NEWS OF THE WEEK.

" My Lords and Gentlemen—I have called you together that you may resume, without further delay, the important duties to which the cir- cumstances of the times require your immediate attention ; and I sin- cerely regret the inconvenience which I am well aware you must experi- ence from so early a renewal of your labours, after the short interval of repose allowed you from the fatigues of the last session.

I feel it to be my duty, in the first place, to recommend to your most careful consideration the measures which will be proposed to you for a reform in the Commons' House of Parliament. A speedy and satisfactory settlement of this question becomes daily of more pressing importance to the security of the State, and to the contentment and welfare of my people.

I deeply lament the distress which still prevails in many parts of my dominions, and for which the preservation of peace both at home and abroad will," under the blessing of Divine Providence, afford the best and most effectual remedy. I feel assured of your disposition to adopt any practicable measures, which you will always find me ready and anxious to assist, both for removing the causes and mitigating the effects of the want of employment which the embarrassments of commerce and the conse- -! ,nt interruption of the pursuits of industry have occasioned. it is with great concern that I have observed the existence of a disease at Sunderland, similar in ;:s n; r.earance and character to that which has existed in many parts of Europe. Whether it is. indigenous, has been imported from abroad, is a question involved in much uncertainty, but its progress has neither been so extensive nor so fatal as on the Continent. It is not, however, the less necessary to use every precaution against the further extension of this malady ; and the measurr,s recommended by those who have had the best opportunities of observing it, as most effec- tive for this purpose, have been adopted.

"In parts of Ireland a systematic opposition has been made to the pay- ment of tithes, attended in some instances with afflicting results ; and it -will be one of your first duties to • inquire whether it may not be possible to effect improvements in the laws respecting this subject, which may af- ford the necessary protection to the Established Church, and at the same time remove the present causes of• Complaint. But in this and every other question affecting Ireland, it is above all things necessary to look to the best means of securing internal peace and order, which alone seem wanting to raise a country blessed by Providence with so many natural advantages to a state of the greatest prosperity.

"The conduct of the Portuguese Government, and the repeated inju- ries to which my subjects have been exposed, have prevented a renewal of my diplomatic relations with that kingdom. The state of a country so tong united with this by the ties of the most intimate alliance, must ne- cessarily be to me an object of the deepest interest; and the return to Europe of the elder branch of the illustrious house of Braganza, and the dangers of a disputed succession, will require my most vigilant attention to events by which not only the safety of Portugal, but the general in- terests of Europe, may be affected.

"The arrangement which I announced to you at the close of the last session, for the separation of the states of Holland and Belgium, has been followed by a treaty between the Five Powers and the King of the Bel- gians, which I have directed to be laid before you as soon as the ratifications shall have been exchanged. A similar treaty has not yet been agreed to by the King of the Netherlands ; but I trust the period is not distant when that Sovereign will see the necessity of acceding to an arrangement in which the Plenipotentiaries of the Five Powers have unanimously con- curred, and which has been framed with the most careful and impartial attention to all the interests concerned.

"I have the satisfaction to inform you that I have concluded with the King of the French a convention, which I have directed to be laid before yea], the object of which is the effectual suppression of the African slave- trade. This convention, having for its basis the concession of reciprocal rights to be mutually exercised in specified latitudes and places, will, I trnst, enable the naval forces of the two countries to accomplish by their combined efforts an object which is felt by both to be so important to the interests of humanity. "Regarding the state of Europe generally, the friendly assurances which I receive from foreign powers, and the union which subsists between me and my allies, inspire me with a confident hope that peace will not be in- terrupted. ." Gentlemen of the House of Commons—I have directed the estimates for the ensuingyear to be prepared, and they will in due time be laid before you. I will take care that they shall be framed with the strictest regard to economy, and I trust to your wisdom and patriotism to make such provision as may be required for the public service.

