The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-08-14 00:00:00

JOINT-STOCK BANKING COMPANIES BILL

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved, that the
amendments of the lords i❑ this bill be disagreed with. By
those amendments every shareholder of such companies was
rendered liable to be taken in execution after judgment ob-
tained against the public officer of the company, without
notice. Against the liability of bond fide shareholders he
did not object, though they ought not to be liable to execu-
tion without notice ; but there were cases of disputed share-
holders, and he thought that parties so situated ought first
to have the opinion of a court of law upon their liability.
Another amendment of the lords to which he objected, ex-
tended this liability to all who had ever at any time been
shareholders; whereas, under the existing law, the liability
was confined to those who had been three years shareholders.
These amendments were so inconvenient, that, while he ad-
mitted there must be some alteration in the existing law, as
regarded liability, he thought it better at once to move that
they be disagreed with.
The motion was agreed to, and a committee was appointed,
to draw up reasons, and, demand a conference with the lords.

ECCLESIASTICAL DUTIES AND REVENUES BILL.
Messengers from the lords communicated to the house
that their lordships had agreed to the commons' amend-
ments in their lordships' amendments to this bill.
LOAN SOCIETIES BILL-JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES BILL.

Messengers from the lords, subsequently, informed the
house that their lordships did not insist upon their amend-
ments on these several bills.

The house then adjourned at seven o'clock

HOUSE OF LORDS.—TUESDAY.
THE PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.
This day havirg been appointed for the prorogation of the
Imperial Parliament, the vicinity of the two houses exhibited
a very animated scene from a little after eleven o'clock, at
which hour the line of equipages through Charing-cross,
Whitehall, and Parliament-street, was seen to progress to-
wards the House of Lords. The doors leading to the gal-
leries and to the body of the House of Peers were thrown
open at twelve o'clock, soon after which hour the peeresses
and other ladies of distinction began to arrive. The appear-
ance of the interior of the house was unusually good, from the
fact of the chandeliers having been removed, as well as the
cross benches, the Usher of the Black Rod's box, and the
draperies at the extreme end, next to the doors which form
the usual entrance for peers. The throne on this occasion
was raised on a platform, which was covered with a splendid
carpeting, similar to that used at her Majesty coronation,
and it extended nearly the whole width of that part of the
house. The carpet was of a very rich claret colour, suberbly
embroidered with the Norman rose. The top of the canopy
of the throne, and the footstool, had been most elaborately
re-gilt. To the left of the throne, and at a lower elevation,
was placed a beautiful chair of state, richly carved and gilt,
for Prince Albert ; and on the floor, to the right of the
throne, were also placed two very elegant chairs for their
Mujcsties the King and the Queen of the Belgians. The
places allotted for members of the corps diplomatiqu• were
railed off behind the bishops' bench, and the limited space
thus allotted was crowded to the extreme. Up to a little
after one o'clock the attendance of peeresses and other ladies
in the body of the house was small, but within half an hour
the numbers had increased rapidly ; and prior to her Majesty's
arrival we reckoned about 300 ladies present. The attend-
ance of peers on this occasion, as well as of peeresses, &c.,
was larger than we remember to have seen on any former
occasion; a fact which might readily be accounted for, inas-
much as their Majesties the King and the Queen of the Bel-
gians, Prince Albert and the Duchess of Kent, were expected
to attend to witness this interesting ceremony. Amongst the
b amities of the haul ton who were present, we observed the
Marchioness of Clanricarde, the Viscountess Palmerston and
her daughter, Miss Cowper, the Hon. Mrs. Norton, Prin-
cess Lieven, &c.

