The Sun.
London, England, 1871-02-10 00:00:00

unable to accredit my Ambassador in a formal manner to
the Government of Defence, which has subsisted in France
since the revolution of September : but neither the har-
mony nor the efficiency of the correspondence of the two
States has been in the smallest degree impaired.
The King of Prussia has accepted the title of Emperor
of Germany at the instance of the chief authorities of the
nation.
I have offered my congratulations on an event which
bears testimony to the solidity and independence of Ger-
many, and which, I trust, may be found conducive to the
stability of the European system.
I have endeavoured, in correspondence with other
Powers of Europe, to uphold the sanctity of Treaties, and
to remove any misapprehension as to the binding character
of their obligations.
It was agreed by the Powers, which had been parties to
the Treaty of 1856, that a Conference should meet in
London. This Conference has now been for some time
engaged in its labours ; and I confidently trust that the
result of its deliberations will be to uphold both the prin-
ciples of public right and the general policy of the Treaty„
and, at the same time, by'the revision of some of its con-
ditions in a fair and conciliatory spirit, to exhibit a
cordial co-operation among the Powers with regard to the
Levant.
I greatly regret that my earnest efforts have failed to
procure the presence at the Conference of any Representa-
tive of France, which was one of the chief parties to the
Treaty of 1856, and which must ever be regarded as a
principal and indispensable Member of the great Com-
monwealth of Europe.
At different times, several questions of importance have
arisen, which are not yet adjusted, and which materially
affect the relations between the United States,
and the territories and people of British North
America. One of them in particular, which concerns
the Fisheries, calls for early settlement lest the
possible indiscretion of individuals should impair the
neighbourly understanding, which it is on all grounds so
desirable to cherish and maintain. I have therefore en-
gaged in amicable communications with the President of
the United States. In order to detezmine the most con-
venient mode of treatment for these matters, I have sug-
gested the appointment of a joint Commission ; and I
have agreed to a proposal of the President, that this
Commission shall be authorised at the same time,
and in the same manner, to resume the conside-
ration of the American claims growing out of the
circumstances of the late war. This arrangement will, by
common consent, include all claimsforcompensation which
have been or may be made by each Government, or by its
citizens, upon the other.
The establishment of a Prince of the House of Savoy
on the Throne of Spain, by the free choice of the popu-
larly-elected representatives of the Spanish nation, will,
I trust, insure for a country which has passed with so
much temperance and self-control through a prolonged and
trying crisis, the blessings of a stable Government.
I am unhappily not able to state that the inquiry which
was instituted by the Government of Greece into the
history of the shocking murders perpetrated during the
last spring at Dilessi has reached a termination answer-
able in all respects to my just expectations, but I shall
not desist from my endeavours to secure the complete
attainment of the objects of the inquiry. Some valuable
results, however, have in the meantime been obtained, for
the exposure and the repression of a lawless and corrupt-
ing system, which has too long afflicted the Greek Penin-
sular.
The anxiety which the massacre at Tien-tsin on the 21st
of June last called forth has happilly been dispelled ; and
while it -will be my earnest endeavour to provide for the
security of my subjects and their trade in those remote
quarters, I count on your concurrence in the policy that I
have adopted of rer.nnising the Chinese Government as
entitled to be deal& with in its relations with this country
in a conciliatory Lud forbearing spirit.
The parliamentary recess has been one of anxious
interest in regard to foreign affairs. But I rejoice to
acquaint you that my relations are, as heretofore, those of
friendship and good underetanding with the Sovereigns
and States of the civilized world

Papers illustrative of the conduct of my Government in
relation to the several matters, on which I have now
summarily touched, will be duly laid before you.
In turning to domestic affairs, I have first to inform
you that ehave' approved of a marriage between my
daughter Princess Louise and the Marquis of Lorne, and
I have declared my consent to this union in Council:
GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,
The revenue of the country flourishes, and the condi-
tion of trade and industry may, though with partial draw-
backs, be declared satisfactory.
The estimates for the coming year will be promptly laid
before you.
MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,
The lessons of military experience afforded by the pre-
sent war have been numerous and important.
The time appears appropriate for turning such lessons
to account by efforts more decisive than heretofore at prac-
tical improvement. In attempting this you will not
fail to bear in mind the special features in the position of
this country, so favourable to the freedom and security of
the people, and if the changes from a less to a more effec-
tive and elastic system of defensive military preparation
shall be found to involve, at least for a time, an increase
of various charges, your prudence and patriotism will not
grudge the cost, as long as you are satisfied that the end
is important, and the means judicious. No time will be
lost in laying before you a bill for the better regulation of
the army and the auxiliary land forces of the Crown, and
I hardly need commend it to your anxious and impartial
consideration.

