not recommended by practical majesty's ministers to reduce taxation. By taking the church revenues, the national creditor might be relieved, and the people might be relieved; but it was not possible to carry on the present system without some appropriation of this public property. Lord Althorp's remark, that the House would hardly expect him to answer such a speech, was received with universal cheers; and when the question was put, Mr. Cobbett having seconded the motion, not one solitary "aye" was pronounced in its favour. The Jews alone were now the only class of the community whose religion affected their rights. Mr. Grant brought in a bill to relieve them from all civil disabilities. It passed the Commons, not without considerable opposition; but was thrown out, on the second reading, by the House of Lords. The session was at length closed, on the 29th of August, by his majesty in person, who delivered the following speech : "My Lords and Gentlemen, "In opening the present parliament I stated, that never at any time had subjects of greater interest and magnitude called for your attention. "The manner in which have you discharged the duties thus committed to you now demands my warmest acknowledgments, and enables me to close a session, not more remarkable for its extended duration, than for the patient and persevering industry which have displayed in many laborious inquiries, and in perfecting the various legislative measures which have been brought under your consideration. you "I continue to receive from my Allies, and from all Foreign Powers, assurances of their friendly disposition. "I regret, that I cannot yet announce to you the conclusion of a definitive arrangement between Holland and Belgium. But the convention which, in conjunction with the king of the French, I concluded in May last with the king of the Netherlands, prevents a renewal of hostilities in the Low Countries, and thus affords a fresh security for the general continuance of peace. "Events which have lately taken place in Portugal have induced me to renew my diplomatic relations with that kingdom, and I have accredited a minister to the court of her most faithful majesty at Lisbon. "You may rest assured that I look with the greatest anxiety to the moment when the Portuguese monarchy, so long united with this country by the ties of alliance and the closest bonds of interest, may be restored to a state of peace, and may regain its former prosperity. "The hostilities which had disturbed the peace of Turkey have been terminated, and you may be assured, that my attention will be carefully directed to any events which may affect the present state or the future independence of that empire. An investigation, carefully prosecuted during the last session, has enabled you to renew the charter of the Bank of England on terms which appear to be well calculated to sustain public credit, and to secure the usefulness of that important establishment. "The laborious inquiries carried on by committees of both Houses of Parliament for several successive sessions have also enabled you to bring the affairs of the East-India Company to a satisfactory adjustment. I have the most confident expectation, that the system of government thus established will prove to have been wisely framed for the improvement and happiness of the natives of India; whilst, by the opening of the China trade, a new field has been afforded for the activity and enterprise of British commerce. "The state of slavery in my colonial possessions has necessarily occupied a portion of your time and your attention commensurate with the magnitude and the difficulty of the subject; whilst your deliberations have been guided by the paramount considerations of justice and humanity, the interests of the colonial proprietors have not been overlooked. I trust, that the future proceedings of the assemblies, and the conduct of all classes in my colonies, may be such as to give full effect to the benevolent intentions of the legislature, and to satisfy the just expectations of my people. "I observe with satisfaction, that the amendment of the law has continued to occupy your attention, and that several important measures have been adopted, by some of which the titles to property have been rendered more secure, and the conveyance of it more easy; while, by others, the proceedings in courts, both of law and equity, have been made more expeditious and less costly. The establishment of the court of privy council is another improvement, which, while it materially assists suitors at home, will, I trust, afford substantial relief to those in my foreign possessions. "You may rest assured, that there is no part of your labours which I regard with a deeper interest than that which tends, by well-considered amendments of the law, to make justice easily accessible to all of my subjects. "With this view I have caused a commission to be issued for digesting into one body the enactments of the criminal law, and for inquiring how far, and by what means, a similar process may be extended to the other branches of our jurisprudence. I have also directed commissions to be issued for investigating the state of the municipal corporations throughout the United Kingdom. "The result of their inquiries will enable you to mature those means which may seem best fitted to place the internal government of corporate cities and towns upon a solid foundation, in respect of their finances, their judicature, and their police. In the mean time, two important acts have been passed for giving constitutions upon sound principles, to the royal and parliamentary burghs of Scotland; and your attention will hereafter be called to the expediency of extending similar advantages to the unincorporated towns in England which have now acquired the right of returning members to Parliament. "It was with the greatest pain that I felt myself compelled to call upon you for additional powers to control and punish the disturbers of the public peace in Ireland. "This call was answered, as I confidently expected, by your loyalty and firmness. "I have not found it necessary, except in a very limited degree, to use the powers thus confided to me, and I have now the satisfaction of informing you, that the spirit of insubordination and violence which had prevailed to so alarming an extent has been in a great measure subdued. "I look forward with anxiety to the time when the painful necessity of continuing this measure of great but unavoidable severity may cease; and I have given my assent with unqualified satisfaction to the various salutary and remedial measures which, during the course of the present session, have been proposed to me for my acceptance. "The act, which, in pursuance of my recommendation, you have passed with respect to the temporalities of that branch of the united church which is established in Ireland, and for the immediate and total abolition of vestry assessments, and the acts for the better regulation of juries, both as to their civil and criminal functions, afford the best proof that full reliance may be placed in the Parliament of the United Kingdom, for the introduction of such beneficial improvements as may insure the welfare of all classes of my subjects; thus effectually cementing that legislative union. CHAP. IX. FRANCE.