d by government for facilitating
the enclosure of commons in England and Wales, by appointing a board
of commissioners with extensive powers, and removing the necessity of
obtaining private acts of parliament for the enclosing of lands.

The business of the session was closed by Lord John Russell's taking
the opportunity for a formal motion for papers, to enter into a critical
review of the results of the session, and the general policy of the
administration.

PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.

Parliament was prorogued by the queen in person on the 9th of August.
After the speaker had addressed her majesty on the measures of the
session, and some bills had received the royal assent, her majesty read
the royal speech.

THE AFFAIRS OF INDIA.

In the early part of this year the important subject of railroads in
India was taken into serious consideration. Various companies were
formed in England, for the purpose, if possible, of carrying out schemes
of railway communication in that country. In order that full preliminary
information might be obtained before any project was sanctioned, the
court of directors sent a despatch to the governor-general, directing
him to take the subject into his best consideration, as one in which the
interests of India were deeply concerned.

Until the close of the year, peace pervaded the whole of India, and Sir
Henry Hardinge was employed in promoting the interests of the natives,
by giving his attention to the important question of education. While
thus humanely employed, the state of our north-western frontier summoned
him to engage in warlike preparations. The Anglo-Indian dominion on the
left bank of the Sutlej was suddenly invaded by a Sikh army. What part
the government at Lahore took in this invasion is uncertain. It is
alleged on the part of the Ranee, the queen-mother, and the other
advisers of the youthful monarch, Dhuleep Singh, and the Durbar at
Lahore was at the mercy of the army; and that the restless and mutinous
Sikh soldiers, in defiance of government, determined to cross the
Sutlej, in hopes of finding the British unprepared, and carrying off an
immense quantity of booty. This sounds like fiction; and it would rathe
appear that the Lahore government, standing in awe of the Sikh army, was
glad of any pretext for finding it employment in British India, in order
to avoid violence within the Punjaub territory. Be this as it may, the
Sikhs invaded our borders; and we h