Star.
London, England, 1824-02-03 00:00:00

HOUSE OF LORDS, TUESDAY, FEB. S.

Although his MAJESTY is steadily, if not rapidly, re-
covering from his recent indisposition, yet his Physi-
cians did not deem it advisable that at this season of the
year his MAJESTY should come to town to open the Par-
liament in person; which must have been a most grati-
fying duty, as never, perhaps, did a Sovereign meet the
Legislature under more favourable auspices. All the
branches of national industry and national wealth—
Commerce, Agriculture, and Manufactures—are in a
flourishing state; the country is in a state of profound
peace, the public burdens have been reduced, and the
Revenue increased.

In consequence of the absence of his MAJESTY, Par-
liament was opened by Commission.
At half-past two o'clock, the Commissioners in their
robes having taken their seats, the Usher of the Black
Rod was ordered to summon the attendance of the
Commons; and in a few minutes the SPEAKER appeared
at the Bar, attended by several Members. The LORD
CttAttm.tott then read the following speech

THE KING'S SPEECH.

" My Lords wed Gentlemen,

" We are commanded by his MAJESTY to express to
you his MAJgm's deep regret, that in consequence of
indisposition, he is prevented from meeting yuu in Par
liament upon the present occasion.

" It would have been a peculiar satisfaction to be
enabled in person to congratulate you on the prosperous
condition of the country.

" Trade and Commerce are extending themselves
both at home and abroad.

" An increasing activity pervades almost every branch
of Manufacture.

" The growth of the Revenue is such as not only to
sustain Public Credit, and to prove the unimpaired pro-
ductiveness of our resources, but, what is yet more gra-
tifying to his MAJESTY'S feelings, to evince a diffusion
of comfort among the great body of his People.
Agriculture is recovering from the depression under
which it laboured ; and, by the steady operation of
natural CRUSES, is gradually re-assuming the station
to which its importance entitles it among the great In-
terests of the Nation.

' " At nu former period has there prevailed, through-
out all classes of the Community, in this Island, a more
cheerful spit it of order, or a more just sense of the a&
vantages, which, under the blessings of PROVIDENCE,
they enjoy.
" In Ireland, which has for some time past been the
subject of his MaJuvy's particular solicitude, there
are many indications of amendment ; and his MAIM!
relies upon your continued endeavours to secure the
we:fare and happiness or that part of the United
Kingdom.
9, Ills Ikl.tJzszv has commanded us further to inform

ypu, that hp Au ever/ tenor) to believe, that the pro:
grese of our internal itroaperityand improvement will not
by distuihed by any interruption of tranquillity abroad.
" His MAJESTY continues to receive from the Powers
his Allies, and generally from all Princes and States,
14ssurances of their continued desire to maintain and cul-
-1 tivate the relations of friendship with his Migurs; and
nothing is omitted on his MAJZSTY'S part, as well to,
preserve general peace as to remove any causes of
disagreement; and to draw closer the bonds of amity
between other nations and Great Britain.

" The Negotiations which have been so long carried on
through his MAJESTY'S Ambassador at Constantinople
for the arrangement of differences between Russia and
the Ottoman Pot to are, as his MAJESTY flatters him.
self, drawing near to a favourable termination.
" A Convention has been concluded between his MA•
JUTS and the Emperor of Ausreui, for the settlement
of the pecuniary claims of this Country upon the Court
1 of Vienna.

" His MAJESTY has directed that 4 copy of this Con-
vention shall be laid before you, and he relies on your
assistance for the execution of some of its provisions.
" Anxiously as his MAJESTY deprecated the com-
mencement of the War in Spain, he is, every day, more
satisfied that in the strict neutrality which he deter-
mined to observe in that contest (and which you so
cordially approved), he best consulted the true interest
of his People. •
" With respect to the Provinces of America which
have declared their separation from Spain, his MA -
Junes conduct has been open and consistent, and his
MAJzsry's opinions have been at all times frankly
avowed to Spain, and to other Powers.
" His MAJESTY has appointed Consuls to reside at
the principal ports and places of those Provinces, for
the protection of the Trade of his subjects.
" As to any further measures, his MAJESTY has re-
served to himself an unfettered discretion, to be ex-
ercised as the circumstances of those Countries, and the

interests of his own people may appear to his Mies ry
to require.

" Genikmen elate House of Commons,

" His MAJESTY has directed us to inform you that
the Estimates for the Year have been prepared, and
shall be forthwith laid before you.

" The numerous points at which, under present cit.-
,cumstances, his MAJESTY'S Naval Force is necessarily
distributed, and the occasion which has arisen for
strengthening his Garrisons in the West Indies, have
rendered unavoidable some augmentation of his Esta-,
blishments by sea and land.
" His MAJESTY has, however, the gratification of be-
-oat, notwithstanding the increase of expense in-
cident to these augmentations, it will still be in your
powcr4 after providing fur the services of the year, to
make arrangements in some parts of our system of Tax-
ation, which may afford relief to certain important
branches of the national industry.
" My Lords and Gentlemen,

" His MAJESTY ha, commanded us to acquaint you
that he has not been inattentive to the desire expressed
by the House of Commons in the last Session of Parlia-
ment, that means should be devised for ameliorating
the condition of the Negro Slaves in the. West Indies.
"His MAJESTY has directed the necessary information
relating to this subject to be laid before you.

