The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-11-30 00:00:00

THE QUEEN'S SPEECH.

:MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,
Her Majesty has ordered us to declare to you the causes
which have induced her to call parliament together at the
-present time. Her Majesty has seen, with great concern,
the distress which has for some time prevailed among the
commercial classes. The prospects of trade were at one
period aggravated by a general feeling of distrust and
alarm. Her Majesty, for the puipose of restoring confi-
dence, authorised her ministers to recommend to the di-
rectors of the Bank of England a course of proceeding
suited to such an emergency.
This course might have led to an infringement of the
law.
Her Majesty has great satisfaction in being able to
Inform you that the law has not been infringed—that the
alarm has subsided—and that the pressure on the bank
and commercial interest has been mitigated.
The abundant harvest with which this country has been
blessed, has alleviated the evils which always accompany
a want of employment in the manufacturing districts.
Her Majesty has, however, to lament the recurrence of
severe distress in Ireland, owing to the scarcity of the
usual food of the people.
Her Majesty trusts that this distress will lye materially
relieved by the exertions which have been made to carry
into effect the law of last session for the relief of the des-
titute.
Her Majesty has learned with satisfaction that landed
proprietors have taken advantage of the means placed at
their disposal, by the liberality of parliament, for the im-
provement of land.
Her Majesty laments that in some counties in Ireland
atrocious crimes have been committed, and a spirit of in-
subordination has manifested itself, leading to an organ-
.ized resistance to legal rights.
The Lord-Lieutenant has employed with vigour and
energy the means which the law places at his disposal to
detect offenders and to prevent a repetition -of offences.
Her Majesty feels it, however, to be her duty to her peace-
able and well-disposed subjects to ask the assistance of
parliament in taking further precautions against the per-
petration of crime in certain counties of Ireland.
Her Majesty views with the deepest anxiety and inter-
est the present condition of Ireland, and she recommends
to the consideration of parliament means which, with due
regard to the rights of property, may advance the social
condition. of the people, and tend to the permanent im-
provement of that part of the United Kingdom.
Her Malesty has seen with great concern the breaking
out of the civil war in Switzerland.
Her Majesty is in communication with the allies on this
subject, and has expressed her readiness to use, in concert
with them, her friendly influence for the purpose of secur-
ing to the Swiss Confederation the blessings of peace.
Her Majesty looks with confidence to the maintenance
of the general peace of Europe.
Her Majesty has concluded, with the Republic of Ecu-
ador, a treaty for the suppression of the slave market.
Her Majesty has given directions that the treaty should
be laid before you.
GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,
Her Majesty has given directions that the estimates for
the next year should be prepared, for the purpose of being
laid before you. They will be framed with a careful re-
gard to the exigencies of the public service.
MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,
Her Majesty recommends to the consideration of par-
liament the laws which regulate the navigation of the
United Kingdom, with a view to consider whether any
-change can be adopted which will, without danger to our
maritime strength, promote the commercial and colonial
interests of the empire.
Her Majesty has been pleased to appoint a commission
to report on the best means of promoting the health of
the metropolis, and her Majesty graciously recommends
your earliest attention to such means as will be laid before
you relating to the sanatory reform..
Her Majesty has deeply sympathized with the sufferings
which afflict the labouring classes in the manufacturing
districts of Great Britain, and in many parts of Ireland ;
and her Majesty has observed with admiration the pati-
ence with which these sufferings have been generally
borne.
The distress which prevailed amongst the commercial
classes has effected many important branches of the reve-
nue, but her Majesty trusts the time is not far distant
when, under the blessing of Divine Providence, the coin-
coerce and industry of the United Kingdom will have re-
sumed their wonted activity.

The Earls of Yarborough and Bessborough moved and
seconded the address in appropriate speeches.
Lord STANLEY followed in a speech of considerable
length, in the course of which he called upon Ministers,
with regard to Ireland, to throw themselves on their
country, and on their political opponents, who would
willingly, laying aside all party spirit, aid and assist them
in passing those measures which were required for the sal-
vation of that country. He approved of the course taken
by the Government in the assistance they had extended
to the commercial community, which, bad it been afforded
sooner, would have been more effectual, but he gave them
credit for violating the law, for which he entertained no
doubt they required a bill of indemnity.
The Marquis of LAN sn owNE defended the policy pursued
by the Government.
Lord ASHBURTON condemned her Majesty's Ministers
for not having come to the determination of altering the
provisions of the Bank Charter Act.
Lord BROUGHAM was of opinion that the existing state
of things in Ireland could only be put an end to by the
intervention of the strong arm of the law, and approved
of the course taken by the Government in callinz Par-
undimuf.,
TLe noble lords who followed in the debate were the
Earls of RODEN, FITZWILLIAM, and GREY, when the
address was agreed to.