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THE DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT.

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THE DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT. We last week briefly announced that parliament was proro- gued by her Majesty in person, on Thursday, on which occa- sion eur most Gracious Sovereign read the following royal speech, with her accustomed grace and purity of elocution — My Lords and Gentlemen, "I am induced, by considerations of public policy, to re- lease you at an earlier period than usual from your legislative duties. The zeal and diligence, however, with which you have applied yourselves to your parliamentary labours, have enabled me, in this comparatively short session, to give my assent to many measures of high importance, and, I trust, of great and permanent advantage. "I receive from all foreign powers assurances thrt they are animated by the most fiieodly dispositions towards this country and I entertain a confident hope that the amicable relations happily subsisting between the principal European States may be so firmly established as, under divine providence, to secure to the world a long contiuance of the blessings of peace. To this great end my attention will be unremittingly directed. I rejoice that the final settlement of the affairs of Hol- stein and Schleswig, by the general concurrence of the powers interested, has removed one cause of recent difference and of future anxiety. "The amicable termination of the discussions which have taken place between the Sublime Porte and the Pdsha of Egypt affords a guarantee for the tranquillity of the East, and an en- couragement to the extension of commercial enterprise. "The refusal on the part of the King of Ava, of redress justly demanded for insults and injuries offered to my subjects at Ran- goon, has necessarily led to an interruption of friendly relations with that sovereign. The promptitude and vigour with which the Governor general of India has taken the measures thus ren- deied unavoidable, have merited my entire approbation and I am confident that you will participate in the satisfaction with which I have observed the conduct of all the naval and military forces, European and Indian, by whose valour and discipline the impor- tant captures of Rangoon and Martabau has been accomplished, and in a hope which I entertain that these signal successes may lead to an early and honourable peace. Treaties have been concluded by my naval commanders with the King of Dahomey, and all the African chiefs whose rule extends along the Bight of Benin, for the total abolition of the slave trade, which is at present wholly suppressed upon that coast. "I have had great satisfaction in giving my assent to the measure which you have wisely adopted for the better organiza- tion of the mil ilia-a constitutional force, which, being limited to purposes of internal defence, can afford no just ground of jealousy to neighbouring powers, but which, in the event of any sudden or unforeseen disturbance of my foreign relations, would at all times contribute essentially to the protection and security of my dominions- Gentlemen of the House of Commons, I thank you for the liberal provision which you have made for the exigencies of the public service. The expenditure which you have authorised shall be applied with a due regard to eco- nomy and efficiency. The recent discoveries of extensive gold fields have pro- duced, in the Australian colonies, a temporary disturbance of society, requiring prompt attention I have taken such steps as appeared to me most urgently necessary for the mitigation of this serious,evil. I shall continue anxiously to watch the important results which must follow from these discoveries. I have wil- lingly concurred with you in an act which, by rendering avail- able to the service of those colonies, the portion arising wiibio them of the heieditary revenue placed at the disposal of parlia ment on my accession to the throne, may enable them to mee their nece £ sari;y increased expenditure. My Lords and Gentlemen, I have gladly assented to the important bills which you have passed for effectiog reforms, long and anxiously desired, in the practice and proceedings of the superior court of law and equity, and generally for improving the administration of justice. Every measure which simplifies the forms, and diminishes the delay and expense of legal proceedings, without introducing uncertainty of decision, impairing the authority of the Courts, or lowering the high standard of the judicial bench, is a valu. able boon conferred upon the community at large. I hope that the measures which you have adopted for pro- moting extramural interment of the dead, and for improving the supply of water, may be found effectual for the remedy of evils the existence of which has long been a reproach to this great metropolis, and may conduce to the health and comfort of its inhabitants. The extension of popular rights and legislative power to my subjects resident in the colonies, is always to me an object of deep interest; and I trust that the representative institutions which, in concert with you, I have sanctioned for New Zealand, may promote the welfare and contentment of the population 01 that distant, but most interesting colony,and confirm their loyalty and attachment to my crown. "It is my intention, without delay, to dissolve this present parliament, and it ip my earnest prayer that, in the exercise of the high functions which, according to our free constitution, will devolve upon several constituencies, they may be directed by an all-wise Providence to the selection of representatives whose wisdom or patriotism may aid me in my unceasing en- deavours to sustain the honour and dignity of my crown, to uphold the protestant institutions of the country, and the civil and religious liberty which is their natural result, to extend and improve the national education, to develope and encourage industry, art, and science; and to elevate the moral and social condition, and thereby promote the welfare and happiness, of my people." The Lord Chancellor, kneeling at the foot of throne, received back the copy of the speech, and then, by Her Majesty's eom. mand, prorogued parliament in the following terms:—"It is Her Majesty's Royal will and pleasure that this parliament be prorogaed till Friday, the 20th day of August, and this parliament is hereby prorogued till Friday, the 20th day of Augost." Her Majesty bowed and rose, the House rose also, the Com. mons made their bow, and retired from the bar. The royal pro- cession left the house in the same order as it had entered, amid the blast of trumpets and reverberations of cannon. The brilliant crowd burftinto a shifting mass of colours as varied as the hues of the kaleidoscope, and poured out through doors and passages into the daylight and thus the parliament of 1852 was brought to a close, and iives now but in its acts. 0.

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