The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-07 00:00:00

OPENING OF THE SPANISH

CORTES.

We have received the Queen of Spain's Speech at the
opening of the Cortes, on the 31st ult., of which the fol-
lowing is a translation:—

" Gentlemen, Senators and Deputies,—
" Nothing causes me more lively satisfaction than to
find myself again in the midst of you, and again to give
myself over to the hope that your loyalty and your
every effort will be consecrated to cement the union of
the Throne with the institutions of the country, and to
continue the work of the prosperity of Spain.
"I have contracted a marriage with my august cousin.
Don Francisco d'Assis Maria de Bourbon, agreeably to
my intention announced to the preceding Cortes. 1

trust that Heaven will bless this union, and that you
also, Gentlemen, will unite your prayers with mine to
Almighty God. The marriage of my beloved sister hus
also taken place in the way which has been alrady ex-
plained to the Cortes.

" In our relations with foreign Powers no change has
taken place worthy of notice.

" Domestic tranquillity, that first need of nations, is
strengthening itself, in spite of attempts which hare
been made to disturb it. lam confident that all legiti-
mate opinions, uniting themselves on the vast and free
field of our institutions, will leave without support the
factions hostile to the public peace, and will contribute
to consolidate the constitutional Government, and to
efface all traces of the troubles which have so long agi-
tated the nation.

"In order to attain that important end, I have granted
to persons implicated in those troubles as large an
amnesty as the welfare of the State permits. It is the
welfare of the State which I shall consult, at some future
time, as to the question of extending this amnesty to
those who, for weighty reasons, have been hitherto ex-
cluded from it.

"It is a great satisfaction to me to be able to an-
nounce to you that, thanks to the peace and to the re-
forms to which former Cortes have given their support,
the national prosperity is making notable advances;
my efforts will before all things tend to extend and aug-
ment those advances, and I reckon on your co-operation
and assistance in this matter.

" The different branches of the administration of the
State have experienced great ameliorations; these are
owing to the regularity introduced in the payment of
expenses in the various offices, to the preservation of the
public peace, and to the harmony and order which the
laws recently established have introduced into the
working of the administration.
" In the organization of the army some reforms, im-
peratively demanded by the public good, have been
carried out. These reforms have brought about a con-
siderable economy in the expenditure, and it is great
subject of satisfaction to me that their introduction has
not infringed upon vested rights, nor caused any preju-
dice to the classes who compose this interesting portion
of the nation. In the matter of discipline and soldierly
behaviour the condition of the troops both by sea and
land could not be more satisfactory, and the fidelity of
all ranks is a sure guarantee that the sacred trust re-
posed to their care will be protected from all dangers.

" My solicitude, and that of my Government, has not
been less with respect to the navy. For the first time
since many years the expenses of all establishments have
been covered ; considerable works and repairs have been
completed in our arsenals ; an impulse has been given to
naval construction, as well in the yards of the State as in
those of private individuals, so that the vessels of our
fleet have been available for all the purposes of the State,
as well as for the prote•stion of our mercantile marine, the
rapid increase of which gives rise to the fondest hopes.
" The amount of the revenue is increasing, and there
is ground for hope that it will be still more considerable
when the projected alterations of the tariff have been put
in force ; my Government will notify these changes to
you in a proper form.

" Some alterations have at the same time been intro-
duced in the subject of taxes, and the chief defects which
disfigure that system will disappear as soon as all the data,
which are now being sought for with great care, have been
collected, with a view to a just and equal apportionment
of the contributions.

" My Government will present you with the budget of
receipts and expenses for the year 1847. You will there
see the ameliorations and economies which it has been
possible to make. I regret that past troubles, and the
very reforms themselves which must afterwards produce
good results, do not permit of my making at present all
the reductions which I desire.

" It has been equally impossible for my Government
to arrive at an arrangement of the public debt in virtue
of the authority given by me for that purpose. How-
ever, as I have a lively desire to satisfy the just de-
mands of the State creditors, as well domestic as foreign,
the measures which may appear most proper for arriving
at this end will be proposed to you at a fitting time.
" Agreeably to the law of the 9th of June, 1845, a
loan of 200 millions of reals (50 millions of francs) has
been contracted, destined to making new roads; the.
works have partly commenced on several lines, forming
parts of the vast plan of internal communication which
my Government proposes to carry out.
" Besides the budget, other measures demanded by the
public weal will be proposed to you.
" A fixed an,' fitting endowment for religious pur-
poses and the clergy is a positive and urgent need, as
essential to the welfare of religion as it is for that of the