" His MAJESTY is confident that you will afford your
best attention and assistance to any proposition which,
may be submitted to you for promoting the moral im-
provement of the Negroes, by an extended plan, cf Re-
ligious Instruction, and by such other measures as may
'gradually conduce to the same end.
" But his MAJESTY earnestly recommends to you to
treat this whole subject with the calmness and the dis-
cretion which it demands.

" It is a subject perplexed with difficulties which no
sudden effort can disentangle.
To excite exaggerated expectations in those who
are the objects of your benevolence, would be as fatal
to their welfare as to that of their employers.
44 And his MAJESTY assures himself you will bear in
mind, that in the correction of a long-standing and
complicated system, in which the fortunes and the
safety of large classes of his MAJESTY'S subjects are
involved, that course of proceedings is alone likely
to attain practical good, and to avoid aggravation of
evil, in which due regard shall be paid to considerations
of justice, and in which caution shall temper zeal."
Although it was known that his MAJESTY would not
open the Parliament in person, yet the Ladies and
Gentlemen who had been favoured with Tickets by the
Great Chamberlain, Lord GWYDYR, attended in con-
siderable numbers in the Painted Chamber, and were
allowed to inspect the whole of the improvements re-
cently made at the KING'S entrance to the House of
Lords, the new gallery, &c. A considerable number of
Gentlemen were also admitted below the Bar.
ford GIRFORD, of St. Leonard's, the new Chief Jus-
tice, was introduced by Lord STOWELL, and took the
oaths and his seat.

Lisbon Papers to the 24th ult. have reached us this
morning. The following are extracts :

LISBON, JANUARY 19.

The Sociedade }Viz arrived here on the 16th, in
sixty-nine days froni Maranham. It had on board several
passengers, among whom were the Bishop of Maranham
and his family, and several merchants with their
families, who, flying from the barbarism and anarchy
which there prevail, esteem themselves happy in having
reached their country with their lives. Those unhappy
countries which the Portuguese raised from a state of
barbarism and rudeness, are now, thanks to the philo-
sophical spirit- of the age, victims of a disorderly rabble,
and of organising principles ivhich never were pub-
%bed anywhere without bringing, deluge of misfor-

••• • •

tunes over the unhappy people among whom they wert.
promulgated. Our reader; will see in the following
statement the situation of Maranham.

" The Captain says, that perfect anarchy prevailed at
Maranhani, excited by the troops and supported by the
Government That the Europeans were ill-treated in
every way, and were robbed without any exception; he
says that Lord Cochrane sailed from that port on t!
19th September, on board the Martin de Freitas, taking
with him the galley Pombinha de Lisboa, but that bir
destination was not known.
The
4 Lisbon ua.Teite of the 21st and 22d, =Wm two
royal decrees, relative to the wine trade, the nature ci
which is stated in the summary annexed to the decrees
as follows.

With the force of a law by which your Majesty, re-
viving the salutary dispositions of the Alvara of the
210th of September, 1710, and of the Decree of the 27th
of July, 1785, respecting the introduction into these
Kingdoms of foreign wines and other liquors, has been
pleased to prescribe, with respect to these and other
prohibited articles, the necessary measures to check
smuggling, prohibiting the reshipments, re-exporta-
tions, and exemptions of the said goods, all in the
manner above declarede &c. (Signed)

BA.RTHOLEMEW DA NOGREB.A BALDAGNE,
" Secretary of State for the Now Pepartarot.

" January 7, 1124."

The Gaulle of the 23d contains the details of the
transactions at Para, from the lstl to the 20th October,
which agree in every particular with dime received by
other channels.

By the arrival at Greenock of the Factor, from Sa-
vannah, we have received papers to the 30th of Decem-
ber. One of them contains a mattering account of the
prospects of Mcrico which we subjoin.

SAVANNAH, SEPTEMBER 100.

The Oovernment of Mexico, appears to be at last
placed on a firm foundation. Much depends-on the in-,
dividuals at the head of the Government, whose mea-.
sures should be accommodated to the genius and habits,
of the people, and whose coNect it should be gradually
to, accustom thcm to a more free and liberal Govern.
tneot than they have enjoyed, and under which a great
majority have been born and educated. According to
a late letter from Mexico we learn that the Executive
Power is composed of sterling integrity and patriotism,
namely, Bravo, Negreti, and Victoria, and supplemen-
taries, Michelane, Domingoes, and General Guertera ;
Minister of State, Alaman, a young man, of 30 years of
age, who has been residing these ten years in Spain,
France, and England, conversant in, sepia), laoguages,

—The Minister of Finance, Arrilague,t is at gexchant of
the first respectability, from Vera Cilia ;).lave, the 31i•
nister of Justice, is a man of superior attainments the
Minister of War and Marine, Jusiquim Harrera, is a
Gentleman who for private worth, integrity, and Mita\
idea's, is second to sane; the Political Chief, lleolinos,
del Campo, has always been esteemed foe his liberal
ideas, hit intelligence, and military skill; and Mexico,
is much indebted to him for the soj,e_riol polite which,
it present is maintained.

The election has taken place for a new Congress, and
the result has been favourable in the-city of Mesico-for.
the Liberals. Nearly two-thirds of the present Con-
gress are re-elected, and it is added, 4, that batter men,
cannot be found in the country. Independent of.tbis,,
they are just learning the formula of Congrei.sional pro-
,ceedings ; and though progressing slowly, and at times
ruing from premature deliberation on subjects, which,,
.tt this unenlightened stage of the country, ought not
to be touched, yet their intentions ought not to be.
questioned."