of Bomarsund. He also adverted to the state of our
relations with Prussia and Austria, and insisted upon
the propriety of laying upon the table the text of the
treaty concluded between Austria and Turkey. He
called upon the government to explain the grounds
of their belief that Austria would seriously and heartily
co-operate in measures against Russia. He also wished
to know what the guarantees were against Austria
retaining permanent possession of the Principalities,
if she were once in possession. The noble marquis
declared his belief that no Austrian soldier would be
permitted to fire a shot against a Russian. The
probability was, that Austria would be allowed to interpose
between the belligerents, and thus secure a position
of armed neutrality, an advantage which, there was
reason to apprehend, would be ultimately changed into
an attitude of armed intervention.—The Earl of
CLARENDON stated that the delay in producing the
Austro-Turkish treaty, was owing to some technical
omission which would soon be rectified. He felt assured
that the hearty co-operation of Austria might be fully
relied upon by the "Western Powers, alike by a sense of
what was due to her own honour, her dignity, and her
interest. The anticipated movement of her troops had
already occasioned the retreat of the Russian forces.
Information had reached the English government, only
two days ago, that Prince Gortsehakoff had received
orders from the Czar to evacuate both the Principalities.
Austria would, no doubt, take her own time and mode
for engaging in actual conflict. In judging of her
conduct it must be borne in mind that her interests
at stake were very extensive, and that the organisation
of her army of 300,000 men had presented herculean
difficulties. On their part, the Western Powers had
proceeded in perfect independence of the Vienna
cabinet, and had not incurred an hour's delay in any.
military undertaking, by waiting on Austria to settle or
declare her course of action. He (Lord Clarendon)
could state from notes lately exchanged between Great
Britain and Austria, that Austria was equally
determined not to accept peace on the basis of the status
quo ante bellum. The effects already produced upon
Russia by the sealing up of her commerce had been
marked, and had probably produced a greater effect
upon her people than would have been accomplished by
the capture of Cronstadt or Sebastopol. He upheld the
energy and spirit with which the government had
prosecuted the war, and reiterated the assurance that
their efforts would not be relaxed till an honourable and
lasting peace was brought about. After a short reply
from Lord Clanricarde the house adjourned.

On Friday, August 11, the House sat a short time to
wind up the business of the session.

On Saturday, August 12, Parliament was prorogued
by the Queen in person. The house, crowded as usual,
with ladies and persons of distinction, had a most
brilliant aspect. Several illustrious Orientals, in the
gorgeous costume of the East, were present in different parts
of the house. At the special request of her Majesty, the
Maharajah Duleep Singh was accommodated with a seat
on the woolsack. Vely Pacha, the Ottoman ambassador
to France, was also present. Among the diplomatic
body were the Turkish, Austrian, Prussian, and Neapolitan
Ministers, all in full parti-coloured costume, and
glittering with decorations. Amongst them, in plain
dress, was Mr. Buchanan, the Minister of the United
States. The Queen (who had been enthusiastically
cheered in her progress from Buckingham Palace),
arrived at two o'clock. Immediately afterwards the
Speaker of the House of Commons, with several
members appeared at the bar. The Speaker, having
addressed the Queen as usual, giving a general report of
the proceedings of the house, her Majesty delivered the
following speech:

         "My Lords and Gentlemen,
"I am enabled, by the state of public business, to
release you from a longer attendance in parliament.

          "Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
"In closing the session, it affords me great pleasure to
express my sense of the zeal and energy you have shown
in providing means for the vigorous prosecution of the
war, in which, notwithstanding my efforts to avert it, we
are now engaged. This liberality in granting the
supplies for the public service demands my warmest thanks;
and, although I lament the increased burthens of my
people, I fully recognise your wisdom in sacrificing
considerations of present convenience, and in providing for
the immediate exigencies of the war, without an addition
being made to the permanent debt of the country.

           "My Lords and Gentlemen,
"In cordial co-operation with the Emperor of the
French, my efforts will be directed to the effectual
repression of that ambitious and aggressive spirit on the
part of Russia, which has compelled us to take up arms
in defence of an ally, and to secure the future tranquillity
of Europe.

"You will join with me in admiration of the courage
and perseverance manifested by the troops of the Sultan
in their defence of Silistria, and in the various military
operations on the Danube.

"The engrossing interest of matters connected with
the progress of the war has prevented the due
consideration of some of those subjects which, at the opening
of the session, I had recommended to your attention;
but I am happy to acknowledge the labour and diligence
with which you have perfected various important
measures, well calculated to prove of great public utility.

"You have not only passed an act for opening the
coasting trade of the United Kingdom, and removing
the last legislative restriction upon the use of foreign
vessels, but you have also revised and consolidated the
whole statute law relating to merchant shipping.

"The act for establishing the direct control of the
house of commons over the charges incurred in the
collection of the revenue, will give more complete effect
to an important principle of the constitution, and will
promote simplicity and regularity in our system of public
account.

"I rejoice to perceive that amendments in the
administration of the law have continued to occupy your
attention; and I anticipate great benefit from the
improvements you have made in the forms of procedure in
the superior courts of common law.

"The means you have adopted for the better government
of the university of Oxford, and the improvement
of its constitution, I trust will tend greatly to increase
the usefulness, and to extend the renown of this great
seminary of learning.

"I have willingly given my assent to the measure
you have passed for the prevention of bribery and of
corrupt practices at elections; and I hope that it may
prove effectual in the correction of an evil which, if
unchecked, threatens to fix a deep stain upon our
representative system.

"It is my earnest desire that, in returning to your
respective counties, you may preserve a spirit of union
and concord. Deprived of the blessings of peace abroad,
it is more than ever necessary that we should endeavour
to confirm and increase the advantages of our internal
situation; and it is with the greatest satisfaction that I
regard the progress of active industry, and the general
prosperity which happily prevails throughout the
country.

"Deeply sensible of these advantages, it is my humble
prayer that we may continue to enjoy the favour of the
Almighty; and that under His gracious protection we
may be enabled to bring the present contest to a just
and honourable termination."

The LORD CHANCELLOR then declared that it was her
Majesty's pleasure that parliament should stand
prorogued till Thursday, the 19th of October, and that
parliament was accordingly prorogued till that date.

In the HOUSE of COMMONS on Wednesday, July 26,
on the order for going into committee on the Russian
Securities Bill, Mr. T. BARING opposed it, considering
that a measure prohibiting money being advanced to a
foreign power should be a general one, and not one
directed against a particular power with which we
happened for the time to be at war. He also thought that,
if such a measure were desirable, it ought to be introduced
by the government.—Lord D. STUART defended
the bill, which, he said, had been approved by Lord
Palmerston and Lord John Russell, and which he
deemed a perfectly legitimate mode of crippling the
resources of Russia.—Mr. WILSON entered into an argument