Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-02-07

British Parliament TOOK place yesterday. iue
attendance of members was unusually full.
Shortly after assembling, the members Of the
House of Commons were summoned to the
House of Lords, where the Lord Chancellor
read the Queen speech.
Nv Lords and Gentlemen i avail myself
Of the opportunity afforded by your reassem-
bling Tor the discharge ofyour momentous du-
ties. to renew the expression OF my thankful
ness to the Almighty for the dellverance OF my
son from the most imminent danger, and my
lively recollection Of the profound and universal
sympathy shown by my loyal people during
that period OF anxiety and trial. | purpose
that on Tuesday the 21thlnst. conformably the
good and becoming usagesot former days, that
the blessing thus received shall be acknowledge
ed on behslt 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 accom-
mediation for the members OF Parliament.
The assurances of friendship that | receive
from foreign Powers continue III all respects
satisfactory, aud | need hardly assure you that
nv endeavors at all times will be steadily d.
rected to the maintenance ct these friendly re-
lati0ns.
nc Save lTuut dlll Viz piihliS pidtIISC,
scarcely to be distinguished from slave trading,
are still pursued IN more than one quarter OF
the world, and continue to attract the attention
Of nv Government. In the South Sea Islands
the name of the British Empire is even now
dishonored by the connection OF some OF my
subjects with these nctari0us practices, and IN
one of them the murder of ali exemplary pre-,
late casts fresh light upon some OF the baucful
consequences. 4 bill will be presented to you
facilitating the trial of Offences OF this class In
Australia. and endeavors will be made to H.
crease in other forms means Tor the counterac-
ton Of the evil.
Various communications have passed be-
tween nv Government and that OF France on
the subject OF the commercial treaty concluded
in 1850, From the divergence in views re-
spectively entertained in relation to the value
of protective laws, this correspondence has not
brought about any agreement to modify that
imnortant convention. Both sides, however,
have uniformly declared their earnest desire
that nothing shall occur to impair the cordlall-
tv Which has so long prevailed between the
two nations. The papers relating to these
subjects will be laid before you.
The arbitratorS 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 be-
fore the arbitrator on behalf of each party to
the treaty. In the case submitted by the
United States large claims are Included: which
are understood on my part not to be within the
province of the arbitratorS. On this subject L
have caused a friendly co,nmunlcatlon to De
made to the Government nt the United States
The Emperor of Germany haS undertaken To
arbitrate on the San Juan water boundary,
and the cases Of the two Governments have
been presented to his Imperial Majesty.
The Commission to sit at a>llngton has
been appointed. aud is in session. The provi-
sions ofthe treaty, which require the consent
of the Parliament Of the Dominion ut Canada,
awaits its assembling.
Turning to domestic affairs, | am glad to APP
prise You that with very few exceptions ireland
has been free from serious crime. Trade 10
that part of the Kingdom has been active, and
the advance ia Agricultural industry Is relnark-
able. | am able also to congratulate you, as far as
present experience allows judgment to be eX-
pressed. upon the p~crceptible diulinntlou in
the number of both graver crimes and habltual
criminals in Great Britain.
Gentleman of the House Of Commons, the
principle estimates for the coming year have
been prepared and they will at once be
laid before YOU, and [ trust you will find them
suitable to the circumstances OF the country.
The state of the revenue affairs affords tavora-
BILE indications OF the demand for employment,
and of the general condition Of the people, IN
dications which are corroborated By the decline
Of pauperism not considerable.
.i1v Lords and gentlemen, your attention Is
invited to several measures OF acknowledged
national interest. Among these are bills TOR
theimprovemeut Of public education lnScotland,
for the regulation of mines, for the amendment
of the licensing system, for fixing the relations
of the Superior Courts Of Justice and Appeals
in particular a bill having for It's main object
the establishing of secret voting. together with
a measure relating to tine corrupt practices at
Parliamentary elections. will be Immediately
presented. Several measures of admlnlstra-
tive Improvement in ireland will be laid before
YOU. Likewise legislative provisions founded
on the report of the Sanitary Commission.
You, my Lords and gentlemen, will again
apply YOUR we'll known asSiduity to the work OF
legislation, which from the e%xlgencles OF mo-
dern society still seems to grow upon your
hands, and shall continue to rely, under Provl-
dcnce. alike on the loyalty in my your energy
and wisdom to sustain the constant efforts OF
the Crown to discharge the duties, uphold the
rights and defend the honor OF the Etnplre.
Charles Hale, of Mass, recently nominated
for Assistant Secretary of State, was before the
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations yes
terday, to answer the serious charges brought
against him in connection with his Consul
Generalship in Egypt.
Rev. DR.. Gather, of ireland, who was en-
gagged a year or so ago in getting up breakfasts
in connection with the american and Inter-
national Christian League for the PROMOTION
of Moral Science has now turned up IN Eng
land.
The steamship North America, from Rio
Janeiro, January II, reports that the steamer
Hassler, with Prof. Agassiz and party. left
P~ernambuco for Rio Janeiro; with the frlgate
Ticonderoga, January Is.
NJ. S. Low, a clerk in the Boston postofhce,
is said to be a defaulter to the amount of
100000. He has been employed three years
iu the mailing department at a salary of 5000.
He confessed.
The new iron terryboat Fulton, on the Full