The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-05 00:00:00

PRUSSIA.

BERLIN, May 3.—The following is the trausla •
tion of the speech which the King delivered this
afternoon on closing the Chambers :
"Illustrious, noble, and dear sirs of both Houses of
the Diet,—

" When, 5 months back, I bid you welcome from this
place, European relations were still involved in the grav-
est complications. Their issue was still shrouded in the
obscurity of the future ; and it was not impossible that
dangers and sacrifices, which the gracious providence of
God had till then averted from our country, might havo
been in store for us. Since then, in consequence of the
wise moderation of the belligerent Powers, the long-
desired work of peace has been happily brought to a con-
clusion, with the common consent and co-operation of
my Government. . . . .

" Ttie high prices of the main necessaries of life that in
the commencement of the winter filled my heart with care
and anxiety, have been felt to a painful extent In every
province of the monarchy. There have, however, been,
to my great satisfaction, many openings forremunerative
lab ,ur. Everywhere that dearch or scarcity was to be ap-
prehended my Government has been unremitting in its en-
deavours to anticipate and prevent the evil, and has met
with powerful assistance—one that must be recognised
with every feeling of gratitude, in the ready and willing
liberality of my people. Since then, in consequence of
the realisation of our aspirations for peace, the prices of
the necessaries of life have considerably sunk, and we
may venture to indulge in the expectatio❑ of a satisfac-
tory harvest, which, should God bless the land with, will
put an end to the scarcity.
" Your labours, gentlemen, in the session which we
are now closing, have shown themselves fruitful and suc-
cessful in many important branches of legislation.
" With your co-operation it has been possible to im-
prove our charter in various essential points.
"The legislation for the communes, in all provinces
of the monarchy, has also been materially advanced.
"The law regulating the local authorities in rural
districts in my Eastern Provinces will, I trust, contri-
bute to the settlement of the organisation of tae rural
police in a manner which, while it carefully respects
old institutions, will develops itself in a manner in
unison with the requirements of the present time.
" In the law for the revaluation of landed estates, on
the occasion of the customary partition of inheritances,
in Westphalia, a method has been found by which the
injurious breaking up of landed property into small plots
may, without violation of the primitive customs still
prevalent in that portion of the population, be counter.
acted.

"In the framing of the laws on occasion of so•.ne
changes in the penal and correctional legislatior,, as
well as in the coarse of proceeding observed by the
highest court of law in the country, the varied and
manifold experience that has been obtained in the course
of many years' practice have met with due. considera-
tion.

" The !proposals for the construction of important
riles of railway in various portions of the Monarchy
have met at your hands with ready votes of the rums.
vary funds for their construction or for the guarantee of