NEWS OF THE WEEK • P ART ,TA MENT was prorogued
yesterday. The speech from the Throne refers to the appeal made by the Crown in the "critical condition of public affairs when you assembled at the commence- ment of the year," and to the "not ambiguous" response which "contributed largely to a pacific solution of the difficulties which then existed." The Queen goes on to refer to the Congress and Treaty of Berlin, and speaks of "the councils" of the Powers as having "resulted in a peace which I am thankful to believe, is satisfactory, and likely to be durable." "The Ottoman Empire," the Queen proceeds to say, "has not emerged from a disastrous war without severe loss, but the arrangements which have been made, while favourable to the subjects of the Porte, have secured to it a position of independence which can be upheld against aggression." Of the Anglo-Turkish Convention, the Queen says that it gives, as regards the Sultan's Asiatic empire, "a more distinct ex- pression to the engagements which, in principle, I, together with Other Powers, accepted in 1856, but of which the form has not been-found practically effectual." The Queen does not, however, assign the very simple reason ; namely, that neither her own Government, nor the people of England, chose to abide by them. 4, The Sultan has, on the other hand, bound himself to adopt and carry into effect the measures necessary for securing the good government of those provinces. In order to promote the objects of this agreement, I have undertaken the occupation and ad- ministration of the island of Cyprus." Compliments to the high spirit of the British people, and the Colonies, to the Indian troops and Native Governments of India,—many of which had given us "spontaneous offers of troops, which were very gratifying to me," follow ; and the rest of the speech is "common form," enumerating the meagre list of not quite insignificant measures which have passed Parliament. Then the Queen concludes, "In bidding you farewell, I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest on your recent labours, and accompany you in the discharge of all your duties." The sanguine tone of the speech suggests rather an act of memory of hope, than of hope which is still lively. The clouds are already gathering in the South-Eastern and the Eastern sky.
