Parliament was opened on Thursday by the Queen in person,
but the Queen's Speech was read by the Lord Chancellor. In this speech, her Majesty declares that "the course of events has tended to furnish additional security to the maintenance of European peace, on the principles laid down by the Treaty of Berlin ;" and that a convention for the suppression of the slave- trade has been concluded with the Sultan. Her Majesty re- capitulates recent events in Afghanistan, praising the troops, and declares that " the abdication of the Ameer, and the un- settled condition of the country, render the recall of my troops impossible for the present ; but the principle upon which my Government has hitherto acted remains unchanged, and while determined to make the frontiers of my Indian Empire strong, I desire to be in friendly relations alike with those who may rule in Afghanistan and with the people of that country." The destruction of Cetewayo, Moirosi, and Secocoeni is alluded to with satisfaction, and the colonists of South Africa are urged to establish a Union or Confedera- tion. Her Majesty states that her Government has called on the Irish authorities to make ample provision against distress, and asks for a Bill of Indemnity for them for certain expen- ditures, mentions that the money required will be taken from the Irish Church Fund ; and promises the Criminal Code, a Law of Bankruptcy, and Bills for enlarging the powers of owners of settled land, for amending the Lunacy Law, and for simplifying conveyancing. No Treasury grant, it will be observed, is suggested for Ireland, and the Speech, though well written, is as colourless as usual.
