BRITISH AND FOREIGN

State Papers.

SPEECH of the Queen, on the Opening of the British Parliament.— Westminster, January 30, 1900.

Lords and Gentlemen,

THE peace which had recently been broken in South Africa Then last I addressed you has unhappily not been restored; but herwise my relations with other States are friendly.

In resisting the invasion of my South African Colonies by the outh African Republic and by the Orange Free State my people are responded with devotion and enthusiasm to the appeal which are made to them; and the heroism of my soldiers in the field, d of my sailors and marines who were landed to co-operate with has not fallen short of the noblest traditions of our military I am deeply grieved that so many valuable lives should e fallen a sacrifice. But I have witnessed with pride and with heartiest gratification the patriotic eagerness and spontaneous

with which my subjects in all parts of my dominions have forward to share in the common defence of their Imperial erests. I am confident that I shall not look to them in vain I exhort them to sustain and renew their exertions until they brought this struggle for the maintenance of the Empire and assertion of its supremacy in South Africa to a victorious con

A Treaty has been concluded with the German Emperor for the atment of rights claimed by the two countries in Samoa, Tonga, cther islands in the Pacific. To a portion of these stipulations Government of the United States has also been a party.

A Bill will be introduced at an early date to give effect to the e of federation which has been adopted, after the most careful deration, by five of my Australian Colonies. I have watched cordial satisfaction the gradual development of my greater ties into self-governing communities. I feel confident that the

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establishment of the great federation of Australia will prove ad tageous, not only to the Colonies immediately concerned, but to the Empire at large.

The brilliant courage and the soldier-like qualities of the col forces engaged in South Africa have already earned high admira Patriotic offers of assistance, which it was not possible to ac have come from many other Colonies with populations of va

races.

I have received from the ruling Chiefs of native States in I numerous offers to place their troops and the resources of States at my disposal for service in South Africa. These proo their loyalty to myself and of their devotion to the cause of Empire have afforded me much gratification.

I regret that owing to insufficient rainfall in the autumn o great part of Western and Central India the harvests and pastu have failed to such an extent as to create a famine. Ti measures have been taken by my Government, and by the R of the native States affected, to relieve suffering and to pre starvation.

I regret to add that the epidemic of plague continues, and although its severity has not increased since last year there i present no prospect of its diminution.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

The Estimates for the public service of the year will be before you. The provision for military expenditure must be lar increased on account of the charge for military operations in S

Africa.

The experience of a great war must necessarily afford les of the greatest importance to the military administrations of country. You will not, I am convinced, shrink from any of that may be required to place our defensive preparations on a with the responsibilities which the possession of so great an E has laid upon us.

At a time when several other nations are perfecting their preparations at the cost of increasing efforts and sacrifices, solicitude with which you have provided for the efficiency of navy and of our coast defences will assuredly not be relaxed.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

The time is not propitious for any domestic reforms which in a large expenditure.

Proposals, however, will be made to you for several impo changes which are not open to this objection. Amendments required in the Laws which govern Limited Liability Compa

and in those which relate to agricultural tenancies. Measures for amending the Law of ecclesiastical assessments, and in regard to education in Scotland, and for the relief of tithe-rent payers in Ireland, will also be laid before you. Your attention will also be invited to proposals for better enabling local authorities to aid 2secondary and technical education in England and Wales; for controlling the contracts of money-lenders; for the amendment of the Factory Law, of the Law of Lunacy, and of the Housing of the Working Classes Act.

The labours of the Commission appointed by me to inquire into the nature and causes of accidents to railway servants are now com*pleted. A Bill, framed with the object of lessening the number of ach accidents, will be laid before you.

It appears that service in South Africa may have the effect of franchising those who are taking part in it. You will be asked sanction a measure by which this injustice will be prevented.

I commend your deliberations in this anxious time to the blessing and guidance of Almighty God.

SPEECH of the Queen, on the Closing of the British Parliament.- Westminster, August 8, 1900.

y Lords and Gentlemen,

My relations with the Powers of Europe and America continue be friendly.

