Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-02-07
BY ATLANTIC CABLE
Great Bsitaiu.

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.
LONDON, Feb. 6 AT the opening session of
parliament to-day the attendance of members
was unusually full, while the customary crowd
of spectators were in the galleries and upon tine
floor OF the house of lords. The queens speech
was read by the lord chancellor.
VERBATIM REPORT OF THE QUEENS SPEECH.
Nm Lords and Gentlemen: | avail myself of
the opportunity afforded by your reassem5iing
for the discharge of your momentous duties to
renew the expression Of my thankiulncss to the
Almighty for fhe deliyeranee OF my son from
most imminent danger, and my lively Tecollec-
ton of the profound universal sympathy shown
by my loyal people curing that period ofanxiety
and trial. purpose that, ION Tuesday, the 9th
inst, conformabIy to the good and becoming
usages of former days, the blessing thus re-
ceived shall be acknowledged, in behalf Of the
nation, by thanksgiving in the Metropolitan
cathedral. At this celebration, it is my desire
and hope TO be present. Direction has been
given to provide the necessary accommodations
for the members of parliament.
The assurances of friendship that / receive
from foreign powers continue in all respects sat
isfactory, and need hardly assure you that my
endeavors will, at all times, be steadily directed
toward the maintenance of these friendly rela-
tionsi
The slave trade and practices scarcely to be
distinguished from slave trading are still pur-
sued in more than one quarter Of the world, and
continue to attract the attention of my govern
ment In the South Sea Islands, the naiae Of
the British empire is eveu now disltonOred by
the connection of some of my subjects with
these infamous practices, and in one of them
the murder of an exemplary preate cast fresh
light upon some of the baneful consequences.
bill will be presented to you for facilitating the
trial Of offences of this class in Australia. En-
deavors will be made to iIcredse in other forms,
the means for the counteracton Of the evil.
Various communications have passed between
my government and that of France on the sub
iect OF the commercial treaty concluded in 1860.
From the divergence in the views respectively
entertained in relation 10 the value of ptOtec
tive laws, this correspondence has not brought
about any agreement to modify that important
convention. Both sides, however, have uni
formly declared their earnest desire that nothing
should occur to impair the cordially which has
so long prevailed between the nations. The pa
pers relating to these subjects will be laid be-
fore you.
The arbtrators appointed pursuant to the
treaty of Washington, for the purpose of ami
cably settling the Alabama claims, held their
first meeting in Geneva Cases were laid before
the arbitrator on behalf Of each party to the
treaty. In the case so submitted by the United
States, large claims are included which are un-
derstood, on my part, not to be within the prov
nce of the !arhtrators on this subject. | have
caused friendly communication to be made
10 the government of the United States.
The emperor Of Germany has undertaken to ar
bitrate on the San Juan water boundary, and
the cases Of the two governments have been
presented to his imperial majesty. The COM
mission TO sit at Washington has been appoint
cd and is in session. The provisions OF The
treaty which require the consent of the para-
ment OF the Dominion of Canada await its as
sembling.
Turning to domestic affairs, | am glad to APP
prise you that, with very few exceptions, Ire
land has been free from serious crime. Trade
in that part OF the kingdom has been active,
and the advance in agricultural industry re-
markablc.
am able, also, to congratulate you, SO far as
present experience allows Judgment TO be
passed, upon the precepiible diminuton ~ the
number OF both tho graver crimes ana haDtual
criminals in Great Britain,
Gentlemen of the House Of Commons The
orincipal estimates for the coming year have
been prepared, aud they will at once he laid be.
' fore YOU. trust you will dnd them suitable to
the circumstances of the country. The state of
the revenue. anords favorable indications OF the
demand for employment and the general cOndi-
ton of the peOplc--indicatiOn which are cor
roborated by decline of pauperism not ncon-
Siderable
NJ Lords and Gentlemen: Your attention is
invited TO several measures of acknowledged ma
tional interest. Among these are Bills for the
Improvement OF public education IN Scotland;
Tor the regulation of the mines; for the ameud-
ment of the licensing system; for fixing the re-
lations Of the superior courts OF justice and ap.
peal in particular. A bill having for its main
object the establishment Of secret voting, to-
gether with measure relating to the corrupt
practices at parliamentary elections, will be i'm.
medaey presented Several measures of adj
ministratve improvement In Ireland will be laid
berore you; likewise legislative provisions
founded on the report Of the sanitary commits
sion,
You, my lords and gentlemen, will, am con-
ndcnt, again apply your wei known asslduly to