Amongst the peers present were the Earl of Falmouth,
Lord Seaton, Lord Keane, Lord Brougham, Lord Portman,
the Marquis of Normanby, Viscount Duncannon, the Mar-
quis of Clanricarde, Lord Hawarden, Lord Lilford, Lord
Strafford, the Earl of Eldon, the Marquis of Lansdowne,
his Grace the Duke of Norfolk (hereditary Earl Marshal of
England), the Duke of Beaufort. Lord Calthorp, the Earl
of -Clarendon, the Earl of Shaftesbury, Lords Fingall and
Redesdale, Viscount Melbourne, Earl Willonghby d'Eresby
(the lord great chamberlain). the Earls of Cardigan, Minto
(first lord of the Admiralty), Charlevilll, Scarborough, Al.
bemarle (master of the horse) ; the Bishops of London, Ely,
and Lichfield ; Mr. Justice Bosanquet, &c.
About 20 minutes past one o'clock the Lord Chancellor
entered the house and took his seat upon the woolsack ;
when

Viscount DUNCANNON moved the third reading of the
coal duties bill, which bill was accordingly read a third time
and passed. . _

Amongst the forei7n ministers we observed the Russian,
Turkish, Dutch, Swedish, Austrian, Bavarian, and Prussian,
the chargé d'affaires of the King of Naples, &c. These dis-
tinguished personages presented a very gorgeous appearance,
from the display of a variety of orders richly jewelled.
At about a quarter to two her Royal Highness the Duchess
of Kent appeared. preceded by the Lord Chamberlain, and
attendee. by a lady in waiting. On l.er entrance, all the
peers, peeresses, &c., rose simultaneously to receive her.
tier royal highness took her seat immediately in front of the
throne on the woolsack, her face looking to the throne. Her
royal highness wore a splendid dress of white satin, richly
embroidered with gold. _

-The King and Queen of the Belgians next arrived, pre-
ceded by the Lord Great Chamberlain, and their Majesties'
hiving bowed to the peeresses, &c., who all stood up on
their entering the house, took their seats on the chairs which
had been allotted to them on the floor of the house to the
right of the throne. His Majesty wore the full uniform of
an English field marshal, and looked extremely well. Her
Majesty the Queen of the Belgians was attired in a rich dress
of white watered silk, with a profusion of diamonds, which
harmonised with her Majesty's very delicate complexion and
figure.

--His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge arrived soon
after their Majesties, and shook hands with them and with
the. Duchess of Kent.

At ten minutes past two o'clock the first fire of a salvo of
artillery announced her Majesty's arrival at the portal of the
house and this was accompanied with the sound of the trum-
pets, A few minutes only elapsed when her Majesty en-
tered the house, preceded in the usual manner by the heralds
and pursuivants, the Duke of Norfolk (earl marshal), the
Earl of Albemarle (master of the horse), the Earl of Claren-
don (lord privy seal), the Lord Chancellor , Lorct Willoughby
d'Eresby (lord great chamberlain), the Earl of Shaftesbury,
bearing the cap of maintenance, Viscount Melbourne, bear-
ing the sword of state ; an officer, earrying the crown on a
cushion, &c.

His Royal Highness Prince Albert led her Majesty to the
steps of the throne, and took his seat in the state chair which
had been prepared for him. His royal highness was dressed
in the uniform of a field marshal, and wore the riband, &c.
of the order of the Garter.

Her Majesty, we are happy to say, looked extremely well,
and was attired in a gorgeous robe of white satin, richly trim-
med With lace, with a gold cord and massive tassels in front,
with a stomacher, ear-rings, necklace, and tiara of brilliants.
Sir Augustus Clifford having been desired to summon the
House of Commons to attend her Majesty. the SPEAKER, in
his state robes, attended by a numerous body of members,
shortly afterwards appeared at the bar. The right hon. gen-
tleman then addressed her Majesty as follows :