" My Lords and Gentlemen—The scenes of violence and outrage which have occurred in the city of Bristol and in some other places have caused me the deepest affliction. The authority of the laws must be vindicated by the punishment of offences which have produced so extensive a de- struction of property and so melancholy a loss of life. I think it right to direct your attention to the best means of improving the municipal police of the kingdom, in the more effectual protection of the public peace against the recurrence of similar commotions. "Sincerely attached to our free Constitution, I never can sanction any interference with the legitimate exercise of those rights which secure to my people the privilege of discussing and making known their grievances ; but in respecting these rights, it is also my duty to prevent combinations, under whatever pretext, which in their form and character are incom- patible with all regular government, and are equally opposed to the spirit and to the provisions of the law ; and I know that I shall not appeal in vain to my faithful subjects to second my determined resolution to re- press all illegal proceedings by which the peace and security of my do- minions may be endangered."

No King of England has ever delivered a more acceptable oration. It will be received by the empire at large as a document eminently calculated to give confidence to every doubting, and courage to every drooping, heart in it. The leading paragraph is well worthy of the great subject which it announces. Whatever interpretation the enemies of Reform may pretend to put upon the expressions, there is but one meaning, in the understandings of all unpreju- diced men, of "a speedy and satisfactory settlement of the Reform question '." and if, by any ingenuity, those plain words were capable of being turned from their obvious sense, the context, in which "the security of the state and the contentment of the people" are declared to be dependent on that speedy and satisfactory settle- ment, might well forbid the attempt. We hail the Speech with pleasure, not only for its plain announcement of Reform, but be- cause of the distinct indications which it affords that Reform is not meant to be a dead letter, but a living substance. If already, while the passing of the Bill is yet in the disposal of unseen futurity, the Ministers are bold enough to plan a remedy for so great a griev- ance as the Irish Tithe system is practically found to be, what plans of relief both for Ireland and England may we not anticipate when their great measure is consummated?

The part of the Speech which, next to the notices of Reform and of 'Tithes, will be most acceptable, is that which announces the approaching, and we hope speedy, termination of the Slavi-trade, —a traffic accursed of God and of man ; and that whichiThough it announces not, yet points, with no erring hand, to the downfal of the tyranny under which -Portugal has suffered for the last four years,...--a tyranny on which, assuredly, no blessing either of Hea- ven or Earth has ever been invoked unless by the enemies of both.

Perhaps—for, according to CHESTERFIELD'S recommendation, we must assent with a difference—the Cholera might have been left to the Privy Council and Dr. BARRY to regulate and reason upon. But in the most perfect of productions every part cannot be the best. The imperial coronet is not formed of diamonds alone ; the jewels are banded of necessity with less valuable materials.

The Speech seems to have silenced many and to have subdued all. The more violent spirits have held back. "The Duke" is sick, and cannot come ; Lord WHARNCLIFFE is still occupied in his search for reaction ; Lord LONDONDERRY is engaged with the Cholera; Lord ROSSLYN with the old women of Dysart. In the Upper House, there is not, if we may trust to appearances, a single Anti- Reformer left. On Tuesday, Lord ELDON sought a place for re- pentance with tears, and found it ; the zeal of the Duke of BUCKINGHAM evaporated upon the Birmingham Union ; and the spirit of "the Thane" wandered chill and mistified over the flats of Holland, except where he bounded over the cork-trees of Portugal. In the House of Commons, there has been more briskness, if not more spirit. Sir CHARLES WETHERELL has shown that he can rise above shame, with not less ease than he can rise ahove reason ; and the House, by applauding his modest assurance, and crowing at his jokes, has done its best to encourage him out of any unfortunate spark of modesty which the disasters of Bristol might have been supposed likely to revive. Sir CHARLES glories in the avowal that he made a personal affair of his journey to Bristol. If he had not gone thither, he would have been exposed to the taunts of half his friends and all his enemies ! We may ad- mit that the burning of Queen Square, and the slaughter of many people, ought not to weigh in the scale against the annoyance to which such a novelty as prudence in Sir CHARLES WETHERELL would doubtless have exposed him. Yet it might be a question, as obloquy was certainly incurred whether he went or staid, if the unjust obloquy might not have been as easily borne as the just obloquy and the burnings and slaughters to boot.