I have given my assent with sincere pleasure to the Act estabing the Commonwealth of Australia, which will weld together in ese and indissoluble union the federating Colonies, and will add to e strength and resources of this portion of my Empire.

The war in South Africa, into which this country has been red by the aggressive action of the two Dutch Republics, has yet reached its conclusion; but my armies have driven back e invaders beyond the frontiers they had crossed, and have pied the two capitals of the enemy and much of his territory. e operations which have been conducted for this purpose have in ny parts been marked by brilliant skill and success, and have ed in the strongest light the heroism and the high military ities of the troops who have been brought together under my mer from this country, from Canada, from Australasia, and from South African possessions.

Believing that the continued political independence of the two

Republics would be a constant danger to the peace of South Afric I have authorized the annexation of the Orange Free State to m Empire. I trust that this will be the first step towards the unic of races nder institutions which, while establishing from the outs good and just government for all, may be in time developed so as secure equal rights and privileges in my South African dominions.

The British and other Legations at Peking have been une pectedly attacked by an insurgent mob, and it is feared that mai of their inmates have been murdered. How far Chinese authoriti were accomplices in this atrocious crime, and whether the Briti Minister and his family have been among the victims, are matte that are still in some uncertainty. The utmost efforts will be ma by myself and my allies to visit with worthy punishment t authors of this unexampled crime. I have sent a considerable for of British and Indian troops to assist in protecting the interests Europeans in that country, and have largely reinforced my squadr in those waters.

I regret that a rising of the Ashanti and other tribes in t neighbourhood of Kumasi has made it necessary to dispatch expedition for the relief of that place, where the Governor of t Colony was besieged by overwhelming numbers. I have learr with satisfaction that my troops, which consist entirely of lo levies under British officers, have effected the object of the ex dition, in spite of the stubborn resistance of the insurgent tri and the great difficulties of climate and season with which they h had to contend.

In my Indian dominions the failure of the rains last autumn caused intense and prolonged distress over a large part of country. Strenuous and persistent endeavour has been made my Government to relieve suffering and prevent starvation. self-denying efforts of my officers, and of the many private pers who have joined in the relief operations, deserve the highest co

mendation.

Though the fall of rain this season has been abnormally late is hoped that its volume may be sufficient to rapidly curtail present area of distress, and restore to the people their previ means of livelihood.

The epidemic of plague continues; but the extent and virule of the disease have decreased, and there has been a marked dimi tion in the mortality.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

I thank you for the liberality with which you have responde the unwonted demands I have been compelled to make on y The satisfactory progress of the campaign in South Africa gives

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ground for hoping that the excessive requirements of military expenditure will be soon abated.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

Though the time has not been favourable to legislation upon internal questions, I congratulate you on having added to the Statute Book several enactments which will be advantageous to industry and commerce. The passage of a measure for increasing the security of tenant-farmers in the value of their own improvements, and for extending the Law of compensation for accidents to the farm labourer, will have a beneficial influence upon agriculture. A valuable Bill has been passed with the object of preventing the cidents to which railway servants have been exposed in the performance of their duty.

The Bill for the regulation of Limited Companies, and for the scovery of fraud in the conduct of them, will supply a want that as long been keenly felt. The Bill that has been passed for gulating the business of money-lenders will also tend to check ansactions of an oppressive and injurious character.

The measure you have passed for facilitating the erection of ellings for the working classes will afford some assistance in the ution of a problem of which the difficulty appears to increase with every succeeding year.

The Ecclesiastical Assessment (Scotland) and the Tithe Rentharge (Ireland) Acts will remove long-standing causes of friction and injustice. Measures have also been passed for augmenting our val reserves, and for rendering our volunteer forces more available purposes of home defence.

I pray that Almighty God may have you in His keeping, and at His blessing may be with you.

SPEECH of the Queen, on the Opening of the British Parliament.- Westminster, December 6, 1900.

Lords and Gentlemen,

It has become necessary to make further provision for the penses incurred by the operations of my armies in South Africa i China.

I have summoned you to hold a Special Session in order that may give your sanction to the enactments required for this rpose. I will not enter upon other public matters requiring