The Sun.
London, England, 1835-02-24 00:00:00

THE KING'S SPEECH=

The LORD CHANCVLLOR &II Had his Majesty's
Speech from the Woolsack S aftr which, it was again read by
the Clerk at the tial24.

The Earl of HAIII2
Wiiik rose and said—M.) Lords, in
rising to 2.:ve an address of thanks to his Majesty for .his
ro-- •
gracious speech, I feel how minil §tand in need of
your Lordships' kindness and indulisfenee, it being the first
time I have had the iidntiiir of addressing your Lordships ;
and aisti from my habits and profession, I have not been much
in the habit of making speeches ; nevertheless I feel and know
that from your Lordships' hands I shall receive, while in the
discharge of a public duty, the greatest kindness; but for
that I would feel it a very great task. That task, however, is
much lightened, for I never remember having heard a speech
which was so likely to be satisfactory to all classes as
that for which I am now about to ,return thanks.
Whether, on the one band, we look at the state-
ments relative to the friendly situation in which
this country stands with all foreign nations—whether we look
at the statements made relative to the finance§ of the Country
—or to the state of its commerce ; or whether, on the other
hand, we look at the wishes 'expressed from the Throne
in the most fervent and emphatic manner, for the
happiness and the welfare of the people, and when we see a
strong desire on the part of his most gracious Majesty to
improve our institutions, and at the same time an
emphatic declaration from his Majesty, that in his
hands none of those institutions shall be deteriorated
—(hear)—looking at all these statements, I am sure, my
Lords, the British people will accept with gratitude the
Speech from the Throne as one perfectly satisfactory—
and one in which they will see that his Majesty is anxious
for their welfare, and it will show them, that the King is wil-
ling, at all times, to tftke into his most serious considera-
tion their wants. My Lords, the speech enters into so
many topics that it would be out of all reason for me
at this moment to go into them, knowing as I do, that every
one of them will be brought under your Lordship& notice
in detail during the present Session of Parliament. I
shall, therefore, in as short a manner as possible, generally
consider the merits of the Speech, and then conclude by
moving an adoption of an Address of Thanks. My Lords,
it is most satisfactory to know that the relations of ,his Ma-
jesty with foreign powers, as we are informed of by the Speech,
I believe there never was a time when peace has been pre-
served for so considerable a time, which must always prove a
blessing to a country. On the continent, with one solitary
exception, we have the gratification of knowing that the tit-
most tranquillity prevails.—( Hear.) Your Lordships will
no doubt recollect that but a very short time since Austria,
France, and Prussia, were in an unsettled state, but
we have every reason to believe that the state of
things in those countries is most satisfactory. His
Majesty states that the question between Holland and
Belgium is not yet concluded. It certainly must be a circum-
stance of deep regret to your Lordships that that ques-
tion is not yet settled, and that the kingdom of
Holland should be so circumstanced. 74 Hear, hear.)
especially when we consider the relation in which she stands
to Great Britain, in point of trade and commerce. My
Lords, whether, as I stated before, we refer to the
state of our Colonies, or to the state of the Conti-
nent, we have reason to be satisfied. ( Hear, hear. )
his Majesty has graciously informed us that he will be enabled,
in spite of the reductions that have already been made in taxa-
tion, considering the state of the revenue, to make further re-
ductions, and that you will now be gratified in knowing that not
only is a further reduction of taxation in contemplation, but
such is the state and property of our country, that the debt
which was incurred by the compensation to the slave owners
will be paid off from the revenue of the country. lam one of those
who feel the greatest delight and gratification to find that his
Majesty has been enabled to acquaint us, that as far as regards
the arrangements that have been made, everything is satisfac-
tor; . And here, I trust your Lordships will forgive me for paying
my humble tribute of gratitude of gratitude to the Noble
Lord opposite for the manner in which he brought in and
passed through the Bill which carried that great ob
ject of Negro Emancipation into effect. (Cluters.-