Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Third Session of the Fortieth Congress, Part I

Mr. Moran to Mr. Seward

No. 84.]

Legation of the United States, London, August 1, 1868.

Sir: Parliament was prorogued yesterday afternoon until the 8th day of October next, and I now have the honor to inclose a printed copy of the Queen’s speech, delivered to both houses by the lords commissioners, on the occasion. One of the most important domestic announcements in the speech is that which relates to the present state of Ireland.

This prorogation is virtually a dissolution of the present Parliament. For some time past political meetings have been held throughout the three kingdoms, and candidates brought forward for nomination to the next Parliament under the new reform bill, and ere long the country will be in a state of excitement incident to a general election under an untried condition of things.

What is regarded as the unofficial season has fairly begun. It is announced that the Queen will leave England next Wednesday, on a visit to Switzerland, not to return until about the 1st of September. Lord Stanley will accompany her Majesty, and there will be a general dispersion of cabinet ministers, as is usual at this period of the year. Indeed, what with this proceeding on the part of high officials, and the necessity on the part of the members of the House of Commons to give their personal attention to their re-election, there is a prospect of an unusually dull official autumn in London.

As bearing upon the present state of the relations between the two countries, I have the honor to forward a report of some remarks made by the prime minister at the late dinner given to her Majesty’s ministers at the Mansion House, as printed in the Times of the 30th ultimo. And I would call your attention to the resolution passed yesterday by the House of Commons, and reported in the Times of this morning, accepting from the Congress of the United States a copy of the work entitled “Tributes of the Nations to Abraham Lincoln.”

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

BENJAMIN MORAN.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

Her Majesty’s most gracious speech, delivered by the lords commimioners to both houses of Parliament, on Friday, July 31, 1868.

My Lords and Gentlemen: I am happy to be enabled to release you from your labors, and to offer you my acknowledgments for the diligence with which you have applied yourselves to your parliamentary duties.

My relations with foreign powers remain friendly and satisfactory. I have no reason to apprehend that Europe will be exposed to the calamity of war, and my policy will continue to be directed to secure the blessings of peace.

I announced to you at the beginning of this session that I had directed an expedition to be sent to Abyssinia to liberate my envoy, and others of my subjects, detained by the ruler of that country in an unjust captivity. I feel sure that you will share in my satisfaction at the complete success which has attended that expedition, After a march of 400 miles, through a difficult and unexplored country, my troops took the strong place of Magdala, freed the captives, and vindicated the honor of my crown; and by their immediate return, without one act of oppression or needless violence, proved that the expedition had been undertaken only in obedience to the claims of humanity, and in fulfillment of the highest duties of my sovereignty.

The cessation of the long-continued efforts to promote rebellion in Ireland has for some time rendered unnecessary the exercise by the executive of exceptional powders. I rejoice to learn that no person is now detained under the provisions of the act for the suspension of the habeas corpus, and that no prisoner awaits trial in Ireland for an offense connected with the Fenian conspiracy.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons: I have to thank you for the liberal supplies which you have voted for the public service.

My Lords and Gentlemen: I have had much satisfaction in giving my assent to a series of measures completing the great work of the amendment of the representation of the people in Parliament, which has engaged your attention for two sessions.

I have seen with satisfaction that the time necessarily occupied by this comprehensive subject has not prevented you dealing with other questions of great public interest, and I have gladly given my sanction to bills for the better government of public schools, the regulation of railways, the amendment of the law relating to British sea fisheries, and for the acquisition and maintenance of electric telegraphs by the postmaster general; and to several important measures having for their object the improvement of the law, and of the civil and criminal procedures in Scotland.

By the appointment of a comptroller-in-chief in the war office a considerable reform in army administration has been commenced, which, by combining at home and abroad the various departments of military supply under one authority, will conduce to greater economy and efficiency both in peace and war.

It is my intention to dissolve the present Parliament at the earliest day that will enable my people to reap the benefit of the extended system of representation which the wisdom of Parliament has provided for them. I look with entire confidence to their proving themselves worthy of the high privilege with which they have thus been invested; and I trust that, under the blessing of Divine Providence, the expression of the opinion on those great questions of public policy which have occupied the attention of Parliament and remain undecided, may tend to maintain unimpaired that civil and religious freedom which has been secured to all my subjects by the institutions and settlement of my realm.

Then a commission for proroguing the Parliament was read, after which the lord chancellor said:

My Lords and Gentlemen: By virtue of her Majesty’s commission, under the great seal, to us and other lords directed, and now read, we do, in her Majesty’s name, and in obedience to her commands, prorogue this Parliament to Thursday, the 8th day of October next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Thursday, the 8th day of October next.

[From the London Times, July 30, 1868.]

Extract from Mr. Disraeli’s speech.

In other respects, my lord mayor, I do not think that this country has any cause of complaint. If we look to our foreign relations, we see no cause for anxiety. Indeed, there is little to be said upon that subject; and the external relations of England are never in a securer or more salutary state than when there is very little to be said upon them. [Cheers.] At the present moment we have no controversy of any kind with any European power, [cheer;] and with regard to those subjects of misunderstanding which have been so much exaggerated and so much dwelt upon by our transatlantic brethren, every week, I may say every day, brings us to a better understanding upon all those questions; and I am sure their solution, which I believe is near at hand, in every respect is only what may be expected from the mutual good sense and good feeling of two great and kindred nations. [Loud cheers.]

[From the London Times, August 1, 1868.]

The assassination of President Lincoln.

House of Commons, Friday, July 31.

The speaker communicated to the house a resolution of the United States Congress acknowledging the expression of generous sympathy, on the part of the house, at the assassination of President Lincoln and the attempted assassination of Mr. Secretary Seward.

Lord Stanley moved the following resolution: “That this house has great satisfaction in accepting the volume transmitted to it in pursuance of the resolution passed by the Congress of the United States; that they desire that the said volume be placed in their library, and that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to Mr. Secretary Seward for presentation to Congress.”

The resolution was agreed to.