-Sessions of the Chambers-King's Speech-Discussions regarding the Duchess of Berri—Announcement of her Private Marriage -She is allowed to leave France-Prosecutions of her AdherentsDisputes between the Chambers regarding the Abolition of the Law respecting the Anniversary of the execution of Louis XVI.-Bill for Regulating the Establishment of Military Law-Chamber of Deputies refuses a Grant for Fortifying Paris-The Budget-Trial of a Journal before the Chamber of Deputies for a Libel-Society of the Rights of Man-Trial and Acquittal of its Members-Foreign Affairs. D URING the present year, two sessions of the French Chambers were held; but, as the interval between the close of the one and the opening of the other was only twenty-four hours; and as the royal speech at terminating the first supplied the place of a speech at the commencement of the other, it is in truth to be treated as one continued session. The session which had begun in the end of 1832, was closed on the 25th April, and the new one was opened on the 26th April, of the present year-the latter having been called principally, if not solely, to carry through the budget for 1834, which did not fall within the competency of the session convened in 1832. The shortness of the interval, however, gave occasion to the opposition to question the legality of the second session. The ordinance convoking it appeared in the Moniteur in the evening of the 25th April, and convoked it for next day. M. Mauguin insisted, that this convocation of the Chambers was illegal, because, by the existing laws, no ordinance ought to be carried into execution until a cer tain time (to be fixed by the ordinance itself) after its insertion in the Bulletin des Loix; and in the present instance the illegality had been productive of positive illeffects, since only 292 members out of 459 had voted in the election of president; whereas, if time had been given for the ordinance of convocation to be circulated in the departments, all, or nearly all, might have been present. The congés, too, of those absent on leave, expired with the session; and they would have been present to vote if they had had the opportunity. The minister of justice explained, that the law only required, that ordinances should be inserted in the Bulletin des Loix before they were carried into execution, and the ordinance in question having been inserted in the Bulletin the preceding night, it was perfectly legal. The late session having been terminated only on the preceding day, all the de puties were presumed to be at their posts. No inconvenience, therefore, could have resulted from the short lapse of time between the ordinance and the commencement of the session. The royal speech at closing the first session was in the following terms: "Gentlemen of the Chamber of Peers, and of the Chamber of Deputies, "After the long and important labours of this session, I feel above all things the desire to return you my thanks for what you have already done for France and for me: the monarchy and the charter have been strengthened by your energetic devotedness; you have known how to recognize and support, on all occasions, the true interests of France and the constitutional throne; you have lent the most loyal support to my government. Already France has reaped the fruits of this. It is no longer hope alone that we entertain; we have entered on a new era of present and future prosperity; the country is becoming calm and re-assured; commerce and industry are developing themselves with the most abundant activity; in every quarter industry assures the welfare of the population, and consolidates order wherever it is estab lished. This progress is a source of despair to the factious; their regret vents itself in menaces; they will prove impotent; your honourable examples, gentlemen, will sustain the courage of the good citizens, and the firm support of my government will never be wanting for that purpose; and the peaceable development of our institutions, the national security abroad as well as at home, shall be our reward. In order to attain that end, it is indispensable that the finances and the administration of the state should be brought back to their regular situation; the regime provisoire under which circumstances have until this day imperatively held us, is a serious evil for the country and for its government. When that evil shall have ceased, the examination of the expenses will become more efficacious, the vote of the subsidies will be free from all embarrassment, the state will be in possession of all its means of action, and the country of its full guarantees. This is the powerful motive which has determined me to ask from your patriotism your co-operation in a new session, I shall direct it to be immediately opened. The bills relating to the finances, which will at length effect some reductions in the expenses of the state, will be immediately presented to you, and you will, at the same time, complete the important measures of organization which have been already submitted to your deliberations. I have only to congratulate myself on the state of my foreign relations. Events have proved, that the question which divides Holland and Belgium will be settled without compromising the peace of Europe. The state of the East is an object of anxious attention, but there is reason to believe that a speedy denouement will restore peace in those countries. Be assured that, here, as elsewhere, France will be found to have pursued the line of conduct and occupied the rank worthy of her; and I feel confident that, whether it be required to maintain her dignity, to ensure her happiness, or to guarantee her liberties, the nation will never be disappointed in what she has a right to expect from us, and that she will render justice to our common efforts." We have mentioned in our an |
