The Sun.
London, England, 1822-08-07 00:00:00

THE SPEAKER'S SPEECH.

" MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY,
" We, your MAJESTY'S faithful Commons of the United
Kingdoin of Great Britain and Ireland, in Parliament assem-
bled, attend your MAJESTY with the last Bill of Supply of a
Session most unusual in its duration, and in which subjects of
the highest importance to the country, and I may add, toe. of
the greatest diffieulty and delicacy, have engrossed our anxious
and unwearied attention.

" Your :Majesty was graciously pleased at the commence-
ment of the Session to suggest for our early consideration the
distresses under which the Agricultural Districts of this coun-
try were labouring, and the disorders and outrages that were
prevailing through large Districts in Ireland.
" Sir, in ' considering these distresses of the Agricultural
Districts—a subject over which Parliament could alone have
but a very partial and imperfect controul—it is obvious, that
the only efficient relief within our reach was such a reduction
of taxation as could be effected consistent with an adequate
provision for the services of the State, and with a due regard
to the maintenance of public credit.
" After a detailed and scrutinizing examination of the Esti-
mates of the current year, a remission of taxation large in its
amount, avid we hope as considerable in its relief, has been
effected by a new apportionment of the-burden arising from the
payment of the Military and' Naval Pensions and Civil Super-
annuations, and by the reduction of the rive per Cent. Annui-
ties, one of the greatest financial measures that the history of
this country can afford, and carried into execution with less
difficulty, delay, or embarrassment, than could have been anti-
cipated by the most sanguine expectations. And further, we
have made such new regulations with respect to the introduc-
tion of Foreign Corn into the Home Market, as we hope may
relieve the British grower from those inconveniences and losses
to which, under the former law, he might have been, subjected.
" In considering, Sir, the state of Ireland, we lost no time
in passing such measures as seemed best calculated to restore
peace and tranquillity to the disturbed Districts. These mea-
sures, severe as they were, from the emergency that called for
them, were enacted but for a very limited period; and when
the time arrived for their re-consideration, though compelled to
renew the Insurrection Act, it was matter of great consolation
to us that no necessity existed for further continuing the
Suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act.
" Scarcely, however, had we concluded these painful delibe-
rations, when a louder and more lamentable call was made on
our attention—Famine, with its usual attendant, deadly disease,
were raging in large and populous districts in Ireland, and
were extending their ravages with a speed and malignity that
threatened death and destruction to all around.
" This was no time, Sir, to discuis the difficulty and deli-
cacy (under more ordinary circumstances) of the interference of
Parliament with the food of the people.
" There was but one course consistent either with the feel-
ings or with the duty of a British House of Commons,—libe-
rally and promptly to advance every supply that your Majesty's
confidential advisers in Ireland could conceive necessary to
arrest the progress of so grievous a visitation.
" Sir, we performed' this duty most promptly and most
cheerfully, and we trust most sincerely the object will be ac-
complished.
" It would ill become me to detail at greater length, the va-
rious other subjects of great importance with which we have
been occupied,—but I may be permitted in conclusion to ex.
preis a perfect conviction that your MAJESTY'S faithful Com-
mons, by their unwearied assiduity of deliberation through
this long laborious Session, and by their sincere and zealous
exertions to effect whatever might be most conducive to the
present relief and to the permanent interests of the Empire at
large, have entitled themselves to your MAJESTY'S most gra-
cious approbation, and to the full and entire confidence of the
public.
" The Bill which 1 have now humbly to present to your Ma-
jesty, is entitled An Act for applying certain Monies therein
mentioned for the Service of the Year 1822, and for further ap-
propriating the Supplies granted in this Session of Parliament,'
to which, with all humility, we pray your Majesty's Royal
Assent."
The Royal Assent was then given, with the usual forms, to
the Appropriation Bill, the English and Irish Insolvent
Debtors' Bill's, the Irish Tithes' Leasing Bill, and the General
'vurnpikes Bill.