" Moat Gracious Sovereign,
" We, your Majesty's faithful Commons of Great Britain
and Ireland, attend your Majesty with the bill which closes
the supplies for the present year. In granting the supplies
to your Majesty, we have shown our determination to sup-
port the public credit and maintain the national honour ;
and although it has been our painful duty to impose addi-
tional burdens on the public, we have endeavoured to in-
crease the available revenue of the country by such measures
Of taxation as will produce the least possible derange-
ment of our commerce and industry. At the commence-
ment of the present session, your Majesty was graciously
pleased to recommend to our attention the state of the
affairs of Canada, the state of the municipal corporations of
Ireland, and the report of the ecclesiastical commissioners
withxeference to the established church. We have applied
ourselves with unremitting vigilance to the consideration of
these important subjects. We have enabled your, Majesty to
re-unite the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, and it
has been our anxious desire so to provide for the constitu-
tional governmenf of the colony as to insure its permanent
tranquillity, and by giving every facility to the full develop-
ment of its resources to lay the foundation of its future pros-
perity, so as to render it a source of greatness to the empire.
The municipal corporations of Ireland have been long since

ascertained te_inconister.t with the present state of society,
and.iligatlapar the walittbof the Iciqi people. ..go remedy
these defects we have remodelled the corporations Orece larger
cities and towns—we have enlarged and defined the franchise,
and by extending to Ireland the same principles which have
been successfully applied to England and Scotland, we trust
that we have ensured to the municipal institutions of that part
of the United Kingdom the respect and confidence of those
for whose advantage they have been established. We
have anxiously considered the suggestions of the eccle-
siastical commissioners, with a view of supplying the want of
churches, and of resident clergy, so much felt in various
parts of the country. To increase the fund applicable to
those objects, we have made most important modifications in
the constitution of chanters and cathedral colleges, which,

without impairing the efficiency of these valuable institutions,
will furnish the means of providing a large class of your
Majesty's subjects with the blessings of public worship and
sound religious instruction. Various other subjects have
pressed on our consideration during the present session, but
these three important measures have been brought to com-
pletion, in pursuance of your Majesty's gracious recommen-
dation. We anxiously hope, under the blessings of Divine
Providence, that they will produce those salutary results
which we have ventured to anticipate, and we feel confident
that they will be regarded as an additional proof of your
Majesty's constant anxiety to advance the constitutional
liberties, and promote the religious welfare of your loyal and
grateful people. It is now my duty to present to your
Majesty a bill to apply a sum out of the consolidated fund
for the service of the year 1840, and to appropriate the sup-
plies granted in the present session of parliament, to which,
with all humility, we pray your Majesty's gracious assent."
The royal assent was then given in the usual form, by her
Majesty, to the consolidated fund bill, with the appropria-
tion clause, the ecclesiastical duties and revenues bill, the
loan societies, the joint stock banking bill, and the coal
duties (London) bill.
The LORD CHANCELLOR, kneeling on one of the steps of
the raised platform, presented the royal speech to her
Majesty, who proceeded to read it with that enunciation
and intonation, and with that degree of self-possession,
which so peculiarly characterise her Majesty's demeanour on
all occasions of this nature.
HER MAJESTY'S SPEECH.

" My Lords and Gentlemen,

" The state of public business enables me to close the
session of parliament ; and in releasing you from your at-
tendance I have to thank you for the care and attention with
which you have dischirged your important duties.
" I continue to receive from foreign powers assurances of
their friendly disposition, and of their anxious desire for the
maintenance of peace.
" I congratulate you upon the termination of the civil war
in Spain. The objects for which the quadruple engagements
of 1834 were contracted having been now accomplished, I am
in communication with the Queen of Spain, with a view to
Spain.

" I am happy to inform you that the differences with the
government of Naples, the grounds and causes of which have
been laid before you, have been put into a train of adjustment
by the friendly mediation of the King of the French.
" I rejoice also to acquaint you that the government of
Portugal has made arrangements for satisfying certain just
claims of some of my subjects, and for the payment of a sum
due to this country under the stipulations of the convention
of 1827.

" I am engaged, in concert with the Emperor of Austria,
the King of Prussia, the Emperor of Russia, and the Sultan,
in measures intended to effect the permanent pacification of
the Levant, to maintain the integrity and independence of
the Ottoman Empire, and thereby to afford additional secu-
rity for the peace of Europe.