Sir CHARLES'S speech was the crack one of Tuesday.

had nothing better to offer to the House than an attack on the press; nor Sir ROBERT PEEL than the French Revolution of .1 793..: Most people will think that these topics had been already suffi- ciently dwelt upon ; and that the leaders of the House might have castabout for something less stale as a first dish for this session than the musty fragments which every small dog had mumbled in the course of the last. Sir ROBERT did indeed contrive to infuse a Mlle novelty into his speech, when he stoutly announced, that in spite of confiscations and banishment, lie would still boldly con- tinue to avow his sentiments. Strange, that the House, with all its susceptibility of a joke, did not bestow a single laugh upon the Fawners witty burst of mock heroism. On the contrary, the members seemed to take Sir ROBERT'S courageous braving of ideal blocks and visionary spoliations as quite in earnest, and looked as grave and as simple as though the ex-Secretary had been, in reality instead of in fancy, already driving the fly-shuttle, in a three pair of stairs back of the Croix Rousse, with the hereditary vigour and ingenuity of his honourable house. On the Ministerial side, the speeches have not been many, but they have been to the purpose. The introductory addresses of Lord CAMPERDOWN in the Upper and of Lord CAVENDISH in the Lower House, as well as those of Lord LYTTELTON and Sir FRE- DEEICK VINCENT which followed, were worthy of the high cha- racter of the speakers ; more particularly was the speech of Lord Lerrreeroa worthy of commendation for its plainness and uncom- promising truth-telling : it was consequently much abused. The language of Earl GREY respecting the Bill has been frank and manly; that of Lord ALTHORP has been equally so. The assem- bling of Parliament was the first step, the honest and open lan- guage of the Speech was the second, the instant announcement by Lord JOHN RUSSELL of the forthcoming Bill the third step, of a proof, the conclusion of which we may, we think, unhesitatingly announce : the Ministers will keep their word—the Bill will be preserved entire—the hopes of the People will be fulfilled. Huntingdon, it is said, and Dorchester, and Guildford, each of which possesses a most respectable constituency of 10/. voters, and each of which, including their respective parishes, possesses more than 4,000 inhabitants, will return their members as before ; areham and Ashburton will be conjoined for their mutual benefit,—for it is unnecessary to say that a constituency which is respectable in point of number can be better intrusted with the choice of two members than a smaller constituency can be in- trusted with the choice of one. Some other junctions will, we be- lieve, be proposed, of boroughs whose population entitle them to political rights, but whose circumstances do not offer a sufficient guarantee for their independent exercise if they were left alone. But nothing will be changed in principle at all ; and nothing will be changed in detail, unless in order to give to the principles of the Bill free scope for operation. Can we ask more ?

The business of the Commons kit night was of a very miscel- laneous character. Mr. HUNT gave notice of a call of the House u hen the part of the Speech which relates to Ireland comes under discussion: this is meant to incommode O'CONNELL. The sessional resolution of a supply to his Majesty was passed, and a particular vote of 78,000/. for the completion of Buckingham Palace. Lord DITNCANNON introduced a Bill for the consolidation of the various departments of the Woods and Forests under one Board. A most satisfactory announcement to the nation was made by,Lord ..kLTHORP,—namely, that there was every prospect of a speedy conclusion of the commercial negotiations between Eng- land and France, growing out of the Navigation-Laws of 1826; and the Attorney-General made a most unsatisfactory one to the silk manufacturers,—namely, that the house of LEAF, the notori- ous smugglers, had been allowed to compound their offences against the revenue for 10,00u/. less than the penalty they had incurred.

The Lords did not sit last night.