[Inclosure 1 in No. 693.]
the queen’s speech.
My Lords and Gentlemen, it is with great satisfaction that I again meet
you and resort to the advice and assistance of my Parliament. I continue
to receive assurances of friendship from all foreign powers. The peace
of Europe has remained, and I trust will remain, unbroken. To preserve
and consolidate it will ever be the main object of my endeavors.
The conference held at Brussels on the laws and usages of war has
concluded its sittings. My government have carefully examined the
reports of its proceedings; but bearing in mind, on the one hand, the
importance of the principles involved, and, on the other, the widely
divergent opinions which were there expressed, and the improbability of
their being reconciled, I have not thought it right to accede to
proposals
[Page 591]
which have been made
for further negotiations on the subject. The correspondence which has
passed will be presented to you.
The government of Spain, presided over by Marshal Serrano, has ceased to
exist, and the Prince of Asturias has been called to the throne under
the title of King Alfonso XII. The question of formally recognizing, in
concert with other powers, the newly-restored monarchy, is at this
moment before my government, and its decision will not long be delayed.
It is my earnest hope that internal peace may be speedily restored to a
great but unfortunate country.
The exertions of my naval and consular servants in the repression of the
East African slave-trade have not been relaxed, and I confidently trust
that they will bring about the complete extinction of a traffic equally
repugnant to humanity and injurious to legitimate commerce.
The differences which had arisen between China and Japan, and which at
one time threatened to lead to war between those states, have been
happily adjusted. I have learned with pleasure that the good offices of
my minister at Peking have been largely instrumental in bringing about
this result.
The past year has been one of general prosperity and progress throughout
my colonial empire.
On the Gold Coast a steady advance has been made in the establishment of
civil government, peace has been maintained, and I have procured the
assent of the protected tribes to the abolition of slavery.
Henceforward, I trust, freedom will exist there as in every part of my
dominions.
In Natal, I have found myself under the necessity of reviewing the
sentence which had been passed upon a native chief, and of considering
the condition of the tribes and their relations to the European settlers
and my government. I doubt not that I shall have your concurrence in any
measures which it may become my duty to adopt for insuring a wise and
humane system of native administration in that part of South Africa.
Papers will be laid before you on these several matters.
The King and chiefs of Fiji having made a new offer of their islands,
unfettered by conditions, I have thought it right to accept the cession
of a territory which, independently of its large natural resources,
offers important maritime advantages to my fleets in the Pacific.
An ample harvest has restored prosperity to the provinces of my eastern
empire which, last year, were visited with famine. By the blessing of
Providence, my Indian government has been able entirely to avert the
loss of life which I had reason to apprehend from that great
calamity.
Gentlemen of the House of Commons, I have directed the estimates of the
year to be prepared and presented to you without delay.
My Lords and Gentlemen, the condition of the finances is satisfactory.
The trade of the country in the past year has somewhat fallen short of
that of the year before, but the general prosperity of the people,
supported as it has been by an excellent harvest, as well as by the
great reductions lately made in taxation, has led to a steady increase
in the consumption of all the necessaries of life, and of those articles
which contribute to the revenue.
The various statutes of an exceptional or temporary nature now in force
for the preservation of peace in Ireland will be brought to your notice
with a view to determine whether some of them may not be dispensed with.
Several measures which were unavoidably postponed at the end of last
session will be again introduced. Among the most important are those for
simplifying the transfer of land and completing the reconstruction of
the judicature. Bills will also be laid before you for facilitating the
improvement of the dwellings of the working classes in large towns; for
the consolidation and amendment of the sanitary laws, and for the
prevention of the pollution of rivers.
A measure has been prepared for consolidating and amending the laws
relating to friendly societies. Its object will be to assist, without
unnecessarily interfering with, the laudable efforts of my people to
make provision for themselves against some of the calamities of
life.
A bill for the amendment of the merchants’ shipping acts will be laid
before you.
Your attention will be moreover directed to legislation for the better
security of my subjects from personal violence, and for more effectually
providing for the trial of offenses, by establishing the office of a
public prosecutor.
Although the report of the commission issued by me to inquire into the
state and working of the law as to offenses connected with trade has not
yet been made to me, I trust that any legislation on this subject which
may be found to be expedient may take place in the present session.
You will also be invited to consider a measure for improving the law as
to agricultural tenancies.
I commend to your careful consideration these and other measures which
may be submitted to you, and I pray that your deliberations may, under
the divine blessing, result in the happiness and contentment of my
people.