The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-24 00:00:00

• ,„
4r1:1 14/OtttOis,

PORTUGAL.

ENING OF THE CORrEs-SPEECH

FROM THE THRONE.
The following is a copy of the Queen of Portugal's
spech upon the openilig of the Cortes at Lisbon on
ihel sth instant :
" Worthy Peers of the Realm, and
Gentlemen Deputies of the Portuguese' Nation,—
" I felicitate myself with you upon thus seeing
,ou, the national representatives, surround my
Throne as its most secure support, and upon whose
dedication I?,confide for carrying out with firmness
and prudence the great work of reform which was
proclaimed, embraced by tha nation, and cordially
alopted by me.
" The revision of the fundamental law of the State
being thus acknowledged es a necessity, it became
my first duty to consult the nation by means of a new
election.
" The non• existence of a fundamental law to as-
sure the freedom of election c3nstrained ine to
assume extraordinary powers for its regulation, and
the supreme law of public safety imposed upon .me
the duty of providing by my authority that Which
it was no longer possible for the Cortes to do in
the then existing state of the country.
new
decreed
the revision, and provided that the new deputies
should be elected with powers necessary for its ac-
complishment.
with the.
.daty of lay-
" My Ministers are charged
law additional to the
ing before you a project of
Constitutional Charter of the
*Monarchy, which you
will in your wisdom discuas, in order that it may,
duly reformed. in those articles
with my sanction, be
which experience has shown the indispensable neces-
sity of being corrected and perfected, for the better
abl
guarantee of the lib
unaltererty oe
f the representative Mo-
narchy, and the principles in which that
charter sought to establish and constitute it.
" The Prince Royal, my most beloved son, having
attained the legal age, will publicly take in this
Cortes the solema oath to the Constitution of the
State, which I have the glory to assure you he will
know how to maintain as my son, and the grandson
of Don Pedro IV.

" The unavoidable delays of the electoral process,
the urgency of circumstances, and the cogent neces-
sity to provide promptly for various branches of the
public administration, authorized me to use the ex-
e,epional powers to decree some measures of manifest
utility, which have laid the foundation of reform and
will facilitate its efficacy.
" My Ministers will lay those measures before you,
with the special reasons for their adoption and the
Foj-cts of law necessary for their completion, and
for the coherency and efficacy of the reform I pride
myself upon having commenced, and which I rely
upon securely completing with the aid of the national
representatives.
"Gentlemen Deputies of the Portuguese Nation,—
" The necessities of the public finances called for
sacrifices from all. That they may not be sterile, it
becomes necessary to organizs with such persevering
economy our expenses, and reform to such point our
fiscal system, that the employis and creditors of the
State may be manifestly secure that such violent
sacrifices will never be called for again.
"With a better distribution of political burdens, a
better regu'.ation of the imports, and of the method of
taxation and collection, it is not the less urgent we
should place ourselves in a position to provide for other
reproductive expenses, to foment industry in com-
merce, agriculture, and the sciences and arts, which
promote and direct civilization. In the general go-
vernment and administration of the country, in its
ecclesiastical affairs, in the establishments of benefi-
cence, and in the qualifications, promotions, and
reforms of the employes of the State, it becomes ne-
'-'ls,s.ry to mike many improvements, which expe-
rience calls for, and for which the intervention of the
Legislature is requisite.
" The increased facility of public transit, and the
means of communication, claim the first place in your
attention. A. project of law to authorise the Go-
vernment to construct a railroad to unite us with the
rest of E,arope ; vivifying the internal traffic of the
country, and reinstating Lisbon as the central empo-
rium of the two worlds, between which it is situate.
" -Worthy Peers of the Realm, and
Gentlemen Deputies of the Portuguse Nation,—
" Our vast possessions in Africa, and those in
Asia and in Oceania have my most careful solicitude.
I reiinstated the ancient Uultra-Marine Council to
give constant regularity and stability to their com-
plicated adcninistratiou. I have adopted, extraordi-
narily, measures to provide for some of their most
urgent wants. The principal are the promotion of
their closer con nextion with the metropolis, the increase
of our navy, the promotion of industry, of civilization,
and of the light of the Gospel, fur all these means are
requisite, angi it is indispensable that the mother country
sbould cultivate, morally and physically, those vast
Vac's, from whence it must derive incalculabte advan-
tages, and the surest guarantee of our existence and
national independence.
" I have renewed negotiations with the Holy See
for the definitive solution of some points pertaining to
the spiritual weal of the people, and to the dignity of
the Portuguese Crown. I continue to receive from
all friend* and allies the most secure proofs of friend-
ship and good harmony. With his Imperial Majesty
the Emperor of all the Russias I celebrated a treaty to
establish securely our mutual interests in commerce
and navigation. I associated myself with the French
Republic in a convention to recognise the rights of
literary property in the same way as had been dove by
Sardinia. England and Hanover have followed the
same curse, and thus will be established ere long a
right common to all civilized people.
" I rely upon the patriotism of the Cortes to enable
my Government to do its duty, realising the hope of
~,ho country.
" The session is declared open."

BELGIUNI.

BRUSSELS, DEC. 22.

ADOPTION OF THE HOLLANDO-BELGIAN TREATY.

The debate with closed doors on the Hollando-
Belgian treaty was terminated on Saturday night,
by the Second Chamber. After the public sitting
the Chamber proceeded to vote, and the treaty was
adopted by a majority of 31 to 21. The Chamber
then separated.
Members of the dissolved French Assembly arrive
here daily. It is probable that M. THIERS'3 stay will
be protracted, for it is E, aid that he intends completing
and printing his new work, "Vingt Pages d'Histoire,"
before his departure for England.
Although the communication between Belgium and
France has been restored on its normal footing, no
Belgian newspapers are yet admitted into France, and
every traveller is compelled to exhibit his passport to
five Government offices before he is permitted to enter
the French territory.
- Small divisions of French mounted troops are sta-
tioned along the frontier from Armentieres to Bail-
leul. Our Government has likewise placed a regiment
of the Mounted Rifle Brigade and several brigades of
gendarmes in the villages bordering on the French
territory.