I trust that the powerful interest at present attaching
to affairs abroad, and to military questions, will not
greatly abate the energy with which you have heretofore
applied yourselves to the work of general improvement in
our domestic legislation.
I commend anew to your attention several measures on
subjects which I desired to be brought before you during
the last session of Parliament, but which the time remain-
`ng at Your disposal, after you had dealt with the
principal subjects of the year, was not found sufficient to
carry to a final issue.
I refer especially to the Bills on Religious Tests in the
Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, on Ecclesiastical
Titles, on the Disabilities of Trade Combinations, on the
Courts of Justice and Appeal, on the Adjustment of
Local Burdens, and on the Licensing of Houses for the
Sale of Intoxicating Liquors.
The inquiry made by a Committee of the Commons
House being now complete, a measure will be placed
before you on an early day for the establishment of Secret
Voting.
A proposal is anxiously expected in Scotland for the
adjustment of the question of primary education. With
reference to the training of the young in schools on a
national scale and basis, that portion of the country has
especial claims on the favourable consideration of Parha-
raent and I trust the year may not pass by without your
having
disposed of this question by the enactment of a
just and effective law.
The condition of Ireland with reference to agrarian
crime has, in general, afforded a gratifying contrast with
the state of that island in the preceding winter ; but there
have been painful, though very partial exceptions.
To secure the best results for the great measures of the
two last sessions which have so recently passed into opera-
tion, and which involve such direct and pressing claims
upon the attention of all classes of the community, a
period of calm is to be desired ; and I have thought it
wise to refrain from suggesting to you at the present junc-
ture the discussion of any political question likely to
become the subject of new and serious controversy in that
country. _

The burdens devolving upon you as the great Council
of the nation, and of this ancient and extended Em-
Ore, are, and must long continue to be, weighty.
But you labour for a country whose laws and
Institutions have stood the test of time, and whose people,
earnestly attached to them, and desiring their continu-
ance, will unite with their Sovereign in invoking upon
all your designs the favour and aid of the Most High.

Ur. J. G. C. HAMILTON (South Lanark) in moving the
address, in reply to Her Majesty's most gracious speech,
referred to the important events passing in Europe, which
had caused Her Majesty's Government some anxiety. He
knew that the reason he had the honour given to him of
moving the address was out of compliment to his youth-
fulness as a member, and to pay a compliment to Scotland.
It was his first attempt, and he hoped to have the
sympathy and forbearance of the House. He expressed
the feeling of the House when lie said that the presence
of her Majesty gave great satisfaction to the country.
(Hear` hear.) The announcement that her Majesty had
given her consent to the marriage of the Princess Louise
with the Marquis of Lorne would be received with great
Satisfaction, as an alliance likely to lead to
the happiness of the Royal Family, and bind
her Majesty still more closely to the hearts of
her people. (Cheers.) The greater portion of her Majesty's
Speech had been taken up with foreign policy, and
Short as the time was to which it alluded, yet the events
takieg place would be part of the history of the world for
ages to come. No one could look on at what was happen-
ing without feeling sympathy and heart soreness for
both France and Germany. They all hoped that the pro-
positions of peace would be such as were honourable to
both parties, and that they would be honourably carried
out. The Government had done their best to maintain
their rights, and strictly to perform their duty as neutrals.
They had endeavoured to prevent the enlargement
of the area of the war, and they had done their
best to settle the terms of peace. At no period
during the ‘var could this country have actively interfered.
(Hear, hear.) It would have been beneath their dignity
to make remonstrances which might not have been
received and might have been incompatible with their
Professions of neutrality. Their position as neutrals would
naturally be felt irksome by some, but that was nothing
more than what might be expected under the
circumstances. They had been blamed by both sides
for infringing their neutrality, but that was the best testi-
mony that that neutrality had been strictly maintained.
He hoped the negotiations now going. on would lead to a
lasting peace and restore tranquillity in Europe. It
Wight have been urged that they had not recognised the
French Government of Defence, but to have done
SO would have been to interfere with the
choice of the French people. Referring to the Conference,
the bon- member stated that France, being in great dis-
tress, .._ as
w not represented ; but he declared that no agree-
-I.l.lent come to without the consent and concurrence of
eon"ranee would be lasting. Whilst our Government would
with jealousy to maintain the honour of this
47 in that Conference, he hoped that. the
regult of its deliberations would be satisfae•