" The violent injuries inflicted upon some of my subjects
by the officers of the Emperor of China, and the indignities
offered to an agent of my crown, have compelled me to send
to the coast of China a naval and military force, for the
purpose of demanding reparation and redress.

" I have gladly given my assent to the act for the regula-
tion of municipal corporations in Ireland.

" I trust that the law which you have framed for further
carrying into effect the reports of the ecclesiastical commis-
sioners will hare the beneficial effect of increasing the effi-
ciency of the Established Church, and of better providing for
the religious instruction of my people.

" I have observed with much satisfaction the result of your
deliberations on the subject of Canada. It will be my duty
to execute the measures which you have adopted, in such a
manner as, without impairing the executive authority, may
satisfy the just wishes of my subjects, and provide for the
permanent welfare and security of my North American
provinces.

" The legislative bodies of Jamaica have applied them-
selves to the preparation of laws rendered necessary or ex-
pedient by the altered state of society. Some of these laws
require revision and amendment, but I have every reason to
expect cordial assistance from the Assembly of Jamaica in
the salutary work of improving the condition and elevating
the character of the inhabitants of that colony. The conduct
of the emancipated negroes throughout the West Indies has
been remarkable for tranquil obedience to the law, and a
peaceable demeanour in all the relations of social life.
" Gentemen of the House of Coninzons,
" I thank you for the supplies which you have granted fur
the service of the year.

"I lament that it should have been necessary to impose ad-
ditional burdens upon my people, but I trust that the means
which you have adopted for the purpose of meeting the exi-
gencies of the public service are calculated to press with as
little severity as possible upon all classes of the community.
" My Lords and Gentlemen,

" In returning to your respective counties, you will resume
those duties which you perform so much to the public benefit
and advantage. It is my anxious desire to maintain► tran-
quility at home and peace abroad. To these objects, so es-
Fential to the interests of this cvntry and to the general
welfare of mankind, my efforts Al be sincerely and unre-
mittingly directed ; and, feeling assured of your co-operation
and support, I humbly rely upon the superintending care arid
continued protection of Divine Providence."
The LORD CHANCELLOR then said, it is her Majesty's will
and pleasure that this parliament be prorogued to Thursday,
the Bth of October. to be then here holden.
The royal procession then quitted the house in the same
order in which it had entered, the King and Queen of the
Belgians (who did not leave until a few minutes had elapsed
from the departure of her Majesty) bowing most graciously
on retiring to the company around them.
The whole scene was one of very gorgeous display, and of
peculiar interest ; and the number of peeresses, &c. present
could not, we are assured, be less than three hundred.

HOUSE_OF COMMONS.—Tur.sruy

The Speaker took the chair at a quarter before two o'clock
Mr. H AWES presented a petition from certain parties,
complaining of the license allowed to counsel in the manage-
ment of criminal causes, and praying that protection might
be extended to those who had to give evidence on such trials.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL observed that the allegations
in the petition formed more of an attack on the privileges of
the public than of the bar.
The petition was then ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. FRESHFIELD presented It report of the committee on
public petitions.

Mr..EWA RT gave notice that he should take an early
opportunity, next session, to move certain resolutions for
the better regulation of private business, and of private bill
committees.

Mr. J. STEWART presented a petition from Cumberland,
praying that, next session, a bill might be introduced for the
amendment of the law relating to the enfranchisement of
copyholds.

Mr EWART asked the right hon. gentleman (the Presi-
dent of the Board of Trade) whether it was intended by the
government to introduce any measure respecting the law of
principal and factor ? The subject was very important, and
he trusted that some steps would be taken upon it.
Mr. LABOUCHERE answered that he was quite aware of
the importance of the subject, and that some measure was
daily becoming more and more necessary, in order to place
the law on a more satisfactory footing. His noble friend
(Lord Clarendon) in the other house had introduced a bill
on the subject; but he had received no encouragement in it,
and had not persevered. He hoped, however, that next
session a measure on the subject would be again brought
forward.