani3,
enteredtileeast Y:itit; joyful confidence upon t,'iat course of
common activity which throws around my subjects
a new bond of union, and one daily being drawn
closer. I have greeted these demonstrations with
real satisfaction, since in them I recognised the ex-
pression of a blessed concord with my views, and
the pledges of a happy future.
" While we have cause to congratulate ourselves
on the general state of the Empire, and the progress
in intellectual and material development during
the past session, the necessitous condition of certain
portions of the kingdom of Hungary, in consequence
of a failure of the crops, must fill my heart with-
deep grief.
" Mindful of those so heavily afflicted, you have,
gentlemen, supported the efforts of my Government
to relieve them so far as lay in its
power. I have
the comforting hope of seeing a lasting alleviation
afforded to those calamities.

" Although the past session has not been
remarkable for the work accomplished, it can
not altogether be regarded as unfruitful.
Some bills which, having undergone discus-
sion, are of importance to the internal organi-
zation of the State and the execution of recognised
principles of government, have already received my
sanction.

" Eastern Galicia and the Bukovina, to my grati-
fication, have advanced near to the fulfilment of
their wish in a railway passing through their dis-
tricts. The bill for a similar advantage to my
principality of Transylvania I regret to say did not
meet with the desired acceptance. It is, however,
my wish, and the active care of my Government
will be directed to the speedy carrying out of this
line of railway, which I recognise as highly advan-
tageous to Transylvania, and as at the same time
important to the empire.
" Several other bills laid before you by my Go-
vernment, as well as measures in which you have
yourselves taken the initiative, have undergone such
thorough examination that great facilities will be
offered to the resumption of the discussion in the

ensuing session.
" You have directed your attention in a prominent
manner to the regulation of the budget. The
financial law proposed by my Government, and
passed by both Houses of the Reichsrath, has
secured a constitutional basis to the financial
arragements of the country for the current adminis-
trative period of fourteen months.
s' Your assent to the continuation of the increase
of taxes and dues of the past year, as well as to a
suitable employment of the State credit, has rola
dered it possible to complete the supplies necessary
to meet the extraordinary requirement of the State
in the present financial year.
Although the project of reform of the direct taxa-
tion laid before you by my Government could not
be taken into consideration by both Houses of the
Reichsrath in the past session, on account of the
extent and importance of this branch of legislation,
the production of the bills and statement of their
bases has brought about a more intimate aequaiat-
ance with their provisions and the system upon
which they are founded, and has materially
advanced the successful solution of the great and
pressing problem of reform of the taxation in the
ensuing. session.
" The serious events that have recently occurred
direct our attention from the internal circumstances
of Austria to her external position. Animated by
the desire to devote myself entirely to the care of
the undisturbed development of t he prosperity and
welfare of my empire, I have neglected nothing to
preserve to the monarchy the benefits of peace,
doubly precious in an epoch of internal reformation.
It is the destiny of Austria to be strong against every
possible attack, bat to raise a peace-loving voice in
the council of the nations. The friendly character
of the relations of my Government to the great
Powers of Europe fulfils these sentiments entirely
to my satisfaction.
"A crisis threatening for years in the relations
between Germany and Denmark has, however,
drawn to a head; and, notwithstanding the most
conciliatory efforts of my Government, has led to
military events. As a German Prince I have parti-
cipated in the military measures requisite to carry
out Federal execution in Holstein, in conformity
with the resolutions of the Diet, and, in conjunction
with the King of Prussia, I have considered it neces-
sary to take possession of the duchy of Schleswig
as a pledge for the fulfilment of the obligations
which Denmark has undertaken towards the
German Powers, but has most perseveringly disre-
garded. The admirable conduct and heroic bravery
of the allied army of Schleswig-Holstein has ob-
tained rapid and brilliant satisfaction for the rights
and honour of Austria, Prussia, and the whole of
Germany.
"It is with joy that I see my co-operation with
my Royal ally of Prussia crowned with the most
glorious results, not directed towards ends of ambi-
tion and •of conquest, but towards a purpose of
justice, known to Europe. I entertain the assured
hope that these results will secure a happy future
to the countries injured in their rights, for which
we have achieved them, in alliance with Prussia,
but will not endanger to any further extent the
peace of the world and of our dear country.
"Surrounded by the representatives of my empire,
I am doubly proud in this solemn hour of the tor-
tune with which Heaven his blessed the arms of
Austria, and of the glorious victory to Which it has
guided her banners. For I know that my faithful
people unite wlth me in this feeling of joy in the
recognition of the brave who have bled for our hon.
our in every place where it is important to hold
high the Austrian name. You have
world the testimony of this unity in enthusiastic
words. We can regard it with configeivnetlits ic
oiast the
justified pride ; we will guard it as
and well
for it contains an invincible
"Honourable Members power.
ena precious jewel,
of my Reichsrath--
"You will return to your homes with the con-
sciousness of patriotic
thankfully recogn. fulfilment of duties, which I
Ise. Austria has shown that in
her rejuvenated form she preserves her good id o.
spirit, and that the inheritance of her strength
and glory
abides with her in the new path
of liberty on
which she has entered. My favour
go with you, and may the hand of Heaven, as
hitherto, be extended in blessing above you, the
empire, and ita people."
an I

THE DUCHESS OF PARMA'S FUNERAL—The
Count de Chambord and his nephew, the Duke Robert,
accompanied the mortal remains of the Duchess to Goritz.,
where the bodies of Charles X. and the Duchess a'Angott-
lame are deposited.
FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE GREAT EASTERN
RAILWAY.—On. Tuesday evening Mr. John Hum-
phreys, the Middlesex coroner, held an inquest at the 14,..11:
don Hospital as to the death of Benjamin Church, ageds:'l,
a stoker, who died under the following eircunistarnocieng
of
The deceased lett the Shoreditch station on the
pomnreaching
the Bth inst. with n train for Ipswich,
andu-nin front of
Milo end ho get on the "slasher"
„, of
ironworkai bra, which
one of the wheels, to place "m- sand:bea the machinery
would not act on account of the frost,
toe of his rigbt foot,
became in motion, and crushed
thellbeigwas removed to tho
ortification supervened End
which was otherwise injured.
hospital, where gangrene
or
Tube house surgeon having de-
caused death on Saturday.
f witness said that the deceased
scribed the injuries,
the chiecngine to have attended to the
proved that the
ought to have got
jury concurring,
deceased was alone to blame,. t id th ''
tof "Acciden a ea .
eturned a verebe °sffsicrtbee vizett3hhead
break. The coroner