ely,
the state of the municipal corporations in Ireland, and the measures
suggested by the ecclesiastical commissioners with respect to the church
establishment in this country. In the lords the address was moved by the
Duke of Somerset, and seconded by Lord Seaford. The Duke of Wellington
fully concurred in the expression of congratulation to her majesty upon
the alliance which had been announced to the country. But, his grace
continued, every precedent of the reign of George III. had been followed
in this matter except one, and that was the declaration that this prince
was a Protestant. He knew the prince was a Protestant; but as this was a
Protestant state, the fact that the prince was a Protestant should have
been officially declared. The house of lords could not omit this; and
therefore he moved the insertion of the word Protestant before the word
prince, in the first paragraph of the address. Lord Melbourne said that
he considered the amendment superfluous. The act of settlement required
that the prince should be a Protestant, and it was not likely that
ministers would advise her majesty to break through the act of
settlement. All the world knew that Prince Albert of Saxe Cobourg was
a Protestant, and that he was descended from the most emphatically
Protestant house in Europe. Lord Winchilsea did not regard the insertion
of the word Protestant as unnecessary. Near and dear relations of the
prince had become Roman Catholics, and the husband of the Queen of
Portugal, a first cousin of this very prince, was an avowed Romanist. In
the close of his observations, Lord Winchilsea adverted to the alarming
state of the country, and censured Lord Melbourne for having recently
presented Mr. Owen to the queen--a man who was the notorious advocate
of doctrines which struck at the root of all religion and morality.
The amendment was agreed to, and the address, as amended, ordered to be
presented to her majesty.

In the commons the address was agreed to; and her majesty subsequently
replied to the addresses of both houses, expressing satisfaction
at their loyalty and affection; thanking them for their support and
concurrence in her intended marriage; and assuring them that it would
be her endeavour to make her reign conducive to the happiness of all
classes of the community.

BILL FOR THE NATURALIZATION OF PRINCE ALBERT.

On the 20th of January, in the house of lords, a bill for naturalizing
his serene highness Prince A