NEWS OF THE WEEK.
DARLIAMENT was prorogued on Friday, the 13th inst., the Queen's Message—it is never now-a-days called a Speech— being read by the Lord Chancellor. It contains two important sen- tences, one in which Her Majesty "looks forward with hope and confidence to the uninterrupted maintenance of European peace," and another, in which she promises that "no effort shall be spared to secure the punishment of those" by whom the "treacherous" attack on the West China exploring expedition "was instigated and committed." For the rest, her Majesty believes in South African Confederation, is pleased with the Act which, while "relaxing the stringency of former enactments, maintains the tranquillity" of Ireland, with the Artizans' Dwellings Act, the Sanitary Consolidation Act, the Act on Friendly Societies, and other Acts of the Session. She regrets that "the state of public business al the differences of opinion naturally arising on a varied and comprehensive scheme," have prevented the completion of the Merchant Shipping Bill, but rejoices that a temporary enactment will "diminish considerably the dangers to which my sea-faring subjects are exposed." The Agricultural Holdings Act -will "greatly and beneficially enlarge the powers of limited owners," and "while maintaining absolute freedom of contract" will "raise a presumption of rights" under which "a new induce- ment will be given to expend capital upon the improvement of land." The speech is not arrogant, and is, for the most part, not tmgrammatical.
