The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-25 00:00:00

PORTUGAL.

OPENING OF THE CORTES-SPEECH

FROXI THE THRONE.

The following is a copy of the Queen of Portugal's
speech upon the opening of the Cortex at Lisbon on
the 15th instant :

" Worthy Peers of the Realm, and
Gentlemen Deputies of the Portuguese Nation,—
" I felicitate myself with you upon thus seeing
you, the national representatives, surround my
Throne as its most secure support, and upon whose
dedication Ilconfide for carrying out with firmness
and prudence the great work of reform which was
proclaimed, embraced by the nation, and cordially
adopted by me.
" The revision of the fundamental law of the State
being thus acknowledged as 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 constrained me to
assume extraordinary powers for its regulation, and
the supreme law of public safety imposed upon.
.ur
the duty of providing by my authority that in
it o oo
it was no longer possible for the Cortes tde uties
de
the then existing state of the country.
the revision, and provided that the nep w
should be elected with powers necessary its
for ac-
complishment.
" My Ministers are charged with
the
e d
additional otf e lays
ing before you a project of law 'the
Constitutional Charter of the Monarchy, which yon
will in your wisdom discuss, in or.d.er that it may,
with my sanction, be duly reform.ele.in those articles
which experience has shown the_ indispensable neces-
city of being corrected and
,perfected, for the better
guarantee of the libertY
.(t the. representative. Mo-
narchy, and the unalterable principles in which that
charter sought to e ,
stabllsh and constitute it.
" The Prince 11°Yait my most beloved son, having
attained the legal age, will publicly take in this
Curtes the solemn 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-
ceptional 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
projects 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 organize with such persevering
economy our expenses, and reform to such point our
fiscal system, that the employes 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 regulation 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
ecclesiastic A affairs, in the establishments of benefi-
cence, and in the qualifications, promotions, and
reforms of the employes of the State, it becomes ne-
crary to make 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 Europe ; 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 Portuguese Nation,—
" Our vast possessions in Africa, and those in
Asia and in o,:eania have my most careful solicitude.
I reinstated the ancient Ifultrs.-Marine Council to
give constant regularity and stability to their com-
plicated administration. I have adopted, extraordi-
narily, measures to provide for some of their most
urgent wants. The principal are the promotion of
their closer connextion with the metropolis, the increase
of our navy, the promotion of industry, of civilization,
and of the light of the Gospel, for all these means are
requisite, and it is indispensable that the mother country
atiould cultiva'e, morally and physically, those vast
tracts, from whence.it must derive incalculable 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 Cro ern. I continue to receive from
all friends an 1 allies he most secure proofs of friend-
ship arid good hrmony. With his Imperial Majesty
the E nperor of all the R'.issias I cel4b7ated a treaty to
estahli,,h securely oar mutual interests in comrnerce
and navigation. I associate l myself with the French
Republic in a convention to recognise the rights of
literary property in the same way as had been dove by
S irdinia. England and Hanover have followed the
same course, 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
the country.
" The session is declared open."

BELGIUM.
BRUSSELS, DEC. 22.

ADOPTION OF THE HOLLANDO-BELGIAN TREATY.

Tne debate with closed doors on the nollando-
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. TRIERS'S stay will
be protracted, for it is ~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 yct 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.
Snail divisions of French moaned troops are sta-
tion: d 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.